Hidden Within

Zack's pov:

We left the mall and waited for the bus for a while, it was already 7:30 and the streets were busy. A couple of buses passed but they were too full that they couldn't stop. Until at last a bus had a bit of a space for us to ride. We got as far as just behind the driver where there is a passage with four seats on both sides facing the inside.

Standing in the bus just proves how much I've become shorter since my change. I was really struggling to keep grip with the hangs on top while both Rama and Mackie didn't really struggle, Rama didn't because she was wearing 5 inch heels while Mackie was already considerably taller than me and was also wearing 3 inch heels. Me on the other hand was only wearing normal sneakers. A couple of seconds later a couple of men came in and stood really close to me that I had to lean back which meant I was even more unbalanced and barely reaching the hangs.

Suddenly I felt two hands on my waist so I went defensive immediately but almost fell down if not for these hands.

"Relax girl, I wanna help you." Turns out the hands that held me belonged to the lady who was sitting right next to where I was standing. "You can lean on me while I hold you or you can even sit on my lap if you want." She added.

"I can't possibly accept that! That'd be rude from me, and I'm a bit heavy so I can't trouble you with myself!!" I refused as strongly as possible.

"Hey it's fine, firstly it's not rude since I'm the one offering- Careful!" She said as she held my waist tightly stopping me from falling back as the driver hit the brakes. "And secondly you're nowhere near heavy! You must be barely 40 kg or 45 at most!" She added. I looked at the girls for help and they gave me an accepting look as if they were telling me that it's fine to accept her offer. The driver accelerated all of a sudden and I had to hold her knee for support.

With the most embarrassed face ever I accepeted by nodding. "I'm really sorry." I leaned on her legs and she kept hold of me by my waist. With every passing moment I felt I was drifting more and more from the man I once was.

"You're very cute you know, what class are you in?" The lady asked.

"Cu-?! Ummm.. I'm a fourth year student in university!" I stumbled for words, I still can't have a normal reaction to being called cute.

"Are you? You look much younger than that!" She replied.

"And she's very smart as well!" Rama told the lady. "She's currently second in the course!" She added.

"Rama stop! You know I don't like telling that to people! I don't like to show off!" I said with a blush.

"It's fine you're not the one talking about it. If anything we like to show off that you're our friend." Said Mackie.

"That's amazing! Keep up the good work!" The lady said as she gave me a pat on the head. "What's your name if I may ask?"

"I'm Za..e , Zoe!" I decided to give a more feminine name than the one the girls use to call me with.

"That's a cute name as well! My name's Rita." Rita replied. Again I blushed to being called cute, it kinda irritates me but at the same time makes me nervous.

"That's our stop Za-Zoe., it was nice meeting you Rita!" Rama said.

"Thank you for the support Rita, and it was great to know you!" I said as I made my way to the door.

"Good luck on your studies!" Rita told us as we left the bus.

"Sooo... What brings 'Zoe'?" Rama asked as the bus moved away.

"I just thought that Zackie was an obvious feminised male name so I thought I'd give her a more feminine one!" I answered honestly.

"I see, I can kinda understand that.." Rama replied.