Ideal wife with ideal body

— Hey, stop it, quit laughing! It’s not funny! — I tried to say it in the angriest and most furious tone I could muster, but I knew I sounded like a hurt little girl. And that… that guy I thought was my friend just kept walking ahead as if nothing had happened, slinging his damn jacket over his shoulder and smirking. — I said stop it! I won’t pretend to be your girlfriend!

— Pretend? Girlfriend? Where do you see any other guys around here besides me? — Denis repeated with undisguised delight, turning around and looking me up and down. — You’re… hmmm… Alice now, right? — Denis drawled with a mocking smirk, stopping to look me up and down again, a gaze that made me feel… no, no! Everything inside me tightened with rage. I wanted to lash out at him, but instead, a pathetic squeak came out of my lips.

— Damn it, Denis! This… this is a freaking nightmare! — I stuttered, nearly choking at the sight of his smug grin. It felt like I’d been shoved into a foreign body, twisted and folded into this delicate, fragile girl, whose long hair now annoyingly tickled my neck. I looked like one of those girls from the covers of glamorous magazines. I hated it all: the heavy… damn, the breasts, the tight top, and the skirt that covered my rounded hips, hips that swayed noticeably with every step I took! I was even wearing earrings and could taste lipstick! His damned wish made in this forest had turned me into… his wife?! Damn it, I don’t even want to think about it! I need to find a way to change everything back, and he! Ugh!

— Alice, calm down, — Denis cooed with feigned concern, tilting his head slightly as if comforting a crying child. — Just look how beautiful you are. Don’t you like it when people look at you like that? — He smirked again, but a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.

Damn it! Everything inside was boiling with rage, but every time I tried to take a confident step or make a bold gesture, I only felt more intensely how… feminine my movements had become.

— Stop calling me that… And it looks like you’re fine with everything, huh? — I growled, feeling my cheeks burn red again. It was like this damn body was designed to betray every single one of my emotions. No control. No strength.

— Of course I am, Alice, — he slowly savored my new name, as if tasting a rare wine. — Because… — He stepped closer, not finishing his sentence, staring straight into my eyes, and I, against my will, stepped back. Why did I suddenly think about sneakers that totally didn’t match with this girly skirt?

— Because? — I growled, my voice breaking into a high pitch again. Damn girly diction! Why does every phrase sound like I’m on the verge of whining?

We found the totem in the forest. We both decided to play a stupid game, making wishes to “see if magic works.” I vaguely remembered saying I wanted a perfect body!

— Because I got what I wanted, — he whispered so softly that chills ran down my spine. Denis stopped just a few steps away from me and, smiling, possessively looked over my new figure. — My… Perfect… Woman. Isn’t that what you wanted?

— Of course not, — I spat through clenched teeth, and every fiber of my being screamed in humiliation. Denis calmly extended his hand and lightly touched my shoulder. The touch, unexpectedly gentle, made me flinch.

— Oh, this? — he smirked again, and I helplessly stared up at him, realizing how I must look from his perspective. — You yourself said you wanted the perfect body, and I wanted a loving, tender, and feminine wife.

— No, no, you’re mistaken, — I tried to shake my head, but long strands of hair flew around my face and tickled my shoulders. All of this felt so foreign, so wrong, that panic began to rise in my chest. — This is just a misunderstanding! We’re friends, remember? — I looked at him desperately, trying to find the slightest hint of regret on his face, but all I saw was a calm, confident smile.

— Yes, friends, — he repeated softly, but then suddenly burst into laughter — friends, friends, with benefits and all that, haha, like, you get it, look at your ring finger.

My gaze darted down to my hand, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A thin, yet noticeable golden band glinted on my ring finger — a ring I definitely hadn’t put on.

— You’ve got to be kidding, — I stammered, looking up at his smirking face, hoping he’d start laughing and admit it was just another one of his stupid pranks. But no, Denis just stared silently at me, and I realized his gaze had become… possessive? — You… This… this freaking ring, — I stammered, raising my hand to my face and shaking it, hoping it would somehow disappear.

— Yes, darling, — he drawled with a smirk, watching as I helplessly stared at the thin flash of metal. — You’re now officially mine… in every sense. I told you I wanted a loving wife. Loyalty, care, obedience… And, of course, such a lovely appearance.

— Loyalty?! — I felt the world spinning before my eyes. This can’t be real! It’s impossible! How could this bastard talk about loyalty so calmly after… I became this… this… girl?! I’m his friend, a man! What the...

— Look, — Denis raised his hand, and I froze. On his ring finger shone a matching ring. A pair. A set. — Get it? We’re… connected, — he emphasized the word as if savoring its taste, and stepped closer. — You’re now officially my Alice.

— I’m not Alice! — I exploded, feeling hot tears running down my cheeks, ashamed and humiliated that I couldn’t even control this damned body. — I… I don’t want this, Denis! Let’s go back! Let’s find that place again! Right now!

He sighed, as if talking to a stubborn child, and tilted his head slightly, his gaze becoming softer, almost tender.

— I understand that it’s hard for you, — he said, and his tone was such that he genuinely seemed to be trying to comfort me. — But can’t you see? You asked for this yourself. You said you wanted the perfect body, to have everyone look at you with admiration, to be able to influence others. Here it is… — he spread his arms, gesturing at me from head to toe. — Now all you need to do is smile, and any man will do anything for you.

— I don’t want that! — I stomped my foot again, but the damned sneakers just softly crunched on the grass, and the skirt barely swayed. — I want to go back! I want to be myself! This is all because of you, because of your…

He just shrugged and hugged me, which made me feel uneasy! But why didn’t I push him away? Is this a result of his wish?! Faithful… loving...? What... no! Why do I like these hugs?!

— Stop it! — I tried to break free, but Denis only hugged me tighter, as if holding a fussy child. I could feel his arms gently, yet firmly, wrapping around my waist, and everything inside me turned upside down. Why am I reacting like this? Why does this… this touch feel so enveloping, as if I’m truly supposed to submit? Damn it, what has he done to me?!

— You have no idea how adorable you are when you’re angry, — Denis whispered in my ear, and his voice sent shivers through me. An incredible mix of rage and… some cursed, unnatural tenderness. No! This is all wrong… I shouldn’t be feeling like this!

— Let go, — I whispered through clenched teeth, trying not to look at him so he wouldn’t see how much my lips were trembling. Damn! This whole body, every damn cell, seemed to be living by some new, alien rules. I wanted freedom, control, not…

— Please, — I added, unable to hide the pleading notes in my voice. — Just let go. I… I’ll find a way to turn everything back. I…

— You’ll find a way? — He chuckled softly, and that sound made me instinctively press closer to him. Damn it, why… why are my muscles betraying me like this?! — Even if you do, Alice, — he gently stroked my hair, and the gesture made everything inside tremble unexpectedly, — you won’t be able to leave. Because I’m here. And I’ll always be by your side.

— No, — I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to ignore the cursed sensations. All of this is so wrong! I’m still a man, I… I was supposed to be different! Strong! Confident! But now, when his fingers touch my neck and his chest presses against my… my damn new chest...

— But you do want to be with me, — he murmured softly, as if reading my thoughts. — That’s part of your wish, isn’t it? To be someone admired, someone adored…

— No! — I squealed, then cut myself off, hearing how desperately girlish it sounded. He laughed again, and I felt everything inside flip over. With every word, with every touch, I seemed to be losing myself, sinking deeper into this new, terrible body. — I… I don’t want to be weak!

— Weak? — he lifted my chin again, forcing me to look into his eyes. — No, Alice, you’re not weak. You’re just different now. More… emotional, perhaps, — he smirked, and I felt my knees buckle under his gaze. No! No!

I stared at him in horror, feeling hot tears streaming down my cheeks. Damn! I’m even crying like a girl! Damn it! Is this really true? Will I never go back? Will I never be myself again? But… but why then, when he says these things, do I feel… warmer inside? Like I…

— You already feel it, don’t you? — Denis leaned closer, his lips almost brushing against my ear, and I curled up, feeling the warmth of his breath. — You want to be close, Alice. It’s a desire that’s already flowing through your veins. Loyalty… attachment. Love, — he breathed out the word, and I felt everything inside tearing apart. — You’re mine. And deep down, you want it.

— No, — I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head, trying to block his voice from my mind. — It’s all because of… — I stumbled, feeling my face heat up. — It’s not real! You’re just…

— It’s you, — he smiled again, and I felt his hand slowly sliding down to my shoulder, gently squeezing it. — It’s you, Alice. In every move, every glance, even in this little, endearing gesture… — he gently stroked my back, and at that touch, something inside me treacherously tightened.

I swallowed, feeling a shiver run through my entire body. Could he be right? Is this… I just wanted to test the magic. A silly game. A wish. But… why then, now, when he’s holding me close, does this damned wave of warmth flare up inside? How could everything be… so confusing!