Page 53 of Birdy

Chulo:Not necessary. I wanted to help you.

Not gonna lie. I melt a little despite the warning bells ringing distantly in my mind.Keep it light, Benni. Keep it light.

Me:Thank you for that. You really did help.

Chulo:I’m glad I could.

Me: So if you don’t want me to make good on my end, what do you get out of it then?

Chulo:Nothing.

Chulo:Unless you wanna count talking to you, ‘cause that’s a perk.

Damn him.

DAMN. HIM.

Me:How is talking to a felon a perk?

Legit question too. I’m genuinely curious to know what he sees in me.

Chulo:Because I know said felon wants me to talk to her.

He’s not wrong.

Me:Can I ask you something?

Chulo:Go for it,mami.

I cringe, literally cringe. Regardless of it being such a common term of endearment in my culture, Ángel ruined it for me. If I never hear it again, it’ll be too soon.

Me:Okay, firstly—nix themami.My almost-ex ruined that for me.

Chulo:Almost-ex? Lol.

Me: Storytime for another day. My question is… Why risk it all for me?

Chulo:I don’t have a single reason.

Me: Tell me the reasons.

Chulo:I just wanted to help, Benni. I could see what the news was doing to you, and if I could help take some of that away, I was gonna do it.

Chulo:And like I said, talking to you is a perk, so there’s what I get.

My fucking heart again, man. I just...

Me:I can’t with you…

Me:Thank you a million times.

Chulo:Thank me with smiles. I don’t wanna see that frown again.

Me:If you kissed me, I probably wouldn’t frown at all.

I shouldn’t have, I know, but it’s the truth.

Chulo:……

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