Little Dolores was a perceptive girl.
Even before she had gotten her gift, she was already perceptive to the things around her; Pepa's mood swings, Felix's jovial mannerisms, her Tio Agustín's accident-prone tendencies, her Tia Julieta's constant worry for everyone's health, she even noticed the little things about her abuela that made her scared of the older woman despite her unconditional love she had for her; the sideways glance, the twitch of her mouth when she got annoyed, the clearing of her throat when she was upset, the way she would wrap her shawl around her when she noticed something astray, the way she raised her chin at defiant members of the community—those little actions made her grandmother... Well, in a word, intimidating. Dolores doesn't know how to describe it, really. As much as she wanted to run and shy away from her abuela, she also wanted to make her proud, to make her not do those unnoticeable mannerisms when she was talking to her.
She wanted to be better than the golden child whose hand was always in Alma's own
Maybe that was why her Tio Bruno favored her more than Isabela. Her older cousin liked to make her tio smile, yes. But she lacked the insight to see the things that were beyond the notice of a normal five year old, more dedicated to impressing abuela than she did with the other members of the family. Granted, Dolores is younger than Isabela, and she still didn't get her gift, but she prided the fact that she was more perceptible compared to kids from her age; she always knew what to say to calm her Tio Bruno down, always knew when to interject with her doe-like eyes to get him out of an uncomfortable position, always knew how to make him stop his superstitious mumblings when she tripped on a rock.
When she asked you certain things—childish musings, really—she noticed how you'd have a faraway look in your eyes, as if reminiscing something that was beyond the plane of what was known for a four year old at that time. You only replied with vague answers, some words mixed with a lie fit for a child her age. But Dolores always knew. She was smart enough to not fall for your stories. At least, that was what she believed.
Dolores asked that day; "Do you know what's outside the Encanto, tia?" You would stop—pause from scooping a portion of rice to feed Luisa—and ponder for a while, spoon still mid-scoop. It was weird, Dolores thought. Her mind raced like a four year old's would and wondered what would make you so... despondent to an innocent question. This piqued Dolores' utmost curiosity. It took a while of waiting for your answer, but Dolores was a patient girl.
"...There's beautiful things outside, mi sobrina. But at the same time, it's very very dangerous." You replied. You scooped a handful of rice and scrambled egg, fed it to Luisa with a smile, a forced one, Dolores noticed, and repeated the process without regarding her niece as much as a sideways glance. She tilted her head, confused.
"How did you know that?" You paused again, but this time, it took you less of a time to recover. With a sigh through the nose, you put the spoon down, dabbed Luisa's mouth with a napkin, and turned to your eager niece. Dolores noticed your eyebrow twitch, and that usually meant you were hiding something.
"I just do. I'm your tia, after all." You continued to tend to the whining Luisa, who was already pointing at her bottle of milk. She knew you would end that conversation there, but Dolores was adamant.
"Can't you tell me? Please? I can keep a secret!" Dolores gave you her widest, cutest, most adorable doe eyes ever, jutting her bottom lip out in a pout. "Please, please, please? With a cherry on top?"
She continued to repeat her words like a broken record, continuing on for literal minutes while you continued to feed your youngest niece. You would fall for this—you always do! Dolores knows you could never resist her charms. You and her Tio Bruno have never denied a request when she pulled this face. She knew you'd give in. She knew she was even cuter than Isabela. She knew you'd say—
YOU ARE READING
Love Me for Eternity || Bruno Madrigal
FanficAs the daughter of the town's watchman, you've always been fixated on the outside world. Bruno has supported you with this dream ever since you were five. However, your brash decisions might have caused your own downfall when you have come to hate t...
