𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 | Isabela x Reader

Under The Midnight Sky

You made sure to keep your promise not to leave, as well as one you made to yourself: that you'd forget and ignore the part of your heart that burned for Isabela.

You knew, that Dolores was trying harder than you, more than anyone—just to get better and be happy. And she deserved your whole heart.

Scratching your head in annoyance, you groan. Twisting and turning on your bed before abruptly screaming into your pillow, you let out a frustrated sigh.

Insomniac nights had become more frequent. Dolores went as far as coming to see you, and spending the night with you as much as she could, even when her Abuela started tightening her leash on her.

Eventually, you kept your frustrations to a bare minimum, just so she wouldn't go out of her way for you. Unfortunately, a mere hour or zero sleep took a tough toll on your body, it only made you feel weaker than you already were.

It's been a month since your first kiss, and not once has the curse of your unrequited love ghosted its presence in your lungs.

Dolores had been nothing but the sweetest. It only made you wonder how much longer such happiness would last.

Taking another deep breath, you sneak out of your window, climbing down with light feet. Abuelita had the sharpest ears in town next to Dolores. She would immediately hear you the moment a single creak in the house resounded. Maybe that's why they got along so well.

Wrapping your shawl tighter around your body, you walk across town in the dead of night. It was comforting, nothing but the sound of the wind, and the trees blowing could be heard.

You could only wish the town was always this peaceful.

"Who- who's there?" A shaky feminine voice asks, clearly spooked by the sound of footsteps.

The sudden voice also makes you jump slightly, your eyes meeting as you intersect in a corner. "Hey..." you whisper, the cold air carrying the lightness in your voice along with it.

"Hi." Isabela breathes out, pulling her scarf up to her nose with her fingertips, slightly shaking. "You... couldn't sleep either?"

You smile gently, placing your hands in your pockets. "Clearly. Unless sleepwalking includes sharing coherent conversations with someone else in the middle of the night."

Isabela lets out a chuckle in slight disbelief. "I can't believe you. You think you're so funny."

"Honey, I am." The endearment rolls off of your tongue almost too naturally, and it almost scares you to see her reaction.

She takes a step closer, and your figures are now clear as the two of you stand underneath a well-lit tree in the neighborhood.

Her smile is playful, her eyes filled with mischief at the conversation. It had felt right, even after all this time of not speaking to one another.

As Isabela scans your face, she places a hand against your cheek gently, caressing the dark rims in your eyes. The tenderness in her touch almost felt strong enough to ruin you, to ruin the resolve you had to stay with Dolores.

Her eyes are filled with worry before she catches herself and takes steps back. Turning away in embarrassment, she covers her face with one hand. "Sorry, sometimes I forget that you're already in a relationship."

Just being with her already made it feel like you were cheating on Dolores. Seeing the smile you put on her face, the worry in her gaze, the defenses she once again had down... all of it was becoming too much to withstand.

You could only pray, that Dolores would appear—that she'd pull you close and remind you why you chose each other and how far you've come.

"What, does it seem that unbelievable to you?" You tease her, nudging her gently as the two of you start strolling across town.