As Cole now drove Kumiko back to her house the now 24 year old continually glanced in the drivers rearview mirror. Kumiko couldn't help feeling embarasses, she was so hung up on the age difference and feeling old that she wasn't giving Cole a chance.
"Cole," she muttered. "I...I really want to apologize. I've been so stupid when it comes to being older that I wasn't thinking straight."
Cole glanced over at the embarassed woman, smiling warmly. "Kumi listen," he said sweetly. "Look I'll admit that at first it bugged me too. The thing is though, as we've been dating I really didn't think about it much. Your alot of fun and I really do like you. Your attractive, confident and more lively than I'll ever be. You just have to be confident in yourself."
Kumiko groaned, at 25 he was already wise beyond his years. He liked her for who she was, age difference be damned. As she looked at her reflection she realized that she was becoming as childish as she had been acting. If she returned to normal, which she believed Katie could do. She promised herself to not get hung up on silly things and just enjoy her time with Cole.
As they pulled into Kumiko's driveway she chanced a gaze at her reflection and winced. Kumiko looked like a 21 uear ild college co-ed. Her face was beautiful and youthful, with a toned body, fully and perky c cups and long beautiful chestnut hair. Looking towards the front door she could see her niece angrily glaring at the car. "Umm let me talk with her," she said shyly as she exited the car.
"Where were you young lady," Mika said in a motherly tone before groaning. "Ugh sorry. This damn spell has me acting like a mom. It totally sucks."
"Im sorry mom, I mean Mika," she groaned. "Looks like I really screwed this up."
Mika was about to say something before closing her mouth. Takimg a deep breath she exhaled looking at her aunt. "Yeah but its fine okay," she sighed. "Listem why don't you two come in. Katie has a theory about what's happening. Just wipe your feet before coming in."
"What was that?"
"Damn it!"
As Cole, Kumiko and Mika entered the living room they could see Katie and Kellie anxiously waiting for them. "Kumiko are you okay," Kellie asked. Kumiko nodded meekly, still blushing with embarassment. "Yeah I'm fine just feeling stupid.....and childish."
"Katie kind of figured out whats going on," Kellie said. "She was able to ask thw ring a few questions and she got her answer. Turns out that thing is actually doing this to teach a lesson."
Kumiko and Coles eyes bulged as Katie smiled sheepishly. "Okay," she began looking at Kumiko. "So from what I've been able to gather Kumiko your a bit freaked out about being older than Cole."
Kumiko nodded as she gave Cole a sideways glance. "Um yeah just a bit."
"Well here's the thing,"Katie continued. "See the ring seems to know us almost better than we know ourselves. We didn't make a wish to make you younger, in case your wondering. The ring is doing this to show you that no matter what Cole likes you for you."
"Okay," Kumiko said still slightly confused. "So how come I keep calling mom..I MEAN..Mika, mom."
Kellie smirked as she looked at a slightly annoyed Mika. "Actually we were a bit vonfused about that one at first too. Turns out the ring is teaching Mika a lesson too."
"Mom...Mika what is she talking about," she asked as Mika who had her head buried in her hand.
"Ugh the ring is teaching me a lesson too," she sighed. Kumiko gave her niece a confused look as the girl impishly looked at her aunt. "A few monthes ago I...kinda....lost my virginity and um...really didn't use protection. So now I get a look at teenage motherhood."
Kumiko stared dumbfounded at her niece. A part of her wanted to chastise her niece for being so irresponsible. Unfortunately with the magic of the ring in full affect she seemed to waver between finding it gross and wonderment at making such a grown up decision.
"Okay mo...Mika," she started. "Look right now probably isn't the best time to talk. When things get, a bit more normal we'll talk about this."
"So what can you tell me Katie," she asked. "Is the ring going to make me a teenage mom with Kumiko as my kid or have we learned our lesson."
"Well I'm not sure," Katie said. "From what I can tell if the wish completes itself Mika will still be 16 but Kumiko would end up her 6 month old child. Fortunately I'll be able to reverse it so she can go back to being an adult."
Kumiko and Mika both shuddered as they thought of the prospects of that. "Well," Kumiko asked. "Do you think uou can stop it?!"
Katie now searched the ring for answers, hoping to put Kumiko and Mika at ease.