𝑀𝐴𝐺𝑀𝐴 | 𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒

𝟐𝟖 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

・𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐀・

"𝐒𝐎, 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 in to get us jobs," Milagro said, her eyes squinted at the Big Belly Burger box sitting on the dining table, "and all you brought back was a hamburger?"

Reina had the same question, and she was sure the rest of the family standing around the table—except for Nana, who was sewing in the living room—was wondering that, too. What a strange interview process.

Jaime gave his sister an amused smile. "Okay, I don't think it's a burger."

She grabbed the top of the chair and leaned closer to him, an incredulous expression on her face. "You haven't looked?"

"She said not to open it. I—"

"Oh, pfft!" exclaimed Rudy, dramatically swinging his head from side to side. "She's not here."

Jaime scoffed. "What?"

"Open it!" his father encouraged in Spanish, and the rest of the family began to chant it along with him.

Jaime sent Reina a pained look, but she just shrugged and gestured toward the box. Rudy was right—how would Jenny know?

"Okay, okay!" Jaime gave in, stopping his family's chants. "One look. Oh, you guys are so childish."

Slowly, he opened the box. Reina put her hand on his shoulder, peering over. Her nose scrunched when she saw what was inside.

It definitely wasn't a burger. Instead, there was a greasy packet of fries and some sort of blue bug-shaped decor the size of her hand.

Rudy scrunched his face. "What the hell is that?"

"Huh. Looks like a bug, right?" Rocio commented.

Alberto's eyebrows furrowed as he gestured toward it. "Why was she hiding it?"

"I don't know," Jaime replied.

"Hmm." Milagro frowned. "It's kind of a letdown."

"The world's biggest tick," Rudy chuckled and slapped Jaime on the back.

"Okay. You guys are the ones who wanted to see it," Jaime pointed out as he began to close the box. His eyes widened when Milagro grabbed the bug. "Hey, hey, hey! Milagro. Okay, look," he pleaded. "Very mature, but she said to not open it, so please—"

"Mmm, she said for you to not open it, bro," she teased, waving the bug in his face.

"Stop, stop! Hey, oye." He groaned when Milagro tossed the bug to Rudy.

"It's heavy. I'm gonna use a motor, all right? I'm gonna get my drill."

Jaime's eyes widened, and he lunged toward his uncle, shouting, "Wait, wait! Don't get the drill!" He snatched the bug from his uncle's hand, rolling his eyes when Rudy gave a dramatic shout of pain. "What are you doing?"

"God," Rudy pouted, holding his arm. "I hate when you do that."

Reina's attention drew back to the bug in Jaime's hand when she realized it was glowing. Jaime, noticing it, too, lifted it up closer to his face, his eyebrows furrowing. Some sort of electric hum was coming from it.

Reina wrinkled her nose. Was it some sort of toy?

"Ooh," murmured Uncle Rudy. "Is that the new Tamagotchi?"

Its legs extended out. It lifted itself up and stood.

"How did you get it to do that?" Reina breathed out.

"I don't know," he replied with a small grin. "Ama, I think it likes me."

Reina screamed in surprise when it leapt and latched itself onto Jaime's face, causing him to stumble back in surprise.