𝒮𝑒𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 <<Bruno Madrigal>>>

Chapter 16

Ten years passes by, along with numerous fights and isolation, Carina was still not wed to any men in Encanto. She rebelled against her mother over and over, and even showed that side to the guests whenever they'd try to seek a proposal with her. None of them cared enough to see through her mind, none of them wanted to tame the least bit of soul left in her. She felt alone, and it seemed better to be that way than to deal with another disappointing outcome. Unlike before though, Carina did give them chances, but they're nothing and will never be like Bruno.

Angelo never returned, not after the last exchange she'd had with the Madrigals. The Guerrero family continued on with their life out of the top levels of socializations, both from Haidi's jealousy of Alma and from her daughter's stoic nature. The old woman continued to be the town's midwife, already giving up on Carina with obvious sighs and tired glances every now and then and just focused on her son's future, which today is when he'd try to court the woman of his dreams.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come with?" Haidi asks without turning her head to Carina who's babysitting a one year old grandchild of their neighbor.

"I'm fine. I've got work to do here," was what she replied while fixing up lunch for her and the child, without so much as a glance to Haidi.

As soon as her mother is out the door, it was Julio who took her place in the conversation, "You're not wishing me luck, Carina?"

"You don't need me to wish it, I can already tell that everything will go smoothly for you." As it had always been, the woman thought to herself.

"There's still a 1% chance she'll say no, but then again, it's all about what the family thinks of me."

"You'll do fine, Julio. You got a great life ahead of you—oops! Bianca, don't reach for the pot, you'll burn yourself," she talks to the one year old as if she understands a word she's saying.

The grown man shakes his head, sighing, "You always say that, yet you're not setting much of an example. You're 40 and still single, babysitting toddlers and busying yourself with work."

Carina points the steaming ladle that is so dangerously near of being thrown at him, "Do not ever say a woman's age out loud, it's either me or your future wife who will be dragging you to an early grave."

Julio raises both his hands in mock surrender, "Alright, alright, sheesh. Is that what old age does to people?" He dodges the ladle and runs out the house, leaving Carina on her own little world with Bianca to take care of.

It's not to say he doesn't care, Julio just doesn't know what to do for her. He's the type who's all words than action after all. Besides, with all the things flooding his mind, on top of another thing that weighs his conscience, the grown man couldn't fathom to think about adding up more to his endless list that he couldn't even solve on his own.

Julio sighs and clutched the bouquet he made, which actually consisted of desert. Marina dreamed of it and would surely be thrilled to be given one.

"Here it goes."

*boom

"CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY WEDS!!!"

The whole neighborhood cheered upon the arrival of the couple at the reception. Julio and Marina, finally together after saying their vows in the ceremony, happily danced in the middle of the decorated street along with a few who'd love to join them in the celebration. Carina was right after all, her brother had it easy in life, his was bright and wonderful while hers was destined in this lonely chair, eating a bunch of buñuelos dipped in choco. How bitterly ironic it was for her to be present in this occasion despite her previous chances of having one herself.