[Pink Surrogate] I tell Kristen the truth of my circumstances, but I’m willing to become a surrogate mother for her

I take some time to think about it. Kristen leaves me to my thoughts to fix up some lunch for her and I. When I’ve made up my mind, I stand and go to her in the kitchen. “Kristen? I have thought about it and… yes, I’ll be a surrogate mother to your child,” I finally say.

“Really?!” Those words make her joyous of my confirmation, but before she gets too excited, I gesture her that I have more to add.

“But I too, have a secret, Kristen.” She stops what she is doing to properly listen to what I have to say. “I’m not a woman, normally. I’m actually a man on X-Change. In fact, I’m actually your stepson, Charles.”

My revelation has her visibly confused, but any negative quality of being confused doesn’t seem to show up on my stepmother’s features. Maybe the thought that her stepson is standing in her kitchen, but in a different and beautiful form has her bewildered. I happen to have brought my ID just in case and I hand it to her, telling her that because of the new law passed, anyone who purchases X-Change is required by law to register their female persona and attach it to their government-issued ID, mostly to avoid confusion by law enforcement.

Kristen flips the ID from one side to the other multiple times, perplexed that a young woman has her stepson’s ID and that her identity is tied to him. The thought of it being possible seems a difficult thing to grasp. She hands me back the card and appears to have questions or comments about the whole gender-swapping deal.

“Charles... I mean, Charlene. Is this change about you permanent? Or are you able to change back?” she literally asks the most asked question.

I gladly answer it, “It isn’t permanent with the pill I took. There are different kinds of pills with different effects and durations. The pill I took is called a Pink Basic, changing males to females for 24 hours. It also has guaranteed contraception, which means I can’t get pregnant. There are some pills where the chance to conceive is higher and when someone does, then it becomes permanent for them.”

She resumed making lunch while I hover in the kitchen, ready to answer more of her questions. “Now, it seems you’re used to this. I would guess you took some in college?” she asks.

“Yes, for fun. It was always with Basics, of course. I’ve never dabbled with other kinds,” I tell her, vaguely implying that fun in this case was straight-up sex.

“It just sounds too good to be true. Though, I guess, this X-Change didn’t become popular in my circles. It’s crazy that I haven’t heard of it until now,” she says as she grabs ingredients from the fridge. “Now, you said you were willing to become a surrogate mother. And you said that if you become pregnant, you stay a female for the rest of your life? Did you think about that aspect of it?”

“I did. In fact, there is this effect called Pink Surrogate. Apparently, if I take it, I still become Charlene. The only difference is that I will be fertile. If I have sex and my partner doesn’t pull out, I will definitely get pregnant. The pregnancy will last for the full term and once I recover, I will change back,” I explain. Kristen takes in all this information as she finishes the lunch she has made for her and I. I take my plate and we eat at the dining table. I bite into my sandwich, immediately tasting the fresh ingredients, refreshing me like the water did moments earlier.

I’ve noticed that she regards me in a new light, observing me as I eat. “So, Charlene, it seems your mind is made up and you’re willing to spend the next nine months growing another human inside of you. Thinking of your future, I don’t think you would be able to go back to school once summer ends. Are you sure you want to do this?” she asks.

“If it’s to help you, Kristen, then I’m willing to do it,” I tell her.

“Well, I mean we’ll care for you too. This doesn’t have to be all on your shoulders. Did you want anything in exchange? Like, we’ll give you the spare room and we’ll pay you for your troubles. I’ll feed you and help you in any way I can,” she offers.