Stepping out of the changing room in the red swimsuit that fits me so well, I head towards the pool. The water, the smell of chlorine, the noise of the swimmers—all seems familiar, but this body… this body I’m temporarily inhabiting, I hope, is anything but usual. Each step I take reminds me that something is wrong, but I keep going, trying to mask my discomfort with a facade of confidence.
As soon as I reach the edge of the pool, I’m intercepted by the coach, a woman in her fifties with a piercing gaze, dressed in a navy tracksuit. She scrutinizes me with suspicion, and I immediately sense that she has noticed something amiss.
“Hello, I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Are you new?”
I swallow, trying to appear as natural as possible. There’s no way I’m showing her my student ID, which would give me away immediately.
“Yes, I just started the semester a bit late. I don’t have all the paperwork yet, but I wanted to attend the session today.”
Her gaze hardens slightly, and I feel even more uncomfortable. She crosses her arms, staring me up and down.
“Alright, but next time, you’ll need to bring your student ID and registration, or you won’t be allowed to participate. Is that clear?”
I quickly nod, relieved that she doesn’t press further today.
“Yes, of course. I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”
She gestures for me to join the group, and I move towards the poolside. As I enter the water, I try to focus on the exercises, but soon I feel the stares of others on me. The guys, who usually share my lascivious thoughts during swim sessions, are now ogling me. Their gaze is heavy, insistent, and I suddenly understand what it feels like to be on the receiving end of such looks.
I feel self-conscious, almost vulnerable. Every movement, every splash, seems to draw their attention to me, and I realize with growing unease that I’m no longer the one doing the looking, but the one being looked at. This role reversal deeply unsettles me, making me aware of the thoughts I must have had about girls, which are now likely passing through these guys’ minds.
But that’s not all. This new body… It’s so different, so foreign. My breasts, especially, are a constant distraction. With every movement, every stroke of my arms, they shift, constantly reminding me that they are there, impossible to ignore. It’s as if they have a mind of their own, and it’s extremely unsettling. Swimming, an act so natural for me, has become a trial. The water seems to react differently to my new curves, and I have to make a considerable effort to maintain my rhythm.
By the end of the session, I’m exhausted, more mentally than physically. The coach announces the end of practice, and I’m among the first to get out of the water, eager to escape the hungry gazes. I head towards the showers, hoping the warm water will soothe my confusion a bit.
Under the shower, I close my eyes, letting the water run over my body. But even here, in this confined space, I can’t escape the reality of what I’ve become. My hands glide over my skin, and I can’t help but touch the parts of my body that have changed the most. My breasts, soft and full, react to the slightest contact. I am both fascinated and horrified by this transformation.
I wonder if it wouldn’t be interesting to stay like this a bit longer. After all, this experience is unique, and part of me is curious to see how it might turn out. But then, another thought crosses my mind. Anna, my roommate. How could I return to the apartment in this state? She wouldn’t recognize me, and if she saw me like this, I’d probably be mistaken for an intruder. And what if I had to show my ticket to a conductor?
No, I need to return to my original appearance. I can’t stay like this. Finishing my shower, I quickly dress in the male clothes which, though a bit loose on this new body, at least make me feel less exposed.
I go back to my bag and reach inside, searching for the coin. When my fingers grasp it, I notice with surprise that the inscription has changed. Where it used to say "3 wishes," it now reads "1 wish." My heart tightens at the thought that I’ve already used two of my wishes without even realizing it. This last wish, I can’t waste it. I need to return to my male form, but not here, not in the women’s locker room. The noise outside the stall indicates that everyone else has already left. I’m alone, but it doesn’t comfort me. I hurry to leave, my mind already focused on my next destination.
I exit the locker room and head towards the restrooms. On the upper floor, I finally find an empty restroom where I can do what I need to do without risking being seen. I enter a stall and close the door behind me, my heart racing. I don’t want to take any chances with this last wish. Holding the coin, I close my eyes, thinking about what I’m going to say.
“I want to return to my original appearance.”
The words echo in the small stall, and almost immediately, I feel the coin vanish, disintegrating into fine dust between my fingers. Then, that familiar tingling sensation fills my body. I feel my chest deflate, my curves disappear, my face take on a more familiar shape.
I step out of the stall, my heart light. Looking at myself in the mirror above the sinks, I see my face, my short tousled hair as usual. I let out a sigh of relief, happy to have finally returned to my true appearance.
Leaving the restroom, I feel more relaxed, although the fatigue from the practice session still lingers. I make my way back to the residence, still a bit dazed by everything that has happened. The magic of that coin is very real, and I don’t yet know what I’ll do with the last wish, but for now, all I want is to go home and forget this strange day.
But as I walk away, a thought crosses my mind, something that seems almost unconscious, a slight feeling of discomfort in my lower abdomen. It’s subtle, barely perceptible, but I ignore it, too exhausted to pay it much attention.