“So, where’s this new game you wanted to show me?” I asked Ryan as we walked into the arcade.
Ryan smiled and pointed to the shooting section.
My friend knew that I was not fond of shooters, so him pointing that way meant only one possibility.
“Zombie Hunter?” I blurted out.
“The one and only,” he replied. “The sequel is out, so I figured we should make our presence known in the scoreboard.”
I grinned at him and ran to the machine. There it was. One of the very few exceptions to the rule. It was the most basic of premises, but it did what it was meant to.
It was fun.
Once we were both holding a gun, Ryan brought out our playcard and started the game.
We played for almost an hour, and we only lost when I shot an explosive barrel next to me by mistake after Ryan had lost his last life.
Ignoring the screen’s attempts to get us to use more credits, Ryan took his card back and grabbed our bounty of tickets. “So? What do you think?”
“I’m glad they didn’t change the concept too much,” I commented. “It’s ZH but with better graphics.”
Ryan nodded. “The Ice Rockets are really nice too. Strong but not OP.”
We didn’t make it to the scoreboard today, but it was only a matter of time. Plus, I got the most points this time.
The basketball game came next. It was Ryan’s favourite, and it was an easy way to get us even more rewards. He convinced me to play a couple of matches, but I was quickly reminded of why it wasn’t my thing. I preferred to just watch.
Whac-a-mole, however, was the one I shined with. Video games aside, I hated violence. It never sat well with me to hit anything. The moles’ mocking faces and their constant jeers sure made it feel more deserved, though. It was also a great stress reliever.
We continued playing at the arcade for some time. Slowly, but surely, increasing our number of tickets.
---<>----------<>----------<>---
“Anything catches your attention?” my friend asked, eyeing the selection they had at the prize corner.
“Nah,” I replied, shaking my head. “I’d rather we just top up the card.”
Ryan gave me a side eye. “You know what I’m gonna say.”
I sighed. “I don’t care that you can afford it. I hate to make you pay for the recharge every time.”
“It’s not your fault your parents don’t give you an allowance,” he countered. “I just think it’s a shame that we use the tickets on the playcard when we can use money for that. Getting a prize is much more fun!”
I didn’t respond. I suddenly found the floor to be very interesting.
Ryan placed a hand on my shoulder. “You sure? Last chance to change your mind.”
I bit my lip and looked up at the prize wall.
There was one thing. Hard to miss it as it was bigger than my torso. A sleeping seal plushie that, for whatever reason, had never been claimed. Perhaps due to the cost in tickets or the space it would need, or maybe a combination of both.
For three months, this baby had been waiting for its rightful owner. However, there was no way I’d ever ask for it. Dad gave me enough of a headache over the few ones that I owned as it was.
I also couldn’t imagine what Ryan would think if I showed interest in something like that. With the other ones, I could at least use the age I got them at as an excuse. Sentimental value and whatnot.
Something new, though?
Much harder to explain, especially one that big.
I doubted he’d mock me; he wasn’t that type of guy. That said, his opinion of me could drop if I did.
Not allowing my gaze to linger enough to cause suspicion, I sighed and smiled at him. “If you really want to get a prize, maybe you should choose instead of me.”
Ryan shrugged. “Okay then, wait here.”
As he walked to the counter, he turned around and pointed at me. “No complaining about what I choose, okay?”
I nodded, and he continued his march towards the bored-looking clerk who was just scrolling on his phone. He was clearly not thrilled about his new job, just like most of the people before him. It was rare that someone stayed long enough to even learn their name.
Why would I complain about what he gets…
“Can I have that one?” My friend asked, pointing at the seal. My eyes went wide open. I was already walking there to stop him, but he turned around and wagged his finger at me.
The guy looked up and stood up to retrieve it. As he put it on the counter, he glanced at me, then at Ryan. “That your girl?” he asked my friend as he started counting the tickets.
Wait, what?
“My friend,” Ryan corrected, not caring to deny the most important fact. I was half expecting him to.
There was something about their exchange that made me feel weird. The feeling was not unlike the tingling that I felt earlier at the esoteric store. Like a chill that ran all the way down my spine. It seemed to come in waves, once after the guy spoke, and another after Ryan did.
Being mistaken for a girl wasn’t that rare of an event. Given my height and hair, it was somewhat common for people to think that I was from behind. Ryan and I had long given up on correcting people. Plus, the misunderstanding normally cleared on its own when they got a better look at me.
In this case, the distance and the darkness of the arcade likely obscured most of my features, so I couldn’t blame the guy. That said, I also couldn’t ignore it. Not this time.
“No kidding? Best of luck, man.” Once he finished counting, the guy handed over the plushie to Ryan, who thanked him and walked back to me.
“I don’t get it,” I muttered.
Ryan eyed the plushie once more. “I’ve seen how you look at it, and well, I know you like these things. I was waiting for you to make up your mind and ask, but I feared someone else would eventually take it instead. Figured this would be my way to properly apologise for earlier.”
“Here,” he added, presenting the plushie to me.
“T-thanks…” My eyes stung a little as I took it into my arms and suppressed the urge to hug and bury my face in it. Though, I was quickly forced into doing it by another incoming chill.
“Are you cold?” Ryan asked, noticing my shivers.
I merely shook my head, to which he gave another shrug and started walking to the exit. I mindlessly followed, focused on making sense of what I was feeling.
Am I getting sick?
It was one possibility. I didn’t sleep properly last night, so maybe my body was weaker than usual. On the other hand, I felt like I got enough rest afterwards, and there were no other symptoms present.
“What is happening to me,” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing. Just… talking to myself.”
As we took the escalator to the second floor, Ryan suggested that we get some food before heading home. Only then did I notice how hungry I was, so I accepted. Feeling in the mood for burgers, we got in line for Charles Julius and waited for our turn.
Once we made our order, the cashier asked if we were paying together or separate. I reached into my pocket to pay for my part, but by the time I brought the money out, Ryan had already paid for both our meals.
The already familiar feeling assaulted me again.
This isn’t normal!
Whatever it was, it seemed to have a mind of its own. It was reacting to something. My thoughts went back to the first time I felt it.
The store.
The soda the old lady gave us tasted fine, but my gut kept telling me that these chills had to be related to it. If that was the case, then Ryan had to feel the same, right? After all, he had one, too. He drank it on the way to the arcade.
Surely he must’ve felt something by now.
Finding an empty table we both took our seats, and Ryan grabbed his food before pushing the tray my way. I scratched a sudden itch on my chest.
“Hey, have you been feeling any weird chills today?”
Ryan didn’t say anything. He looked at me in silence for a moment before getting up and taking his denim jacket off. He then walked to me and draped it around my shoulders, somehow triggering the feeling again despite the warmth.
“I said I wasn’t cold!” I yelled immediately.
“Could’ve fooled me.” He interjected, pointing at my chest as he took his seat.
Looking down, I saw what he was referring to. I instinctively closed the jacket around me to hide my chest, bringing with it another wave of that pestering feeling.
I need to find what is causing this.
“So you haven’t felt different at all?” I asked.
“Nope,” he responded. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I paused for a moment. I could just tell him the truth, but what if I really was just getting sick or if today was particularly cold to me?
“I don’t know. At least, I don’t think so. I feel fine, though.”
Ryan hummed for a moment. If he had an idea, he kept it to himself.
The thought continued to plague my mind as we ate. It had to be that soda. The bottle was sealed, so I didn’t expect it to be spiked in any way, but it was a fact that everything started right after I drank it.
I didn’t know why Ryan was not affected, but there was no other explanation. Looking back, we had been really foolish to accept those drinks.
Maybe there’s a trigger?
I slowly recounted every time I felt it up to that point.
I recalled seven events. What did they all have in common?
The first time was when we exited the store...
Maybe that’s when the potion took effect?
The second time was when that guy thought I was Ryan’s—
I shook my head out of that one.
“You got a rash there?”
Ryan’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You keep scratching at your chest,” he explained, pointing at it. “Maybe you’re becoming allergic to something?”
“Uhh… I’ll be right back!” I yelled louder than I intended, standing from my seat and running to the bathroom. Once there, I locked myself in a stall and removed the layers covering my chest.
There was no rash, but I did notice something out of place. I poked out of curiosity, and regretted it instantly.
Never heard of an allergy that did this.
I brought out my phone and searched for any clues online. I needed something that explained what was happening.
Search: [What does it mean if my chest is itchy and my nipples are sore and swollen?]
Result: [Itchy, sore, and swollen nipples are usually caused by a mild skin irritation, friction, or hormonal changes. You can sometimes soothe them at home, but these symptoms can also point to infections or rare breast conditions.]
Well, at least I can discard the…
I froze.
‘That your girl?’
I gritted my teeth at the thought.
No…
‘Drink this, and your mind and body will finally reach balance.’
No, no, no!
“What was that crazy hag thinking!?”
“Hey, shut the fuck up, dude!” a guy shouted from another stall. “Go yell somewhere else!”
“S-sorry!”
Okay, I need to calm down.
This means nothing.
I’m just imagining things, and this is really just some skin irritation.
Magic is not real.
It’s probably just a nocebo effect or something.
Finally composed enough, I put my clothes back on and opened the door to see my reflection. There I was, wearing Ryan’s oversized jacket as if…
Crap…
I could almost hear the old hag’s cackling as fate proved me wrong.
Real or not, I quickly realised that I had a new problem. More often than not, this thing was triggered by external factors, and Ryan was the one responsible for most of them.
No, this is good.
After eight waves, I had barely changed at all. Even if I was truly cursed, if I could get him to stop treating me like, well, like he always did, then I could limit the triggers until I found a way to fix this.
Yes! That’s it!
Confident in my decision, I took off the jacket and stepped out of the bathroom. Walking back to our table, I saw that Ryan was patiently waiting for me. His burger was gone, but he barely touched the fries.
I tapped his shoulder to get his attention. When he looked up, I offered his jacket back to him.
Ryan took it, though he kept his hand up as he held it. “Are you sure?”
I replied with a nod, taking my seat. “I swear, I’m not cold. Also, there’s no rash, but I think my skin is a bit dry. I’ll deal with it when I get home.”
“Okay, good to know. I was worried that the old lady from earlier spiked our drinks or something.”
I nearly choked on my burger as I bit into it. I sipped aggressively at my soda to help it go down.
“Mike, are you good?”
I gave him an ‘okay’ sign with my hand. “Went down the wrong pipe,” I managed to say between coughs.
“Look, I hate sounding like a broken record, but you’ve been acting very weird today. I’m worried.”
“I’m fine, okay?” I snapped at him, making him raise his hands in surrender.
“Okay, okay! Geez.”
Finishing our meals, we stood up and took the tray to the nearest bin, throwing away the trash before exiting the mall.
“It’s already getting dark,” Ryan commented, looking at the sky. “I’ll walk you—”
“Don’t!”
I wasn’t quick enough. At least this confirmed it wasn’t just a coincidence.
“Please, stop doing that,” I said in a calmer tone.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Doing what?”
“You keep treating me like a girl.” I pointed out. “What’s up with that?”
“I… I’m sorry?” He frowned. “You didn’t seem to have an issue with it before, though. Is this about what I said this morning? Is that why you’ve been behaving like this all day?”
“No, it’s not that!”
“The guy at the arcade then?”
“No!” I yelled. “It’s… it’s been longer than that!” I bit my lip and looked away. “I… I didn’t want to say anything before because you’re my friend, and I appreciate you, but I’m a guy. It’s weird that you treat me like this!”
I felt terrible when I saw the grimace painted on his face.
“Is this… how you really feel?” He asked, looking down. “Damn. I’m sorry Mike. I really thought…” he shook his head. “Never mind. I’m truly sorry about that. Yeah, I’ll stop. You have my word.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing, dude,” he replied. “Are you sure, though? I know how you feel about—”
“I’ll be okay,” I interrupted. “I need to get over it at some point anyway.”
Ryan sighed through his nose and examined me for a moment. “Very well. Anything happens, you let me know, okay?” he asked, offering his fist.
“Yeah.” I completed the fist bump. “Rest well, Ryan.”
“You too, man. See you tomorrow.”
We both waved at each other before heading to our respective homes. I cursed under my breath as soon as I made enough distance from him.
“Dude? Man? He’s never called me those before, much less in quick succession! Not only that, but a fist bump!?”
I had barely taken a step, when I paused.
Wait, why am I so angry?
Isn’t this what I wanted?
---<>----------<>----------<>---
The way home felt longer than usual. I quickly came to realise how dependent on Ryan I’d become over the years. Without him, the path was suddenly scarier at night. Too dark; too lonely. Situations like this were the only time when I wished I was as tall as my peers. I knew the area was safe, and yet, I found myself constantly surveying my surroundings.
I looked down for a moment, exhaling heavily as another wave of chills coursed down my body. I should’ve seen it coming. The damage was done, but I still loosened my hold on the plushie my friend gave me.
This thing is too dangerous.
Its previously cute smile now seemed mocking of my situation. I pulled it away in annoyance and stared at it for what seemed like an eternity. My jaw tightened the more I did.
My eyes closed for a moment, steeling myself for what needed to be done. I reopened them to scan the street ahead of me as I walked. Finally, I spotted what I was searching for. I made a beeline for it, and quickly thrust the stuffed animal over the black container.
If Ryan asks, I’ll just tell him that someone snatched it and ran away…
The plushie’s sleeping face remained oblivious to the situation it was in. Or perhaps it still trusted me to give it a loving home.
I’m sorry, little one…
My vision blurred the more I looked at it, and my grip tightened.
No…
I can’t do it!
I just can’t!
The next moment, my legs felt wobbly, and I found myself kneeling on the ground, crying and hugging the seal tighter than before. I didn’t even care that the chills were back.
“I am so sorry,” I whispered into it. Though, part of the apology was meant for Ryan, too. How could I think about throwing away something he gifted me so casually?
A distant bark snapped me out of it. Reminded of my current situation, I got up and kept walking. Soon, my house popped into view. The lights were on, as expected. I ran the rest of the way there, noticing Dad’s car was still absent.
Good.
Reaching the entrance, I pulled out the keys from my pocket and undid the lock on the door to open it. Mom was sitting in the living room. I could hear her phone. She was most likely waiting for everyone to get home to make dinner. I closed the door softly behind me, not bothering to turn the lights on. I needed to be as stealthy as possible.
“Michael!” she called, letting me know of my failed attempt. “Wait a moment, I’ll be right there!”
Her footsteps approached quickly, giving me barely a moment to hide the plushie behind me. Because of its size, I could only hope that my body and backpack were enough to cover it.
“I just wanted to confirm—” she stopped in her tracks as she hit the light switch. “Were you crying?”
Shit…
I looked away, not saying anything. I did not think it would still be visible. It had been years since the last time I cried. I expected her to tell me to suck it up like she and Dad did in the past, but she didn’t.
“I’m fine.”
Mom frowned and stared briefly. I expected her to back down as usual. Instead, she took my free hand in hers and pulled me upstairs. She continued to drag me until we were in my room. Once inside, she closed the door and guided me to my bed. We both sat at the edge.
“What happened?” she finally asked. “I saw you running outside and noticed Ryan didn’t come with you tonight. Did you two have a fight?”
“No! I mean, yes… B-but that was in the morning. We are okay now.”
“So this is different.”
I merely nodded, going back to hugging the seal tightly.
“I see you got a new friend, too,” she commented after a brief pause. “Does it have anything to do with this?”
I nodded again.
“I see.” She untied my hair and brushed it with her fingers. “Would you like to tell me what happened?”
My eyes stayed focused on a random spot on the wall.
She sighed. “Look, it’s okay if you don’t. Just know that I’m here for you, okay?”
After all the stress from today, I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like a pressure cooker, and I needed to vent. Mom was not the first person that came to mind for this, but she was here, listening to me, and what happened this morning gave me hope that, maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t judge me.
So I told her everything, though I chose to omit the more supernatural details, including the entire visit to the magic store. Mom listened to me in silence.
“These feelings you’re having,” she finally said. “The things you just told me. Did you actually hate it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter,” she replied, shaking her head for a moment before pulling me into a hug. “There’s nothing wrong with a boy wanting to have long hair, or liking cute things or even feeling safer in someone else’s company.”
“Dad would disagree with you.”
“Well, yes, you’re not wrong. Trust me, I’ve tried to change that for a while now. I just want you to know that, no matter what you do or like, you are my child, and I love you for who you are.”
Part of me wanted to ask who she was and what she did to my mom. I felt a knot at the back of my throat. I tried fighting it, but the tears were stronger, and the chills were back.
“Aw, honey,” she cooed, patting me on the back. “It’s okay. Let it all out.”
After some time, my sobbing was gone. Mom gave me another hug, and I reciprocated with a whispered “Thanks”. She then squeezed a little, causing a sharp pain in my chest and a yelp that quickly followed. I hissed, and my hand darted to my chest before I could process what was happening.
“Michael, what’s wrong?” She looked at me as if she had broken a porcelain doll at an antiques store. “Did you hurt yourself?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I quickly responded, gently rubbing at the spot. “My chest is-” I paused when my fingers felt something out of place, or rather, something that was bound to come. “Oh! Never mind!” I faked a laugh. “Ryan and I played air hockey earlier at the arcade. Stupid puck flew and hit me. I’ll be fine, it’s just a bit sore.”
“That didn’t sound like just sore,” she countered.
I waved it off. “I just wasn’t expecting it, I swear. More importantly, what was that thing you wanted to tell me again? You know, when I got home.”
“Oh! Uh, yeah…” Mom laughed. “I nearly forgot about it. I wanted to tell you that I got confirmation for your appointment at the salon tomorrow. It will be right after school, so I’ll be picking you up this time.”
My eyes widened in horror at what this meant in my current situation.
“Um, that’s rather sudden.”
Mom laughed softly. “Well, they had a free spot, and I assumed it was better to do it right away. It’s not like you’ve got anything else to do after class, right?”
“Actually, I do,” I lied, fiddling with my fingers. “I‘m afraid I already made plans for tomorrow.”
“Getting cold feet, are we?” she asked, smiling at me.
“What? No, no. Ryan invited me over to his house. I already said yes, and his mom will be expecting me for dinner.”
She nodded slowly, her smirk only growing. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I can just call Martha and tell her we’re making a little detour before I drop you there. It will hardly be an hour, promise.”
I dug my own grave with that one.
I sighed in defeat. “Sorry…”
Mom got up and patted my head. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s normal to be scared of trying new things. Especially something like this. I promise you, though, there’s nothing inherently feminine about going to the salon, regardless of what your father says.”
Maybe she’s right.
If getting a trim at the salon is something anyone can do, then there’s no reason for the curse to trigger.
It should be safe then.
“Yeah, okay,” I finally replied. “I’ll do it then.”
“You won’t regret it.” Mom leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Dad and Andrew should arrive soon, so I’ll get dinner started. I’ll call you once it’s done.”
I listened carefully after the door closed. Once I was sure she was downstairs, I removed my t-shirt and carefully inspected my chest.
There lay the confirmation I feared. My fingers quickly found two lumps under my skin. I knew what these were, or rather what they meant. I was growing boobs.
I sighed as the curse agreed with my assessment.