As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my voice inside my head’s screaming like crazy. Nananaginip ba ako? This can’t be happening! I took my clothes off, and saw a naked body of a woman at my reflection. My abs are gone, my chest doubled in size, my hips are wider, and my Mr. Ding-a-ling-ding-dong’s been replaced with a bibingka! This could not be happening to me. This is insanity!

            Who is this girl I see, staring straight back at me? Hmmm... Mulan lang ang peg? Wait, what did I just said? Peg? Sa’ng vokabularyo ko ba nakuha yon? I ain’t talking girl lingo. Wait, I just did. Oh EFF!

            What am I gonna do? How should I tell everybody what’s going on? My sister! My team! My school! Damn! I can’t show up to any of my classes looking like a girl and name myself as Christian! I’m a campus heartthrob, and that should not be taken away from me!

            A knock on the door startled me. The door swung open, and my older sister found me, a full grown woman, naked, in my own room.

            “Sino ka?” she asked. “Asan si Christian?”

            I stare at her, at mangiyak-iyak na sinabing, “Ate. Ako to.”

            She stared back at me like I’m some lunatic. I know it might be crazy to tell her na ang kapatid niya ay nagging babae, but I have to tell someone! And my sister would be the first one I should tell. She took one step back.

            “I repeat, sino ka? At nasaan ang kapatid ko?”she asked one more time.

            “Ate…” I went closer to her pero sinabunutan niya ako, habang nagsisigaw.

            “TULONG, TULONG!” sigaw ni Neah.

            “ATE! STOP! AHHH! LET GO OF ME!” she was still strangling my hair, which to my surprise, ang sakit! Ang sakit pala masabunutan pag long hair.

            “NASAN ANG KAPATID KO? WHERE IS HE? WHAT’VE YOU DONE TO HIM” sigaw niya, habang kinakaladkad ako pababa ng hagdanan. Nang umabot na kami sa sala, tinulak na niya ako sa sofa, at bumalik sa kwarto ko.

            “Christian! Where are YOU??!” Neah demanded. I can hear her in my room, looking for me. “ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA MONG MAGDALA NG BABAE DITO SA BAHAY! ISUSUMBONG KITA KINA MAMA AT PAPA! CHRISTIAN!! ASAN KA BAAA!”

            Bumaba agad si ate, bitbit ang pink night dress, and some sandals ba yun? As far as I can remember, they’re called wedge ata? Not sure. She threw them at me, at sinabing:

            “Get out of this house, and tell Christian THAT HE’S IN BIG TROUBLE!” prangkang sinabi ni Ate.

            She grabbed my hair once more, and kinaladkad palabas ng gate.

            “But ATE! Listen to me!... ATE!”

            “GET OUT OF HERE OR ELSE I’LL CALL SECURITY!” she demanded as she went back in.

            “Ate…” I whispered to myself. Tears came running down my face. I hid in the bushes as I got dressed. But wait a minute. Where is this night dress come from? And why did she took it from MY room? I don’t have girls’ clothes in my closet!

            I stared at the pink night dress, and I could swear, that I wore a pink t-shirt last night! My mind’s still a little fuzzy. I want to go back to Delight’s place, but my wallet’s not with me. No phone, no watch, not even a single jewelry, kahit at least man lang na pwedeng isangla to earn a few bucks.

            I hid in the bushes for quite some time, thinking on what to do, nang mapansin ko si Ate. Driving her favorite silver VIOS car, she drove away from the house. Baka oras na ng trabaho niya. Oo, tama.

            I went out from hiding, and stared at our gate. Balak ko sanang akyatin, pero I never thought our gate’s really tall! I attempted to climb, but my strength’s not enough. If only I had my old body back, I could’ve climbed this gate.

            I need to have my ATM at least! Where should I go? My sister, Neah’s the only person in my mind right now. Sa dinami-dami kong mga kaibigan, in the end, tanging mga kapamilya mo rin naman pala ang matatakbuhan mo when in times of in dire need. Not just financially, but morally.

            But how should I get to ate’s workplace? Ang layo kaya ng City Hospital. I can’t just walk papunta dun! But I got no choice. I have to. So, I started my “Death March” papuntang City Hospital, just to find out na on-leave si Ate. WHAT THE FUDGE?!

            I sat for a while, thinking: If I would be on-leave, where should I go to chill and relax? Hmmm… Bars? Nah, Ate’s night life’s been buried already! Oh wait, she loves shopping! She must be at the mall, but saang mall? Hmmm… There are just three biggest malls in our city, but Ate likes a breath of fresh air kapag nag-chi-chill… She must be at the AyalaMall! Oo, tama! That’s her favorite mall. I need to get there and convince her that I’m Christian!

            But again, how? I’m so tired from walking, and the distance from where I’m at papuntang Ayala’s very far! I walked like a zombie papalabas ng City Hospital, as I uttered “This is the worst day of my life.”

            A mall nearby’s not as big as AyalaMall but it still has Arcade Center. At dun ko naisip ang pinaka simpleng way para magka pera. Kahit 100 man lang.

            The moment I stepped inside the Arcade Center, nagsi tinginan ang mga lalake sa akin. They must be wondering why, a girl dressed in party night dress, ended up in an Arcade Center. Lumapit ako sa mga naglalaro ng Tekken 6. May nagaganap na pustahan at tila undefeated itong high-school na bata. Malamang nagbubulakbol ito, kasi it’s still school hours.

            One by one, tinalo ng high school kid na ito ang mga kakumpetensya niya. And surprisingly, even Call Center Agents on their rest day ay sumali rin, at natatalo pa! I studied his every move on his game, and caught a lapse. At dun ko naisip na sumali, at hamunin ang bata.

            “Is der no wan els?” hamon ng bata.

            “Try me.” I stepped forward at napa-ohhh ang mga lalake. Come to think of it, ako lang pala ang babae at that time!

            “Sori, ate. Hindi ako pumapatol sa mga babae.” Sagot naman ng bata.

            “Bakit? Takot kang matalo sa isang babae?” I answered back. Napahiyaw ang kanyang mga kaibigan at kina-kantyaw na siya.

            “O sige! Umupo ka na, at ihanda ang iyong panyo!” he smiled, and added “You will cry por mersi leyter!”

            How should I play? Wala akong token? I’m penniless to buy one!

            “I would love to, but sadly, wala akong token. Will you lend me one? At pag natalo ako, I’ll kiss you.” Ewww. What did I just said? Haaay. But I got no choice. I have got to tease him para mabigyan ako ng libreng token.

            Then, at that moment, 10 tokens were placed on my lap, lahat galing sa mga tambay na nanonood ng labanan.

            “Kiss mo rin kame pag natalo ka!” sabi ng ilang mga tambay na nagdonate ng tokens.

            “Okay! Thank you!” I smiled pero diring-diri inside. Yuck! Even as a girl, irresistible parin ako. But the idea of me, kissing him or itong mga tambay na to, sickens me. I am still a guy! I can’t kiss another guy!

            So, there I was on the hot seat with all eyes on us. I inserted one token, and got to choose my character. I have been playing Tekken since Playstation One. I think I am good, for I have defeated my sister loads of times with this game, and my barkada din.

            The brat stood up and proposed something, “Hey Miss, gawin kaya natin tong All or Nothing! Pag mananalo ka, sa iyo lahat ng napanalunan ko, pero pag natalo ka, magwa-One Night tayo. Deal?”

            His pimply face sickens me more, as he smiled with his proposition. I smiled back, and answered, “Let’s.”

            Naghihiyawan lahat ng manunuod sa Arcade. The brat added, “Hooo! Type niya ko, I can tell! He wants a peace of meh!”

            He wants a peace of meh? Technically speaking, it should be She wants a piece of me but given fact that I’m still a guy in a woman’s body, I think I should let it slip. But the idea of it, is far disgusting. That used to be my line, but I was way more handsome, and thus, I have more right to say it out loud than him.

            So, there. I made a deal. Now, I have to win, or else!

            As I was scanning the characters list, the brat immediately chose Eddy Gordo. The character who uses the style of Capoiera. I can hear his friends clapping. I was still selecting my character.

            “Piliin mo si Panda! Hahahah!” The brat laughed.

            I opted to choose Lili.

            “Hooo! Lili na naman! Andali neto!” nagyabang pa ang mokong.

            And then, Round One begins. The way he handles Eddie was magnificent. Eddie Gordo’s moves were gracefull and swift under that brat’s control. I made a lot of defense instead of attacks. His moves are targeting Lili’s lower part, while my attacks are always missed! I forgot, Lili’s attacks are excellent pag middle kick and high kick! Sunod-sunod ang attacks ni Eddie, all of them are low kick. Papalapit nang maubos ang health ko. And then,

            “K.O.! Eddie Gordo Wins”

            “Wooo! Humanda ka na, Miss!” sigaw ng bata.

            Then, I had my game face on. This is it, I must win. I have got to win.

            Round Two begins with my Lili having the first attack. Sunod-sunod ang binigay kong middle and high kicks, and special techniques. The brat’s struggling with his buttons, pressing them so hard but Eddie can’t move from my attacks. Kick after kick, hit after hit, and backslap-kick after back slap kick. Lili’s moves are polished!

            “K.O.! Lili Wins!”

            I exhaled. I won. But it’s not yet over. It’s 3 on 3. And I have to keep fighting.

            The competition went on. My forehead’s sweaty as we continue to fight, until it sums up for the Final Round. That brat won the Third Round and I won the Fourth Round. It all now comes to the last round. I can’t afford to lose this bet! I can’t afford to humiliate myself in public! I CAN’T AFFORD TO KISS THESE TOADS!

I was walking on my way out from the Arcade Center, with 1000 pesos on my hand. Yes, I won the bet! I managed to beat that brat, and humiliated him! The guys were staring at me as I made it outside the Arcade Center.

Now, I have got to get back to my senses. I have to get to AyalaMall. I rode a jeepney papuntang mall, and went straight to her favorite tambayan. The National Bookstore. Ate Neah’s been a bookworm since I remembered. And alas, I was right! I found her, scanning on the books on the Teen Fantasy section, checking out The Secret Circle books.

I don’t want to appear as a freak, but I have to tell her that me, his handsome brother Christian, became a woman!

I went near her discreetly and stared at her. She was scanning the synopsis of book, when she caught my eye.

“Ikaw na naman.” She uttered in a low tone.

“Ate. Listen to me.” I said, and then I immediately added, “I am Christian.”

She stared back at me, with a freakish look on her face.

“Get away from me, freak, or else I’ll scream” she whispered.

“I can prove it!” With words as fast as a lightning bullet, I whispered. “Mom and Dad is in the Big Apple as nurses. On your 3rd grade, you fell from your bicycle and shoot directly to the canal. On your 4th grade, you killed our pet dog because you fed him chocolate, thinking he was asking a piece of what you were eating. On your high school prom, you went out with Alcoy’s older brother, Phineas Mark and gave you chicken pox. On your graduation day, I splashed Sprite on your face coz I laughed with Daddy’s joke. And may pelat ka sa left butt cheek mo!”

Ate Neah stared at me.

“You have to believe me, Ate. It’s me, Christian!” I said.

“You…are…freaking…me out!” Neah whispered, as she gave me a look from head to toe.

“Ate… Ano to… Ba’t ako nagka ganito?” I wimpy said.

“Oh my god, Christian!”

Ate Neah hugged me, I hugged her back tightly, sobbing.

We had a very silent dinner in our favorite resto, I ordered my usual, Baby Back Ribs with 3 extra rice, and unlimited iced tea.

“You really are Christian.” Neah said, as she stared at me. “What happened? This is really really impossible!”

“I know. I know! What am I going to do?”

After dinner, we head back home. Ate was surprisingly silent, at tila naninibago. Of course, sino bang hindi ma-sho-shock?

“I just can’t believe that I now have a sister!” she said excitedly.

“You said what?”

“I believe this is your karma now. For being such a womanizer, you have been cursed to be as a woman!” Ate Neah added.

            “If this is a curse, how do I change back to my old self?” I asked.

            “That I do not know.” She answered. “But, this shouldn’t be the end of your life. I will try do my best to get your studies going…”

            “What?? I can’t go back to school as a girl and say I’m Christian!” I abruptly said.

            “Yes, but this time, you will be as Christina.” Ate Neah suggested.

            “Christina?”

            “Yes! While naghahanap tayo ng way to bring you back to your old form, you must continue your studies!” she added. “Ako nang bahala to cover up things for Mom and Dad, and to your school as well.”

            “Something tells me, you made me like this.” I said, at ako’y binatukan.

            “Why would I do this? Am I a witch?” she said. “But in the mean time, you will face the world as Christina.”

            Christina.

Temporarily, Christian’s gone. Facing the world as Christina opens a new chapter for me.

End of Chapter Two