As the days passed, the changes became impossible to dismiss. His face broadened, and his body began to fill out in ways he hadn’t expected. His shirts tightened around his chest, and his pants felt snug around his waist, especially around his stomach, which seemed to be expanding day by day. By the end of the week, he had gained several pounds, most noticeably in his belly, which was now starting to form a round, soft curve. The mirror was becoming an enemy, reflecting back a body he didn’t recognize.
The tingling on his face persisted, turning into an uncomfortable itch that he couldn’t ignore. Shaving wasn’t useful anymore as the hair grown so fast that, if he shaved in the morning, by the night he already have a few says growth beard. The same thing was happening with his body hair, which seem to multiple each day.
Juan’s discomfort grew with every new development. His once flat stomach had turned into a noticeable belly, and the hair on his chest, which had been sparse and light, now spread thickly across his skin. Every glance at his reflection was a reminder of how rapidly his body was changing, and it terrified him. He could feel himself losing control over his own body, and he didn’t understand why.
One evening, after trying on another shirt that no longer fit, Juan finally confronted Pablo.
"Pablo, something’s wrong. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I’ve been gaining weight like crazy, and look at this," he said, gesturing to his hairy chest and stomach. "I’ve never been this hairy before. It’s like I’m turning into… someone else."
Pablo, who had been silently observing the changes with a mix of guilt and fascination, tried to remain calm. He had noticed how Juan’s appetite had increased, how he seemed to crave heavier, richer foods. Over the past few days, Pablo had started cooking more, making hearty meals that Juan devoured eagerly, much to his surprise. He knew the beer was behind this, but he didn’t want to alarm Juan any more than he already was.
“Juan, I think… maybe it’s not such a bad thing,” Pablo began cautiously, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction. “I mean, have you considered that maybe this is just your body… finding its true self?” Pablo felt bad saying this things, he knew they were lies, but thought that maybe this way Juan could accept his fate easily.
Juan frowned, not convinced. “My true self? Pablo, I’ve put on nearly ten pounds in a week. My clothes don’t fit, I’m getting hairier by the day, and I can’t stop eating. I’m becoming unrecognizable.”
Pablo bit his lip, unsure of how to explain his feelings without revealing too much. “I know it’s sudden, and it’s a lot to deal with. But… you look good, Juan. Really. You look strong, and there’s something… I don’t know, manlier about you now. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.”
Juan sighed, running his hand over his belly, feeling its unfamiliar softness and roundness. “You really think I look good?” he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
“I do,” Pablo said earnestly. “And you know, some people love, men like this—like you’re becoming. A lot of people love bears. Strong, confident, hairy. It’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, I think they are pretty damn attractive.”
Juan was quiet for a moment, processing Pablo’s words. He had never really thought about it that way. The idea that these changes could be seen as positive, even desirable, was unbelievable to him, but something about the way Pablo spoke made him feel a little better, and that word, bear, resonated insight him in a very weird way, as if has woken up something inside. However, the unease in his stomach didn’t completely disappear.