A DIFFERENT PORTRAIT - PART 11 (Patreon)

OTHER PARTS  |  ALL STORIES

Part 11: Discovered

From the first “transformation” under Lina's guidance, I continued refining my skills in makeup, hairstyling, and experimenting with various outfits. Hmm… of course, women's lingerie was no exception. At first, every step forward was filled with awkwardness and hesitation. There were moments when I was so embarrassed that I wanted to bolt out the door to escape Lina's gaze. But then I realized—I wasn’t ready to live as this new version of myself in front of others just yet.

As time passed, I gradually grew more confident. Skincare and lipstick became indispensable parts of my morning routine. Afraid of forgetting what I had learned from Lina the day before, I made sure to practice diligently every day. I also learned how to coordinate outfits in a way that best suited my figure. Truly, the deeper I delved into the world of women, the more I realized how enviously blessed I was with my physique. I slowly came to accept this new version of myself. Out there, countless girls longed for a body like mine—if I continued to waste it as I had before, it would be an insult. An insult to myself, to those who valued me, and even to the gods who had bestowed it upon me.

Above all, the “old me” had left a terrible impression on the person I admired. At the very least, I wanted him to acknowledge this new version of myself—that alone would ease my heart. I never expected my one-sided feelings to be returned; the very thought seemed laughably absurd, like something out of a second-rate romance novel. Falling for someone of the same gender just because they could converse with all living creatures? It sounded ridiculous. But only I knew the truth—what Ace Vernon did was something far greater. I admired the way he handled everything with such calmness, the way he blended seamlessly with nature as if he had always been a part of it. More than anything, from that day on, Ace Vernon had shattered the curse that kept me from connecting with animals. It was nothing short of a miracle. The small creatures that once cowered in fear at my presence now clung to me joyfully, as if we had always been kindred spirits.

I couldn’t explain to anyone why I had fallen for Ace Vernon—a person who, if anything, despised me. Perhaps I didn’t even fully understand it myself. All I knew was that by the time I realized it, my mind was already overflowing with his image!

Of course, over the past few days, I still went into the forest to carry out my duties as a ranger, just as usual. It was a job that rarely required interaction with others—aside from the occasional petty poachers, who were far more inclined to turn their backs and flee than to look me in the face. Because of that, the fact that I now wore makeup was a secret known only to Lina and me.

Lina also urged me to start wearing women's clothing little by little, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept that—at least not yet. She sulked openly, but I had no idea how to appease her. In the end, we reached a compromise: I would wear only women's lingerie. My usual outfits were thick and modest enough that no one would ever notice what I had on underneath. That was Lina’s bare minimum concession, though I couldn’t quite understand why. It was my body, after all—yet somehow, her words carried more weight than my own.

And yet, women's clothing seemed to possess a strange allure. I adapted to wearing lingerie surprisingly quickly, despite having lived over twenty years without ever putting on a bra. Then, at some point, I found myself beginning to see women's clothing as my true attire. Perhaps those delicate bras and lacy panties refused to remain hidden beneath my thick black shirts—they had subtly reshaped my thoughts. And so, one day, the moment I got home, I slipped into a dress without a second thought. Not only that, but I stood before the mirror, adjusting my hair and… smiling to myself. Smiling to myself… or so I thought. Whether by luck or misfortune, Lina happened to visit at that exact moment. She caught me in the act, and immediately, a sly smile spread across her face—one that wordlessly said, “Ah, I see. No need to hide it now.”

The next day, after returning home from my shift in the forest, I was stunned to discover that my entire wardrobe—every single piece—had been replaced with women's clothing. And not just a few items, but an overwhelming collection, far outnumbering the men's clothes I had “once” owned. But the surprises didn’t stop there. After showering, I reached for the only men's outfit I had left—the one I had changed out of earlier—only to find it had mysteriously vanished. This was a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of my life as a full-time woman. But… that wasn’t all.

One afternoon, after finishing my shift, I returned home to find Lina already waiting for me. The golden hues of the setting sun stretched long across my porch, its beams dancing through the curtains. A small table stood in the middle of the room, covered with an array of cosmetics—lipsticks, foundation, and shimmering eyeshadow palettes—laid out in preparation for what Lina called my “final training session” before she would grant me her approval to “graduate.” Because tomorrow, she would be leaving for Luminous City to resume her work.

I sat motionless like a statue, a loose towel draped over my head, while Lina focused intently, brush in hand, painting delicate strokes onto my face.

“So? Isn’t this look amazing?” Lina beamed as she held up a mirror in front of me.

I stared into the mirror, stunned. This makeup transformed my face, making it softer, more radiant. A delicate stroke of eyeliner accentuated my eyes, while neatly shaped brows framed my slender features. Paired with the white dress I was wearing, there was no longer any trace of the gloomy, nearly thirty-year-old bachelor I had once been.

Fate’s cruel joke officially unfolded at that moment. Knock. Knock. Knock. Three firm, deliberate knocks—my father’s unmistakable way of announcing his presence. Lina started toward the door, but I stopped her immediately. “No, no—this is a disaster!”

The knocking came again, this time accompanied by a deep, familiar voice, “Aiden! Are you in there? It’s your father and mother!”

I froze, my face turning pale, while Lina clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably. “Damn it, why did they have to come now?!” I muttered, fumbling to remove the towel from my head and wipe off the makeup. But then it hit me—there was no point. I had no men's clothing left to change into. And even if I did, there wouldn’t be enough time.

This house had once belonged to my father before he “temporarily” handed it over to me—only to reclaim it if I failed to find a wife before turning thirty, something I was certain would never happen. But that wasn’t the issue right now. Because this was his house, he knew exactly how to “open the door” without waiting for permission.

A loud bang echoed, freezing me in horror. The door burst open, and a foot still hung suspended in the air. Naturally, my parents were now confronted with a sight they could never have imagined. Their somber son sat on a chair, draped in a flowing white dress, his face adorned with makeup so delicate and beautiful it seemed almost unreal. My eyes, no doubt, were wide with shock, my lips trembling as if trying to form words—yet no sound escaped.

My father’s eyes widened, then, all of a sudden, he burst into laughter. “Aiden! What… what on earth are you doing?!”

“I… I…” I stammered, but where could I even begin to explain?

“Good heavens! My son! Nearly thirty years old, and suddenly turning gay like this?! You even look prettier than your mother did in her twenties!” My father laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face, while my mother covered her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Lina, standing beside me, couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer and finally burst out laughing, making my embarrassment even worse. I could only cast a desperate glance at my younger friend, who was now laughing so hard she had collapsed onto the table.

Finally, Lina managed to stifle her laughter, gasping for breath before speaking in a serious tone. “Uncle, Auntie, this isn’t what you think! Well… maybe it is, to some extent. But this was my idea… Aiden is just trying something different. And as you can see, doesn’t he… suit it perfectly?”

My parents exchanged glances, then looked back at me. A brief silence passed before my mother nodded thoughtfully. “It’s true… If I hadn’t seen his face for nearly thirty years, and if he didn’t look so much like me, I would’ve thought he was a real girl. And a very beautiful one at that!”

I rubbed my hands together, my face burning with embarrassment, unsure of what to say. Countless times, I had wanted to reveal this to my parents, but worry had always held me back. I didn’t know where this would ultimately lead, but for now, everything seemed… okay.

PART 12 >>