Chapter 6: Prey and Predators

**Five.**

Ethan dragged me to the science building where experiments were held.

"They're doing experiments now, let's wait."

Soon, a lot of people came out of the lab. Then the senior who'd given us the seat—her name was Kate—came out and saw us.

She waved us in. "It's fine, we're the ones doing experiments inside. Outside is just the meeting area."

Ethan said "oh" twice and pulled me to an empty seat.

Kate and Ethan sat facing each other, and I listened from the side.

No wonder grad students are so impressive—their abilities are on another level.

Soon, Ethan was nodding in sudden understanding.

I was about to ask something when the lab door swung open.

The person who came in stared at the three of us.

"Hey, Mo, you're back?"

It was the pretty girl with glasses who'd sat across from me in the library.

So her name was Mo.

Mo glanced at Ethan and me.

Kate explained, "Oh, these are the freshmen we met at the library. She had a few problems she couldn't solve, so she came to ask."

"Mm," Mo replied, still as cool as ever.

Ethan and I exchanged a look. I could see the words in his eyes: What a cold girl.

Ethan stood up. "Well, senior, since we've asked, we'll get going. Thank you!"

"No problem, you're welcome. Oh, by the way, our lab is short two assistants. Are you interested?" Kate suddenly said.

Ethan and I both froze.

Then I noticed Mo frown next to her. Clearly, she wasn't thrilled about it.

I was about to refuse, but Ethan jumped in, "Sure! Um, Alex, go add her on Instagram, we'll be in touch."

Wait, why me? Didn't he already add Kate?

I was puzzled, and Ethan kept winking at me.

I had no choice. I awkwardly walked up to Kate and Mo.

Kate was straightforward and cheerfully added me.

When it came to Mo, she seemed like she was about to refuse. Sure enough, as I handed her my QR code, she glanced at it and froze.

"Is this your Instagram?" she asked, frowning and looking up at me.

"Uh... yeah, what's wrong?"

"What's your name?"

"Alex."

"Where are you from?"

"Wait, Mo, are you checking his background?" Kate joked before I could answer, earning a glare from Mo.

That glare was powerful enough that Kate and Ethan shivered in unison.

Mo kept staring at me. "Answer."

"Cleveland," I replied. No way out.

But answering seemed to make things worse. After hearing my answer, the girl checking my background suddenly laughed. Then she looked up, her beautiful eyes locking onto mine.

That look—how to describe it? Like she'd caught her prey. Her lips twitched, like she was in on a joke I didn’t get. It made my heart skip a beat.

I felt like Mo was hostile toward me. She was smiling, but her eyes weren't.

"Big SAT score, MIT admit—figures."

I couldn't figure it out, so I nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, it was okay."

Mo smiled again—seemed a bit angry this time—but she took out her phone and scanned my QR code.

"Alright, come to the lab after class tomorrow."

Huh?

Not just me, even Kate was stunned. "Weren't you just... unwilling a moment ago?" She trailed off, swallowing her words.

I could sense an electric tension in the air, the kind that makes the hairs on your arms stand up. Mo's voice was even, but there was a glimmer in her eyes—something almost familiar, like she was playing a game only she knew the rules to. Ethan, meanwhile, grinned like he'd just won the lottery, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around us. I tucked my hands into my pockets, suddenly aware that maybe this lab assistant gig would be anything but ordinary.