When I woke up, I went to the kitchen. Normally Pa is up before me and cooking or cleaning or doing something but he wasn't this morning.
Maybe Señora Alma wasn't kidding about the drinks being strong. I deadpanned, how many drinks did he have? I went over to Pa's door and knocked before opening it,
"Pa? Are you here?"
I didn't hear anything. No breathing, no response, no groans, nothing. I guess he isn't home? Why wouldn't he be home, though? Maybe he couldn't make it home?
Goodness, when I said have fun I didn't mean to be irresponsible. I guess I understand it though. He's been stuck with me and no one else for the past 10 years, I'm sure he's gotten lonely. It makes sense to go a little overboard when you haven't done something like that in so long. I hope he had fun because if he drank so much he couldn't get home, he probably isn't going to be having fun today. Maybe Señora Julieta's food can cure things like that too? I scratched my head before going back to my room and changing into my day clothes. I'm going to go check on Pa, if he is at Casita. If not then I'm going to get very worried.
I opened the door and started up the path to Casita. There weren't too many people around so it must be really early or late, I suppose. I continued my venture before making it to the steps of Casita.
"Hello, house- Casita? That was your name, right?"
In response I heard the shutters squeaking. I'm not really sure if that is a yes or not.
"Is that a yes? Squeak again if it's a yes."
The squeaking continued so I put on a smile. I'm glad I remembered it this time. I can't believe I completely forgot the night of the ceremony that this is where Camilo lives. I let out a sigh, not my best moment.
"Uh- Casita, is my Pa here?"
There was a pause before the house let out some more squeak's, a rush of relief flooded through me.
"That's good, I just got worried when he didn't come home. Alright, well I'll get going then."
I started to turn around waving goodbye to Casita before the tiles on the path started moving by themselves.
"WOAH- HEY AH!"
I heard the doors fly open and I couldn't move or else I'd fall but I am moving? Well- Casita is moving me somewhere. Before I knew it I had come to a halting stop somewhere within the house. I stretched out my arms trying to keep my balance before turning around the room. Why did Casita want me here? I continued listening but couldn't hear anything.
"Casita? Why did you bring me here?"
Then something fell, I whipped around as fast as I could. I started towards the noise quickly. It had to be Pa- I bet Casita wanted me in here so he didn't get himself hurt.
Once I had made it over to the area Pa was in, he started running? I sprinted after him, why would Pa run away from me? Is he THAT drunk? I stretched out my hand and tried grabbing his ruana. I had barely touched it as I continued trying to get my father to just stop running when I finally caught his ruana. Once I had gotten it, I stopped for a second trying to catch my breath.
"Why are you running?"
No response.
"Pa, answer me."
A confused noise? I stopped for a second analyzing who this was. I immediately assumed Pa and they have the same ruana texture as Pa, the same length too. I put my hands where Pa's arms were but they weren't there? When I went to put my hands on his shoulders they weren't there either. I moved my arms downward until I did reach the person's shoulders, they are much shorter than Pa. Their breaths are much more shaky and their footsteps are quieter.
I'm so stupid.
I immediately jumped back and started apologizing profusely.
"I'm so sorry, I thought you were my Pa because Casita said he was in here and you have the same type of ruana but you aren't him and I'm sorry for probably freaking you out an-"
"It's alright, just don't tell anyone you saw me." A deepish voice called out, an older voice for sure. It's a nice voice though.
"Uh- sure? No one would believe me anyways if I said I found a person at Casita when I came by myself so you don't have anything to worry about."
I smiled before continuing,
"But do you know where my Pa is? I'm really worried about him."
"Who's- Who is your padre?"
"Andrés, Andrés L/N."
A small gasp left the man's mouth before he started circling me.
"Is something wrong with him being my dad?"
"No, not at all! I just didn't know Andrés had a son! Wow, time flies."
"You know Pa?"
"Yeah! We used to be best friends, we would do everything together." A small pause echoed through the corridor,
"before uh- he left. Then you know I couldn't do anything with him since he wasn't um- here."
A small chuckle escaping the man's lips as a frown sat on mine.
"I'm sorry. I- um- I'm sure he'd love to see you!"
"Yeah, I'd love to see him too but you know how things are."
"No, no I don't."
"You don't?"
"I don't have a clue what you're talking about, man."
"You know the whole Bruno makes bad things happen and I'm supposed to be gone. If they see me then- well I should get going because- well uh- because I don't really have a good reason but-"
"You're Bruno?"
Another pause carried through the conversation. Was I supposed to just know that?
"Have you been following along at all, kid?"
"Apparently not."
A few small chuckles came from Bruno, even a knee slap. He was really losing it over my response.
"You're definitely Andrés's son. That was the most- Andrés has done that exact same thing before."
I started chuckling before Bruno remembered why I was here in the first place. After a series of apologies and little noises as he tried to remember where Pa was he had finally taken me to the room Pa was in. The nursery? That's a weird place to sleep. Bruno told me it was Mirabel's room which made it even weirder.
"Mirabel sleeps in the nursery? Like her room is the nursery?"
"Yep." Bruno said with a long sigh.
"Hey, completely different but were you here earlier? Like were you who I bumped into at the ceremony?"
"Oh- uh- yeah, that was me." He said with a nervous chuckle.
"I had heard Julieta say something about Andrés being back and I wanted to see him." Bruno continued with a frown.
Then I heard the doorknob on the nursery starting to turn, I started shoo'ing Bruno away. He was incredibly confused until he heard the faint sound of Mirabel's voice on the other side.
"Thanks kid, I'll see you around."
I nodded my head in response before knocking on the door.
"Y/N? Oh my- You- YOU SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME! What are you- Why are you here so late?"
"What time is it?" I questioned.
"Almost 4am!"
Mirabel grabbed my arm and pulled me into her room, after once again trying to catch my balance she continued her monologue.
"Did you hear what I said through the door?"
"No." I shook my head.
She let out a sigh before sitting down and patting for me to sit too. I placed my hands over the area she made the noise in before taking my seat next to her. Bold as could be, my Pa was snoring in the bed across the room. I chuckled a bit, gaining Mirabel's attention.
"What are you laughing at?" Mirabel said with a chuckle as well.
"Just Pa, snoring as loud as ever."
Mirabel patted my shoulder as we continued laughing. That's when it hit me, why was Mirabel up at 4am? My abrupt ending of laughter also must have scared Mirabel.
"What's wrong?" She said softly.
"Why are YOU up?"
"Oh- uh- wellllll, you seeee"
I had asked the wrong question.
Mirabel went on and on about the cracks at the ceremony and how everyone treated her. What had happened only a few hours ago and why she was afraid. It's not as though I hated listening or anything, it just doesn't feel like my place to add input. I don't know anything about a magic candle or a miracle or cracks or the Madrigal's. I can listen but not much else, I hope that just getting it out to someone is enough.
"And that's pretty much it." Mirabel said, taking a big breath before standing up.
"Wow, that's a lot."
"Yeah, so will you help me?" Mirabel beamed.
"What?"
"Help me save the miracle! You're a nice guy and you obviously understand Casita and-"
Mirabel was now pacing back and forth in front of me as she explained her reasoning but I by no means have any place to help save a miracle I know nothing about.
"No." I deadpanned.
"What?"
"No way! I'm all for you going on this big journey to save your family's miracle but I'm not a part of this family. I barely know anything about you guys plus we met a few hours ago, how can you trust me THIS much?"
"You're friends with mi primõ Camilo and he talks about you a lot so I know you're a good person. I just- you-" Mirabel stopped pacing and sat back down beside me,
"But you're right. I don't know how you would be able to help."
"Exactly." I hummed.
Camilo talks about me a lot? I mean I guess I do the same but still that was- unexpected. Mirabel trailed off into other topics, she's a lot of fun to talk to. Before we knew it, the sun had fully risen and it was time for a new day.
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