The alarm clock rang, and I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. The annoying sound filled the entire dark room, breaking the morning silence. With effort, I groped on the nightstand next to the bed, trying to find my cell phone to turn off the alarm. My fingers brushed against a half-full glass of water before finally reaching the device.
I sighed, still drowsy, and turned to my side. The curtains were closed, allowing only small cracks of light to leak into the room. The room was a modest but organized space: a dark wooden cabinet occupied one of the walls, while a bookshelf with some mangas and light novels stood next to the desk. My computer, with two monitors, rested there, its LED lights blinking softly.
Five more minutes... just five more.
But reality gave me no respite. The alarm kept ringing, insistent. I huffed and sat up in bed, running my hand through my messy hair. My back creaked as I stretched, and I let out a lazy yawn.
With my eyes still half-closed, I reached over to the nightstand again, grabbing my glasses. I placed them on my face and blinked a few times.
My vision was… weird.
I frowned. Everything around me seemed slightly blurry, as if the lenses were dirty or out of adjustment. I took them off and rubbed my eyes before putting them back on. Nothing changed.
"Oh shit..." I muttered, repeating the process a few more times.
Take them off, put them on. Nothing.
Take them off, put them on. Still blurry.
I sighed in frustration. Maybeit'saproblemwiththelenses... Ihaven'tchangedtheseglassesinawhile.
I shrugged. I'd have to go to the optician's after work to get this fixed.
I stood up with a groan and headed to the bathroom, shuffling my feet across the cold wooden floor. The apartment was small, but comfortable. My bedroom opened onto a short hallway that led to the living room, where a black leather sofa and a large screen TV dominated the space. The open-plan kitchen, which was integrated into the living room, still smelled faintly of coffee from the day before.
But my destination now was the bathroom.
I pushed open the door and turned on the light, blinking a few times to get used to the sudden brightness. The bathroom was simple but functional. A white cabinet held the porcelain sink, and the mirror above it was completely fogged up with steam from the hot shower I had taken the night before.
I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run for a few seconds before clasping my hands together and splashing it on my face. The shock of the temperature helped wake me up a little more, banishing the rest of my morning sluggishness.
After washing my face, I took off my wrinkled T-shirt and sleeping shorts, throwing them in the hamper next to the toilet. I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run down my back and soothe my tense muscles. The sound of water hitting the tiles created a calm, almost hypnotic soundtrack.
I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth alleviate the accumulated fatigue.
Justanothernormalday...
After a few minutes, I turned off the shower and got out, grabbing a fluffy towel hanging from the holder. I dried myself quickly and wrapped the towel around my waist before approaching the sink. The humidity still hung in the air, and the mirror was still covered in a thin layer of fog.
With my free hand, I ran my fingers across the fogged glass, removing the fog so I could finally see my reflection—
"What the...?!"
I took a step back, my heart racing. The reflection staring back at me wasn't what I expected.
Or rather, it was me... but not as I remembered.
I approached the mirror, eyes wide. The face reflected was not that of an ordinary young man with oriental features and long, messy hair. In his place, a completely different guy was staring back at me.
My hair, once disheveled and dull, was now short, silky and surprisingly well-groomed, reflecting the bathroom light in a way that you only saw in shampoo commercials.
And my eyes...
Aretheyblue?!
My face was different too. Before, I had a distinctly Asian profile. Now, my appearance resembled that of an American or European, with a more defined jaw, more harmonious features and smooth, flawless skin.
I lookedlikeamodel... oroneofthoseanimeprotagoniststhatmakefujoshisfreakout.
I moved closer to the mirror, touching my own face, as if I could rip off that mask and find my true self underneath.
"What... happened to me?"
The thought echoed in my mind as I stared at the stranger in the mirror.