Future We Hold (On Hiatus)

Chapter 45

As the noon closely arrived neigh of horses is but a near distance. The teacher beckoned the volunteers as she made them line up with their luggage by their side.

"All of you children gather 'round, make a line and we see the ones that can come" she said

The courier arrived beaming with a smile. As he handed the teacher the bundle of papers.

"All's well madame, the letters arrived safely with each one a reply. Safe travels children. I must return immediately to mi familia" he said as he once again got on his horse.

But before he got to go he paused and scanned the group.

He spotted the locket and went to the owner.

"Ay señorita, a favor would you mind?" He asked.

"Ah si señor, what can I help you with?" She asked.

"Over there do you see the horse? " He instructed. She looked and nodded

"Si I see, what should I do with the horse?" She asked

"His name is Emmanuel and he would love to see you" he said as he smiled and rode off again back to the village.

"Emmanuel? As in papá's little Emmanuel?!" She exclaimed as she went to excuse herself to her teacher.

To which Esperanza agreed to and let her leave.

She briskly went to the horse by the fairly sturdy tree.

As she was about to launch herself at the horses chest, arms spread wide caught her and squeezed her tightly by a hard chest.

She was stunned, unable to speak. She looked up to see the slightly taller frame of a man hooded and tired. The man turned around behind the tree with her to avoid the eyes of the class from afar.

His shallow breathing and the small whimper from the impact he made leaning on the tree.

Instantly she knew who it was.

"Bruno? Is it really you Bruno?!" She exclaimed as she got out of his tight squeeze and she herself engulfed him in her own loving arms.

Her arms hung on his neck as she tried to cling her legs on his torso over the excitement.

"Ay dios mió, amor calm down we might fall". He said as he looked at her still smaller frame.

He can't help but see the difference of three years on her face. A little baby fat still present in her cheeks but her eye became more  bright and defined. Her body grew slightly taller than when she was ten. Her hair grew longer and wavier.

But her smile.

Her smile remained full of life and wonder.

"What are you doing here?! How did you get here? You were the surprise that the courier said!" She continues on as she got back on her feet and shook his hands rapidly.

In the process this caused the hood of Bruno to slide down and rest on his shoulder

The movements stopped and Bruno tried to hide his face but it was too late for y/n had already saw his face.

"Santa Maria... You lied again." She said as she caressed his face.

Bruno panicked and feared that she would hate him.

But when he saw her sad face, he felt more worried for her.

"Oh why are you sad. Do you not like me here?"

"No no, I like seeing you here. But what I don't like is that you promised to take care of yourself. But I can't see that promise at all" she said as she brought her hand to herself again.

She went and took the reigns of Emmanuel and brought him closer to her.

"I'm sorry, I just got so worried and you didn't come back for three years, not even a visit. I thought you have forgotten about us, forgotten about me" he said guiltily.

"I didn't forget about you, I just haven't had the perfect timing to come back. And now I'm even more scared for you, I will be leaving to volunteer far away... What will you do?" She asked as she stepped back and  gave a wide space between them.

Bruno felt dread as he saw her back away.

He tried to step forward but she took two backwards.

"Please don't leave... Let me come with you, don't leave me behind again"
He said hastily as he reached forward and grabbed her skirt and begged.

"No... Stop doing that" she said as she kneeled.

"Bruno, stop this I am not leaving because I want to leave you, I am leaving to learn and become capable on my own" she said as she grabbed his hands and held them tight.

"You don't have to. You can depend on me I will stand up for you just don't leave" he said desperately.

"Can you defy and stand against your mother?"

Silence followed and that's all she had to hear to confirm.

"I knew you can't, and I don't want you to rebel against her, but I need assurance that you can stand up for me and the future we hold. I can't just come back and expect the day she will have me out the Encanto" she said as she looked to the side at Emmanuel.

"I'm different Bruno, I can feel it in me. Maybe I was too young saying this but I know that your mamá has a reason for being suspicious of me around you three. She doesn't see me as equal to you or your name" she said standing from her previous position.

" But i—"

He said as he feared for a moment that she knew she was not from the Encanto.

" Stand on your own Bruno, stand on your own feet and show her, show THEM that you are not what they say, not what they believe before" she said.

" It's time you become a man and prove them wrong" she said

" Will you come back?"

" Always"

" Go home Bruno and make a name for your own, be brave and face them head on. Your are the Bruno Madrigal, the future seer, the one I trusted my future with."

" I will, until we meet again?"

" Until we meet again"