MICHELLE's P O V

‘‘Devon Kai Carter, an aspiring boxer who is twenty-one years old, has already won 20 events and has only lost five. At his school, Goldstein Academy, he is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished boxers ever. Wow!’’ While I read his information with the utmost fascination, I noticed that my eyes were getting bigger. He quickly became my new idol in the sport of boxing.

My ex-crush, Joshua Grant, was also a boxer in that school and had won 32 tournaments with only two losses before he completed college. That year, I was on the verge of enrolling in Goldstein to be able to get closer to Josh, but then something unexpected occurred.

My feet were perched up on my desk as I took sips of my bubble tea and purposefully made a slurping sound while I researched Devon Kai's background further on my phone, when I heard my best friend speak.

‘‘Hey, are you sure that this is something you want to do?’’ Rina, who was sitting next to me and holding a can of soda in her hand, prodded me in an anxious manner. She was never a fan of bubble tea. ‘‘It’s a school exclusive for boys!’’

‘‘I know...’’ I shrugged as I planted both feet firmly on the floor. ‘‘But guess what, I’m already accepted in Goldstein Academy!’’

I turned to look at her, but she didn't appear to be convinced, and her expression gave the impression that she was about to burst out laughing at any moment. ‘‘How on earth did you possibly manage to pull that off?’’ she shook her head in disbelief as she took another gulp.

‘‘I enrolled online, dude…’’ I answered. ‘‘I edited everything I need—my name, my hair…’’

‘‘What the fuck?’’ she exclaimed, her mouth gaped open, and eyes widening. ‘‘Seriously, bitch?! Just because of Devon Kai, you… you did that?’’

I gave a satisfied nod while a smug grin played across my face.

‘‘But wait!’’ Rina raised her palm in front of my face. ‘‘You’re going to live in a dorm with the boys! Your secret will be lash out in a flash if you’re not careful!’’ Rina continued to expound on many scenarios that could play out. ‘‘What will you do if you have to shower? Or change? And what about those? How could you even hide them?’’ she pointed on my chest, her eyebrows raised.

‘‘Don’t worry, I can handle it…’’ I rolled my eyes, chuckling under my breath. ''Besides, upperclassmen has individual rooms. I don't have to worry about changing, taking a bath, and so on and so forth...''

I would never ever miss this opportunity. To be with my crush, Devon Kai Carter. Even if it means cutting my hair short and acting and dressing like a boy so I can be with him, I will do whatever it takes. And of course, the most important reason was to hide from the monster who was chasing after me.

Everything would be alright…

I know, it would…

…...….***********……..…

I got everything ready, including packing my new acquired loose t-shirts, jeans, and boxer shorts—I winced at the memory of me shopping all of these.

This morning, I asked Rina to butcher my beautiful hair, copying the hairstyle in the photo that I had edited and submitted to Goldstein Academy. She even helped me bind my breasts, and oh boy, it hurts.

Wait! Do I have to bring my brassieres with me?

I thought for a moment before I decided to include them in my bag. In the event that any of my roommates come across it, I’ll just tell them that it belongs to my girlfriend. The very idea of me having one made me want to throw up.

‘‘Your room number is 218…’’ The man across the counter stared indifferently at me, eyeing me up and down, before he handed me a key, hanging by the tip of his finger and focusing back on his phone and then chuckled on something he read, but when he saw me watching, his face turned serious. He rolled his eyes and waved his hand in dismissal.

Great!

‘Guess I’m stuck with a mean dorm master for the rest of the school year.

‘‘Thank you…’’ I said in a quiet, mouse-like voice, and I swallowed, suddenly afraid that he might recognize me as a girl.

I cleared my throat, a small sound that surely had an even smaller effect, while a light blush spread across my cheeks, and before he could turn his head to look at me, I pivoted on my heels and headed directly toward the elevator without looking back at him.

‘‘Wait!’’ As I heard him say it, I came to a complete and utter stop in my tracks with wide eyes.

‘‘What’s your name?’’ he asked, and I shut my eyes for a moment before I opened them, swallowing a sudden lump in my throat.

‘‘M-Michael…’’ I replied with a shaky breath, not bothering to turn around.

After a while, I heard him let out a long sigh. ‘‘Okay…’’

As soon as he answered, I scurried towards the elevator carrying my backpack, and pulling my suitcase. My eyes fastened to the floor as I waited for the doors to close, avoiding eye contact with the dorm master.

I blinked hard against the overwhelming wave of relief, forcing my trembling legs to walk out of the elevator. Pure determination held back the tears welling in my eyes, and I bit my bottom lip to stop it from shaking.

I came to a halt in front of room 218; my hands fluttered with nerves, and I covered my mouth to stop an ill-timed release of energy itching to escape through a scream.

My disguised worked. They believed I was a boy. Michelle Rivers was gone-with-the-wind, replaced by the short-haired and deceivingly flat-chested Michael Rivera.

As I turned the knob into the room I was supposed to be assigned in, I noticed my hands wouldn’t stop trembling. I sucked in a shaky breath---cut short by the bindings around my chest—and I wiped my hands against my jeans.

Now wasn’t the time to stand still, so I grabbed the knob again, but this time around, a tall shadow cascaded over me. From behind, a built arm pushed me gently to the side and unlocked the door with a key.

I couldn’t see his face in the midst of all that, but I followed him into the room anyway. Much to my surprise, he adorned nothing but grey sweatpants.

Damn! It goes without saying that he was attractive, even from behind, thanks to his reasonably tall stature and well-developed physique. His back muscle was clearly visible when he stretched his arm.

‘‘Who are you?’’ I began by questioning him, trying to make my voice lower than usual before, but it always sounded fake.

The young man, on the other hand, did not appear to be answering and instead was seen taking boxing gloves out of his bag and tossing them on top of the bed.

Wait…

I seemed to recognize the look of those gloves. It all seemed so familiar, that it was almost impossible. But when he turned around, I was left in the state of shock.

He was a young boy around my age. His hair reminded me of wheat fields that I'd seen in a painting, and his bright deep blue eyes disappeared as he smirked.

The person who let themselves into my room was none other than Devon Kai Carter. Yet the sight of him inside made my eyes feel like they were going to fly out of my head. That event has left me so bewildered that I haven't really recovered from the shock of it yet. He shot me a glance for a moment before dabbing his body, which was drenched with sweat, with a towel.