The moment Paul spoke, I was captured by his accent--I had to know. "Is that a Scottish or an Irish accent?" I asked
He laughed and then asked me a rhetorical question. “Do you realize that could be considered an insult?”
I began to feel my face turning red as I began to burn up with embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry Paul I really didn’t think.”
“It’s ok,” he said. “Lots of people get confused by my accent. It’s because I have lived in so many places, my accent is kind of warped by them all. To answer your question, it is an Irish accent”
Days went by, even weeks. The more he spoke, the more I began to admire his accent. I found myself becoming attracted to him. Normally I didn’t find men attractive. In fact I didn’t find Paul attractive; he wasn’t a stunner or anything, just an average guy. The more he spoke the more I found myself becoming aroused by him. What the hell was going on with my feelings?
Another insult came at him when I was told by Asif that ‘the Irish guy is looking for you.’ I instantly knew who he meant and went to find Paul. He had heard what Asif had said and was almost in tears. I took him to one side and gave him a hug.
“Is that what people think of me? Even the people who have come to the UK from a foreign country don’t regard me as British. I'm not even from Ireland; I am from Northern Island, which is part of Britain. I’m more British than them.”
“I didn’t realize you felt so strongly about this,” I told him. “I wish there was a way I could help.”
“Erm, I have a confession…”
“Oh” I asked.
“Well, I hoped you’d say that, you see, I'm not really me. Well I am, but I’m more what you have turned me into. I am what you would call the perfect man. When I first saw you, I tapped into your thoughts and transformed myself into this for you. I have constantly been adjusting my image for you to ensure I was exactly what you wanted. I now feel the time is right for me to allow you to help me”
“So how does that help either of us?”
“Easy.” He said “I don’t enjoy being referred to as Irish. But if you were me, I know you would consider it banter and get involved with the fun. What I am offering is a body swap. You take this body, with its accent you find so desirable, and I take yours and move on, looking for someone else to change with.”
I was kind of dubious at first but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. It would solve a lot of my problems. My self-confidence to say the least. I had always hated my own body, so getting a newer, younger, slimmer model, so to speak, would be a great opportunity for me.
I agreed to the offer, he then slipped me a pill and told me to swallow it. He also took one himself.
Time began to pass much more quickly than normal, or so it seemed. I began to feel new sensations, new tastes and smells. It was all completely different and new to me. I looked up where Paul was stood only moments earlier. I was shocked to see a brand new image. It was now my own body that was standing there, with Paul’s clothes in a messy pile on the floor. I looked down at my own body, sure enough, I now had the body that Paul once had. I could feel my face beginning to smile. I was gleaming, completely made up and over the moon. I spoke for the first time.
“Paul, am I now Paul or still myself……..? I paused for a moment and began to smile even more. I didn’t give him the chance to respond. “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!!!! I’ve got your sexy accent. Thank you so much for this.”
“Your still you, and I’m still Paul. Anyone who knows you, any picture ever taken of you has been updated with your new image. I really hope you enjoy this.”
He then throws me his clothes.
“Oh I will, don’t worry about that” I then began to put on my new clothes whilst admiring my new body. So lean, so young, so adorable. I couldn’t wait to explore some more. I looked up, Paul was vanishing. He was waving and although there was no sound I knew he was saying good bye.