lie after lie

I was confused about what Radia had said. Was she pointing to her sister as the thief who stole the money? Why would she do that?

I started to worry that maybe I was being set up. Was Radia working with Daida to frame me? Why didn't she speak up in my defense back at the cafe?

All of these questions raced through my head, and I began to feel even more confused and uncertain of the truth. I felt like I didn't know who to trust and what to believe. The sense of confusion and fear grew deep within me.

"What do you mean?" I said, stopping in my tracks.

"nothing “ Radia replied.

I helped Radia to sit down on a rock, and I gently lifted her foot to examine her ankle. The ankle was swollen and painful, and Radia winced in pain. I knew that we needed to apply first aid to reduce the swelling and pain.

"Does it hurt?" I asked. Radia nodded slowly. "It hurts a lot," she said.

I was concerned for Radia's well-being. A twisted ankle could be very painful and uncomfortable, so I knew that I had to help her as best I could. With gentle care and patience, I began applying first aid.

It was getting dark, but fortunately there were streetlights to help us see.

Suddenly, we heard the sound of sirens and before we knew it, we were surrounded by police officers.

Luca called out, "Radia!" and Radia stood up defensively and covered me on her back. I was a little hesitant at first, but Radia seemed determined to help me, even if it meant breaking the law.

With that, we made our escape, riding off on the same bicycle we had used earlier. We were both filled with adrenaline and excitement, and with the police in pursuit behind us.

With the police in pursuit behind us, Radia and I managed to run away, leaving the bicycle behind.

Once we were far enough, she stopped and looked around, trying to find a place to hide. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Looking for a place to hide, obviously," Radia answered, her tone sounding irritated. I could see that her ankle was twisted and swollen, and I had to respect her determination and courage to help me, despite her own injury.

I tried to escape from Radia's grip, pulling at her arm in desperation as I said, "We need to get back, Radia!"

"No, we can't!" she replied, firmly gripping me in her arms. "I'm going back to the cafe to talk to Daida!"

I fought against her grip, wanting to break free and return to the cafe. I knew that I needed to talk to Luca and Daida and explain the truth.

"You'll be sent to jail," Radia argued. "I won't let that happen!" she said with determination.

Radia and I eventually reached a fast food restaurant. I was tired and hungry, so the smell of food was quite appealing. However, I was still overwhelmed with my thoughts and the recent events.

I sat down and leaned my head on the window, lost in my own thoughts. "Why did it have to be too late?" I wondered. "If I had decided to resign earlier, none of this would have happened."

Radia suddenly came back with a tray full of food

Radia returned with a tray full of food and set it down in front of me. "I didn't know which one you like so I ordered everything on the menu," she said, sitting down across from me. I appreciated her thoughtfulness. I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely touched my food.

"Thank you, Radia," I said, shyly looking away. I was so grateful for her kindness and for treating me to this tasty meal.

"You're welcome," Radia said, her voice soft and gentle. "This is a lot like a date, isn't it?" she asked, gently putting her loose hair behind her ear and taking a spoon with an icecream

I was so hungry that I ate the burgers and fries with a big bowl of ketchup. I didn't notice Radia watching me at first, but as I continued to eat, I suddenly became aware of her gaze. I looked up and saw her giggling at me. I felt my face turn red and looked away.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Radia finally spoke up. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh," she said, sounding a little embarrassed. "It's just that I never thought I'd see you in such a vulnerable state."

How cute

"What will happen to me now, Radia?" I asked, worried about my future. "Luca thinks I was the one who stole a huge amount of money from the shop, and Daida is mad at me because I need to talk to her first,".

"Being a juvenile nit-wit won't get a lot more attention," she said, saying it with confidence. "And Daida?...don't trust her."

I felt a surge of unease at Radia's warning. What did she mean by not trusting Daida?

"I need to go back to Daida," I said, ready to leave. But just then, Radia gently took hold of my hands, stopping me in my tracks. "You can't trust Daida," she said.

My face turned white as I finally processed the words Radia had just said. "Daida was the one who stole the money and framed you," she said, and I was shocked by the new information. But it made sense now, and I knew that I could not trust Daida ever again.

"I need to go back to Daida," I said, determined to make things right. "What Daida thinks of me is what matters the most. She's my friend, and I need to get back to her," I continued. I started to walk away from the restaurant, leaving Radia behind.

"Daida wants to get revenge on you by sending thugs to bully her, just to save your job from Luca," Radia explained. "So, she texted you for you to go to the cafe yesterday to frame you as the one who stole the money," she continued.

"Why are you saying that, Radia?" I asked, sounding confused and disappointed. "She's your sister, isn't she?" I said, wanting to hear it from Daida herself. "If what you said was true, then I want to hear it from Daida."

"I don't know who to trust anymore..." I said, remembering Radia's twisted ankle. Worried about her safety, I turned around and started walking back toward the restaurant. But Radia was nowhere to be seen.

My thoughts were spinning out of control as I reflected on all my regrets about entering the cafe and dragging Radia into my mess. I was worried about how I would explain my mistake to Daida, and I felt anxious about my future at school and my future in general, feeling like I had let myself down. I felt confused and overwhelmed, and I didn't know how to fix everything that had gone wrong. I felt like I was drowning in my own thoughts, and I was scared of what would happen next.

As I walked through the cold, dark night, feeling anxious and alone, I started to feel exhausted. "I'm sorry, Daida, Radia, and Luca," I said, talking to myself. "Forgive me, Lesley, Carol..." I continued, as tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt so alone and uncertain, and my feet hurt from running from the police.

“is it really daida who framed me?”