The Eternal Present

The Price of Intelligence

Weeks slipped by like leaves in the wind at Nikola Tesla University, and Andrey, almost without realizing it, had immersed himself completely in the mysteries of quantum physics. Each new formula was a riddle, each experiment a half-open door to a parallel universe. Physics did not offer him certainties, but it gave him a strange sense of belonging—as if, in the midst of quantum chaos, he could construct an intimate, personal order.

And yet, with every discovery came more questions, like shadows growing behind each spark of light.

Davide, for his part, had become something more than just a study partner. There was a tacit complicity between them, the kind that needed no words. Perhaps because they both shared that peculiar hunger to understand, or maybe because they knew what it was like to walk alone among ideas few could grasp.

One afternoon in the library, while they were reviewing a compendium of unified field theories, Davide suddenly shut his book and looked at Andrey with that half-smile that usually announced something unusual.

—I have someone I want you to meet—he said, as if he had been planning it for a while. —He’s… different.—

Andrey raised an eyebrow, skeptical.—Different how?—

—His name is Gai. And I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s the king of the campus— Andrey let out a low laugh. —What does that mean? Does he sit on a throne? Does he have subjects?—, —In a way, yes—Davide replied, amused.—Gai is like a comet. He shines, draws crowds, and no one really knows where he comes from or where he’s going. But everyone orbits around him— An uncomfortable pang settled in Andrey’s chest. It wasn’t jealousy. It was… something else. A sense of misfit, of not belonging in such a circle. It was that old voice that sometimes visited him in silence: You’re not good enough. You don’t measure up.

—And why should I meet him?— he asked, trying to sound indifferent.

Davide looked at him with patient eyes.—Because he’s more than he seems. And because, whether you realize it or not, you two are more alike than you think.— Before Andrey could respond, Davide was already on his feet. —Come on. He always stops by the cafeteria at this hour. And today he’s in a good mood. Perfect time to avoid getting hurt, — he added with a laugh.

Reluctantly, Andrey followed, while part of him longed to return to the more predictable world of electrons and photons.

The cafeteria overflowed with life. Laughter, hurried footsteps, the clinking of cups, a constant murmur woven from countless overlapping conversations. And there, at the center of that organized chaos, stood Gai.

Dark, curly hair, slightly messy, as if he never bothered to tame it. His smile was wide, easy, contagious. He had the kind of presence that couldn’t be ignored—not even attempted. Around him, a group of students laughed, hanging on his every word.

—There he is,— whispered Davide. —Wait and see.—

Gai spotted them approaching and immediately bid farewell to his group with an elegant, almost theatrical nod. Then he walked toward them with confident steps, as if the entire world were his stage.

—Davide!— he exclaimed warmly, giving him a fraternal hug. —Good to see you, brother.— Then he turned to Andrey.

—You must be Andrey—he said, extending his hand. —I’ve heard good things.—

Andrey shook it, a little tense. His palm was cold. —That’s me. Nice to meet you.—

—They say you’re a genius in quantum physics,—Gai added, his smile unwavering.

Andrey hesitated. Was it a joke? An empty compliment? But in Gai’s eyes there was genuine curiosity. He nodded, swallowing hard. —I study it with devotion. It feels… inevitable.—

—Inevitable,— Gai repeated, savoring the word. —I like how that sounds. Do you lean toward the Copenhagen interpretation, or Everett’s?— The question caught him off guard. It wasn’t common for someone to start a conversation like that.

—Everett. I think it’s braver. More… honest with the chaos—Andrey replied, now with more confidence.

Gai laughed, delighted. —Finally, someone who admits it. Me too. Though I’ll admit, it’s dizzying to imagine infinite versions of oneself.—

The conversation flowed like a river: they spoke of string theory, holographic dualities, particles vanishing under observation. Sometimes they interrupted each other, corrected with excitement, or simply fell silent in thought, as if each idea opened a new door. Gai was brilliant, yes, but also warm. And that made him even more fascinating.

But at one point, his expression shifted. Just a subtle gesture: the corners of his lips lowering, his eyes clouding.

—Being the ‘king of the campus’ isn’t as fun as it sounds—he confessed, lowering his voice.—Sometimes, all of this is a glass cage. People admire what they think they understand, but deep down… they’re just projecting.—

Andrey nodded, still silent.

—And when they don’t understand, they attack— Gai continued. —Bullying doesn’t stop. It just changes form. Sometimes it’s gossip. Other times, isolation. And the worst part is, you can’t let your guard down. Ever.—

Andrey felt a mix of surprise and understanding. It wasn’t the kind of confession he expected from someone like Gai. But perhaps that was why it moved him even more.

—You shouldn’t carry that alone, —he said, with a firmness that surprised even himself. —Sometimes intelligence is a mirror others can’t bear to look into. But that doesn’t mean you should hide—

Gai looked at him in silence for a few seconds. Then he smiled—less radiant, but more real.

—Thank you. It’s good to find someone who… simply gets it. No masks—

And for the first time, Andrey felt he was facing someone who also had cracks.

From that day on, they became inseparable: Andrey, Davide, and Gai. An unlikely trinity bound by laughter, endless debates, and a loyalty that needed no declaration. Nights filled with coffee, equations, extravagant hypotheses, and sometimes whispered confessions between the lines.

But with the new friendship came new challenges. Some students quickly showed their discomfort with their closeness, especially with Gai. Disdain disguised as jokes. Judgmental stares. Malicious comments slipping through the hallways.

Andrey, who had always preferred to avoid confrontation, surprised himself by stepping forward.

—Do you have a problem with him?— he asked one student who whispered behind Gai’s back.—None of your business,—the other replied with disdain.—Yes, it is,— Andrey shot back firmly.—Because if you can’t respect someone brilliant for who they are, then the problem isn’t him. It’s you.—

That day, he didn’t just defend a friend. He defended something within himself. Something that had been asleep.

Life at Nikola Tesla University ceased to be just a routine of books and formulas. It became a shared journey. A map without borders, where knowledge was only the starting point.

Because, in the end, Andrey understood that true intelligence is not measured by the ideas one can master, but by the ability to walk alongside others in their battles, to extend a hand even when the path grows dark.

And in that simple, human gesture, Andrey began to find his true place in the universe.