"My favorite show is Breaking Bad, even though chemistry isn't my strong suit, I ended up choosing it," Otto said proudly.
"Who's your favorite character?"
"Gus Fring, obviously. Why even ask?"
"Respect."
"Respect."
The whole class watched as Otto and I started talking passionately, even Harry was a bit overwhelmed.
"So, what do you think the formula for meth is?" I asked, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
"C10H15N, obviously. Not being good at something doesn't mean I don't know it."
"Ohh!"
"So, Peter boi, who's the character you hate the most?"
"Skyler."
"Hmm, good choice, but I hate Walter Jr. more."
"Fair opinion."
The two of us looked at each other like kindred spirits.
"You know what? I kinda like you. Wanna be partners?"
"???" Harry looked confused as Otto invited Peter.
"Uh… not for now, teacher."
"When you change your mind, come find me, Jesse."
Since when did Peter change his name??
"Ah, right, took you guys long enough! Let's start the lecture."
Mechanical arms grabbed the chalk and started writing chemical formulas on the board.
Not his strong suit, yet he filled the entire board like that?
The other students stared at the pile of formulas, ready to pass out. Even Harry was getting a headache looking at it.
Well, Peter wasn't fazed. He thought it was only hard because there were so many.
"Dude, we're American students, not Asian students. Why do we have to study so hard?" Harry complained to Peter.
"It's not that bad. At least Mr. Otto is nicer than Asian teachers."
Well, unless Otto turns into Dr. Octopus.
"Nicer? What does that have to do with anything? Look at the lecture!"
"That's alcohol."
"Huh?" Harry looked puzzled, realizing he had pointed at the formula for ethanol.
"What about that one? The cleaning stuff. How does it clean dirt off clothes or dishes?"
"Haha, you don't even know something that simple? Soap and detergents dissolve in water to create a solution with low surface tension, making the object easier to wet. The hydrophobic tail of soap or detergent penetrates the stain (or grease), breaking it into tiny particles with hydrophilic heads facing outward. These particles disperse in water and get washed away. Simple, right?"
Why such a long explanation?
"Still, remember that soap and detergents are different. Their similarity is the polar part (the 'hydrophilic head'), which dissolves in water, and the non-polar part (the 'hydrophobic tail'), which is a long hydrocarbon chain (R) that doesn't dissolve in water."
"The difference is that the polar part of soap is a carboxylate group, while in synthetic detergents, it's a sulfate or sulfonate group. Got it, buddy?"
"Stop… please stop…" Harry clutched his head, begging.
"Hey, you there! What are you fidgeting with? Stand up and answer me!" Otto pointed at Harry, calling him to stand.
"Ahh…"
"Why does alcohol burn when exposed to fire?"
"Well… because alcohol is flammable?"
"Explain it clearly."
"…"
"C2H5OH (ethanol) + 3O2 (oxygen) → 2CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 3H2O (water vapor) + Energy."
"???"
"Because ethanol is a flammable substance, it provides fuel for a chemical reaction with oxygen in the air. When there's a heat source, alcohol molecules break down, forming free radicals that rapidly react with oxygen, releasing energy as heat and light, creating a flame. The process continues as the reaction generates enough heat to vaporize more alcohol and draw in surrounding oxygen. Got it?"
Ugh, great. Smart people always try to explain things in the most long-winded way possible without summarizing. They're so cruel.
As soon as Harry sat down, he noticed Peter smirking.
"I may be a nerd, but that's why teachers always take me seriously."
"Are you kidding me?"
***
The bell rang, and everyone let out tired sighs as the class ended.
Just as I was about to leave, Otto came over and handed me a card.
"Here's my number. Call me if you need anything," he said with a smile before walking away.
…You know what? He's kinda chill. I think I could get along with him.
I stuffed the card into my jacket pocket, grabbed my backpack, and pulled Harry, who was slumped over the desk from exhaustion.
"I don't wanna study chemistry…"
"It's over now, let's go home."
"…Is there chemistry tomorrow?"
"Yup."
"Ughhhhh…"
Harry and I got up and left the classroom.
"By the way, what class is Gwen in?" I asked.
"I thought you knew?"
"How would I know?"
"Because you're her boyfriend?"
Dude, she claimed that herself. I haven't even confirmed that relationship yet…
"If you don't know, just ask someone," Harry said.
"Yeah…" I looked at the other students and approached one to start a conversation.
"Um, excuse me—"
"I already have a boyfriend!" she said and walked away immediately.
"...?" Harry and I stood there, dumbfounded, looking at each other.
"…Keep asking."
"…Excuse me—"
"Ugh, a nerd? I don't talk to nerds!" a big blond guy who looked a lot like Flash said before walking off.
"…Hey—"
"Ugh, Peter Parker? I'll talk to anyone but you. Get lost," a pink-haired girl said, inspecting her nails before shooing me away.
"…" Harry and I looked at each other.
This school is so unfair to me.
"Well, why don't we just wait outside the school?" Harry suggested, and I could only nod.
We walked outside, and right in front of us was a group of people bullying a girl on the basketball court.
"…Wow, no wonder no one's bullying me anymore. They just switched targets?" I said, looking at them with displeasure.
"It's high school. Bullying never stops; it just shifts from one target to another with different methods depending on the bully," Harry said, scratching his head.
"…Let's help her," I said, pointing at the girl being bullied.
"That's my boi!"
We walked over, and just as the bullies were about to get physical with her, I grabbed the hand of the girl leading the group.
"Huh?"
I looked at her and realized it was the pink-haired girl who had brushed me off earlier.
"What's this? A nerd playing hero?" she said, holding back a laugh as she looked at me.
The girls behind her snickered as I stood in front of her, shielding the victim.
"Get lost, or I'll bully you too. I'm not scared," she said, wiping her nails.
"Normally… I don't hit girls. I respect them," I said calmly, looking at them.
"What? Too scared to hit a girl but still stepping in? Wanna be a punching bag? Or maybe you want to be the errand boy for us pretty girls?" she said with a mocking tone.
"However, Harry's a different story."
"Huh?"
A cart full of stuff, with Harry standing on it, came barreling straight into the pink-haired girl.
"AGHHHH!!!" She fell, screaming in pain.
"Dude, where'd you get that cart?" I raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"Near the supermarket."
"…The supermarket's miles away from school. Did you steal it?"
"You jerks! Don't you guys have any self-respect?" one of the girls yelled at us while checking on the pink-haired girl.
"Ask Harry," I said, pointing at him.
"My hands are rated E for everyone!" Harry said, striking a pose.
"You—you creeps! Disgusting men! I'm calling the women's rights group to report you!"
"So bullying someone of the same gender is a right? You guys hate each other that much?" I asked, scratching my head.
"Shut up! I'm calling the women's rights group right now! You're done for!"
"What now, Peter? If this blows up, the papers will write all sorts of stuff about us," Harry whispered.
"Nah, don't worry. I've got a plan, as long as you're willing to cooperate," Peter said with a smile.
Moments later, the women's rights group arrived.
"There! Those two disgusting guys! Send them off to war! Society doesn't need men—they're all barbarians!" the girl shouted, pointing at us.
"…I don't see anyone?"
"Huh?" She turned to look.
There were two "girls" holding flowers, handing them to the bullied girl.
"Hyrra-chan! She's so pitiful, call someone to help her!" said one "girl" who was short and looked a bit like a loli.
"No way, Peni-chan! They won't step in! This society is so unfair!" said the other "girl," who was muscular but spoke in a delicate tone.
"Oh, look! It's the women's protection group! Go tell them!" Peni-chan said, pointing at the short-haired, muscular girl, and the two walked over.
"Sis! This girl was being bullied! She's super pitiful!" Hyrra-chan said, grabbing the bullied girl's hand.
"Look! Look at these bruises! How cruel!" Peni-chan said, wiping fake tears.
"…Who did this?" the other girl asked.
Peni and Hyrra pointed at the group of bullies.
"What?! You jerks—"
"DIE! FALCON PUNCH!!!!" The muscular girl threw a punch, knocking out the entire group of bullies, who were then carried away by the others.
As they left, Harry and Peter let out a sigh of relief.
"…Hey," Harry looked at me.
"?"
"…You make a pretty good femboy. Why don't you—"
"NO," I said, immediately taking off the costume, my loli height reverting to my teenage height.
We turned to look at the bullied girl.
"…Huh?" I furrowed my brow.
This girl looked familiar… Wait, she's…
"Oh! You're the girl I accidentally bumped into this morning!"
She stayed silent, looking at us.
"…Why?"
"Hm?"
"Why did you help me?"
Harry pulled me closer.
"Peter, choose your words carefully. You might just score another girl!"
"Stop it, Gwen's enough trouble as it is."
I turned to her, giving a casual smile.
"Why not? Do I need a reason to help?"
"…"
Harry winked at me, as if praising me for doing well.
"…Thank you," she said before walking away.
Watching her leave like that, I just scratched my head.
"It's fine, I'll keep this a secret from Gwen," Harry said, putting an arm around my shoulder.
"Dude, I'm not flirting."
"I know, I know."
"You don't get it."
"…Also next time, try cosplaying as a girl again. I wanna see Peni-chan again."
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."