It was early Saturday morning. The air felt fresh, carrying that quiet excitement that hints something big is coming. Einstein was in his room, carefully packing his notes and a few small gadgets into his bag. Today was the day they would all meet at Vinci's house to finally start building on their time-machine plans in person.
He looked around his desk one last time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything: sketches, calculations, and even some spare lenses for his glasses.
Just as he was about to zip his bag shut, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, expecting maybe a reminder from Vinci or a funny meme from Hawkings. But instead, it was a reply to the "hi" message he had sent earlier out of habit.
Curious, he opened it and read carefully. His eyes widened in surprise.
It was Maria.
She had written a long, sincere message. She apologized for everything she had done: for embarrassing him in front of the class, for mocking his glasses, and for all the hurtful words. She even admitted that without his glasses, he might have been in danger that day.
"Please," she wrote, "don't take it all to heart. I regret it so much. I know I was wrong."
Then came the most unexpected part. Maria asked to join their group. She said she wanted to help with their project and stand with them as a true team member. "I want to make it up to all of you," she added. "And maybe... together, we can achieve something even greater."
Einstein leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He wasn't angry. In fact, her words felt real and heavy, like they carried more than just an apology. But this wasn't a simple decision.
He knew right away that Hawkings would be the hardest to convince. Hawkings never hid his dislike for Maria after what she had done, and he fiercely protected their small circle. Vinci might be more open-minded, and Eliza would probably be cautious but fair.
After a few minutes of thinking, Einstein started typing.
"Maria, you are forgiven. I don't hold it against you anymore," he wrote. "But about joining our group... I can't decide that alone. I have to discuss it with Vinci, Hawkings, and Eliza. They also have to agree. I hope you understand."
A few seconds later, her reply came:
"Thank you, Einstein. I'll wait to hear from you. Please... just thank you."
He set his phone down slowly and let out a long sigh. Outside his window, kids were playing and families were starting their weekend routines. But in his mind, everything felt tangled. A new twist in their plans, right when they were about to take the first big step into the unknown.
Einstein stood up, swung his bag over his shoulder, and took one last look at the message on his phone.
"This is going to be... complicated," he whispered to himself, then stepped out to meet the others.
Meanwhile, Vinci was still in his lab that morning, double-checking every screw and wire on his prototype. He had barely slept the night before, his mind racing with possibilities.
As he adjusted a small dial on the side, suddenly a faint, beautiful light started to glow from deep inside the machine. Vinci froze.
The glow grew stronger, starting soft and then becoming bright enough to cast reflections on his face and the walls. His heart pounded. This wasn't just random energy. It meant the prototype was finally connecting with the core energy source he had been dreaming about.
He stepped back, breathing hard. "It's happening," he whispered, his eyes wide. "This... this is the start of everything."
Just then, his phone buzzed. It was Einstein.
They had already planned to meet that morning, but Vinci saw the new message pop up. Einstein had written:
"Guys, before I leave home, there's something important. Maria texted me this morning. She apologized for everything... and she wants to join us. But that's not all. I feel like I witnessed something great today. Not just from her words, but something else. I can't explain it yet, but I think it's a sign."
Vinci read the message, still glancing at the glowing prototype in front of him. Goosebumps ran down his arms. The glow, Maria's sudden change, Einstein's words — it all felt connected somehow, like pieces of a puzzle sliding into place.
He didn't reply right away. Instead, he turned back to the shining machine. The glow had softened now but didn't disappear completely. It felt almost alive, as if waiting for them to act.
Finally, Vinci picked up his phone and typed back:
"I saw something too. The prototype just activated and started glowing. It's real. Maybe today is the day everything changes. We'll talk when you get here. Bring the others fast."
Einstein read the reply and felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Something great," he whispered again, tightening the strap of his bag.
Whatever was waiting for them at Vinci's house, he knew this would not be an ordinary weekend anymore..