As an ordinary genius

Ethan's world had become a whirlwind of information and discovery. His mornings started with a strong cup of coffee and an array of bookmarked tabs on his laptop. From online courses on quantum engineering to research papers on nanotechnology, he was relentless in his pursuit of knowledge.

"Let's see," he muttered one morning, sipping his coffee. "Quantum superposition... if I can just understand the application of this in data storage, it could revolutionize computing."

He took notes feverishly, his handwriting a mixture of formulas and shorthand thoughts. His desk was cluttered with printed articles, open books, and half-eaten snacks.

As Ethan's brain worked like a supercomputer, his body demanded more fuel. He noticed this change within the first month of his intensive learning. His usual three meals a day weren't enough anymore.

One evening, as he rummaged through his kitchen, he found himself craving high-calorie snacks. He grabbed a chocolate bar, tore it open, and ate it in three bites.

"I need to stock up," he said to himself, checking his pantry.

On his next grocery trip, he loaded his cart with donuts, energy bars, chocolates, and nuts.

At work, his coworkers began to notice.

"Ethan, are you stockpiling for the apocalypse?" James joked, eyeing the bag of snacks Ethan brought to the office.

Ethan laughed. "You could say that. Thinking burns more calories than you'd think."

Ethan's ability to absorb knowledge was nothing short of miraculous. In the span of six months, he had mastered concepts that would take others years to comprehend.

He enrolled in online courses on electronics and electrical engineering, completing them in record time.

"So, if I wire this circuit differently, I could reduce the resistance and improve efficiency," he murmured one night, testing out a small prototype in his garage lab.

His evenings were spent poring over quantum mechanics and nanotechnology research papers. He even reached out to professors and researchers online, posing questions and engaging in discussions.

One professor replied to his email:

Dear Ethan,

Your understanding of quantum entanglement is impressive. I'd be curious to know if you're conducting any experiments in this field. Let's keep in touch.

Ethan smiled at the compliment but knew better than to reveal his underground lab.

Ethan's daily routine became predictable but intense.

Morning: Wake up, eat a heavy breakfast, and study for two hours before heading to work.

Afternoon: Work efficiently, taking short breaks to snack and jot down ideas for future projects.

Evening: Come home, eat dinner, and dive into his studies until late at night.

His grocery bills skyrocketed as he consumed more calories. At home, he always kept a stash of donuts, energy drinks, and protein bars within arm's reach.

Despite his rigorous schedule, Ethan made sure to balance his life. He still called the orphanage to check on the kids and occasionally hung out with his coworkers for drinks after work.

"Ethan, you're looking... energized," James said during one such outing, noticing Ethan's hyper-focused demeanor.

"Just keeping busy," Ethan replied with a grin, raising his glass.

But deep down, Ethan knew he was walking a fine line. His relentless pursuit of knowledge was isolating him, and his growing appetite for both information and calories was becoming difficult to manage.

Still, he pressed on. There was so much to learn, and with every passing day, Ethan felt closer to uncovering his true potential.