Love Me for Eternity || Bruno Madrigal

Chapter 2: El Padre Rata

4 YEARS LATER

—

Mateo Alcantara was a mess.

Correction, he is a worried mess of a man.

His daughter was just beside him. You were just there. You were petting your favorite sheep two minutes ago. But when he turned to guide a wandering lamb, you disappeared out of his sight.

How many times has it been this week? Four times, maybe six? It's still Tuesday, for goodness sake. Your sudden disappearances are a common occurrence, but he was always worried for you every single time you had your little disappearing act.

He frantically looked around the pasture for any signs of his little girl, but he was met with deadpan looks from his flock of sheep while they slowly chewed on grass.

Mateo couldn't help but think his flock was mocking him.

How could he lose such a ball of energy on a field? A flat field!

"Ay, mierda, mi vida, where are you?" He muttered under his breath. Just before he could turn back to his house, he yelped in surprise at your curious stare. Dios mio, you would have given him a heart attack sooner than later if you keep appearing out of thin air.

"Papi, what's mierda?" You tilted your head to the side. You were so adorable, Mateo thought. Your round doe eyes, your chubby cheeks, the way you swayed side to side while you wait for his answer—

You would've been so much cuter if you hadn't asked that question, though.

Mateo cleared his throat and collected his bearings. He took a knee to match your height; putting a hand on your shoulder and looking at you with such intensity that you were afraid he was going to scold you.

"Mi vida, it is a bad word. A very, very bad word. Even worse if your Madrina Alma hears it, so make sure you don't say that word in front of her, hm? She'd be really mad." He tells you with great seriousness. Why didn't Madrina Alma like that word, you asked yourself.

You scanned your father's face and took in his unnatural seriousness. In his eyes was a bit of... fear? Fear of what, though?

"But papi, you still haven't told me the meaning of that word." You quipped.

"When you're older, mi amor. I'll tell you when you're older." You weren't convinced.

"But I'm already old." You pout. Of course you were old! You were four years old already, five in a few months! You could understand grown up talk now, so of course you're already old!

Your father laughs and sets a firm hand on your head, ruffling the hair you just brushed this morning with great difficulty. You huffed at the man angrily, your cheeks puffed out in defiance. Papi just ruined your hair!

"Just trust me, amor. You're not old enough to know. And just make sure that your madrina doesn't hear you say that word; she can be reeeally scary when she's mad, you know?"

"Oh, am I now?" You swore you've never seen your papi whip his head so fast with his eyes so wide you were afraid they'd pop right off. The fear in his eyes grew, as if staring at El Muerte himself. The sweat on his brow drips on the corner of his cheeks. He gulps audibly as Alma Madrigal approaches with her children. You waved at them excitedly, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of your friends. They waved back with the same energy, well, most of them did. Bruno gripped on his mother's skirt and gave you a shy wave while Pepa and Julieta practically vibrated where they stood.