Lisa's voice trembled.
"My mother… she's not well. She's been admitted to the hospital. I needed the money for her medical bills."
The words dropped like stones into the quiet café.
Rayyan froze.
Monica gasped softly.
Guilt washed over both of them.
Rayyan looked down.Did I misunderstand her? Was she actually telling the truth?
Monica reached gently for Lisa's hand.
"Lisa… why didn't you tell us earlier? We would have helped you properly."
Lisa wiped her tears."I didn't want anyone to judge me. I was desperate."
Monica turned immediately to Rayyan.
"Rayyan… we should go."
Rayyan nodded.
"Let's go see her mother," Monica said firmly. "No one should face this alone."
Lisa looked surprised—but she nodded quickly.
"Okay… I'll bring you."
At the Hospital
Monica drove them straight to St. Theresa's Medical Centre.
Lisa walked ahead, leading them towards Ward 5B.
Rayyan followed slowly… something inside him felt wrong.
When they reached the room, an old woman lay in bed—eyes closed, breathing softly. Machines beeped steadily around her.
Monica's face softened."Oh God… she looks so weak."
But Rayyan froze at the door.
Something isn't right.
He had seen a picture of Lisa's mother before.Ayden showed him once.
This woman looked nothing like her.
Rayyan's stomach tightened.
He stepped back, scanning the room carefully.
Monica knelt beside the bed and covered the old woman gently with a blanket.
Lisa wiped her tears in a dramatic way… too dramatic.
Rayyan didn't miss the subtle smirk hidden behind her fingers.
His chest tightened with anger.
Monica stood up again, guilt written across her face.
"Let's check the billing counter. I want to know how much we need to pay."
Before she could take a step—
Rayyan grabbed her wrist gently.
"Wait."
Monica turned, surprised."Rayyan?"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Don't rush. Something is off. You're being too kind… people will take advantage of that."
Monica blinked in confusion."What do you mean?"
Rayyan let go of her hand.
"I saw Lisa's mother's photo before. This… doesn't match."
Monica's eyes widened slightly."You're sure?"
Rayyan nodded."Let me check something."
Without waiting for Lisa, Rayyan walked to the foot of the bed and lifted the medical report clipped there.
Name: Christina Evelyn RodriguesNext-of-kin:Vihan
Rayyan's jaw clenched.
This is NOT Lisa's mother.
He turned slowly."Follow me."
Lisa rushed forward."Where are you going?"
Rayyan didn't look at her."To check something."
His voice was colder than Monica had ever heard.
At the Finance Counter
The clerk typed the patient ID into the system.
Monica asked softly, "Who admitted her?"
The clerk replied, "Her son, Mr. Vihan Rodrigues."
Rayyan's heart sank.
"And… who signed the financial guarantee?" Rayyan asked.
"Oh, her insurance company. Everything is fully covered."
Monica's eyes widened.
Rayyan's fists tightened.
"She lied," he whispered. "She lied to your face. To mine."
Rayyan pulled out his phone and dialed the number listed as the next-of-kin.
A boy picked up."Hello?"
"Hi," Monica said gently. "Are you Vihan?"
"Yes. Who's calling?"
"We're Lisa's friends. We came to check on your mother because we're worried about the bills—"
"Bills?" Vihan."No problem, sister. My mom has full insurance. Lisa knows this. Why? Did she say something?"
Monica froze.
Rayyan closed his eyes, feeling the anger rise.
Vihan continued, confused:"And Lisa isn't my real sister. She's my cousin. Why?"
Rayyan ended the call.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Monica covered her mouth, horrified."Rayyan… she lied to us."
Rayyan nodded."I know."
"And she used your kindness…" Monica whispered. "It hurts."
Rayyan inhaled sharply."I'm going to confront her."
The Confrontation
Lisa stood near the doorway, pretending to be worried.
When she saw them—Rayyan's dark expression, Monica pale—her face faltered.
"W-What did they say? How much is the bill?"
Rayyan stepped toward her.
"Lisa," he said quietly. "Do you want to tell the truth before I do?"
Lisa stiffened."I—I don't know what you mean."
Rayyan's voice sharpened."Good. Then I'll say it."
He held up the medical report.
"This is NOT your mother."
Lisa's face drained of color.
"You lied about the bill."
Another step closer.
"You lied about her condition."
Monica watched, breath caught.
"And last night," Rayyan said, voice tightening, "you called me your boyfriend. Why? What are you trying to do?"
Lisa stepped back."Rayyan, I—"
"Why did you use Monica's kindness like this?"
People in the ward stared, nurses whispering.
Lisa's hands shook."I—I can explain—"
"Explain WHAT?" Rayyan snapped. "For money, you lied. For sympathy, you lied. For attention… you lied."
Lisa burst into tears.
"YES! Fine! I lied! ARE YOU HAPPY?!"
Nurses rushed toward them.
Lisa pointed at Rayyan, voice cracking:
"You don't understand! Everyone helps you! Everyone likes you! What about me?! I have NOTHING! Nobody cares about me!"
Lisa's face twisted—anger, panic, humiliation mixing into something unstable.
"STOP IT!" she screamed suddenly, her voice cracking through the entire corridor.
Patients peeked out. Nurses froze.
Monica stepped back a little, startled.
Lisa's hands trembled.Her eyes were wild.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!" she shouted. "BOTH OF YOU… YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
Rayyan stepped forward slowly, palms lowered.
"Lisa… calm down—"
But she snapped.
"NO!"
She reached into her handbag—hands shaking—and pulled out a small fruit knife, the cheap, foldable kind cafeterias sometimes give.
Monica gasped.Rayyan instinctively moved in front of her, blocking her with his arm.
"Lisa… put that down," Rayyan said gently. "You're not thinking straight."
Lisa pointed the knife at them, crying harder.
"You… destroyed my only chance! No one cares about me! Not my family, not Ayden… no one! And now YOU two come and act like heroes?!"
Monica's breath trembled, but she stepped beside Rayyan.
"Lisa… listen to me," Monica said softly. "We're not your enemy."
"DON'T LIE!" Lisa shouted, the knife shaking in her grip. "Everyone leaves me! Everyone betrays me! Everyone PITIES me but nobody STAYS!"
A nurse hit the emergency button.
Two guards began running down the hallway.
Rayyan stepped closer—slowly, carefully.
"Lisa… look at me."
She looked up, eyes red, broken.
"You don't need this," he whispered. "You're hurt. You're confused. But this isn't the way."
Lisa shook her head violently.
"You think you're better than me! You think she's better than me! You think EVERYONE is better than me!"
"No," Rayyan said firmly. "Nobody here thinks that."
Lisa's grip tightened.
Rayyan took a step closer.Monica held her breath.
"Lisa… give me the knife."
Lisa took a step back instead.
"Don't come near me!" she screamed. "I'm not scared of any of you!"
Monica spoke softly, tears stinging her eyes.
"Lisa… we came here because we care. Because despite everything… you're still our classmate. Our friend. But this… this will destroy you."
That hit Lisa.Her eyes flickered.Her arm trembled harder.
Monica continued gently:
"If Ayden sees you like this… he will be scared. Not angry—scared. You don't want him to see you like this, Lisa… you really don't."
Lisa froze.
Her breath shook.
For the first time, she looked afraid of herself.
Rayyan slowly reached out his hand.
"Give it to me," he whispered. "Please."
Lisa looked at Rayyan… then at Monica… tears falling faster, heavier.
Her fingers loosened.
The knife slipped.
Rayyan caught it before it hit the floor.
At that same second—
The two guards reached them.
One held Lisa firmly by the arms—not hurting her, just stopping her in case she panicked again.
"It's okay," Rayyan told them quickly. "She wasn't trying to hurt anyone. She's just overwhelmed."
Lisa collapsed to her knees, sobbing loudly, her voice cracking:
"I… I didn't mean to… I'm just so lost… I don't know what I'm doing anymore…"
Monica crouched down beside her.
"Lisa… you need help. Real help. Not hiding. Not lying. Not pretending."
Lisa cried harder into her hands.
Rayyan knelt slowly too.
"Lisa… this isn't the end. But you need to let us help the right way."
Lisa whispered through her tears:
"I'm… sorry."
And for the first time since the start—
It sounded real.
The guards slowly let go of her and stepped back.
A nurse approached gently, speaking kindly, guiding Lisa to a nearby chair to calm down.
Rayyan and Monica stepped aside, both shaken.
Monica grabbed the front of Rayyan's shirt lightly, her hand trembling.
"Rayyan… that was… so close."
He nodded, exhaling shakily.
"I know."
She looked up at him.
"You saved her."
Rayyan shook his head.
"No… she saved herself. She chose to drop it."
Monica looked at him—really looked at him—with a soft, emotional expression.
"Still… you stood in front of me. Again."
Rayyan looked away, embarrassed.
"I just… didn't want you hurt."
Monica squeezed his sleeve gently.
"Rayyan… you have no idea how much that means."
Outside the room, Lisa continued crying softly, nurses helping her breathe and calm down.
Rayyan leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
Monica leaned beside him.
The chaos slowly softened into silence.
And that was when Rayyan whispered:
"Monica… I'm tired."
Monica rested her head gently against his shoulder.
"I know," she whispered. "But you're not alone anymore."
Her voice broke.
Monica stepped forward, calm but firm.
"Lisa… lying doesn't make people care. It makes them walk away."
Lisa sobbed harder.
"I was desperate…"
Lisa slid down the wall, burying her face in her hands.
Outside the Hospital
Rayyan leaned against the railing, breathing hard.
Monica stood beside him silently.
After a long moment, she whispered:
"Rayyan… are you okay?"
He shook his head.
"No."
She nodded, understanding.
Then Monica gently placed her hand on his.
Warm.Steady.Unmoving.
"Rayyan… you're not alone," she said softly."Not anymore." Don't worry. We will do something for Lisa. I think she is mentally disturbed. We need to help her. She is our friend.
Rayyan closed his eyes.
For the first time, he didn't pull his hand away.
Because for the first time in a long time— those words felt real.