The next morning felt… different.
Jared Alonzo woke up before his alarm.
That alone was already unusual.
He stared at the ceiling, blinking slowly.
6:12 AM.
He didn't check his phone.
He just… knew.
"…okay," he whispered.
That was new.
He sat up, running a hand through his hair. His mind was already active—too active.
Thoughts flowed faster than usual.
Clearer.
Organized.
I have a quiz today. Math. Coverage: logarithmic functions. Professor Dizon tends to repeat patterns every three quizzes…
Jared froze.
"…since when do I think like this?"
At school, everything felt sharper.
No—too sharp.
Voices overlapped in the hallway, but instead of noise, Jared could distinguish each one. Conversations separated themselves naturally in his mind.
"…did you finish the assignment?"
"…bro, I failed that test…"
"…she said yes!"
Jared blinked.
I can… filter sounds?
"Yo, Jared!"
He turned.
It was Mark, his classmate.
Loud. Confident. The type who always had something to say—usually at someone else's expense.
"You look like you saw a ghost," Mark smirked. "What, still broke?"
Jared would've laughed awkwardly before.
Maybe said nothing.
Maybe walked away.
But now—
He tilted his head slightly.
"I was thinking," Jared replied calmly, "how you managed to fail a test with multiple-choice answers."
Silence.
Mark blinked.
"…what?"
Jared didn't stop.
"Statistically, even random guessing should give you at least 25%. But you got 12%."
A few nearby students chuckled.
Mark's face darkened. "You trying to be funny?"
Jared paused.
Analyzed.
Measured tone. Expression. Body language.
He's embarrassed. Defensive. Likely to respond aggressively.
"…no," Jared said simply. "I'm trying to understand."
More laughter.
Mark clenched his fists. "Watch your mouth, Jared."
Before, that would've been enough to shut him up.
But now?
Jared just looked at him.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…or what?" he asked.
The words slipped out naturally.
Not forced.
Not emotional.
Just… logical.
Mark stared at him for a few seconds.
Then scoffed. "Whatever. You're acting weird."
He walked away.
Jared stood there, silent.
That… was different.
He didn't feel nervous.
Didn't feel scared.
Didn't even feel proud.
Just… neutral.
Is this because of the blood donation?
Inside the classroom, Jared sat down quietly.
The quiz started.
Ten questions.
Five minutes.
Normally, he would panic.
Overthink.
Struggle.
But now?
He read the first question once.
Answered.
Second question.
Answered.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth—
Done.
"…what?"
He looked down at his paper.
All answers filled.
He checked the time.
Two minutes.
"…no way."
"Time's up," Professor Dizon said.
Papers were collected.
Jared leaned back in his chair.
His heart wasn't racing.
No anxiety.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
All correct.
"Results," the professor announced after a few minutes.
The class groaned.
"That was fast…"
Professor Dizon adjusted his glasses.
"Highest score…"
A pause.
"…Jared Alonzo."
Silence filled the room.
Then whispers.
"…who?"
"…that quiet guy?"
"…no way."
Mark turned around slowly, eyes narrowing.
Jared blinked.
"…huh."
"Perfect score," the professor added.
Now the room exploded.
"No way!"
"Seriously?!"
"Did he cheat?"
Jared didn't react.
But inside—
He was thinking.
Fast.
This is only the first donation.
His fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
What happens after the second?
As class ended, someone approached him.
A girl.
Long hair. Calm expression. Observant eyes.
She had been watching him.
"Iris," she said, extending her hand. "I sit two rows behind you."
Jared looked at her hand.
Then at her eyes.
Sharp.
Curious.
Different from the others.
He shook her hand.
"Jared."
"I know," she said with a faint smile. "Everyone knows now."
He paused.
"…right."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You changed."
Direct.
No hesitation.
Jared's eyes narrowed just a little.
"…how so?"
Iris held his gaze.
"Yesterday, you looked like someone trying to survive."
A small pause.
"Today…"
Her smile deepened.
"…you look like someone calculating everything."
Silence.
Jared didn't answer immediately.
Because she was right.
And that—
Was interesting.
"I'll see you around," Iris said, turning away.
Jared watched her leave.
She noticed.
His mind moved quickly.
Observation skills above average. Confidence high. Not easily fooled.
A small smile formed on his lips.
"…interesting."
As he walked home that afternoon, Jared looked at the world differently.
Not as something to endure.
But something to understand.
To solve.
To control.
His gaze drifted toward the distant city skyline.
Cars. Buildings. People.
Systems.
Patterns.
Weaknesses.
"Three months…" he whispered.
His eyes sharpened.
"I just need to wait three months."
And this world…
A faint smile appeared.
…won't be the same.