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Mirabel sits at the dinner table with her head in her hand as she stares adoringly at Bruno, who sits across from her. He talks and talks about the sports game he and the rats acted out during the day and Mirabel loves listening to every word.
She sighs in longing.
He's looks so cute when he’s so excited.
Suddenly, someone asks her to pass the salt and her heart jumps out of her throat. Oh yeah, the family is here too!
She jolts out of her stupor, making her elbow slip from the table, and smack her head onto the surface. Everyone gasps in surprise, but Mirabel sits back up with a smile. She grabs her head, holding back tears, and laughs a little too loudly. She can't help the embarrassment overtaking her.
"It's all fine! Just an accident- I'm fine."
Everyone looks at her in concern, and Mirabel sees her mother about to open her mouth, probably to tell her to eat some of the dinner in front of her, but then a loud screech of a chair being quickly pushed back interrupts Julieta.
With a worried expression, Bruno makes his way around the table. Mirabel ignores the way everyone follows his movements with their eyes. She thinks Bruno doesn’t care too, by the way he's suddenly beside her, holding her face in both of his hands so he can inspect her face better.
Mirabel's face runs hot for a different reason than embarrassment as Bruno leans in, eyes searching. Anxiously he asks, "Are you okay- can I help you? Where does it hurt?"
Tongue stuck in her teeth, she stutters, "I-I'm fine. Maybe a bit of a headache starting..."
For a moment, Bruno rubs his thumbs into her temples, and she feels that headache receding a little bit as she melts towards him. All too soon, he pulls away.
Mournfully, Mirabel watches as Bruno walks out of the dining room. As he’s walking, he turns to point at her. "I'll get you some ice. Just. Stay here, okay?"
Mirabel squeaks out, "Okay!"
The family don’t move or speak as she then turns back to her food and stuffs some into her mouth.
Quickly, her headache disappears, and she smiles innocently when Bruno walks back in.
Mirabel keeps her mouth shut as Bruno presses the ice wrapped in a tea cloth to her head asking, "Is that helping?"
She just nods, and breathily sighs, “Uh-huh.”
Bruno smiles softly and Mirabel's heart explodes with how handsome and kind he is.
Off to the side, Félix pours Agustín and Julieta a glass of wine and whispers, "Congratulations on the budding couple. He'll make your daughter happy."
Pepa hides her grin and rests a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Ay, Félix, don't say that."
Julieta only sighs in exasperation. "It's okay. We know. They would make a cute couple."
Agustín chugs back his wine and sits it back onto the table. He whines, "At this point, I think I'm more annoyed that they haven’t done anything yet. When are they going to start dating?!"
Julieta nods forlornly in agreement as she pats her husband’s hand soothingly. Agustin and her have had this conversation before and they both agreed that her brother needed to get his act together. She knew he was the marrying type so she was secure in the knowledge that he would treat her daughter right.
Did they need to give Bruno or Mirabel a pep talk?
Julieta would have to think on it.
Camilo and Isabela giggle behind their hands at the display of Bruno and Mirabel. Dolores, Mariano, and Luisa all lean into each other, clearly thinking how cute the two are. And Antonio just smiles widely at the rat whispering in his ear.
Alma chuckles, "They'll get there one day."
She looks onto the sight of her only son lovingly staring at his own niece. The first man to look at her Mirabelita like she was the true gift to their family.
Mirabel looks at her own uncle with hearts in her eyes. The first woman to ever look at her Brunito like he deserved the world.
She and the family gazes upon the two with affection and amusement and she knows they'll be okay.
“They’ll get there.”