Literal change

"Isn’t this what you always wanted?" Pedro asked, stepping through the door with all the flair of someone who had just walked off a runway. Every inch of him radiated confidence — from the sleek heels clicking against the floor to the curve-hugging dress and flawless makeup. He struck a pose, lips curled into a knowing smile.

"You always told me I should be more like cousin Janet — focused, refined, well-mannered... and all those other virtues you held so dearly. Well, guess what? Wish granted. Your dream just came true."

His mother froze, eyes wide in disbelief as she took in the sight before her. For a moment, her face was stone. Then, slowly, her expression cracked, and with a trembling voice, she managed to speak:

"When I said that, I didn’t mean you should run off to another country and completely change your... your gender! This—this is madness! And those clothes—my God, you look like a..."
She cut herself off, choking on her own words. But the implication hung in the air like smoke.

Pedro tilted his head and chuckled, casually dropping his bags by the door. He strolled into the living room with an effortless grace, the sound of his heels clicking like punctuation to every word.

"Oh, Mom, let’s not pretend you’re shocked out of principle. Because if we’re being honest, Janet — your precious role model — didn’t exactly take the high road either. She scammed a couple of old rich men, married one of them, and then just sat back and let the money roll in. That’s how she got all the free time and polish you admire so much."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, then added with a smirk:

"And before she became your little icon of respectability, she dressed exactly like I do now. Don’t pretend you forgot all those nasty little things you used to say about her — that she’d never amount to anything, that she was throwing her life away. Funny how a fat bank account rewrites the narrative, huh?"

His mother stood silent, jaw tight. But Pedro wasn’t finished.

"So, I figured… why not walk the same path? Step by step. And guess what? I’ve already got a rich old man lining up on a dating app. Handsome, loaded, and judging by the photos, probably one bad cold away from handing over the estate. When that happens, I’ll have the luxury to kick back, sip champagne, and maybe find myself a cute young boy toy. Sounds like a plan, right?"
He picked his bags back up, turning toward the hallway with a final flourish.

"Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to settle into my old room and try on some new looks. Hunting season has officially begun."