Maria sat in her seat for the rest of the lesson, her fingers resting on the sides of the glasses as though they were the only thing anchoring her to reality. Every now and then, her eyes drifted to Einstein. She tried to look away quickly, but the question kept coming back, buzzing in her head like a trapped insect.
Why was he being so nice?
She told herself it didn't matter. But deep inside, a part of her, small and unguarded, felt something soft and unfamiliar blooming. Maybe they didn't have to hate each other. Maybe, she thought, they could just be… friends.
She imagined him making her more of these glasses, maybe a set of custom watches that synced with her phone, or even lenses that could read notes from across the room. She started seeing him differently ; not as the annoying, chalk-dusted boy she loved to humiliate, but as a genius, someone with a mind that sparked like lightning in the middle of a quiet sky.
As the minutes dragged on, she couldn't stop touching the glasses. Each tap and adjustment felt like she was convincing herself they truly belonged to her now.
They all sat through the next lesson, then another. The second break bell finally rang, echoing down the hall like a gentle release.
Maria stood up first, her movements smooth and confident. Her squad followed, giggling and tossing their hair like a pack of trained birds. But today, she looked different. Her presence felt brighter, more magnetic, as if the glasses had given her an extra layer of charm.
Before leaving, she paused at the door. She turned, her eyes falling on Einstein. For a heartbeat, their eyes locked. Something like a question flickered across her face. She looked extraordinary, the glasses catching the light perfectly, making her look like she had stepped straight out of a futuristic movie poster.
Then she broke the gaze, turned sharply, and walked away, her group trailing behind her like shadows.
The room fell silent for a moment. Vinci let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair, shaking his head in amazement. Hawking crossed his arms and pushed his glasses up his nose, watching the door as if he could still see her ghost.
Eliza finally turned to Einstein, her face tight with both relief and worry.
Einstein stood up slowly, sliding his chair back with a soft scrape. He walked to the back of the classroom, motioning for them all to follow. Vinci and Hawking moved quickly, and Eliza hesitated for a second before rising, hugging her bag close to her chest.
They gathered in the back corner, half-hidden from the few students still hanging around.
"She likes it," Hawking said first, his voice calm but edged with excitement.
Einstein nodded, his eyes shining with a quiet triumph. "She doesn't just like it. She's starting to feel like they're hers. That's the real hook."
Vinci grinned, tapping his pencil against his chin. "She was staring at you, man. You saw that, right?"
Einstein shrugged lightly, trying to play it cool, but a tiny smile escaped. "That's part of it. She's questioning everything now. The glasses… me… maybe even herself."
Eliza shifted beside him, her eyes wide and uncertain. "Do you really think she'll keep wearing them?" she asked, her voice a little small.
Einstein turned to her and nodded. "I think she will. In fact, I think she's going to wear them all the time. They make her feel powerful, special. And when the moment comes… when the real attack happens… you'll turn invisible to her eyes, Curie. You'll disappear like a ghost."
Eliza hugged her bag tighter, her fingers curling around the strap. She tried to imagine Maria's face in that moment, stunned and helpless, and it gave her a flicker of courage she hadn't felt in weeks.
Vinci clapped his hands together once, sharp and sudden. "Then we're almost there. The final act is set."
Hawking pushed off the wall, his eyes still thoughtful. "We'll watch her carefully. If she tries to take them off or switch back, we adjust. But if we time this right… she'll never see Curie coming."
They all fell silent for a moment, feeling the weight of what was ahead.
Outside, the second break was in full swing, laughter and footsteps echoing in the hallway.
Maria walked across the courtyard, her head held high. The glasses gleamed like a secret crown, reflecting the sunlight in sharp glimmers. She didn't know that every step she took pulled her deeper into the trap. She didn't know the quiet calculations happening behind those watching eyes.
She only knew that she felt stronger, and for the first time, maybe she felt seen in a way she had never let herself feel before.
Inside, the four of them stood close together, a quiet circle bound by trust and daring. The plan was alive now, breathing between them like a fifth, invisible member.
They knew the next move would be the hardest. But together, they were ready.
And far across the courtyard, Maria wore the glasses like they were her birthright, her eyes unknowingly locked on a future she couldn't yet see.