Thomas.

Michael did not find him as attractive as himself. Curly brown hair, tall, a little thin, a little tan, accompanied by a goofy laugh. But he was charming apparently, and girls liked him.

Michael observed him for a few days. He could easily figure out how Thomas was different from himself and why he was gaining attention.

Thomas was like Grace. He made the effort. He made jokes, showed off his talents and was proactive in every activity. He complimented girls and got into the god books of James. He even diverted Grace’s attention from Michael. Once Michael had seen the Prospectives mingle with the rest in the cafeteria. While he felt annoyed, he saw Grace see him and ignore him. Immediately, Michael had left the location.

As much as he denied, he knew that he might be losing his chances of getting into the Privileged. He sat alone on a bench in the campus. It was his first time in an environment like this, mingling with other people, and he didn’t know what to do.
He felt someone sit beside him. Turning to his right, he saw that it was Anya.

“Hey,” she said. He gave her a half-hearted smile and saw her just stare at him. She shook her head in a second and said, “Where were you? All of us were in the cafeteria, but I didn’t see you there.”

“I was around. I had some work to do,” he replied.
“Michael,” she said, “Are you not worried about not getting into the Privileged?”
Michael didn’t know what to say.

“I am. I know I don’t have much competition. But I don’t know why I feel so nervous,” she said.
Michael listened to her quietly.

“Did something go wrong between you and Grace?” she asked again. He stared at the ground avoiding eye contact.
“Listen Michael, you need to make some effort. Else no one will support you. You’ll always have my vote but that’s not enough.”

She turned to him this time. When he looked at her, she said, “I will get into the Honoured. And when I’m there, I want you to be there with me.” He felt her place her hand on his shoulder.

He observed her eyes widen as he smiled.
“Come on. Let’s go inside,” she said with a shy smile as she stood up and dragged him with her.

**
“Well look who is here!” Thomas exclaimed as Anya walked in with Michael. Michael looked around and noticed that everyone, including Grace, was finally giving him attention. James jumped off the table and said, “You guys are right on time! Thomas was about to try the Wardrobe challenge!”

“Thomas!” Anya turned to him, “Did you know that the current record holder of the wardrobe challenge is Michael? He sat in that wardrobe for over two hours!”

Michael smiled at Anya’s effort in bringing up his name.
“Let’s not waste time,” Grace said as he patted Thomas’s back.

Soon the lot of them assembled in front of the wardrobe. Michael saw Thomas staring at the wardrobe, that was tall, dark and old. Quite ordinary. However, Thomas looked worried.

“You have to spend over two hours in there to beat Michael. Do we have a candle?” asked James.
“Candle will just use up his oxygen. Let it be,” Sia replied.
“Alright. Your phone,” James put out his hand asking for Thomas’s call phone. Thomas placed his phone in the open palm with a smile, but Michael could feel the hesitance in his actions.

Finally, after giving an awkward smile, Thomas entered the wardrobe and closed it behind him.
“Let’s wait,” said Anya. As a result, everyone spread out in the room to get comfortable.

Suddenly, shocking everyone in the room, the wardrobe door flung open. With a loud thud, Thomas fell out of the wardrobe drenched in sweat. He was breathing heavily and was looking at the wardrobe with terror in his eyes.

“What the hell?!” said Sia as she ran to Thomas.
“I CAN’T DO IT!” said Thomas as everyone gathered around him. “I can’t do it. I’m claustrophobic.”
“Shit,” Anya looked at Grace.
“Why didn’t you tell us anything before you went in?” asked James.
“Well, Michael did it and I didn’t want to look like a loser in front of him,” Thomas said.

“Someone has to do it. Else this moment is going to be blackmarked in my book forever,” James said.

While a few shook their head at his immaturity and helped up Thomas, a few sided with James. They expected a show and it wasn’t there.
“I’ll do it.”

Everyone turned their attention to the one suddenly spoke.
“I like a little competition. What’s better than a competition with myself?” Michael shrugged his shoulders. Grace scoffed, "Nobody likes a showoff Michael."

“I’m not showing off. I’m doing this on behalf of Thomas. There are things he is good at, and I’m not. There are things I’m good at, but he isn’t. let me do it. What’s the harm?”

A few nodded their head. Grace thought for a while and looked at James, who just smiled back.
“Fine,” Grace said with a sigh, “Do it.”

Everyone made way as Michael walked to the wardrobe. Anya gave him a reassuring smile as he handed her his phone. He stepped in the wardrobe and held its door.

“But,” Grace crossed his arms and spoke again, “We will not come to open the door. You must stay in there for as long as you can and come out only when you are tired.”
“What?” Anya was baffled.
“Awesome!” said James.
“That could take all night!” said Anya.
“Or he might come out before he completes even two hours. Good luck!” Grace replied.

As Grace closed the doors of the wardrobe, Michael watched everyone look at his face with a mixture of emotions. There was worry, wonder, fear and excitement.

Michael slowly sat on the wardrobe floor. Last time, there was candlelight to keep him company. This time, however, there was nothing but his thoughts. It was pitch dark inside. It wouldn’t make a difference if his eyes were closed or open. However, this felt oddly familiar to him. He has spent countless hours in the dark before; sleepless nights, whenever power went off at home and whenever grandpa punished him. Initially he used to be scared. But now, darkness seemed like an old friend; a companion who stood by his side during his tough times.

Michael wondered why people were so afraid of the dark. It's just the absence of light. It's just a natural phenomenon. And yet, there was something so magical about it. He put forward his palm, imagined a hand being placed on his. He had never held anyone’s hand before. But today it felt real.

Suddenly the wardrobe door flung open. Michael looked outside and saw Grace and Anya at the door. He could see James, Thomas and a lot of others behind them, worry written all over their face.

“What happened?” asked Michael.
“Are you alright?” Anya questioned him back.
“I’m fine,” Michael felt confused.
“Come out. Now,” said grace.

Michael stood up and walked out slowly. He placed his hand over his chest and rubbed lightly.
“Did you feel suffocated in there?” James asked him.
“A little bit,” answered Michael, “What?” he asked Anya again as she wouldn’t stop staring at him.

“I would have come out on my own,” Michael said, as a matter of fact, “Why bring me out so soon?”
It was Anya who answered to him, “We thought you might die. Michael, you were in there for six hours.”