My boyfriend is a nine-tailed fox

Chapter 25: The Strain of Secrecy

Anita leaned against her locker, staring blankly at the jumble of books and papers. The events of the previous night swirled in her mind like an endless storm—Jace battling the shadow spirit, its cryptic warning, the pressure of knowing she was now a target.

“Hey, you okay?” Max’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Startled, Anita turned to find him watching her with a mix of concern and curiosity. She plastered on a smile. “Yeah, just tired. You know how it is with the play and the project.”

Max frowned, unconvinced. “You’ve been acting... off lately. You’re always tired, you keep zoning out, and you’ve been dodging me and Claire.”

“I’m not dodging anyone,” Anita said quickly, shutting her locker.

“You bailed on our study group yesterday.”

“I had a headache,” she lied, feeling the weight of his stare.

Max folded his arms, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Anita, come on. We’ve been friends since kindergarten. I know when you’re lying.”

Her heart sank. How could she explain shadow spirits, fox spirits, and magical beads without sounding like she’d lost her mind? “It’s just... a lot, okay? With everything going on, I’m stretched thin.”

Max studied her, his expression softening slightly. “If you’re in trouble or something, you can tell me. You don’t have to handle it alone.”

“I know,” Anita said, avoiding his gaze. “But I’m fine. Really.”

As Max walked away, his shoulders slightly hunched, guilt gnawed at Anita. She hated lying to him and Claire, but what choice did she have?

Later that day, during lunch, Claire joined her at their usual table, sketchpad in hand. “You’ve been quiet lately,” she said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

“I guess I’m just tired,” Anita said, using the same excuse.

Claire tapped her pencil on the table. “Max thinks something’s wrong. I don’t know if I believe him, but you do seem... distracted.”

“I’m fine, Claire,” Anita said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Really.”

But even as she said it, she could feel the cracks forming in her façade. How much longer could she keep this up?

That evening, as she sat in her room, Jace leaned against the windowsill, watching her with a knowing look. “Keeping secrets is harder than it looks, isn’t it?”

“You think?” Anita snapped, then sighed, burying her face in her hands. “They’re my best friends, Jace. I’ve never had to hide anything from them before.”

Jace crossed the room and sat on the edge of her desk. “The more they know, the more danger they’re in. You’re protecting them by keeping them in the dark.”

“But for how long? Max already suspects something. Claire isn’t far behind. I’m lying to them every day, and it’s killing me.”

Jace was silent for a moment. “The truth is a heavy burden, Anita. Sometimes, carrying it alone is the only way to keep the people you care about safe.”

His words didn’t make her feel any better, but she knew he was right. For now, the secret would have to stay hers, no matter how much it hurt.