Powers are so fickle when they are granted by a scientist who lives for making yet cannot make sense as to why they happen. Doc Renner has always been on the weird side but his enthusiasm for knowledge and pursuit of new ideas made him fun to be around.

Its also because I was dropped off at his house by his student when I was baby so I had no choice but to be around him 24/7. Living with him for 18 plus years should have made me more cautious of what was in the fridge yet I thought nothing better of the green liquid as my favorite cucumber drink after a jog.

I ignored the suspicious taste as I was too thirsty to care.

It was only when Doc Renner whistled in and his jaw dropped seeing me drink the bottle he did not bother to label, did I realize shit I really did become his guinea pig.

“Do you feel anything?” Doc Renner wasn’t really an actual medicine doctor yet he still has a tiny hammer and stethoscope he uses whenever I get sick.

He made me lie down on the couch to prevent sudden death if ever his potion was poisonous after all.

My dear Leo you are too young to die. If you do die, I’ll try my hardest to deny ethics and make an antidote to bring you back alive. The chances you’ll be more zombie than human are huge but I’ll take it. Live on, my son.

Weird, his lips weren’t moving.

“Doc, are you practicing vantriliquism?” I asked, frowning. How did he say all those without ever moving his lips?

“Not since I was 10, why?” Doc Renner raised the stethoscope to check my heart rate on my chest. “Your heart rate is too high. You should always cool down after exercise.”

Woohhh his heart is still beating. He’s not gonna die.

I got up. “How are you doing that? I can hear you so clearly in my head. Its bugging me.”

Doc Renner twirl his long beard on his chin. A habit he does when he’s thinking very deeply.

“Interesting.”

Cut to 6 months later I can still read minds when my heart rate is high so like the mischievous little shit I am, I run laps and do jumping jacks before every exam.

Doc Renner might be my father but I definitely did not inherit his big oftentimes misguided brain.

Going into the room slightly sweaty, I make sure to sit next to Candice the smartest girl in our entire year right in front row.

The death row most people call it cause the teachers are right in front of you. No chance you could cheat and the eye contact with the harbringers of bad grades just makes you get the wrong answers no matter how much you study.

For Candace though, she has a working relationship with them. Enough to call them by their first names as a greeting and only getting a grunt not a threat of detention.

“Studied Leo didn’t cha?” I heard someone ask me from behind to which I replied a nervous chuckle.

Candace looked at me up and down. “You’re damp.”

What the hell is he doing over here? I can’t focus. He too attractive and even his sweat smells good. How do you do that? When I sweat its like I’m already fermenting. Though its probably the kimchi. No wait Jeffery is coming alright we are going to ace this test and not look at Leo’s perfect face more than once or twice or enough times wherein we’d make eye contact and I suddenly forget the answers cause he smiles a bit and its absolutely dazzling. Why did I even comment he’s damp? Even damp he’s fantastic-

Oh yeah did I mention the Candace also has mega huge crush on me? She did well hiding it. If anyone else were looking they’d think she hates me.