The "interrogation" in the principal's office was a farce. Mr. Alvarez, who drove a new car courtesy of a "donation" from the Alcantara Foundation, had no interest in the truth.
"Where did you get these fantasies?" he asked, not letting us speak. "Is this some kind of jealousy? The Alcantaras are pillars of this community!"
He threatened expulsion, police involvement for hacking, and permanent records. He demanded we sign written apologies to Hector and his family. We sat in stunned, terrified silence. They had all the power, all the authority. We were just two kids with an unbelievable story.
We were being neutralized, publicly and thoroughly. Our credibility was being shredded before we could even use it.