"And that concludes today's lesson about DNA sequencing in mammals and its usage in understanding mammalian diseases," a teacher said to a room full of pale-skinned teenagers, save for one dark-skinned boy. "Next Monday we will move on to the debates over the role of sex in animal kingdom," the teacher continued speaking to her class, "and I want you to pick an animal to research about. Any animal, I don't care what. Penguins, chameleons, whatever, as long as—"she frowned when the dark-skinned boy raised his hand. "What is it, Johan?"
"You said any animal. Humans are technically animals, so can I pick humans for my project?"
"Why?" a girl who sat behind Johan sniggered. "So that you have an excuse to be a pervert?"
The classroom erupted into laughter, which persisted until the teacher gave everyone an annoyed look. That didn't deter the girl, who went on calling Johan unflattering names.
"You have nothing to say to me?" she raised an eyebrow. "Then it's true, you're a sex addict."
"That's enough from you, Bethany!" the teacher raised her voice. "To go back to your question, Johan, yes you can but what for? What is it about human sex that you want to explore?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Bethany butted in. "I told you he has no self-control and is addicted to sex."
Johan ignored her, although tears threatened to escape his eyes, and got up from his seat to hand a piece of paper to his teacher. When he returned to his seat, he busied himself with his laptop.
"What was that paper for?" Bethany asked. When Johan didn't answer, she kicked his leg under the chair. "Hey, did you hear me? I was asking what the hell that pa—"
"That's not for you to know, young lady!" the teacher interrupted. "Anyway, shouldn't you leave class already?" she gestured toward the hallway, now noisy with students running to their lockers to grab their stuff before going home. "Go to your extracurricular activity. Aren't you in the modeling and photography club? Don't they have a meeting today?"
"Oh shit!" Bethany gathered her belongings. "Thanks, Mrs. Richard, I almost forgot!"
With Bethany out of the classroom, Mrs. Richard took a seat next to Johan and began reading what he had written. Meanwhile, the boy stayed quiet with his gaze fixed to a website.
"Hmm, I didn't expect a thorough proposal, at least not until I announce the deadline for the assignment," she said when she finished reading. "But in hindsight, I should've known. You've always given this class your best. But are you sure about the topic you want to present next week? I don't have a problem with it, but Bethany and others might laugh at you even more."
"I'm used to it," Johan replied. "You know me, ma'am, I turn the other cheek and pray that one day God will show them that I'm no different from them—just a guy with a lot of curiosity."
"That you are," Mrs. Richard smiled. "Hey, what's that website?" she pointed to his laptop.
"This is the website for Blue Orchid University of Xenobiology. I'm thinking of applying to their Earth Biology department. It's a prestigious department, though, so I'll have to do something impressive to get in," Johan explained, his lips curling into the beginning of a grin.
"Oh, so that's why you proposed a research on the biological roots of same-sex attraction in humans and its possible connection to a mutation happening to the fetus in the womb!" exclaimed Mrs. Richard, whose grin rivaled that of her student. "That could definitely impress your future professors. But out of all the possible majors to choose for, why Earth Biology?"
YOU ARE READING
Dreams Upon A Silver Pine Branch
Teen FictionThe Kinoya family, one of the most financially well-to-do families on their home planet Silver Pine, seems like they have everything they could ask for. But behind the closed doors of their huge traditional Japanese dojo, three members of the family...
