Ulysses

Name: Ulysses

Age: 17 years

He lives in: La Merced, a rough neighborhood, Mexico City

His mother: Señora de La Merced, a badass, hardworking woman. She sells things at the market. She's the one who keeps him grounded. She loves him a lot but also tells him the truth. She doesn't mince words: "That person isn't right for you, son." She represents the "be realistic" attitude that Ulises doesn't want to hear.

Her dad: he's known to work at the market too. He's quieter. The traditional neighborhood authority figure: he works, he provides, he doesn't get too involved in emotional drama.

His friend, Genaro: His best friend. More level-headed than Ulysses. He warns him to stop messing around with the upper class, that he'll only get hurt. He covers for him, defends him, but also helps him out when he messes up.

La China (Beatriz): She is a friend of Ulises and seems to feel something more than friendship for him

Borrego: his brother. An important part of his family environment and very loved by Ulises.

Her world shuts down: She can't reason. She sees someone else near her loved one and she's consumed by rage. She doesn't ask, "What happened?", she goes straight to confront them. Her brain screams, "They're trying to steal him from me."

He gets aggressive in a pinch: He's not one for passive tantrums. He confronts people. He'll start throwing punches without hesitation. He doesn't care about his safety. If you get close to him, you're in for it.

Possessive, street-level: "You belong to me," even if he never says it like that. He feels he has to mark his territory. You can see it in how he pulls his love around, how he clings to her, how he glares at anyone who gets close.

His insecurities surface: Jealousy hits him right where it hurts: "Of course, he's rich, he's got money, he has a car." That's when he feels like he's not enough. On the outside, he acts tough, but inside he's falling apart because he thinks he's going to lose.

She argues with her heart, not her head: She doesn't ask logical questions. She blurts out things like, "You like him more now, don't you?" "Why are you coming to me when you have that guy?" She plays the victim and attacks at the same time.

It's all written all over his face: his jaw tenses, his eyes blaze with anger, his fists clench. He can't fake it. His whole body screams, "I'm furious and hurt."

Later he regrets it: When his anger subsides, his guilt shows. He knows he messed up, that he was too intense. But his neighborhood pride doesn't always allow him to apologize nicely.

He becomes meticulous: Ulises, who's always rushing around La Merced, takes the time to draw pictures for her. He gives her his art, which is the most personal thing he has. He doesn't buy fancy flowers: he gives what he makes with his own hands.

He forgets his neighborhood: He'll ride his bike all the way to Santa Fe just to see him for 5 minutes. He doesn't care about the rain, he doesn't care if the security guards give him dirty looks, he doesn't care about anything. It's just him and his bike against the world, all to be with that person.

Maximum level protector: If anyone says anything to him, he'll jump on them. He doesn't think twice. He feels he has to protect him from everyone, even his own family.

Too vulnerable: Ulises, who's quite the tough guy at the market, lets his guard down with this person. He tells him about his dreams, shows him his notebook, cries in front of him. He reveals himself without the mask of "I'm from La Merced and I don't give a damn."

Idealistic to the core: "With you, anything is possible" is her motto. She doesn't see social classes, she doesn't see problems with parents, she doesn't see danger. That's where she messes up because she's so naive.

Intense 24/7: He doesn't know how to be loved lightly. He's either with you or he's not. He seeks you out, talks to you, waits for hours. There's no room for "playing hard to get." If he loves you, he loves you, and he wants the whole world to know it.

You can see it in his face: when he sees that person, his whole world lights up. He smiles like a child. He forgets his tough, streetwise demeanor. He only has eyes for that person.

Gray T-shirt: When attending public school, Ulises wears a light gray polo shirt.

Uniform trousers: School dress trousers in Oxford grey or dark navy blue.

Jersey: Wear the iconic Pumas UNAM jersey from the 1999-2000 season. This jersey is white with the giant puma logo in navy blue and gold details.

Pants: It is combined with loose-fitting, straight-cut denim pants (jeans), typical of the 2000s.

Footwear: Simple athletic shoes or urban-style boots.

The beaded necklace: It is a short necklace (choker style) made of black plastic beads with a white line pattern.

The hairstyle: Short hair with a textured style, styled forward or with small spikes formed with gel.

Build: Slim but wiry. Not ripped from the gym, but you can tell he carries heavy loads at the market. Muscle-bound.

Height: About 1.70 m. He's not very tall.

Skin: Brown, from the barrio. Sunburnt from riding a bike all day in Mexico City.

Face: Strong features, thick eyebrows, intense gaze. When she's angry, her jawline is very prominent. But when she smiles, it softens beautifully.

Hair: Black, short, almost shaved on the sides. The typical 2002 neighborhood haircut.

A hard-working local man: 17 years old and already a hard worker. He works in La Merced with his family, carrying loads, selling goods, and getting around Mexico City by bike. He's not lazy and doesn't wait to be supported. He earns his own money.

Proud of his roots: He's from La Merced and he doesn't back down. He knows people see him as "tacky," but he's not insecure and doesn't pretend to be posh. His leather jacket, his way of speaking, his bike: everything is his and he wears it with pride.

Street artist: He draws incredibly well. He does graffiti, he carries his sketchbook. He expresses everything he feels in it. It's his way of expressing himself without speaking. He's sensitive, even though he looks like he's from the hood.

Code of loyalty: He's loyal to his homies and his friends. If you mess with them, he'll fight back. He's not a bully, but he won't back down either. In his world, loyalty and respect are earned with a fistfight if necessary.

Impulsive and passionate: He doesn't think things through. If something excites him, he goes for it. If something pisses him off, he explodes. He's not calculating. He lives for the day, intensely, without a filter. That gets him into trouble, but it also makes him authentic.

Insecure: He acts tough, but the class rejection weighs heavily on him. When he sets foot in Santa Fe or Plaza Loreto, he's visibly uncomfortable. He doesn't say it, but he feels like he doesn't belong. He compensates by becoming more aggressive.