VALOROUS

sions that affected the lives of those around her. Despite her busy schedule, Adiza couldn't shake off the thoughts of Alex. She would often find herself wondering what h

" Adiza hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as she looked into Alex's eyes, she knew she couldn't resist him. "Okay, fine," she said. "But just for a month, Alex. After that, we're telling Britney the truth." Alex grinned, relief washing over his face. "Thank you, Adiza," he said. "I promise it'll be worth it." For the next month, Adiza and Alex kept their relationship a secret. They would steal glances at each other in class, exchange flirtatious texts, and sneak around to avoid detection. But as the days turned into weeks, Adiza began to feel the weight of their secret. She hated lying to Britney, hated the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her conscience. And then, one day, disaster struck. Britney caught Adiza and Alex making out in the janitor's closet. She was furious, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "You're cheating on me!" Britney screamed, her voice echoing down the hallway. "You're cheating on me with my best friend!" Adiza felt a wave of shame wash over her, and she knew she had to act fast. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the fallout that was to come. "Britney, I'm so sorry