I literally fell through the door, falling flat on my stomach. My arms flew out in front of my me, trying to brace my face for the impact. When I landed, I landed hard enough for my glasses to fly off a little. After wincing, I lifted my upper body up off the floor with my folded arm and readjusted them on my nose.
It was then that I finally got my first look at the place. Unlike before, I was in a room back home of some sort. What's strange is I didn't recognize it at all. I knew I was in Casita, but not where exactly. I'd never been in this room before….
It was tall inside, like a tower with lots of doors on the winding staircase lining the wall. The place felt familiar to Bruno's room, except with no sand. Speaking of my uncle, he and Alberto were ever more shockingly nowhere to be seen. We went through the door back at the witch's cottage together, but I landed here alone. Where were they?! Were they somewhere else in the house? Oh my god, what if Abuela finds them? What if she sees Alberto?! I've gotta reach them before anyone else does!
Scrambling to my feet, I got a better look at the room going upward. There were lots of different doors inside, but I had no clue which one would lead back to the main hallway. Curiosity started to creep in as I stared up longer. Where is this? Whose room is this? It looked ideal for me, but my room was still back in the nursery. Not seeing what else to do, I decided to go up the staircase, just to see what was up there. Hopefully one of these doors would lead me back to Bruno and Alberto.
Slowly my feet ascended the stairs step by step. I kept my hand on the handrail, growing a little more anxious. What if I'm not supposed to be in here? I don't even know where I am in the house. What if I get into trouble? I will get into trouble if anyone finds Alberto before me, so I better keep going….. Despite my reservations.
About halfway up the stairway, a sound suddenly caught my ear. It was soft, like instrumental music. It gently flowed down from the room at the top of the tower. Ponderingly, my head peaked out to where it was. The door at the top was open a crack, letting the sound out. I all but tiptoed up there, afraid someone might catch me if I was too loud.
Reaching the top, my right eye peered through the crack in the door. There was this weird-looking box thing with a thin metal horn where the music was coming from. There was a flat black disc spinning on the box with a needle running along it. I had no idea what that object was or how it was making noise; didn't make any sense to me how that thing could play music.
My heart skipped a beat at shuffling inside the room. Some candles were lit and someone was in there. Whoever it was had no idea that I was outside, voyeuristically watching the interior. My eyes did widen as a figure came into view. It was a man- definitely a man. Tall, slender, and obviously very strong. He had that classic rogue, tan, rugged appearance. Remarkably handsome. Even from behind- he had his back turned toward me- he looked familiar somehow, but I couldn't put my finger on it…. He was busy with something I couldn't see.
Curiosity soon turned to fear as I realized that this man, whoever he was, was NOT part of the Madrigal family. That must mean that he was- gasp- an intruder! Fear transformed into anger as the idea of a stranger inside our beloved family house enraged me. How dare he come sneaking into here?! I mean, does he know where he is? The jerk! Abuela will teach him a thing or two. And hey! Maybe this is a blessing in disguise as everyone will be too preoccupied with this creep to accidently bump into Alberto. This is perfect! Now I just need to cause a scene big enough to grab everyone's attention.
It didn't take long to gather up my courage; my thoughts were too fixated on keeping Alberto out of view. Before I knew what my fist was doing, I pushed open the door, revealing myself fully to the stranger. He back arched with surprise, but he didn't turn around right away. I stood there, doing the best power pose I could manage. My arms were firmly out at both my sides. "Hey! What do you think you're doing in our house?!"
My breath was taken away as he slowly spun around towards me- literally. My eyes grew to be as large as plates, I nearly fell down onto my knees. My whole body felt like it might collapse; my arms were certainly jelly by this point.
There, right in front of me, was an older version of Alberto.
It was him! He looked a little different, like he had aged by ten years or so, but it was most definitely him. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was already very handsome at our age, but this version….. He just got more breath-taking with age. While I wore a look of the purest disbelief, he looked surprised- but still less surprised- to see me. My jaw hung perpetually open while his sputtered slightly. "M-Mirabel?"
That was the first time he'd ever said my name. Older Alberto took a step toward me and I instinctively took a step back. My hands drew up to my pounding chest, clenching onto themselves. My head gave an unconscious shake. No…. No….. How long was the time jump this time? Have Alberto and Bruno been in Encanto all these years while it was less than a second for me? Cue the unintentional droplets of terrified tears.
Older Alberto must have known what my reaction meant because he snapped his fingers together. His eyes rolled up in that "realization" sort of way. "Oh…. Oh, that right! This is your first time here. Well, not "here" in the house, but here in our tower I mean." "Our tower?" I blinked at him, taken aback by his possessive language. He nodded, this gigantic smile blooming across his face. It kind of caught me off guard a bit. My god, but he's beautiful…. His smile is the charming thing I'd ever seen in my life. I didn't know that men could look like that….
"Yeah…. Yeah, I see why you're confused. I was confused the first time it happened to me! Heh, and you shoulda' seen how Bruno reacted," he chuckled to himself before continuing. "That happened the time the three of us went to that witch's cottage in Scotland? That time she gave us that pie which fixed the communication barrier, right? You just came from there, didn't you?" Still wide-eyed and unsure what to make of everything he was relaying to me, my head gave an unconscious nod. My heart skipped another beat as his looked at me again. He looked straight at me, and he smiled… His face was so relaxed and profound that I think I was starting to blush. No one's ever looked at me like that before….
His eyes lowered onto me softly, like he was absorbing my essence. "Wow, you're so young…. I can't believe how young we were. Look at you. Just let me look at you for a moment," he said this and I was definitely blushing a beet red by now. Why…. Why is he talking to me like this? I don't understand why… Why his eyes have such a tenderness in them. He let out this sigh which could- and did- stop my heart. His arms crossed over his chest in this sort of self-embrace way. "Beautiful, simply beautiful…. It's incredible. You've grown more beautiful each day that I've known you."
My feet stepped back until my back was pressing up against the wall. I was too alarmed and in shock to do or say anything else. I mean, why would this man I'd just met talk to me in such a sincere, adoring way…? It was too much; my mind was going into overdrive. Even more to my surprise was his giggle at my stunned behaviour. He had to cover his charmed grin with one of his hands. "Oh, yeah; I forgot. We've barely said two words to each other in your time. Sorry 'bout that. Don't worry; me…. er, me and Bruno are fine. This just happens sometimes." "W-What?" I heard my very shaky voice tremble from my lips. "Remember what that old witch said about us holding hands when going through the doors you open? Just think of that as a side-effect. It's going to happen a few more times; don't worry about it. We'll return home when you do," he gave me such a reassuring look that I was inclined to believe him. But wait a minute….. "Wait, happen a few more times? Why would you and I hold hands….?" I was going to tack on "when going through the door", but it stands with in general as well. We hardly knew one another; why would hold each other's hands?
Older Alberto merely watched me for a moment before smiling again. A clever, knowing smile- the kind the witch gave to us back at the cottage, which I guess was in a land called "Scotland"? I don't know why it took me this long but that's also when I noticed that he had a gold band on his ring finger….. A wedding band. "Wait, you're married?!" I suddenly blurted out without thinking first. He blinked from me down to his hand, then back at me. This time his smile was really telling, though I don't know what it was trying to tell me.
Still wearing a knowing smile from ear to ear, he stretched out his hand with the ring on it to me. "Come on. I'll get you back to your time and the others- uh, me and Bruno, that is." I hesitated, keeping my hands huddled up by my heart and unwilling to budge an inch. "But I still…. I still don't understand. Why are you still here in Encanto? Didn't we ever get you back to Portorosso? And what is this tower? How come I've never seen it before?" "I know you have a lot of questions, but there isn't really anything I can tell you. It's the same for older you right now, sweetheart….. er, Mirabel," he quickly corrected himself, giving his head a small punishing shake. "What do you mean it's the same for older me?! Where's my uncle and you- well, younger you- now? What's going on? Please tell me something! Anything!"
Older Alberto took a step in my direction, his hand lifting up in a worried fashion. His expression morphed to one of concern. "I really can't tell you anything, but please don't worry about it. Everything will be alright, Mirabel. Trust me, this is alright. I knew this day was coming; I just didn't know when exactly it would happen." "W-What day?" My tone shook and trembled. He simply observed me for a minute before his kind, loving grin returned in full force. "The day I would see you again. Well, eighteen-year-old you." "Y-You knew I would be here?!" I let out a loud gasp. He simply nodded his head. "Yes, I knew… I knew because Bruno and I are with thirty-year-old you at this moment," he relayed, and I thought I might faint.
His foot slid even nearer to where I was standing. "I know this must be overwhelming for you, Mirabel; it certainly was for both Bruno and me. But I really need you to trust me. Everything will be ok. Here, let's just get you back to your time," his open extended hand reached out for me even more. I still was reluctant, gazing from it back to his face. There was something in his eyes, and definitely his smile which told me that he was honest… that I could trust him. But I was still unable to wrap my head around what was currently happening. "W-What time will it be? How long has it been…..? Do you know why?"
Older Alberto's eyes lit up in comprehension, understanding my question immediately. "Huh? Oh, that! That's so we have more time together- or at least that's what your mom thinks. Truth is we never quite figured out what is," his shoulder shrugged. "More time together?!" I blinked astonished. Mom thinks that?! But why would she….? He scratched his chin for a moment. "It must be. It doesn't make sense otherwise. After all…..
Time stands still here now, whenever we're apart."
I could only stare at him speechless. Seeing this, he giggled to himself and walked right over. My whole body flinched as he took my hand in his. It was different than last time. His fingers curled so protectively around my palm, keeping it close. He was close! He stood right by me, his smile shining down onto my crimson face. His hand gently tugged mine, urging me to follow him. "Come on. Let's go," he cooed while giving my palm a tender squeeze.
My eyes were glued on the back of his head as we exited the room and descended the stairs. We walked in silence- a comfortable quiet for him- and hand-in-hand the whole way. The way to coddled my hand….. I didn't know what to think. It was like he was holding to most precious thing he'd ever had in his life. His grip was tight but not in a painful way. Everything about this version of Alberto….. His walk, his posture, the motion of his arms, even the lines on his face. They all betrayed that he was happy, and likely had been for some time now. But that didn't make sense to me. Why would he choose to stay here in Encanto with us instead of going back to Portorosso? The one-armed man was there and that was his home. What could possibly keep entice him to stay in Columbia? Why would my family let him- an outsider- stay in our quaint little village? I had so many questions…..
At the bottom of the staircase, older Alberto suddenly paused. Still holding onto my hand, he scanned each of the doors on the floor thoughtfully. "Now which door was it? It was so long ago, I don't remember…. Ah! I know! It was this one!" I found myself being pulled toward one of the centre doors. He only stopped when I was in front of it. I blinked from him to it puzzled. "This one?" My finger pointed at it with my free hand. Finally releasing my hand, he nodded eagerly. "That's right. When you open that door, the three of us will go back to your time all together." "So Bruno and Alberto- uh, you- aren't back yet?" His head shook. "Not until you return. You're the only one who can open the door back to Casita." "Oh," I was about to grab the doorknob and turn it until older Alberto stopped me.
I blinked surprised as he took my hand again. Before I knew it, I was being spun around so my back was once again up against a wall. Older Alberto trapped me in place with one arm up on the wall beside my neck while the other hand squeezed onto my hand. It was all I could do but gawk in bewilderment, but he effortlessly lowered his eyes onto mine. His breathing was low, and his body language was very sincere. He leaned in a little and my heart began to race.
"Sorry. I wanted to look at you another minute," he breathed. "A-Alberto!" I gasped, my hand of course lifting up to my fluttering chest. Why…. Why does he keep saying these sorts of things to me? Isn't he supposed to be married? He's wearing a wedding ring….. Another light breath fell from his lush lips a second time. His eyes slowly shut with more tenderness than I'd ever seen before. "I just love looking at you…..."
Oh god, I don't think there's any word to accurately describe how much I was blushing just then. My eyes enlarged progressively as he drew his face in closer. His lips stopped just a hair away from mine. Neither of us moved for a second, and then he pulled his head away from me. His eyes reopened and he smiled at me. That smile…. That kind of smile…. It's indescribable. I thought I might cry any moment now.
His fingers reluctantly let go of my hand, raising up to brush some stray curls behind my ear. It was the exact same action he did back in Portorosso when Bruno and I came over for dinner…. While I was blushing so much, I thought I might get a fever, he merely giggled softly. "Just open the door and go through it. I'll hear your voice again soon enough." "W-Why do you want to hear it?" I quietly asked as a single teardrop trickled down my cheek. Grinning tenderly, he wiped it away with his thumb. "In time; all in good time. Now you go back to your time. And don't worry, Mirabel; we'll reach Portorosso again. I'll be fine and try to keep it together until then….
You give me the strength to try."