New Home, Old Memories

In the bathroom just before I start taking my clothes off and take a shower, I stop by the mirror above the sink to fully spectate my appearance.
What appeared was a slender girl with long black hair. I know I’ve turned into a girl and all, and I checked my nether regions earlier. But damn… it didn’t feel completely real until now.
I wonder how my life would’ve turned out if I was born as a girl instead. It’s something I never thought of but it feels weird seeing myself like this.

Anyways I better go ahead shower already, I don’t want to keep her waiting too long.

***
After taking a shower which took a while for me to get used to since I felt weird sensations during it, I put on my white briefs, jogging pants, a plain white shirt, and a gray hoodie to go along with it. Once I finished changing into my outfit, I walked back inside the bathroom to see myself in the mirror again. I don’t have any clothes that fit would a girl’s appearance not that I would have any so, this should be fine right?

Though I am curious how would I look if I borrowed one of my mom’s clothes… it probably wouldn’t fit me but… never mind. This is fine. Just because my body’s turned into a girl it doesn’t mean I get the freedom to wear that kind of clothing. I am still a male inside after all.
I’ll just stick to what I’m used to.
After confirming how I look, I packed a week’s worth of clothes into the backpack I used for school because it’s the only usable bag I have. Alongside it, I also brought my body bag that I use when I go out for groceries when there’s no school.
Finally finished huh… I thought as I double checked the contents of my bag one more time. “I probably shouldn’t keep her waiting.” I quietly muttered to myself as I looked at my room one last time then went downstairs.
As I walked downstairs, I saw Lumi’s face gradually come to view, she was sulking. “What took you so long?” She grumbled.
“Sorry, I took a shower and packed my clothes.” I responded.
“Well, what’re we waiting for? Let’s go.” She said but then suddenly her long white hair turned to black along with her skin turning to light brown.
“Huh?” I uttered.
“This is just a disguise since I stand out too much with my usual hair and skin color.” She explained as she immediately guessed what I wanted to ask.
“Sure, wait there’s still something I need to, give me a minute or two.”
“Fine…” She reluctantly agreed then I grabbed a sticky note from the fridge again and pulled out a ballpoint pen from my bag and wrote a quick letter to my parent’s who’ll arrive here.
I don’t worry them too much, so to ease their minds I’ll just write that I’ve run away and not to look for me, though they’ll probably worry and look anyways, rendering this note useless, at least I’ve let them know.
I don’t want to go and disappear with them constantly worrying about me, it’ll probably still happen even if I leave this note behind.
So… it’s mostly for my own self-satisfaction.
I sighed…
I can’t get rid of my selfishness after all huh… Anyways once this is all over, it will be gone that’s for sure alongside this worthless existence of mine. I thought as I finish writing and stuck the note onto my fridge. “All right, let’s go.” I said as I turned to Lumi who’s been sitting and waiting for a while now.
“Okay.” She replied as she stood up and we both walked out of the house and exited through the gate.
***
As we walked on the street heading for the subdivision’s exit, I took a quick glance at Lumi who was still wearing the same white dress with a sullen look on her face.
She’ll just stand out like that even if you change your hair and skin color. I thought as I decided to keep quiet about that for now as there’s probably no way to resolve it yet. “Hey, are you actually okay with this?” She asked.
“Yeah, why’re you asking that now?” I replied.
“Well, now that I think about it, you have to leave home because you’re a girl now, right? and I’m the one who turned you into a girl because I cut corners. I’ve been feeling… umm what do you call it… I think it was guilt? Probably.” She explained.
“Don’t feel guilty about, I’m the one who made the decision to leave.” I added.
“You made that decision because I turned you into a girl, right? So, I’m the one who influenced you in the first place.” I sighed.
“Even so, it’s not your fault, it’s mine.”
“If you say so…”
“Why are you suddenly so empathetic?” I asked.
“Rude, even though I’ve lived on for centuries on end, ultimately I’m still a human, no ability or power can change that.”
“I see…” She’s strong, if what she said about being immortal is true, then living that long while still maintaining her sanity, her sense of self.
She’s really strong, unlike me. I’ve lived only for 16 years, and I’ve already thrown the towel. “I’m jealous…” I accidentally muttered.
“Jealous of what?” Crap, I didn’t mean to say it out loud.
“You’re strong, both physically and mentally.”
“Even though I may appear that way to you, I’m not actually as strong as you think I am. Even I have my own limits and times when I breakdown.”
“But still, living for that long isn’t to be laughed at, you’re amazing.”
“I only managed because I had my own goals I want to achieve after all.”
“Good for you then.”
“Don’t you have any goals yourself?” Lumi asked.
“I don’t have any. I’ve mostly been living aimlessly; I don’t really think about my future all that much.”
“Hmm…” She uttered and the conversation went silent. I sighed.
I knew it, the conversation didn’t last long. I wasn’t that good at talking with other people in the first place, so this was to be expected, I guess.
As we were nearing the exit, I heard a large growl come from her stomach. “Do you want to eat first before we continue on to your home?” I asked. It’s about that time too, I’m slightly starving myself since I haven’t ate anything since that cordon bleu I ate for dinner a couple days ago now.
My hunger probably went away because my original male body was converted into this one. “N-no not really.” She shyly turns her head away from me as we stopped walking.
“Don’t be shy, just admit it.”
“Fine, let’s go eat, you pick.”
“Okay, then let’s go eat in that convenience store since it’s the nearest.” I point at the large sign.
“Sure.” She agreed and just before we started walking again, I got a bad feeling about something and turned to my back to look.
There was nothing but people going on about their usual daily lives.
“Is something wrong?” She asked.
“No, it’s nothing.” I responded and we both resumed walking. I’m a bit sensitive to people’s gazes so I know when someone is watching me.
That bad feeling from earlier. I’m sure someone was watching us, but who would?
Does the serial killer know that Lumi is hunting him down? She said earlier that this serial killer is a rogue spirit like her, but I wonder if that’s really the case.
If he really has abilities and powers like her, what motive would he have in killing separate individual people when he can just massacre a lot of people.
What Is this guy’s motive? What is he planning? I’m sure it’ll be answered soon enough when we eventually catch him but I just can’t help but wonder.
***
“Uhmm… delicious.” She commented as she smiled while eating. We both entered the convenience store, ordered our food, and sat down on the stools and long table on the side of it.
Lumi ordered a two-piece fried chicken meal while I just grabbed three whole buns of siopao. “You sure are enjoying it.” I muttered.

“Of course, I usually just cook for myself, but it’s different when I eat outside.” She explained.
“Hahaha…” I wryly laughed as I munched on my siopao’s
Cute… I thought as I kept glancing at her every few moments. “Can I try one of those?” She asked as she pointed at my siopao.
“Sure, go ahead.” I agreed but when I was just about to hand her one of my siopao that’s still left unopened in the table, she went closer to me and took a bite out of the one I was just eating.
“Why did you that?” I surprised.
“You said I can have one, no?”
“Yes, I did, but why the one I’m eating, right now?!”
“I don’t know.” I don’t know if she’s doing it on purpose, but her personality is too random. It’s like she has no set personality whatsoever.
Oh well no use in dwelling about it too much, I can just ask her later.
***
After finishing our lunch, we both exited the convenience store and continued on to our destination. We both crossed the roads and are now just outside the WcRonalds I was just at, the other day. “Where is your house anyway? I didn’t really get a good look at the address you handed to me.”
“Ah, it’s just in this subdivision.”
“I see.” We both crossed the road again but instead of continuing forward like I did last time I was here, we stopped and hopped in a tricycle, Lumi told the driver our destination, and we were on our way.
***
“Thanks boss.” I said as I paid the driver and exited the tricycle along with our luggage. We were in a street similar to one in my subdivision. Wait… I recognize this place. I thought as I held back my urge to vomit. “Oi are you okay?” Lumi asked out of concern.
“I’m fine, it’s just that this place brings back unpleasant memories…”
“I see, then we should get you inside as fast as possible.” She said as she let me lean on her shoulder as we walked inside a white building.
If someone were to ask me what place I hate going to the most. I would answer this one. Merry Street in XX Subdivision. Because of a certain thing I did long ago when I was 12, this place just brings back memories of embarrassment, regret, and my dumb ideas. I tried so hard to forget those memories and yet I’m back here.
It can’t be helped, This is where Lumi just happened to live.
It’s just a coincidence.
***
After entering the white building, we both stepped into an elevator and went to the top floor. Once we reached the top floor, I was dragged to the end of the hallway. “Here we are.” She said as she unlocked the door.
What greets us is a narrow hallway. “Let’s go.” She added, as we both stepped inside her hair and skin immediately returned back to normal.
It’s like magic…
She led me to a bedroom which I assume to be hers. It looked ordinary. I’m tired I thought as I dropped both of my bags on the floor and immediately laid down on her bed. “Can I rest here for a while?” I asked.
“Sure, I’ll be in the living room, so call me when you need me, we’ll do our plan of attack later tonight.” She said as she left the room, leaving me alone. What the hell is wrong with me?
After coming all this way, I caused trouble for her. I’m truly am an idiot.
I feel sick… But what caused this?
Sure, I hate this place and the entirety of my existence but I’m sure it’s not to the point where I feel sick by just going to it. I think… I’m going to rest for a bit. I thought as my consciousness slowly faded.
***
That day… it was February the 14th, the day known as valentine’s day.
The student council had handed out valentine’s goods such as roses, bear plushies, and other stuff during lunch time to the students in the class who had ordered from them several days prior…
I was handed a red rose wrapped in plastic… So then me and a couple other classmates who’d I consider friends made preparations to give them to our crushes in the next class over.
Three of us walked out of the classroom together and waited in the hallway for them to come out. I was shaking in nervousness and hid behind one of them. Eventually the girls they were aiming for came out and both of them gave it to them then they went back to the classroom.
I was standing alone in the hallway with a red rose in hand for several minutes until she finally came out… But I couldn’t move, I just stood there, I couldn’t call out to her… As I was standing there she walked away… presumably heading to the cafeteria. I stood there like an idiot… until I eventually went back to my senses and searched for her…
Five minutes before lunch break ended I saw her in the stairwell and handed the rose to her… “Happy Valentine’s” I said.
She just thanked me then I went on my merry way.

I went back and then entered my classroom, but then… “Did you get rejected?” one of the girls in my class condescendingly asked me… I didn’t answer and just went back to my seat because I was deep in thought.

Throughout the day people mistakenly assumed that I got rejected but I didn’t know that till later. “Here, `````` gave me a note to hand to you,” one of my friends said as he handed me a piece of paper after he just sat down on my couch.

I slowly took the piece of paper out of his hands and began reading the note.

Eden… sorry
You still have a chance with me someday but not now so don’t be sad.

“Huh?” I was confused… why did she hand me this note? Did I confess? I just handed her a rose for valentine’s day? After giving it some thought… I just crumpled the paper and tossed it to a garbage bin, and decided not to think about it…

Then I just went on to play games with friends at my house that day… not knowing that it was just the start of a series of events that I would heavily regret later on…