Friendship

Chapter 5

Friendship

At the front of the house a sound of motorcycle come and it exactly stopped at the house,

Edward has arrived, after putting his helmet and brought a plastic bag full of food he walk towards the door and stop,

After a couple seconds he then knock the door while saying

"Excuse me.. Lucius, are you there?"

'Oh wait his sister should be the one that welcome me'

After a moment the door is open and young woman in a striking appearance comes out greeting Edward with a smile in her face

"Welcome! You should be Edward right? Please come inside, sorry for a shabby place"

After receiving the invitation Edward took off his shoes and put them on the racks, coming inside the house he saw a modest looking living room.

At first sight he see a family portrait on the wall, a small desk on the corner of the room, and a small round table on top of a clean rug in the center of the room,

A snacks and drink placed on top on the round table, because there's no stool or chair to sit on, they have to sit on the rug cross-legged around the table,

Edward have no problem with that, even though he comes from upper class family that have everything, he stay humble and doesn't complain about anything,

After all he often come to his friends house that has similar situation like Lucius, such unfortunate family is everywhere here in Indonesia

That's why it's ingrained in his head, to always stay humble, to always treat his friends with genuine care, and always respect their situation.

His character also helped, because Edward is kind, warm and always cheerful,

He never mind spending his money to treat his friends on occasion, especially to his best friend Lucius, even though Edward has a lot of friends Lucius always comes first on his priority list after his family.

Edward sat in front of the table after saying his greetings and waited for his friend Lucius to come to greet him and tell the story.

Sophia already leaving him and going inside the bedroom after telling him to wait for a moment

Edward prepared his heart for the worst, in his mind he think his friend might get some strange skill or condition from the transformation, like a change of skin color or something similar

A notifications tone come from his phone, looking down he check the phone, inside the screen he see

*Lucius : I'll come in a minute, please be prepared*

*Edward : Don't worry dude, I'm ready*

After a minute someone comes from the direction of the bedroom door, she wears an oversized sweater and a pair of blue skinny jeans.

Her appearance is stunningly beautiful. Her hair is black with slightly different shades of silver on her left side of her head, it started from the bangs to the ears.

It surprisingly matched with her gorgeous looking face.

Edward is stunned after looking at her in the eyes, her eyes have different colors, the left side is dark with a slightly red tone and the right side is dark with azure tone.

Finally finished looking at her face he was embarrassed and looked down trying to calm his heart down.

Edward isn't a shy guy that never had any experience with women and love, after all he often meets beautiful women because of his family social standing.

And especially so because he met with his Lucius sister a couple of times already,

He always thinks that Lucius' older sister Sophia is stunningly beautiful and can be compared to an idol or artist, so he always able to keep his cool around beautiful women,

But this time he failed, he's dumbfounded after seeing a girl, he didn't know what expression he was making right now, so he decided to lower his head.

Edward was also confused, who was this beautiful young woman? Why is she here inside Lucius' home?

He remember never seeing her and he also already meet both of Lucius sister, so she must be a guest or friend of Lucius's sister, so he awkwardly stand up and apologize

"Uhh I'm sorry i don't know that there's another guest besides me here, I'm Edward Lucius's friend, care to tell your name miss?"

The young woman expression also become awkward, she visibly confused, time to time she tries to open her mouth to only shut it again without saying anything,

After an awkward silence, the young woman taking out her smartphone and typing something, then a notification tone coming out from Edward's phone, he immediately looked at his phone screen and was stunned… again,

'What.. What the hell does this mean?!'

On his phone

*Lucius : I'm standing in front of you, yes I'm a woman now… uhh sorry it might confuse you but I'm not joking*

Feeling dumbfounded Edward said

"Wa.. Wait… you're Lucius?"

The young woman finally speaks, her voice is Soothingly smooth but there is also a hint of sweet tone to it.

"Yes Edward, I'm Lucius…"

Edward once again stunned, a lot of expressions coming out of his face changed one after the other, surprised, confused, dumbfounded, disbelief, and finally surprised again.

After a couple minutes of silence Edward finally speak with curious expression

"For real? Like for real for real? You're not joking?"

Hearing that Lucius expression soothes, she then say after sighing of relief

"Yes.. I'm sorry this is all real and it's also why I'm invited you here to my home,

"I can't tell you through the phone and I can't possibly come out and meet you outside,

"Don't know what can possibly happen if we meet outside, because you won't believe what I say with this appearance,...

"So here I am with a different face, body and even gender..

"Uhh I'm sorry… for surprising you like this.. Ahh!.. If you don't believe me I'll bring my sister. She witnessed the whole transformation process after all..

"Hmm? Edward??"

Edward of course once again stunned, he can't think of the whole situation is making any sense, but he decided to ask several question

"Ahhh I'm sorry, em if you really Lucius then you should be able to answer this, who's my first crush? What the size of my 'buddy' and what the most embarrassing thing that happen to me on high school, please answer"

Expecting some wrong answer and followed with failed prank Edward waiting..

"Uhh those questions? Are you sure?

"Alright, your first crush is your private homeschool teacher for your international language lesson, your 'buddy' size is 18cm, and the most embarrassing story is.."

Suddenly Edward stopped the answer with panicked voice and expression,

"Stop stop stop! For real!? Is it you Lucius?! How?!"

Lucius getting amused by Edward expression and decided to tease him by making an innocent look and use a seductive tone

"Yeaaah~ i mean is there anyone besides me who know your 'buddy'?~"

Feeling embarrassed and a bit angry Edward stopped his friend teasing and said

"Damn you! …Wait for real? I mean how??"

"Alright I'll tell you the story…"

After both calming down and sitting down around the table, Lucius began telling Edward the whole story, from the transformation event, the status panel, the things she learned from the experience and the feeling of mana and how she was able to control it.

While the storytelling happens both don't forget to enjoy the food.

After done telling whole the story both of them fall to silence, it seems Edward is digesting the story properly, because after that he finally say

"I believe you now, damn.. So it's because of your transformation traits.. What a boon.. Oh sorry, a bane for you dude..

"I don't know what to say, but I guess be strong! Don't give up! I'm here for you and our friendship won't change!"

Edward gives Lucius encouragement, telling him not to worry as he still cares for his friend, well..

Even though now Edward views on Lucius might a little bit change, he feeling awkward to make skin contact with his friend,

So his usual joke needs to be stopped, as it involves slapping his friend back or putting his arm around his friend's shoulder while leaning, like a best buddy usually did when they joke.

Even if Lucius doesn't mind about the joke he still consciously try to avoid it, it's for his own mind!

Because just by seeing Lucius' appearance, voice and expression it triggered something inside his head, so he decided to make some distance for better or worse..

Smiling brightly Lucius finally released her tensed body, with audible sigh she said

"huft… ahhh it's finally done! Thanks Edward! You really are the best!"

But her expression then change to a tired ones and sulking about the situation

"Ahh… but there's several problems that need to be addressed now.. Aaaa whyyyy there's so much I need to doooo.."

Looking at his friends like that Edward feeling complicated, he can't get used to Lucius new appearance,

He trying his best to resist any forbidden feeling, he then ask about the problem

"Is it perhaps about your identity?"

Hearing it Lucius expression becomes more sorrowful

"Yeah.. I don't know what to do, calling a government agent for help?

"But i don't have much trust in them, i also don't want a commotion especially with the media, i can't ruin my family privacy.."

Thinking hard Edward trying to give his best opinions

"Hmm yeah you're right about the government and media, i do have a suggestion though"

Lucius make an eye contact with Edward and show an expectation

"Please tell me"

Looking at his friend intense looks he gulped and say

"Uhh… how about contacting your Father country's for help?

"Like asking to cover your situation and make a new identity that is tied to your family like a cousin or something similar..

XIs that good? You should have a dual nationality right?"

Hearing Edward suggestion Lucius think for a second

"I mean.. I do have dual nationality, but I don't know if it will work.

"I don't have any personal contact with the government after all, it's only my father who has ties with them.

"I haven't even visited that country since childhood, but I'll try! Thanks for the suggestion dude!"

Lucius in this moment having to forget his appearance, he makes the usual joke by wrapping his hand on Edward's shoulder, both have the same height before but now Edward is several centimeters higher than her so it's a little bit hard, so she jumped and did it…

Edward, surprised, didn't know what to respond. He only froze and his face became red, Lucius breast touched his hand.

Seeing Edward acting like that, Lucius finally realized after seeing his face, she looked back to her body and immediately backed up with embarrassment.

Making an awkward expression she said

"Uhh… umm I'm sorry hehe i forgot, sorry.."

Finally free from her embrace, Edward Trying to regulate his minds and feeling, after that he sighing and said

"don't worry about that.. I'll try not to be conscious about that.. Yeah anyway how about you show me your wings? I really curious about it"

By changing the topic Edward was able to remove the awkward situation.

"The wing huh… hmm… it's a little bit complicated, I don't know if uhh.. You can handle it"

Confused Edward said

"Huh? What do you mean by that? Did the wing have some passive buff or something?"

Lucius face becomes a bit red and saying with a bit of embarrassment

"Uhh it's about how I presented the wing… and how it came out.. Emmmm it can't come out without an opening on the clothes, so i have to remove some clothes"

Finally understand what she mean Edward face also become red and said

"Uhh i guess i can wait for another time..

"Yeah.. Oh right it's getting late, I don't realize it's almost 6 PM, I think it a courtesy to leave right now, I have to give your family some room, so I guess we are done for today?"

With a bit of sad expression Lucius said

"Yeah I guess it's getting late.. Yeah thanks for coming, also thanks for the food you brought, sorry i can't serve you a dinner"

Edward then smiled at her and said

"No problem Luci, you're my best friend after all, so don't worry about food or anything"

Both stand up and moved towards the door ready to partake

Edward almost forgot to say his goodbye and thanks to Lucius's sister so he gave his message, after that both coming out from the house, Edward wear his shoes and ready to leave

Lucius reluctantly gave his goodbye to Edward, after all if he still on his old body he can continue hanging out together either by going out and go to cafe or restaurant for a dinner and continue his conversation,

Both also can play a game together like the usual, then finally goes back home after 9 or 10 PM

"Be careful on your way home, dude"

Both stopped for a moment to have an eye contact, Edward finally said with a smile on his face

"Yeah, thanks, see you later Luci, please message me if anything happens, goodbye!"

Edward walks towards his bike that is parked on the concrete lot in front of the house, wearing his helmet and waves his hand, then he finally leaves.

Lucius with a tired expression sighing

"I guess suddenly becoming a woman is really hard for friendship, hope I can keep this up as long as i can…"

She then goes inside and closes the door.