Chapter 10

"So, what exactly happened to you today?"

Emily immediately asked right after I finished all the food she brought, even though to be honest I was still hungry.

"Nothing important, I'm just unlucky today."

"About that handsome man you met in the forest, I think he was Duke Aiden De Velgmegeur."

"He's not handsome at all, in fact his face looks really disgusting. Just like a stray dog!" I said while cleaning the dirt in my nose with my index finger.

Emily looked at me with a look that showed that I looked very disappointing.

"I'm confused as to why you could be like this? Oh my gosh, you really don't feel like the Ella I know!" Emily sighed, somehow I could feel her disappointment.

"What is the Ella you've always known like?"

"What's clear is that we were both very close when we were little. But after we got older and you decided to become a dancer, we became less and less close. Honestly, I hope we can be like before!"

Emily smiled gently and her very beautiful smile made my heart flutter. I don't know what I was thinking now, only that I felt that I needed a woman's warmth now. I couldn't stop looking at him and somehow I felt excited.

"What's wrong? Are you cold?" Emily asked.

"N-no, I was just thinking how about we share the warmth by lying flat under the blanket."

I said that embarrassing statement spontaneously. I felt that I had said something wrong. Hearing my words, Emily's expression immediately changed. He looked shocked and horrified to hear my words.

"What are you saying, Ella? You're really crazy, aren't you? Never mind, I'll go back to my room now!"

"W-wait, Emily! I was just kidding, I didn't mean to-"

"Stop it already! I know your memory still hasn't recovered, but you're still very strange now. You sometimes look like a man and it's really scary. Good night!"

"W-wait, Emily! I-"

Emily had left the room before hearing my explanation. I think this is really ridiculous, I'm in a woman's body, of course she will think my behavior is very strange.

I took a deep breath and lay down on the bed. Very soft and comfortable, makes me very sleepy. Suddenly, I remembered the strange man I met in the forest.

"Is that crazy person called Duke Aiden De Velgmegeur? His face really looks like that bastard!"

I still can't believe what I saw. The person named Duke Aiden was very similar to the head delinquent at my previous school, the person who always bullied and tortured me before Xavier came.

"Agh...damn it, even now I still can't forgive him."

***

"Hoeeekkk..."

All the food I ate this morning came out of my mouth when I couldn't hold back the disgust that felt so disturbing.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

My head was spinning, the only thing I could hear was the horrible laughter of Keith and his friends. I tried not to cry, even though the pain I felt was so excruciating.

"Look at me, bastard! How does it taste, huh? Doesn't urine taste really delicious, does it?"

"I-I don't-"

"Tch...!"

He spat at me just as I was trying to answer his question. I'm helpless, really helpless. Every time I try to fight, I will definitely end up like this.

Unfortunately, even though the teachers at this school knew what happened to me, they chose to remain silent and did not provide any defense to me.

"I suggest that you immediately transfer from this school if you want to live in peace, Kenny!"

Even Mrs. Rachel who I trusted the most was as helpless as the other teachers. He asked me to immediately move out of this horrible school, instead of defending me and sanctioning those bastards.

"I-I won't give up! I will definitely-"

"Kenny...!"

Someone kicked the warehouse door very hard. I saw a bright light shining on an angel with white wings. The angel ran towards me and alone, he fought with those bastards to save a loser like me.

I just sat there silently, unable to do anything to help him. He is very strong, too strong to make me jealous of him.

"Are you okay? You're battered!"

I don't really remember what happened or how he managed to take me away from that dark warehouse. What I remember is that I shuffled around with my arm resting on his very strong and sturdy shoulders.

"Damn you!" I cursed at him. Even though I should be grateful because he saved me again, my malice clouded my gratitude.

I don't know how to thank him, in fact as far as I remember, I never thanked him. We were only friends for less than two years from the time he transferred to this damn school until our graduation day, after which we never saw each other again. Time is too short for me to learn how to say thank you.

***

"Ella...! Ella...! Wake up, Ella...!"

"Huh? What? What's wrong?"

I woke up from my sleep when I heard the voice of a witch screaming loudly near me. I opened my eyes and immediately raised my head, while my life had not yet entered my body completely.

In front of me, the witch and her annoying daughters stood with their hands on their hips, staring at me viciously.

"When are you coming home? Why are you here?"

"I-I-"

"Mother, I think he sneaked in with Emily's help!" Marie said while smiling sarcastically.

"What? Really?"

"Of course! Otherwise how could he get into a locked house!"

"Emily, is what Marie said true? You were the one who helped Ella into the house?"

"I-I-" Emily stuttered. He looked panicked and it made me feel guilty. I don't want my very good Emily to be punished by the witch because of my mistake.

"Emily doesn't know anything! I went in through the front kitchen door and poked the keyhole open with wire!" I said. I yawned very widely while scratching my itchy stomach.

They looked so shocked by what I did as if they had never done it. It's strange, even though last night I was afraid to face the witch after what I did. But I actually felt calm as if my fear some time ago was just a bad dream.

The witch looked at me with great anger. I'm sure after this he will let me live in peace.

"Shower immediately and change your clothes! After that, meet me in the living room, do you understand?" He said as he left. Meanwhile Marie, Jannet and Emily chose to stay.

Marie and Jannet looked at me with strange smiles that made them look even uglier. Honestly, compared to Emily, the two of them were completely unattractive in the eyes of a man like me.

"Are you secretly meeting your girlfriend again, Ella?" Marie asked.

"Lover? Who do you mean by my lover?"

"Never mind, don't pretend to be stupid, Ella! I know you're acting right now, pretending to lose your memory so that all your actions will be forgiven, you cunning bastard!"

"Mary, never mind! I'm sure Ella isn't lying. Ella really has lost her memory and-"

"Emily, as the sister who is closest to him, I'm sure you are trying to defend him. But are you sure you will continue to be on his side after the man you admire so much is interested in him!"

"The man Emily admires? Who does he mean?"

"Don't play dumb! You're really cunning, aren't you? You deliberately attract men's attention with your body, you're like a cheap thing that anyone can easily get!"

"Mary, stop it! You don't need to say such cruel things to Ella!"

"Emily, you are really naive, aren't you? Are you happy if His Majesty the King falls in love with her? Are you sure you will let a man as good as King Zavier fall in love and make Ella his queen?"

"W-what?" I really couldn't believe what I heard. Emily loves the King? Is it true? How could that be?

I turned to Emily who suddenly fell silent without a word with her head bowed. He seemed to be holding back something that made me feel guilty.

"Emily, is that true?"

"That's not true! Ella, that's not true! I absolutely don't-"

"Of course that's impossible! You can't fall in love with any man other than me!" I said. Again I was carried away by feelings from my past life as a man. I really like Mary Jane who is now Emily. How could I let her love another man besides me.

Me stating stupid remarks with confidence was not welcomed by these three women. They fixed me with a look that seemed to say that I was truly crazy.

"Ella?"

"I-it's not what you think, I just-"

"Mary, I think Ella has really lost her memory!" Said Jannet, who had previously remained silent.

"Jannet, he just-"

"That's good for me, that way I can approach Duke Aiden calmly because Ella doesn't seem to remember him."

Jannet grinned and it made her look scary. These women seem to have their hearts set on these two men who I can't find out where they are attracted at all.

"I don't know, if he does lose his memory, I hope it will last forever." Mary said.

"Tch, damn! What's so good about those two?"

"Ella? What are you-"

"Listen to me! I'm not interested in that King or Duke, if you want to approach them, just do it! I don't care! I'm not interested in being your love rival, do you understand?" I said irritably.

The three young women were stunned and none of them made a sound.

"Hey, you guys understand, don't you...?"

"W-we-"

"Never mind, you better get out now or-"

"Or what?"

"Or the three of you wash me!" I said while blushing.

Mary, Jannet and Emily looked at me hysterically. They didn't believe what I said.

"I-it's not like you guys-"

"Mother, Ella has really gone crazy...!" Mary and Jannet ran out screaming hysterically, just like abused women. Meanwhile, Emily, who seemed to be getting used to my attitude, chose to stay in the room.

Emily laughed after the tense minutes of the two women trying to disturb my peace.

"Why are you laughing? What's so funny? Those two will definitely complain to the witch and get me even more scolded!"

"Hahaha... maybe! After all, you said something so strange like that to them. They must be shocked!"

"So why are you staying here? Shouldn't you be running and screaming too like those two?"

"I think I'm getting used to it then."

"What? Get used to it?"

"Yeah, to be honest, although it became very strange after you drowned in the lake that time. But I feel like the current you is a little more fun."

"Is it true?"

"Yes, I feel that the two of us can be as close as before."

Emily's smile looked sad and it made me wonder a little, what was it that made Emily and I not be close?

"Do not think about it!"

"What are you saying?"

"What Mary and Jannet said it's best not to think too much about it!"

"About you liking the King?"

"N-not that! But-"

"But what?"

"I really admire His Majesty the King, but I don't quarrel with you because of that."

"You don't need to beat around the bush, just tell the truth. You really like the King! What's wrong with that?"

"B-but-"

"Listen, Emily! I'm not interested in that man or any man. So you like the King, go ahead, you don't need to hide it from me. Besides-"

"Besides what?"

"I'm only interested in pretty girls."

***