𝒮𝑒𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 <<Bruno Madrigal>>>

Chapter 12

It was general cleaning day for Carina, her and Julio would turn this house upside down to get rid of all dust lingering in every corner. After everything that had happened that day, NOTHING. STILL. CHANGES.

"Won't he misunderstood this?" she cautiously held her breath as Angelo stayed still, face inches from hers, but tilted a little bit to the side to give an impression that they're making out.

"I'm positive that even if he did, he's still going to try to win you over from now on."

And Carina hoped to the heavens above that Angelo's right, otherwise it would be the end of the good friendship she tried so hard to maintain for her and Bruno in the course of 20 years.

"Carina! Bruno's here," Julio's shout from the first floor made her drop the wooden box on her foot, then followed by her silent scream of agony.

'Wait, is this really happening right now?' Carina didn't even have time to register all the possibilities in her mind when she ran down stairs to meet him. And there he was, seated on the chair with a cup of hot chocolate and cheese offered by Julio. He glances up to her, but once they're eyes locked, it quickly averted elsewhere like a similar poles of a magnet. 'What the—? Why did Julio even called out to me for that?' Carina felt so stupid and easily played by her younger brother, as much as she wanted to smack his head right now, their previous conversation might be a reason for her to thank him instead.

"Get you and Bruno to talk things out? Sure, I'll handle it."

—was what he said yesterday night when she sneaked into his room to seek help, just as Angelo instructed her to do.

"I'm sure your brother would believe you. Just from the first time I saw him, I got a feeling that he's capable of analyzing the right and wrong information."

And surprisingly, Julio didn't ask more and just followed through without even a little tease to give her. It's pretty unusual considering he'd always just say something to encourage her to speak up on these things alone. Typical Julio who'd just wait and see what would happen like a commentator and give comments afterwards.

"You two get comfortable. I'm gonna go help mamá gather something she needs," Julio dashes out the door with a book in hand, closing it rather loudly to their faces. It then opens and his head pops in with a look given specifically towards her, then closes it again.

"I-I heard you're busy cleaning the whole house?" he asks awkwardly.

"Yeah..." 'Where the heck should I even start with this?!'

Bruno fidgeted with the cheese, dipping it into the choco "....Can I help?"

Carina stared at him as if she misheard it, "...Are you sure?"

"Of course!—Ow! Ah," he stood up all of a sudden that his hot choco spilled on his ruana, staining the green fabric with a few bits of melted cheese.

'Clumsy as always,' she giggles, coming down to help him wipe it off. Bruno's ears turned pink as she got close, backing towards the door nervously. The woman just then realized that the one she's using is a rug that was used to wipe off dirty corners, and backs away in shock, "Qué chimbada! I am so sorry! This was—I mean, I had just rubbed a dirty cloth on you."

He chuckles and looks at his ruana before taking it off. Right. In. Front. Of. Her. (Only the ruana, okay😂)

Carina's heart skipped at the sudden act, turning away was an instinct she did, but he's still fully clothed so there's really nothing to be shy about. "Hand it over. I'll wash it for you instead."

Bruno shakes his head, "No, it's fine. I'll handle this later."

After letting out a huge sigh, she tossed the rug to the side, "I guess general cleaning would be postponed for now. So, should we go visit Angelo right now? He said you already knew he arrived at an earlier date, I can't believe you hadn't told me." 'I can't believe I'm telling such a straightforward lie for this plan.'

"Sorry... I didn't think it would be best to bother you about it. Since you're tired from helping Pepa with Dolores.." this discussion certainly brought a frown on his face. All he can muster now is a small half smile, "It's really hot up there right now, e-especially now since Pepa is in such a bright and sunny mood. A-And speaking of bright! I heard old man Rico is having a bit of trouble keeping up quota for the pyrotechnic crafts, weren't you interested before on how they're made? How 'bout we help him make some?"

'He's suddenly so talkative,' Carina smiles, nodding at his offer of a different activity for the day. "Sure! Then we could come visit Angelo later, right?" The idea was to slightly give in to any of his moves while still making him feel jealous, for someone who barely knows Bruno, that guy sure can make good decision planning.

"You're palm, it tells me that you'll no doubt succeed in love. There won't be too many hurdles along the way, so rest assured, this plan of mine is full proof!" Angelo promises her with pure determination.

Bruno's smile faltered as he remembers that night he caught them kissing by the forest, but he can't be too late already. This woman did after all confessed to him and he's been here longer for her than that outsider has. There's no way she'd fall for him that easily. Carina isn't that kind of person. "Sure. We'll give him provisions. He... He didn't sneak into the village, did he?"

He's testing her. Carina pondered whether to tell the truth or keep quiet, but since they need Bruno to think she's giving up on his lack of response from him, "No, I don't think he did," was her final answer.

"I see," the man nods, returning to his much more happier self, "I'll wait outside while you get ready."

She nods excitedly, glancing at the mirror nearby where she can see her whole self, dressed in a dusty light colored clothes. 'Am I really doing this? What if I'm just assuming that he'd somehow like me back?' There's still a lot of hesitation in her, but there's no doubt in Carina's heart that she could only love him. If it isn't going to be him, then she wouldn't ever love at all, that much she knows.