Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

"Pearl, are you still there? Where is she?"

Suddenly, a stern voice interrupted from Mobius's side. "What are you doing, Mobius? The competition is about to start. Stop talking on the phone."

Despite the pressure from his coach, Mobius persisted, pleading softly, "Coach, my friend is sick. I want to go and see her. Is that okay?"

The coach's response was uncompromising. "I've already told you. The competition is starting. This is your debut here. I won't tolerate any distractions. Do you understand?" With a steely resolve, Mobius removed his racing gear. "What are you doing? Are you defying me?" The coach's tone turned incredulous as Mobius prepared to forfeit the race. "I'm not defying you. Please, coach, I'm begging you. Let me go," Mobius pleaded earnestly.

The coach shook his head and refused cruelly, "Your race is up next. Focus on that. I don't know who this friend of yours is, but you're not giving up your chance for them." "Coach, she's the woman I love," Mobius confessed, his words striking a chord with Pearl, who listened in.

career or your love life?"

"She's more

insisted, "You can finish the race in half an hour. Can't you wait until then?"

Mobius reluctantly relented under the weight of his

he donned his racing gear once more, but his thoughts remained with Esther,

illness. Esther was afraid of pain, and

conflicting emotions gnawed at Mobius, distracting him even as the race began. He just wanted to get it

Mobius's erratic driving, the coach grew concerned. "Mobius, that's too fast! You'll

his turmoil, Mobius failed to heed the warning, accelerating unconsciously until he lost control of the car

collided with