Chapter #5Choose Kyle by: Unknown Many people often make snide remarks about how you and Kyle look like twins. The two of you have rich dark hair just like your father before he went bald. You have similar round eyes and soft definition on the head shape. But that’s where the similarities end. It’s quite embarrassing but Kyle already surpassed you in terms of height months ago. While you are busy tinkering with your inventions, Kyle wastes his time building his body. Though you may have the same frames, he’s gained a lot of definitions since he started. You could just remember how he bragged about his abs when they gained visible ridges.
You don’t get it though. Why would he spend that time building his muscles, when he could use his smart brain to help you? Yeah, that’s right. It’s rare for you to say that someone else is as smart as you, but it’s true. Kyle is the only one in this family that could understand your blueprints. He’d often barge into your garage-esque-laboratory and point out your overlooked calculations on the whiteboard.
“Why didn’t you add the sigma factor?” he said while eating a popsicle he stole from your laboratory refrigerator.
“Because it would interfere with the flux,”
“And why’s that bad? Don’t you need the additional voltage because this module won’t work?”
You looked back at the whiteboard and followed his advice. And true to his word, you do need the additional voltage or the transmorpher would underload. When you turned to give thanks for his advice, he'd already gone along with three of your popsicle snacks. He’s one hell of an intelligent person, and he’s wasting it by socializing with his monkey-brain peers and thickening his muscle fibers. Worse of all, he chose a sports scholarship over the academic scholarship he rightly deserved! Oh, how it annoyed you the day you found out.
But still… there’s the topic regarding the body-switching machine. If there is anyone in this household that you are willing to swap with, it’s Kyle. He’s the most compatible one to use the machine since you’ve originally made the pods to your specification. You called him from the garage. You're lucky that this is one of the rare times that he's in the house. He's dressed in a simple tee with a blue boxer on. On his hand is a popsicle he just finished.
"Your equations are right as rain, big bro," Kyle said. "Mind. Conduction. Gerardo's Postulate of the self… hmmm… you're building a body-swapping machine, aren't you? The pods gave it away."
"Yep," You replied. "The only thing left to do is test it,"
"I'm down for a swap," He popped the popsicle for one final lick before throwing it straight into the trash can.
"I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to volunteer yourself. I was about to ask you first."
"Meh… I've got nothing better to do today. Most of my friends don't want to hang out in this boiling weather. After this, can you build a weather-changing machine?"
"I would if you help me," You stepped inside one of the pods.
"That's a no then," Kyle stepped inside one of the pods. Once he did, both doors shut.
White mist filled the pods. It's a sedative that calms the mind, thereby allowing invasive manipulation of the inner self. You closed your eyes as wireless electricity prodded your brain. It's the machine working the fine intricacies of its function. You triple-checked the equations and you have a great deal of confidence that will work in practicality. You feel as if somebody had clawed your head and pulled you out of your skin. It's not painful, but you can't deny the discomfort. Your body is dragged around and stuffed in a tight hole. You stirred around as you awoke. Judging by the color of the different colors of the pod, you're in the other one. When you looked down, you saw that you were not in your laboratory gown anymore. You're wearing a white tee with a mint-blue mascot saying hi. Your shorts are nothing but a boxer, and it's quite stuffed inside.
The machine whirred. Steamed misted out as the pods opened. You stumbled forward and made your way to your swiveling chair. As you sat, you saw Kyle, now in your old body. Good lord! Those two days of toiling in the garage made you look worse than you already are. Your skin is bordering on anemic. Deep dark bags hang on both of your eyes. Kyle tried to correct your bent back but it brought him immense pain so he stopped.
"Christ, your body is worse for wear," Kyle complained.
On the other hand, you're feeling quite the opposite. There's limitless energy in your body. You don't feel tired nor do you feel a smidge of weakness in your muscles. And speaking of muscles– you have muscles! You don't know why you're happy because you see these things as useless, but now that you have them, it feels good. More than good. You could even lift your heavy toolbox with ease. Is this how Kyle feels every day!? If yes, then you're starting to see the merit of his everyday exercise.
"Your body is quite amazing," you said. "Never realize that you're this strong."
" Thanks! You could join me in my exercise if you want. Leaving the garage won't hurt." Kyle tried to lift the toolbox and the boy did his back ache afterward. "So, how long will this swap last?"
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