The weekend trip got stranger and stranger as it went on, or should I say Chang did. All the other guys treated me normal and I worked hard at everything I did, but Chang was acting differently. He protected me against the other guys, teasing me when I messed up and took it easier on me in sparring. He wouldn’t let me spar with anyone else and whenever I went somewhere he always went with me. It’s our last night here and I was nervous about going home because as soon as we get there I’ll have to tell him about my secret. After I finished dinner I decided to head to the showers, Chang walking right next to me.
“Hey, guys wait up,” Hercules and Phoebus yelled and ran up to us. “You guys headed to the showers?”
“Ah…” I didn’t get to say anything because Chang spoke before me.
“There are only two showers.”
“That’s okay we shower quickly.” I was frozen. What do I do now? I should have told Chang earlier. I should have told him the truth and now karma’s biting me in the butt. We arrived at the showers and Chang followed close behind me.
“I’ll take one of the showers first,” Hercules said before walking into the shower close to the toilet stalls.
“That’s fine I have to use the toilet,” Phoebus said following after Hercules. Chang turned the water on hot before walking over to me. He leaned in close to me, putting his mouth close to my ear and his hands on either side of my body.
“You go first. I’ll turn my back and close my eyes. Be quick, you have five minutes.” I stood frozen in shock.
“You know?” I said in horror.
“Now is not the time, go shower. I’ll keep my back turned and my eyes closed.” Chang kept his word, he kept his back to me and his eyes tightly shut. He turned and faced the wall with his head down. I undressed and showered as quickly as I could, not letting myself relax in the hot water.
“Ah, Chang,” I said quietly.
“Yes.”
“Could you pass me my towel?” I watched him fumble trying to find and hand me my towel with his eyes closed. Once I was dressed I told him I was leaving and walked out of the shower. I leaned against the wall and let out a breath. The only thing that went through my head was, He knows! I started to panic. I quickly brushed my teeth and left the showers. I ran along the dirt road and into the forest. I didn’t know where I was headed just that I had to get away. It wasn’t long before I dropped to my knees and cried into my hands. I really didn’t know why I was crying. Was it because he found it or that he might treat me different. Or was it because I wasn’t the one to tell him. I didn’t know how much time had passed before I got up and walked back to the road.
“Where have you been!?” Chang yelled as soon as I stepped onto the road. He came over to me and put his hands on my shoulder looking me over. “I got out of the shower and you were gone. How many times do I have to tell you that it’s dangerous out here? Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere?” I shook my head no and continued to look down so he wouldn’t see my face. “Good, alright... We have to talk.” I stood there unable to move. I was surprised when he took my hand and led me towards the camp. The closer we got the more I started to panic. He’s going to tell. He’s going to take me to the teachers and rat me out. Yet I still followed him, his warm hand tight on my wrist. We walked passed the teachers tent and went to ours. He unzipped it and followed me in, he sat with his back to the door so there was no escape for me. “First off, why did you run away?”
“I panicked.” I was sitting cross-legged on my sleeping bag, my hands in my lap. I looked down at my hands, I couldn’t make myself look at him.
“I want you to tell me everything. From the beginning.” I nodded and took a deep breath. I explained about my childhood, why I had cut my hair and how the school thought I was a boy. I even went on to tell him about the very unhelpful guy who I spoke to about changing my room.
“So Mushu and I decided to just keep it a secret and now here we are. I pretended to be a boy to stay in school, you figured out I was really a girl. My name isn’t Ping, its Mulan.” The whole time I talked I was looking down. Chang never said a word. I could hear his deep even breaths as we sat in the silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” his sudden question made me jump a little.
“I was scared.”
“Of?”
“Being rejected.”
“Mulan?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do now?”
“That depends on you.”
“Well, there’s no rule in the handbook that says you can’t masquerade as a boy. So, I guess your secret is safe with me.” I looked up at him.
“Really? You don’t have a problem with me being a girl?”
“Nope, it’s kind of a relief actually."
"Why's that?”
“Because. For a second there I was afraid I was falling for a boy.”
“What?” I never expected him to say that. I thought my feelings were all one sided. “Chang?”
“Yes?”
“How did you figure it out?” he moved away from the door and laid down on his sleeping bag. Ankles crossed and hands tucked behind his head.
“Well, your shirt doesn’t do much to conceal anything when you’re sleeping, and your body is shapely like a women’s. Then our first night here I confirmed it. When I asked you for the soap, I peeked through the curtain.” My eyes went wide and I stared at him. “By the way, you have a really cute butt.” I smacked his arm and he chuckled at me. I went to do it again, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on top of him. He smiled “Oh and you make a great pillow.”
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