Waking up before the crack of dawn while I had sore legs was terrible. Not that I didn't manage to somehow wake without an alarm almost everyday but it was worse today. I considered taking the day off but decided not to; I had several appointments. It was almost time for Fajr prayer. I spread my prayer rug out, asking Allah for blessings for the day after I finished. 

I decided to work on the final touches for the mauve coloured gown for now. I gathered the cloth to multiple pleats and fastened them with straight pins and stepped away to admire my handiwork. Other pins hovered around me, waiting for me to choose and stick them in.

"Perhaps a bit more of those pleats? I'd like to swoosh in my dress?"

I nearly squeaked as the pins clattered to the ground and turned to find my favourite customer smiling and rushed to give her a hug but stopped with arms outstretched at the last moment, asking for permission.

Kaynath nodded and received her hug and I squeezed her, warmth filling me up at the contact.

"The dress isn't even for you," I commented, laughter bubbling up.

"Well, I have opinions," Kaynath huffed, settling onto a cushion as I went back to her work. "I'm not sure what I'll get today."

"Not the usual haircut and threading then?" I went back to my mannequin, and folded the cloth to make a square shaped neckline with ruffles. Adjusting the length of the fabric so it spanned a full length swooshy gown, I raised my index finger to tell her to give me a minute.

"Maybe. What do you suggest?" she propped her arm on her elbow, leaning forward.

"Anything that makes you sexier, why not?" I suggested as Kaynath removed her hijab, shrugging her wavy brown hair.

"Well, I am going to wear a scarf most of the time, so I don't see your point," she waved her hand, scoffing.

"It's so that you feel sexy, not really to show anyone," Mirza crossed the threshold and picked a bunch of extra cloth and pushed them away.

"Who says I'm not already?" Kaynath huffed, crossing her arms.

"I'm sure you are," I crossed the space, knelt and tilted her chin up, as her eyes bore into mine. She had gorgeous eyes that sparkled hazel, and I would never tire of it.

Kaynath stilled for a second but laughed and then pushed me away. "Goddamn, you never stop flirting do you?"

"What can I say? Hot people make me do things," she replied with a sly smile.

I saw her cheeks get slightly dark and felt something soft bubble inside me. Kaynath was an unexpected friend that I made over the course of my job. Not that I didn't make many friends, but she seemed so aloof when we first met.

I remember the day so well because I told Anya later and we spent ages laughing about it. She had strolled in for a usual trim, where she wanted to get rid of her split ends and god, was she rude. It seemed in her general disposition to not talk or interact with anyone.

"So, do you have any ideas or do you want to bounce ideas with me?"

She had looked up from her phone, her hazel eyes set in stone. "You're the stylist, don't be stupid."

I had my fair share of rude customers but this was new. I had barely spoken two sentences and she looked like she wanted to set the world on fire.

"Well, then, don't come and complain later if you get something you hate," I replied, matching her look with mine. I held the scissors in one hand and her hair in the other, poised for battle.

She scrutinised me through the mirror. "Fine. I just want my ends trimmed, alright? Maybe an inch or two."

I handed her a disposable gown and smoothened her wavy brown hair. An inch or two was nothing I suppose. The same warm hazel eyes stared back at me in the mirror and I felt like nothing could capture how I felt. I was in a trance.

It was only a shriek later when Kaynath held one end of her hair in one hand and I looked back at her swearing loudly did I realise my mistake. I cut more than a few inches and it wasn't straight either. It only reached till her mid-back.

"What. Have. You. Done?" she punctuated the last word with a bang on the table and turned around to face me.

"I apologise," I looked away, feeling my legs turn jelly. Sure, there were rude customers all the time, but I had never failed a simple trim.

"That's not going to bring my hair back," she was seething by then and stood up, pushing the recliner away.

She paced around the room as other customers came in and I had never been more terrified in my life. She could scream right then and get the remaining customers away. She could write scathing reviews online. Which would be fine, to be honest, it would be a few in a hundred and three reviews that appreciated their makeover.

"My mom is going to kill me," she muttered, looking at me with malice.

My body betrayed me and I chose to snort laugh at the comment and quickly covered it up with my hand and coughed, trying to mask it. She's worried about her mother? She can't be much older than me. Possibly twenty-five.

"You think this is funny?" she pointed a long claw at me, one hand on her hip.

"Not at all, but really, are you doing this for your mom?"

She groaned, sitting on the couch, head in hands.

And then, her eyes lit up like a little kid who got the biggest piece of candy.

"Okay so," she clapped her hands together and I didn't dare make another stupid comment, and waited for her to tell me more.

"My mother is going to be furious anyway," she continued, toying with her blunt hair. "But, we can get her to be even more furious! How about you cut it well and dye it?"

"Dye it?" I asked her dubiously. With the outburst earlier, I couldn't imagine why she still wanted to pick me.

"Yeah."

We stared at each other for a while as I waited for Kaynath to explain but after a minute, I knew she wasn't going to.

"What?" she asked at the same time as I inquired.

"You're still choosing that I go through with this hair makeover. After you complained and had an outburst minutes ago," I pointed out.

"Oh," she scrunched her eyebrows and her face split into a wide grin. "Well. To be frank, I've been here for the past three months and it was someone else. I liked them better. I didn't want to go to any other place. And now it's you, and I hate it."

"Ah," I chuckled and ushered a customer in. "Have a seat, please," I smiled at them as they nodded anxiously and then turned back to her.

"Be honest, you just don't know how to drive to another place, do you?" I doubled down laughing, and clutching my stomach. I watched her cheeks turn a shade darker as she stuttered.

"That's not true. I can ride. The bicycle. There's also public transport."

"Mhm, lots of people travel places by bicycles," I mused and then leaned in close, whispering. "Just gotta have enough stamina."

I winked back at her and she coughed before smiling.

"Is that something you're into?" she replied, tilting her head.

"Don't get the wrong idea," I replied. "You're very attractive but I'm not much into it. I guess?"

"Ah, truly a loss, then" she shook her head, clicking her tongue in mock despair.

We bonded after the makeover I suppose. She came in the next day, early morning at 7 a.m. when I was just setting things up for the day, rapping on the door loudly. Her mother hated it and it was just what she wanted.

"Who the fuck comes into salons this early?" I swore loudly, opening the door.

Needless to say, I was shocked she hadn't done anything before. "Are you kidding me? This your first act of rebellion or what?"

"Okay, I guess pre-teens were rough, but I'm an adult now!"

Laughter echoed around as we recounted our most rebellious stories and I poked fun at her every single time.

It warmed me now that she could be herself around me, at least a little.

"Hey, do you want me to come with you? For your next oestrogen shot?" Kaynath asked, a soft smile adorned her features but I knew she was nervous.

"Sure, why not? It feels a little lonely to go alone, plus it feels terrible all over sometimes. I think my best friend is a little busy too for the next week. Or you both can come!"

Kaynath nodded, relieved.

"Got any new fancy adventures?" I asked her, threading her eyebrows and moved away to inspect it. She had lush thick eyebrows that sorta joined in the middle and I had pleaded with her to keep it. She agreed after convincing me to just shape it slightly and get rid of the middle.

"Yeah well this guy I just met was an absolute dick," she blew out a strand of her from her mouth. "He was all sloppy and an amateur. Bet he never kissed anyone before."

"Well that doesn't make people dicks," I chided her, shaking my head.

"Stop interrupting the story!" she exclaimed. "Anyways, he had issues with my body hair and was all shocked. And then when I mentioned I was just there to fuck him both before and after, he had the audacity to think I wanted something more?"

I nodded, threading the last bits of her middle brow.

"You walked out right?" I ask as she gestures wildly with one hand while staring at herself in the hand held mirror with the other.

"No, I paid half of the hotel price. I'm not letting it go to waste," she flipped her hair and huffed.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"Oh c'mon, why would you risk your dignity?" I asked her incredulously.

"Please, he was a sad pathetic fuck, but I got my pleasure alright," she paused. "Sorta."

I waited for her to get the right reference picture for her haircut as she continued. "So, I met this really annoying girl, to top it all off. She wants to take my shop."

"Is she gorgeous?"

"Well," she stuttered a little. "She-"

"Aha! You admit she is!"

"She wants my shop, to be honest," Kaynath sighed, slumping in her recliner. "At least part of it. She knows I paid the down payment and yet."

"She seems like she matches your fiery energy?" I laughed.

"I swear, you always latch onto the wrong thing," she threw her hands up. "Okay, I want red hair again. Also she's just, well, she wouldn't give it up! It's a near miracle I haven't filed a case against this."

"For annoying you?"

"Please. She even set her floral shop right in front of my building!" Kaynath's voice grew slightly louder and a few people glanced at her. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ahem. You get my point."

"Totally. You've got competition now," I mused.

"Oh shut up. I would chuck this mirror at you if I could."

***

A/N: Our third person, Mirza is finally here! I agree I switched from third person to first person for Mirza, but I'm experimenting to see how it goes. Third person didn't work at all because Kaynath kept butting in with her emotions so first person POV it is. Also my first time ever writing a transgender character, so if you feel throughout the course of the story, I can do better, improve on certain aspects, please feel free to message me. I am open to feedback and constructive criticism.

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Want to check out more ONC stories? This one is by authorelizasolares a lovely writer buddy and pal! 

In historical Spain, two strangers manage to escape engagements they don't want. Pretending to be married gives him purpose and her protection. But it won't be enough to evade their powerful fathers for long.