What Is this?

[Episode 4]

Coughing and choking from the intense invasion of water into my throat and nose, I slowly attempt to gather myself.

I glance up, wiping water from my face, trying to inspect the lady who I saw standing behind me.

But nothing other than the sinister forest occupies the area.

Could It be that she was actually some sort of monster or forest spirit? After all, what kind of normal person lurks behind you for no reason without saying a single word?

I stare at the other side of the lake. Maybe she's actually standing on the other side of the stream and approached me from that corner of the forest.

Actually, now that I think about it, from the width of this body of water, there's no way a normal person can cross it without a bridge or walking through it and getting wet.

"Did I see it wrong? Maybe exhaustion is finally getting to me."

Fantastic. I'm soaking wet and feel stupid.

Feeling lost at the thought of suddenly going insane or seeing a ghost, I stagger my way out of the lake- still panting.

"Damn... My clothes are all drenched… All I can wear are these girly looking jeans and shirts." I gulp and decide it may be best to swallow my pride and just wear them.

Urgently trying to find something to distract me from having to change, I notice one of my sandals floating on the surface of the lake.

Being absolutely drenched anyway, it shouldn't be a problem to jump back in to grab my fallen shoe.

Walking out of the pond once again, my house keys (Which are practically useless now) fall out of my pocket onto the water bank. Turning to pick it up, I see the reflection of the same woman.

This time I don't panic and carefully turn to properly greet her.

She's not there. She's gone again.

...

Just where does this woman keep on disappearing to?

"Hey lady, it's okay! You can come over and drink this water with me if you want. There's no need to keep running away!"

Even after calling out to her numerous times, I haven't even caught a glimpse of her. She keeps refusing to respond or even signal that she's still here.

Maybe I have just gone mad. I start to ponder about who that girl could be. Wait. Is it possible? If I remembered correctly that wolf said 'girl' right?

…

"There's absolutely no way..."

In the same breath I utter that line, I nervously gaze at the water.

And what do you know?

That very same girl with her sepia, reddish-brown skin, luscious jet-black afro hair, perky little nose and expressive yet worn-out black eyes, stares right back at me, lightly touching her plump, little cheeks.

This is a joke, right?

"HA- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I-I See!"

My body involuntarily lets out an uncontrollable, unseemly and manic laugh.

I raise my hand towards my hair. Even my afro has changed; it tripled in size. I stare even more at my facial features, pulling at each new trait that I find.

My prominent and full-bodied lips now have a delicate, rounded shape to them. And my pointy eyes are more almond-like than before.

Tears swell up in my eyes obscuring my sight, while all I can seem to do is lose myself in a hysterical fit of laughter.

I must be delirious b- because- A lump forms in my throat.

I- I somehow turned into a girl! There are physically no words to describe how I feel about this nonsensical situation. If I try, the words would only come out incoherently.

I can only laugh.

"Isn't this ridiculous? Why does it have to be me of all the people here? Haven't I had enough today?"

It feels like all the oxygen in my lungs is being sucked out, just like my sanity. I can't breathe, my throat- it hurts!

Even so, I still laugh.

I start gasping for air and continue coughing, I kneel and smash my arms onto the ground, dirtying my face and arms as I bury them into the sand in frustration.

I still retain a peculiar smile, gritting my teeth as tears flow down the sides of my face, dripping gently onto the floor.

I look up into the sky, still kneeling, and notice the suns lighting up the clouds,

My vision starts to blur. I think I need to close my eyes, just for a moment.