Emily tried to keep her composure as she went about her daily routine, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. The fatigue was overwhelming, her clothes felt tighter, and the constant hunger was hard to ignore. She did her best to hide these changes from everyone, especially Cole, but her efforts were not always successful.

It was a typical Monday at school. Emily was in the middle of her chemistry class when she felt an urgent wave of exhaustion wash over her. She struggled to stay awake, her head nodding off despite her best efforts to remain alert. Cole, who was sitting behind her, noticed her struggle.

As soon as the bell rang, Cole approached her. “Hey, Emma,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “What’s up with you? You’ve been acting really off lately. Are you okay?”

Emily forced a smile, trying to brush off his worry. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired, I guess.”

Cole wasn’t convinced. He watched as Emily attempted to get up from her seat, her movements slow and deliberate. He put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “You don’t look fine. You’re always so tired, and sometimes you look a bit… bloated. Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

Emily felt a flush of embarrassment, but she tried to maintain her calm facade. “I said I’m okay, Cole. It’s probably just stress.”

Cole’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Stress? From what? You’ve been like this for weeks. You’re not just tired—you’re exhausted. And you’re always hungry. It’s not normal.”

Emily was about to reply when a wave of dizziness made her sway slightly. Cole quickly caught her by the arm. “Whoa, easy there. Maybe you should sit down for a minute.”

Emily reluctantly complied, sitting on a nearby bench. Cole sat next to her, his concern growing. “Seriously, Emma, you’re not looking well. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Emily sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and helplessness. She knew she couldn’t keep up the pretense forever. “Okay, fine. I haven’t been feeling great. But it’s not something I want to talk about right now.”

Cole’s concern deepened. “You don’t have to go through this alone. If there’s something going on, you can tell me. Maybe I can help.”

Emily hesitated, her thoughts racing. She knew that Cole’s persistence was out of genuine concern, but she wasn’t ready to fully open up. “It’s complicated, Cole. Just… please, give me some space. I’ll be okay.”

Cole looked at her, conflicted but understanding. “Alright, but if you need anything—anything at all—don’t hesitate to reach out.”

As Emily watched Cole walk away, she felt a pang of guilt. She was grateful for his concern, but she knew she had to keep her secrets hidden for now. Balancing her undercover mission with the reality of her situation was proving to be more challenging than she had anticipated.