Sunlight, or at least the hazy, filtered version that made it down to our level between the mega-towers, was just starting to brighten the room when my eyes snapped open. No alarm. No frantic need to check my phone, I Just… awake. And buzzing with a kind of energy I hadn't felt since I was a kid on Christmas morning.
Today was different. Today, I was going out. Not on a family errand with Mom or Vera shepherding me around. This was just me, and Bella. A solo mission into the great, wide world of New San Antonio. The simplicity of it was ridiculously exciting.
I swung my legs out of bed and padded to the bathroom, catching my reflection in the mirror. I still did a double-take sometimes. The guy staring back was a stranger, but a welcome one. 190 centimeters of solid muscle, with shoulders that actually looked like they could carry weight and a chest that didn't just slope into a soft belly. The calisthenics routine, powered by this new body's insane potential, had carved me into something out of a fitness magazine. I flexed an arm, watching the muscle shift and bunch under the skin.
'Yeah…. That'll do.'
The looks were… a thing. I knew I was objectively, almost unnervingly handsome now. It was a side effect of whatever cosmic joke or blessing had dropped me here. It was cool, sure, but also a potential pain in the ass.
I didn't want to be noticed today. I wanted to be just a guy hanging out with his cousin at a bowling alley. So, I went for the ultimate urban camouflage: a simple black cotton t-shirt, a pair of well-worn jeans, a black baseball cap pulled low, and a disposable face mask. It was comfortable, it was casual, and it hid about 90% of the stuff that made people stop and stare. Perfect.
The smell of coffee and something buttery led me to the kitchen. Bella was already there, fidgeting with the strap of her bowling bag, looking equal parts excited and nervous. Grandma Nadia was at the table, sipping tea and watching her with a fond smile.
Bella looked up as I walked in, and her eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open into a perfect 'O' of surprise.
"Damn, Bro," she breathed, her voice a mix of awe and appreciation. "You look… Dayum!"
I couldn't help but laugh, the sound easy and genuine. "What? It's just a t-shirt and jeans."
"It is not 'just' anything on you," she countered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You clean up good, Sael. Real good."
I walked over and dropped a kiss on top of Nadia's head. "Morning, Grandma…"
"Good morning, Malysh," she said, patting my arm. Her sharp eyes did a quick, approving scan of my outfit.
"You look very handsome…. Strong, the clothes fit you fine. A little show of the muscle does not hurt…. Let the world see what a fine young man lives here."
'See? This world's attitude was so refreshing'. No hiding. No shame. Just a grandma telling her grandson he looked good with his muscles on display.
"Thanks, Nadia," I said, grinning. "You sure this is okay for a bowling tournament? Don't want to embarrass Bella."
"You could wear a potato sack and you wouldn't embarrass me," Bella said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Now come on, slowpoke. The bus won't wait all day." The plan was to take the city transit. It felt more real, more normal than summoning some private car.
I gave Nadia one more hug. "We'll be back this afternoon."
"Have fun, my dears. Knock down all the pins!" she called after us as we headed out the door.
The hallway outside our apartment was a study in recycled air and faint cooking smells from a dozen different families. It was familiar, but today it felt like the starting line of an adventure.
"So," I said as we waited for the elevator. "This tournament. What's the deal? Big event?"
Bella shook her head, bouncing on the balls of her feet with nervous energy. "Nah, not really. It's just a local thing…. The Morning Glory Open. It's a one-day knockout tournament. Prize pool is only like, three hundred bucks."
"Hey, that's not nothing," I said. "That's a lot of ramen…"
She giggled. "True. But it's not about the money. It's about the points…. Every win, every placement, it all goes on my official pro-am record, you gotta build it up from the bottom, you know? Even the small stuff matters."
The elevator arrived with a soft ding. We got in, alone for the moment. "Makes sense," I nodded. "Where's this shindig happening anyway?"
"The Mega-Mall on 12th. They have a decent alley on the 13th floor."
Of course it was on the 13th floor. Why build out when you can build up?
"Cool," I said. Then, remembering she'd mentioned multiple events, I asked, "So you're just playing singles?"
Bella got a funny, slightly guilty look on her face. She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well… actually… I signed up for two events. Singles and… mixed doubles."
The elevator reached the ground floor. The doors slid open. I looked at her. "Mixed doubles? Okay. Who's the lucky guy you strong-armed into being your partner?"
Her smirk was pure, unadulterated triumph. "You are."
I stopped walking, right there in the middle of the grungy lobby. "I'm what?"
"My partner!" she said, beaming.
"Come on, it'll be fun! Your health has been so good lately, you're all big and strong now… I figured it was the perfect time to test it out! See what you can do!".
She looked so hopeful and proud of her own sneakiness that any mock outrage I might have felt instantly melted away. She'd totally ambushed me. And I was kind of loving it, and I might be able to win the tournament as well.