Love Me for Eternity || Bruno Madrigal

Chapter 29: Cracking Disputes

It's been thirty minutes since Alma and Bruno came inside the room.

During the time you waited outside your madrina's glowing door, you anxiously paced around while trying your best to hear what was going on inside. You hear the undeniable sounds of Alma's harsh scolding, her voice raising to a record volume you have never heard before. But despite the fact that her tone grew along with your rising anxieties, you still couldn't make out most of the words being spoken inside closed doors.

You were terrified for Bruno. You had only ever seen him being dragged to Alma's room when he did something bad—but that was back when you were still kids! You knew the intensity of your madrina's rage whenever she requested a talk alone in her room, and didn't leave such a nice impression on the both of you.

Thirty minutes turn to thirty five—still no sign of Bruno or Alma.

You whip your head to peer below the railings of the mezzanine to see your father enter, face flushed and sweaty. He looked like he ran all the way from casa Alcantara to the casita in haste. Mateo looked around to see the mess that Pepa's almost-hurricane caused inside the home; overturned chairs, scattered petals, tipped vases, even the paintings were out of place. Casita had done an amazing job to clean itself up, but there was only so little that it could do.

"What happened here? Is everything alright? I came as soon as I saw a storm forming above the casita," your father huffed as soon as he reached you. You held on tightly to his sleeve and sniffed, holding back the tears from your stress. Noticing your distress, he quickly pulled you to him with his good arm and kissed the top of your head, tucking some stray hairs from your forehead and ducking down to clearly see your face, " Oye, mijita, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"We—Bruno and I tried to explain to Pepa about yesterday and that set her off and created a huge storm and now Bruno is inside being scolded by mama and—and she won't let me come in to comfort Bruno and I'm scared for him, papi—" You said in one go, almost breathless from your explanation. He took in the information as his eyes widened, darting his eyes towards Alma's room. He knew what had transpired yesterday, and if the storm was any indication of the matriarch's wrath, then he could only fear for Bruno. He wasn't worried if Alma would physically hit the boy, no. She would never do that (and he thinks Casita wouldn't allow such a thing either). What worried him the most were her words; they cut deeply into the hearts of those listening. Although it's a great quality to have as a leader, it wasn't the best for bursts of anger, especially not with how Bruno was sensitive to such scoldings.

"How long have they been in there?" He asked. You sniffed and gripped his sleeve tighter.

"About thirty; maybe forty minutes?" You answered, unsure.

That worried Mateo.

Just as he was about to knock on Alma's glowing door, it swung open to reveal her and Bruno. She was holding her head up high with her brows set into a frown. You peered over her shoulder to see Bruno; eyes puffy, eyebags darker, and anxiously rubbing his arm. As soon as he stepped out, you immediately went to his side and gave him an embrace, rubbing comforting circles on his back. He seemed to flinch on the contact, but he minutely returned the gesture by leaning on to you—just slightly. That confused you; he was so open with his affections before. What happened?

"Are you alright, mi vida? " You whispered against his ear. He paused, his body stilling. He sighed through his nose and whispered back (you weren't even sure if it was a whisper. It was too quiet; like the pawsteps of a scampering rat).

"I'll tell you later..."

Mateo stepped up to face Alma. She could only reply with that same stone cold face she gave him last night. He frowned and gestured for you and Bruno to his room, " Mija, mijo, go to your room. I'll need to have a talk with Alma."