The bus hissed to a halt, and I slipped my bag over my shoulder, trailing Aiden onto the sidewalk. "Thanks again for earlier," I said, giving him a sincere smile. He shrugged, offering a half-smile and a casual wave before striding toward the school gate.
I watched Aiden disappear through the gate, then turned toward the reception. A flutter of excitement—unfamiliar and exhilarating—tingled in my chest. School had never felt this way before.
The heavy doors groaned as I stepped into the reception office, a mix of lemon cleaner and old books lingering in the air. Pale yellow walls lined with scuffed linoleum tiles gave the place a tired but welcoming feel.
The receptionist glanced up from her paperwork, adjusting her glasses. Her curly hair bobbed slightly, and she offered a smile that felt like a hug—warm and reassuring.
"Hello," I murmured, feeling the paper slip slightly from my damp fingers as I handed it over. I glanced at the letter, the edges crumpled where my grip had been too tight, and forced myself to meet the receptionist's gaze.
She flipped through the documents, pulling out a card and looking at it before glancing up at me to check. A sudden jolt of nervousness shot through me. I offered a small, awkward smile, gripping the strap of my bag too tightly. After a moment, she slipped the card back into the envelope and said, "Please follow me."
I followed her out of the office, releasing a shaky sigh. The school lay ahead, a modest building with clean white walls softened by vines of ivy weaving their way up the sides. Tall windows reflected the sunlight, while a line of oak trees bordered the walkway, casting dappled shadows across the path. Small clusters of bushes hugged the base of the building and lined the entrance, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. My steps felt heavy as I tried to calm my racing heart, the serene surroundings at odds with the anxiety bubbling inside me.
The receptionist led me through the school, the quiet echo of our footsteps filling the empty halls. Sunlight streamed through large windows, casting shadows on the polished floors as we passed rows of half-open lockers and classroom doors.
She led me up a flight of stairs, the metal steps clanging softly under our feet. We entered through a set of double doors and turned right, stopping in front of a door where the principal sat at his desk. The atmosphere in his office was tense, with the principal deeply engrossed in a document. The receptionist had to call his name twice before he responded, looking up with a startled expression. She then leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
The principal, his brow furrowed, opened the letter and glanced inside before going to his computer. He began typing for some time, the clacking of keys filling the otherwise silent room. Finally, he stood up and handed the letter back to me. "Come with me, please," he said, his tone gentle but firm. Feeling perplexed and a bit nervous, I followed him out of the office and up another flight of stairs.
Even though this school had been my life for a long time, I started to feel a little nervous, wondering if things were going to be okay. My palms felt sweaty, and I rubbed them against my dress, trying to steady myself. We stopped in front of a classroom door, and the principal knocked three times before entering. The students inside immediately stood up as the principal gestured for me to follow him. As I stepped into the classroom, the students' attention shifted entirely to me, their eyes wide with curiosity.
Who is she?
Why is she here?
She looks so pretty.
"Good morning, everyone," the principal said, his voice echoing in the silent room. "We have a new student today." He paused, glancing at me. "This is Diana. Let's make her feel at home."
"Diana, would you like to introduce yourself?" he asked, turning to me with a gentle nod.
"Hello, I'm Diana." The words felt heavy on my tongue, unfamiliar. My eyes flickered around the room, catching glimpses of wide-eyed stares, the students leaning forward slightly, like they were trying to get a better look. My cheeks burned under their scrutiny. "I—I hope we all have a great year together," I added hastily, my voice almost cracking.
The principal nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Diana, you may choose where you'd like to sit."
His words snapped me out of my daze. "Oh, uh... okay." I glanced around the room, my pulse quickening as the soft buzz of whispers filled the air. Students leaned toward each other, stealing glances in my direction. Some murmured behind cupped hands, while others just stared openly, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Did I look weird? Was the dress a bad idea?
My vision blurred slightly, and I blinked, trying to steady myself. Everything seemed a little off-kilter, like I was seeing the room through a fog. Then, as I focused on their faces, something familiar tugged at the back of my mind. I knew these voices—the way they whispered and chuckled. I blinked again, and recognition dawned. These were my classmates.
My gaze shifted to the corner, to the seat by the window. There he was, just where he used to be. A wave of relief washed over me, easing the tension I hadn't realized I was holding. I walked over and sat down beside him, feeling a small but welcome sense of comfort settle around me.
The principal nodded, his work seemingly complete. "That's all for me today," he said, and the teacher thanked him before he left.
Once the principal had exited the classroom, the students continued whispering to one another, the buzz of their conversations filling the room. The teacher sighed and announced, "Since you only have five minutes left in class, you may use the time as you wish."
I was adjusting my seat when a group of girls made their way toward me, surrounding my desk. Their faces were marked with forced smiles as they spoke.
"Hi, Diana! You must be new here, right?" one of them asked, her tone overly enthusiastic.
"It must be tough starting at a new school," another added, her eyes wide with fake sympathy.
"If you need any help finding your way around or anything, we're here for you," a third girl offered, her smile a little too eager.
At first, I was taken aback when they approached me; people usually didn't go out of their way to talk to me. A flutter of happiness sparked inside me, a rare feeling since I was often overlooked. I responded warmly, with genuine smiles and polite answers like, "Thank you," and "That's so nice of you." I felt a bit buoyed by the unexpected attention.
But as the conversation progressed, something felt off. The girls never acknowledged Daniel, who sat quietly beside me, and their smiles seemed more interested in appearances than in actually connecting. It was as if they had already decided what they wanted from me, and Daniel didn't fit into their plans.
I glanced at him. He didn't seem to mind, sitting there with the same calm expression he always had, but I felt a pang of sadness. It twisted in my chest, sharp and sudden, before simmering into anger. They were treating him like he didn't even exist.
The warmth I had felt moments earlier drained away, replaced by something colder. My responses turned short, almost automatic, as I tried to distance myself from their shallow interest.
Eventually, the girls gave up and left, their exaggerated smiles fading as they realized I wasn't fully engaging with them. As they walked away, I turned slightly toward Daniel. His face remained neutral, but I could feel the weight of his silence. He didn't meet my eyes, instead gazing ahead like nothing had happened.
That hurt more than I wanted to admit.
I hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. "Hey, sorry I didn't tell you I was enrolling," I said quietly.
Daniel turned back to face me, his expression shifting from neutral to a warm smile. "Yeah, it gave me a shock," he admitted, his voice light with humor. Then his gaze softened, and he added, "But I'm glad you're here."
His words caught me off guard, and for a second, I didn't know what to say. The corners of my lips twitched into a small, genuine smile. In an inaudible whisper, I replied, "I'm glad you're here too."
For a moment, silence lingered between us, comfortable and grounding. I caught Daniel glancing at me out of the corner of my eye. His gaze flicked toward my summer dress, then darted away, but the pattern repeated. His efforts to be subtle weren't working—it was blatantly obvious. He finally turned his head back to meet my eyes, and when he realized he'd been caught staring, his face reddened slightly.
"Where did you get that dress?" he asked, his voice awkward but curious, as if scrambling to make it seem casual.
I bit back a laugh, both amused and a little embarrassed. "I found it in Mom's wardrobe," I said, brushing the hem of the dress lightly with my fingers. "It was the only thing I could grab in a hurry." I paused, my voice softening. "But please stop bringing it up. I already feel self-conscious wearing this."
Daniel looked away briefly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It looks nice," he mumbled, his voice quieter now, as if he was afraid to overstep.
"Thanks. It wasn't really planned, you know. Just… happened," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips as I glanced down at the fabric of my dress.
My fingers, which had been clutching the hem tightly, loosened their grip, and I smoothed the material absentmindedly.
I glanced down for a moment, then back at him, my lips curling into a small, relieved smile. It wasn't just his words—it was the way he said them, like they were meant to reassure me. I felt lighter somehow, knowing I didn't look strange or out of place after all.
I glanced at his face, noticing with a flicker of surprise that the bruises from yesterday were completely gone. My mind tripped over the thought for a moment—hadn't his cheek been swollen and discolored? But now, his skin looked smooth, unmarked, as if nothing had happened. Huh? I glanced up, but he didn't seem to notice my reaction, so I quickly brushed it aside, letting the odd thought slip away as we continued talking.
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of lunchtime. Daniel grabbed his bag and stood up. I was about to do the same when I looked up at him. He towered over me, his piercing eyes and large frame creating an imposing presence. Even though I knew he would never harm anyone, his physical appearance could be intimidating, and I found myself feeling a touch of surprise.
Daniel and I left the classroom together, my bag slung over my shoulder. "Let's go eat," I said, and we walked out of the room side by side. I could sense the whispers from the other students as we passed, curious about the new girl who seemed to have instantly befriended Daniel.
"Isn't she the new girl?" one student whispered, stealing a glance in their direction. "What's her name again… Diana?"
"But Daniel's actually talking to her," a third chimed in, their voice tinged with disbelief. "He never talks to anyone."
"Yeah, it's weird," someone muttered. "He's always alone. Maybe she's, like, his cousin or something?"
The mixture of curiosity and surprise in their whispers made me more aware of how unusual this situation was, but I tried to focus on getting to the roof and enjoying lunch with Daniel.
We climbed the stairs to the rooftop, my usual spot for lunch. As we reached the top and found a quiet corner to sit, it hit me—I hadn't brought anything to eat.
"Ah, crap," I muttered, frowning. "I forgot to pack lunch."
Daniel quickly offered to share his, but I tried to downplay my situation. "It's okay, I ate not too long ago. I should be fine."
But as soon as the words left my mouth, my stomach let out a loud grumble, betraying me. Embarrassed, I clenched my stomach, but Daniel just laughed and told me I could take as much as I wanted. He began unpacking his lunch, revealing a generous spread of rice with chicken, some tomatoes, a ham sandwich, and even a piece of chocolate.
We sat down together in the corner, and we started sharing the food. As we ate, I picked at the meal, taking only a few bites before realizing I was already feeling full. It struck me how little it took to satisfy me, likely due to my now smaller frame.
"I'm full," I announced, leaning back.
Daniel looked at me with a hint of concern. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yeah. I feel like my stomach's going to burst," I replied, a little surprised myself.
"Okay, if you're sure," he said, before continuing to eat his own meal. I watched as Daniel ate quickly, his pace rapid. In just a few minutes, the food had vanished.
Noticing a stray grain of rice on his cheek, I reached out, scooped it up, and popped it into my mouth. When I looked back at him, he was blushing, which made me smile playfully. "It's not good to waste food, you know?" I teased.
He finished his meal and took a moment to rest. "Do you want to go somewhere else?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Not really, I feel comfortable right here," I said as I lay down on Daniel's legs, and I felt him tense beneath me, his body going still as if unsure how to react."
I rested my head on Daniel's legs and looked up, I found him already gazing down at me. His eyes, usually so intense, softened for a moment. But as he kept watching me, something shifted. Beneath that sharpness, I saw a flicker of vulnerability, a kind of sadness that made my chest tighten. I quickly pushed those thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on them. Instead, I focused on the fact that he looked a bit handsome, with his thick eyebrows and those deep eyes.
"You know, you look more handsome from this angle," I said, my voice soft.
"Really?" Daniel said, his voice low and uncertain, his eyes darting away as if he was too shy to hold my gaze.
I nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah"
He looked at me again, hesitating for a moment. "I think you're the beautiful one," he said quietly, his voice sincere but nervous, as if he wasn't sure he should be saying it.
I felt my cheeks warm, his words catching me off guard. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling a bit flustered but happy.
We stayed like that for a while, the quiet between us comfortable, until Daniel spoke again.
"Diana, I need to ask you something," Daniel said, his voice tentative.
I looked at him, sensing the gravity in his tone. "What is it?" I asked softly, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Are you… actually me inside? I know you've already proven it, but it still seems crazy. Do you just have my memories, or are you really me?"
I nodded, my gaze meeting his. "Yes," I replied, my voice steady and certain. "I am you, but as a girl."
Daniel took a deep breath, his eyes searching mine, trying to understand what this all meant for me. "So… how do you feel about being a girl now?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "A... girl?" I repeated, almost like I was testing the word on my tongue for the first time. My gaze dropped to my hands, and I stared at them as if they belonged to someone else. The weight of reality hit me like a tidal wave.
"Honestly," I began, my voice cracking as I spoke, "it's overwhelming." My words trembled as I tried to force them out. "I've been trying not to think about it because... because it scares me. What's going to happen next? Will I disappear? And even if I don't—how do I live as a girl? It's like… like I shouldn't even exist."
My chest tightened, and my breaths became shaky. As the words tumbled out, tears blurred my vision, spilling over as the fear and uncertainty I had tried to suppress rose to the surface. Daniel's expression softened, his concern etched into every line of his face. Without hesitation, he stepped closer and placed his hands firmly yet gently on my shoulders.
"Hey, listen to me," he said, his voice steady and full of warmth. "It's going to be okay. You're not alone in this. I'm here, and we'll figure this out together. I promise."
I looked up at him, my face streaked with tears, and something in his unwavering gaze anchored me. I hesitated for a moment, then opened my arms, wordlessly asking for comfort. Daniel pulled me into a tight embrace, wrapping me in his warmth as my emotions poured out. I buried my face in his shoulder, allowing myself to feel the weight of everything I had been holding inside.
For a long while, we stayed like that, the silence broken only by the soft sound of my sniffles. Slowly, my breathing steadied, and I began to calm down. I pulled back slightly, wiping at my face with trembling fingers.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Daniel shook his head firmly, his hands still resting on my shoulders. "Don't apologize," he said, his tone resolute. "Anyone would feel this way in your shoes. It's okay to be scared."
He smiled at me—gentle, reassuring. Then, without a word, he brushed a tear from my cheek with his thumb. The gesture was so simple, yet it brought a sense of calm I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever.
I managed a small, trembling smile in return. For the first time since this all began, I felt like I wasn't carrying this burden alone. And that… that made all the difference.
Just as we settled into the stillness of our moment, a sudden, playful scream rang out from the playground below. We both turned toward the sound, initially taken aback, but soon found ourselves laughing at the unexpected humor of it.