Usnavi is not blind, contrary to popular belief. He doesn't need the hints that Vanessa is dropping to know what is going on. It's plain as day on Sonny's face when someone mentions Graffiti Pete's name. It's the blush Graffiti Pete gets whenever Sonny walks into a room. No, Usnavi is definitely not blind. It's been obvious to him since before Sonny walked in with a self-satisfied grin on his face and multi-colored fingerprints on his ass. Really, it's been obvious since Sonny started locking his door when Graffiti Pete came over. It's been nagging at the back of Usnavi's head since Sonny came home from helping Pete with one of those murals, looking a few years older and refusing to meet his eyes. Usnavi, kind of thinks that everyone else is blind, because he knows that if anyone else could see what he sees they would have told the whole barrio by now.

Usnavi is not blind, but he's never been good with words. So, I know, I don't understand but if you're happy its okay, I'm always here for you and that's not going to change, the words never pass his lips no matter how many times he's tried. Instead, he waits for Sonny to tell him or for the thrill of being young and in love or infatuated or whatever to overpower logic and secrecy and paranoia so he can make things clear with a look or a nod or something that will let Sonny everything is still okay.