As an ordinary genius

The hum of machines and the clicking of keyboards filled the small, brightly lit lab at Applied Solutions Robotics. Ethan sat at his workstation, carefully assembling a circuit board for one of the company's newest automated systems.

It had been two weeks since he'd started the internship, and while the work was challenging, Ethan found solace in the routine. The lab had become a haven—a place where he could lose himself in wires, code, and mechanical parts, free from the weight of comparisons or awkward encounters.

"How's it going with that board, Ethan?" asked Marcus, his supervisor—a tall man in his forties with a salt-and-pepper beard and an easygoing demeanor.

"Almost done," Ethan replied, holding up the circuit. "Just need to test it."

"Good work," Marcus said, patting him on the shoulder. "You've got a knack for this. Keep it up."

Praise like that, though rare, fueled Ethan's confidence. He wasn't a star at MIT, but here, he felt like he could carve out a niche for himself.

The workdays were long, but Ethan didn't mind. It kept him busy, kept his mind from wandering to thoughts of Felicity or the campus life he'd left behind.

Every Saturday, Ethan drove back to MIT for weekend lectures. He would sit quietly in the back of the lecture hall, taking notes and avoiding eye contact with anyone who might recognize him.

One Saturday morning, as Ethan slipped into his usual seat, Raj spotted him from across the room.

"Ethan!" Raj called, jogging over.

"Hey," Ethan said, forcing a smile.

"Still alive, huh? Thought you'd gone full ghost mode," Raj joked, dropping into the seat next to him.

"Just been busy with the internship," Ethan replied.

"Yeah, I heard you're doing good work out there. But seriously, man, you've got to stop disappearing. Everyone's been asking about you—especially Felicity."

Ethan's stomach tightened at the mention of her name.

"Yeah, well, I've got a lot on my plate," he said, brushing it off.

Raj gave him a knowing look but didn't press further.

The lecture ended, and Ethan was the first to leave the hall. As he walked toward the parking lot, he kept his head down, hoping to avoid any familiar faces.

But fate had other plans.

"Ethan?"

He froze. Turning slowly, he saw her—Felicity, standing a few feet away with her ever-present laptop bag slung over one shoulder.

"Hey," he said awkwardly.

"Hey?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's all I get after weeks of radio silence?"

"I've been busy," Ethan said, his voice flat.

Felicity crossed her arms. "Too busy to reply to a single email or text? You don't even sit in the same spot for lectures anymore. What's going on?"

"Nothing," he said, avoiding her gaze. "I just needed some space."

"Space from what?" she asked, her tone softer now.

Ethan hesitated. "From… everything. I'm just trying to figure things out, that's all."

Felicity studied him for a moment, then sighed. "You know, you don't have to do everything alone. If you need help, I'm here."

"Thanks," Ethan said quietly. "But I've got it under control."

She nodded, though the disappointment in her eyes was hard to miss. "Okay. Take care of yourself, Ethan."

"You too," he said, turning and walking away before she could say anything else.

That evening, back at his tiny apartment near the robotics lab, Ethan sat at his desk, staring at the unfinished notes for a side project he was working on.

His mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Felicity. Her concern had been genuine, and that only made him feel worse.

"I'm doing the right thing," he muttered to himself. "I need to focus on me."

But the words felt hollow, and as he stared out the window at the city lights, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that avoiding her wasn't as easy—or as satisfying—as he'd hoped.