The weight of Akinyi's words lingered in Ochieng's mind, but he didn't let it show.
As he walked back to class, his thoughts were sharp, calculating.
She had noticed something.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
For years, he had trained himself to be invisible. Not just socially, but in every possible way. He had buried his skills, suppressed his instincts, and endured mockery and humiliation without reacting.
Not because he was weak.
But because he was waiting.
Waiting for the right moment.
For the right reason.
And now, for the first time in years, someone had seen through his mask.
Akinyi.
But why her?
She wasn't like the others. She wasn't one of the popular students, nor was she among the troublemakers. She was quiet, observant.
Too observant.
Ochieng didn't believe in coincidences.
Which meant… she had been watching him for a while.
---
As soon as he stepped into the classroom, the usual noise greeted him—laughter, whispers, and the casual arrogance of those who believed they were better than others.
At the front, Brian Makori was laughing with his group.
Brian.
The school's golden boy. Handsome, rich, and effortlessly popular. Everyone either wanted to be him or wanted to be with him.
Ochieng didn't care about status games.
But Brian?
Brian had a reason to hate him.
Because once, long ago, before Ochieng had chosen to stay hidden—he had been better than Brian at everything.
And Brian knew it.
Which was why, over the years, Brian had done everything he could to bury Ochieng's existence.
And the students followed.
Mockery. Isolation. Insults.
Ochieng endured it all.
Because none of it mattered.
But today… something felt different.
As Ochieng walked to his seat, he felt Brian's eyes on him.
And not just Brian.
Akinyi was watching, too.
And so was someone else.
---
The door suddenly slid open.
The entire class turned to look.
A girl stood at the entrance.
Tall. Elegant. With an aura that demanded attention.
She walked in, completely ignoring the curious whispers.
Mr. Omari looked up from his desk. "Ah, you must be the new transfer student."
She nodded, her expression unreadable.
"Introduce yourself."
The girl stepped forward.
Her voice was calm. "My name is Zariah Wanjiru."
A murmur ran through the class.
Zariah?
That name—it was familiar.
Ochieng frowned slightly.
He knew that name.
And then it hit him.
Wanjiru.
As in, the Wanjiru family.
One of the wealthiest, most powerful families in the country.
What was someone like her doing here?
Zariah glanced around the class, uninterested. Then, for a brief second—her eyes landed on Ochieng.
And in that second, Ochieng knew.
She wasn't here by accident.
She was here… because of him.
---
As the lesson continued, Ochieng's mind was racing.
Akinyi was suspicious of him.
Brian was watching him.
And now Zariah Wanjiru had appeared.
Something was happening.
Something bigger than just school life.
And Ochieng knew…
His days of staying invisible were coming to an end.
---