Hidden Within

I woke up the next day, which was a Tuesday, fairly early, prepared the breakfast and got ready to leave. Mom woke up as I was about to finish preparing for university. I gave dad a kiss and told him goodbye. I thought that I saw him flinch and have a bit of a shocked look on his face but decided from
most, while I explained to her that she's done enough for me and there wasn't much more she could have done. I told her to look after herself and not to overexert herself.

As I left with that big bag, I felt like this was a new chapter in my life that I was about to begin. I took the same route as always. People once again mistook me for a girl although I tried my best to be manly, of course I had my mask on as well. I knew there was no lecture in the early morning so I decided to go to the apartment to put my bag there, I didn't want to attract unwanted attention with keeping it with me all day long. I called Rama and informed her that I'd be coming first.

As this was very early, public transport wasn't too difficult to the apartment. I remembered how to get to the apartment fairly easily. When I arrived, Rama was already up while Mackie was still fast asleep. I put my bag in my new room right by all of the other bags from yesterday and decided to prepare breakfast for the girls as thanks for welcoming me. Nothing too fancy, just boiled eggs with some cream cheese, white cheese, olive, thyme, etc. You know, basic stuff.

I removed the wraps when I arrived to relax a bit, but at 9 I had to put them back on again. I also thought that Martin deserved to know as well. So I made up my mind to tell him today. We left at around 9:30 and arrived at 9:45. I had my get up from yesterday again, a hat, a mask, and a cough.  Of course my hair put up in a ponytail.

I sat down towards the back while Rama and Mackie sat beside me. Martin came a bit later and sat in front of us, he was definitely confused as to what has been happening lately and surely wanted an explanation. After the end of the first lecture, we had at least 30 minutes before the second one.

Martin spun to face us and looked me in the eyes, I avoided his gaze, then looked back at him.

"I know you want an explanation don't you?" I asked.

"I do, first what's with your voice? And second, what's up with your body? You've clearly shrunk!" He asked.

"Both questions have the same answer." I pulled him closer to whisper in his ear. "I became a girl I don't know how nor why."

"What?! I mean it makes sense to be honest, your body is much smaller and hearing your voice now really gave me a hint, but how did it happen?" He asked. "You didn't... Did you?" He asked suspiciously.

"Of course not!" I punched his shoulder, and he just laughed. "It started shortly after that stress thing." I explained.

"What about your family? How did they take the news??" He asked.

"They don't know. Or only mom knows, the others don't. I think.." I answered.

"I was meaning to ask you that, why didn't you tell your family?" Mackie asked.

"My relationship with them isn't at it's best. I could tell mom yesterday but I'm not telling the others until graduation." I answered.

"I see..." Mackie decided not to ask anymore questions to avoid bothering me with them.

"But surely they will know! You can't hide this while staying with them!" Martin said.

"I've just moved out today."

"Really? Where to?" He asked.

"The girls were kind enough to allow me to stay with them in the vacant third room in their apartment." I answered slightly embarrassed.