Summary:
ACT I: BRUNO
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Bruno's nightly conversation with his oldest sister, Julieta, turns a tad depressing when she unwittingly brings up a painful memory.
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"I don't know, Bruno, it's been a year since you've been there and all you've gotten are small gigs."
The room was dark, save for the light that was coming off from the phone Bruno held in his hands. His sister's face on the screen twisted with one of worry, and he knew she would be going off another one of her tirades.
It became a habit of theirs to talk to each other every night unless something else came up that didn't allow them to. Tonight, it was just him and Julieta, as Pepa couldn't join because she had "an immediate, important project to complete". His sisters were not much older than he is, though being the youngest of a set of triplets made him the baby.
Bruno didn't mind it for the most part, unless they start making decisions for him.
"Maybe you should reconsider?" Julieta pursed her lips as she turned to look behind her, checking to see if any nurses would be calling for her at this hour. "Mamá's been asking me why you haven't even bothered to call her or come home to visit. I know you aren't on good terms, but she's just worried, and…"
"Julieta, not this discussion again," Bruno huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm doing just fine here. You all don't have to worry about me. I'm eating well, I have a roof over my head, and I do have a job at this coffee shop…"
"Wow. A coffee shop." She snorted. "Terribly cliché work for an aspiring actor such as yourself…"
Bruno grimaced. "Laugh all you want. It's the only job that's flexible enough to allow me to go to all those auditions when I need to. You know I'm not cut out for a regular 9 to 5 like the rest."
"And what do you call me then? Not normal?"
The feedback image of Julieta's face became shaky as she tried to hold back her laughter. "You're different, Doctora Madrigal," Bruno's lips twitched in amusement. "Amazing that you have time to even drop by for a quick chat. Aren't you in the middle of your shift right now?"
"Nothing urgent needs my attention yet." Julieta managed to steady herself. "And I'm on a quick break. Why? Are you shooing your hermana away?"
"No, just concerned for your patients."
"They'll be fine." She nonchalantly waved a hand. "I'm just glad it's a quiet night tonight. It's been a bit overwhelming these past few weeks, you know?"
The twinkle of a jewel on her finger made Bruno sigh. He still couldn't believe it. His oldest sister, the serious Julieta, was now engaged. Agustín must be something to capture his sister's heart like that. "How's Agustín, by the way?" He asked.
The look on Julieta's face brightened. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled as she thought of her beloved. "The same. Clumsy as hell, adorable as always. He's working on finishing up his Diplomaed as soon as possible so we can finally set a wedding date."
Bruno hummed in thought. His future cuñado did have a penchant for learning. One bachelor's degree wasn't enough. If he hadn't met Julieta, the man would probably have ten. Though, it made sense why Julieta would be attracted to Agustín, what with his wits and intelligent conversation. Plus, she found him amusing, too. The way they first met, according to his sister, was almost comical, when he was trying to grab a book from the highest shelf for her and he bumped his head…
"Speaking of which," Julieta continued. "…you're coming home for our engagement party, right? You better not back out or make any excuses or I will be so pissed at you."
"Me? Like I would dare miss it! Of course, I'd come over to see you, but only for the party, okay? No discussions with Mamá about how I'm doing here, or I'll bolt."
"Yes, I'll be on my best behavior, Bruno." Julieta's nose crinkled and gave her brother a knowing look. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask…how's your love life going? I bet you have a whole lot of girls chatting you up more than usual? City girls are on a different level." She laughed. "Will you be bringing someone special over? Just so we can make enough room…"
An awkward silence fell the moment the words left her mouth. The room suddenly felt cramped, suffocating Bruno. It was all in his head, but the four walls looked like they were enclosing him, threatening to crush his spirit. He may have not liked how his family had always wanted to know his affairs, but he hated conversations that reminded him that he was irrevocably, undeniably, alone. His sisters all had someone else besides them three, someone who isn't family that took them as they are and loved them wholeheartedly.
While he? Bruno had no one.
Beeping noises on Julieta's end thankfully cut their conversation short that he didn't need to answer. He couldn't, anyway. His mind was too busy reeling from the rush of memories, ones that he would very much want to forget.
"Bruno?" Julieta puffed, bringing Bruno back to the present. "Lo siento, but I've got to go. I've just got a call for a patient and I'm needed at the emergency room. Let me know the details soon, okay? Te quiero, hermano! Bye!"
The line disconnected and Bruno stared at his own face staring back at him from the darkened screen. A dreary feeling gripped his heart, the voice of the past reached out into his present once again. It has indeed been too long since Bruno had to face the reality that maybe he's destined for a life of solitude, or maybe, it was never in his cards to begin with.
The lights outside his window sparkled like stars, inviting him to take a dive and to find the jewels within its streets. He forced himself up from his seat to see. Maybe some music and a drink in hand would help him drown out the thoughts of a lost love running in his head.
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Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
Doctora - Doctor (feminine)
