Chapter 2

SHUN FOUND himself in a playground inside a park.

It was 7 PM when he left the hospital, so the cold winds brushed gently through his skin. Shun was only wearing a shirt and jeans; he couldn't help but shiver slightly.

He walked towards the center of the playground where the swing and a big slide are located. He can see from far away the silhouette of two people. One is seated on the swing and swinging it back and forth, making a soft creaking sound. While one is seated at the end of the slide.

Several lampposts illuminated the area, which made him see the faces of the people when he reached their place.

“Sachi! Harue!” he called out.

The two young people turned their heads. Sachi, the one in the swing, tapped the vacant swing beside her, motioning Shun to sit. As he sat, he glanced at Harue on the slide, who just nodded at him. He smiled weakly.

“What’s with the long face?” Sachi’s brow shot up.

Upon hearing her voice, Shun thought a man inside a woman’s shell just talked to him. Her voice sounded more or less like a man’s. Not just that, but her dark brown hair was as short as a man’s too. Add up her outfit, a black hoodie and ripped jeans, she looked exactly like a man.

“Is something the matter, Shun?” Harue asked. It seems like this young man noticed the gloomy expression on his face too.

Shun took a look at Harue, who wore a concerned expression. His pale complexion compliments the darkness of his slacks. He was wearing white button-down sleeves with a loose tie. His black suit jacket was hanging in his arm.

Shun sighed and told them his problem.

“Now, I don’t know what to do… I can’t find money that huge–at least not in a span of two weeks!” Shun slumped in his seat and started swinging himself while looking down on his feet. He didn’t tell them what happened the morning when he was almost kidnapped.

“Damn, that’s…” Sachiko clicked her tongue. She doesn’t know what to say to make Shun feel a little better.

“How much is the money you need?” Harue suddenly asked.

Shun, hearing what he said, chuckled softly. “I knew you would ask that, and I don’t want to tell you. You’re going to pay for it, aren’t you?”

“I just wanna help.”

“Why won’t you let him pay it first then just pay him after?” Sachi asked.

“Yeah. I accept installments.”

Shun wanted to laugh but doesn't have the strength. Though, he felt grateful to have friends like these two. It doesn’t seem like it, but Harue is born from a wealthy family: he was a businessman actually. While Sachi, her full name Sachiko, told him she ran away from her home. He doesn’t know why.

The three of them became friends five years ago. Shun was glad he met them. When he was having his hardest time, Sachi appeared in front of him like a ray of hope. She was the one who pulled him into entering different racket jobs to gain money. When Harue appeared, he was the one who helped him secure Shaine’s confinement in a hospital. He was also the one providing him with the outfits for his different appearances.

For Shun, their presence and their ears to listen to his problems were already enough. He doesn’t want to trouble any of them with his dire situation. 

That’s why with a shake of his head and smile, he kindly rejected the offer. “Thank you guys, but I need to find a way on my own.”

“Isn’t that a ‘way’ already?” Sachi knitted his brows.

Harue agreed. “What would you do then? You’ll run out of time.”

“I’ll think of another way. If I’m unable to think until the end of this week, I’ll consider your offer, Harue.”

Harue just nodded. He won’t push this anymore. It was Shun’s decision after all. Sachiko, however, can’t just sit back.

“Accept it now. Is it because of your pride? If you won’t accept it, who knows what you’ll do. Desperate times call for desperate measures, remember?”

“Hey!” Shun’s eyes widened. “What do you even think I would do?”

Sachiko laughed. “I don’t know, but make it three days,” she said. “If you still haven’t found one after three days, accept his offer.” Sachi pointed at Harue using her chin.

“Yeah, yeah.” Shun paused. “Anyways, Sachi. Can you give me a job tonight?”

“Right now?”

Shun nodded.

“Hmm…” Sachi took out her phone and scrolled.

ONE HOUR ago, he was a man. Now, he was a woman.

Within the loud music, dim place, and different colors of flashing lights, Shun walked in a fast manner, his both hands held a tray filled with two glasses of beer. He stopped at a table and placed the beers onto the customer's table, bowed slightly, accepted the tip, and then walked away.

He was now wearing a black shirt, a brown skirt, and a black stocking underneath. His hair–no, his wig, was a straight long black that reached below his fake breasts. It was tied in a ponytail. He doesn’t wear contacts that time, making anyone see his golden-brown eyes. Shun really looked like a real woman in his disguise.

It was one of the perks of being an androgynous disguiser; he can change from being a man to a woman anytime he wants. Fortunately, with his small physique, one can’t determine whether he was a guy or not. Because of this, Shun can disguise himself as a man and woman without being noticed.

A while ago, Sachi said he’ll be a substitute for a sick waitress tonight. He gladly accepted it. To be busy is equivalent to resting his mind from thinking about his problems. Because he can’t escape it, might as well rest his mind first while gaining some money.

He’s been like this for the next five hours: accepting orders from the bartender’s area, placing orders in the customers’ tables, receiving tips, ignoring catcalls, kindly rejecting customers’ asking for companies. 

It was like a loop in shuffle mode. But Shun’s body felt no fatigue at all–well maybe it did, but he was used to working for straight hours without stopping, so he can just ignore it for the meantime.

Almost all of the workers in the bar had noticed his nonstop working, including the manager. It was as if he beats all of those regular workers in their working performances. The manager watched him from afar and felt exhausted in his part. Unable to watch him any longer, the manager called him. 

Shun quickly walked towards her, feeling anxious. “Yes, Ma’am?” His voice was deliberately in a higher pitch, making him sound less like a man. He was able to carry it out perfectly, making it sound like a natural young woman’s voice.

“Aren’t you tired? You’re working nonstop for five hours. Have a rest, will you?”

Shun blinked and then secretly sighed in relief. He thought he’ll be scolded for something. “It’s okay, Ma’am. My shift hasn’t ended yet, anyway.”

“Do you plan on exhausting yourself until you pass out? You’re not even a regular here.” The manager pushed him slightly a few times. “ Go, sit there at the bartender’s area and Julius will make you a refreshing cocktail.”

“Eh? But–”

“Don’t worry I won’t deduct it from your salary. Now, go,” the manager urged him more.

Shun, unable to refute, walked slowly towards the bartender's area. He glanced back at the manager, which just thumbs upped at him. He sighed in surrender.

He went to the end of the stools where it doesn’t have that many people. There’s a man seated at the seat one stool away from the last. Shun just glanced at the man’s back before turning his eyes forward. He sat on the last stool.

As expected, Julius the bartender gave him a cocktail after the manager told him to. Shun muttered his thanks to him and took a sip. Right after he placed the glass down, he noticed someone staring at him.

As he looked to his left, he was stunned for a moment.

A young man is gazing at him. It was a man with extremely handsome features. His eyes were filled with awe as he gazed at Shun. He wasn’t looking away as if he was in a daze.

“U-Uh–” Shun only managed to nod his head and smiled a little, almost awkwardly. Although the man is that handsome, his stare is still making him uncomfortable. 

When the man continued to stare, Shun faked a cough.

At last, that made the man snap out of his trance. He blinked a few times, then chuckled. “Hah… and here I thought I’ll have the worst night.” The man looked at him again and flashed his grin. “Hey, do you know how beautiful you are?”

Shun was taken aback because of the man’s straightforwardness. Is this disguise of mine really that attractive? He stared at the man for a few seconds before sipping in his drink and didn’t answer.

“Your name is?” The man’s voice is masculine, with a hint of husky and flirtiness. He wasn’t required to answer, but Shun doesn’t want to treat the customers in a rude manner. 

“Sheen,” Shun replied. It’s his name for his appearance today. He’s changing his name every time he’s changing appearance.

“Sheen,” the man repeated.“Mine’s Lincoln. But you can call me darling instead.” Lincoln winked at him.

Jeez. Shun wanted to laugh. You wouldn’t say that if you knew I’m a man. 

“Uh, no thanks.” Shun’s expression was mild and his gaze distant, so he thought the other should conclude he doesn’t want to talk with him.

However, it seems like Lincoln was incredibly numb about it. “You come here often?”

“I’m a waitress here.”

Hearing that, Lincoln glanced down at his outfit, seeming to be a bit surprised. Shun concluded that Lincoln didn’t notice it at first. He thought upon hearing that he’s not as well-off as the other had expected, Lincoln would stop being flirty. But who knew that the man didn’t appear to be affected even the slightest.

“You’re really pretty. You should be a model instead.”

Shun doesn’t know whether to cry or laugh. “Thanks.” Please stop.

“You seem to be very casual with it, are you hearing that a lot?”

Shun forced a smile and turned to Lincoln. Instead of answering his question, he instead asked, “Are you trying to flirt with me?”

Lincoln shrugged and then turned to completely face him. He placed his left elbow at the bar counter and placed his cheek onto his palm while staring at Shun with an amused expression. “What do you think?”

Shun was stupefied he can’t answer for a moment. Lincoln stared at him with his burning gaze and Shun felt suffocated.

Lincoln really has the face of elegance. Shun can tell that the other is born with a silver spoon in his mouth based on his clothes and appearance. Even though he appeared to be interested in Shun, the latter knew that they were not meant for each other. It was completely impossible even if you just think about it.

Instead of answering him, Shun asked, “So… have you flirted with the other girls here yet?” Because of the loud music filling the whole place, Shun had to raise his voice.

However, Lincoln doesn’t seem to be the type to like shouting, so then he leaned closer to Shun for him to hear. “I don’t flirt with girls,” he replied.

Shun’s breathing hitched before leaning closer too.“Then why flirt with me?” It’s not that he knew Shun’s a guy, don’t he? That being said, Shun was still calm. He knew that his woman's appearance is the epitome of perfection. Even he himself couldn’t distinguish that he was a man when he finished his make-over.

Lincoln chuckled. “I flirt with beautiful people. And so far, you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen tonight.”

Shun laughed. He’ll admit, this guy’s lines are no joke. If he were a girl, he might even fall in love with Lincoln at first glance. 

“Are you blushing?”

“I’m not!”

Lincoln grinned. “Are you single? Just asking.”

Just asking? Shun scoffed in his mind. “I am.”

Silence filled the two. Lincoln didn’t answer quickly and was just staring at Shun. Shun didn’t speak for a moment and looked away as if avoiding the other’s gaze. It was for a few moments before Lincoln spoke again that made his head turn to him.

“Hey, Sheen.” As if asking a normal question, Lincoln asked casually, “Would you be my girlfriend?”