After the mini-explosion at the back, it was pure chaos. Like, full-blown zombie apocalypse energy in the entire chem lab. Everyone scrambled to get out. Some were even yelling "TAUB!"—as if this were swimming class.
Ms. Clarisse? Super calm—the kind of calm that said she was ready to kill if someone broke another piece of equipment.
"EVERYONE, STAY PUT!" she shouted, her voice slicing through the panic like a katana. "It's just baking soda and vinegar, for Pete's sake!"
Just?! It felt like World War III just happened!
Meanwhile, Kairo was still steady. Just wiping down the table with his alcohol spray. Minimal movements. As if nothing happened.
"Was that part of the activity?" I asked, half-joking, half-traumatized.
"No," he said, not even looking at me. "That was part of human error."
Oof. Hit where it hurts. That human error? That was me.
He scooted over and handed me extra gloves. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just... emotionally scarred for life. But other than that, I'm peachy."
He shook his head, hiding a smile. I knew he was hiding one. I saw your eyebrow twitch, Kairo!
When I turned around, there was River—holding a test tube like it was a magic wand. "Yeli, look at this. If I mix this, we might explode again."
"HEY! DON'T INCLUDE ME IN THAT!"
He winked. "Just kidding, sunshine."
Merry snatched the test tube. "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD ANYTHING EXPLOSIVE."
Ms. Clarisse stormed toward us, death-glare fully activated. "Mr. River FinLey Illustre, step away from the chemicals. You're not in this lab to cosplay as a demolition expert."
"Yes ma'am," River said with a grin. "I'm just adding spice to life."
"You spice up my lab again and I'll make you handwrite the entire chemistry book."
Boy went silent. The main character got humbled.
I looked at Kairo. "He's weird, huh?"
He raised an eyebrow. "And you're not?"
Oof. Hit again. Why do I get butterflies when this guy roasts me?
Before I could answer, Crocs girl showed up—with an ice pack.
"Yeli, want this?" she asked. "For emotional trauma."
"Thanks, sis. I'll need ten."
-
After a few more chaos clean-ups, the lab session ended. No fatalities. Just some minor burns to my pride. And a little to my dignity.
But as I was walking out, I heard Kairo again.
"You did... okay."
I stopped.
"What?"
"You didn't destroy the lab. That's an achievement."
I smiled. "Thanks. You were great at saving the beaker."
He didn't reply, but looked at me for a long second. Then nodded and walked away.
Kairo, seriously. He's like a mysterious math problem I can't solve—but somehow gives me heart palpitations.
~•~•~