This story begins in Perú.

Thus, all the characters originally speak Spanish and some Quechua.

As the sun rose upon the horizon, casting its bright light upon the bustling city of Esplendoria, amidst the hurried steps, the honking horns, and the chatter of everyday life. A woman walking by the bridge with love etched on her face as a woman rolling in her wheelchair came right past her, lost in her own world. Not so far from them were a group of girls consoling another from a broken heart. Across the street, a girl sat on a bus, her gaze fixed on the window, her reflection blending with the city lights as she contemplated the outside view. Suddenly, an amused smile escaped her lips as she watched a schoolgirl dash by with a piece of bread clutched between her teeth.

And not so far from them was a girl named Dulce walking by the sidewalk, her thoughts swirling like an old recorder. As with each step, she couldn’t help but remember the events that happened that same morning. “How could they do this to me?” she murmured aloud; her voice tinged with sadness. Her words caught the glances of the passersby, some pausing their footsteps momentarily and slowed out of curiosity while others just kept walking.

It was the beginning of my senior year, a time that should have been filled with excitement, but instead, my world was turned upside down as my parents decided to transfer me to a new school instead of letting me continue in the one, I have stayed in since middle school.

She had stormed off to the city right after her ‘discussion’ with her parents, and within each step she took, her footsteps became hastened as she inadvertently kept adding more pressure to them as she vented out her frustrations aloud.

“I’ve done everything they asked; I’ve poured my heart into my studies, often studying until the crack of dawn—and this is how they repay me!” Dulce had reached her breaking point, the anger fueling within her as her tears welled up and her voice started to tremble. Upon hearing her cry, some passersby hurried over and tried to console her, but she couldn’t stop the waterfall of emotions. Despite their various attempts and without meaning to, their voices fell into Dulce’s deep ears; thus, they quickly dispersed as it dawned on them that she could not hear them through her wail. 

Her world was crumbling around her; the dreams and memories she had wished for for many years now seemed out of reach. She had planned out a schedule full of tons of fun stuff to do and was looking forward to graduating together with her best friends. But, of course, the world had other plans for her.

“Correction, the world, and her parents had been conspiring behind her back to ruin her life forever. Yes, that’s right. This was her parents’ fault!” 

“How could they?” with her hand crumpling her sweater and with bitterness in her voice. “They just decided without even asking me first." While wiping away her boogers and tears with the back of her school sweater, she sniffled. 

“FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! This is my life we are talking about!” Her sudden outburst caused everyone around her to jolt back as her mind drifted back to that early morning. 

  ☆☆☆

She had started her morning by tossing and turning in her bed. The thought of starting her last school year together with her best friends after what felt like an eternity since yesterday filled her with eagerness and excitement enough not to let her sleep properly. Unable to contain her joy and having slept only a few hours, she decided to start her day earlier, her eyes abruptly bursting open as she threw softly her covers, as to not wake up her three sleeping cats, who lay at the bottom of the bed and purred with their eyes half-open, as she had inadvertently woken their peaceful slumber. 

In a slight sheepish grin, Dulce apologized, “Oops, sorry, mis amores, I didn’t mean to wake you all up.” Chuckling, she continued, “God knows you all need your sleep.”

While letting out their little meows they began to stretch and then began to stroll over until they plopped right next to her

Chuckling, Dulce exclaimed in a smile as she gave each their respective caresses, “Hahaa, thank you for forgiving me, mis amores, and good morning to you all too.”

Stroking their fur, her hands gently traveled to their favorite spots, such as their tail base, as they stretched happily in purrs.

Finally, Dulce began stretching too, starting with her arms and moving on to her legs. Content, she rustled her cat's fur one last time before she got up from the bed. 

With a warm smile, she told them, “I love you all,” followed by three meows.

As she sat on her bed, and slipped on her sandals, chuckling she said, “I know, I know, I’m getting up, I will get you your food, mis amores.”

Well, then, she better get up now, after all her ‘tenants’, who, by the way, do not pay a cent, are claiming their breakfast, and how can she say no to their cute furry faces? 

So, as soon as she got up, she grabbed their food bowls and began cleaning them with warm water, scrubbing away their left-over meal from yesterday. She then reached for their bag of cat food and started serving them their food, all while her cats were cuddling on her legs, and two of them even made their way to her back and then to each of her shoulders. 

“How am I supposed to walk like this?” She asked them, laughing. As she walked either way to the designated spot of their food bowls.

All while her cats, very conveniently and gracefully, were helping her spill some of their own food while she was trying her best to place them on their spot, but she quickly cleaned it up a few seconds later.

Walking back to give them their space. As they ate, she couldn’t help but watch them with a big smile on her face; after all, they were acting as if they hadn’t eaten in ages. After a few seconds, she grabbed their water bowl and started filling it up with the filter water from her water filter.

After placing their water bowl on its respective spot, in a yawn, she turned around to begin her very familiar school morning routine, which felt strangely different today. She guessed that it was the excitement of seeing her friends again today that made her feel fully charged with overjoy. Every little task, from packing her backpack to getting ready, just made her feel utterly excited. She pulled open her closet doors, revealing a row of neatly ironed clothes, including her school uniform. As she ran her fingers through the fabric, an unknowingly smile appeared. She grabbed it gently, took it to the bathroom, and placed it gently on the towel rack. After emerging from the shower, Dulce quickly got changed into her school uniform, wrapped her hair with ease in a towel, and headed back to her room to dry her hair. She then ran the blow dryer through her damp hair until it was fully dry. She then gathered her hair and secured it with a hair tie. With her hair freshly done in a high ponytail, she placed a small amount of lotion into her palm and smoothed it over her hair to help her flyaways stay in place. At least that was what she always intended, but her three flyaways always came right back. 

As she headed out the door, she checked her reflection in the large mirror, making some minor details to her uniform and smoothing down the wrinkles. Dulce took a deep breath with a satisfied nod and a smile before making her way downstairs.

However, her bubbly excitement was abruptly shattered by a single glance from her mother. As soon as their eyes met, Dulce could sense the immediate disapproval from her. As her mother’s eyes widened, her gaze felt like a sharp knife with an intense glare that seemed to penetrate right through her.

Her mom’s voice rose in a sharp tone, “WHY ARE YOU WEARING YOUR OLD SCHOOL UNIFORM, DULCE?, DIDN'T WE TELL YOU THAT YOUR NEW SCHOOL IS MONTES HIGH SCHOOL NOW!?"

Dulce’s heart sank and started palpitating faster at her mother’s harsh tone and at the sudden news that hit her like a ton brick. 

All these accumulated emotions were too much for her, leaving her feeling overwhelmed, as if these many emotions were tugging at her heart and mind at the same time, and the emotion that was winning against all others was anger, which had begun to cloud her mind and heart. 

She felt as if it would be wrong to let it all go, because right now, she felt that if she didn’t speak now, she would be betraying herself.

And with that in mind, while still trying to process all the words that have just transpired on top of her whirlwind of emotions, Dulce stammer out, “No, I wasn't told about it at all." Her voice was wavering slightly, unable to mask her swirling emotions—disbelief, hurt, and anger.

However, it seemed as if her mom paid no mind to her feelings, as she simply let out a heavy sigh, turned her back against her, and continued cooking breakfast as though nothing had just transpired, and in a rather nonchalant manner, stating, “Oh, we didn’t? Well, now you know, so go get changed quickly.”

The clang of kitchen utensils as she went back to cooking, as if that was more important than to hear her say what she had to say and her mom’s attitude and priorities only intensified Dulce’s anger; her breathing became more exasperated, adding fuel to her already turbulent emotions. 

“And your school uniform should be on the main bathroom towel rack. Now, go and change properly.” With a flick of her hand, her mom gestured for her to hurry up. 

Dulce just stood frozen in place, gritting her teeth, her hands clenched into fists that trembled with anger. In that moment, she couldn’t help but think— How could her mom not care what I’m feeling right now? When my whole world is shattering right now. 

And in that moment of exasperation, Dulce bursts out, “HOW CAN YOU DECIDE TO TRANSFER ME TO A NEW SCHOOL WITHOUT ASKING ABOUT MY OPINION FIRST!?”

“WHY SHOULD I? I AM YOUR MOTHER; YOU DO WHAT WE TELL YOU!" Her mother retorted, immediately turning around, her tone firm and unwavering.

The words hung in the air, leaving Dulce speechless, her mouth gaping open, and her eyes beginning to betray the well of emotions within her. Despite the overwhelming urge to let tears fall, she fought to hold them back. She believed that her mom didn’t deserve to reveal her tears. Refusing to display any sign of weakness, as right now, in her mind, her mom seemed like the villain you fought in your last battle in a video game, and one does not show weakness to them, only bravery and courage. Determined, Dulce steels herself for a boss battle for what she believes in.

Perchance, she had to approach her mom from a different angle. Maybe her mom does not understand why she’s so against the idea of transferring to a new school. So, rather than trying to sway her by solely relying on a pathos appeal of my thoughts and feelings, I must appeal to her from a logos angle. 

As Dulce’s mind was filled with determination, she devised quickly a plan with various possible counterattack arguments. By retelling her long list of achievements to her mom, including her being number one in her class and being at the top of the list, as well as her collection of various medals and diplomas, furthermore, she will pledge to maintain this same resolve until the very end of the year. Additionally, she also must highlight her sense of responsibility and reliability by assuring her that she will continue to fulfill her home duties without fail. 

Thus, if I explain and articulate to her my key points in a well-established argument, I’ll have a strong counterpoint and win this case, and it will compel her to reconsider and grant me permission to stay at Alegres High School.

“Mom,” she began, her voice steady despite the tremor of the uncertainty in her mind. 

“Please, Mama, can’t you just let me continue in my school. I’m on first place of the whole class, and I also don’t want to leave my friends, please.”