How Much is Enough?

ep 1: Acceptance

"Hey Ray, could you pass the tea towel?" A shirtless young man asked from the stove, cooking a sunny side up with a hash ready on his crackling pan. His brother reached into a cabinet and tossed a pale green towel to him, "Here man."

Unlike the first man, he was clothed with a white singlet and grey sweat pants. Black unruly hair was swept back as he sat back down on his table. The last sibling was lounging on the creamy sofa; surfing through channels on their wide-screen television while holding a slice of toast on the other hand. He was the oldest looking of the three.

"Uh, there's nothing on Friday morning! Why can't my favorite shows start at morning?" The man on the couch inquired.

"Because your eyes would be glued to the T.V. and you'll miss work Alfonso." Ray answered from the table. He was reading a newspaper he bought earlier that morning.

"Bullshit. Ed, tell Ray that I have never missed a shift in the three years I have worked in that company." Alfonso ordered as he dismissed his brother's argument.

"It's true. I heard he was even getting a promotion." Eduardo confessed after he had turned off the stove and sat next to Ray.

"I am! I literally jumped out of my boss' office after I heard the news. There's gonna be changes around the workplace, maybe I'll even get a hot secretary!" Alfonso excitedly thought out loud. Ray rolled his eyes as he stood up and grabbed his coffee.

"Well congratulations with your job, but would you stop rubbing it in? I'm having a lot of stress from my boss. He's been really strict with the deadline." Ray tiredly admitted as he rubbed his neck.

Eduardo frowned as he patted the middle brother on his shoulder, "Cheer up Raymundo, it's only a few weeks left and after-"

"Yes! Hallelujah! I can't believe it! Oh my fucking god!"

All three men turned their heads outside their window where the bellowing came from. They knew whom the voice belonged to and they knew why it was screaming for joy.

Alfonso chuckled.

"She must have gotten in."

______________________________________________________

2 Hours Earlier

Students flocked the auditorium with an unorganized and scattered order. In the dimly lit hall, teachers were either screaming at the students to sit down at top of their lungs or halfheartedly doing so. An azure and white lit stage was the only thing illuminating the amphitheater as many teenagers filed in while spouting vulgarities with boisterous voices.

"Excuse me! Ah-hello? Testing 1 2 3…Ah here we go! May all teachers and students refrain from ripping each other's throats and please take a seat quietly." A middle aged man politely commanded as he calibrated the mic on the pedestal. He dons a blue and suit with a gold tie, neatly tucked in his shirt.

Eventually, the uproar died down and the theater was still and silent. The principle of the high school cleared his throat before he spoke, "As you have all been wondering why I have called you in here in an informal and last minute assembly, it is because of a letter that was sent to me earlier this morning that contained urgent and at the same time, exciting news."

"Fucking get to it!" A male student heckled. Many giggles echoed around him as a teacher smacked his head. She gave him a glare of warning.

The grey haired man shook his head in dismay as he continued."Here's a question. Is there anyone here who wishes to become a Pokemon Trainer?"

Almost every hand rose including some of the teachers who clearly despised their profession. "That is a whole lot of you. Tell me, why do you wish to become one? Uhh, how about you? Dean Montoya!" The man pointed at the front row.

"Me?"

"Yes, why do you want to become a trainer?" The man repeated his question.

"Well duh, to get money, fame and girls. What else?" He dully explained.

"And how about you young lady?"

"To become a star! Everyone knows you get instant stardom when you're a trainer!"

"Is that so? Because in this letter," The principle took out a white envelope from his pocket and opened it, "A certificate of acceptance to the Regional University of Pokemon Training arrived for a student in this high school. "

Many cheers and gasps bounced in the audience at the thought of being accepted to a prestigious academy. "As you all know, RAPT is one of the five top Pokemon training academies in the world. And to be accepted is like a miracle amidst the thousands upon thousands of students trying to get in. It takes THE highest grades and exceptional physical health to be considered and inexplicably, a student was chosen from this school."

The suited man reached for his glasses and wore them. He brought the paper closer and read out loud. "The student who was accepted is..."

Teenagers mentally bit their nails and sat at the edge of their seats in anticipation of his announcement. They knew one high schooler's life was going to be changed forever.

"Marisita Figueroa."

A pregnant silence was instilled in the hall as a spotlight conveniently pointed to a girl sleeping on her seat. She had two boys sitting in either side and were looking at her in shock. The light disturbed the girl's sleep as she cringed at the brightness. She scratched her cheek just as she opened her eyes. Eyes of jealously, astonishment, awe and anger stabbed her everywhere as she quickly stood up.

"Y-yes you Marisita Figueroa!" The grey haired man re-checked his letter and it surely had her name printed on it. "You have been accepted so please come up here to receive your certificate."

Dark green eyes stared ahead as Marisita's feet seemed to work on their own. She slowly walked to wards the stage passing by many rows of students. She then suddenly felt a pat on her arm. Marisita looked down and saw her friend smiling at her. "Way to go Sita." She whispered.

As if fueled by her friends's smile, Sita's mouth formed a grin as she gathered her newly found confidence in exchange for her shock and ran to the stage.

"What?"

"That's bullshit!"

"Is she that girl who lives with her three hot older brothers?"

"She doesn't even come to class that much!"

"They chose the wrong person! It's a mistake!"

"I heard she's a junkie and sells drugs to old geezers!"

Students were increasingly going ballistic at the revelation as in their eyes, the person that was chosen was so far of from being worthy of a certificate that it was almost funny.

Marisita hesitantly grabbed the letter that was given to her by the principle and read the contents: Congratulations! Marisita Figueroa you were one of the few chosen to be a potential Pokemon Trainer in the future. Your test scores and overall physical health are most impressive and it is our greatest pleasure to accept you in our conservatory!

"You have anything you want to say Marisita?" The principle handed her the mic.

"Yes, there are a few people I'd like to thank." Marisita smiled sweetly as she took the apparatus.

"Students and faculty members, I would like to thank you...for all of the shit that you have put me through. Without the constant detentions, without the fucked up rumors you guys spread about me, being accepted would not be possible. And most of all, thank you Serena Royce. For fucking telling everyone that I was pregnant!" Sita looked back at her principle with a side note, "And by the way Mr. Montgomery, that isn't true." Marisita looked back to the astonished audience. "Oh and you know what! Jason Lisbourne is cheating on you! That's right with your best friend! How does that fucking feel you bitc-"

"And that is all for today. Have a great Spring break everyone! And also, a round of applause for Marisita Figueroa!" Mr. Montgomery stole the mic as he wished everyone a goodbye and good riddance.

"Ow! What the fuck? Let go of me! As future Pokemon Trainer, get your hands of-"

"Good riddance indeed..." The principle shook his head in relief.