#j2e writes

here’s an attempt at writing🫠

Bruno was shifting around the heavy bag of produce in his arms as Julieta was inspecting the fruit stand. He had promised to help her shop today, which he was almost regretting thanks to his sore arms, but he ignored the pain and focused on the time he got to spend with his sister.

While waiting for Julieta to finish her exchange with the stall owner, he found his eyes wandering across the shopping plaza and noticed Vineeta sitting at a table with her daughter and the other Kuravilla children. She was sitting at the end of a table, her head in her hands as she leaned in listening leisurely to the kids bantering about something. She seemed relaxed; far less ridged compared to the first time Bruno met her, and he couldn’t help but smile.

She looked so peaceful, her relaxed smile causing her sharp eyes to squint. It was the type of smile you feel good to receive from someone. Bruno looked back down, scolding himself for staring so long, but he couldn’t help but take another peek; only when he looked back, he saw Vineeta staring right back at him.

He jumped back, startled he almost dropped the bag he was holding. Bruno ended up catching the bag mid-fall and just to be safe set it on the table next to him.

Looking back up, he saw Vineeta’s eyes furrowed giving him a look of concern. Bruno was fretting at the idea of worrying her.

Without thinking, his shoulders shimmied as he opened his arms gesturing out a tada, giving a small awkward chuckle. He was about to kick himself mentally for being so awkward but stopped himself as she responded from across the plaza.

She smiled in her hand and give a little shoulder shimmy back, playfully mimicking him.

It was a small gesture. No one else around her seemed to notice it, too engrossed in their own conversations. It was something only Bruno saw. It was something directed at him. For only him to see.

He smiled and his shoulders relaxed.

His heart was pounding and he felt like adrenaline was coursing through him like he was running a marathon.

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He interrupted, “what were you at the end of your wits about?”

Bruno felt like he was seeing something so rare, like a comet passing by once in a decade, like the planets aligning, like a double rainbow - he watched as Vineeta began to turn red in the face and avert her eyes. She was acting all nervous and embarrassed.

The calm and stone faced Vineeta was blushing.

And then she did something he didn’t expect; she snorted out a laugh. A genuine deep belly laugh that almost brought her to tears.

All Bruno could do for a minute was stare in awe. It was a sudden, loud sound that was bursting out and was contagious enough for him to let out a giggle, which poured out fits of laughter from himself.