Girl Talk (TG - Long Read)

Another story that I can add to this collection, which started with the story "Why Am I So Afraid to Say It..."

Link to collection on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/815616?view=expanded

Link to collection on DeviantArt here: https://www.deviantart.com/green-tg/gallery/94756072/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-say-it-

— So I’m telling her, — Mila laughed, throwing her head back, her red hair, slightly tousled from all the gestures she made while talking, falling softly onto her shoulders. Her hands, adorned with thin rings and long nails, moved through the air as if painting an invisible picture while she spoke. — Like, "I don’t know shit about all this women’s makeup," and the saleswoman just arches her brows like, what kind of creature are you that you don’t know this stuff? Like I’m fucking obligated or something! — Mila scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. — So I figure I gotta play it off somehow, and I go, "Just give me a foundation that won’t make my skin look like a dead herring."

— You actually said that? — Laura, Mila’s sister, nearly choked, trying not to burst out laughing. She immediately leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, not wanting to miss a single word. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity, and her lips were already stretching into an anticipatory smirk.

— Well, yeah, Laurie, that’s exactly what I said, — Mila nodded, rolling her eyes. — I thought, as usual, a little joke, lighten the mood, it always worked before. But she just looks at me with that... condescending stare and asks about my skin type. Like, how the fuck should I know what my skin type is!?

Laura just snickered into her palm, leaning even closer to the table.

— Are you serious? — She tilted her head slightly, looking at her sister like Mila had just confessed she didn’t know where her arms and legs were. — You’ve been living in this body for months, and you have no idea what kind of skin you have?

— And why the hell should I know that? You think getting a female body comes with a fucking instruction manual?! — Mila threw up her hands in exasperation, then dropped them back down, absentmindedly running her nails over the table, which caught her attention. — By the way, I found this cheap place that does amazing nails. Cool little spot. Down on Hastings, small salon, but they do killer work, and the price is just insane.

Laura, who had been listening with a sly grin, suddenly raised her brows.

— Oh my God. Do you even hear yourself? — Laura asked with exaggerated horror, tilting her head slightly. — Mila, I can’t keep up with you. You just jumped from complaining about makeup to discussing manicures. Do you realize you’re starting to sound like… — she let out a theatrical sigh and placed a hand on her chest as if about to say something incredibly profound, — …our mom.

Mila blinked, like she’d just been smacked over the head with a newspaper.

— What?! — She even lifted herself off the chair slightly, staring at her sister in utter bewilderment. — I am not like Mom!

— You are like Mom, — Laura couldn’t hold back and broke into a wide grin, barely suppressing laughter. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, and looked at Mila with that exact sisterly teasing expression Daniel knew all too well from the times they used to crack up together over their mother’s endless topic-hopping. — Remember how we used to laugh about it? She’d start by saying she forgot to buy potatoes, and a minute later, she’d be telling us about the neighbor who supposedly saw a UFO. And now you’re doing the same shit!

— No! You’re messing with me! I just… — Mila swallowed, glanced away for a second, then looked back at her sister, trying not to let the slight tremor in her hands show. — I just wanted to change the subject. It felt like you… well… like you were siding with that saleswoman.

Laura, of course, immediately smirked, resting her elbow on the table and propping her chin up with her hand.

— And when exactly did you decide I was siding with her? — Laura let out a short chuckle, leaning in and studying Mila’s expression closely.

Mila, who had looked so sure of her indignation just seconds ago, suddenly lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously tugging at the sleeve of her jacket.

— Well… — Mila sighed, closing her eyes for a second before looking at her sister again. — When I was telling the story, you… kinda looked like you thought I should already… y’know, know all this.

Her cheeks reddened slightly, and Laura, noticing it, immediately softened her tone, though a hint of teasing still lingered in her voice, mixed with genuine concern.

— Oh, Mila, come on, really? — Laura tilted her head a little, peering at her sister as if trying to figure out what was going on in her head. — I wasn’t being serious. You’re just so funny when you get worked up over nonsense like this. I didn’t even realize you’d cooked up this whole scenario in your head about the saleswoman and me until you said it out loud. You’re way too anxious lately. I used to think my brother was the nervous one, but… as my sister, you’re just breaking all records.

Mila snorted, rolling her eyes, lazily twisting a strand of her red hair around her finger.

— Oh, great. Why don’t you go ahead and psychoanalyze me too? Diagnose me right now: "Acute hypersensitivity caused by sudden transformation into a chick"!

Laura burst out laughing, nearly spilling her coffee. Setting the cup down, she shook her head and looked at Mila with playful exasperation.

— Damn, you’re a mess, — she shook her head, leaning back. — You spent our entire childhood and my teenage years teasing me, and now…

— What do you mean, "now"? — she muttered, looking at her sister over the salad, which now looked completely unappetizing.

— I mean, you must have a really short memory, — Laura grinned wider. — Remember how you used to mess with me when I was thirteen? I was just starting to wear makeup, trying to figure out how the hell any of it worked, and you caught me at it. And of course, thinking you were the greatest comedian ever, you just had to crack a joke. Oh, that sarcasm of yours—God, it pissed me off! "Laura, what, you think guys like girls who look like clowns?" — Laura mimicked the nasally voice Daniel used to tease her with. — And don’t even get me started on how hard you laughed at me when I first put on foundation at twelve and it turned out to be this bright orange patch! You teased me for a whole damn week, calling me ‘a spoiled carrot’! — Laura scoffed, but something almost… vulnerable flickered in her eyes.

— Oh… — Mila cleared her throat, not knowing what to say. — Well, I… I thought you’d forgotten. I mean, I apologized later… you know, when we got older.

— Well, yeah, you did, — Laura chuckled, but without malice. — Not sure why, honestly. Maybe because I still see that same older brother in you, the one who showed his love in the weirdest ways—mostly by teasing me until I wanted to kill you. And now it’s funny to watch you go through exactly what I did.

Mila quickly looked away, frowning.

— Yeah, hilarious, — her voice came out quieter than she intended.

Laura narrowed her eyes, immediately catching the shift in her sister’s mood.

— Oh, come on, — she straightened up and reached out, giving Mila a gentle push on the shoulder. — I’m not making fun of you, I swear. It’s just… weird. Seeing you actually… you know, handling it.

— Handling it? — Mila scoffed, but there was bitterness in her voice.

Laura shrugged.

— Well, yeah. Who would’ve thought my big bro would turn into such a typical girl?

That stung more than it should have.

Mila froze, staring at the table, her fingers instinctively clenching into a fist. Something unpleasant stirred in her chest—not anger, no. More like… hurt.

"A typical girl."

Like the fact that she was living this life now—with manicures, with foundation talk, with worries about makeup—was something that wasn’t supposed to happen to her. Like it was some kind of loss.

Like she was supposed to hold on to something of Daniel inside her, instead of becoming who Mila was now.

Laura must have felt the silence because she quickly added, softer this time:

— Look, I didn’t mean for that to sound like a bad thing. If anything, Dan… I mean, Mila. It’s just… well, it’s kinda cool.

Mila took a deep breath, forcing herself to keep her voice steady.

— I don’t even know how to take that, — she let out a dry chuckle, lowering her gaze to her hands. — Are you complimenting me, or just making fun of me again?

Laura paused, watching her with curiosity, like she was trying to understand what was going on inside Mila’s head for the first time.

— I mean, you wanted this, didn’t you? — Laura finally said, her voice careful, like she was just stating a fact. There was no judgment in her tone—just a quiet reminder of something they both knew but didn’t say out loud too often.

Mila’s lips parted slightly as if she was about to say something, but then she hesitated. She closed her mouth, picked up her fork, and twirled it absently, suddenly very interested in the smeared dressing on her plate.

— Yeah, — she mumbled, not looking up.

And there it was—that tight feeling in her chest, strange and warm but unsettling at the same time. Like someone had looked too deep inside her, and now she had nothing left to hide behind.

— Dan… — Laura said softly, and Mila flinched.

Her sister didn’t call her that often anymore, but apparently, this moment called for that name.

The memory flashed before her eyes. That evening. They were sitting in Laura’s kitchen, her husband away on a work trip. It was one of those rare nights when they could talk openly, without anyone else around.

Dan had been drinking wine, complaining about girls. About their high expectations, about how they all wanted a man who had his shit together—who was confident, successful, knew exactly where a relationship was going.

— It’s like you’re supposed to be some kind of perfect god of masculinity, you know? — Daniel had waved his hand in frustration, the wine in his glass swaying, leaving a deep red streak along the glass. — Tall, successful, confident. Serious, but funny. Caring, but not clingy. Making more money than her, but not controlling. Hell, even just to talk to a girl, you have to be on top of your game. It’s like a constant fucking exam.

Laura, sitting across from him, just hummed knowingly, swirling her own glass of wine.

— Well, women are under pressure too, you know, — she said lazily. — We have to be perfect as well. Beautiful, but not plastic. Smart, but not too smart. Sexy, but not slutty.

— Yeah, yeah, yeah, but the difference is, at least you guys have… — Dan sighed, searching for the right words before finally waving his hand. — Shit, I don’t even know how to say it. Basically, it’s easier for you to just be yourselves.

Laura raised an eyebrow.

— Oh, really? You think it’s easy for women?

— Not like that, — he frowned. — It’s just… people get you more. You can be emotional. You can talk to each other about dumb shit like "my skin’s dry" or "this nail polish doesn’t match my scarf," and it’s normal. You can show weakness, and no one looks at you like you’re fucking pathetic. Meanwhile, I can’t even say that I feel lonely or that I have anxiety because…

— Because they’ll say you’re a wimp? — Laura finished for him, raising her brow.

— Exactly, — he leaned back in his chair and took a sip of wine. — So yeah, you have it easier. Even if it’s not exactly easy, you still have that… damn freedom to just be yourselves. And us? The second you step even an inch outside the standard, you’re immediately a "loser," a "wimp," a "pussy-whipped idiot"…

Laura listened with a half-smile, then suddenly asked:

— So, are you jealous?

Dan scoffed, leaning back.

— Hell no. It’s just… unfair.

And then, maybe because of the alcohol or some sudden emotional impulse, he told her. About how, as a kid, he used to try on their mom’s clothes. How terrified he was of getting caught. How stupid it felt, but… also thrilling.

Laura had only smirked then and admitted she did the same thing—except with their dad’s clothes. They had laughed, remembering the moment when he had first confessed to her about his fantasies of being forced into womanhood. And there was something sharp, something watchful in Laura’s eyes then. She smiled and said it so easily.

— You just wanted to be a girl, — Laura had said that night, simple and direct, like she was stating the obvious.

Dan froze. His heart skipped a beat, stumbling inside his chest. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come right away.

— Well… — he let out a rough chuckle, trying to turn it into a joke. — Maybe. When I was a kid.

Laura looked at him with an odd expression—not judgment, no, more like a quiet, curious scrutiny, as if she could see right through him.

— Not back then, — she shook her head. — Now.

Dan barely even remembered how he responded. He had quickly shifted the conversation, steering it somewhere else in his usual way. But later, the next day, Laura’s words wouldn’t leave him alone. They kept looping in his head, like a splinter he couldn’t pull out.

He sat in his tiny room, staring at the half-finished article on his laptop for some online publication, and suddenly realized he couldn’t focus. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, but that strange, aching feeling in his chest only grew stronger.

In the end, he grabbed his phone and opened the chat with Laura.

"Laurie, hey. Sorry to bug you, but I can’t stop thinking about what you said—about me wanting to be a girl. So… I’ve been thinking, and yeah. I’m sick of hiding from this feeling. I admit it. I really do want to be a girl. But… what did you mean when you said that to me?"

He hit send, feeling his heart tighten. He knew Laura wouldn’t judge him—he was sure of it—but the familiar anxiety still wouldn’t let go. This was a big thing. A real thing.

The reply didn’t come right away, and those minutes of waiting stretched endlessly. Then finally, his screen lit up.

"Hey, Dan! I just said out loud what you were already telling me yourself. You kept complaining about being a guy, about all those expectations, so I just called it what it was. There wasn’t any deeper meaning to it."

He reread the message a few times, leaned back in his chair, and exhaled—though he wasn’t sure why.

And now, sitting in a café across from Laura, Mila thought about how ironic it all was. She looked at her sister, who was watching her with that sharp, knowing squint, as if waiting to see what Mila would say next.

— You know, Laurie, — Mila rested her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers together. — You knew. You understood me better than anyone else, ever since I first slipped up and admitted I felt drawn to… being like this. So why the hell didn’t you prepare me for all this?

Laura blinked, as if she hadn’t fully processed what she’d just heard. Then she raised a hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh.

— Wait, are you serious? — she tilted her head slightly, studying her sister. — You’re actually blaming me for not prepping you for life in this body?

Mila raised an eyebrow, shrugging.

— I mean, why not? You clearly understood me better than I did myself. You could’ve shared some things with me back when I was still a guy. Maybe I would’ve changed my mind. — Mila said it in a quieter voice, but there was an almost childish hurt in her words.

Laura, who had been ready to burst into laughter, suddenly noticed something new in her sister. Something that hadn’t been there before. Not sarcasm, not frustration, but… uncertainty.

— Hold on, you’re not joking? — Laura’s grin widened. — How the hell was I supposed to know this would happen? That’s impossible. I still can’t believe that my brother—the same guy who always bitched about how easy women have it—is now sitting in front of me, complaining about saleswomen at makeup stores and talking about manicures. It’s surreal.

— Yeah, surreal… — Mila trailed off, staring at her plate, where her salad had turned into a sad mess of wilted leaves and dressing. — I still don’t get how any of this is even possible. And why you’re the only one who remembers me as I really was… It’s all so weird. I mean, sure, I admitted to wanting this back then, but I never actually thought it would come true, and…

She sighed, absentmindedly twirling a strand of red hair around her finger.

— …to be honest, I never really thought about the details. I just wanted… I don’t know, to feel different. To stop carrying that constant weight of "be a man," all that bullshit… But I never imagined that along with it, I’d have to deal with fucking periods!

— Oh my God, are we really back to this? You’ve been in this body for six months, and you’re still whining like it’s some kind of supernatural curse, — Laura rolled her eyes and shook her head.

— Oh, so I’m supposed to be happy that once a month my stomach twists like there’s a fucking demon inside me, and at the same time, I want to kill someone and eat a ton of chocolate?! — Mila threw up her hands in frustration, nearly knocking over her cup. — It’s a constant fucking nightmare, Laurie. I can literally feel my insides turning inside out. It’s like someone is squeezing me from the inside every month, and there’s nothing I can do about it! How the hell do you women even live with this?

— Oh, here we go, "you women"… — Laura let out a sarcastic chuckle, tilting her head to the side and leaning on the table, resting her chin in her palm. — Oh, sorry, not "women," of course. You, Mila, are clearly above all that—unique and special, completely separate from this miserable female existence. Let me remind you of one very important thing: you’re one of us now. Whether you like it or not.

— No, no, no, this doesn’t count! — She frowned, clicking her nails against her coffee cup in irritation. — Yeah, I have all this now, and yeah, I’ve got these damn periods, but it’s just… fuck, it feels separate from me! Like some kind of parasite that reminds me once a month that I’m stuck in this body now!

Laura let out a short chuckle and shook her head.

— Oh sure, a parasite, — she smirked, watching her sister closely. — It’s called a hormonal cycle, in case you forgot. And it’s yours, sis. No matter how much you deny it.

Mila threw her hands up in a dramatic gesture of complete despair.

— And that’s exactly why I’m saying other girls have it easier—not even counting everything else! They’ve had this since childhood, they have experience, they go through all that first-period bullshit, their moms explain what to do, their sisters laugh but still help… And me?! I just got dumped into this whole mess all at once, no instructions! Like someone threw me into a simulator on "expert mode" without giving me a fucking tutorial first!

Laura’s grin widened as she propped her chin up with her hand.

— Ohhh, so girls supposedly have it easier? — She tilted her head playfully, repeating Mila’s words. — That’s what you’re saying? Like it’s only hard for you, and for everyone else, it’s a walk in the park?

Mila froze, realizing how stupid that sounded. She clamped her mouth shut, biting her lip, but then grumbled irritably:

— Exactly! Every other girl has it easier, but I’m not… — Mila stopped short.

Laura raised an eyebrow.

— …not a girl? — she batted her lashes in exaggerated surprise. — Oh, honey, I think your periods would beg to differ.

— Oh, fuck off… — Mila groaned, covering her face with her hands.

— Just don’t get too worked up, or your hormones might freak out even more, — Laura put on a mock-concerned expression. — Then again, maybe you should be happy about that.

— Happy?! — Mila nearly knocked over her cup again in outrage.

— Of course! — Laura made a dramatic pause, then added slyly: — Because I remember how you panicked when you didn’t have them…

Mila instantly went pale, her fingers clenching the sleeves of her jacket.

— Oh God, we are not talking about this, right?

Laura instantly shrieked with laughter.

— Oh no, we are talking about it! — She slapped her hands on the table. — God, you should’ve seen your face when I said, "Well, maybe you’re pregnant?" Like I had just told you your life was officially over.

Mila groaned, burying her face in her hands, her ears turning bright red.

— Laura, shut up!!! — She flailed her hands at her sister, but Laura was already laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

— You were so terrified that instead of just buying a test, — Laura was gasping for air between giggles — you ran straight to the doctor because your anxious little female brain immediately decided you were already three months in!

— OH MY GOD, WHY DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER THAT?! — Mila threw up her hands in horror.

— Oh, sorry, but that was fucking hilarious, — Laura wasn’t even trying to hold back anymore, laughing at full volume.

Mila banged her forehead against the table, groaning loudly, practically whimpering in despair.

— Oh God, just kill me.

Laura kept laughing uncontrollably, barely able to breathe.

— Jesus, Mila… — Laura gasped for air. — You’re such an idiot! You actually thought you could be… pregnant! From who?!

— I don’t know! — Mila threw her hands up. — I wasn’t thinking straight! I just heard you say it and… and my brain completely shut down!

— I still don’t get how you even went through with that! — Laura flung her hands up, still hiccupping with laughter.

— Because I couldn’t just buy a test! — Mila huffed indignantly. — You know me too well! I have anxiety, I have paranoia, and if there’s even a chance something might be wrong, I don’t sit around guessing with some shitty pharmacy tests—I go straight to get checked!

— Uh-huh, and that meant going to the doctor and, by the way, showing him your brand-new body, — Laura wiggled her eyebrows meaningfully, finally starting to calm down.

Mila instantly made a face.

— Laurie, please, can we not dig up that nightmare…

But Laura was already on a roll.

— Oh my God, I can still picture you sitting there, in that awful white gown… — she covered her mouth, barely holding back another wave of laughter.

— Yeah, yeah, hilarious! — Mila muttered, but even she was starting to smile now. — Try imagining how it felt for me!

— Oh, come on! It was just a doctor!

— Exactly! — Mila threw up her hands. — Laura, you don’t get it! It wasn’t just a doctor, it was my first-ever man to see me… you know, in that way!

Laura finally leaned back in her chair and burst into laughter.

— God, that's the best thing I've heard in a while!

Mila grabbed her head but eventually started laughing too, dropping onto the table with a heavy sigh.

— Laurie, you're a terrible sister, — she groaned through her laughter.

— Well, maybe, — Laura shrugged lazily, wiping away tears. — But at least now you know that periods are a good thing!

After a few more minutes of teasing each other, the sisters finally calmed down and ordered another latte.

— Alright, Millie, this is all fun and games, but you said you wanted to meet up to tell me something… or talk about something, — Laura finally voiced what had been lingering in the back of her mind throughout their conversation.

Mila, who had just been smiling and absentmindedly stirring her empty cup with a spoon, suddenly tensed up. All the relaxation, all the lightness of their conversation seemed to vanish in an instant. She swallowed, lowered her gaze, traced the rim of the table with her fingertips, and froze for a second, as if bracing herself to jump into cold water.

— Uh… — she exhaled, staring off to the side. — Yeah, I… wanted to talk.

Laura tensed up immediately. The cheerful atmosphere they had just been basking in dissolved in a second, giving way to something far more serious. She studied Mila’s face intently.

— Okay… — Laura said slowly, leaning in and resting her elbows on the table. — You’re starting to freak me out. Did something happen?

Mila gave a crooked smile and finally lifted her gaze. Worry flickered in her eyes.

— So… — she rubbed the bridge of her nose like she was already preparing for a headache. —

— No, it’s not like something "happened," — she muttered, rolling the words around in her head as if afraid to say the wrong thing. — It’s just… you know, I’ve been thinking a lot.

— Oh, shit, — Laura groaned theatrically. — You’ve always thought too much. Your whole damn life.

Mila rolled her eyes and stared at her empty cup, absentmindedly running her finger along the rim.

— Oh, don’t start with your “oh, shit,” — she muttered, pressing her lips together, a hint of anxiety in her voice. — I’m serious, Laur.

— Alright, alright, I’m listening, — her sister made a calming gesture but still watched her with a slight squint, as if trying to figure out what this was about in advance.

Mila took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, clasping her fingers together.

— I… — she swallowed, unsure of where to even start. — Look, I’ve got… problems.

— Well, that’s nothing new, — Laura quipped, but immediately stopped when she saw her sister’s nervous twitch. — Okay, okay, no sarcasm. What kind of problems?

Mila shrugged and looked out the window. Vancouver flickered beyond the glass—gray, damp, filled with people wrapped up in coats and jackets. Somewhere out there, in that city, was her life. The life she now lived as a woman.

— I don’t know, Laur… — she muttered, still watching the raindrops on the glass. — It’s just… hard.

Laura tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm, and waited patiently.

— Hard? — she asked cautiously. — You mean… what exactly?

Mila let out a heavy sigh, ran a hand through her hair, and then absentmindedly touched her rings. For some reason, that small action completely threw her off. She suddenly let go as if she’d burned herself.

— Shit… — she closed her eyes. — I don’t even know how to explain it.

— Start from the beginning, — Laura suggested gently.

Mila huffed.

— Okay… so, what do you feel when… — she trailed off, staring into her cup. She nervously twirled the spoon between her fingers like she was trying to shake an answer out of it.

Laura watched her in silence. She was patient, but something in her eyes had changed. Was it… worry? No, more like tense curiosity.

— When what? — her sister finally asked softly.

Mila swallowed nervously, not daring to look up. She had already started this conversation, but now her tongue refused to cooperate. How was she supposed to say this? How could she phrase it without sounding… weird?

She took a deep breath.

— When you like someone… I mean… a guy, — she exhaled the last word like it barely managed to escape her lips.

Laura straightened up, her playful expression vanishing. She looked at Mila intently, as if trying to gauge just how serious this was.

— Uh-huh… — Laura drawled, raising an eyebrow slightly. — You mean… in general? Or… specifically?

— In general, — Mila said quickly. Then she hesitated, cursed under her breath, and corrected herself: — No. Both in general and specifically.

Laura gave a silent nod. She seemed to be thinking.

— Well… — she leaned in slightly, crossing her arms. — It depends. Sometimes it’s just attraction, the desire to be liked, even if you’re not planning anything serious with that person. Sometimes it’s butterflies in your stomach when you’re waiting for a text. And sometimes… — She paused for a second, studying Mila carefully. — It’s something that scares you.

Mila sighed quietly and finally met her sister’s gaze.

— Laur… — her voice was rough, almost uncertain. — What if… I don’t understand how this… happened to me?

Laura let out a slow breath.

— Okay… now you’re not talking in general anymore, — she noted, watching her sister closely.

— No, I mean… yes. Ugh, whatever, — Mila admitted, pressing her lips together. — Shit, this… this is so fucking dumb. You know that I… well…

She fell silent, biting her lip. Her eyes flicked to the side, as if searching for an escape in the rain-streaked café window.

— That you what? — Laura prompted.

— Well… — Mila finally swallowed and exhaled sharply, like she was forcing the words out before she chickened out completely. — Laur, I…

She looked straight at her sister, and in her eyes, Laura saw something she had only seen once before—when Daniel had first confessed his secret fantasy to her, something he had never told anyone else. Back then and now, there was a mix of emotions swirling in those eyes, but above all else—fear. Fear.

Laura slowly placed her cup on the table, her smile fading. She knew something was about to shift, that this conversation wasn’t just their usual teasing about makeup or periods. The air between them grew tense.

— Alright, — Mila took a deep breath. — What the hell am I even stammering for… like some scared little bitch. I need to man the fuck up, — she added with her usual self-deprecating humor, forcing a small smirk.

Laura, who had been teasing her just a second ago, suddenly stiffened.

— Millie… — her voice was a notch more serious now.

Mila swallowed like someone standing at the edge of a cliff, right before the jump.

— Okay, — she ran a hand through her hair, got tangled in her rings, grimaced, and dropped her hands onto the table. — I think I like guys.

Laura blinked.

Once.

Twice.

The silence stretched so long that it felt like they could hear the raindrops tapping against the window. For a second, it seemed like the whole city had frozen while Laura processed what she had just heard.

— What? — Her voice wasn’t sharp, wasn’t judgmental—it was just… stunned.

Mila clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, but the pain barely registered. Heat flooded her face. It felt like she had just said something irreversible.

Laura blinked again. She leaned forward slightly, as if trying to get a better look at her sister, to make sure she wasn’t joking.

— You’re serious? — she finally asked, her eyebrows lifting.

— No, I’m fucking with you! — Mila snapped back with instant, defensive aggression, but her voice betrayed her with the slightest tremble. — I don’t know how it happened, but… it did.

Laura brought a hand to her mouth, not knowing what to say. The gesture felt almost automatic. This was clearly not the answer she had been expecting. She had been prepared for anything—for Mila to say she was struggling with work again, that she was having a hard time adjusting to her new body, that she was afraid of the future. But this…

She had no idea how to process this.

— Wait, — Laura raised a hand. — This is a joke, right? — she asked, a hint of hope in her voice.

Mila snorted, but her expression wasn’t angry—just… tired.

— I wish it was, — she sighed.

Laura opened her mouth, then closed it again, as if only now realizing the weight of what had been said. Her eyebrows slowly climbed higher, and in her eyes, Mila caught a glimpse of something she couldn’t ignore—shock. Real, undeniable shock.

— Hold on, hold on. Let’s take a step back, — Laura finally spoke. — You… I mean, you used to be a guy. You liked girls.

— Yeah, — Mila nodded quickly. — And I thought that wouldn’t change. I really did. When all of this… happened, I was sure that inside, I was still the same person, just in a different body. That my preferences would stay the same.

She ran a nervous hand through her hair, biting her lip, and Laura noticed the way her shoulders tensed.

— But they didn’t, — Mila said quietly. — I thought I was still into girls, but then… I started noticing that I get all weird when a cute guy smiles at me. Or when he holds the door open, you know, that little polite gesture—just a hand motion, like “after you”… — she let out a dry chuckle. — My fucking knees go weak when a hot guy accidentally touches me.

Laura stared at her, barely breathing. Her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her skull.

— I even tested it, you know? — Mila let out a humorless laugh. — Remember how you always used to joke that I was a "perv" at the gym, checking out girls?

Laura relaxed a little at the familiar topic, but she was still caught in a weird space, not quite here, not quite there.

— Yeah, — she recalled, keeping the conversation going, still secretly hoping this was some elaborate prank from her brother. — You always laughed and agreed, saying that was the whole reason you went.

— Uh-huh. — Mila fell silent for a moment. — But it wasn’t exactly like that… I actually decided to test myself.

Laura took a deep breath and rocked slightly in her chair.

— Test yourself?

— Yeah… I tried looking at girls. In the locker room. At the gym. You know, just… paying attention.

— Okay… — Laura nodded cautiously, her expression turning wary, lips pressing together like she was already bracing herself for whatever came next. — And what did you figure out?

— Nothing, Laur. Absolutely fucking nothing. — Mila let out a short laugh, shaking her head. — I mean, I can tell when a girl is beautiful. I can see if she has a great figure, amazing hair… but it’s like… like looking at a painting. Just aesthetically pleasing. No reaction.

Laura frowned.

— You’re telling me you didn’t feel… anything? — she leaned in slightly, studying her sister’s face.

— At all. — Mila nervously tapped her fingernail against the cup. — I even tried to look closely on purpose, tried to… I don’t know, catch myself thinking that I was attracted to one of them. But no. It was like I was one of them. Like I wasn’t looking at girls, just… well, other women. Like looking at myself in the mirror.

Laura sighed and rubbed her forehead.

— Well, that’s a twist… — She shook her head, her brows furrowing more and more. — Not that I never thought about it, but honestly, I couldn’t even imagine you’d go this far. I mean… guys? Seriously?

— Well… yeah. I didn’t expect it myself, Laurie. It just… happened. At first, I thought it was just hormones messing with me or that I was just getting used to my body, but then I realized it wasn’t that. It wasn’t just random. And here you go… — she let out a bitter chuckle. — I have a boyfriend.

Laura’s eyes widened.

— WHAT?! — her voice cracked half a pitch higher.

Laura stared at Mila as if she had just confessed she was planning to emigrate to Mars. A whole storm of emotions flashed in her eyes—shock, disbelief, something close to confusion, but most of all, clear discomfort.

Mila shrank in her seat, already sensing that this conversation was about to take a turn for the worse. She looked away, running her fingers awkwardly along the rim of her cup.

— Yeah, I have a boyfriend, — she repeated, quieter now, with a strange feeling in her chest. — And… well, I’m dating him.

Laura blinked slowly, as if her brain was trying to process a file, but it got stuck halfway through loading.

— Wait, wait, wait… — She raised her hands in front of her as if trying to stop this flood of information. — You… you’re dating? A guy? A man?

— Well, not a kangaroo, Laurie, — Mila tried to joke, but her voice lacked its usual confidence.

Laura didn’t even smile. She was still looking at her as if she had just confessed to murder.

— Mila… — Laura sighed, rubbed her temples, clearly trying to gather her thoughts. — Hold on a second, I just… I’m trying to process this. You’re telling me that you—my brother, who just a year ago was ranting about how annoying it is that girls like some ‘fake macho bullshit’—are now dating a man? As a girl?

— Fuck, Laura, you think this is easy for me? You saw how hard it was for me to even say all this. You have no idea what I went through when… when I was figuring all this out.

Laura stayed silent, her eyes locked on Mila, but there was no judgment in them—just confusion. She was clearly struggling to figure out how to react to all of this. Mila, seeing her silence, continued, her voice trembling, but she tried to keep herself together.

— I thought I would still love girls. I mean, I was a guy, right? And I liked girls. But now… now I look at them, and it’s like looking at myself in the mirror. Even worse. And when I see a guy I like, everything inside me turns upside down. I feel my heart start racing, I get nervous, I blush… It’s so weird, Laurie. I don’t know how to live with this.

Laura ran a hand over her face and let out a loud breath.

— Well, actually, I kind of thought about it, — she finally muttered. — Like, you know my stance on relationships, gay people, lesbians, and all that… I thought that since you’re, well, a girl now, and that you’d be dating a girl, it would be… — she hesitated, choosing her words carefully, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of a napkin as she tried to structure her thoughts, — …weird for me. I’ve always believed in, you know, the traditional way—guy and girl. And when you first became Mila, I was honestly worried. I thought that with Daniel’s old tastes, you’d be with girls, and that… well, it would make me uncomfortable. You know I’m not against you, but it’s hard for me to accept. And I even thought: ‘I hope she ends up liking guys, that would be easier.’

Mila froze at those words. Relief, happiness at being acknowledged, acceptance of her choice… or resentment and anger for… for what? For Laura accepting her choice in such a weird, self-serving way? Mila herself still didn’t know if she even accepted her own choice or not. She knew one thing for sure—she had gone through so much internal struggle to figure out this new feeling that completely contradicted her past beliefs, and Laura… Mila had no idea how to feel about her words right now.

— Seriously? — Mila exhaled, tilting her head slightly. — So you’re… happy that I like guys? Because it’s ‘traditional’?

Laura froze for a moment, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something, but the words got stuck halfway. She ran a hand through her hair, clearly trying to collect her thoughts, and finally let out a breath.

— I don’t really get it myself… I feel like I kind of supported you, even though all of this… is weird, — Laura frowned, clearly struggling to put her thoughts into words.

— Whatever, let’s drop it, — Mila muttered, looking away and quickly finishing off her coffee. She felt an unpleasant sensation growing in her chest—something between embarrassment, anger, and a strange, prickly bitterness.

Laura saw her sister avert her eyes, absentmindedly tap her fingernail against the cup, press her lips together just a little longer than necessary. Yeah, she had definitely struck a nerve. And it was a shitty feeling. She took a deep breath, realizing she hadn’t meant to hurt Mila. On the contrary, she wanted to be supportive, but… all of this was just so unexpected. She had only recently gotten used to the fact that she had a sister now, yet she still saw in her the brother she had known—just a little different on the outside. But dating guys, not for sex, but just… dating?

And, for fuck’s sake, on the other hand, it actually fit into her worldview just fine. If Mila was a girl now, then it made sense—she should like guys. That’s… normal? Yeah, probably, yeah.

She glanced at her sister again. Mila was nervously chewing on her lip, her gaze darting toward the window like she was searching for a way to escape the conversation.

"Don’t do that," flashed through Laura’s mind. She was her sister. She had to support her.

Laura let her shoulders drop, relaxed her jaw, and gently nudged Mila with her elbow.

— Hey, come on. — Her voice was softer, warmer. — Don’t pout, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just… I’m trying to get used to it. It’s weird for me too, you know?

Mila glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye, tears already pooling at the edges, her lips trembling uncontrollably. She felt unbearably vulnerable, like she was standing on a stage under a blinding spotlight.

Noticing this, Laura immediately reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand.

— Oh, come on, maybe now Mom will finally get grandkids from someone, — Laura smirked, leaning in with a conspiratorial squint.

Mila gave a small, sniffly smile, not catching on to the joke right away, and gave a faint nod.

— Wait… — Her brows furrowed slightly as Laura’s words finally sank in. — Are you saying Mom’s expecting grandkids from me now?! — Her voice rose, almost breaking into a hysterical laugh.

Laura burst out laughing and nodded proudly.

— Of course! You know how she always nagged: "Dan, when are you going to find a nice girl? I don’t want to be a grandma at eighty!" — Laura mimicked their mom’s disapproving face. — Then she switched to me, like I was suddenly responsible for continuing the family line!

Mila, still tense after her confession, couldn’t help but snort. Her lips twitched in a weak smile.

— Well, of course, you’re our only daughter, — Mila snorted, shaking her head. — You have no idea how relieved I was when Mom finally stopped bugging me about grandkids!

— It was like… freedom! I even fueled it, you know? I told her, "Mom, look, Laura will give you plenty of grandkids, don’t worry!" — Mila smirked, remembering how skillfully she had deflected their mother’s attention onto her sister. — I thought I was safe.

Laura raised an eyebrow theatrically and crossed her arms, putting on an exaggeratedly offended expression.

— You traitor! — Laura gasped, jabbing a finger in Mila’s direction. — But guess what? Now you’re first in line! "The clock is ticking," — she mimicked their mother’s nagging voice, throwing her hands up dramatically. — "Mila, you’re almost twenty-eight! When are you going to find a good man? When will I get to hold my grandbabies, huh?!"

Mila groaned instantly, covering her face with her hands.

— Fuck, Laurie, that was spot on! — She shook her head, shivering as if the reminder of their mother’s words physically hurt her. — She literally said that to me recently…

She let out a loud sigh, rolled her eyes, and clasped her hands together like she was preparing to deliver a monologue.

— "Mila, sweetie, you’re so beautiful, when will you finally tell me you’ve met someone?" — she mocked with an exaggerated tone, scrunching up her nose. — And recently she went even further: "Sweetie, I bought some vitamins for women’s health," "You do realize it gets harder after thirty..."

Laura laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, but Mila just continued, now with a slightly bitter chuckle.

— "I was really hoping you’d get married early, like your cousin! Look at her, she already has two kids! And you could have, too, but all you do is work, work… What happens later? You don’t want to be an old mother, do you?"

— Oh my God! — Laura couldn’t hold back her laughter. — And here I thought she stopped bugging me just because I got married! It never even crossed my mind that, in this reality, she just found a new target for her motherly hyper-control!

— Yeah, congratulations, you’re no longer the only… daughter, — Mila sighed, poking at the last bits of her salad with her fork. — You know, when I imagined being a girl, it never occurred to me that Mom would instantly redirect all her energy toward nagging me about… dear God, about how I need a man.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, giving another lazy stab at the dying salad. Laura just smirked and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

— Well, you know Mom, — she drawled with a sly grin. — She’d nag even a goldfish about grandkids. But now, of course, you… are her greatest hope.

Mila let out a loud sigh, rolling the rings on her fingers.

— God, why me?! I mean… come on, I’m not even into this stuff. I just barely learned how not to mess up my own makeup, and she’s already waiting for me to bring home a son-in-law!

Laura smirked.

— Well, looks like you’re already on that path. — She raised an eyebrow meaningfully. — Since you’re the one bringing up guys…

Mila immediately froze, slowly lifting her eyes to her sister.

— Laurie… — she dragged out warningly.

But her sister had already caught the scent and wasn’t about to let go.

— Oh, come on, spill it! Who is he? How did you meet? What does he do? At least tell me he’s hot!

Mila rolled her eyes, but Laura was practically glowing with curiosity. There was no escaping this.

— Uh… well… — Mila swallowed nervously, looking away. — His name is Ethan. He’s… a musician.

Laura’s eyes widened.

— A musician? Oh God, don’t tell me you’re dating a hipster?!

— WHAT?! No! — Mila almost jumped in place. — I mean… yeah, he plays guitar, he has a band, but he’s not some hipster!

— Uh-huh, sure, — Laura giggled, leaning back. — And you’re not, by any chance, wearing his oversized T-shirts in the morning?

Mila turned red.

— Laura…

— Oh, come on! — her sister waved her off with a smirk. — I’m just shocked, honestly. Never thought I’d live to see the day when my former brother tells me about her boyfriend.

Mila winced and shrank into her chair.

— Yeah, well… I never thought I’d live to see this either…

There was something in her voice that Laura didn’t catch at first. She watched closely as Mila nervously tugged at her jacket sleeve, avoiding her gaze.

— Hey, — Laura’s tone softened. — What’s wrong? You’re the one who started this conversation.

Mila exhaled sharply, locking her fingers together.

— It’s just… weird. I still haven’t gotten used to it. I mean, even after this insane, impossible transformation, I thought I’d still be the same inside. That… that this wouldn’t change me.

Laura nodded silently.

— I don’t get how I got here, — Mila’s voice shook. — I mean… Shit, Laurie, you remember me! I always saw myself as… a guy! A normal guy who liked girls!

Laura didn’t say anything. She just watched, letting Mila get it all out.

— And now I’m sitting here, thinking about him. About his smile, about how he holds my hand, about… shit, about how I get nervous when he calls me beautiful! What the hell is wrong with me?

She took a shaky breath and covered her face with her hands.

— Millie, — Laura said softly but firmly. — There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re just… living. And if this makes you happy, then why does it even matter what was before?

Mila blinked, lowering her hands and looking at her sister. Her eyes were already glistening. She pressed her lips together, trying to keep her emotions in check, but her voice still wavered when she suddenly blurted out:

— Thank you, Laurie.

Laura blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. She hesitated, then her expression softened into a warm smile.

— For what? — she asked, though her voice already hinted that she understood.

— For… — Mila sniffled and looked away, trying to hide how deeply her sister’s words had touched her. — For not turning away. And for not laughing at me right now. I thought you’d say I was crazy or… I don’t know, call me a weirdo. But you’re just sitting here and listening. Thank you.

— You idiot, I’m your sister, — Laura said with a playful scoff, but her eyes shone with genuine warmth. — You’re the most normal weirdo I’ve ever known. I’ll always listen. Even if you decide to marry this Ethan guy and Mom starts planning the wedding before you even think about it.

Mila snorted, wiping a stray tear from her cheek, watching as Laura stood up, walked over, and pulled her into a hug. Mila froze for a second, then wrapped her trembling fingers around her sister’s back.

— Speaking of being a weirdo… — Laura raised an eyebrow mischievously. — You do realize you’re now obligated to bring him to the family dinner, right? Mom will die of happiness.

— You’ll be the one to die! — Mila playfully smacked her on the lower back and felt warmth spread through her. Talking to her sister had been the right decision after all, and maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that she was the only one in this strange new world who still remembered who she used to be.