Chapter 13

"kid?"

This is definitely not the way Bruno expected his afternoon to go. The grandchild of the man he once feared long ago is once again on the doorstep of his room. It seems as though had taken a liking to the young teen as she willingly brought in the girl even knowing that no one but Bruno was around the home.

"If you're looking for Mirabel or Camilo, all of them besides me are out and about in town."

"Si, I'm aware . However, I came here to see you, I, I just would like to chat with you for a while if you have the time."

"I- wha- surely you have other friends besides Camilo and Mirabel to hang out with instead of me?"

The girl merely stared at him emotionlessly, adjusting the strap of her bag as she stood there wordlessly in front of Bruno. A long pregnant silence surrounded the two before the young teen decided to shamefully admit:

"... ."

Bruno thought to himself, his hand combing salt and peppered locks as he silently chuckled at the introverted teen in front of him. Widening the door to his room, ushering and welcoming her to come inside. He made her sat on a small stool as he sat on the floor, he wasn't prepared for any visitors at all.

"So... What do you want to talk about?"

He rested his chin on the palm of his hand as he patiently waited for the girl to talk. She was rubbing her ring finger to calm her nerves as she tries to articulate her thoughts, she read it on a book once that telling your problems to someone you barely know would be easier and would feel better as they would give you an unbiased opinion on your thoughts. But to someone such as her, who barely talks to anyone but her close friends and family, doesn't know how to say things that doesn't come off as rude or apathetic.

She handed him one of her father's empanadas, still warm and fresh and wrapped delicately in a paper bag. A silent bribe to let her vent to him— not that Bruno would know, but he'd gladly take the free food anyways.

"I don't know what I'm feeling."

"Very straight to the point, nice." He replied, taking a munch on the empanada he was given. he would like to say if not for the nervously fidgeting child in front of him. A stark contrast to her previously calm and mildly intimidating demeanor the first time he met her,

"And it's all Camilo's fault." She continued, eyes glaring down to her lap with her hand tightly gripping her dress leaving evident creases after.

"He once said that what I'm feeling is love, with the weird feeling in my stomach and with my heart beating ever so quickly."

"Yup, definitely love symptoms."

"But is love supposed to hurt at times, ?"

"What do you think, is love supposed to hurt?"

The girl ponders for a bit, a hand reaching her chin as to focus on giving the most probable answer.

"I don't think so, ."

A common answer, and the most sensible one he supposed.

"I see, well in my experience, love can hurt at times, and it's perfectly normal! We're human after all, it's perfectly normal to make mistakes as long as you sincerely apologize and learn from it." He began, standing up from the slightly sandy floor he once sat upon to walk near the girl.

"Love hurts sometimes because of miscommunications, not telling them what's wrong and that what they're doing is hurting you, trust me, oh I'm definitely not one to tell people my problems, that's why I ruin almost every relationship I've been on. I overthink too much, my, my anger issues, self-esteem issues—oh, I definitely have those, eheh."

"But what if you told them everything you feel and they still didn't change? What if they still continue to hurt you?" The girl asked, not minding Bruno's rambling and going slightly off topic.

Bruno took another bite on his empanada as he pat her shoulders gently, a little rat climbed up to his shoulders quietly peeking its little snout at the girl.

"That is what we call a toxic relationship. Best to get out of those as soon as possible, that is certainly "

The young teen could see the little rat nodding its tiny head, as if agreeing to Bruno's words.

"But anyways, you're asking a single old man for advice. You should ask , Pepa about those kind of things, she's... Much better than me with emotions. Wait a minute, who's this mystery person that you love anyways?" Bruno asked, once again taking a bite on the empanada on his hand, it really is tasty. He might ask Julieta to make his some if she has the time.

"Camilo."

He choked on his food, coughing for a bit. His hands rubbing circles on his own chest as he tries to recuperate. The girl in front of him, flinched as she watched the man choking on her father's specialty, she concludes that he might like empanadas a bit too much.

"My , eh? Good luck with that, he can be quite the handful."

"Please don't tell anyone..." The girl murmured, eyes looking away from Bruno as she nervously rubs her ring finger once again. The little rat that once was on Bruno's shoulder has reached its way to the young lass and nuzzled it's face on her hands, as if trying to comfort her. She found the little critter's actions to be cute and sweet, gently petting the rat with her two fingers.

"Don't worry kid, I'm good at keeping secrets! I, uh, I don't think Dolores is quite good at that department though."

She gasped, she felt like a fool as letting such information slipped out on her mind. The little rat skittered away as the girl stood up, who is almost frozen in place, unable to think of what she should do.

Are the thoughts that circled Bruno's mind as he watched her slowly and robotically move in place. It was almost comical.