Rashely looked into the mirror, stunned by her own reflection. Her soft brown curls tumbled in loose waves all the way down to her hips. Her pink lips were full and delicate, her big blue eyes framed by long lashes. A small button nose and naturally flushed, chubby cheeks gave her a youthful, doll-like appearance. Her golden-brown skin glowed warmly in the sunlight that streamed through the window, and her petite frame felt foreign to her.
Not only was there a new life growing inside her—but she was now in a completely different body. A girl's body. A Western girl's body. Born and raised in Thailand, he—now she—had been surrounded by familiar Asian features all her life. This body, with its soft, foreign features, still felt like a costume.
She walked over to the closet, intending to grab some clothes and take a shower before heading out. According to the books she'd read, this was the part where the girl tries to sneak away from home after discovering she's pregnant. But she gets caught before she can escape—her parents confront her after finding a pregnancy test the maid discovered in the trash.
Rashely froze. Her eyes widened. The trash.
She bolted to the bathroom, her heart pounding. Just as she reached the door, she saw the maid reaching toward the bin.
"Wait!" she shouted, panic lacing her voice.
Startled, the maid flinched and stepped back. Rashely forced a smile and said awkwardly, "It's okay. I'll take care of it."
The maid nodded and left. Rashely quickly retrieved the test from the trash and tucked it deep into her pocket. That was close.
"I need to finish packing and get out of here before anyone notices," she muttered to herself.
She glanced down at the necklace resting against her collarbone and smiled in relief. It had come with her. That necklace wasn't just for show—it held a hidden dimensional space inside, divided into three sections.
The first section was a mall—a massive, elegant space stocked with clothes, accessories, shoes, and cosmetics from all over the world. High-end brands like Chanel, Dior, and Gucci lined the virtual shelves alongside more casual everyday wear. Mannequins displayed outfits that could be instantly tried on using magic mirrors that scanned your body and adjusted sizes accordingly.
The second section was a supermarket, fully stocked with non-perishable goods, frozen foods, drinks, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Rows of digital shelves could be browsed manually or searched via a voice-activated system. Items could be summoned instantly with a thought. Everything inside was perfectly preserved thanks to the space's time-freeze function.
The third section was a blank space, an empty area she could customize or use for storage. Since time stood still inside, anything stored would remain unchanged no matter how long it stayed there. This feature made it ideal for preserving perishables or hiding items long-term.
Satisfied that she had everything she needed, Rashely stepped out of the bathroom and began packing. As she placed her belongings into the necklace's space, they vanished instantly, absorbed into its hidden dimensions.
She changed into a loose shirt and shorts, then left her room. At the dining table, her parents glanced up from their plates.
"Mom, Dad," she said, walking over. "I'm going to meet up with some friends to study for the upcoming semester."
They exchanged a brief glance and nodded. "Okay," her father said. "Be home before the sun goes down."
She nodded and left the house, the warm afternoon sun wrapping around her like a blanket. As she walked, her thoughts turned to her next steps.
According to the book, the original Rashely's parents would soon have an emergency and leave for France. That would give her enough time to settle things—like transferring schools.
She planned to enroll in Stanford Online High School, a prestigious program with a rigorous curriculum. With the money in her necklace's space, she could afford the full four-year tuition without issue. The next step would be to find a place to live.
After walking for some time, she finally stopped in front of an old, abandoned house and looked up at it.
This will do for now, she thought, her fingers brushing the pendant around her neck.