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Julieta was the first to notice the change in both her brother and her daughter. She knew they were close and she admired the friendship between them. It distraught her when it seemed Bruno and Mirabel were drifting apart, and then Mirabel introduced the family to Hector. The disapproval had been apparent on Bruno’s face but no one else seemed to notice. But as Bruno does he didn’t let Julieta or Pepa in to what was wrong. Faked a smile and said he was happy Mirabel had found someone. Julieta could tell Bruno was lying but didn’t press. She assumed he was just being an over protective uncle.
Julieta had noticed the crush her youngest daughter harbored on her estranged uncle after she dragged him back to their family, Julieta had just thought she had grown out of it. She was happy that with Hector her crush had seemed to disappear. She no longer gazed at her uncle with admiration, instead that gaze now turned on to Hector but her smile never reached her eyes. Her other daughters assured her Mirabel was happy with him. They Even begrudgingly admitted to having over heard Mirabel and Hector making love on several occasions at their shared residence, both vowing to never speak to their mother about their baby sister’s sex life ever again.
When Mirabel rejected Hectors proposal everyone was shocked, except Julieta. She could tell her daughter didn’t love him the way he seemed to love her. His heart broken face hurt Julieta and she consoled him as she and her mother led the distraught young man to the door both apologizing for Mirabel’s actions. Bruno had left before Mirabel could respond and Mirabel left as soon as she said no. The disapproval was written on Brunos face as Hector proposed and Julieta noticed.
The time Mirabel had been with Hector Julieta had noticed Mirabel and Bruno seemed to have drifted apart, Bruno spent more time up in the attic and Mirabel stopped visiting regularly beside the weekly meal they shared as a whole family. She tried to ask both of them but they brushed her off claiming work and school or other excuses of the same matter. It concerned her that the friendship between Bruno and Mirabel might fade away, and if that happened what would keep Bruno from taking off again?
Julieta was even more surprised when Mirabel rejected Hector and her friendship with Bruno was back in full force however she noticed the change in them both. Bruno spent a lot more time with his sisters and brother-in-laws. He took Antonio camping and would talk animatedly about what ever screenplays he was working on. Mirabel started coming over for meals more than just once a week and would spend time studying up in Bruno’s room while Julieta prepared dinner.
Mirabel always sat next to Bruno, was by his side constantly and Julieta decided to talk to Mirabel about it. Perhaps she hadn’t gotten over her crush and Julieta didn’t want her daughter to go through even more pain if her uncle rejects her. Hector wasn’t the right guy but perhaps another young man. After all Mirabel was only 20 and still had time. After dinner one Sunday Julieta pulled Mirabel aside.
“Mirabel, I need to talk to you about your crush on your Tio…” Julieta calmly said.
“What? I don’t have a crush on Tio Felix?” Mirabel defended. Her nose crinkled up and a disgusted look washed over Mirabel’s face.
“I’m not talking about Felix Mirabel, I’m talking about your Tio Bruno…” Julieta said gently resting a hand on Mirabel’s shoulder in comfort. She wasn’t sure who she was trying to comfort. Herself or her daughter. Mirabel’s face went blank, and she tried to scurry out of her mother’s grip.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about mama, but I do not have a crush on Tio Bruno” Mirabel stammered. She refused to meet her mother’s eyes.
“It’s ok mi Vida, I had a crush on your abuelos picture growing up, but when I met Augustin well that was actual love, kids have crushes on older family members often, however they usually grow out of it by the time they grow up.” Julieta tried to soothe her daughter but Mirabel just seemed annoyed at the questioning.
“I don’t have a crush on Tio mama! I swear can you just drop it?” Mirabel said annoyed.
Mirabel was right and Julieta knew her daughter meant. Mirabel didn’t have a crush on Bruno. Mirabel was in love with Bruno.
Julieta decided to drop the conversation and Mirabel and her sisters left shortly afterwards. Bruno looked at Julieta confused before turning back to his phone with a soft smile on his lips.
- ——————————————— -
Julieta feared she wasn’t getting anywhere with Mirabel and so decided to ask Bruno to talk to her. Tell her that while he’s flattered at the attention however he could never feel the same way. Julieta climbed the steps to his room in the attic and went to knock but froze when she heard moaning coming from the other side. She knew Bruno wasn’t seeing anyone and knew he was alone. She was frozen in place after hearing him moan but ran as fast as she could when she heard Bruno moan Mirabel’s name as what sounded like him cumming.
Once alone in her room she leaned against the door. Hand on chest and breathing heavily. She knew she wasn’t supposed to hear that. However the way he moaned her daughter’s name was burned into Julieta’s mind. Did Bruno feel the same way as Mirabel? She rationalized that maybe he said a different name, but no matter how many times she tried to convince herself that Bruno was not in love with her daughter she couldn’t unhear what she had.
Julieta was a calm level headed woman. She knew there had to be an explanation for this. Why else would her brother be moaning her daughter’s name. Perhaps he was dating another woman who just happened to share a name with his niece. Or perhaps he was watching tv.
The next day she couldn’t meet Bruno’s eyes and he asked her what was wrong. She shrugged him off claiming to be a tad under the weather. He didn’t seem like he believed her but let her go anyway. That evening Julieta tried to go talk to him again but this time she heard him on the phone with someone.
“Yes Tio I’m studying hard for my exams coming up.” Mirabel had said on speaker or video. Julieta decided to listen. She knew eavesdropping was wrong especially on a private conversation between her brother and her daughter. She was in her own head and missed Bruno’s response.
“If I do good on my exams will you take me on a trip to celebrate? We could go to the beach for a few days!” Mirabel asked excitedly admiration and love for her uncle in her voice.
“Of course Mi Vida, however if you fail I’m going to have to punish you.” Bruno answered in a low voice and Mirabel giggled.
“Oh? And how do you plan on punishing me Tio?” Mirabel asked with a sultry note to her voice.
“Mmmm 5 spanks for every failing grade you recieve.” Bruno responded voice heavy.
“I really should study then shouldn’t I Tio. Want to help? Ask me questions and for every answer I get right I have to do this….” Julieta can’t tell what Mirabel is doing from the other side of the door but she feels she’s heard enough. Julieta knew she had to confront them both for their inappropriate behavior.
- —————————————— -
Julieta wanted to confront Mirabel and Bruno about their relationship right away. But Mirabel was right about exams coming up and she was studying hard. Every time she came over she sat with her dad, he was good at the subject she was studying for, unfortunately Mirabel hadn’t inherited her father’s skills in math and so she studied with him.
Finally Mirabel’s exams arrived and she didn’t hear from her daughter the whole day. She got a text from her in the evening that she was done with finals and the summer break started in the next week. Julieta texted back asking to meet her for lunch the next day and Mirabel agreed. Julieta asked Bruno over dinner, so he couldn’t say no, to join her for lunch the next day not telling him that Mirabel would be there. He agreed a little tentatively .
When Bruno and Julieta arrived at the local diner the next day for lunch Bruno was surprised to see Mirabel waiting For them and Mirabel seemed surprised Bruno was with her mother. They greeted each other and got comfortable in a booth in the back corner.
After ordering food and the waitress left, Julieta took a deep breath.
“I know about your feelings for each other. There is no use denying that you two are in a relationship. I don’t know how far and I don’t want to know how far you have taken things but I want this relationship to end. It’s gross and it’s wrong. My brother and my baby?” Julieta teared up. The emotions of the knowledge of the forbidden relationship between the two bubbling up.
“No one will accept it. You can never get married. Never have kids. And Abuela will probably kick Bruno out for good if she ever found out. There’s a million reasons why this is wrong, and gross.” She continued.
“I’m so sorry Julieta. I’m so sorry. I knew I should have never gave in to my sick desires but I did, and I’m sorry but I’m going to have to decline to end this relationship. I know it’s odd and different, I know it’s looked down upon and many would find it appalling but I’ve never loved anyone like I do Mirabel. I don’t care if we can’t legally marry, and if kids are off the tables so be it. I just know I want to spend the rest of the life I have left with Mirabel. I spent so long hiding away, being unhappy and miserable. I’ve tried to move on. We both have. But we can’t stop loving each other.” Bruno said tears in his eyes.
“Mama I love Bruno. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had, he understands me in a way no one else has before, he sees me for me. He knows the struggles I faced and the struggles we’ve faced together. I tried to move on. To stop loving him this way. I’ve told myself countless times this is wrong. Gross. I should regret it but I don’t. I love every moment I’m with Bruno. I want to be by his side till his final day.” Mirabel cried.
Julieta looked between the two stunned. They had been together for a lot longer than she had realized. What ever things she thought about this they thought about ten times more and both made this decision full well knowing the consequences. She knew she couldn’t persuade them and she loved them both so much she couldn’t loose them. She lost Bruno once’s she refused to let him go again. She accepted it. It still bothered her but knew as a family they would get through this together.