CHAPTER 38

While Jonathan, Gabriel, and Lucas conversed along the way about lost time and how everything could have been avoided, they turned the corner and came face-to-face with a familiar figure. Bruno stood in front of the store, arms crossed and a serious expression on his face. He watched them approaching, and the friends exchanged nervous glances among themselves.

Bruno walked up to them, his gaze fixed on the three with an intensity that conveyed seriousness. "Where were you guys yesterday?" he asked directly.

Gabriel tried to deflect, smiling nervously. "Oh, you know how it is, Bruno, we thought it was a holiday..."

Lucas chimed in, supporting Gabriel's attempt. "Yeah, exactly! We swore it was a holiday."

Jonathan also confirmed, trying to follow the invented story. "That's right, it seemed like a holiday."

However, Bruno wasn't willing to accept the excuse. He looked at the three with narrowed eyes, suspicious. "The three of you know very well that yesterday wasn't a holiday. From your