what the future holds.

cold empanadas

Bruno's leg bounced anxiously, his large doe eyes darting from the multicolored autumn leaves to his rippling reflection in the water, to the box of now cold empanadas in his hands. 

"Esto es estupido," he grumbled out loud. He's been sitting here for almost an hour waiting on the teen he met yesterday. 

He was supposed to meet you in the same area and make sure your foot healed from Julieta's food. 

This was also a chance to get closer to you, Bruno's mind voiced, much to his dismay.

"...Was I that desperate that I made a fake vision last night?" he laughed dryly, looking down at the day-old pastries. "Can I even make fake visions?"

Speaking of visions, Bruno never did his scheduled fortune tellings today. He stole some of Julieta's empanadas and immediately made his way here. His mother was going to have his head...

This wasn't about his mother now, this was about making sure you were safe. He was sure you would be grateful for his perfect timing. "See? I'm being useful to the Madrigal family, using my gift for the better," he voiced sarcastically, a sour taste lingering in his mouth.

...He was desperate to see you. Bruno palmed his face softly in embarrassment, feeling the heat radiate off his cheeks. Just thinking about your stained poncho made him smile, he realized he still never got your name.

He looked back at his reflection in the water, fixing any loose curls in his hair. Subconsciously wanting to look better than the way he was found yesterday. Bruno frowned, remembering how his mother scolded him for being soaked and almost catching a cold in the autumn weather. 

Looking up at the sky, he could feel his leg start to bounce again. "Dios Mio, where are they?" He aired impatiently. He placed the box of empanadas down and wrung his hands anxiously, now looking back at his nervous reflection in the water. 

Bruno was starting to be convinced that he could make fake visions.

Suddenly, a quick pattern of footsteps to his right, and there you were. Bruno's chest inflated with hope, a smile growing on his face.

You seemed to not have noticed him, looking down at the ground, focused, on trying to catch something. You pounced down, clutching your hands in a ball. A smile of victory was present on your face. You opened your palms a little, observing whatever you caught before closing them again. That's when you looked up.

The first thing that seemed to light up was your eyes, as you looked as happy as him. "Is that Bruno Madrigal!?" You exclaimed, smiling brightly, quickly crouching down to release whatever you caught, it seemed to be a field mouse. 

You waved, now jogging towards him. 

Bruno's eyes fell to the ground, now noticing the large pointy rock by the pond. His genuine smile turned into a strained one, looking back up at you, choosing to stare at your orange poncho. "H-Hey!" He exclaimed, his voice cracking as well. An anxious wave rolled over his body. 

You were still barefoot, not even paying attention to the upcoming danger. You took large strides to get to the shore, "So you actually came back, huh? I wasn't expecting it to be so soon. You missed me that much?" You teased, oblivious to Bruno's worried look. 

"Yeah! Of course, I'd come back. You seemed..." 

He tried to think of any words that wouldn't embarrass him.

"..Cool," Bruno mumbled, his eyes darting from the rock to you. Your fate was coming too quickly for his liking, and you were oh so oblivious to it. He held his breath, crossing his fingers from underneath his poncho, eyes trained on your steps. 

"Cool, huh? I wouldn't say t-MIERDA!" Your easy-going smile dropped, your foot being impaled by the sharp rock. Bruno's hand flew to his mouth, and stood up hastily to aid you, the box of empanadas flying out his lap. The cold pastries were now scattered across the grass. You flopped to the ground, crying and clutching your foot tightly. 

"Holy fuck. Oh my god, Uh-let me see!" Bruno held his arms out, trying to take your foot into his hands but you only backed away like a frightened animal. His mind was flooding with guilt, he should have warned you at least! He could see the blood staining your skin and dripping into the grass. His tears started to prick in his eyes.

Bad Luck Bruno strikes again.

"I'm-I'm so sorry," He hiccuped, rubbing his eyes. You only stared, holding your foot in a vice grip but still mindful of the large rock. Your sniffles made him look down at you. Your face was stained with old and new tears, and your eyes were red from crying, Bruno could feel his throat tighten at the sight. He took a long stare at your bleeding foot, and he sighed.

"...we gotta take the rock ou-"  You cut him off hastily. 

"NO! It-It'll hurt," You whimpered, choosing to stare at the grass. Bruno softly forced your hands away from your foot. The rock was lodged pretty deep into your sole. He hissed, his face contorted into pity and a bit of disgust. The grotesque sight before him did not help. 

"It's...not that deep." He lied, trying to ease your worries. He took a large chunk of the rock, ready to pull. You cried at the sudden touch, realizing what he would do, and tried pulling back, only for Bruno's on your ankle to tighten. A look of determination was worn on his face. 

"This might hurt," he refused to look at you, closing his eyes like he was bracing for the pain, and yanked the rock out. The sound of your short scream made his heart weep, and at the same time, your other foot kicked him away. Bruno fell back into the yellowing grass, scrambling back up to kneel beside you. He held his hands up in surrender, shaking them widely in mild panic.

"I'm sorry! We needed to take the rock out! Please don't be mad, I-I can...I can.." All words died in his throat, now clenched in fear from the glare you gave him. You were still huddled up in a fetal position, hands now trying to cover the wound. Bruno could feel his heart hammering out his chest, quickly looking down to avoid your gaze. Tears were starting to build up, but he refused to cry. 

The uncomfortable silence grew, and Bruno took that as a sign to stand up and turn around, you seemed to hate him, now. 

His eyes then glanced at the scattered empanadas on the grass. He gasped loudly, bending down to snatch one up and turn his heel quickly. He shoved the empanada in your face, "Eat it," He demanded. 

Your glare grew colder, thinking he was joking in a painful time like this. Bruno fidgeted but kept the hard pastry in your tear-streaked face. "You have to eat it, it'll help! I swear," He pleaded, his eyes quickly glancing from your foot to your face. 

You seemed to comply reluctantly. Taking the empanada and biting a chunk angrily. You continued to glare at him the whole time, chewing angrily until you paused, looking down at your foot.

Bruno looked down as well, smiling as the large gash in your foot seemingly closed itself up until there was nothing but a small scar where the injury was. He glanced at you, clearly proud at the shocked and astonished look you wore. 

"I told you so," He teased, only for you to kick him again with your healed foot. He fell back with a yelp, pouting a bit.

(OH MY GOD, I'M SO SORRY. IT'S BEEN WHAT, MONTHS????)