𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 // Turning Red

• 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 2 •

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"I'm still not used to you having red hair," Gran-Gran said with a unsettled chuckle as she fixed my hair into two buns, "Can you tell me why you decided to dye your hair without asking permission?"

"Well, uh-"

"That's not very like you. I know it has almost been two years since you dyed your hair but it still bothers me," She explained, placing the comb on top of the drawer and gently cupping my cheek.

"I-it's because I, uh, everyone in school started dyeing their hair! And I thought it would be cool to try," I lied with a sheepish smile, "Do you not like it?"

Gran-Gran laughed and waved her hand in the air, "Of course not. You look lovely!"

"Thanks, Gran-Gran," I said with a relieved sigh, touching my buns to see if they were symmetrically made side by side. It was perfect! Gran-Gran always does things perfectly and she inspires me to do the same.

"I'm gonna go to school now. Bye, Gran-Gran!" I kissed her cheek and ran outside, waiting for the bus to arrive.

I suddenly got disturbing shivers down my spine. Not because it's pretty cold out here, well technically it is, but there's another reason. It's because waiting for the bus reminds me of that day again. I forgot to mention, but its been a year and a half since that weird thing happened to me.

When I got home, I transformed back to myself but my hair was red. I didn't know how I was gonna explain it to Gran-Gran, and I really had no idea what was the right explanation for it, so I told her I dyed my hair. I feel really bad. I never lied to her, like, ever. It was a mortal sin, especially if I do it to her. But I had to do it or else she'll freak out like how other people did. I can't bear seeing that.

As the days passed by after that, I realized that I can transform into a red panda anytime and can control it with my emotions. When I calm down, I go back to my normal self and when I get too emotional, I turn into a red panda again. I trained myself to control my emotions properly and now I can do it without any trouble.

All these things don't make any sense to me. I tried reading books or asking people about it but I got no good response. It seems that I probably got cursed. But by who? Why? Why would I get cursed into something so, wild?

Just as I thought everything would go my way...

I let out a long sigh before noticing the sun had just started to rise and that there were still a few vehicles on the road. Oh, I woke up a little early today.

"Y'know what, I'll just walk there myself," I whispered to no one in particular as I crossed the road to get to the other side. Pun intended.

"Morning, Ying," Mrs. Wang, a rich Chinese old woman who comes into the neighborhood regularly to check her salon greeted me, "Early as usual, huh?"

"Good morning, Mrs. Wang. Of course, early birds catch the worms!" I beamed energetically while giving her a polite bow.

"Good morning, Ying!" Mr. Fu, a Chinese old man who sees the future, fortune teller specifically, greeted me as I walked past the door of his office, "Wanna know what awaits for you today?"

I giggled and shook my head, also giving him a bow, "No thanks, Mister. I already have it all planned. I'm sure things will go my way today!"

That was a lie. My bad.

I walked past other stores and greeted everyone I know, which is almost the entire neighborhood. I always feel happy when I'm here, not just because everyone here is friendly, but they're all Chinese too! This part of the town is where fellow Chinese people live and I'm glad I can blend in with them because I'm Chinese as well.