Chapter 11: Unspoken And Unraveled

Nadia’s POV

The school cafeteria buzzed with the usual midday chaos, the clatter of trays, and the murmur of conversations filling the air. I was sitting alone, nursing a cup of coffee, when Jake slid into the seat across from me, his smile charming yet somehow off.

"Hey, Nadia," he began, his tone casual. "I need a favor."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What kind of favor?"

Jake leaned in, lowering his voice. "It's a bit awkward, but I need to borrow some money. Quite a bit, actually. It’s for a good cause, I promise."

Suspicion flickered within me, but his earnest expression tugged at my heartstrings. "How much are we talking about?"

"Enough to cover some... urgent expenses," Jake said, his voice tense. He glanced away, clearly uncomfortable, but I could see the strain etched on his face. "You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. It’s two grand, okay? My mom... she’s really sick. Hospital bills are piling up, and I don’t have anywhere else to turn."