Through a strange series of encounters, a delinquent high schooler and upright university student find love. *****
No longer interested in clubbing, kissing girls, and committing petty crimes, 18-year-old Riley is trying to find meaning in his dull...
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Beepbeep. Beepbeep. Eran glanced at the screen on his cell phone to see a message from Riley: 'I'm heeeeeere'
'Bio bldg — Labs, tell staff at desk I'm your tutor — Micro lab' Send.
Not many minutes later did Eran hear the cracked door open. "Sorry, I have to watch this protist."
The area where Eran worked consisted of an office-like space attached to a closed laboratory. He was at a computer watching a recording and was the only one there.
Eran felt Riley stand behind him then gradually get closer. Riley was just a breath away from Eran's ear when he said, "What is it doing?"
Eran held back the urge to shiver. Too close. "No clue."
Riley stood up then pulled a chair beside Eran and sat down. "Seriously, what is it doing?"
"I seriously don't know. That's the problem. No matter how many times I watch this, I can't figure it out."
"If you can't tell, then nobody can." Riley leaned his elbow onto the desk and rested his chin on his palm. He smiled innocently at Eran.
Eran scoffed at Riley's statement. "Flattery noted," he said sarcastically.
"Good. I'm gonna save up some points."
Points? ...Should I really—no, what am I thinking. I shouldn't take him seriously. He doesn't need a point system. He's not 5 and I can do whatever I want. Ah, I wasn't paying attention on Day 6.
"What about doing another trial?"
"This is actually our second. This footage is of about a week's time."
"It looks like it's eating itself."
"Doesn't it?" Eran dropped his head on a stack of notes. "This is driving me crazy."
"Can you do a third trial?"
"Maybe. Not sure how long It would take, though; it could end up not worth the time and resources."
"Is it trying to divide? But it can't be, the nucleus is here, right?" Riley pointed at the proper area on the screen. "It can't do it in reverse, right? Life doesn't work like that, plus there's no activity in the nucleus here... Is this the mouth?"
Eran stared at Riley.
"No?" he looked back naively.
Eran continued to stare. Is he stupid or smart? I still can't tell. "Hypothetically, if it is possible, what conclusion would you draw at this point?"
"This is a hybrid, right? Or is it something you've manipulated or modified somehow? If it's offspring, I'd think maybe it'd end up like a mule or liger. Either way, it could just be doing this because it's confused. Like, its DNA doesn't have a workable code for fission or reproduction. How important is this thing? Can't you just toss it and work on some e. coli or something?"
