In search of truth

"It’s so... awkward? Damn, I shouldn’t have worn this dress. Why did I do this?" — struggling not to grimace, I tug at the thin fabric that’s clinging too tightly to my chest and hips. Hardly anything could have been more provocative… but screw it. Everything’s going according to plan today, Roman, hang in there!

Or rather, Romana. I came up with this feminine name on the spot a couple of years ago, when I was still in shock and didn’t want to come off as crazy... or rather, a crazy woman. No one would have thought that a strange past was hiding behind this new girl, and certainly none of these jerks staring at me so blatantly would have guessed that deep down, I’m just a regular guy, who got stuck here because of some insane scientific experiment.

And now... I’m back on its trail again.

"I can’t ignore all these stares..." — I avert my eyes, pretending to admire the surrounding greenery in the garden. A few couples pass by, each dressed in fashionable outfits. Women in tight dresses with perfectly styled hair, men in expensive suits. They all look so refined and self-assured. One of the men — around thirty, tall with a piercing gaze — stops nearby, deliberately eyeing my figure.

I almost choke with disgust. "Ugh, god, this one isn’t even trying to hide his nasty attitude..." — I curse inwardly as he raises an eyebrow, making a lewd gesture that’s unnoticed by the others. How much I’d like to... No, not now. Today none of that matters.

I grit my teeth and walk past, lifting my chin. The most important thing is not to show weakness. It doesn’t matter how I feel. It doesn’t matter that I want to be anywhere else, in a closed room, in normal men’s clothes.

This girl’s body… Jane. I first saw her when I was still in college. A student with a beautiful smile and an amazing figure; back then, I only admired her from afar. And then — the accident, the coma... For some reason, instead of my own body, I woke up in hers. In this very body, which used to fascinate me and now... now it feels like I’ve gotten used to these curves that initially infuriated me, but now have become a part of me... Damn it, what else could I do? Sit around and mope? Screw that, I tried to find a way to switch back, but everyone just laughed at me. Body swap, mind transfer? Nonsense, they said!

But today I finally have a chance to find out what the hell really happened. Professor Smith. I remember this name from the day of the accident, when I learned who performed the surgery. I’ve been looking for him all these years. And now he’ll be here! At this private corporate event. An old scientist who should already be long retired... or even six feet under, to be honest.

– "Romana, oh my god, hahaha, you look amazing," — said Frank, the only person I managed to trust with my secret, although it was tough even with him. I looked at him and frowned involuntarily. Was he mocking me? Then again, who else but him could afford to talk to me like this, knowing everything I’ve been through?

— "Shut up, Frank," — I grumbled, trying not to show my inner tension. — "You know damn well I... have never worn anything like this," — I muttered through clenched teeth, barely holding back my irritation.

Frank just smirked, but didn’t push further — he knew my patience was hanging by a thread.

— "Alright, you still look better than I thought," — Frank winked at me, and I barely restrained myself from punching him. He’d deserve it. He’s the one who insisted I wear this damn outfit. "Romana, this isn’t some back alley; the crème de la crème will be gathering here. They won’t let you in dressed in your usual getup." Back then, I thought he just wanted to see me in something tight again and smacked him on the cheek in a fit of anger when he brought the dress… but his words held a lot of truth.

— "Damn," — I exhaled, feeling Frank confidently take my arm like he owned the evening, as if I were just another girl he’d brought to this event.

— "Relax, Romana, calm down," — he whispered in my ear, his voice both soothing and irritatingly patronizing. — "You know you need me. Without me, you wouldn’t have gotten in here. So just play by the rules."

I clenched my teeth, feeling the tension building inside. He was right, and that pissed me off the most. I was completely out of my element. Every second in this outfit was torture. The heels were digging into my heels, the dress restricted my movements, and all the attention around me was driving me crazy.

But none of that mattered. My goal was Smith. And this meeting should finally shed light on what happened to me, why I’m in Jane’s body, where she is, where my real body is and… even if the truth is painful, I need to know!