𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐔

Play Matchmaker

Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I can no longer recognize the person in front of me.

How did I get here?

2 MONTHS AGO...

BRUNO'S POV

CASITA

From the breakfast table, I watched, in front of me, Pepa and Antonio. A rainbow sprouted from her head. On my right, Julieta was kissing Mirabel, who was actually Camilo, on the cheek. Isabela was making a floral crown for her father over to my left.

I was surrounded by children. Everywhere I looked, there was one of them.

Upon witnessing this and having Ma speak to me about it, I made the decision to take action. However, my odds of succeeding on my own were extremely slim. Unless they wanted their future disclosed, women—or people in general—wouldn't come near me.

That's when an idea began to form in my head.

SOMEWHERE IN TOWN

While the rest of the family went to the market to carry out their jobs, I was doing something entirely different. I was looking for someone, someone with whom I felt confident enough to make this wager with.

A nearby crash startled people in the area. The cart wheel of the man's fruit stall had broken off... again.

"Oh no!" The fruit man exclaimed as he watched his fruits scattered all around. Fortunately for him, help had arrived in time.

I spotted someone, a figure I instantly recognized. The same person I needed.

One hand magically lifted the fallen fruits from the ground while the other magically reattached the wheel back onto the cart in a single motion.

"Thank you, very much Evangelina. You are a star."

She flashed her pearly whites. "Oh, it's nothing."

She noticed and waved at me. "Good morning, Bruno."

"I want to talk to you about a wager I have."

"When your best friend says 'Good morning,' you have to say it back."

I choked down the laughter that was threatening to come out of me. She's titled herself as my "best friend," but I've never seen her that way.

"It's the best, easiest thing you can do for me, and I promise to be nicer to you if you succeed." I saw the glint of interest in her smile. "Before I ask what it is, you gotta say it first."

"Eva-"

"Nuh-uh, say it."

My lips pressed together. Nothing I said or did would get past her without a nice gesture. As long as I've known her, she was well aware that I didn't do "nice," but still did this dance with me.

I deeply inhaled before I muttered. "Good morning."

She raised her hand to her ear. "What?"

"Good morning." I repeated a little louder.

"C'mon." She smirked.

"Good morning!!!" My loud voice caught the attention of the people around us.

"Yeah, I heard you the first time." Her smirk expanded.

"Gaahh." I frowned.

We relocated to a secluded location near the woods to talk. The huge trees hovered above us, shielding us from the blazing ball in the sky.

"So what is this wager?"

"I want... a bride." I gritted my teeth, saying those last two words.

In disbelief, the short woman's eyes widened. 'Maybe my ears were not cleaned, or the sentence came from another man's mouth at the same time he was talking.' I assumed those were the thoughts going through her head.