John hummed a soft melody as he slipped into Emma's car, his manicured fingers gripping the wheel with delicate precision. His nails, painted a soft blush pink—an exact replica of Emma's—caught the sunlight streaming through the windshield. As he maneuvered out of the driveway, his movements were fluid, almost rehearsed, his hips subtly shifting in rhythm with the car's motion.
Dressed in a fitted lilac blouse tucked into high-waisted white pants, his outfit was undeniably feminine. However, his lack of curves left the fabric slightly baggy in places. The blouse's cups sagged without fullness, and the pants, designed to hug and accentuate, failed to showcase the allure of feminine contours. On his feet were Emma's striking red 3-inch heels, not from a luxury brand like Louboutin but rather a more accessible Nine West pair that still oozed charm.
John's frequent VR sessions had blurred the boundaries between his virtual persona and his real-world self. As he walked into the supermarket, his steps were deliberate—hips swaying gently, each foot placed gracefully in front of the other, heel to toe. His posture was impeccable, shoulders relaxed, arms swaying lightly at his sides.
In the produce aisle, John reached for a ripe avocado when a man nearby caught his eye. The stranger, tall and broad-shouldered, offered a charming smile.
"Excuse me, miss," the man said, his voice tinged with interest. "You look familiar. Do you shop here often?"
John turned, his lips curling into a soft smile. His voice, practiced and melodic, flowed effortlessly. "Oh, not really. Just picking up a few things for dinner."
The man chuckled, leaning casually against the cart. "Well, you've got great taste. Dinner for one, or are you cooking for someone special?"
John's cheeks flushed faintly as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "Just me. I like to keep things simple."
The man extended his hand with an easy smile. "Name's Ryan. You seem like you've got your hands full—maybe I could help you out with that dinner?"
John paused, meeting Ryan's gaze with a polite yet warm expression. After a beat, he returned the handshake, his nails glinting under the store lights. "That's kind of you, Ryan, but I think I've got it under control. I'm Emma, by the way."
Ryan's grin widened. "Well, Emma, the offer stands. You let me know if you change your mind."
John gave a graceful nod, stepping away with an air of composed elegance, his heels clicking softly against the polished floor. "Thanks, Ryan. Have a good one."
As he browsed the shelves, a woman approached him, her eyes lighting up as she gestured toward his feet. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice your shoes. They're gorgeous! Are they Louboutin?"
John chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Thank you, but no, they're just Nine West. A good find, though, don't you think?"
The woman nodded approvingly. "Absolutely. They look fantastic on you! And your hair—it's styled so perfectly. Did you do it yourself?"
John smiled, brushing a stray strand back. "I did. A bit of mousse and a curling iron. Nothing too fancy."
"Well, it's working for you," the woman said before walking away, leaving John glowing from the compliment.
Meanwhile, at home, Emma paced the living room, her thoughts swirling as she replayed the scene from earlier. She could still see John standing before her, dressed in the outfit they had picked out together at the mall just the day before. She had chosen those clothes as a playful jab, fully aware that the feminine cuts would be loose on him due to his lack of curves. The blouse sagged where it should have hugged a fuller chest, and the pants hung awkwardly on his straight hips, lacking the curves that would normally define their shape.
His slimmer frame, a result of missed meals from hours spent immersed in VR, made the outfit appear slightly less out of place—it almost looked as if it could fit a slim woman with more defined curves. Yet the overall effect was still incomplete—his body lacked the feminine contours to truly pull off the look. But instead of feeling awkward or self-conscious, John wore the outfit with an unexpected confidence, as though he genuinely enjoyed how it felt.
Emma paused mid-stride, her brows furrowing. Maybe he wants them to fit better, she thought. Maybe he actually likes how they look on him and wishes they suited him more. The realization unsettled her, leaving her wondering just how deep this desire to embrace a different identity might go.
She sank onto the couch, her hands trembling slightly. "This can't just be mockery," she muttered aloud. "He's too convincing. He wants to be a woman."
Emma's thoughts spiraled. She reached for her phone and called an old friend, a specialist in experimental nanotechnology.
"Emma?" her friend's voice crackled on the other end. "What's going on?"
"I need a favor," Emma said, her voice low and urgent. "Do you still have access to the nanotechnology you were developing?"
There was a long pause. "Emma, that tech is dangerous. It's not something to play around with. In the wrong hands, it could be used for things like altering appearances, even genders. Criminals could use it to evade capture entirely. Why are you asking about this?"
Emma took a deep breath. "It's for a personal project. I promise it won't fall into the wrong hands. I just... I need it."
Her friend sighed. "I'll send you the specs, but you're playing with fire. Be careful."
After hanging up, Emma began formulating her plan. She would embed the nanobots into the inner linings of John's clothes. Once in contact with his skin, the bots would penetrate his pores and gradually start altering his body.
Later that afternoon, she visited a nearby pharmacy and discreetly purchased a selection of female hormones and testosterone blockers. The bottles clinked softly in her bag as she returned home, her mind racing with the steps she would take to accelerate John's transformation.
Hours later, John returned home, the sound of his heels echoing through the hallway. He entered the living room with a confident stride, his hips swaying naturally, his shoulders relaxed.
"I'm back!" he announced cheerfully, placing the grocery bags on the counter.
Emma turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing as she took in his appearance. He carried himself with an air of femininity that was almost unsettling.
"Did everything go smoothly?" Emma asked, forcing a smile.
John nodded, brushing his hair back with a delicate motion. "Yes, it was lovely. Oh, and a woman at the store complimented my shoes! Isn't that sweet?"
Emma's smile tightened. "Very sweet," she said, her mind already racing ahead to the changes she would soon set in motion.
That evening, while John was occupied in the bathroom, Emma carefully placed the nanobot-infused clothes back into his closet and dresser. She inspected the hormones she had purchased, ensuring everything was ready for the next phase.
YOU ARE READING
Mirror Image
General FictionJohn's anticipation was sky-high as he touched down in Miami, ready to surprise his girlfriend Jessica with a week of sun, fun, and romance. But his excitement quickly turns to frustration when his luggage goes missing and Jessica is suddenly called...
