The Guardian of Room F

The days following Zayn's unexpected question about Room F were filled with a strange tension that Lira couldn't shake off. It wasn't just the normal school stress anymore—something else was hanging in the air, something she couldn't quite put into words. It was as if her world had shifted, the ground beneath her feet unstable, and she couldn't figure out whether it was because of Zayn or the secret of Room F that now seemed to be pulling her closer.

At lunch the next day, Mara and Jace were engaged in one of their usual debates about who would win the next basketball game, but Lira couldn't focus. Her mind kept drifting back to Zayn's words, replaying them over and over. "Have you ever been inside Room F?" He'd asked it so casually, like it was just another question. But the look in his eyes… it was different. Like he knew something she didn't.

"Lira, you're acting weird," Mara commented as she waved her hand in front of her face. "What's going on? You've been staring at your food for like five minutes."

Lira snapped out of her thoughts and smiled weakly. "I'm fine, just… tired."

"You sure? It's not like you to zone out."

"I'm fine, really," Lira said, pushing her plate away. "I'm just thinking about… something."

Jace raised an eyebrow. "You thinking about him?" He gestured casually toward the basketball court, where Zayn was practicing with the rest of the team. His effortless movements, his smooth style—it was no wonder the girls couldn't stop whispering about him.

Lira frowned and looked away, but not before catching Zayn's eye from across the field. He offered a brief smile, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to pause. She quickly turned back to Mara and Jace, trying to mask the flutter in her chest.

"Please, Jace. I'm not thinking about Zayn," Lira said, though the words didn't come out as confidently as she'd hoped. She was lying to herself, she knew it. But there was no way she could admit to Mara or Jace the true reason she was so unsettled. There was more to Zayn than what anyone else knew. And the more she tried to ignore it, the more the mystery of Room F—and its connection to him—pulled her in.

Later that afternoon, Lira found herself in the library, skimming through old yearbooks and school records in a desperate attempt to find anything about Zayn Monteverde. No one at San Isidro seemed to know much about him, and every time she tried to ask, the answers were vague, as if people were intentionally avoiding the subject. That only made her more determined to learn about him. But nothing, not even the dusty corners of the library, seemed to hold a clue.

Just as she was about to give up and return the yearbook to its shelf, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You're still digging through that stuff?"

Lira turned around, startled to see Zayn standing behind her, arms crossed. His sharp eyes held a hint of amusement, but there was also something deeper—something she couldn't quite place.

"I—uh, yeah," Lira stammered. "Just… curious."

Zayn raised an eyebrow. "Curious about what exactly? The mystery of Room F?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "How do you know about that?"

Zayn stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. "I told you, Lira, I'm not just anyone. I know things about this school. Things people are too scared to talk about."

Lira swallowed hard, her throat dry. "What are you talking about?"

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a near-whisper. "There's more to Room F than you can imagine. And I'm willing to show you—if you trust me."

She hesitated, torn between fear and an undeniable urge to uncover the truth. She had been so close to understanding what had happened in that room, to solving the puzzle that had haunted her thoughts since that first encounter. But trusting Zayn felt dangerous.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, and they both looked up. Jace was standing at the entrance of the library, his eyes narrowing when he saw them together.

"Lira," he called, his tone firm. "It's time to go. We've got practice, remember?"

Lira nodded, but Zayn's gaze didn't leave her. There was something in his eyes that made her stomach churn and her pulse race. It wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was something deeper—something she couldn't ignore.

"Maybe I'll see you tonight," Zayn said, his voice softer now. "At Room F. If you want to know the truth."

Lira's mind raced as she followed Jace out of the library, the weight of Zayn's words heavy on her shoulders. What was she getting herself into? Could she really trust him? And more importantly, what would she uncover if she stepped into the darkness of Room F?

As the evening shadows stretched across the school, Lira felt an unease settle deep within her. She knew the next decision she made would change everything.

The question was—was she ready to find out what lay hidden in the shadows of Room F?