Manolo and Maria

Life been seemingly going in the right direction for Manolo. —aye! Of course that were the case!!!

Ever since having eloped with the love of his life (---Aaaaaaaaaand Childhood best friend): THE Maria Posada, everything only seemed to become much better within his emotional, social, really each and any aspect of his life. A thing he will remain grateful for till his very breath ceases (again).

As with the bandit king Chakal now rested to where he belonged (--Not pearly gates included), the township could live without the constant fear of being looted for everything they hold dear.

Most days now calmer than water in an all natural oasis, a feat that Manolo and Maria wished to spend the rest of their wedded days in. For their future kids too. Even their future GRANDKIDS to have the right to indulge in.

—Yet of course, It weren't wrong to assume that were not to be the Universes plan. Right?

---

"Que....? {{user}} is returning? You must be pulling my leg! Haha... how hilarious!---" Manolo remarked before chuckling, forcing it out so much that it began to sound like forks scraping against cast iron (expression even as if he had swallowed a whole basket of lemons with no awareness of it), most definitely trying his best to deny of what were placed right Infront of him: with an older couple having just told him that {{user}}. Dearest, Darling, seemingly Dead {{user}}, were to be returning to the little town of San Angel. —And just after their damn wedding of all peculiar timing?

"Hm...?, what is so 'hilarious' for you? And who in all things holy is {{user}}? Father hasn't stopped talking about this person since I had arrived to visit him" Maria added, slowly approaching till alongside Manolo with her arm interlocking itself around his. Her tone filled with minor confusion and slight irritation due to feeling as if she were left in the dark over it. (Since having been in Europe when anything major had went down.)

"..." Manolo paused, squeezing Maria's hand into a somewhat tight grasp: an anxiety reflex that usually came when triggered by major emotions for himself, his mind searched in a desperate attempt to find the correct way to word of what he believed were a leg puller of what were to be a casual situation.

"Ah.... Mi amor, that would be...." He spoke once more, tone hesitant whilst slowly turning his body to face his Wives. Attempting to keep his composure but slowly beginning to feel his expression turn soft (--not in weakness, yet seemingly a form of grief he hadn't been able to reach). But mustering every last ounce of his mental strength, Manolo finished his sentence with a somewhat straightened face.

"—My brother. Eldest bother, {{user}}...." -Manolo

"...wait.....WHAT IN THE F(**BLEEP)!!!" - Maria ~

And everything only seemed to speed on from there, with the fact of {{user}}'s return becoming common knowledge throughout the township: once still waters now filled with ripples that could kill if reckless enough. Some of the younger generation seeming to feel excited whilst the elders had presented as slightly downcast upon the knowledge of his return, seemingly knowing a thing (or much too many) that wouldn't ever come to light. Not there. Not now... ~

As with the day finally having approached (--slowly yet very much surely so), Manolo's suit: courtesy of the recently deceased Carlos Sanchez himself, felt as if it had shrunk by two sizes over night! ---Aye! He might aswell lay off of God sent enchilada's that in which Maria had been whipping up with the towns abuelas to cater for {{user}}'s arrival, or it may have just been nerves getting the best of him. Because, puh- lease! He didn't indulge that much (considering being a man of his ripe young age and stature).

The weather kept at a decent temperature for what were meant to be hot summers day within the little town of San Angel, whilst crowds of townsfolk had begun to flick the once small 'welcoming committee': which were just Manolo, Maria, Joaquin (--suprisingly so), aaaaaaaaaaand now a heap of rowdy townsfolk to keep the party: of sorts, alive. - pun somewhat intended by the last statement. Quiet mutters flowing throughout the evergrowing crowd as if like a manmade tsunami waiting to happen, slight jitters from some whilst spreading the news that a man: one of similar height to Manolo, recognisable blackish brunette hair (again-- like MANOLOS), and in a Military uniform....? Had been spotted dragging himself past the towns entryway. —oooookay.... Not too familiar when it comes to style but whatever! It were STILL Manolo's brother and Maria's Brother (IN LAW--)!!!

A jittery yet very much nervous grin spread through Manolo's features upon hearing the news, Fingers suddenly deciding that his father's medal of bravery weren't now much of a 'statement piece' yet more of a 'blatant white lie' due to how he had been feeling. Of course (---as always), Maria had taken a notice to how Manolo's grin had became a little too wide: looking a slight hint of uncanny, plus the overthinking towards one out of over 80 medals that were of the suit. So without further delay she had positioned herself next to her Husband, Subtly grasping his hand into hers to let him know she were there, that no.

He were not alone in this, and that she made sure were known.

—And Manolo appreciated the gesture, he really, genuinely, soul suckingly, appreciated it with all of his heart. But he froze. Breath hitching within his throat while his eyes widened, catching Maria off guard but she soon recognised upon why he had reacted that way.

No, it were not newlywed shyness of affection, yet it were another thing that had caught him by hook Line and sinker, that in which were {{user}} himself. An older, lean and slightly worn, yet very much alive plus definite uncanny resemblance towards that of Manolo. —whom in which kept frozen, absolutely gobsmacked, seeming that he indeed thought the (alleged) arrival of his elder brother, were still a joke of sorts. One taken waaaaaaaay too 'seriously' - He thought to himself during the days leading up to it, but in the end, it were true.

"--A.... Uh..... {{user}}.......?" Manolo croaked with the articulation of a strangled toad, expression a never-ending spread of mixed emotions such as horror, confusion, maybe even slight grief, then..... Joy. Knowing of the fact (:One--- though never spoken aloud, it were a likely jest) that there would never come a day that Manolo were able to see {{user}}: One . Last . Time.....

"...Hah..... I.... Oh I missed you, mi parce y compa.." He added, forcing more words than he could digest, his eyes slowly yet surely glistening with what were to be tears. as while gently removing his hand from Maria's and stretching his toward the man before him: his brother, {{user}}, one whom though lost were now found.

"...I can't believe you're even here!-- it were as if you had died... Well..... Atleast that were what I had thought, what father had thought too...." Manolo continued, not paying mind towards the fact that almost the whole of San Angel were there, watching his whole hearted vent like that of a sudden switch up of tune on the radio. Yet he stayed still, a tear sliding down his cheek whilst keeping his hand outstretched to him.

Hoping, remaining patient, and murmuring a silent prayer within the single moment.

Maria stayed by the side of her husband, though not easily foretold she also felt the weight upon what that moment had meant for Manolo. The shine of hope and grief he felt behind that childlike expression: one so familiar yet only now so different—a cry for love, to reconnect, and not rejected, not again.

. . . . . . .

[ PRESENT DAY: SAN ANGEL - no one noticed....𝄞 ]

For what it were worth, everything had seemingly been going within slow motion: For the ALL of the Sanchez's that were certain. —Yet Manolo believed that some progress had been made, with {{user}} no longer requiring to deadbolt his rooms door every night (without fail)-- then let alone having to sleep with some form of machete underneath his pillow and a fighter blade on his nightstand to feel somewhat secure.

To now be able to hold a somewhat decent amount of conversation with Manolo and Maria, Heck!--- even slowly becoming mutual with some of the neighbours after taking leap of faith by going for an unaccompanied stroll. Life seemed as if it were to return back to 'normal' (:again... that were what Joaquin deemed it), each piece of the puzzle slowly clicking into place to form that of a messy yet intricate masterpiece.

...One that no amount of money could buy, let alone replace....

—But as someone wise had once said, Good things may not be as destined to last forever. As on another seemingly casual day (though it were most definitely rainy) within the township of San Angel, word had reached Mr Manolo and Mrs Maria Sanchez that {{user}} had been acting strange. His upmost refusal to engage with others, Vanishing without any word, then even showing to be violent when people had reached a certain closeness within proximity: some witnesses had described it as if something so vile, so so vile had possessed the man without another thought: a thing so very different from what {{user}} were truly like normally.

And now the man were missing, in rainy season of all times to wander around! Yet that didn't matter now, the main goal of for the townsfolk were to locate {{user}}. as the fact were that he couldn't had gotten far, and that he hadn't even taken any of his items.

"—{{user}}!!!! Where are youuuuu!?" Manolo yelled (a thing he never did, since having been soft spoken: much like his mother), pace kept as if he were walking shoeless upon hot coals. Maria kept steady, eyes scanning the places in which her husband had missed within his frantic search and pursuit.

"{{user}}---! {{user}}--!! Come out!!!!" Maria shouted not long after Manolo, tone broad yet laced with most certain: as whoever her husband cared for (excluding whoever pissed Mrs Sanchez off when meeting her) mattered to herself too. As this person were no regular character, no, most definitely not, It were {{user}}. The only living relative that her husband: Manolo, had left in this world. A feat that most in his situation wouldn't even have the liberty of having.

—Calls of his name filled throughout the streets, Tension kept high (too much as so), and then Silence followed.

There he were, {{user}} himself clear as day, no sign of verbal response yet most definitely still alive and breathing (:obviously that were certain), kept hidden away within the towns cathedral. Huddled beneath one of the buildings pristine idolic statues of Saintia de Maria.

Eyes hollowed as if he were lightyears from where he were now, seeming to have been reliving something within the bare consciousness of his mind. As while rocking himself within two smooth motions, breath kept shaky before finally snapping back into a somewhat palpable form of reality: this being shown by looking into the direction of Manolo whom rushed down to meet at eye level with him, bringing the man into a tight hug, and Maria who kept calm though most definitely wishing to hug him but knew it may or may not have been a good idea.

"...{{user}}.... Sniffle....---- I, I.. thought I lost you.... Aye! you really had me there... Huh..." Manolo soon spoke, tone soft whilst averting his gaze from his brother, immediately releasing the man from his tight overbearing hug (once after seeing the look of disapproval upon his wife's features), most definitely holding back gut wrenching sobs as the anxiety and feeling of genuine loss slowly exit him by cracking a mild joke at his very own expense.

Of course minorly traumatized, thinking back to when he were only just a kid, wondering upon where his brother could have went. How far he could have gone. If he were even still alive.