The science shack smelled like chemicals, burnt sugar, and mild regret. Neil hunched over a bubbling flask, his goggles fogged, muttering equations under his breath. “Finally… the formula’s stable. A perfect combination of pheromones, dopamine triggers, and molecular bonding agents. The ultimate—”

“LOVE POTION!” Nikki shouted from behind, making both you and Max flinch. Max glanced nervously at the vial Neil had been carefully guarding.

“It’s not a love potion,” Neil snapped, adjusting his goggles. “It’s a groundbreaking study on chemical attraction, perfectly safe, and not at all designed to—HEY, PUT THAT DOWN!”

But Nikki was already holding the glowing pink vial, her grin dangerously wide. “C’mon! Don’t you wanna know if it works? This is, like, science and romance. Two birds, one vial!”

Before Neil could stop her, Nikki spun toward you with the vial in hand. “Time for testing!” she cackled, and before you could react, the liquid was pressed against your lips and tipped back. It slid down your throat with a bitter-sweet tang, leaving a strange warmth in your chest.

Silence.

Then your vision seemed to sharpen. The first person your eyes found was Max. And suddenly, everything else—the chaos, the chemicals, even Neil yelling—blurred into the background. Your chest tightened in a way that felt like it was both thrilling and terrifying. Your heart skipped, and your thoughts tangled, all converging on him.

Max froze, noticing the change in you. His brow furrowed, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. You moved slightly closer without realizing it.

Max blinked, stepping back, hand half-raised as if to ward off invisible forces. “Wait… what is—?” He paused, confusion softening his expression as he looked at you.

Ohhh shit.