Masha Fontaine arrived at Crescent Hill Academy early as usual, her thoughts preoccupied with the day's plans. She had been looking forward to catching up with Kuze and sharing some updates from her weekend. However, as she walked through the school grounds and reached their usual meeting spot, she noticed that Kuze was nowhere to be found.
Checking her phone, Masha saw that she had missed a couple of messages from Kuze. She quickly read them, only to find that there was no explanation for his absence. With a growing sense of unease, Masha tried calling him, but the call went straight to voicemail.
Frowning, she decided to seek help from her friend Alya, who often had information about their classmates. Masha headed toward Alya's locker, hoping to find her before classes began.
“Alya, hey!” Masha called out as she spotted Alya near her locker.
Alya looked up, her expression turning from surprise to curiosity. “Masha, what’s up?”
Masha’s voice was laced with concern. “Have you seen Kuze today? I’ve been trying to reach him, but he’s not answering his phone. I’m starting to get worried.”
Alya raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “No, I haven’t seen him yet today. It’s strange that he’s not around. He’s usually punctual.”
Masha bit her lip, her worry intensifying. “I know. I tried calling him, but it went to voicemail. I don’t know where else to turn.”
Alya seemed to consider this for a moment. “Well, I don’t have any information on where he might be right now, but I do have his home address. If you’re really concerned, you could try checking in with him at home.”
Masha’s eyes widened in surprise. “You have his address? Are you sure that’s okay?”
Alya nodded, her expression reassuring. “Yes, it’s fine. We’ve talked about it before. If you’re worried, it might be worth checking to see if he’s alright.”
Masha took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. “Alright. Thanks for letting me know. I think I’ll go see if everything’s okay.”
Alya gave her a supportive smile. “Good luck, Masha. I hope everything turns out fine.”
Masha quickly made her way to the nearest bus stop, her mind racing with worry. As she rode towards Kuze’s home, she tried to think of what could have happened. The thought of him being in trouble made her anxious, and she hoped that her concern was misplaced.
When she arrived at Kuze’s neighborhood, she walked down the familiar street, her heart pounding with each step. She reached the front of his house and took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman with a concerned expression appeared.
“Hello,” Masha said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m Masha Fontaine. I’m a friend of Kuze Rinaldi. I’m sorry to intrude, but I’ve been trying to reach him, and I was worried when he didn’t show up at school today.”
The woman’s expression softened, though she still looked worried. “Oh, you’re Masha. I’m Kuze’s mother. He’s not here right now. He’s been feeling under the weather and stayed home today to rest.”
Masha’s relief was palpable, though she still felt a bit uneasy. “I’m glad to hear that he’s not in any trouble. I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”
Kuze’s mother nodded. “He’s been resting all morning. If you’d like, I can let him know you stopped by and that you were concerned.”
Masha smiled gratefully. “Thank you. That would be really kind. I just wanted to make sure he was alright.”
Kuze’s mother offered her a warm smile. “I’ll let him know you came by. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your concern.”
Masha thanked her and headed back to the bus stop, her worry easing with each step. She was relieved to know that Kuze was simply unwell and not in any immediate danger. As she headed back to school, she felt a renewed sense of gratitude for having friends who cared about each other.
When Masha arrived back at Crescent Hill Academy, she spotted Alya waiting by her locker. Masha approached her, a sense of relief evident in her expression.
“Alya, I found out what happened,” Masha said, her voice filled with gratitude. “Kuze is just at home, resting. He’s not in any trouble. I’m glad I checked.”
Alya smiled, clearly relieved. “I’m glad to hear that he’s okay. It’s good you went to check on him.”
Masha nodded, feeling a sense of closure. “Thank you for your help. I’ll make sure to catch up with him once he’s feeling better.”
As the school day continued, Masha felt a sense of reassurance. The unexpected worry about Kuze had been resolved, and she was looking forward to seeing him back at school soon. The incident had highlighted the importance of checking in on friends and communicating openly, and Masha was grateful for the support she had received from Alya and Kuze’s family.
With the day’s concerns behind her, Masha focused on her classes and looked forward to reconnecting with Kuze once he was back on his feet. The bond between them had grown stronger through the experience, and she was eager to continue their friendship with a renewed sense of care and understanding.