From Commonplace to World's Soft Drink

It was an early weekend morning, and the campus was nearly deserted. Tucked away in the basement of the university’s research wing, Kaleb’s chemistry lab was a chaotic blend of futuristic equipment and controlled chaos. Gadgets whirred, vials bubbled, and glass containers glowed faintly with mysterious liquids, some emitting fumes that ranged from floral to outright pungent. 

Kaleb stood tall, his messy blond hair somehow perfectly framing his sharp features. His white lab coat hung loosely off one shoulder, wrinkled and stained with unidentifiable substances. Darting out from behind a counter, he swept Mira into a warm hug. “You’re here!” His voice buzzed with the energy of someone running on caffeine and too little sleep. His droopy blue eyes, shadowed with fatigue, betrayed the toll of countless late-night experiments.

Mira laughed, hugging him back like it was second nature. “Good to see you too! And thanks for helping with this.”

Ren lingered a few steps behind them, awkwardly shifting his weight. “You two sure seem close.”

“Our families were close, and we were neighbors as kids,” Mira explained, releasing Kaleb from the hug.

Kaleb turned to Ren, sizing him up with a curious grin. “You must be Ren. Mira’s told me about you.”

“Great things, I’m sure,” Ren replied.

Kaleb’s grin widened, but he left Ren hanging, beckoning them both deeper into the lab. “Well, come on, then!”

The lab only got more bizarre as they ventured further in. Holographic projections hovered in the air, displaying complex chemical equations. Ren instinctively reached out to poke one, watching it ripple and float away like a disturbed soap bubble.

“So,” Kaleb said, snapping on a pair of gloves, “you two are serious? Sugar? Like the ancient sweet stuff people used to eat in ridiculous amounts?”

“Our plan is to make a soft drink,” Mira explained, her tone resolute.

“Right, you did mention this crazy idea.” Kaleb shook his head with a dubious smile. “Of course, I’m in. Who could pass up the chance to make something this interesting?” He typed something into a console, and holographic projections of sucrose molecules popped up, spinning slowly as he cross-referenced them with his chemical database.

Ren watched the projections float around them, his skepticism softening. “So, can you do it?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“The chemical composition of sucrose isn’t hard to replicate,” Kaleb said confidently. “I’ll need to refine the compounds heavily, but I’ve got all the raw materials right here. Once we have the sugar, we can experiment with flavor profiles and carbonation.” He clapped his hands, his enthusiasm infectious. “Okay, let’s do this!”

“Wait, you mean now?” Ren asked as Kaleb shoved a vial into his hands.

Kaleb didn’t answer, already moving through the lab like a whirlwind, calling out directions to Mira. Ren watched as the two worked seamlessly, mixing vials, adjusting dials, and feeding compounds into sleek machines. Holographic graphs and tables flickered to life around them, tracking their progress.

After what felt like hours of bubbling liquids, glowing reactions, and buzzing contraptions, a soft ding rang out. Kaleb opened a small oven-like device with theatrical flair. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, holding up a jar of glistening white powder, “the first batch is ready.”

He dipped a finger into the sugar and sniffed it, his eyes widening. “Oh, yeah, that’s the good stuff. Careful, though—this stuff’s addictive. Literally.” He wiped the white powder residue from under his nose, and Ren couldn’t help but snort at the resemblance of something else.

Ren and Mira each took a pinch and tasted it.

“Yep,” Ren said, nodding. “Pretty much the sugar we all know and love.”

Mira’s reaction was more dramatic. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, her voice trembling. “This is… incredible.”

Kaleb chuckled as he set to work crafting flavor combinations for the drink. Some attempts were ridiculously sweet, others painfully spicy, but after a dozen failed batches, Ren made a suggestion that finally clicked.

“Classic cola,” Kaleb said as he tested the recipe, holding up the fizzy liquid with pride. “You’re a genius, Ren.”

“Thanks, I try.”

Mira took a gulp of the finished product and let out a refreshing sigh, her eyes practically sparkling. “This is so good!” She almost wouldn’t stop chugging it, Ren had to practically pry the drink away from her.

With the formula finalized, they turned their attention to naming the soda. Mira threw out wild suggestions like Love Potion No. XXX9, while Kaleb pitched equally ridiculous names like Sweet Temptation. Ren finally cut through the chaos with a simple, fitting suggestion: Spark.

“Spark,” Mira repeated, grinning. “I like it. It’s simple but… exciting.”

With the soda complete, they discussed the logistics of manufacturing and distribution. Mira’s claim about Kaleb’s underground connections proved true; apparently, he often worked with a network of people who helped him test experimental formulas on the general public.

“They’re harmless,” Kaleb assured them with a casual shrug. “Most of the time.”

Ren decided it was best not to ask too many questions.

Distribution was surprisingly straightforward. With capitalism no longer dominating society, product releases were relatively easy to organize. In a matter of days, Spark would be stocked in shops and vending machines across the city. Mira insisted they personally hand out samples on campus during the launch as a final push to promote their creation.

As the night stretched on, the three finally wrapped up their work. Kaleb gave Mira a long, lingering hug goodbye that seemed far too natural for Ren’s liking.

“It was so great to see you again,” Mira said, her voice warm.

“You too, Mira. We’ll keep in touch.”

Ren stood stiffly in the background, an unfamiliar twinge of irritation bubbled in his chest. He told himself it was just exhaustion from the long day.

As they left the lab and walked back to the apartment, Mira chattered excitedly about the day’s success, but not completely oblivious to Ren’s unusually quiet demeanor.

“You okay?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah,” Ren said, forcing a shrug. “Just tired.”

An awkward feeling had lingered from seeing Kaleb and Mira’s interactions, and deep down he knew what it was, but he refused to acknowledge it.