Dispel your skepticism

Zack adjusted the rearview mirror of his beat-up Honda Civic, checking his reflection one last time before heading into Michaela’s house. His dark hair was a little messy, but he figured it added to his charm. At 21, he was used to being the “nice guy” in their friend group—the one who always showed up, always listened, but never quite got the girl. Tonight was supposed to be different. He and Michaela were finally going out for dinner, just the two of them. No group hangouts, no distractions. Just Zack and Michaela. Maybe, just maybe, this was his chance.

He parked the car outside Michaela’s modest suburban home, the kind of place that screamed “family” with its neatly trimmed lawn and the faint smell of garlic and soy sauce wafting from the kitchen. Zack grabbed the small bouquet of flowers he’d picked up on the way—sunflowers, Michaela’s favourite—and headed up the driveway. He knocked on the door, his heart pounding in his chest.

The door creaked open, and there stood Maria Santos, Michaela’s mother. She was a short, stout woman in her early 50s, her dark hair streaked with grey and pulled back into a tight bun. She wore a faded floral dress that hung loosely on her frame, and her face lit up with a warm, if slightly confused, smile.

“Ah, Zack! Come in, come in,” she said, her voice thick with a Filipino accent. “Michaela not home yet. She say she finish work late. You wait inside, okay?”

Zack **** a smile, trying to hide his disappointment. “Thanks, Tita Maria. I’ll just wait for her.”

He stepped inside, the familiar scent of incense and home-cooked meals filling his nostrils. The living room was cluttered but cozy, with religious icons lining the walls and a small altar in the corner adorned with candles and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Maria shuffled into the kitchen, muttering something in Tagalog about needing to check on the adobo.

Zack sat down on the couch, setting the flowers on the coffee table. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages to kill time. That’s when he noticed it—a strange, sleek remote control sitting on the edge of the table. It wasn’t like any remote he’d ever seen before. It was black and glossy, with a single red button in the centre and a small screen displaying a series of cryptic symbols.

“What the hell is this?” Zack muttered, picking it up. The moment his fingers touched the surface, the screen lit up, displaying a menu in English:

Reality Remote

• Mind Alteration (Mind Control, Memory Change, Fetish Change)

• Body Change (Bodypart Swap, Size Change, Age Adjustment)

• Time Control (Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward)

• Reality Shift (Environment, Relationships, Identity)

Zack’s eyes widened. “No way. This has to be a joke.” He pressed the red button, and the remote hummed softly in his hand. A faint blue light emanated from the screen, casting an eerie glow across the room.

He glanced toward the kitchen, where Maria was still bustling about, completely unaware of the device in his hands. What if this thing actually works? he thought, his curiosity getting the better of him. He selected Time Control and tapped Pause.

The world around him froze. Maria stood motionless in the kitchen, her hand halfway to the stove. The faint hum of the refrigerator stopped, and even the clock on the wall ceased its ticking. Zack’s heart raced as he realised the remote was real—and he had just paused time.

“Holy shit,” he whispered, standing up and walking over to Maria. He waved a hand in front of her face, but she didn’t react. Her eyes were fixed on the pot of adobo, her expression frozen in a look of mild concentration. This is insane, he thought. I could do anything right now, and no one would know.

He stepped back, staring at the remote. The possibilities were endless. He could rewind time, fast forward, even change reality itself. But first, he wanted to test it out. He selected Body Change and aimed the remote at Maria. The screen displayed her profile:

Name: Maria Santos

Age: 52

Height: 157 cm

Weight: 78 kg

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black (streaked with grey)

Bust: 95 cm

Waist: 89 cm

Hips: 102 cm

Ethnicity: Filipino

Religion: Catholic

Zack hesitated for a moment, then tapped the arrow next to Age. The number decreased by one, and Maria’s body shifted slightly. Her hair darkened, the grey streaks disappearing, and her posture straightened. Zack’s eyes widened as he realized what he was doing. He tapped the arrow again, and again, watching as Maria’s body transformed before his eyes.

By the time he reached 35, Maria looked like a completely different person. Her figure had slimmed down, her curves more pronounced. Her face had lost its wrinkles, her skin smooth and glowing. She looked… hot. Zack felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside. This is just a test, he told himself. I’ll change her back later.

He continued decreasing her age, stopping at 25. Maria now looked like a younger version of Michaela, her body toned and youthful. Her dress hung loosely on her frame, revealing more than it concealed. Zack’s breath caught in his throat as he realized what he’d done. He’d turned Michaela’s devout, middle-aged mother into a bombshell.

What the hell am I doing? he thought, his conscience screaming at him. But another part of him—a darker, more curious part—wanted to see how far he could take this. He selected Mind Alteration and aimed the remote at Maria. The screen displayed a new menu:

Mind Alteration Options

• Memory Change

• Personality Shift

• Fetish Adjustment

• Reality Rewrite

Zack’s finger hovered over Reality Rewrite. He knew this was crossing a line, but the temptation was too strong. He tapped the option, and a new prompt appeared:

Enter New Reality:

Maria Santos is a 25-year-old single woman who has always had a crush on Zack. She is confident, flirtatious, and eager to please him.

Zack hesitated, his heart pounding. This is wrong. This is so wrong. But the remote hummed in his hand, and before he could stop himself, he pressed Confirm.

The blue light from the remote enveloped Maria, and for a moment, Zack thought he’d made a terrible mistake. Then the light faded, and Maria blinked, her eyes focusing on him. She smiled—a warm, inviting smile that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Zack,” she said, her voice soft and sultry. “I didn’t hear you come in. How long have you been standing there?”

Zack’s mouth went dry. “Uh… not long,” he stammered, his mind racing. This is real. This is actually happening.

Maria stepped closer, her hips swaying with every step. “You know, I’ve always thought you were… special,” she said, her eyes locking onto his. “Michaela’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

Zack’s face flushed. “Thanks, Tita Maria. I mean… Maria.”

She giggled, the sound light and melodic. “You don’t have to call me that anymore. We’re practically the same age now, aren’t we?”

Zack’s heart skipped a beat. She remembers being older, he realized. But she thinks this is normal. The remote had rewritten her reality, and she had no idea.

Before he could respond, Maria reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm. “You’re so tense,” she said, her voice dripping with concern. “Let me help you relax.”

Zack’s mind screamed at him to stop, to undo what he’d done. But his body had other ideas. He stood frozen as Maria leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.

“You’ve always been so good to Michaela,” she whispered. “But what about me? Don’t I deserve a little attention too?”

Zack’s breath hitched. This was wrong. So wrong. But the remote was still in his hand, and the power it gave him was intoxicating. He could do anything. Change anything. And no one would ever know.

“Maria,” he said, his voice trembling. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

She smiled, her hand sliding down his arm to intertwine with his fingers. “You don’t have to say anything,” she said softly. “Just let me take care of you.”

Zack’s mind raced as Maria led him toward the couch. He knew he should stop this, should undo what he’d done. But the remote hummed in his hand, and the temptation was too strong. He had the power to change reality. And for the first time in his life, he felt in control.

What have I done? he thought, as Maria’s lips met his. And what am I going to do next?