Summary:

ACT I: BRUNO
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Bruno gets some news he doesn't expect.

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The theme song for this chapter: Mareado by Camilo

Update 31 July 2023: The ending for this chapter has been rewritten.

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The buzzing noise on his nightstand woke Bruno from his sleep. It happened, annoyingly, multiple times. He ignored it, his hand reaching over to touch the other side of the bed where she should be sleeping, except…

She wasn't.

Bruno immediately jolted awake and the nausea hit. Shit. He drank too much again. He tried to recall anything else but unfortunately came up empty. His clothes from the night before were still strewn all over the floor while he stumbled around his apartment, trying to find her, hoping she didn't leave.

But she was gone.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

He didn't even get her name.

He had his chance last night, and he blew it. Bruno shut his eyes, the memories of her body against him vivid behind his eyelids. Every curve he explored, every stroke he thrusted, every moan she cried out as they consumed their lust. They fucked hard into the night, ruining his good sheets. It was a wild night, and it was perfect.

Until the night ended and reality hit. Why did he mess up like this? He shuffled back to his bedroom, dejected. Was it never meant to be, then?

His eyes casted over the phone on his nightstand. It continued to vibrate, over and over and over. Bruno begrudgingly picked it up and winced, contemplating if he should answer. After a long pause, he answered. "¿Oye?"

He moved it away from his ear when the person on the other line yelled at him. "What the hell, Madrigal? I've been trying to contact you for a good hour! Are you hungover again, you little shit? Do I need to send you to rehab?"

"Julián," Bruno rubbed his temples to ease the throbbing pain that felt like a jackhammer to the skull. A warm bowl of Changuas seemed so good right now, maybe a smoke too. He hadn't touched a cigarette in years, but today felt like he'll break his clean streak. "Lo siento. You caught me at a terrible time. Can I call you back?"

On the other side of town, Julián furiously stared at the road ahead. The rush hour traffic was getting on his nerves and he was late for a very important, albeit last minute, meeting. It didn't help that his soon-to-be star client was being a prick. "No, you dumb fuck. Get your act together, because you got the part."

"What?" Bruno's voice cracked through Julián's earpiece. He ignored the questioning tone as rolled down his windows to yell profanities at another driver. "Julián, are you…driving right now?"

A loud honk and a screech. "Julián?" Bruno began to panic when he didn't get a response. "Parce?"

"Yeah, I'm still here." Julián's voice came through moments later. The world outside started to mute itself, and Bruno guessed that his friend had finally decided to roll up his windows. "I swear some people don't know how to fucking drive…"

"You don't know how to fucking drive, you madman." Relief washed over Bruno, thankful that he did not put his best friend into some accident. Why would he be calling and driving anyway? What kind of news couldn't wait?

Bruno buried himself back into his pillows. It smelled just like her and he felt himself hardening at the thought. Fuck this. He immediately stood up to distract himself by pacing the room to survive this phone call. He knew that he wouldn't have long enough before he caved in if he remained seated. He felt ridiculous being butt-naked, but he was in his apartment and all of the curtains were drawn. It wasn't like he was giving any of his neighbors a free show. At least, he hoped he didn't with what had happened…"What did you say earlier? I wasn't listening."

A long pause and a loud, defeated sigh greeted Bruno on the other end. Oh Dios, dame paciencia. "I swear to God, Bruno, you cannot pull this stunt in front of the director and producer when you meet them," Julián grumbled as he finally reached his destination. He slowly pulled into his parking space, spotting a familiar face waiting for him by his front steps.

"...wait, did you say, director? Parce, what…?"

Julián did not give enough room or time for Bruno to ask any more. "I've got to run. I'll just say this once, okay, because I have things to do today. Listen and listen well. YOU GOT THE PART. You're the new male lead for that casting call you thought you butchered up two weeks ago. Felicidades, Bruno, mi amigo. We've finally got the break you've been waiting for."

The call disconnected, and Bruno just stared at the walls of his home, dumbfounded into silence.

"I'm so jealous! Felicidades, Brunito!"

Bruno laughed at Pepa's toothy grin. It was a miracle how he was able to keep calm the entire day despite receiving the greatest news he had been hoping to get. Maybe it was because there was something else at the back of his mind, one he would very much not want to think about right now. He had to remind himself that he was currently sharing the news to his sisters, who had also been waiting for this moment to arrive. Bruno could not deny that the bond between the three of them is strong, but despite sharing something so long awaited, he still wanted to keep a few secrets to himself.

And also because he would never hear the end of it from his older sisters if they ever found out about…that.

"Where are you right now?" Julieta grabbed the phone away from Pepa. "Are you out celebrating? It sounds so loud where you are…?"

"Me? Oh, uh, yeah, sure?" His eyes scanned the place. No dice. Why did he think it would be a good idea to go back to the bar?

"Hey!" Bruno could hear his older sister shout at the oldest. "You could've just asked me for the phone."

"Sorry Pepa." Julieta apologized, then focused the camera on them both. Her laser focus threatened to bore a hole into Bruno's forehead, if it was any possible through a phone screen. "Are you, Bruno? You don't sound very convincing."

Thankfully, Bruno noticed José observing him out of the corner of his eye. "Uh, can I call you back, Juli?"

"Wait? What?" Julieta began, at the same time Pepa hissed. "Don't you dare drop the–!"

Bruno's phone immediately lit up the moment he ended the call. He quickly placed his phone on airplane mode, blocking his sisters' attempts to reconnect. He had anticipated this and knew that they would be pissed, most especially Pepa. His sisters could badger him about it afterwards, but right now, he needed to focus if he wanted answers.

Bruno ambled over to the counter, armed with the desire to find out who his mystery woman was from the bartender himself.

Amazing. I remembered that information but forgot to ask her damn name…

"Oh, señor! Back again, huh?" José greeted as Bruno settled into a seat. "I'm afraid I can't serve you today, you've been drinking far too often."

"Ah? Lo siento, no, no, no." Bruno brushed off the comment, flustered. "I'm…I'm not here to drink. I mean, unless you just serve regular coffee. I'm still…hungover from that cocktail you gave me last night."

"Pretty strong stuff, isn't it?" José regarded him with a critical look. Bruno felt himself shrink a little in his seat, but thankfully the man lightened up. "Don't worry, I do sell other drinks for patrons who aren't into alcohol. Give me a second." He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Bruno all alone with his thoughts.

The bar was less packed, though, as Julieta noted, still a little loud. There were not many people mingling on the dance floor as no one would be willing to get themselves shit-faced from partying on a Sunday night. Stupid. Of course, she wouldn't be here today. Tomorrow's Monday. But it never stopped her before…?

Maybe it was all because of him. Was she avoiding him?

José cocked an eyebrow when he returned with Bruno's order. "Everything alright, señor?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah. Everything's peachy."

"Hm." José shrugged as Bruno gratefully took the coffee. "Pardon me for being so straightforward, señor, but I feel like it is in my best interest to. You're not here in my bar just for a warm drink, are you?"

Bruno almost choked on his sip of coffee. Is the look on his face that obvious?

A beat and a pause.

"Sorry. The coffee was too hot?"

José ignored Bruno's fumbling. "I used to work in another industry." He started. "It helped me understand what makes all of my customers tick."

Now the coffee accidentally went down the wrong pipe and Bruno struggled to clear his throat. His thoughts were threatening to overtake him again and he had to remind himself that he wasn't doing anything suspicious. He decided to introduce himself instead. "Maestro José, por favor llámame Bruno." He wheezed until he settled. "Just Bruno."

"Ha, okay. Mucho gusto, Bruno. Frequent patrons just call me by name, though I like the sound of 'maestro'."

"Then if you don't mind, I'll continue to call you as such. You're one heck of a bartender. I'm very particular with my coffee."

"I thought as much. You're the only customer I have that ever orders Carajillos."

"You have a reputation of sorts." Her voice, clear as day, whispered near his left ear. Bruno quickly whipped his head to look behind him, half-expecting her presence. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, she had been running in his mind the entire time. Damn, he almost got distracted. Bruno sat up a bit straighter, hoping he didn't look like someone who had lost their mind. If José had noticed anything odd about him, he didn't comment on it. "Maestro," Bruno gulped. "To answer your question about me being here…I assume you can guess why, then?"

José lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Guess? More than that. I'll do you one better. I can tell you why you're here. You're looking for La Diosa."

"¿La Diosa?¿Que?"

"The woman you were with last night."

Bruno's cheeks immediately flushed pink. "Do you…by any chance…"

"Have her number? Not really. She's an acquaintance of mine, but we're not that close, and that is too personal for me to have."

"How did you know I was going to ask about…that?" Bruno eyed José suspiciously. For a moment, the man looked uncomfortable, but then his expression changed in a flash before Bruno could even register it. "That was a wild guess."

"Her name then, maybe? I could probably search her socials…"

"Lo siento." José shook his head. "I only know her by her nickname around these parts. She's…quite secretive."

Bruno had many a rejection, but none ever ended up a dead end. He pressed a hand to his forehead. "The world must be fucking with me."

"¿Perdón?"

"Oh, no, don't mind me. Heh." Bruno made a pained smile. "I was just thinking out loud."

"Might I offer some words of advice, then?"

"Are all bartenders required to?"

"Not really, but I do like making my customers feel at ease, that my bar is a place of comfort and safety for them to be who they want to be. It's good business practice." José nodded towards Bruno's phone. "Don't worry so much. The world may seem like a mess at times, but as long as you believe, it'll be fine. Anyway, you may stay as long as you'd like. I have to excuse myself to check on my other guests. Disculpe."

"No hay problema, maestro. Gracias."

José left Bruno, who sighed into his near-empty cup. Life seemed more complicated than ever. The thought of her danced around between imagination and reality and made it near impossible to breathe. Maybe he wasn't as settled into this kind of life as he thought he was.

Bruno paid for his drink and left, and restored his connection. Another call from his sisters came in, and he answered on the first ring. "Sorry, something urgent came up and I needed to handle it for a bit."

Julieta and Pepa glared at him. "FINE." Pepa huffed. "But I'd have you know that Julieta and I had been waiting for you for like fifteen minutes. It better be life-altering besides that new gig of yours."

"If I told you what show I'd be on, would you stop getting mad at me, Pepita?"

"Deal." Julieta pursed her lips. "But I've got to ask since you didn't answer me the first time…where are you, and what kind of trouble did you get yourself in to put me and Pepa on mute?"

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Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
Changuas - a typical hearty breakfast broth of the central Andes region of Colombia. It has a reputation as a hangover cure.
Oh Dios, dame paciencia - Oh God, give me patience
Felicidades - Congratulations
Llámame - Call me
Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you
La Diosa - The goddess
Que - What
Perdón - Pardon
Disculpe - Excuse me
No hay problema - No problem