Leo stood amidst the chaos, surrounded by stacks of old tools and jars filled with mysterious ingredients. His gaze was fixed on the wall where he had meticulously marked each inch of his and Max's height. "Today will be different," he muttered to himself, determination flickering in his eyes.

Leo couldn't shake the image of Max, his older brother, effortlessly towering over him. "Why does he get to be the giant?" he murmured, bitterness creeping into his voice. He picked up a vial containing a swirling, iridescent liquid—the culmination of months of secretive work.

"This has to work," he whispered, raising the glass to his lips. As he drank, a strange warmth spread through his body, and he felt a tingling sensation in his limbs. He staggered slightly, clutching the workbench for support, his heart pounding with both fear and anticipation.

Leo scrambled to his feet, rushing to the height chart. His eyes widened as he noticed the subtle shift in the measurements. He was taller, undeniably so. "It worked!" he exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and glee in his voice.

"I feel... off," Max remarked, glancing at his reflection in the window. Leo watched him with a pang of guilt, knowing that his brother was unknowingly part of the experiment. "Maybe you're just tired," Leo suggested, trying to sound nonchalant.

Max looked at Leo with a puzzled expression. "Have you been growing?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. Leo hesitated, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. "Maybe it's time I told you something," he admitted, bracing himself for the inevitable fallout.