As Mike and Stefan entered their classroom, they settled into their chairs, the familiar creak of the wooden seats a comforting sound. They began to unpack their bags, extracting books and notebooks, their movements fluid and practiced.
Stefan leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes locked intently onto Mike. "Hey Mike, don't you find Tina's quietness suspicious?"
Mike's gaze met Stefan's, his expression thoughtful. "I found it strange too," he replied, his voice equally hushed. "Could she be planning something mischievous?"
Stefan nodded, his brow furrowed. "Exactly! It would be strange if she didn't take any action. The power is not something she or her father could let go of easily." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Mike's eyes darted around the classroom, ensuring no one was listening. "This should be the last time we speak about her, or about the power, in school," he cautioned.
Stefan's gaze lingered on Mike's face before nodding in agreement. "I bet she knew we stole the box," he whispered. "She just couldn't accuse us without solid proof."
Mike's eyes narrowed. "That's right. I saw her when we were ascending the staircase a few minutes ago. She avoided us, isn't that strange?" he asked.
Stefan confirmed with a nod. "Yes, it is. She's definitelyplotting something."
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the back of the classroom, breaking the hushed conversation. "Hey Mike."
Mike and Stefan swiveled over their shoulders, their eyes scanning the room until they spotted Christina waving at them. Mike's face broke into a warm smile as he waved back.
Christina navigated through the rows of chairs, her confident stride drawing attention. She settled into the chair she had occupied the previous day, her movements deliberate.
Mike's gaze lingered on Christina, his expression a mix of curiosity and wariness.
The classroom erupted into a flurry of whispers and pointed gazes as students witnessed the unexpected exchange between Mike and Christina, the school's revered school queen. The atmosphere was electric with curiosity.
"Is that not Christina? Did she just smile and greet her worst enemy?" one student whispered, incredulity etched on her face.
"Something is definitely going on," another student chimed in.
"Aren't they full-time enemies? What's behind this sudden change?"
The murmurs spread, with students exchanging speculative glances.
Mrs. Lydia's authoritative voice cut through the din, silencing the classroom. "Settle down, class!" Her eyes scanned the room, quelling the rising chatter.
As the room fell silent, Mrs. Lydia's gaze landed on Mike, her eyebrows arching in surprise. "You're quite early today, Mike." A hint of amusement danced in her voice.
Mike flashed a charming smile. "Yes, ma'am, I missed you too," he replied, his tone laced with playful innocence.
Mrs. Lydia's expression turned wry. "What do you mean by that? I didn't say I missed you," she clarified, her words sparking laughter throughout the classroom.
Mike's grin broadened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I bet you do, ma'am. I'm one of your beloved students," he said and the class chuckled, enjoying the banter.
Mrs. Lydia's voice took on a warning tone, though a hint of amusement lingered. "I knew I'd be stressed whenever you're in my class, Mike. You make me talk more and... Behave yourself today, okay?" Her eyes locked onto Mike's, conveying a silent warning.
Mike nodded, his expression turning contrite. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, his voice measured.
The classroom settled into an uneasy calm, with students casting surreptitious glances at Mike and Christina, sensing an undercurrent of tension beneath the surface.
Mrs. Lydia's gaze drifted across the room, her eyes landing on Christina sitting in the corner, a bright smile illuminating her face. "Christina Idris, I didn't recollect having you in my class," she said, her tone laced with surprise. "I hope all is well?" Her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Christina's unusual demeanor.
Christina's smile never wavered. "I'm now in this class, ma'am," she replied, her voice confident.
Mrs. Lydia's expression betrayed a flicker of discomfort, taken aback by Christina's uncharacteristic warmth. "Ever since when?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.
"Starting today, ma'am," Christina responded. "Don't worry, I wouldn't cause trouble for you." Her words sparked another wave of murmurs throughout the classroom.
Stefan leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "What was that, buddy?" His grim expression was fixed intently on Mike.
Mike's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Stefan's eyes darted toward Christina before returning to Mike. "I mean with Christina. Not only did she greet you, now she's playing nice. She even changed her class. What's going on?" His tone conveyed skepticism.
Mike's shrug seemed nonchalant. "We settled our grudges, that's all," he replied.
Stefan's gaze lingered on Mike's face, searching for hidden meaning. "That was easy, too easy," he commented, his voice tinged with unease.
Mike's expression remained impassive, but Stefan's words hung in the air, hinting at underlying complexities.
"Perhaps you've forgotten…"
"That?"
"I'm a bat boy," Mike replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Stefan's expression transformed from curiosity to incredulity. He hissed and rolled his eyes in disdain. "What does being a bat boy have to do with...?" His sentence trailed off as his eyes widened in stunned realization. "Don't tell me… You actually manipulated her?" Stefan's voice was barely above a whisper, but his tone conveyed shock and disbelief.
Mike's response was immediate and emphatic. "Hell no!" he retorted loudly, disrupting Mrs. Lydia's silence order. The classroom fell silent, with all eyes on Mike.
Mrs. Lydia's querulous gaze locked onto Mike, her eyebrows arching in surprise. "What do you mean by that, Mike?" she inquired, her voice firm but curious.
Mike's grin faltered. "What's going on?" he muttered under his breath. His eyes darted away from Mrs. Lydia's piercing gaze, seeking an escape.
Laura leaned in, her voice barely audible. "She asked if we're going to keep quiet, that's when you replied." Her whisper offered a timely reminder.
Mike's face flushed as he turned back to Mrs. Lydia. "Oh…. I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to disturb your class. My apology," he said quickly, his expression contrite.
Mrs. Lydia's gaze lingered on Mike for a moment before she lifted her eyes and turned to the class. "As I was saying… During my last class, I taught you about the differences between myth and legend. Today, we're going to discuss the importance of folklore in understanding our cultural heritage." Her voice resumed its usual calm tone, and the class settled into the lesson.
The tension dissipated, but Stefan's curious gaze remained fixed on Mike, hinting at unresolved questions.
As the morning classes drew to a close, Mike rose from his seat, stretching his arms overhead. Stefan followed suit, and together they turned to face Christina, who approached them with an unexpected smile.
"Going for lunch?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Mike nodded, his expression open. "Yes."
Christina's gaze lingered on Mike's face before shifting to Stefan. "Me too. Can I join you guys?" Her tone conveyed a hint of uncertainty, but her eyes demanded a positive response.
Mike nodded again, his smile widening. "Yeah, let's go together then."
Stefan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Christina's sudden change in behavior.
"But what about your friend, Hannah?" Mike asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Christina's expression turned matter-of-fact. "She's absent in school today."
She turned to Stefan, her voice laced with pretended politeness. "You can join too, if you want."
Stefan's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Really? You want me to join?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.
Christina's smile faltered for an instant before she recovered. "Of course not!" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just being considerate. I couldn't possibly take your best friend and leave you to eat alone."
Stefan rolled his eyes in disdain, muttering under his breath, "What was I expecting? People don't change that easily."
Mike intervened, his voice light. "Let's go then." He led the way, with Christina and Stefan falling into step beside him.
The classroom erupted into a flurry of whispers and pointed gazes. Students exchanged disbelieving glances, shocked by the unlikely trio.
"What's wrong with the school queen?" someone whispered.
"Isn't it obvious? She's definitely lost her mind," another student replied.
"Look how she's now clinging onto the boy she once hated," a third student chimed in, their voices weaving a tapestry of curiosity and suspicion.
As Mike, Christina, and Stefan exited the classroom, the murmurs swirled behind them, a testament to the upheaval Christina's unexpected actions had caused.