Summary:

Bruno barely escapes before his secret can be revealed.

-o-o-

Written in Bruno's and Gabriela's POV.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"You've been distracted lately, Tío Bruno. Why is that?" Mirabel asks me as I help her make the spackle to plaster onto the walls. "Where are you escaping to these days?"

"Hm? Who's Tío Bruno?" I joke as I hand her the trowel. "I'm Jorge."

Her skirt makes an airy swishing sound as she quickly turns to face me. "Okay, Jorge," She sighs defeatedly, a slight hint of impatience in her tone. "Where has my Tío Bruno been these days?"

"Oh, I haven't seen him. I don't know where he goes. You should ask him that. I'm just here to make spackle…"

Mirabel lifts the bucket off my head and I squint at the sudden light. "I'm being serious, Tío." She gives me a leveling glare. "You're acting very strange. Stranger than normal."

"Heh…hey, Mirabel! Am I?"

"Tío Bruno…"

"Fine, fine. I…uh…just go into town." I lie, knowing she won't drop the subject unless I respond properly. There's a scary glint in her eyes that I can't quite place. "You know, checking everything out. It's no place special…"

"Really? Because I see a mishmash of flowers hidden in your ruana. Are you…meeting someone today, Tío Bruno?"

I immediately scoot away. Busted.

It's been two months since my sisters and I dropped by unannounced at the Álvarez household.

Two months since…everything else.

Julieta and Pepa have been quiet up to now, though Pepa is getting impatient with the lack of progress. There are moments when she would do nothing but badger on if I've found Gabriela, sometimes within earshot of the rest of the town. I incessantly steer clear of the conversations, quelling the suspicions with fibs and half-truths.

My fear of losing my beloved again is reason enough to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes I feel guilty. I know they both treat Gabriela like a sister.

But I want to keep my time with her a secret for a little while longer.

It's not easy to do so when everyone keeps a watchful eye on my actions. I've been increasingly more reclusive, always sneaking away whenever I get the chance. There are a handful of times when someone in the family comes too close to figuring everything out. When it happens, I hold out a bit longer and hope for the best. I haven't had much luck in convincing Gabriela to come back home, but at least she's slowly warming back up to me. Having anyone hot on my tail would complicate things.

Redirection is the only option I have.

Mirabel has her arms crossed, waiting for an answer. "What flowers?" I pretend not to know what she's saying, deflecting her comment. "I, uh…think you'll be able to handle the renovations on your own for today. I do have somewhere to be, so I better get going…"

I quickly break towards the exit, but Isabela suddenly appears out of nowhere, blocking my way. "HOLD ON, where do you think you're going, Tío Bruno?"

"Isa!" I shriek. I'm still getting used to her 'wild child' look. It suits her, though. "Didn't see you there. May I…pass?"

"You're going to run off to somewhere and leave us with your share of the work again, are you?" Her eyes turn into slits. "That's not pretty fair."

"No, I'm not! It's just that…I have somewhere really urgent to be."

"He's hiding something!" Mirabel yells to her sister. "There are flowers hidden in his ruana!"

Santa mierda. I was hoping to avoid being the target of attention. Mirabel just placed the spotlight on me. "Your eyes are probably playing tricks on you, mi mariposita. No, no flowers!"

"What's this about flowers, Mira?" Isabela asks, trying to peek behind me. "For whom?"

"De nuevo, ¡sin flores! And if I do have any, it's not for anyone…"

"Don't listen to him, Isa!" Mirabel insists. The way she talks comfortably around her sister makes me beam with pride but also fills me with dread. Who knew that the embrace would be the beginning of their rekindling relationship? The two are now attached at the hip, working together and even successfully matched Dolores with Mariano Guzmán, much to her glee. Their newfound bond reduced the amount of bickering that Julieta had to deal with, but meant that there was more trouble when they play pranks on the family. And when someone is the subject of their interest, it's hard to shake them off. "Tío is lying, look at his face! He won't tell me who or what it's for, but I think he's probably going off to see someone special."

That stops Isabela in her tracks. "Wait. What?" She stares at me. There's a terrified look on my face knowing the pieces are coming together in her mind. "You...you've…?"

"OKAY, I have to go now. ¡Adiós! I'll be back before dinner!" I exhale in one breath and retreat, not daring to look behind me.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I break into a sprint towards the mountains the soonest I get myself out of the house, careful to take alternative routes to ensure I don't get followed. That was a close one. If I'm not yet ready to let the truth be known to the world, I'm sure Gabriela isn't keen on it either. Why else would she be living in seclusion instead of being in town?

"Gabriela?" I call out when I finally reach the clearing. I find her outside, tending to her small garden. Her hair is tied up high on her head, stray ringlets grazing her forehead. My breath catches in my throat at the sight.

Tan hermosa, mi amor.

"There you are," I find my voice moments later. "You look so beautiful. I mean…hi. Sorry, I took so long. I had a little bit of a mishap at home."

"Oh, hey," She turns to smile at me and my heart immediately jumps. "That's okay. I wasn't expecting you for at least another couple of hours. Are you done with the renovations for the day or did you leave early again?"

I offer her a weak smile and fight the urge to replay the events in my head. In the past, Gabriela avoided using her gift unless needed, but that doesn't mean she couldn't 'hear' bits and pieces of it.

I don't want to take any chances.

She tuts at me disapprovingly as she pats the dirt off her skirt. "Mmmhmm. Figures. The house won't be finished in time before the rainy season starts again if you keep escaping to see me, Bruno."

"There are three more months before that even happens," I assure her, relieved that she didn't pick up on my nervousness. I allow myself to relax. "I think we'd be able to finish the house fairly quickly given the whole town is helping out."

"Still, that's not much time. Casita is big."

"Ay, trust me, it's more than enough. The second floor is almost set and we're now working on the tower wing." I shrug nonchalantly. "They'll be fine. I…have ten years' worth of catching up to do."

Gabriela rolls her eyes at me. "Hm. You're illogical sometimes, Bruno Madrigal. I'll never understand you."

"Ah, but you love me anyway, don't you?"

She shoots a look and I reel myself back in. Too soon? "Um…" I gulp when the silence becomes a little awkward. Sometimes I forget that Gabriela doesn't see me the same way as I do with her. "...I wasn't thinking again. I'm not trying to rush you into anything. Ah, I…I got these for you." I hand her the flowers I've been hiding in my ruana. "A gift. Sorry, they're a little smooshed."

I wish I knew how to woo someone. I didn't need to court Gabriela in the first place when our relationship then just simply…happened. I feel out of my element, but I want to make her feel special every chance I get. I missed out on so many years.

If only I could give her the entire world.

Better late than never.

"What's with that expression? I'm not mad at you," Gabriela says as she takes the bouquet from my hands. "They do look messed up, but I love them. Gracias, Bruno."

"I thought I said something stupid." I chuckle nervously. "I know…I still have to prove myself."

"You do, but…ay, I don't know what to expect with you. You always leave me wondering. Maybe that's why I like you."

"You do?"

"Yes, but don't let it get to your head, you're still not forgiven," Gabriela bumps my side with her hip playfully. She presses her nose to the flowers and breathes in. "Anyway, you didn't get a sneezing fit when you were getting these, were you?"

"What?" I'm in the clouds at this point. "A little, but…you remember?"

"How could I forget?" She grins. "I mean, you shouldn't put yourself in harm's way for me, but this is such a nice surprise. It reminds me of the time I saw you with flower petals in your hair and I wanted to pinch your cheeks."

"Oh, heh," The cool metal of her ring that's hidden around my neck feels like it's burning my skin, or maybe it's just me. "It's not much trouble. I like seeing you smile. There's nothing I wouldn't do for mi princesa."

Gabriela's face immediately flushes pink at my words. "Speaking of which," She coughs, turning away to enter her home. "Can you hold on for a moment? I'll put these in a vase."

"It's okay. I'll just be here."

I blush when she suddenly kisses me on the cheek. Before I can say anything else, she leaves me alone, softly closing the door behind her. My heart is beating so fast and I wonder if I'm imagining things. A wide grin spreads across my face.

The feeling of the kiss lingers.

It's slow, but it's progress.

Just like the house, I'm rebuilding our relationship all over again.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I stare at the flowers Bruno gave me earlier with a big, goofy smile on my face. We just spent the afternoon together by the river, quietly enjoying each other's company. He told me the next installment of his telenovela, new stories about the family, and even gossip in town. It warmed my heart knowing he's finally doing well, and that people are treating him the way he should have been treated in the first place. Bruno is much livelier and less alone, though it's sad to know Casita had to fall for their family to become whole again.

He looks a whole lot more attractive when he's happy.

"You're being crazy," I tell myself for the umpteenth time as I burrow into my arms, trying to quell the excited feeling sitting in the pool of my stomach. Recently, I find myself looking forward to his visits. He's making an effort to rekindle our friendship first, and didn't push me to decide right away. It made everything easier.

I'm drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. He feels familiar. He feels like…home.

Home. I haven't been home in so long, ever since that day. Bruno and I are so similar and yet so different in so many ways, forever watching and guiding our families from the shadows. Maybe that's why we are a perfect match.

WERE. I suppress the thought, but the more I do, the more Bruno comes to mind. All of my emotions start jumbling together into one hot mess. "Him calling you 'mi princesa' doesn't mean anything." I chant the reminder, but my heart won't stop rattling in my ribcage. "I'm not in love with Bruno Madrigal. No. No way."

As soon as the words leave my lips, my mind betrays me. My pulse quickens, pounding in my ears when I remember kissing him on the cheek like a shy schoolgirl. I groan in embarrassment. Why am I acting the same way I did when we were younger? "We're starting to become friends again." I fret. It can't be, can it? "I'm not FALLING in love with Bruno…"

Denial, denial.

A knock on the door breaks me from my reverie. I turn to the wall clock behind me to check the time. Who would be here this late?

Another knock. "Is anyone home?" A voice calls out.

"Yes! Um, coming!" I say as I get up from my seat. I'm thankful for the distraction, but it makes me wonder who's outside at this hour. I rarely get visitors, what with me living in the densest part of the forest. Most of the time it's just a random villager that mistakenly took a wrong turn and needed to find their way back into town.

I ignore the goosebumps rising from my arms as I turn the knob. I'm probably overthinking things. "How may I help–" I stop short when I see who it is. "–you?"

Qué diablos. Joder.

What in heaven's name are they doing here?

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
De nuevo, ¡sin flores! - Again, no flowers!
Tan hermosa - So beautiful