???'s Point of View

"Hey! We're going to be late! So get moving!"

It was an early Monday morning, and the sun was just beginning its ascent, casting a warm glow across the room.

"What time is it?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

"It's five in the morning! The flag ceremony starts at six!" 

A yawn escaped me, a reminder of the late-night reading that had kept me up. 

"We still have an hour to get ready, so give me at least a few more minutes," I groaned, sinking back into the pillows. But my brother, Alfonso, had other plans. He grabbed my hands, pulling me off the bed. I landed with a thud on the floor.

"Ow!" I glared up at him, rubbing my sore elbow. 

"Don't be lazy. You still need to fix yourself, right? It'll take almost an hour," he said, irritation creeping into his voice.

"Oh come on, big brother! Why must you hurt your cute little sister?" I pouted, trying to summon my best puppy eyes.

His expression turned serious, and he sighed heavily. He offered me a hand, concern etched on his face. "Are you really okay being a girl?" 

I answered without hesitation. "Of course! It's what our parents wanted. Why should I reject their wishes?" I looked him straight in the eyes, trying to sound convincing.

"Isn't it weird or uncomfortable?" he asked, frowning.

"Not at all! I'm happy with my decisions; they make our mother happy." I smiled brightly as he helped me to my feet, but inside, I knew I was lying. It was uncomfortable. 

As he walked out of my room, his footsteps faded into silence. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. 

All I saw was a girl with long black hair and charcoal eyes. I really did look like a girl, and it was hard to imagine myself as anything else. 

Thoughts of Alfonso lingered. Despite not being blood-related, he treated me like his real sister. I wasn't their original family member. 

Alfonso's mom had always wanted a baby girl but couldn't have any more children. She needed someone to fulfill her dreams of having a daughter—a fashionista to follow in her footsteps. 

So here I was, practicing to be a model and learning about fashion, even though I longed to be a writer or a pianist. But I couldn't disobey my mother's wishes. I had to survive. I didn't want to go back to begging for scraps or waiting for food to be thrown away. 

And finding love? That felt impossible. Who would love a boy hidden in a girl's clothing?

"ABI! STOP LOOKING AT THE MIRROR AND GO TAKE A BATH RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Alfonso roared from the doorway, his glare sharp enough to cut through my thoughts.

I quickly nodded and rushed to the bathroom, stifling a sigh. He might seem like a loving brother—note the sarcasm—but when he was mad, he was like a warlord ready for battle.

Looking into the bathroom mirror, I forced a sad smile. "You're a girl now, so act like one," I repeated to myself, a mantra I had recited my entire life.

With a deep breath, I set about my morning rituals, organizing my school things before heading downstairs. Alfonso was already cooking breakfast and packing our lunches, as our parents were usually busy at work. Mornings were just me and him.

After a hurried breakfast, we grabbed our bags and set out for school. We walked instead of taking a bus, wanting to save money for things we wanted. Sure, the school was far, but walking was good exercise, right? Even if the heat made us feel like we were melting.

After a long trek, we reached the school gates. I sighed, nervous energy bubbling up inside me. I tried to calm myself with a thought I often repeated:

What could go wrong?

This is your "cute girl," Abril Zulmanēnga, embarking on her own story. And with that, I ended this chapter with a smile and a hopeful heart.