Friday morning dawned with a sudden, loud knock on Rachael's door, jolting Mike awake. He tumbled out of bed, stretching and yawning. "Who on earth could that be?" he muttered.

"Shh!" Rachael swiftly silenced him with a stern. "It's Mom, I think she's found out you sneaked out of the hospital."

Mike's response was cut short as he rubbed his eyes vigorously, struggling to see. Rachael, standing guard at the door, turned to face him. "You can't see, can you?" she said.

Mike's face contorted in frustration. "I don't know what's happening! I had my sight last night, but now...now it's gone again!"

Rachael's gaze intensified, her eyes fixed on Mike. "Are you a bat, relying on echolocation or something?"

Just then, Mrs. Smith's muffled voice boomed from beyond the door, "Rachael, open this door at once!"

The tension between Mike and Rachael was momentarily disrupted. "Hide, Mike, hide," Rachael whispered urgently. "We'll talk later." She swiftly moved to open the door, revealing a visibly agitated Mrs. Smith.

"What took you so long?" Mrs. Smith grumbled. "Where is Mike? I heard he disappeared from the hospital last night. Has he truly regained his sight?"

"I haven't seen Mike, Mom. I don't know what you're talking about." Rachael's voice trembled slightly as she lied. “Why…are you looking for him here?”

Mrs. Smith's eyes narrowed. "Why wouldn't I look for him here? Where else would he have gone? Is there something you're not telling me, Rachael?"

Rachael shook her head vigorously, attempting to deflect her mother's piercing gaze. However, Mrs. Smith's eyes had already locked onto Mike, who was making a half-hearted attempt to conceal himself behind Rachael's closet.

His upper body was hidden, but his lower body remained exposed, making him look like a child playing a game of hide-and-seek.

Rachael couldn't help but roll her eyes in exasperation. "Seriously, Mike? You can't even hide properly!" She muttered under her breath, frustrated. Mike's lack of effort had rendered her own lies useless. “What a waste of lies!”

"Come out, Mike. I can see you plain as day. You forgot to hide your, ahem, backside,” Mrs. Smith said, her voice thick with amusement, but Rachael knew she was annoyed.

“Get out, she found you already!” Rachael shouted. “Hiding only half of your body with your butt exposed, do you call that hiding?”

Mike slowly stood up, his face pale with disappointment.

“You didn't tell me you've gotten back your sight, Mike, when did it happen?” Mrs. Smith asked, a small smile on her lips.

"Wrong direction, turn left," Rachael whispered urgently, trying to help him orient himself, but Mike's vacant eyes stared off into space.

Mrs. Smith's smile faltered as she realized Mike hadn't regained his sight. Her face fell. "So, it was just a rumor. You still can't see." She sounded deflated, as if she had been holding onto hope that Mike's sight would return. “Then how did you get here? Did Rachael bring you here from the hospital last night?”

Mike sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I came here on my own, Rachael doesn't know anything about it," he replied. "I could see last night, but..." He trailed off, realizing the futility of explaining his situation to his mother, who wouldn't believe him anyway.

"Let's return to the hospital immediately! I'm baffled as to why you would leave in the first place,” Mrs. Smith urged, her voice trembling. Tears began to well up in her eyes, a testament to her distress.

"Mother, the hospital is incapable of addressing my situation. It transcends physical limitations; it's a supernatural phenomenon,” Mike explained.

Mrs. Smith's expression turned somber. "So, you expect me to leave you here, blind and helpless, unable to venture out?" Her voice cracked with emotion.

"The doctors are unlikely to find a cure. This is beyond their realm of expertise,” Mike replied.

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"Nothing is impossible! The doctors will discover a solution. And you must remain positive, Mike, okay?" Mrs. Smith replied, her optimism was unwavering.

"He's not being pessimistic, Mom. Mike is simply acknowledging a potential outcome. This enigma requires time and research to unravel its mysteries," Rachael intervened.

"I won't be swayed by your arguments. Mike will receive proper treatment at the hospital, and that's final!" Mrs. Smith said and wiped off her tears.

As she took steps toward Mike, her voice assumed a firm tone. "And you, Rachael, stop enabling this behavior! Mike, come here at once!"

"Mom, why are you doing this?" Mike and Rachael's simultaneous protestations echoed through the room.

“Oh, look at you two! You've even synchronized your responses. That won't change my mind, though. I refuse to watch my only son succumb to blindness. Mike, come here now!" Mrs. Smith said, forcing a smile.

With no alternative but to comply, Mike reluctantly made his way toward his mother, and together they headed back to the hospital.

*****

Stefan arrived at school with the intention of retrieving Mike's bag from Laura, hoping to uncover some clues about his mysterious condition in it. He approached Laura, who was walking towards her car.

"Hey there, lonely girl, aren't you missing us terribly?" He greeted her with a tone filled with sarcasm.

Laura flinched, startled, as she turned around to face him. "Stefan? What are you doing here?"

"Shhh!" Stefan swiftly and gently silenced her and inquired, "Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?"

"It's a free period, and to be honest, I'm feeling a bit isolated up there,” Laura explained and inserted her key into the car lock, she then turned back to Stefan, her eyes fixed on him with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Stefan chuckled, "Whoa, lonely at the top!" he teased, his smile widening. “You're always lonely anyways.”

Laura's expression turned icy, and she hissed. "What are you doing here? You know you could get in trouble if you're caught, right?” she said, her tone shifting to concern. “Or aren't you suspended along with Mike?”

Stefan nodded, "Of course I was, along with Christina too. Mike's in big..." He trailed off, realizing he shouldn't reveal Mike's condition. "Just hand over his bag, please."

“What do you mean 'along with Christina'?” Laura pointed out, her eyes narrowed. “Christina wasn't suspended. In fact, she's in her class right now."

“That's impossible. I'm sure she was suspended with us." Stefan furrowed.

"Something fishy is going on. There's no way she'd be in school if she were suspended. And she was also here yesterday, causing a scene with a junior," Laura said in suspicion

Stefan's eyes widened as he connected the dots. Could the principal have received bribes from her parents? he thought.

Just then, he glanced up and spotted Christina leaning against the upstairs railing, her eyes fixed on him. She waved and smiled, and Stefan's jaw dropped. "I'll be damned, she really is here!" He gasped.

Christina's smile grew wider as she acknowledged Stefan's shock. Anger surged through Stefan. He marched towards the principal's office, leaving Laura on the spot, determined to uncover the truth behind Christina's unexpected presence in class, despite their shared suspension.

He stormed into the principal's office, his anger palpable, and sat down in front of Mrs. Rebecca, his eyes fixed intently on her.

"What brings you here?" Mrs. Rebecca asked, flabbergasted. “Didn't you read the suspension letter and the date you're supposed to resume school?”

"Why is Christina Idris attending classes when we're both supposed to be serving our two-week suspension?" Stefan's voice remained steady as he inquired.

“What… What's your concern about that?" Mrs. Rebecca responded hesitantly.

"Her parents must have bribed you. They're wealthy and wouldn't want their daughter to miss school. My parents are influential too, and I'm sure they'll be interested in this unfair treatment," Stefan pressed on, his accusation clear.

"How dare you! Are you implying I'm corrupt?" Mrs. Rebecca retorted, her face reddening.

"If not, then explain why Christina is in school while we're suspended. This is unfair, and I won't let it slide."

Mrs. Rebecca's patience wore thin. "Leave my office now!" she ordered.

“I'll eventually leave, but you should know this is unfair! This is really–”

“Get out this instant or I'll call the security to drag you out!”

Stefan rose from his seat, his eyes locked on the principal.

"There's no need for that ma'am, I'll leave, but know this: I'll expose your corruption. My parents have connections with powerful people, and this will be all over the news – TV, radio, newspapers. Your actions will be scrutinized, and your reputation will suffer. And everyone would know about the corrupted principal of–”

Mrs. Rebecca's composure shattered. "Shut up and get out! Your suspension is nullified, effective immediately. And Mike's too!"

"Actually, it's three of us. Don't forget Rachael Smith," Stefan added, a mischievous grin on his face.