Exhausted from his frantic escape, Mahina stumbled upon a wooden barrier surrounding a nearby property. Sensing the need for a brief respite, he decided to take a pause, leaning against the sturdy structure.
As Mahina caught his breath, he noticed a movement in the shadows. A figure was approaching, their identity obscured by the darkness of the night.
Mahina tensed, unsure of whether this was another threat he needed to avoid. His eyes strained to make out the details of the approaching person, but the dim lighting made it difficult.
As the figure drew closer, Mahina recognized a familiar silhouette – it was the redheaded girl he had fought with at school.
"Who's there?" Mahina called out, his voice betraying a hint of caution.
The girl's figure became more distinct as she approached. "It's me," she replied, her voice soft but steady.
Mahina felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he was still uncertain of her intentions. "You," he said, his tone somewhat exasperated. "You seem to have a knack for showing up at the most inconvenient times."
The girl took a few more steps forward, her features becoming clearer in the dim light. "Well, you seem to be very tired. And I have a name, you know."
Before she could finish her sentence, Mahina's legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his consciousness slipping away.
The girl's eyes widened as she rushed to Mahina's side. "Well, I never thought that someday I would be helping you," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "But I can't just leave you here."
Despite their past conflicts, the girl's compassionate nature took over. She knew she couldn't simply abandon Mahina in his current state, even though she had no idea what had led him to this desperate situation.
Summoning all her strength, the girl managed to hoist Mahina up, draping one of his arms over her shoulder as she began the arduous task of guiding him to safety. It was a difficult task, given their similar statures, but she was determined to see it through.
As she carefully navigated the narrow alleyways, the girl couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Mahina and why he was in such a dire state. Her curiosity was piqued, and she knew that she couldn't simply leave him to fend for himself.
"Okay, let's get you somewhere safe," the girl murmured, as she carefully lifted Mahina's arm over her shoulder and began the arduous task of guiding him towards her home.
Step by step, the girl navigated the narrow alleyways, her eyes constantly scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. She couldn't risk her parents seeing her dragging an unconscious boy into the house.
Finally, the girl reached her front door and, after a quick glance around, slipped inside, Mahina in tow. She carefully maneuvered him up the stairs and into her room, gently laying him down on the bed.
As the dim light from the hallway spilled into the room, the girl's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, you really are different from how I remember you, aren't you?" she murmured, taking in Mahina's transformed state.
Mahina slowly opened his eyes, his vision gradually focusing. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice weak and disoriented.
"In my room," the girl replied a hint of relief in her voice. "Without me, you may have been dead from the cold. So, you should thank me."
He recalled the warm and loving parents who had raised him, shaping his worldview and guiding him through his years. But now, he realized that everything he thought he knew about them was a lie.
"My parents..." Mahina murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "The couple I've been living with all this time, they're not really my parents, are they?"
The girl's brow furrowed with concern. "Parents? What are you talking about?"
Mahina's eyes met hers, a mix of emotions swirling within them. "It's a long story," he said, "but everything I thought I knew about my life has been turned upside down."
Mahina then proceeded to tell Emelia everything - about his move to the city, his and his cousin's transformations, and the realization that the couple he had been living with were not his true parents.
As he spoke, Emilia listened intently, her expression shifting from one of surprise to one of empathy.
"Wow, that's... a lot to take in," she said, once Mahina had finished recounting his story. "I can't even imagine what you must be going through."
Emelia paused for a moment, then asked "So first how do I pronouns you she or he because it will be confusing in my head, and second don't worry we will find out about everything "
"I think... I need to let go of Nathanael. That was the past, and now I need to focus on moving forward as... as she," he said, taking a deep breath.
Emelia nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Okay, 'she' it is. And I'm really sorry you've had to go through all of this. It must have been so difficult."
"You know, you're not as much of a tomboy as I thought you were," Mahina said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Emelia chuckled. "Well, I guess we both have a few surprises up our sleeves, don't we?"
