I make my way into the student residence, a nonchalant smile on my lips. For once, I'm not late. It’s almost a victory in itself, especially after what just happened on the subway. The coin thing is still bothering me, but I'd rather not think about it. It was just a coincidence, right? I try to convince myself of that, even though a small voice in the back of my mind whispers that something strange is going on.
As I go through the residence doors, I run into Julien, a friend from Sciences Po who lives here. He’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking thoughtful. I give him a wave.
“Hey, Julien! How’s it going, man?”
He looks up, surprised to see me, then returns my greeting with a smile.
“Tom! Long time no see, how’s it going? Still juggling with your quantum physics equations?”
I laugh as I approach, trying to keep the conversation brief. I don’t want to risk chatting too long and ending up late anyway.
“Yeah, it’s going well. You know, physics is still a brain-buster, but I love it. We’re working on some pretty advanced stuff right now, like quantum entanglement. But what about you? How’s Sciences Po? Still debating international politics?”
Julien starts talking about his classes, his end-of-year projects, but quickly, I sense his attention drifting. His gaze becomes distant, as if he’s suddenly somewhere else. Intrigued, I turn to see what’s caught his attention.
Two girls are walking towards the pool. Beauties, no doubt. I recognize them immediately: they’re in the same swimming group as me. The first one is tall and slender, with brown, wavy hair cascading down her shoulders. Her legs are long and toned, and she moves with a natural grace that immediately catches the eye. Her tight sports shorts highlight perfect curves, while her light tank top reveals a harmonious silhouette.
The second is shorter but equally attractive. Her blonde hair is tied in a high ponytail, leaving her delicate face and piercing blue eyes exposed. She has a more athletic build, with defined hips and a generous bust, accentuated by her fitted tank top. Her mischievous smile makes her even more alluring, and I feel my heart race a bit, just like Julien beside me.
A silence falls between us as we watch the two girls move away. It’s only after they disappear from view that I turn to Julien with a smirk.
“Yeah, I should head out too. Can’t miss practice, you know what I mean.”
Julien gives me an envious look.
“Man, you’re so lucky to have a class with them. They’re…”
I nod, a knowing smile on my lips. “Yeah, it’s even better to see them in swimsuits, I assure you.”
Julien bursts out laughing. “I bet! Honestly, I’d love to be in the same locker room as them, just to see.”
I laugh too, responding without much thought, “You have no idea, I’d love that too!”
I wave goodbye to Julien one last time and head towards the pool, my mind still a bit muddled from the conversation. As I approach the lockers, a strange sensation begins to spread through my body. It’s subtle at first, like a slight tingling running down my spine. I shake my head, trying to focus on the upcoming practice, but this persistent sensation becomes more pronounced.
Halfway there, I feel something odd near my ear. I absentmindedly swipe at what feels like a stray hair, but I keep moving forward. It’s only when I touch my hair that I realize it’s… longer? I stop dead, my heart suddenly pounding faster. But I force myself to keep going, brushing off the strange feeling.
The closer I get to the lockers, the more intense the tingling sensation becomes. It’s as if my whole body is changing, but that’s impossible, right? I reach the locker room doors and instinctively head towards the men’s locker room, as usual.
“Excuse me, miss?”
I hear a voice behind me but ignore it, thinking it’s not for me. I reach for the door when a firm hand lands on my shoulder. I turn around, slightly annoyed.
“You’re in the wrong locker room, miss,” says the man, with a polite but insistent smile on his face.
I look at him, completely confused, then notice my reflection in the mirror behind him. My breath catches. What I see leaves me speechless. The face in the mirror… it’s not mine. Well, it’s not the one I know. It’s that of a woman. My features are finer, my eyes appear larger, and my hair… my hair is long, cascading around my shoulders. My clothes are still the same, but my body… My body has changed. I no longer have visible muscles; my torso is now gently curved, with much more pronounced hips. A bust, more developed than the girls I admired earlier, is visible under my T-shirt.
I mumble a vague “Sorry, I’m in the wrong room,” and quickly head towards the women’s locker room. My mind is spinning, unable to comprehend what just happened.
Entering the locker room, I expect to find a chaotic mess of clothes and chatter, but I’m greeted by a relative calm. The girls are changing quietly, each in a private stall. It’s almost disappointing. I had imagined the women’s locker room as a place of incessant chatter, exchanging secrets, but no, it’s just… normal. Almost boring.
I head towards an empty locker, my head still spinning. I pull out my swimsuit from my bag, but here’s the problem: it’s male, obviously. And given the shape I’m in now, there’s no way I can wear it without drawing attention.
I sigh, then head to the pool equipment vending machine. A few euros later, I have a women’s swimsuit. Red, simple, but well-fitted. Perfect for what I need to do.
I find an empty stall and lock myself in, still in shock from this inexplicable transformation. I take off my clothes, and for the first time, I truly see myself in the mirror.
It’s a shock. My body is that of a woman, and not just any woman: I’m attractive. My breasts are firm and high, my waist is slim, my hips are generous. My stomach is flat, my legs long and toned. I run a trembling hand over my stomach, feeling the softness of my skin. My face, framed by these long brown locks, is both familiar and foreign.
I can’t help but admire myself, a mix of fascination and terror in my eyes. How is this possible? This coin… I shake my head, realizing I need to pull myself together. I put on the red swimsuit, which fits my new curves perfectly. It’s a strange sensation but not unpleasant. I stand up, take a deep breath, and step out of the stall. Practice awaits, but now, it’s with an entirely new body that I’ll face the water.