What's More Convenient? - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

It was late at night when he finally made it back home. Mrs. Sinclair finally dropped him at his place, and no she didn’t walk him in, she literally said:

“I’d like to walk into your place, just to see what kind of place you live in, I know it’s trashy and tiny; but it must feel bigger everyday, huh?” she laughed. “But I’m in a hurry, see you at the office.” And then she left.

Dinner? Did she care to buy something for him? Did she made a minimal effort and stopped at a random drive-thru just to order something that could help his hunger? Not even that.

He was hoping, at the very least, that she would stop at a place she likes and order him whatever she felt like, or whatever was cheaper. But it didn’t happen that way.

Kyle walked into his place, his stomach churning, so hungry. He was too tired to work on something elaborate, he just wanted to eat whatever and get to bed. What time was it? Past ten, which is not that late, but there’s something about being at a random, and not so pleasant place, that just drains you.

He opened one of the cabinets, looked where he could still reach and pulled out a box.

“Mac and cheese… that will do.” He rubbed his eyes and began to work on his dinner.

He was tired, he just pulled out a pot, poured water on it, about two cups, and placed it on the stove. The water will boil and then he’s going to pour the dry mac and cheese there, and finally the artificial cheese-flavoured powder. And maybe some milk too.

Not the most nutritious meal, but he’s tired and just wants to have something in his stomach to digest.

“Sometimes helping out is not that beneficial…” he whispered, tired and hungry.

“Well, you never help others hoping for anything in exchange…” A woman’s voice came from behind him.

“What the…! Fuck! Why are you here!” His sleepiness was washed away by the sudden appearance of this lady. Aurora, the witch.

She was sitting at his couch, looking at him, having her share of fun as he looks so miserable. She planned to wait there in silence until he found out on his own, or until he took the first bite of his dinner and realized it tastes like sorrow.

“I told you, I can be wherever I want. And you’re my favorite man to see suffering so… I couldn’t lose this chance.” she smirked.

“Sure, whatever… why are you here?” He complaint. “Can’t you just… see me through your crystal ball or whatever witches use to check on people?” 

“I could, but I was bored at home so… here I am. And let’s be honest, it’s a lot more fun when I can see the look on your face in person.” She sounds so arrogant sometimes, and so annoying to him every time he meets her.

“Fine! Look, I’m sad! I’m tired! I’m hungry! Happy? Yes? Can you leave?” He said, trying to get her out of his place.

“Aww, someone’s grumpy…” she joked.

Kyle just sighed and turned his back at her. She’s not going to leave, he doesn’t have time for this. He’s only going to focus on his meal and wait for her to get tired and leave. It’ll be way more interesting to watch the water boiling than to look at her face, at least it’ll piss him off less.

By the time the water had finally boiled, she was still there. He was trying not to pay attention to her, but she made it very difficult.

“I think you can pour your pasta now…” Aurora said as she stood next to him.

“Fuck! Where? Weren’t you at the couch?! Stop just appearing near me! You’ll give me a fucking heart-attack!!!” He complaint, feeling his heart pounding inside his chest.

“Oh, come on, you’re still too young for that. Although… do you want me to tell you when you’ll have your first heart-attack?” She asked. She can make a very accurate prediction with her magic, it’ll be very simple.

“No. I want you to leave me alone.” He complaint. 

Kyle’s heart was pounding for two reasons. First, anyone will jump if someone just appears next to them. How come she made no sound? Oh, right, she’s a witch. She probably just appeared by his side. But that’s just an unpleasant surprise, the other reason’s deeper.

It was simple, her size. Aurora’s a 6´3” amazon of a woman. For any guy of an average height she’s tall. Super tall for some, tall for the tall ones, and of a normal height for the tallest guys. But he’s no longer on that range. He’s not the 5´11” man who was mad about not being 6´.

He’s down to 5´5”, why? Because someone needed to test this “ability” of his. And this cost him more size. But, even when his boss was much taller, he was not prepared to be so close to a woman as tall.

Her presence alone was big enough to make him unsettled. She towered above him by ten-inches, that’s almost a whole foot! Being a man as fixed on height as he is, he notices this in such a major way. He’s almost shaking in his shoes.

“I’m so bored that even watching you cook, poorly cook, seems interesting right now…” Aurora added as she looked into the boiling pot.

Aurora was huge! She was already a thick woman, and right now she’s looming above him as she invades his whole personal space. He can smell her hair, which is falling over his shoulder. Her boobs are right next to his face, he didn’t recall them being this big! That extra inch he lost today, that’s really something.

5’5” is not that tall of a man, is not even tall! He’s not even average! He 's short! And she’s very tall! He feels tinier than he would’ve wanted to. 

“I know, you’re not used to being that short, but can you please stop staring at my boobs? You were the one who rejected me on our date, your loss…” Is she still sore because of the date thing?

“I was not… I’m not… fuck off!” She just enjoys teasing him.

Is this fair? He’s tired, hungry, trying to do whatever to end his day in a decent way. Is she more of a bully right now? Probably not.

“Fine, I´ll move. No one can stand between a man and his food, I get it…” she makes it seem as if he was the problem.

—

After a while, he was finally able to sit and try to enjoy his meal. At least eat it so that he could get to bed, but there were two problems. First, it was too hot, and second, Aurora was not leaving.

“This is too hot…” he grunted, unsure if he was feeling more tired or hungry.

“Is too hot? Aww, do you want me to blow on it like mommy Sinclair would? Hmm? Did your bosh care too whittle for you and got you no food?” She was just messing with him.

“So? I’m a man, and… don’t talk like that! She’s not… you’re just talking to piss me off. I get it, and it won’t work! You know what? I won’t play your game. Say whatever, I won’t even flinch…”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

He didn’t even look at her, he set his eyes on his plate and tried to ignore her.

She smiled and tried just a little.

“Sure, try and ignore me, but we both know you’re going to be yelling in the end. How so? Well… what would you say if I told you that today you were more of a lab-rat than anything else. And if I told you that this new lady you met won’t stop bugging you with requests on “assisting” her with some experiments about your “condition”? And what if I told you that, even now, she’s at her desk writing down ideas on how to “employ” you?” he wanted to turn, but he didn’t.

Kyle was sure she knew what she was talking about. Was Dr. Monroe actually doing that? If anyone knows, that’s Aurora, with her witchy powers. But he won’t turn.

“Nothing? Oh my, you’re actually focused…” she said, time for a second attempt. “Ok, and what if I told you your boss doesn’t care at all for you? I’ve seen the way you look at her when she gives you even the -smallest- show of affection. She doesn’t care for you, she only wants to keep you safe enough to keep her growing whenever she wants. You’re like a pet.” She made a pause, just to see if she was clicking his buttons, he was not moving, but she could see the serious look on his face, he’s getting mad. She’ll continue.

“To think that my curse has so much benefits for others. Oh, for your boss, for this doctor lady who’s trying to find how to use it for others. You’ll be helping others! Even if you don’t want to! Mainly help women getting taller, doesn’t that make you feel upset? No one cares for your opinion, no one really cares for what you think. You’re more like… a tool! That’s right, a tool, no one cares how you feel, no one cares what happens to you. Has anyone ever asked you if it hurts to shrink? We both know it doesn’t, but no one has asked, right? No one has shown support, right? Even your friend, your best friend, deep down he’s just hoping you’re not contagious. You’re alone, Kyle, alone as the ever-shrinking man, and you wanna know what the…” that was it.

“Stop! Fucking stop!!!” His eyes were red, almost teary.

She hit the spot with one of the last things she said. No one cares. A tool? Selfish purposes? Sure, anyone can have those. Anyone could just try and employ someone to make things easier in their lives. But there’s one thing, no one has ever asked him if he’s feeling well.

Who has called him to ask him how he feels? Mrs. Sinclair doesn’t care, she’s never even asked him if it hurts, if he feels odd, if he feels bad. She just exploits him to make her taller. And Dr. Monroe only cares because she’s a doctor, and even she doesn’t care that much!

He’s alone, as Aurora said, he’s alone and helpless. Is this who he is now? Who he has become? A tool? No one cares about tools, they are disposable. They are useful for a main purpose, but when they are broken, most just throw them away. Or keep them for pieces.

Will he be kept for pieces? Will they try and see what’s inside him?

His hopes were fading. He turned, but only to see the annoying smile on Aurora’s face. She got what she wanted, to make him miserable.

“Did I touch a nerve on you? Ouchie… but you know what else? Do you know who else never gets asked if it hurts? Tall ladies, do you think it’s not mean to just call us tall and not care if we like it or not? I’m 6´3”, which is a reasonable height, there’s women, like your boss, who are 6´8”. What about their feelings? You just rejected me without even getting to know me! And now, you’ll only know my mean side. I could’ve cared, I could’ve shown you affection. Shit, I could’ve even waited for you to come home with a nice, warm meal! Not that… artificial, full of preservatives, tasteless mac and cheese. But you will never know. You chose wrong, and now, you’re being punished.” Maybe it really hurts, he really hurt her. He should’ve given her a chance, right?

Aside from avoiding this whole curse thing, he should’ve been nicer. Maybe she was tired of always being left aside? Maybe she was rejected over and over? There’s men who prefer tall women, but they are too scared of what others might think to actually go for it.

If he was a chance she had, he was mean enough to kill her hopes. Maybe she was looking forward to them dating? Maybe that’s the reason why she’s always around? Because she believed in him? She didn’t even know him, maybe he’s just unlucky…

“Sorry…” he said, looking down, not mad but sad. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Maybe? Well, maybe you’re finally learning something here! But I’ll let you suffer some more, I gave you the answer myself, you should try harder. Remember, I’m a witch, but I’m a fair woman. When you prove to me that you’ve changed, then I’ll set you free from this spell.” 

“What? Really?!” Hope, there was hope!

“Yes, but only when you show me you deserve it.” She stood up and walked towards the stove. Then, she pulled a box out, a pizza box.

“Why is that pizza there?” he asked, and is there even pizza in it?

She came back to the table and placed the box in front of her, and yes, when she open it, there was a warm, aromatic pizza. It made his stomach churn a bit.

“Why? I brought it, I was hungry, and knowing you were, I thought it could be some nice torture to eat this delicious pizza in front of you. With extra cheese, extra pepperoni, mmm, the fragrance, can you smell the cheese?” Well, that’s really mean.

There he was, with a tasteless mac and cheese on his plate and she was going to have that large pizza for her own.

“But, since you apologized… I guess you can have one slice. BUT, just one. And you need to say: “Thank you Aurora for being so nice to me, even when I don’t deserve it.” or “I appreciate it, even when I’ve been a jerk all the time.” you can mix both.” she’s impossible sometimes.

To swallow his pride, she only wants to humiliate him, doesn’t she? Oh well… a loss will taste less worse with pizza.

“Thank you for being so kind. And I’m sorry for being… a jerk. Can I have some pizza? Please? I’m starving…” Even a slice is much better than the mac and cheese. That thing’s been sitting there for over a month, and the reason is it tastes awful!

“Wow, you can learn, I’m impressed. Ok, you can have one slice.” Does this mean there’s a kind side on her? She’s not just fed up with his suffering?

Maybe he could’ve been nicer, she’s a pretty woman after all. And if she brought pizza… maybe what she said was right, maybe she was willing to try. He just blew it up. And now, he’s cursed, but at least he won’t be hungry for tonight…

—

Is he being used? Is Kyle just a puppet in these ladies' games? Aurora said it, he’s been used.

Mrs. Sinclair just uses him to be taller, sexier, to be a more imposing and dominant woman than she already is! So that anyone can see who’s the boss, so that she could look down at everyone. 

Aurora herself was using him for her own amusement. She said she was bored and thought he could keep her entertained for a while. She was kind, but it seems that all women he knows show a side of kindness, but just for a moment.

And what about the doctor? Dr. Monroe? If there’s any interest in her for him it is just for medical purposes. He could be the strange case of study that will make her famous. The betterment of society? More like an answer for her own curiosity. She only wants to know how far his abilities can go, how much he can be used.

He lied in bed, realizing that, the more people who were aware of this, the worse it got. He doesn’t want this to be public! The last thing he needs is for people to know and to have a random stranger come to him and take his size.

He knows how people are, everyone wants to see how it works. Anyone who can recognize him on the street will come to him and do a “test”, costing him more size.

He can’t trust strangers, it’s too bad already for Mrs. Sinclair and her friend Dr. Monroe to know. Why do things keep getting more complicated?

—

The next morning, he walked into the office and read a message from the boss.

“Come to my office. NOW!” Well, there he goes.

When was it the last time he actually worked? He even misses the boring days when he just sat at his desk and worked until lunch, and then back to work until he was free again. Now, he’s the boss’s pet. Making his way to her as she orders him to come.

He knocked on her door and waited for the “Come in!” a not so friendly welcome.

Soon, he walked in.

“Felicia, for the tenth time, he won’t be a project of yours! Why? He doesn’t want to! Here, he’s going to tell you himself.” Mrs. Sinclair said as she handed her phone to him.

Apparently Dr. Monroe stayed up all night thinking on the possibilities with Kyle, and she’s been bugging Mrs. Sinclair since dawn. Now, it seems Mrs. Sinclair wants him to tell her himself that he doesn’t want to play the lab-rat game.

“Uhm… hello?” He said as he took the phone from Mrs. Sinclair’s hand.

“Hi! Kyle, good morning! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all morning. But Tina refused to give it to me. You know how she is. Anyways, I’ve been thinking on you all day! Would you like to be my assistant/ test subject? I promise it’s not as bad as it sounds, the test-subject part I mean…” It’ll be very easy to say no.

He doesn’t want to be a test subject! He hates how he’s the center of attention because of the spell on him. This curse! And the worst part is, he knows exactly what will happen.

What will the tests be? Well, the only thing he’s certain about is, she’s going to shrink him. How far? how short? He doesn’t want to find out…