It's worth trying

I pondered about it for a moment, trying to recall how Laura felt towards Dahlia.

"Honestly, I think it's worth trying. She loves you a lot and it's clear that you love her just as much. Knowing about us could also save us the hassle of finding an excuse for me to hang out with you. If you want to tell her the truth, Claire can be with us too to try to make things smoother just in case?"

Claire nodded. "I can try to help, yeah."

"Although... I think it'd be better to avoid mentioning the fact that I wore her twice. It... huh... might freak her out too much." I awkwardly added, scratching my head.

Dahlia managed to giggle a little. "I agree..."

"Worst case scenario, we can just edit her memories if she takes it badly, but I do believe things will go well. You know that she's a kind and understanding girl."

Dahlia closed her eyes and let out a rueful chuckle. "Maybe... Maybe it will go well and I'll realise that I've been an overthinking fool all this time..."

I approached her and hugged her from behind. "I'm sure everything will be fine." I looked at Claire. "I may not have been a skinwalker for long but I can easily imagine what you've been going through. I was extremely hesitant about revealing the truth to Claire as well, at first. I was afraid of her reaction. And even more afraid when I realised that I indeed enjoyed being a woman. I was so terrified of her judging me, even though she kept reassuring me."

Claire gave me a warm smile, while Dahlia put her hand on my arm. "Do you remember when I said that I was grateful for having been turned into a skinwalker? While it is mostly true now, it wasn't always the case. I really hated it at first, I was terrified that the people I loved would suddenly reject me... But maybe things would have went well had I just been truthful, had I trusted them like you trusted your sister..."

She took a deep breath, her posture relaxing slightly and her voice less hesitant. "But there's no need to keep dwelling on that, the past is the past, and being fixated on it won't change anything. I can only move forward now."

"We're here for you. We're in this together now, right?" I flashed her a reassuring smile and Claire hugged her.

"Right. Thanks." She said, smiling back at us.

I went back to finish with the cooking. We all sat at the table and started to eat. Dahlia was slowly going back to her normal self, and she and Claire seemed to be enjoying the dish.

"You got better at cooking too?" Claire asked while eating, surprised.

I nodded proudly. "Hmm, Seo-Yun is pretty skilled. I even know how to cook some Korean dishes. I'll make you some someday, it's delicious."

"You seem way better than me when it comes to makeup too, now." She glanced under the table and pouted. "And you can even walk flawlessly in heels this high... That's so unfair..."

I giggled, her attitude so adorable. "As your big sister, I could teach you?"

"Actually, I think you're now the little sister, Ed. I believe Seo-Yun is a few months younger than Claire." Dahlia chimed in while smirking at me.

"Huh?" Both Claire and I looked at her.

It didn't take long for me to realise that she was right. Claire was two months older than Seo-Yun.

"You mean... I'm a big sister now?" Claire asked, her eyes almost sparkling.

I protested. "Oh no, I'm still the oldest, I don't care if Seo-Yun is slightly younger."

Claire gave me the puppy eyes. "Come on, can't you let me be a big sis?"

"Nope, both mine and Seo-Yun's pride wouldn't allow it."

She pouted again before we started to laugh. We spent the rest of dinner talking about my new life, Claire curious about Seo-Yun's family, friends, modelling career, and so on.

"Speaking of modelling, I got something planned in London next month." I said while opening my Instagram account.

Claire was excited but Dahlia frowned slightly. "London, huh?"

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

Dahlia shook her head. "No, not really. It's just been quite a while since I last went there, or to the UK in general. I lived there for some time."

"Your skinwalker abilities must be handy to travel around the world, I imagine?" Claire wondered.

She nodded. "They are. I visited a lot of countries on every continent during my relatively short time as a skinwalker. I only decided to settle in the US about two years ago."

She stayed silent for a bit, seemingly lost in thought, before looking back at me. "Actually, do you... mind if I come with you, Ed? There are some things I'd like to check and we could also do some tourism together."

I smiled. "I don't mind, but we'll have to pay for your plane ticket, the designer is only funding my own trip."

Dahlia chuckled. "I don't think it'll be an issue. I have an idea."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"It's a surprise. Just take a week off before the actual date of your photoshoot, Ed." She answered. "We have our midterm exams next week so we won't miss much if we skip two weeks of classes."

"Hmm, alright." I didn't know what she had planned but I trusted her.

We finished eating and it was time for us to leave. Before leaving, I decided to grab a suitcase with some of my comic books, my laptop, and a few of my old clothes just in case I'd need to remove Seo-Yun at some point. Claire and I shared a sisterly hug and I left with Dahlia, stopping by her flat so she could gather what she needed to stay the night at my home and go to college tomorrow.

She whistled when she saw my new home. "Oh, you weren't kidding, it is a big house. My parents' main one is slightly bigger, but we were four to live in it before I started college."

"Four?"

"Hmm, I have a little brother. He's in high-school so he's still living with my parents for the time being."

"How is he like?" I asked while I was parking the car.

Dahlia smiled. "He's nothing like his big sister. He's a quiet and studious boy, but he has a good heart."

Once we got out of the car, I went to hug her. "I know it's been rough for you this evening, are you feeling better?"

She gave me a tender kiss, her eyes so full of love. "I am, yeah... In a weird way, it... feels good to show my **** side to someone else after all this time of acting strong and confident, like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I am really thankful to have met you and Claire."

I kissed her back and led her inside. "I'll always be there for you."

We sat on the couch and she went to lie her head on my lap, gently caressing my nylon-covered legs. "I know... I told you, it's been so long since I was in a real relationship. I don't really know how it works anymore. I faked so many relationships since I became a skinwalker, I felt so many kinds of love that weren't mine..." She wasn't facing me but I noticed her cheeks reddening slightly and her breath becoming softer. "But maybe... I'm finally starting to feel my own kind of love again... thanks to you..."

I caressed her hair, smiling. She seemed at peace on my lap, I didn't want to move. My love for her was growing stronger. I wanted to help her, to make her smile, to make her happy.