A DIFFERENT PORTRAIT - PART 12 (Patreon)

OTHER PARTS  |  ALL STORIES

Part 12: Second Chance

“But...” – As I was lost in my wandering thoughts, the firm voice of my father pulled me back to reality, accompanied by a sense of worry. The word “but” itself always carries a distinct weight, for everything that happened before it could be wiped away in an instant.

Finally, my father continued. “Your marriage can't be overlooked. I don’t care about your decisions; how you live your life is your business. But marriage must come soon. If you're a man, find me a pretty daughter-in-law. If you want to be a girl, then bring home a son-in-law!”

I hesitated, “But... Dad, why are you so fixated on marriage?”

My father said something that seemed absurd, yet with such a dignified tone, “Yes, that's right, I'm old-fashioned like that! But as a child of Azure Haven Town, being single is an insult to our homeland! The law here is clear! And since this unwritten law was established, no one has married after the age of 30, and you, it seems, are close to reaching that threshold.”

“But Dad, you know that’s impossible for me! There’s no girl who would like me.”

“Well, it’s because you don’t truly like any girl! Isn't that the reason you’re like this?”

I blushed, unable to say anything, inadvertently revealing the truth about myself.

Seizing the moment, my father pressed on, “You must like some guy, right? Who is it? Bring him home right now for your parents to meet!”

I blinked a few times, wondering if I had heard him wrong. “Dad... are you serious?”

“Do I ever joke with you? Do what you think is right, but remember, don’t let time slip away, or go out there and live on your own!” My father laughed heartily, slapping my shoulder with such force that the scene would surely seem odd to an outsider. Imagine a tall, muscular farmer pounding the shoulder of a small girl as though he were hammering iron. Yet, strangely, it made me feel more at ease. My father wouldn’t treat me any differently just because I was changing.

My mother also smiled gently, “Aiden, whether you're a son or a daughter, we will always love you. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.” My mother didn’t mention anything about the house, but I knew for sure she wouldn’t stop my father if he decided to kick me out for not marrying according to his wishes.

After my parents left, I sat there in silence for a moment, my heart tangled with mixed emotions. To be honest, I was surprised by their acceptance, but more than that, I felt a new spark of light glimmering in my otherwise mundane life. Lina sat down beside me, her smile never fading.

“See? I told you. As long as you’re confident, people will accept you,” Lina said.

I looked at her, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Thank you, Lina. I... never thought I could do something like this.”

Lina laughed, gently tapping my shoulder—not in the rough way my father had earlier. “Don’t thank me. If you want to thank anyone, thank the person who made you change.”

“The person...” I smiled faintly, my gaze drifting. I thought of Ace Vernon—his smile, his eyes full of passion, and the kindness that wasn't always outwardly visible, but which every creature in the firefly forest understood.

In my heart, a new goal began to take shape. I no longer wanted to stand at a distance and watch Ace Vernon. The next time we met, I swore I would be bolder, approach him, and not let the opportunity slip away like before.

“Wait for me, Ace...” I whispered, my eyes filled with determination.

…

That was all that happened in the past, before Ace Vernon returned to Azure Haven Town for my younger brother’s wedding to Lina. As you already know, I failed. The vow I once made could not be fulfilled. Ace Vernon, along with the newlywed couple, had returned to Luminous City a week ago. Now, in this dark room, there was only a girl—who, in reality, wasn’t a girl at all—lying down in frustration.

The door to my house creaked open with a loud bang, this time without even the courtesy of knocking. A foot hovered in the air. My father stomped in, but I still had no desire to lift my head from the table.

“The forest management team just came to see me. They said they've come by a few times for checks and haven't found you. They’re asking if you still want to keep doing it.”

I replied, feeling defeated, “I’ll go later.”

“What's going on? You've been spaced out all week. And what about the big task I gave you?”

“I failed! That's why I’m so down like this!”

“Huh? Is the guy you like that kid, Narek’s friend? During the wedding days, I saw you ‘sticking’ to him a lot! Doesn’t he accept my daughter?”

“It's not that... I haven’t had the courage to confess. I’m afraid he won’t like me. After all, I’ve already made him upset before. Not to mention, I’m not really a girl.”

“If you think you’re a girl, then you are a girl! Why talk so much? Go confess to him right now, for your father! Remember, I’m not bluffing! You’ve officially passed 30, and in a few days, I’ll take back this house!”

“But... there’s no other way. He’s gone!”

“Then who’s wandering around in the firefly forest?”

I was startled and immediately reacted to my father’s words, “Huh?! What did you say?”

My father laughed heartily, “Didn't you hear me clearly? That kid from last time is out walking in the firefly forest. He might be heading to the ranger guard's post to look for you, but you're wasting your time in this corner. If you...”

I could no longer hear my father’s words clearly, and he was probably just as surprised when he found I was no longer there by the time he finished his sentence, because I had already run off! I had to go right away! Ace Vernon had returned to Azure Haven Town! But why? Clearly, he had no reason to come back here anymore!

I didn’t waste any time preparing before meeting him, because for a long time now, I had chosen to live as a full-time girl. The entire population of Azure Haven Town knew this. You could say that, at this point, I was almost entirely a girl, inside and out, if you could generously overlook the... “certain parts” of my body.

How much I love this life! With the appearance of a girl, I gradually opened my heart to others. Each day, as I adorned myself with lovely dresses and delicate accessories, I felt as if I had transformed into a blossoming flower under the radiant light of life—a life that had once been shrouded in darkness. But above all else, the most important thing was that I had found a goal to strive for. Every day, I thought of Ace Vernon with an unyielding longing to see him again.

I wasted a precious opportunity last week, and now, I refuse to let another slip away. I want to lay bare my heart! I will confess my true identity to him! I will offer a sincere apology for the way I treated him in the past! And… I will confess my love to him! Whether he forgives my past mistakes or accepts the person I am now, I no longer care. I just… don’t want to waste this chance again!

Dresses are adorable outfits, but they are clearly not designed for running. For the first time, I felt frustrated with it, as it was indirectly slowing me down! What should I do? What if Ace Vernon had already left? I needed to be faster!

As I neared the ranger guard's post, I suddenly lost my breath and stumbled. In the fleeting moment before I fell, I caught a glimpse of a figure rushing out from the post. Everything happened too fast for him to catch my hand in time. We both tumbled to the ground, but he wrapped his arms around me, twisting his body so that his back took the impact, shielding me from any harm.

Once I had calmed down, I was finally able to see him clearly. Suddenly, it felt as if my heart no longer belonged to me. It was pounding wildly out of control!

FINAL PART >>