Grandma rose slowly from her chair, her steps steady as she made her way into the kitchen. Alvaro followed her with his eyes, his chin resting on his hand. He didn't say a word, but his gaze lingered, curious, almost restless.
The sound of running water filled the silence, followed by the soft clink of porcelain as tea was poured into a clean white cup. A warm aroma drifted through the air, carrying with it the comfort of routine. For Alvaro, it was oddly soothing, though his mind was far from calm.
When the tea was ready, Grandma returned and sat in the living room. Steam curled lazily from the cup in her hand.
"For me, Grandma?" Alvaro asked with a crooked smile, his voice light.
"As if. You're grown up—make it yourself," she replied flatly.
Alvaro laughed under his breath. "Alright, alright."
A moment of quiet stretched between them before Alvaro leaned forward. "By the way, Grandma… can I ask something? Where will I be transferred to school?"
"Oh, that?" She took a sip before answering casually, "I haven't searched yet."
"What…"
Alvaro's brows furrowed. His look clearly said, Seriously, Grandma? I thought you already knew.
"I'll check now," she continued calmly. "It's one o'clock. By three-thirty, I'll let you know."
"Fine, Grandma."
The sound of typing soon echoed in the room. Meanwhile, Alvaro pushed himself up and walked toward his room. He opened the door, slipped inside, and stretched out on the bed, staring at the ceiling. What kind of school will it be?
Back in the living room, Grandma leaned toward her laptop, eyes narrowing. "Hm… which one is good?" she muttered, scrolling past page after page.
Then something caught her attention: Yehon-go Academy is currently lacking female students.
Her lips curved faintly. Oh… this might be it.
She clicked for more details. Dormitory available. Strict but respected curriculum. A reputation for discipline.
Seems like the perfect place for Alvaro, she thought, satisfied.
Tick tock, tick tock…
The minutes slipped away, and before long, the clock struck three-thirty.
"Alvaro, come here!" Grandma called.
Silence.
"Alvaro!" she tried again, louder. Still nothing. With a frown, she stood and headed for his room, knocking once before pushing the door open.
"Alvaro! I've been calling you for a while. Why didn't you answer?"
Alvaro startled, yanking off his earphones. "Sorry, Grandma. I didn't hear you."
He sat up straighter. "So… what is it, Grandma?"
"I've decided. You'll transfer to Yehon-go Academy."
"Oh, alright! I heard there are more boys there."
"Yes. But they won't know you're a boy… because tomorrow, you'll be a girl," Grandma said, her tone firm and final.
Alvaro froze, eyes blank. His chest tightened. "Ah… right, tsk," he muttered, trying to mask his unease with a sigh.
Grandma's gaze hardened. "Don't act that way in front of me. This is your punishment, and you must accept it. All of this comes from your own mistake."
Alvaro lowered his head. "…Alright. I'm sorry, Grandma."
"Don't ever repeat it again."
"Yes, Grandma. I won't."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, though her voice stayed steady. "There's something else. You won't stay here anymore. You'll be living in the dormitory."
"Oh, really? But… what about money? Won't it run out fast?"
"You're old enough to work now. Find a part-time job—maybe at a restaurant. This time, I'll cover the school fees," Grandma said matter-of-factly.
Alvaro's lips pressed into a thin line. "Alright," he replied quietly.
"I'm telling you this because I want you to be independent," she explained, her tone softening a little. "And you'll gain experience along the way."
Alvaro looked up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah… I understand."
"That's my grandson."
"Hehe," Alvaro chuckled lightly.
Grandma stood up without warning, straightening her skirt.
"Where are you going, Grandma?" he asked curiously.
"No need to ask so much. I'm going to buy your necessities for tomorrow," she said briskly, and walked out.
The door closed behind her, leaving Alvaro alone
Meanwhile, on Grandma's side of things…
Inside a clothing store, she walked slowly past the aisles, her eyes scanning carefully. "Hm, this should be enough," she murmured, picking up a set of soft women's clothes along with undergarments. With a decisive nod, she headed toward the cashier.
"Here," she said, placing the items on the counter.
The cashier gave a polite smile as she began folding the clothes neatly. "That will be seven hundred dollars in total."
Without hesitation, Grandma reached into her purse, pulled out the money, and handed it over.
"Thank you. Please come again," the cashier said warmly, sliding the shopping bag across the counter.
Grandma accepted the bag, her face unreadable. She gave a small nod and turned, walking out of the store.
The cool air outside greeted her as she stepped onto the street. The bag swung lightly at her side as she began making her way back home.
Knock knock knock
A sudden knocking came from Alvaro's front door.
"Aha, that must be Grandma," he muttered, hurrying over. He opened the door, and just as he expected, there she was—Grandma standing with a fairly large shopping bag in her hand.
His eyes widened the moment he noticed the size of it. "Whoa… what did you buy, Grandma? That bag's huge."
"Your clothes for tomorrow," she replied simply.
"Clothes—? Oh… okay." Alvaro rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond. He wasn't used to the idea of needing "different" clothes yet, and a small, nervous laugh escaped him.
Grandma stepped inside, placing the bag carefully on the table. "You'll need them from now on. Don't leave it until the last minute."
Alvaro peered at the bag, curiosity tugging at him, though hesitation kept him from opening it right away.