Katie stood in front of the mirror, eyes wide, fingers trailing through her newly altered long, black hair. The reflection staring back at her was still her, but with noticeable differences. Her skin now held a deeper shade, more akin to her Somali mother, Caaliyah, and her facial features had subtly shifted to reflect a more Somali influence. She smiled, her lips curving in a playful grin as she ran her fingers down her face, admiring the slight change in the shape of her nose and the fullness of her lips.
She glanced over at her dad's computer, where the program, Chronivac, still displayed her new information:
Name: Katie Kendrick
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Race: Somali/Caucasian
IQ: 133
Language: Somali, English
Sex Drive: Medium
Build: Slim
Hair: Long/Black
Eyes: Dark Brown
Occupation: High School Student
Family: Father/Mother/Older Brother/Younger Brother
Katie giggled softly, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she took in her updated appearance. It was surreal seeing herself like this, like a mirror showing her an alternate version of herself—one that leaned more into her Somali heritage. Her mother would probably be shocked to see her this way, she thought, smirking at the idea.
"Haha, imagine Mom's face," she muttered, the words slipping out in perfect Somali. "Hooyo wey layaabi doontaa." (Mom would be so surprised.)
She tilted her head, admiring how her voice now carried a slight Somali accent, making her sound more like her mother when she switched languages. The new lilt felt comfortable on her tongue, and it gave her words a new charm. Turning from side to side, Katie let out a content sigh, examining the way her figure looked in her current outfit. She'd always been slim, but now there was a slightly curvier shape to her hips, and her skin had a glowing richness to it, like warm caramel under the soft light of her bedroom.
"Adiga qurux badan tahay!" (You're so beautiful!) she declared to herself with a grin, playfully posing in front of the mirror. The thrill of the transformation bubbled up inside her, excitement fizzing like soda in her chest. She couldn't stop smiling.
Katie twisted a lock of her hair around her finger, imagining what her friends at school would think if they saw her like this. More specifically, her crush, Jack. The thought of his reaction made her bite her lower lip to stifle a giggle.
"Wuxuu jeclaan lahaa inuu arko sidan, hubaal." (He would love to see me like this, for sure.)
She imagined running into him in the hallway tomorrow, his usual confident grin faltering when he caught sight of her. She could already picture his stunned expression, eyes wide as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Katie couldn’t help but burst into a fit of laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. "Jack, maxaad ka heli lahayd sidan?" (Jack, what would you think of me like this?)
The very idea of it made her stomach flip with a mix of nerves and excitement. She liked the way her new reflection made her feel—confident, bold, like she could control the narrative of her own identity.
Turning back to the mirror, she pulled at the edge of her shirt, admiring how her outfit clung to her adjusted figure. She had opted for something casual—jeans and a fitted T-shirt—but even in something simple, she looked amazing. Katie was always confident, but now there was something different. There was a new edge to her beauty, a new layer that made her stand out even more.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, staring into her own dark brown eyes. "Wax walba waan xallin karaa hadda." (I can handle anything now.)
With her boosted language skills and new appearance, she felt unstoppable. There was something exhilarating about switching between languages with ease, knowing she could keep up with her mother's flawless Somali now. Katie imagined sitting at the dinner table tonight, casually responding to her mother in fluent Somali, making Caaliyah's eyes widen in pleasant surprise. That would be worth it alone.
"Hooyo way ku farxi lahayd tan," she whispered to herself, trying out the Somali words again. (Mom would be proud of this.)
As she practiced her new accent, her mind kept drifting back to Jack. She could see him standing by his locker, oblivious at first, until she walked by, her long, dark hair cascading down her back, her new body catching his eye. Maybe he would stammer when he saw her. Maybe he’d finally notice her in a way he hadn’t before. Katie blushed at the thought, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips.
"Isaga ayaa ii jecel ahaan doona... marka uu i arko sidan," (He’ll definitely like me... when he sees me like this,) she mused, flicking her hair back dramatically for effect.
She loved the idea of throwing him off balance, seeing him flustered around her. It would be her little secret—a game she was playing without him even realizing.
Katie gave her reflection one last admiring glance, savoring the way she looked and felt.
She grabbed her phone from the dresser, snapping a quick selfie before grinning at the camera. "Waan jeclahay!" (I love it!) she exclaimed, before turning off the Chronivac and heading downstairs. This was going to be fun.