THE OTHER ME

Episode 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 : 𝑼𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒊𝒆𝒔

ETHAN WALKER

When the bell finally rang, I was the first out of the classroom. It was a disaster of a day, and I wasn't about to hang around for round two of humiliation. Jenna didn't even look my way as I left, which was both a relief and a punch to the gut. As much as I wanted her attention, today was not the day. I couldn't bear the idea of more embarrassment. I flopped so hard during math class, and the laughter from the other students, especially Jenna, still echoed in my head.

I had already made up my mind to visit Mr. Thaddeus Krane after school and accept his offer. The thought lingered in my mind like a lifeline-an escape from mediocrity and the ridicule that seemed to follow me. I could fix this. I needed to be perfect. With the interschool match looming and Jake Callahan gunning to have me benched, I knew I didn't have a choice.

But as soon as I stepped outside the school gate, a car horn blared, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up to see my neighbor, Mr. Hargrove, the one who sometimes gave me a ride to school. He waved at me from the driver's seat, which caught me off guard. Mr. Hargrove never came around at this time of day.

"Ethan!" He called out, stepping out of the car. "I was just enrolling my daughter here, and I figured I could give you a lift home."

Great, I thought, but I smiled and walked over to her. "Thanks, Mr. Hargrove," I said, trying to hide my disappointment. My plan to visit Mr. Krane was slipping away.

His daughter, Lily, sat in the backseat, waving at me with a smile that seemed too chipper for my current mood. I faked a smile back and climbed into the front seat, feeling trapped. I had no choice but to go home now, even though every fiber of my being was screaming at me to visit Mr. Krane. I needed that clone. I needed to be better than Jake Callahan. I needed to be better than myself.

The ride home was quiet, but my frustration simmered just beneath the surface. When we arrived, my mom was waiting at the door. She thanked Mr. Hargrove for the ride, and they exchanged pleasantries while I hurried inside, hoping to avoid any more conversation.

Dinner was ready-grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, one of my favorites. I ate quickly, my mind racing. Today had been a disaster, but at least I had this moment, something familiar, something comforting. After dinner, I joined my mom in the living room where she was watching an Indian drama on TV. The plot was intense-family struggles, a father who had abandoned his family, and the weight it placed on his wife and kids. It hit a little too close to home, and before I knew it, I was asking the question I had avoided for so long.

"Mom," I said, my voice quiet but steady, "why don't you ever talk about Dad?"

She sighed, and I could see the tension ripple through her body. She shifted in her seat and turned to face me. "It's a long story, Ethan. Your father...he abandoned us. It wasn't my fault. I tried my best-I was a good wife."

Her voice cracked, and I could see the pain in her eyes. I immediately regretted bringing it up. "Mom, it's okay. I was just curious. You've been both my mom and my dad, and I'm more than okay with that."

She smiled weakly, tears glistening in her eyes. "You're a good boy, Ethan," she said, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back, feeling a mix of emotions I couldn't quite name.

We didn't return to the movie after that. Instead, I absentmindedly scrolled through my phone, trying to shake off the conversation. That's when the class WhatsApp group blew up with chatter about the upcoming football match. The usual suspects were in there, talking about the lineup and strategies. Of course, Jake Callahan was the star of the conversation, with everyone practically worshiping him.

One of the guys, Billy Thompson, was hyping him up: "Jake Callahan is obviously the best player. Who else comes close?"

Then the class jester, Kyle Watson, chimed in with my name: "What about Ethan Walker? What do you all think?"

I knew he was mocking me. My stomach twisted as the group erupted into laughter, emojis flying everywhere. It was just as I expected-another shot at me, another reason to feel worthless. But instead of letting it drag me down, I felt something else...determination.

I wasn't going to let this go on. I needed to be better. I needed that clone.

I walked over to my mom, careful not to let my frustration show. "Mom, I'm going to meet Sam. We've got a project to work on."

She nodded, not asking too many questions. "Don't come home too late, okay?"

"Promise," I said, already grabbing my jacket. As soon as I was out of the house, I headed straight for Mr. Krane's lab. I needed to see him. I needed to make this right.

When I arrived, something felt off. The building seemed different, more guarded, like something important was happening inside. I peered through the small window in the door and saw Mr. Krane, but he wasn't alone. There were men in suits-an organization, no doubt the people sponsoring his work. They looked serious, and Mr. Krane seemed to be explaining something to them, gesturing toward his lab equipment with urgency.

Just then, I heard him say, "I've secured a volunteer for the cloning process."

My heart dropped. He was talking about me.

I turned to leave, panic gripping me, but before I could take another step, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Two men, big and dressed in suits, grabbed me and dragged me inside.

"Hey, let me go!" I shouted, but they didn't listen. The next thing I knew, I was in the lab, all eyes on me. The men in suits looked like they belonged on another planet, cold and calculating. I knew I was in deep trouble.

The men tied me to a chair, handling me roughly. I struggled, but it was no use. Mr. Krane stepped forward, looking at me with a mix of pity and impatience. "Relax, Ethan. We just need a strand of your hair and some saliva. Nothing more."

But before I could react, everything went dark.

I woke up in my bed, drenched in sweat. My heart was racing, and I could barely breathe. I screamed, and within seconds, my mom rushed into the room.

"Ethan! What's wrong?" she asked, worry etched into her face.

I looked around, confused. "How long have I been sleeping? Did I go out? Did I ask for permission to leave?"

She stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "Ethan, you've been here the whole time. What are you talking about?"

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Had it all been a dream? But it felt so real.