After the test (Patreon)

— Hey, Brad, listen… uh… how’d you answer the fifth question? — Kelly whispered, turning her head toward her neighbor and trying to look casual, as if she were just double-checking. Her face bore a tense expression, an attempt to appear unfazed.

Brad lifted his eyes from the test, throwing her a quick, assessing glance. His smirk was barely noticeable, but Kelly caught it—and cringed inwardly with humiliation. She already knew what he was thinking. Everyone knew. Everyone remembered that she used to be Kelvin. Kelvin, who used to look down on "girls like that." And now she was one of them, forced to do exactly what she’d always openly despised: use her new appearance to get by.

Brad leaned slightly toward her, his voice barely audible:

— What’s in it for me, princess?

Kelly stiffened, her face flushing. "Princess." She still wasn’t used to it. Six months ago, as Kelvin, she’d have snapped back with a sharp remark. Though, six months ago, this situation would have been unthinkable. But now, she had no power here. Now, she was Kelly—the "cute blonde" whose sharp intellect had disappeared along with her male body.

She swallowed hard, feeling a lump rise in her throat. Her fingers nervously gripped her pen, and her voice came out almost pleading:

— Brad, come on… Just help me, okay?

She forced herself to put on a faint smile, barely lifting the corners of her lips. It was excruciating. She, who used to breeze through tests like these and mock anyone who struggled, now had to "play the role"—the very one she used to scorn. Brad smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before sliding lower, making her feel as if he were appraising merchandise.

— Fine, — he finally said, dragging the word out. — Question six?

Kelly froze, her breath catching. She saw his lips curl into a sly grin. "Are all guys the same? Is that all they ever think about? God, how did I end up here?" raced through her mind.

She lowered her eyes, trying to hide her embarrassment, and nodded:

— Yeah. Six.

Quickly jotting down his answer, she felt her cheeks burn. She gritted her teeth, trying to focus on the next question, but her thoughts slipped away like sand through her fingers. Her new brain seemed to resist the intense effort she used to thrive on as Kelvin. Everything was different now—from the moment she woke up in this body, she'd been forced to adopt a completely different strategy just to avoid getting expelled from college.

Only six months ago, Kelvin had been the top student in his class. Arrogant, self-assured, he’d easily tackled the toughest topics and sneered at anyone who tried to "take shortcuts." Especially the girls who used their looks to get favors from professors or cheat off classmates. "Dumb dolls," he used to call them.

But everything changed the day Professor Brighton invited him to participate in an experiment. "It’s for science," the professor assured him, showing off a strange device that resembled a helmet covered in wires. Kelvin, ambitious and confident that his brilliant mind could handle anything, agreed.

The sensation was strange. Dizziness, a flash of light—and then he woke up. But instead of his body, he saw in the mirror a slender blonde with big eyes and alluring curves. Panic overwhelmed him as he realized there was no going back. The experiment had "gone wrong," and the professor merely shrugged, saying they’d have to "work on it."

At first, Kelvin hoped it was temporary. The university arranged new documents for him under the name "Kelly," so he could get by in the meantime. But weeks turned into months, and he soon understood: Kelvin was gone. All that was left was Kelly—a girl with a face no one took seriously.

At first, she tried to study as she used to, but her mind felt slower, more scattered. Even basic tasks took tremendous effort. Professors began to look at her with pity, and classmates either doubted her or openly mocked her.

When Kelly finished writing down the answer, she turned back to the test. Eight questions remained. Sweat trickled down her back. To scrape a passing grade, she’d have to cheat on at least half of them. Her new brain seemed incapable of the intellectual strain she’d once thrived on, and her thoughts constantly tangled. She tried to recall something from the prep sessions, but her mind was blank.

She glanced at her classmates. Most were focused, scribbling away, some frowning, others raising their hands to ask the teacher a question. She swallowed hard and turned back to Brad, who appeared to be done. His relaxed posture and smug smile only irritated her further.

She tried whispering again, but he suddenly leaned in closer, speaking louder this time.

— Want the answers to the rest? — he teased. — Then you’ll have to… well, you know. — His gaze dropped toward her chest.

Kelly felt her face flush hot. "This is just humiliating. This… this isn’t me!" But deep down, she knew she had no other choice. Steeling herself, she tried to feign indifference.

— Brad, come on… Fine. If you give me the answers to seven and eight, maybe… maybe I’ll… — she could barely bring herself to say it — show you.

— Maybe? — he squinted. — I need a guarantee, babe.

"Babe. There it is again. Though I guess I do look like one… Damn it, if I fail this test, I could get expelled." Gritting her teeth, Kelly leaned closer to him, her voice trembling as she whispered:

— Fine. Just give me the answers.

Brad’s grin widened, his self-satisfied expression making Kelly feel even worse. He began dictating slowly, savoring the moment, while she, barely controlling the trembling in her hands, scribbled down his answers.

When she finished, he winked at her:

— After the test. In the hallway. I’ll be waiting.