The girls on the track next to Link gasp and squint their eyes at me. Urbosa looks at me in shock but her wide grin suggests that she's somewhat proud of my action. At least it did the trick; without a word, Link continued his walk toward the soccer field. The girls call after him, but he doesn't bother to look at them.

"What's wrong with him? Is he mute? Or deaf?"

"No, that's not it," Urbosa laughs. "He just doesn't talk much. I'm surprised he even stopped to look at you. He usually doesn't talk or look at anyone before a game in order to stay focused. Believe it or not, but he doesn't notice other people easily, even when they say his name. He's one of the most dedicated and steadfast athletes I have ever seen."

"Ever? Even at the Olympics?"

"Even then. He's only a sophomore now and has already broken several school records."

"How does he do it? How does he just... block it out? All the jabbering around him."

"Nobody knows, but I wish my team had that ability too," Urbosa rises to her feet again to scold the ogling group of girls, "Break is over, run your laps!"

She literally has to force the girls to stop staring after Link.

"You said today is a game day?" I ask curiously as Urbosa takes her seat.

"Yes, the soccer game starts in about an hour, are you going to watch?"

"No," I am quick to answer. Not only because I have no interest in soccer or sports in general, but because Father would want me to go home and study. Worry and angst dress my face once again when I imagine Father's punishment. I clutch the locket sitting in the center of my chest.

Urbosa smiles at me. "He's just a human too, you know?"

"Link?"

"Your father."

"Oh."

"I've known your father for a very long time and I know that he just wants what's best for you. He is a stubborn man, but nothing is more important to him than your happiness. Maybe you just have to talk to him."

"We don't talk. You know we don't. He orders me to do things, and I do them. That's how we work."

"And where has that gotten you?" Urbosa raises her eyebrows. "I think it's time the two of you sit down and have a real conversation."

"He won't listen to anything I have to say."

"Then you have to be the first to listen."

I sigh and look at the horizon where the blue of the ocean is peaking through some palm trees. Sun will be setting soon, gilding the pacific with glistering colors. "You're right. I should probably go home and wait for Father to approach me..."

Maybe Urbosa really does know him better than me and he will hear me out for once. As I get up, Impa calls my name from the bottom of the bleachers.

"I ran all the way to the science building, then all the way here." She sounds out of breath, but there is no trace of anger in her voice. "I told you to stay where you are."

"I must have overheard you say that. Sorry."

"It's fine." She waves her hand and holds her sides as she catches her breath.

"How did you know I'd be here?" I ask.

"Oh please. You're very predictable. I knew you'd want to talk to Urbosa," she greets her and Urbosa waves back down at her. "Are you guys good? Should I go?"

"Don't go," I call down, "I'll only be a second."

After thanking Urbosa for her time and for her advice I walk down to be with Impa. Before I know it she has her arm around my shoulders and leads the way once again.

"Wrong way," I tell her. "I have to get home."

"You just can't wait to get yelled at, can you?"

"I better get it over with," I say, feeling the panic return quickly.

"You know your dad won't be home for a couple of hours, there's no point in going home now. You'd just sit around feeling anxious. So, you and I are going to watch the soccer game together."

"No, we are most certainly not," I remove her arm.

"Yes we are. If you go home now, you'll definitely have a panic attack and it's my job to prevent that. We need to distract your mind."

"Impa, please..." I beg her, knowing she's right. I don't want to be alone right now but my problems won't disappear if I just ignore them. I need to settle this now. I seize our walk and try to gather the courage to face Father.

"I will watch the game with you under one condition."

"Let's hear it," she says with a smug expression.

"Let me go talk to Father right now, he's probably in his office. And afterwards I'll come to the stadium and watch the game with you."

Impa studies my facial expression. She knows that I'm serious and her smile turns into an understanding nod. "You sure you wanna talk to him right now?"

"I have to."

"Alright. If you're sure, then I won't stand in your way. But promise you'll come back to watch the game with me after."

"Yes," I roll my eyes.

"Great! I'll get front-row seats for us. Find me when you're done. Or call me if you need me. I'll keep my phone on volume."

"Thank you."

"Good luck," she says and I probably need it more than she knows.

I rush back to the main building. I'm not too familiar with the campus, but I know where Father's office is and it only takes me 15 minutes to get there. I'm lucky that he isn't in any meetings so I knock on his door and enter with a racing heart.

"Hello Father," my voice sounds mousier than intended. I remain standing stiff at the door, unsure if he wants to see me right now.

"Zelda," he says in his collected, deep voice. "What brings you to my office?"

As if he doesn't know why I'm here. "I need to talk to you."

"Do you now?"

I nod. "I've been meaning to tell you about my major, Father."

"But you thought it best to lie to me."

"No," I say quietly. "I just..."

"Not only did you lie to me," he interrupts, "but you embarrassed me in front of my faculty. You made me look like I don't know my own daughter's major! Did you really think I wasn't going to find out? You're changing your major first thing tomorrow morning."

"What?"

He can't make me change my major to political science. He can't!

"You heard me. Now go home," he orders without even looking up from his paperwork.

I want to say no, I want to yell or run away. But I nod involuntarily. What's wrong with me? Why can't I stand up for myself?

"And you're grounded," he says in a serious tone. "I'll confiscate your phone."

I put my phone into his flattened hand. It buzzes right when he puts it into the drawer of his oversized cherrywood desk. I wonder what the notification was but I can't worry about that right now. I have to say something. It doesn't matter that I am terrified to stand up for myself, if I don't say something now I will never be able to follow my dreams of becoming a Nobel Prize winning scientist.

"Father," I murmur, staring at my feet. "May I say something, please?"

I pray that Urbosa's words will prove themselves to be true and that he will listen to me after I've listened first, but fate decides against my favor.

"You have nothing to say," he tells me, his eyes glued to his papers. "Our conversation is over."

What conversation? We barely talked. He orders me to go home but I remain frozen in the hallway, tears running down my face. Did my dreams just die? Just like that? It feels surreal. Why is he so uncomprehending in the face of empathy. I wish I could make him understand me somehow. I always thought if I obeyed him and proved my worth through academics he would trust in my own decisions. Looks like I was wrong about him, as was Urbosa. 

I don't know if I'm more hurt or angry, but I know I don't want to go home now. Going against his orders will lead to more problems later on, but I am too upset to care right now. I wonder if the game has already started...