The break bell rang, and students rushed out like a wave breaking on the shore. Laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone hurried to the play field, some to the canteen or to school clubs.
But Maria had other plans. She and her close group of girls snuck to their secret spot ;an old storage shed behind the sports field where they kept extra clothes and makeup.
There, they quickly changed out of their school uniforms and into town clothes — stylish skirts, flashy tops, and jewelry. Maria, as always, wore her new high-clarity glasses like a crown. She checked herself in a small cracked mirror, smiling as the others hyped her up.
"Let's go show the town what real queens look like," she said, flipping her hair.
They spent a few hours out in town, taking photos, buying snacks, and laughing at silly jokes. By the time they returned to campus, the sun was low, and most students had already started leaving.
Still wearing her glasses, Maria led them through the garden, planning to slip in quietly so no one would see them coming back. But when they got to a bushy corner of the garden, Maria suddenly froze.
Her glasses, with their sharp clarity, caught a glimpse of something long and green coiled in the shadows.
"A snake!" she shrieked, her voice slicing through the quiet like a knife.
Her friends jumped, their eyes wide in panic. They grabbed each other and screamed too, even though the snake was just a harmless green garden snake.
Students who were still on campus turned to look. A few gasped, and someone yelled, "What's happening over there?!"
In a wild scramble, Maria and her friends burst from the bushes, tripping and tugging at each other's arms, until they spilled out into the main compound.
They tried to stand tall and fix their hair, but it was too late ; everyone had seen them. Some students covered their mouths in shock, others burst into laughter.
Moments later, the Principal stepped forward from the main building. His face was serious, and behind that stern look, there was a flicker of disappointment ; he was Maria's father.
"Maria," he said sharply. "And the rest of you. What exactly were you doing?"
Maria swallowed hard, her voice shaking at first. But she straightened her back and flipped her hair again, trying to keep her usual confident aura.
"Sir," she began carefully, "we were just taking a walk in the garden… enjoying the fresh air… learning from nature. But then… the glasses… they caught sight of a snake, and… well, we panicked and ran."
A heavy silence fell over the courtyard. The Principal stared at them for a long moment, his jaw tightening.
Finally, he sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I've told you girls many times ; do not wander into the garden at this hour. It's dangerous and inappropriate."
Maria nodded quickly. "Yes, Father. We understand. It won't happen again."
After a few more seconds, he waved them off. "Go. And next time, think twice before sneaking around." He didn't let it out, in his head;he knew they tried sneaking..
The girls hurried away, heads down. But Maria, even as her heart pounded in her chest, glanced back. She knew eyes were on her ; whispers already starting to spread through the school.
She clutched the glasses tightly. Part of her felt small and exposed. But part of her also felt something strange ;like a hint of respect for the very same "nerd" who had made them...
She also wondered, "if not for these glasses?"