︵‿୨ - February 2 1951 - ୧‿︵
"So I was thinking…"
Bruno shouldn't have indulged those words.
He was helping tidy up around the library after story hour wrapped up early when Wilfredo came to him with a proposition. Apparently, he was still amazed by the realization that Bruno had never been to the theater before.
"Alma convinced the council to agree to set some funds aside for new reading material."
Bruno silently begged Wilfredo not to call his mother Alma. It felt so alien. "I still have no idea how you managed that. She never listens to me about anything." He let out a bitter laugh as he walked over to investigate a notebook one of the kids left on the counter by the window. "Maybe you should teach me how to talk to her. You seem good at it."
Wilfredo leaned up against the wall next to the counter. Watching Bruno inspect the notebook. Bruno found a name on the interior cover. He'd return it to Ayla on the way home.
"I don't know. I don't think she's that bad. Pero no soy su hijo so that probably helps."
Bruno merely snorted in agreement.
"Pues nada." Wilfredo seemed keen to get to his original point. "She asked me to go with the trading crew on Monday to pick out the new books. The council would rather not trust me alone with the funds, however. Understandably. So she asked that someone from town go with me. I was thinking you could come and we could pick out the new reading material together."
Bruno almost jumped a little. He turned to look at Wilfredo. The librarian smiled down at him. Sunlight from the window glinting off his lenses.
"Oh uh, I don't know, I've never really been to the city. Maybe you should just take Agustín." Bruno stammered out.
"I could." Wilfredo looked away as he mused. "But I wasn't interested in taking Agustín to the theater."
Bruno's throat closed up. He swallowed hard. Wilfredo wanted to do what now?
The way Wilfredo spoke was slow and deliberate. He didn't make eye contact. Just looked down at his hands which rested interlaced in front of him. His upper arm supported his weight against the wall. His left hand was still scarred from where Sergio bit him almost a week ago. He wondered if that scar would be permanent. Why did Wil want to hang out with him again?
"I have some things to pawn. If my estimates are right I think I could afford tickets to a matiné." He explained. His eyes flicked back up to Bruno's face. "I think it's a real tragedy you've not gotten the chance to see a live performance before. I was hoping I might remedy that."
His gaze was strangely hopeful. He looked young in that moment. A sort of sincere anticipation Bruno wasn't used to seeing from him. That little hopeful smile gave Bruno goosebumps.
"Oh, that's really not necessary. That's your money. You need to save it." He insisted. He didn't want to disappoint his friend but this was a lot to ask.
"Oh I'm very aware of my funds and I'm telling you it's no trouble." Wilfredo assured him with a coy laugh. "Unless... you don't want to spend the day with me?"
Wilfredo leaned forward. Pressing his hand against the countertop and towering over Bruno. All Bruno could process for a moment was how close they were. His eyes darting from thick thighs, to broad shoulders, to plump lips, and those coy, glittering, silver coins Wilfredo had the audacity to call eyes.
"I mean, it could be fun." He squeaked.
︵‿୨ - February 4 1951 - ୧‿︵
Bruno was now cursing himself for how easily he had caved. He hadn't slept all night. Panicking in his room over everything that could go wrong. He'd never left the valley before and with his luck something was bound to go horribly wrong. He kept having to fight back unwanted visions. In his spiraling state, he was confident whatever they were couldn't be good.
It was Sunday morning and his lack of sleep was evident at breakfast. His family caught him muttering into his plate.
"Why would someone want to rob you? You don't have anything valuable. They don't know that. I don't want to get shot. You're not going to get shot. Shut up, just shut up. It's fine, it'll be fine. You're just saying that."
"Bruno!" His mother snapped. Her stern voice brought him back to reality for a moment.
"Sí, Mamá?" Had she been trying to talk to him? Did he miss something?
"Trouble sleeping mijo?"
"Oh no, no, I mean, sí? The rats were just really noisy last night." He lied.
Dolores let slip a small squeak that caught his attention before she hurriedly looked back down at her plate. She knew, of course, she did.
"Wilfredo said you agreed to accompany him with the rest of the trading crew on Monday." His mother kept her voice even but he noticed the way her hand twitched shut on the table. She was nervous too.
"Oh. Sí, we're just getting new books, sí? If I'm gonna have to read them I might as well make sure they get something I like." He chuckled awkwardly.
"I'm happy to see you so involved in the community, but... I discussed it with Agustín last night and I think you two should stick together."
Bruno shot a glance to his cuñado. Agustín rolled his eyes at Mamá and gave him a smile meant to suggest his sympathies over her overprotective worrying. Mamá didn't seem to notice.
"This is your first time in the city. I would hate for you to get lost. Agustín knows his way around."
Thank you so much for adding another fear to the pile. Not that it mattered much as Bruno was fairly certain Wilfredo knew his way around the city just as well.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
After breakfast, Bruno watched his mother prepare for church service and impulsively decided on a last-ditch attempt to quiet his racing thoughts. If all his rituals wouldn't put the demons to bed, and reasoning with them wasn't working, perhaps the presence of God would quiet them? It had been years since he'd been to church but it had always been a comfort to him before. If nothing else he couldn't see how it could make things any worse for him today.
He placed a shaky hand on Mamá's shoulder. She turned to look him up and down curiously. Bruno had rushed to his room to change into the suit his cuñados had gifted him. He'd never worn the whole thing before. It was creased in places from hiding out in the bottom of his closet but it fit well at least. He knew he didn't need to get dressed up. Still, he felt like his mother would appreciate the gesture.
"Bruno? Is there something you need? Are you going somewhere today?" She asked him. More confused than anything else.
Bruno gave his mother a shy smile. He pulled his hand away to rub his palms down the front of his blazer. He already missed his ruana. Absent anything to hide under or fidget with. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands.
"Actually I was thinking, uhm, well I uh, I was thinking maybe I could go to church with you today? If you don't mind, that is…"
What was he doing? This was a bad idea.
Mamá smiled wide. Her eyes lit up and she offered him her arm.
"Por supuesto Brunito! You don't have to ask." She giggled.
Bruno took her arm in his and felt his muscles relax a little. Standing close with her like this. Seeing the vibrant smile on her face. Perhaps he was worrying too much. She seemed so happy. That alone made him feel a little better.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
The walk to church was pleasant. Quiet but nice. Neither of them spoke much. It felt good to be spending time with her like this again. When they were kids they used to go to mass with their mother every Sunday. As his sisters got older, got more and more responsibilities, they had better ways to spend their Sunday mornings. Bruno however never stopped attending. For years church was something he and his mother did together. No matter how mad at him she was. No matter how complicated their relationship could be. Once a week there was peace between them. He didn't realize just how much he missed that.
Mamá clung to him as they walked. She seemed so utterly pleased to have her son beside her again. It seemed to him like perhaps she missed it too.
He hadn't been to church since the wall. He wasn't even confident he knew what he was expecting to get out of it. Growing up the presence of God was always something that soothed him. He was desperate to try anything at this point. Anything to block out all the horrible fantasies of all the ways the outside world could destroy him. Growing up with his mother it was hard to ever see the world outside the valley as anything but a violent hellscape. He knew that was mostly his imagination getting the better of him. It couldn't be helped. He was a very imaginative person.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Arriving at church was an odd sensation. He still recognized every face. He was very familiar with the usual churchgoing crowd. It hadn't changed much in the decade he'd been gone. A few of his mother's friends were quick to gush over how good it was to see him again. How handsome he looked in his suit. It was embarrassing getting so much attention. His mother beamed with pride and for a moment he forgot why he'd decided to come here in the first place.
One face in the crowd did catch his attention though.
Wilfredo sat in the front row looking over something in his journal. Waiting quietly for mass to start. He wore the same tweed suit he had on Dia del Encanto. He'd not seen that suit since. It was nice to see it again. It looked good on him. It accented his broad shoulders as he leaned back and rested one arm over the back of the pew. Bruno only realized he was staring when Wilfredo turned to look back at him.
Bruno felt instantly ashamed. Had he noticed him staring? He tucked his sweaty palms in his pockets to hide them. Wilfredo smiled and waved at him. Bruno froze up in place before his mother turned to see where he was looking.
"Buenos días Wilfredo. Cómo estás?" Mamá smiled warmly. Calling over to him.
Wilfredo tucked his journal away and turned to cross both arms over the back of the pew. Calling back to them.
"Bien, bien. Jacqueline's been up to her usual mischief other than that I'd say it's been a good week. Y tú?"
"Mirabel's training's been going well. She's a fast learner. It's been nice having someone to help with the record-keeping. I worry she might be falling a bit behind though."
Bruno tuned out the rest of their conversation. Watching in stunned silence. His mother laughed and Wilfredo called her by her first time. It was surreal. How in the world Wilfredo had managed to charm her so utterly in such a short time was beyond him. Maybe he wasn't unique. Perhaps Wilfredo just had that effect on people. It was a little embarrassing to consider. Perhaps his infatuation was simply the byproduct of this man's naturally magnetic personality. He wasn't anything special. Wilfredo was just like that.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Mamá suggested they sit with Wilfredo when Padre Flores called everyone together. The church was a sacred place for Bruno. A safe place. It was their place. He didn't want this newcomer intruding on that sanctuary.
"I think I'd rather we sat alone if it's alright with you." He confessed.
Mamá gave him a sad smile that seemed to understand. They found a spot off to the side. Bruno sat at the end with his mother beside him. The service was the same as it had always been. Flores was kind and often spoke to individuals directly. Folks would have a laugh and he would speak of God in very comforting ways. He wasn't the town's first priest. About Bruno's age, a little younger even. Back in school, he was just Dario. He was one of the few kids Bruno got along with growing up. At one point in time, he'd even say they were friends.
Dario was a bit of an odd kid. He was always so enamored with the miracle. With talk of angels and demons. The only classmate Bruno had who was as superstitious as he was. It was a surprise to no one when he decided to leave for seminary. It was Dario who once told him that he couldn't be a bad person, because if he was God would have taken his gift away. As long as he had his gift he would know God was with him. Bruno missed him when he left for seminary. He felt like he lost his only real friend. Things were never the same when he came back. He wasn't Dario anymore, he was Padre Flores. It wasn't a bad change exactly. He was glad his friend had made a life for himself that satisfied him. Still, something had been lost between them... This new man was often busy and stressed. He didn't take Bruno's warning about his hair particularly well.
It wasn't even a vision. Dario just had a bad habit of picking at his hair when he was stressed.
Padre Flores seemed to consider calling on Bruno at one point. Bruno jerked his head to the side very slightly to suggest he call on someone else and his former friend seemed to get the hint. Bruno didn't want to talk. He just wanted to sit and enjoy the familiar, safe, environment. Leaving his tower did seem to have the desired effect. He was at least no longer ruminating on the prospect of dying horribly to a dangerous unfamiliar world. He enjoyed watching his neighbors share a laugh. Share their frustrations. Support one another. Seeing his mamá happy. At some point, her hand had come to rest on top of his and he wrapped his fingers around hers. He enjoyed that warmth.
It was only when it came time to pray that his sense of security was shaken. He knelt down, clasped his hands together, and rested his head against the pew between them. He hadn't actually spoken to god in a long time. He didn't really have to pray if he didn't want to. He could just sit there and… do what? Think? He was fairly sure he didn't need to pray for God to hear his thoughts.
It's been a while huh?
What was he doing here? What was the point? God didn't want to speak to him.
I know I've made a lot of mistakes. The past ten years have been…
He used to pray alone in the walls. He stopped after a while.
I was trying my best. I don't know what you wanted from me, but I tried.
A lump formed in his throat as he tried to fight back the blasphemous thoughts that came to his mind. He couldn't though.
I know things are better now, and I should be grateful, but I still can't stop thinking…
He couldn't stop thinking.
What do you want from me? Why would you put me through all of this? What did I do? I know I'm broken. I know I'm constantly messing everything up but I try so hard. I don't know what I'm supposed to gain out of all of this.
He could feel his shoulders tensing around him.
Ten years. I lost ten years of my life. I was alone, every night. Where were you then? What did I do to deserve that? I was trying to protect mi familia... I hurt them... I can't take that back.
Bitter angry tears started to burn his eyes. His chest ached. Everything hurt. It hurt so much.
I don't want this. I don't want your gift. I don't want these evil thoughts that won't leave my head. I just want to be good and whole. I'm so tired of being alone. Even with the people I love, I'm still alone. Why would you make me this way?
Bruno's jaw locked up as he choked back a sob. Despite his best efforts he could feel the tears start to spill over. In a panic, he stood up and stormed out. He couldn't let people see him like this. He needed air. He needed to be alone. It was only once he'd left the building he let himself suck in a breath of air through a pained wheeze. He collapsed against the wall. His heart racing as tears burned his face. This was a mistake. Those spiraling thoughts were back. Worse now. Thoughts of hell.
Por Dios take them away. I don't want them. Lo siento. I didn't mean what I said. Lo siento. Por favor.
He had to stop himself from knocking on the door of the church. Running to the nearest tree instead. Searching his pockets for salt only to remember in his hurry he hadn't grabbed any. His rats were all at home. They didn't like his mother and he'd promised years ago not to bring them to church.
All he could do was knock and sob as he tried to clear his head.
He was pathetic. Pathetic and broken and wrong. Why did he think this was a good idea? Why did he think he could just go back to the way things were? He was broken before too. He was born broken and he didn't know how to fix it. He lived in the walls because he wasn't strong enough. Wasn't strong enough to manage what a fifteen-year-old girl could. Yet, here he was. Trying to enjoy privileges he never earned in the first place. What had he done since he left the walls? Waste people's time with his petty entertainment. Even then only after being dragged out of the house by the children of all people. Speak ill of his neighbors. Start fights. Flirt with a strange man and indulge in perverse fantasies...
Was he even trying anymore? He knew he would still go to the theater with Wilfredo. He knew he couldn't resist the selfish temptation to be around him. As guilty as he felt now he was just going to keep making the same mistakes anyway. He didn't know when he had given up on being a good person. Was it in the walls? Or long before that? Was he ever even trying to begin with?
"Bruno?" His mamá's quiet, almost timid, voice was a shock to his system.
A sudden crack in his morbid shell that let reality back in.
Bruno turned his head to see her worried face. He was quick to pull himself away from the tree he was leaning on and wipe the tears from his face with his sleeves. He did his best to control his breathing. Keep his face calm and even.
"Te encuentras bien?" She asked.
"I'm fine Mamá." Bruno insisted irritably. "Me quedé atascado. Estoy bien ahora. No importa."
His mother furrowed her brow. He was prepared for a lecture. He really didn't want one right now. He was braced for it. Mamá looked away for a minute. She considered her response before softening and replying.
"Is there something I can do to help?" She asked. Her words came out stiff as if they were a struggle. Like she had to swallow her pride enough to ask instead of taking matters into her own hands.
Bruno had struggled with these demons since he was a boy. These racing thoughts he couldn't control. It took some time before he could find the words to explain to his mother what was wrong. Eventually, he would tell her he had "gotten stuck". He'd tell her this in moments when his mind wasn't his own. She would usually take him somewhere he could be alone. Somewhere he could wait it out. Perform his rituals. At first, she'd thought he would outgrow it. As he got older she got increasingly less patient with his episodes. Tried for years to get rid of them. Discreetly, of course. She didn't want the town to know her son was crazy.
He'd gotten stuck once during an engagement dinner. It didn't go well.
She hit him that night. She hit him a lot. "Why are you like this!?"
All he could do was curl up like a child and sob. It was really no wonder his mother still treated him like a child. No matter how old he got she would never see him as a real man. He didn't know why he was like this. He wished he knew. He'd gotten so tired of trying to change. He was so tired. He could feel his eyes start to glaze over. It took everything he had to pull himself back into the present moment. To focus on what she was saying here and now.
She wanted to help.
"No." He replied a bit more stern than he meant to. He corrected his tone. He tried to reassure her with a hand on her shoulder. "I have everything under control. I managed for the last ten years on my own. I know what I'm doing." He laughed awkwardly. Desperately trying to defuse the tension.
His mother looked at the shaking hand on her shoulder. She didn't believe him. Bruno pulled away and tucked both hands in his pockets.
Her eyes softened again. She looked tired. "Brunito if you need help."
"I don't need your help."
Bruno immediately regretted his words. They just tumbled out before he could think. There was a bitter edge to them he hadn't intended. The hurt in Mamá's eyes cut him like a knife.
"I didn't mean- No, no, gracias, Mamá just let me, let me handle it ok? I-I'm fine I-I really, I am, I just-" Bruno stopped himself and swallowed his stutter.
The look of disappointment on her face was too much to tolerate. He pushed passed her to head back inside. He didn't know what else to say. He didn't know how to speak right now. He didn't want to explain himself. Not to her. Bruno returned to the church as if nothing had happened. He hoped as long as he remained composed and quiet no one would notice. Someone clearly did though.
"Oh, Bruno." Bruno caught Wilfredo flinch slightly as he opened the door.
The man leaned back against the wall and smiled as if Bruno hadn't just caught him being suspicious. Why else would he be standing back here by the door? Why else would he flinch if not for noticing his breakdown?
"Do you need something?" Bruno asked.
Wilfredo's face fell slightly. He was trying to compose a reply. He was usually very quick to think of a lie. It seems something about Bruno's face or tone had thrown him off. Bruno gave the man a moment. Watching the gears turn and waiting to be lied to.
"Nothing, I just…" Wilfredo looked away for a second then back to Bruno. "You looked distressed." Wilfredo admitted. So he had noticed. Was he trying to listen in on him?
Wil's uncertain expression was immediately wallpapered over with his usual polite smile when Mamá walked up behind Bruno. "I know it's not really my place to worry. I was just wondering if you two were coming back."
Mamá pulled her shawl tight around herself. She replied politely so as to not give anything away. "Oh, it's nothing. Bruno just needed to stretch his legs for a bit. We appreciate your concern pero no es necesario."
Bruno had been standing with one hand on the door and the other on the frame. He pushed off the wall to make space for his mother to walk past him and return to her seat. He looked back up at Wil as she passed. He wasn't sure how he looked. He imagined it was about like he felt given the way Wil's face fell again when his mother left and they regained eye contact.
Great. Now he knows I'm crazy.
︵‿୨ - February 5 1951 - ୧‿︵
"There you are. I was starting to worry we'd be leaving without you." Wilfredo beamed as Bruno stepped out the front door to find the trade crew going over their stock with Mirabel on the front lawn.
Two wagons, the Fontana siblings, Osvaldo and Agustín who went on every trip, Álvaro from the farming association, and Gabriela representing the craftsmen. All in all, not the worst assortment with which to spend his day. The only person here who still actively disliked him was Gabriela.
"Te lo juro Bruno if one of your rats gets into the crops I'm feeding it to my cat when we get back." Gabriela threatened. Looking over one of the inventory lists.
Bruno swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled Jaunita down from his shoulder.
"No pasa nada, I wasn't planning on bringing them along." He insisted. He really wasn't. He still wasn't sure how safe the city really was and didn't want to put his little ones in danger. Juanita was a stubborn old mother though who could tell when he was anxious and had refused to leave him all morning.
"Go easy on him Gabi." Osvaldo chuckled. He passed off one of the lists to Mirabel so she could double-check it.
"You touch his rats and you'll be waking up with worms in your bed." Jacqueline threatened from one of the wagons. Sprawled out on top of some crates.
"Get down from there before you crush the produce culona!" Gabriela spat.
Jacqueline stuck out her tongue before sliding down into the driver's seat. Bruno couldn't help but smile a little. She seemed about as fond of Gabriela as he was. It was nice to know she had his back. Even if she was threatening to assault a woman with worms.
"You ready to go?" Wilfredo rested a heavy hand on his shoulder. Bruno stiffened up a little at the sudden closeness. Looking up at him. There he was, smiling and pleasant, dressed in his tweed suit again. Wilfredo made no indication the incident at church had impacted his perception of him.
"I-uh, I guess so, I-I mean if you all are ready to go."
"Everything looks good to me." Mirabel chirped as she passed back the list to Osvaldo and checked something off her clipboard.
"Mirabel, mija, let me see." Mamá called out from the doorway.
Mirabel trotted over to show off her record-keeping. Mamá looked over it for a moment. Mouthing the list silently as she read it and traced over the articles with her finger.
"I color-coded everything by family." Mirabel added.
"I see that." Mamá chuckled. "Sí, everything seems to be in order."
"I can't believe you're going to see the city Tío Bruno." Mirabel turned her attention to him. Making him suddenly very self-conscious of Wil's hand on his shoulder.
Wilfredo pulled his away and retired to his pocket. Replying to Mirabel on Bruno's behalf. Almost as if he had felt the same insecurity
"I may have bribed him just a little." He admitted.
Bruno blushed and leaned down to set Juanita on the grass. Hiding his face in the process.
"He offered to take me to the theater." Bruno explained before Wilfredo could speak for him again.
Mirabel's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's great!" Mirabel nudged him playfully with her elbow as it occurred to her. "Camilo is gonna be so jealous. You have to tell us all about it when you get back."
Bruno chuckled at his sobrina's enthusiasm. "I'll do my best." He hadn't considered Camilo. Mirabel was right. His sobrino would no doubt be disappointed. Bruno would have to make it up to him later.
"Pa!" Mirabel's sudden shout made him flinch as she ran over to her father. "I've got a letter for Ella!" one of Agustín's sobrinas in the city. Bruno wondered how much Agustín missed his family. The crack in the mountains had done him a favor as he could see them far more often now. The ache of missing his family was still fresh. At least Bruno got to watch them through the cracks in the walls. Poor Agustín only saw them twice a year for decades.
The sound of a throat clearing snapped Bruno out of his thoughts. He turned his attention back to his mother. She opened her mouth as if to say something.
Wil raised a hand to stop her. "I've already evaluated my funds and set aside the money for tickets." He explained.
Mamá crossed her arms and eyed him skeptically. She didn't seem angry. It amazed Bruno how Wil could cut her off like that without consequence.
"As long as you're not spending our money." She warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it Alma."
Hearing Wilfredo call his mother by her first name still made him squeamish. Still, the little smile she returned to him was a good thing he figured. His discomfort over their budding friendship was short-lived however as Mamá pulled in his face to kiss his cheek.
"Ma!" He whined at the sudden affection.
Mamá hugged him tight and spoke softly into his ear. "Mantente a salvo."
Bruno returned the hug. "Sí, intentaré ir." He couldn't promise he'd be safe but he was certainly going to try.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Bruno had an easy enough time keeping his anxiety at bay as they made their way through town. He sat on the back of one of the wagons. His feet dangling over the edge. Jacqueline sat upfront with Osvaldo who was driving. Gabriela drove the other cart with Agustín blabbering on beside her and Álvaro sitting in the back watching the sky. Agustín tried to turn back to talk to Bruno a few times though Bruno was only half-listening. Something about his sobrina Ella and sewing tips. His growing stress made it hard to pay attention to anything other than counting the cobblestone as they passed. Wil sat beside him. Nestled further back amongst the crates. Lost in something he was reading.
Bruno could feel his chest tighten as they passed through the mountains. The road was rough and bumpy now which didn't help matters. The last and only time he'd passed the mountains was to find Mirabel after Casita collapsed. At the time he was so fueled by his concern for her that he almost hadn't noticed. All he could think about was making sure she was ok. Now though with little to distract him. He couldn't help but wonder what his father's corpse looked like as they passed the Caño Cristales. Had he been stabbed? Beheaded? He didn't know. Would Bruno look the same? Lying dead amongst the river weed. The river's fauna was known for it's vibrant color. It was supposed to be the off-season but for some reason, the patch of river just outside El Encanto never stopped flowering. Forever filling the river with shades of pinks, yellows and reds. Any other time it would look beautiful. Today it looked like blood pooling around the wheels of their wagons.
"Eh Bruno, Apuesto a que I can land it in his ear." Jacqueline whisper yelled to Bruno. Pointing a balled-up piece of river weed at her brother.
Wilfredo continued to turn the page. Seemingly not having noticed her comment. He seemed pretty absorbed in whatever he was reading. Bruno stifled a giggle as he watched her line up the shot. Of course, his reaction only encouraged her. He hurriedly waved his hands to stop her but it was too late. The soggy wet mass went flying toward Wil's head. To their mutual surprise, he leaned to the side and caught it as it flew past him. He examined the soggy plant for a moment.
"Macarenia clavígera. Not the best projectile you could have picked." Wil tilted his head back to look at his hermana. "I can still hear you, you know?"
Jacqueline only laughed. Wil shook his head and tossed the fern over the edge of the cart. He looked back at Bruno for a moment and returned the smile Bruno hadn't realized he was still wearing.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Bruno wondered for a moment if Jacqueline noticed his anxiety. She could be frustrating sometimes but she made him smile. He did feel a little better. She continued to crack jokes and play little pranks the whole trip. Gabriela groaned at her antics and Wilfredo had a laugh or two at Jacqueline's expense. Bruno liked watching them bicker. It felt familiar. It was cute. They could get a bit harsh sometimes. But Bruno had come to understand that was just how they expressed their love. It felt unexpectedly nice when they started to pull him into their banter.
The trip to Villavicencio only took about an hour. A little longer thanks to a minor hiccup with Agustín and a low-hanging vine. Overall a shorter trip than he was expecting. The time simply flew past as the whole trade crew got pulled into the Fontana's playful teasing. Bruno was starting to understand why people were so charmed by Jacqueline. She and her brother were very different people but both shared a sort of natural charisma. Bruno was never charismatic or charming. It was flattering being appreciated by a pair of beautiful socialites. They could choose to spend their time with anyone. They'd both charmed the whole town it seemed. Still, they chose to be his friends. They were good friends.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Arriving at the city was jarring. Bruno watched as smaller houses gave way to bigger and bigger buildings. He could feel the growing city threaten to swallow him. There were cars on the road. So many more than he expected. He knew what cars were. Saw them in his dreams. His visions occasionally. He'd never seen them up close. They moved so fast. Everything seemed so fast. People crowded sidewalks as they scurried off this way and that. Some part of him was frightened by the crowds and the noise. Thankfully, it was almost drowned out by the excitement. His gift had given him many glimpses of the distant future over the years. Not every vision applied to him or El Encanto, some were just, the world. It was how he knew about television long before the rest of the town. In his dreams, he'd wander a world filled with wonderful and strange technology. Some of which he doubted he'd ever see in his lifetime. He wasn't sure how much of it was accurate. He doubted he was creative enough to think of all of it on his own. Like tiny plastic squares that could answer any question you could think of. They seemed like an extension of a person's body with the way he saw people using them.
The distant future fascinated him. He loved those kinds of visions when they happened. The ones that didn't apply to him or anyone he knew. That let him see the world future generations would inherit. Of course, they could be terrible. He saw wars. Forms of violence that hadn't been invented yet. Tragedies… All without context. He didn't know who was fighting who or why. Only that people were killing each other. When it was so detached from his own life he was far less intimidated by what he saw. Maybe it said something about him that he could see people suffer and still be distracted by shiny new gadgets. Empathy is exhausting after a while and he wasn't willing to berate himself for such abstract cruelty.
It was only as they pulled up into an open marketplace that it started to feel real for Bruno. This wasn't a vision. He really was in the city. The sounds and crowds were starting to get to him now. Riding past the sign that arched over the entrance to a large open area full of market stalls.
"Would you look at that? Aren't we lucky!" Osvaldo chirped.
Bruno looked over to see the empty stall near the entrance that had caught his attention.
Osvaldo turned back to smile at him. "We should bring you more often Bruno. Looks like you're our good luck charm."
Gabriela gagged audibly at the suggestion. Her cart was lined up behind them facing Bruno. Agustín swatted her arm with the back of his hand and Bruno pulled his knees up to his chest. It was sweet of Osvaldo to try and make him feel wanted like that but Gabriela was right. It was a very absurd suggestion. At least Bruno's bad luck hadn't caused them any problems so far.
With the wagons parked people piled out and began setting up their stall. Bruno tried to help where he could but wasn't very strong and ultimately got pushed aside as the others unloaded. He thought maybe he could help organize but Wilfredo had already taken it upon himself to discuss more ideal arrangements for their wares with Osvaldo. So there he stood on the sideline. Watching everyone else work and laugh. He was used to this. He wasn't good at much. At least nothing useful. This wasn't new.
He'd normally feel worse over his lack of use but his curiosity was beginning to override his good sense. He started looking around at the other stalls. This market seemed to be for all sorts of things. Some stalls had food, some had crafts, antiques. One stall, in particular, caught his attention. Across the entrance from them was a stall filled with electronics. Televisions, radios, phones, record players, various boxes, and wires he couldn't identify at a distance. He looked back at their stall. The others were still busy and distracted. They probably wouldn't notice if he went over to take a look. He wasn't going far.
He felt a slight ache in the back of his skull as he gingerly padded over to the other stall. It was faint however and easy to ignore. He just wanted to take a look. Surely it wouldn't be a problem? Unfortunately, as that ache got stronger he found himself screwing his eyes shut to fight it off only to stumble into one of the many passing pedestrians.
"Eh! Watch where you're going aldeano!" Snapped a well-dressed man in a hat.
"P-Perdón. Discúlpame." Bruno stammered out. Fumbling backward into a woman who smacked him with her purse.
He apologized again in a panic and he scurried away in a random direction to get out of the crowd. His anxiety was back as he stumbled about trying to avoid people. Struggling to block out all the sound. Again that vision started to tug on his brain. He closed his eyes tight and tried to count only to trip backward as his foot fell through a few inches of air he wasn't expecting.
The next few seconds were a blur as he heard a loud honk and felt a tight grip on his wrist before being swung back to his feet as something zoomed past him.
He blinked for a moment. The vision was gone, whatever it was. He looked down to his feet on the curb and back to the road full of cars. To the archway marking the entrance to the marketplace. He'd stumbled out into the road it seemed.
"Qué estabas pensando!? Watch where you're going! You could have gotten hurt!"
Wilfredo's, earnest, worried tone caught him off guard. Not near as much as the Wil's arms around him. He still had Bruno's wrist gripped surprisingly tight. His other arm had wrapped around Bruno's lower back pulling him close to the man's chest. Holding him as far as he could from the road.
Bruno looked up to meet the man's angry expression and felt his whole body freeze up. "I-uh," He couldn't get the words out.
Wilfredo's face softened a bit. He seemed suddenly aware he was still holding him. He loosened his grip and Bruno felt himself slip back down onto his heels. Only now realizing he'd been held up on his toes.
"Solo... ten más cuidado. Don't wander off, comprende? You don't know the area." Wilfredo looked away for a moment as he held back some sort of expression that was hard to interpret.
Bruno replied with a meek nod. He might be more frustrated by Wilfredo's coddling if he wasn't still stunned. Wil held him. For a brief moment. He could feel the man's heartbeat. The strength in his arms…
"Gracias a Dios!" Agustín gasped as he caught up to them.
Wilfredo and Bruno immediately pulled away from each other. Each of them seeking a more comfortable distance on impulse. Wilfredo seemed as aware of how they looked as Bruno.
"Bruno, estás bien?"
"Estoy bien." Bruno rubbed his arm awkwardly. "I just got distracted for a second."
Agustín looked to Wilfredo. "Muchas gracias. Julieta would have my head if I didn't bring him back in one piece." His cuñado chuckled.
Bruno felt a little twinge of indignation. He wasn't a child. He didn't need to be babysat. It was just like his sisters to fret over him.
"Maybe Abuela was right. Maybe I should go with you two." Agustín mused. Rubbing nervously at the back of his neck.
"If you really think it's necessary-" Wilfredo began to argue. Bruno knew him well enough he knew he was about to come up with some slick excuse to shake Agustín without offending him. Bruno didn't care to spare the man's feelings today.
"We can handle a bit of shopping on our own, gracias, pero no." Bruno interrupted.
"Are you sure?" Agustín worried.
Bruno took his cuñado by the shoulder and turned him around back towards the stall. "We'll be fine. Besides you're the best salesman we have. You've got a job to do."
Wilfredo lifted an eyebrow at Bruno. Seemingly surprised by his forwardness, but followed his lead nonetheless.
"Bruno is right." Wil added gently. "I know my way around. I'll keep an eye on him."
Bruno huffed and rolled his eyes before turning to walk past Wilfredo.
"Let's just go already." He wined. Stomping down the sidewalk.
It took a second before Wilfredo returned to his side. Bruno slowed down a little as they walked out of view of the market.
"You must be an excellent prophet if you already know which way to go." Wilfredo smirked down at him.
Bruno's face went beat red. Stopping in his tracks. He hung his head in shame. "I'm going the wrong way aren't I?"
"Vaya... I need to stop by the post office first which is that way." He pointed back the way they came. He leaned in a bit closer to add a hushed tone. "But we wouldn't want tu cuñado to know that would we?" Wilfredo laughed and patted his shoulder. "We can take la ruta escénica ."
Bruno felt his whole face burn up but nodded begrudgingly.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
The route they took was indeed longer and less practical but Wilfredo used the opportunity to point out interesting landmarks and teach him about the city's history. His anxiety and embarrassment eased as he enjoyed Wil's enthusiasm. He was calm but his face always lit up when he had a chance to teach him something new. Wil had been living in this city most recently though only for the last two years. It was truly spectacular how much he could learn about the place in such a short time. They made it to the post office eventually of course. Wilfredo had a PO box still rented in the city and was looking to hear back from el Universidad del Valle in Cali. Bruno's never been in a post office. They didn't have one back home. The sunlight angled through the windows in such a way it made the wall of lockboxes glitter. Wilfredo's glasses gleamed in the light as he unlocked his PO box and checked through his mail.
"So you've been to Cali before?" Bruno asked still trying to understand why it seemed Wil had been all over Colombia at least twice.
"Sí, I told you we move a lot." He replied bluntly as he shuffled through the mail.
"Sí pero, why go back to places you've already been? Why leave in the first place?"
"I told you before, it's complicated." Wilfredo grunted.
Bruno sensed this line of questioning was getting on his friend's nerves so he recanted. Looking around a bit as he tapped on the wall behind him. He only lasted a few seconds however before curiosity got the better of him again. He leaned in to look at the mail. Wilfredo pulled an envelope from the stack that look to be addressed to Jacqueline and tucked it on top of the wall of PO boxes.
"Isn't that Jacqueline's?" Bruno asked.
Wilfredo jumped slightly. "Discúlpenme, I don't think that's any of your business now is it?" He crossed his arms and squinted down at Bruno. Bruno should probably have felt guilty for invading the man's privacy but for some reason all he could do was shrug.
"It's a different Jacqueline if you must know. Someone got our mail mixed up." Wilfredo explained. He pulled an envelope from the small stack in his hands and held it up. "I got what I was looking for so we can go now."
Bruno looked at the university logo on the envelope.
"My confirmation letter." Wilfredo clarified.
"Espera, did you seriously try to move months before you actually got the position."
Wilfredo groaned.
"Sí, sí, it's complicated." Bruno sarcastically answered for him. Everything about Wilfredo's life seemed strangely "complicated".
"I already knew I had the position. This was just a formality." Wil replied irritably. Pretending that was what he was going to say all along. He flicked Bruno's forehead before walking off.
The sudden gesture made him blink for a moment. Wil was smiling though. Annoyed but smiling. The way he often looked at his hermana. It was confusing for a second but Bruno felt a little flattered as he watched Wil lock the box and head for the door. Wilfredo had always been rather gentle and polite with Bruno. He was getting more playful and rough, bolder. The mask hadn't slipped. For a moment he had taken it off.
Bruno was about to follow him but felt that tug of curiosity. He looked up to where Wilfredo had left the stray envelope. He couldn't see it from his height but standing on his toes he could just reach where he knew it was. He looked around for a moment. Wilfredo had rounded the corner and was out of view.
Sure enough, just as he had thought.
Jacqueline Fontana Alfaro. The same family name as Wilfredo. This was definitely for his sister. Why had he lied? Bruno was starting to grow accustomed to Wilfredo's little white lies. The few he caught seemed harmless but this was strange. Whatever this was Jacqueline had a right to see it he figured. Looking it over it appeared to be a letter from someone. The address was handwritten. This was something personal.
"As fascinating as I'm sure the post office is we do have other things to do today!" Wil called from around the corner.
Bruno stuffed the letter into his back pocket and hurried to catch up to his friend. He trusted Wil well enough. Trusted his intentions at least. He'd seen the man spiral before over a minor incident. Perhaps he was discarding the letter over something similarly overreactive. He certainly hadn't misread the thing. Bruno was confident that was impossible for someone like him.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Their next stop was a pawn shop where Wilfredo parted with a rather expensive-looking pocket watch. It made Bruno a little sad to think of how dire their financial situation must be. Wilfredo showed no indication that parting with it brought him any grief. Then again he was from a wealthy family. Maybe trinkets like these meant very little to him? But the letter? The many cities he'd lived in. The many times he'd dismissed Bruno's questions as things he wouldn't understand. The way the Fontana's arrived in town in the first place for that matter. Wilfredo didn't seem like the sort of person who'd move before he had confirmed his new position. The sort who would choose to leave by wagon through the jungle. Frankly, he didn't seem like the sort of person who would enjoy such a chaotic lifestyle.
The valley Bruno called home couldn't be found by just anyone. He'd overheard folks in town speculating on whether or not the magic had weakened since the crack formed in the mountains. Bruno, however, was starting to think that the Fontana's arrival revealed more about them than it did the miracle.
After the pawnshop, Wilfredo took him to a large bookstore where they could pick out new reading material. The council hadn't given them much to spend so they had to really make it count. It did surprise Bruno to know his mother had given the library budget to Wilfredo directly despite her insistence he bring a local with him. It became apparent rather quickly the two of them had rather different priorities when it came to selecting reading material. Considering this, Wilfredo had decided to split the budget between the two of them. Bruno focused on finding fun fantasies with colorful artwork. Some innocent escapism. The sort of thing he clung to when he was a child. Wilfredo leaned towards compilations. He looked for variety in terms of skill level and style. A combination of poetry and prose.
Once they'd both settled on their choices, and after a bit of passive-aggressive ribbing, they made their purchase and headed back to the market to drop them off.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
It was a little past noon when they got back to the market. The traffic had waned slightly though Wilfredo said it would pick up again in the evening.
"Ah! Dios mío Agustín he's adorable!" The sudden girlish shriek stunned Bruno long enough for dainty hands to grab his face.
He stared into the bright brown eyes of a woman with long dark hair that curled very deliberately on her shoulders.
"Mamá stop!" Agustín whined as he pulled the older woman away from Bruno.
Now that his face was no longer being squished he could get a better look at her. She wore a large hat with flowers in it, white gloves, and a skirt that barely covered her knees. A bit inappropriate for a woman her age but he wasn't going to comment on it.
"Bruno, Mamá, Mamá, Bruno." Agustín sighed as he properly introduced Bruno to his mother.
She held a dainty hand out to Bruno who shrugged. Emphasizing to her the books he was carrying.
Wilfredo chuckled and took the books from Bruno. "I'll let you two borrow him for a bit. Pero recuerda, we've got a prior engagement this evening so try not to keep him for too long." He explained.
Agustín shot Wil a sympathetic but doubtful expression from over his mother's shoulder. The excitable woman waving him off. "Oh, I'll only be a minute."
She offered Bruno her hand again once Wilfredo had left. "You can call me Leonor mijo."
Bruno hesitated before taking her hand and giving it a gentle shake. "B-Bruno, y-you already knew that, apparently…" He looked back at Agustín.
His cuñado shrugged back at him with a sheepish grin. "What can I say, she's always excited to meet the family."
"Ah, you Madrigals are all so pretty!" Leonor squealed again. Clasping her rosy cheeks in her hands. "First Julieta, now her brother too, and the girls! They're all so pretty! Especially Isabela!"
She swatted her son on the shoulder. "Es una pena en serio!" She raised a dainty dramatic wrist to her forehead as though she would faint. "All that potential wasted out in the country. Imagine, she could be una estrella. Estrella!" She emphasized before collapsing melodramatically into her son's arms.
Agustín shook his head with a smirk. "Si la quieres, tendrás que pasar sobre el cadaver de Alma."
Leonor stood back up on her clickity heels and scoffed.
Bruno laughed. "Ah, sí, good luck stealing su nieta perfecta." The mental image of this tiny delicate woman battling wills with his steely mother was probably the funniest thing he'd seen all day.
"It's not fair!" She whined. "Ella es mi nieta too!"
"What do you mean she left!?" Wilfredo's frustrated voice was a bit louder than Bruno'd ever heard him. Not quite yelling but raised above his usual calm demeanor.
"Wilfredo, you alright?" Agustín called back.
Bruno could see Wil running his fingers through his hair and felt drawn to him on instinct. Quicker than was maybe reasonable he was at the man's side. A hand on his shoulder. Looking for his eyes. Wilfredo looked down at him and took a deep, frustrated, breath before continuing his conversation with Álvaro and Gabriela.
"Did she tell anyone where she was going?" He asked.
Bruno looked around and realized Jacqueline was nowhere to be found.
"She just said she had some stuff to do and left. Said she'd be back before sundown." Álvaro shrugged.
"Perdón. What seems to be the problem here?" Leonor inquired. There was a faint edge to her voice as though she worried the strange man in front of her might make things difficult for her boy.
"Es su hermana." Agustín explained. "She can be a bit of una alborotadora."
"No, no. Está bien." Wilfredo corrected. He removed his glasses to squeeze the bridge of his nose. "Es una mujer adulta. She knows the city. She'll be fine." It felt more like Wilfredo was saying that for his sake than anyone else's. He removed his handkerchief to clean his glasses before putting them back on. "As long as she's back by sundown it should be fine."
"If it becomes a problem you're all welcome to stay with us till you find her." Leonor offered slyly.
"Mamá we are not all going to fit in your house and you know that." Agustín replied irritably.
"Lo prometo I'll bring the girls over soon and we can have a proper weekend together, but until then stop trying to kidnap me and mi amigos por favor."
Leonor huffed but gave her son a kiss on the cheek.
Bruno looked back to Wilfredo who seemed to have calmed down a little. He was a bit surprised by how stressed he was over this. Like he said, Jacqueline was a grown woman. She knew the city. She'd be fine. It made him wonder if perhaps simply not knowing where she was caused him anxiety. Then again Bruno more or less always knew where his sisters were. There were only so many places they could be at any given time. Even still, it seemed like a bit of an overreaction.
"You still wanna go to the theater?" Bruno asked him gently.
Wilfredo blinked at him as though he forgot Bruno was there for a moment. "Oh, claro, claro. We can leave now if you want."
Bruno didn't feel like that was an offer so much as a wish. He knew Wilfredo didn't like showing his vulnerabilities in front of others. He seemed a little embarrassed and ashamed for snapping. Bruno suspected he'd rather be away from the group for a bit.
"I don't see why not." He offered Wilfredo his arm which his friend hesitantly took and let Bruno lead him away from the small crowd.
"I don't think the next showing starts for another hour." Wilfredo confessed quietly as they left the market.
"That's fine. We can take la ruta escénica." Bruno teased. That made Wil smile.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
The walk to the theater was quiet at first. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Wil to start pointing out landmarks again and enthusing about history. Bruno enjoyed their walk. Never once questioning the way he held the man's arm hooked in his.
Only one person they passed seemed to take notice.
"Wilfredo! Cómo has estado?" a cheery voice stopped them as they neared the theater.
The man was young. About his late twenties by the look of him.
"Oh Fabian. Good to see you. I've been doing alright, all things considered." The way Wilfredo spoke to him was friendly enough but something about the younger man put Bruno off. Wilfredo seemed to hesitate for a moment. Almost like he'd struggled to remember the man's name at first. Bruno had never seen him forget a name.
He considered letting go of Wilfredo but instead clung a little tighter when the other man looked him over.
"I see you have un nuevo amigo." He remarked.
Wilfredo cleared his throat and the man pulled his gaze back to him.
"Actually we were going to the theater. Mi amigo here has never been." Wilfredo explained.
Fabian looked down at Bruno's sandals and grinned before looking back up to his face.
"I'd believe it." He chuckled. "I'll let you two get going then. It was good to see you, Wil." Why was he calling him Wil? Camilo got to call him Wil. Bruno did, at least, in his head... What gave this man the right to call him that?
"Bien verte a ti también." Wilfredo replied with a wave as the other man left.
Bruno looked up at Wil before self-consciously letting go of his arm. Wilfredo noticed the sudden lack of touch and looked a little surprised. He looked almost disappointed but quickly plastered over it with one of his porcelain smiles.
"Vamos, let's get our tickets."
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
Wilfredo used to go to the theater often and knew what the local theater's schedule was like. He didn't know what would be playing today but bragged about the troupe that was performing. Bruno merely nodded. He trusted Wilfredo's judgment. He felt terribly out of place. Most folks were dressed a lot nicer than he was. Wilfredo looked at home though. Bruno had to resist the urge to take his arm again as Wilfredo lead him to the smoking section where they'd be seated.
"This place is huge." Bruno murmured as he took in the theater.
"I've seen bigger." Wilfredo bragged.
It looked like Camilo's room but the crowd somehow made it feel bigger. More real. It was a little disorienting. Filling with a faint childlike wonder that only grew once they reached their seats. Sectioned off from the main seating area.
"I figured you might appreciate a less crowded spot." Wil confessed. Sitting down and pulling his cigar tin from his interior coat pocket.
"A good day to smoke huh?" Bruno teased as he sat down beside him. The seats were upholstered with red velvet and they had a decent view of the stage despite being seated further back.
Wilfredo chuckled mildly as he lit his cigar. Bruno tried to focus his attention elsewhere and ignore the intoxicating scent. There was a lot to take in. The theater itself had its own smell. The dim lights before the show. The murmur of the crowd. The heavy red curtains.
"Sit, the show's starting soon." Wilfredo's voice snapped Bruno out of his wonderstruck.
It was only then he realized he'd stood back up to lean over the railing and look around.
"Sí, sí." He replied bashfully as he sat back down. Suddenly painfully aware of the other patrons who witnessed his gawking.
Wilfredo caught him not so subtly looking around at the surrounding audience. He laughed and leaned in on his elbow. His cigar tilted away though the sweet smoke filled Bruno's nose when he spoke.
"Don't worry mi amigo. I doubt anyone here cares."
Bruno swallowed the lump in his throat and managed a shaky smile. Why would he do that? Stop doing that! It was always so distracting when he got close like that. Especially breathing that perfume in his face. It sent static through Bruno's body that made his hair stand on end. Thankfully the curtain rose and managed to distract him from his companion.
It was genuinely breathtaking to see the real thing for the first time. Professional costumes and sets. Made him almost insecure about his little mock theater back home. What he wouldn't give to put on a performance of this scale. It was a struggle at first to keep himself seated. Bruno wanted so badly to lean over the edge and get a closer look. Instead, he clung to the seat to contain his excitement.
The play started out more comical and grew more dramatic as the story progressed. A lot of the jokes were somewhat political and Bruno didn't get all of them but unsurprisingly Wilfredo did. One political joke in particular that flew largely over Bruno's head got an oddly bitter laugh from Wilfredo. That laugh brought Bruno's eyes to his face. There was something spiteful in Wilfredo's toothy smile as he brought his cigar to his lips. It hurt a little. Whatever that was. It stung. Bruno wished he knew why. Wilfredo had said his father was a politician. Perhaps that had something to do with it?
It was then as Bruno was mulling over that thought that he realized his hand had come to rest over Wil's on the armrest. He looked back up at Wilfredo who leaned back in his seat again. His tension eased. Should Bruno move his hand? Wil didn't seem to mind or didn't seem to notice. He recalled the disappointment on Wil's face when he let go of his arm on the street and decided against it. If he moved his hand now Wil would surely notice, right? It would be less distracting to just leave it there, right?
He was such a deviant. He knew it was wrong to want to touch this man so badly. No, he wouldn't think about that right now. He could feel guilty later. For now, he just wanted to enjoy the play with his friend. There was no harm in that. They weren't doing anything wrong. Just two friends enjoying a show together.
As the show carried on Bruno became more invested in its characters and their plight. He seemed to unconsciously melt into his chair. Leaning more and more onto Wilfredo as time wore on. Before long he was resting his head on the man's shoulder as he dried his tears with his ruana. Wil's tweed jacket had a lightly scratchy texture to it. His arm felt strong and sturdy. His warm body was a comfort. Bruno stopped caring or considering the source of his comfort. When finally the performance came to an end Bruno nearly jumped up to applaud the performers but something stopped him. A weight on the top of his head he was only just noticing. Bruno shifted his head slightly to peek up at Wilfredo's sleeping face.
Bruno didn't notice when Wilfredo had fallen asleep. He'd been so engrossed in the performance he didn't even notice when Wil had slumped over and rested his head on top of Bruno's. As Bruno took in the roar of the applause he knew he'd have to wake him before the lights came on. People would see them and he worried how it might look. Still, he hesitated...
Wilfredo looked so beautiful in his sleep. Bruno could scan his face up close. Long eyelashes grazed his now skewed reading glasses. Plump lips parted slightly. Snoring very faintly. Golden feathers fell over the side of his face.
Bruno felt a painful burn in his soul. He wondered what it would be like to see that sleeping face every morning. Was this how his hermanas felt? This fire. They'd managed to tame it, trap it, and steal it away for themselves. This beauty.
No. He had to wake him up. It was time to leave, and the lights were coming on.
"Wil, Wil." He pulled away and shook him gently with his free hand. It was the first time he'd used the nickname out loud. He actually had no idea how Wil would react to it but he wasn't considering that at the moment.
Wil startled awake, slightly disoriented. He looked around then saw he had laced his fingers between Bruno's. He rushed to pull his hand away and awkwardly straighten his glasses.
"L-lo siento." He stammered. "I didn't get much sleep last night, I didn't mean to-"
"Esta bien." Bruno cut him off.
Wil looked a little scared for a moment. His eyes scanned Bruno's face. Bruno gave him a gentle, encouraging, smile. Wil looked away somewhat bewildered. He looked like he was considering something for a moment before he ran his fingers through his hair and inspected what remained of his cigar.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
By the time they left their seats, Wil looked as though nothing was out of the ordinary. Normally it bothered Bruno just how quickly he could recompose himself. This time it didn't. It didn't feel personal. He didn't take it personally.
"Lo siento de nuevo." Wilfredo said as they put some distance between themselves and the theater. "For falling asleep."
"I told you it was fine." Bruno insisted.
"I guess I'm just so used to city life it's started to bore me." Wilfredo chuckled half-heartedly as he brushed his hair with his fingers.
Bruno could tell he didn't mean it. Wil seemed to love everything about city life. All day he'd been so eager to share it with Bruno. A slight knot formed in Bruno's gut.
"Why did you leave?" He asked nervously.
Wilfredo looked down at him a bit confused.
"Not this city specifically." Bruno clarified. Recognizing that was a story Wilfredo had distinctly been avoiding sharing. Perhaps it was embarrassing. He didn't much care for the reason. It wasn't what he really wanted to know. "Pero como, Bogotá? You're home? Why did you leave?" He asked earnestly.
Bruno felt a pang of sadness. Watching Wilfredo try to hide the wound he'd just opened up.
"It's just... Normally people can't find El Encanto. The miracle protects us. Normally it only shows itself to those in need." Bruno explained gently.
Wilfredo seemed to understand what he was implying and realized that lying wouldn't benefit him here.
"I-"
"It's complicated?" Bruno sighed.
Wilfredo looked away for a moment in thinly veiled shame.
"Lo siento, you don't have to answer… You just seem so in your element in the city. You obviously love teaching…"
"I didn't leave." Wil muttered. Barely above a whisper.
Bruno leaned forward to try and see his face. Almost without thinking he took the man's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I didn't leave." Wilfredo confessed as he looked back at Bruno.
"What happened?"
"Ten years ago, I was disowned. I lost my job." He choked. "My whole life fell apart." Wilfredo looked up at the sky as they walked. Bruno watched him gather his thoughts before returning to him with a calmer, steadier voice. "I had to leave. I didn't have a choice. Jacqueline, she came with me. She left her whole life behind for me." He sighed deeply and squeezed Bruno's hand back. "I know she can be a lot, pero ella me ama. I think she might be the only person who does. I don't know what I'd do without her."
Bruno looked at the hurt in his companion's eyes. This guarded, well-put-together, man had melted in front of him. It felt wrong. Like he had done something wrong. Broken something valuable that took a long time to craft. Bruno looked away and tried to think of something to say.
"I lived in a wall for ten years." Bruno blurted out.
Bruno jerked forward as Wil suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Bruno looked back at his baffled expression.
"Qué!? Perdona!?"
Bruno pulled his hand away and fumbled awkwardly with his ruana. He looked at everything but the man's face. "Oh, vaya, y-you know, I figured since we were sharing personal stories and all, I just, I just thought, y-you know what forget I said anything."
Wilfredo held up both hands for a moment to stop him. He screwed his eyes shut to process before almost laughing in reply.
"Oh no, you don't get to tell me something that bizarre and not follow up on it! Now I have to know!"
Bruno saw a baffled half-smile as Wil tried to settle on an emotion and felt a little more comfortable elaborating.
"I mean..." Bruno winced hesitantly.
"It's complicated?" Wilfredo laughed.
Bruno smiled back at him and offer him his hand. Wil took it and Bruno tugged him along to continue their walk.
"It all started with a vision." He began.
︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵
He explained what he had seen. How the house would collapse. How hee feared for his little sobrina. How at least at the time, he'd only intended to hide away till he could think of a better solution, but never did come up with one.
"And you figured living in your familia's walls was a better alternative than trying to talk things out with tu madre." Wilfredo asked.
Bruno felt rather stupid hearing someone put it that way. "Ehhh…"
"Oh no don't get me wrong. I completely understand." Wilfredo corrected with a grin.
Bruno looked over at him pleasantly surprised by his playful tone.
"Trust me if you ever met mi madre you'd know I'd probably do the same." He huffed.
Bruno laughed. At least Wil didn't think he was crazy.
Wil looked away. Squinting as though he were trying to focus on some distant image. "Still. Ten years. I can't imagine ten years all alone." His voice was sad.
"I wasn't completely alone. I had mi ratas, and Dolores." Bruno corrected. "I can't imagine traveling for ten years. Not being able to see mi familia. Leaving my home behind. You must miss them terribly."
Wilfredo's jaw clenched for a moment as he thought. "There were some days…" He admitted.
"So, why did they- Why did you lose your job." Bruno figured that was less sensitive than asking why his family disowned him.
Wilfredo looked back at him playfully and wagged a finger. "Oh no, I can't tell you that. If I told you everything there was to know about me you might lose interest."
He booped Bruno's nose with his disapproving finger.
"Can't have that, can we? I need someone to keep me entertained until I can rejoin civilization."
"That's not fair!" Bruno protested. "I thought we were sharing! You share something then I share something, and I already told you the most interesting story I've got."
"Qué lástima, I guess I'll just have to find someone more interesting to occupy me now." Wilfredo sighed mockingly.
Bruno shoved him with his shoulder and Wilfredo allowed himself to stumble sideways. He shot Bruno a brilliant smile. Bruno loved that smile. The one that made Wil's nose crinkle and his eyes glitter.