[Chapter 14]
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Mirabel had learned over the years that there are two types of hangovers: physical and moral. This time the moral hangover was infinitely worse than any physical discomfort. She got up from her bed very slowly as he realized that she was still wearing her makeup and hair from the night before. Mirabel looked at the lip and mascara stains on the sheets and suddenly she remembered everything that had happened.
She knew that she should start preparations for her trip back to the city. However, she wouldn't accomplish anything if she felt like trash, so she decided to clean up a bit, make her bed, take a shower, and buy something for breakfast. Mirabel looked at the pantry and decided to go to the plaza to buy some vegetables.
Mirabel felt the eyes of the people on her, and wondered if they all knew that she had spent the evening with Victor. Some smiled at her and others averted her eyes. She hadn't planned to buy fish, but she urgently needed information and she knew exactly where to find it.
Heibi Martinez was her grandmother's favorite fishmonger, and one of her best friends. She was an elderly, dark woman who had come from the coast several decades ago, large, imposing, and with a voice and character that made her stand out from the crowd. Mirabel liked her friendly personality a lot, and she was grateful that she was so nice to her, since the woman seemed to prefer Mirabel over the other members of her family. She always brought Casita an extra portion of fried fish strips just for her. However, Mrs. Heibi had a great weakness: gossip.
"Poor little Javier's girlfriend" Mrs. Heibi murmured to another of her clients while Mirabel approached. She assumed that they were talking about Javier, her friend, the builder's son. "Javier is a good boy, but he was born with two left feet, a roast chicken dances more than that boy. He stepped on the poor girl's feets all night" the woman murmured as her client laughed. Mirabel cleared her throat to get the woman's attention. She said goodbye to her client and dedicated all her attention to Mirabel.
"Good morning, I would like to take some trout with me ," Mirabel said happily. The woman smiled at her and began to remove the scales from the fish. "Good morning, niña Mirabel, did you have a good night of the candles?" She asked her. Mirabel knew that she needed to bait her so that the woman would spill the information, so she continued: "Yes, although it's a real shame that I couldn't attend Antonio's party. I feel very sad, besides, I haven't even heard a single news about the party, I don't know anything at all" She said.
The old woman's gaze seemed to soften. Mirabel knew that she couldn't bear to see her sad, additionally, she was the perfect target to hear all the gossip of the night. "Niña Mirabel, you know I don't like gossip, but..." the old lady started, Mirabel nodded as she leaned forward. "You didn't miss anything last night"
"Was the party bad?" Mirabel asked. Heibi raised his eyebrows. "Very bad. The people danced and pretended to be happy just to not make Doña Alma sad or hurt her feelings, but it was clear that the Madrigals were fighting. The party ended a little close to midnight, after..." Heibi muttered, not daring to continue. "what?" Mirabel asked feeling impatient. The old woman looked from side to side verifying that no one was listening and she lowered her voice even more "Niña Mirabel, they talked a lot about you" she murmured.
" Me?" Mirabel asked. "Your cousin was very, very drunk. When I arrived, he was already lit as the candle" she said. "Marlene, your cousin's girlfriend, wasn't doing too well either. As I understood, he didn't want to dance with her, actually, he didn't want to dance with anyone. She got upset, and she started a fight, but not just a regular, the mother of all fights "said Heibi gesturing with her hands and getting more and more excited by the magnitude of the gossip. "He told her that she was only interested in the money, that she never cared for him. He said it was because of her he had gotten into trouble with you years ago and a lot of other things. She told him that he was an ingrate, that she had believed him when he told her that he loved her. Finally she said that everything was because of running after that floozy" Heibi said. "What floozy?" Mirabel asked. The old woman did not answer, she just pressed her lips together and gave her a look full of pity, and then she understood.
"Oh, she was talking about me, I'm that floozy," Mirabel said resignedly. "There it was. Your sister Isabela intervened, she yelled at her to leave the house, Isabela said she only wanted to get money from all that, and she replied that it was all your fault. She said that you and Camilo had been in a relationship for years, under the noses of the whole town, and at the same time you were flirting with Victor. To be honest, niña Mirabel, she said some very strong things about you, and I don't feel comfortable repeating those rude things." She said. Mirabel guessed that it must be really bad, since Doña Heibi would never miss an opportunity to spread gossip like that. "I had never seen Miss Isabela like this, she was close to beating her. She took her out of her house with her lianas, and told her that if she came back she would throw her into the river so that she could calm down with the help of the cold water. Who would have thought that Miss Isabela who seems so refined and elegant had such a character" the old lady said as she waved her hand up and down to emphasize how serious the situation had been.
"Marlene made a real scene," Mirabel replied. "Not a scene, the whole show. What a terrible thing, luckily you weren't at home, and the worst thing is that your grandmother and your uncle weren't there to appease the situation. They left the party after Albertico, your neighbor who works as a waiter here, spoke with Don Bruno. If your grandmother had been at home she would have been able to handle the situation a little better. Doña Julieta, Doña Pepa and her husband were not at home either, little Antonio disappeared and no one could find him, they were looking for him. In the end, Luisa, Dolores and Mr. Mariano took care of everything. Poor Dolores, I've always liked that girl a lot, she's the one who tells me all the... Anyway, it was a real disaster. It's really lucky that you weren't at her house, I guess your uncle should have warned you," she said. "Yes, real luck," Mirabel replied.
Mirabel returned home with her purchases, made a broth for her hangover, and began planning the next step. She walked up to Casita. She hated to admit it, but if there was anyone cool-headed enough to help her make a decision, it was Alma. Mirabel always fought with the idea of how all roads always ended up leading to her, whether it was for better or for worse, the truth was that her grandmother was the soul of that family.
Mirabel arrived at Casita, where a deathly silence reigned. She guessed that everyone was resting after the disastrous party of the day before. Mirabel didn't think twice and she went upstairs to her grandmother's room. Alma took a long time to open. Mirabel knew her grandma had a hard time moving quickly, to the point that the sound of the floor's wood anticipated her encounter. "Mirabel? What are you doing here so early?" Alma asked, who had her hair braided, and wore a white nightgown and a black shawl, which made her look even older than she was. "Grandma, I…" Mirabel began, feeling a wave of shame and pain. She couldn't hold back her tears and started to cry. Alma looked at her in horror, took her by the hand and led her to her bed.
Mirabel sat quietly on the bed as her grandmother closed the door and poured her a glass of water. "What's wrong, dear?" Alma asked as he sat down next to her. "You were right, everyone was right, this is serious and now I'm involved in something very bad" she said through tears. Alma took her by the shoulders and looked at her with terror-filled eyes. "What happened to you? Did he do something to you?" she asked. Mirabel shook her head. "No, but there is something I must tell you…" Mirabel said before she started to tell her about the final conversation with Victor.
"I think I should leave town, Grandma," Mirabel concluded. "Yes, it is true, you must do it" agreed Alma in an almost cold and methodical way. Mirabel was not mistaken, if someone would help her analyze this matter in a rational way, it would be her. "Camilo will also have to leave as quickly as possible, and I don't think he should go with you," Alma said. Mirabel was surprised to hear that. "What? Why?" she asked. "He's going to want to take it out on someone." Alma answered. She seemed to ponder her words for a few minutes. "I think the best thing would be to continue with the paperwork so that the land of the river passes into your hands. You will be far away, but it is your property, so we can save everything, and..." her grandmother began frantically, but that was too much for Mirabel.
"Wait, Grandma. I can't believe you still think it's a good idea to leave the river land in my name, after all the stupid things I've done," she said. Alma sighed. "You're here, aren't you?" Alma asked. "I don't understand," Mirabel replied. "Even though you're hurt, that you're in a lot of pain, even so, you're here willing to make a great sacrifice for your family and this town" her grandmother continued as she put a hand on Mirabel's cheek. I was not wrong about you, I know exactly what kind of person you are, and if anyone has the character, the resilience and the strength to take on this responsibility, it is you" Alma said. Mirabel stared at her.
"You are entrusting me with a great responsibility, after all my mistakes" Mirabel said as she felt tears return. "Mirabel Madrigal I would put my life in your hands. We all make mistakes and we can all fall victim to the whims of cruel fate from time to time. The really important thing is to get up, dry your tears and move on," her grandmother said quietly as she wiped her cheeks.
"I never thought I would have to run away from this town for something like this, much less drag Camilo with me," Mirabel said. "You're not the first my dear, and by the way things are going, you won't be the last," Alma murmured. Mirabel knew that her grandmother was right, but that didn't make things any less difficult for her. "What will we do with the farm?" she asked. "Camilo and I were the ones who took care of it," Mirabel said. "Don't worry about it. Again, you will not be the first to leave home asking these questions, nor will you be the last. Mirabel, if you need money to settle in the city, I will give it to you" Alma said, always practical and sensible.
"What will you guys do?" Mirabel asked. Alma rubbed her temples. "Whatever it takes to get you back," she said with a serious tinge to her voice. "Grandma, Victor could have very powerful allies and..." Mirabel began as she had understood that her grandmother intended to put up a fight. "Whatever is necessary," Alma repeated bluntly and without giving her a chance to argue. "With Bruno here things will be easier, I know he seems weak, but you'd be surprised how smart he can be," she said.
"I only want one thing, Grandma," Mirabel said "What?" Alma asked. "Let me talk to Camilo on my own terms" she requested. Her grandmother did not seem pleased. "Mirabel, you can't hide the truth from him. He must know what they're up against, I don't think that's a good idea" Alma said. "Please, Grandma. I really love Camilo very much, but I don't think it's a good idea to keep insisting on a relationship that has brought him nothing but pain, I can't keep insisting" Mirabel said. "You cannot choose the pain he is willing to endure."
"Please, Grandma," Mirabel requested. "Okay" Alma sighed "you take care of it" Alma said. Mirabel wasn't used to her grandmother's overly affectionate side, but if anyone understood what it meant to leave home to protect safety, it was her. So during those moments they spent together she was incredibly affectionate.
Mirabel left Casita before noon. She was in no mood to explain herself to her parents and her sisters. However, things didn't go as she had planned, since when crossing the central garden of the house, Mirabel found herself face to face with Camilo. He looked pretty bad. He never seemed overly groomed, as she knew part of his charm was that handsome look without really trying. However, this was not intentional, he really did look like he had been run over by a truck. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled, his hair completely soaked and his eyes red and very puffy.
Camilo tried to run into the house without being noticed, but he realized she was there. "Mirabel" he said as he stared at her. She took a couple of steps towards him. "You look terrible, and you smell even worse, you clearly had a wild night, why are you wet?" She asked. Camilo blushed. "I went swimming in the river," he admitted as he averted her gaze. "Was that before or after the party?" Mirabel asked. Camilo looked even more embarrassed. "The party wasn't very successful, so I decided to go swimming in the river, it brings back memories," he said. "Let me guess, you went to the riverbank where you and I…" She began biting back a laugh. "You don't have to make fun of me.
Mirabel wanted to laugh so bad, that was so dramatic, almost theatrical, that was so Camilo, it was simply perfect. She knew him enough to know what had happened: Camilo surely fought with his girlfriend in front of the whole town, he publicly humiliated himself, and when he found himself drunk, he discovered that the most "responsible" thing to do would be to go swimming in the river, right where they had spent that night so many years ago, and in true novelistic fashion.
"You could have died, it's dark at night and that river is covered with stones," she said laughing. "If it makes you feel any better, I didn't have a good night either," Mirabel confessed. "What are you talking about?" he asked. They walked to the corner of the acacias while Mirabel confessed to Camilo that she had spent the night drunk at her house, after listening to a music radio program for broken hearts in her underwear. She even confessed to him that she had received Victor and they had danced together until Grandma and Bruno interrupted them. "Wow, just wow," Camilo muttered. "I may be jealous, but to think that Grandma and Bruno found you together is quite humiliating," Camilo commented.
"That's where the fun part of the story ends, though," Mirabel said as she felt her good humor evaporate. "What are you talking about? Camilo asked. Mirabel felt her voice cut off. "You were right, everyone was right, Victor is bad, really bad" Mirabel muttered, as Camilo looked paler and paler. However, he didn't interrupt her, just listened in silence, feeling completely horrified by her revelations.
"I think I should get back to the capital as quickly as possible, and Grandma thinks the same too" she said as she sat on the log by the pond and took her hands in hers. "You can't go and leave us again, Mirabel, I won't take this," he replied. "Do you not understand?" she asked, annoyed. "You can't stay either, we both have to get out of here as quickly as possible. We don't know who Victor's allies are, or if he is just a loose wheel, we have to leave before this continues to grow, "Mirabel replied.
"Then, let's go together," Camilo said seriously. "He is crazy, if we leave the family will pay for it. If the two of us go together I don't know what will offend Victor more: his plan being ruined, or the fact that I played with his feelings. He will not forgive us," Mirabel said. Camilo rubbed his temples. "You're right. We could pretend that we go our separate ways, that each one of us goes to a different city, and we will meet in Bogotá after a while. If it makes you feel safer," Camilo said." Mirabel looked at him thoughtfully.
"How soon will you join me?" Mirabel asked. "Not for long, just as long as it takes to get Marlene's money together," he replied. Mirabel snorted furiously. "It's got to be a joke. I can't believe you are still thinking about that ," she said. "Mirabel, you have to understand me, everything she said to me last night was very painful. I really have to finish things right," he replied.
"I don't know what she said to you, but everyone in town talks about the horrible things she said about me. Apparently, according to her, I'm just a floozy. You should see how all the curious people were looking at me this morning. Everybody talks about me. Mirabel answered furiously. "I don't think she meant to…" Camilo answered, and this lit up Mirabel's fire even more. "You have no right to sanction my behavior, whether you like it or not, I am free, while you are engaged," she replied.
"Please, you have to wait for me," Camilo began. She stood up. "No, I can't!" she yelled, "I'm sick of this, I am sick of waiting, in a week I'll leave this town, and I'm not going to wait for you, I'll leave on my own, and you can go with your fiancée. I'm done with this situation" Mirabel said. Camilo stood up, tried to take her hand, but she quickly let go.
"Please, Mirabel, wait, I…" Camilo said. "Stop it, Camilo, I'm sorry, but I don't want to be the other woman in this relationship, it's best that you solve your situation." Mirabel gave him one last look before leaving. It hurt her to see Camilo with a broken heart, but it hurt her even more to have to remain eternally fixated on something that didn't seem to be possible.
Mirabel returned home, while she thought about the mistakes she had made, how she had let her constant thirst for love and affection drive her into the arms of a man who could give her nothing but the destruction of everything she held dear. Mirabel knew that her past self had suffered a lot, but she also knew that today's Mirabel had to start seeing things objectively, without the lenses of pain from her past on her eyes .
Two days passed. Mirabel packed her bags and left for Manizales. She had to talk to the people at the Ministry of Education to present her resignation. She spent the whole trip in the chiva feeling sad, since she had spent a lot of time wanting that job, and now she had to give it up.
"It's a shame you want to quit, we've heard good things about you" said the manager as he sat down in his office chair. "I don't want to give up, it's silly, my family lives in Encanto, my cousin is getting married, his girlfriend hates me, my cousin doesn't hate me, it's…complicated" Mirabel stammered nonsense. The manager smiled at her.
"I understand, it's a matter of personal problems. It is quite difficult to find an experienced teacher who wants to go to a town in the middle of nowhere. This department needs teachers for the municipalities next to the Pacific coast, but for security reasons and budget we still don't have single female teachers there, that jungle is especially difficult. However…" began the manager as he took a sheet from one of the piles of paper that rested on his desk.
"There are very old and small towns on the Caribbean coast, which are far from everything. I warn you that they are not especially kind to mountaineers like us, they would prefer someone from the coast, but they need a teacher who can take two courses in two different municipalities" he explained. Mirabel received the sheet from the manager's hands. She looked at the names of the municipalities and remembered them as simple dots on the map during a trip she took to the coast with her parents.
Mirabel smiled. This seemed like a place far away enough to escape Victor's hand, and the broken heart that Camilo left her. She returned to Encanto very late at night. However, the next day she had an unexpected visitor:
"I can't believe it has to end like this," Julieta said through tears. "Mom, it's the best for everyone. Victor is dangerous, and there is nothing here for me, "Mirabel said while in her mind she saw Camilo's face. Julieta, Agustín and her sisters were sitting in her living room, with faces typical of a funeral while her mother cried.
"Maybe if we talk about it..." Isabela began, though her voice quickly died, since there was no point. "I've been trying to reason with Victor to leave me alone since I was four years old, and it has never worked. Of course he won't forgive me after this rejection," Mirabel began. "I don't know what his problem is with me, because it always has to be me," she commented. Agustín and Julieta shared a brief glance.
"Where will you go?" Luisa asked. "There is a job for a rural teacher in the department of Magdalena, two municipalities need someone," she commented. "That's far away, can't you get something closer?" her sister asked. "No, I'm so sorry Luisa" she said. At that moment, Julieta began to cry even harder. "What hurts me the most is that I know you won't come back," she said.
Mirabel remained silent. Her mom was right. There was nothing left in Encanto for her. Victor would not leave her alone, Camilo knew that he had to leave, and yet he insisted on fulfilling that absurd promise to Marlene. She had no idea how the whole story would end. The visit ended quite late. Her parents left, although Isabela stayed behind and gave Mirabel a look.
"You don't have to tell me anything, Isa. I already know what you are going to say: this is all my fault, I asked for it, you warned me" Mirabel said as she rolled her eyes. "No, I didn't want to tell you that," Isabela answered in a low voice. She took a step forward and gave her a big hug. "I'm so sorry, Mirabel. I really want to change the past, but I can't do it, I can only ask you to look forward, not back" she murmured in her ear. Mirabel hugged her sister back. "I'm going to miss you a lot, Isa," she said.
The next day, Mirabel got up and decided to go to the market place to have breakfast, since she did not want to do any additional shopping. However, just as she was walking through the meat section, she saw Mrs. Heibi waving her hand, indicating that she should go with her. "Niña Mirabel, you won't believe what happened", she said, getting more and more excited at the prospect of savoring that succulent gossip. "What happened?" Mirabel asked intrigued. "The people are shocked. Miguel Valenzuela's daughter and Armando Rivera's daughter left their house in the middle of the night," the old woman said. Mirabel knew that she was talking about Marlene and Daniela Valenzuela, Victor's sister.
Mirabel listened to other customers gossip with the old woman. Nobody seemed to be surprised that Marlene had left. After all, it was no secret that she no longer loved her cousin and her parents were not opposed to her making a life in the city. However, Daniela's escape was a real blow to the liver for the Valenzuelas. Miguel and Esperanza Valenzuela had very specific plans for their daughter, which required a suitable marriage, a life as a housewife and, of course, children. No one expected her to disappear overnight.
Mirabel discreetly took her purchase and decided that day would be suitable for breakfast at the Casita. After all, she was dying to hear Camilo's version of the news. She walked to the other side of the town, while she felt that in the main square everyone gave her looks full of curiosity. Mirabel feigned innocence as her entire family greeted her.
Julieta served her breakfast while everyone chatted animatedly, and her grandmother looked carefully at some bills while she drank her coffee. Mirabel noticed that her cousin was missing. "Where is Camilo?" she asked. "He left very early in the morning to take some packages of fertilizer to the crops. He will be back before noon," answered Pepa. Suddenly, her grandmother got up from her chair, as if something had alarmed her. She took off her reading glasses and stared at her.
"Mirabel" the old woman called her. "Come here, there's something you need to see," she said. "I'll be there in a moment, I want to finish my eggs..." Mirabel replied. "No, it must be now, please come with me to my study" Alma replied. The whole family fell silent. That could only mean one thing: money problems. "Yes ma'am." Mirabel nodded.
They arrived at her grandmother's study, where the old woman handed Mirabel a document. "I was looking at the profits from the last harvest, I thought we already had sales of the new premium coffee, but I found this," her grandmother said. Mirabel took the sheet and found a promissory note signed by Camilo. He had borrowed almost all the profits from the new coffee. "I can't believe that he hadn't asked me for permission, it puts us in a very delicate situation, we will spend the next few months very tight on money, I can't believe that he would have been so irresponsible," her grandmother murmured.
Mirabel couldn't take her eyes off the sheet of paper. She had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she felt that this was her fault, she had pushed Camilo to make that irresponsible and hasty decision, and on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel happy, since he really kept his promise to her. It was obvious that this had to do with Marlene's disappearance. "He did it to pay off Marlene. Doña Heibi told me that Marlene and Daniela Valenzuela disappeared last night, " Mirabel said.
"I don't know how to feel," her grandmother said as she sat in her desk chair. "On the one hand, I am relieved to know that this marriage will not take place. They hated each other. But, on the other hand, I am worried about the economic position in which Camilo will leave us. We will have to make a lot of effort to survive this season" her grandmother said. "With good administration it can be done," Mirabel replied. "The problem is that we will not have good administrators for the next harvest, because the ones we had will leave the village," her grandmother said as she gave her a sad smile. "If you really need us…" Mirabel began. "No, no, no, you will not endanger your safety, the most important thing is that you are well, we will survive as best we can" she replied.
At that moment, the tiles of the house began to dance. Mirabel understood that Casita wanted to tell them that Camilo was back. "Tell that irresponsible one to come show his face, I want to talk to him alone" Alma said annoyed. Mirabel came out and found herself facing Camilo. The two looked at each other for a few moments. "Grandma wants to talk to you, she is very upset, although somewhat relieved" she said. Camilo smiled "and you, how do you feel?" he asked. "A part of me feels furious, taking money like this from the family is something very irresponsible and inconsiderate, especially since we will have to leave, and we are the ones who have managed the farm" Mirabel began. "However, another part of me is completely happy," she confessed.
"I had to, I couldn't lose you again" he said. "Camilo, I thank you for keeping your word, but what you have done is very serious." she said. Camilo sighed. "I'll talk to Grandma, and then I need you to take you with me somewhere. Wait for me at your house and I'll pick you up." Camilo said. Mirabel nodded. "Camilo" her grandmother called him from her office. Camilo squeezed Mirabel's hand one last time before entering the room.
Mirabel returned home, just as he asked her to. She waited a couple of hours until she heard the doorbell. She found Camilo looking at her with a tired smile. "Grandma pronounced her sentence, there will be no punishment, but I must pay quickly, the family urgently needs the money" he told her after greeting her. Camilo entered her house and observed everything carefully. "You have a nice place," he commented. "What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked. Camilo smiled.
"I need you to travel to Ibagué with me tonight," he said. Mirabel was surprised: "why?" she asked. "There's someone who wants to talk to you, and I think it's important. Besides, I think it will be fun" Camilo said as he shrugged. "I don't think that's a good idea, we have Victor breathing in our ear," Mirabel said. "Victor is too busy with the disappearance of his sister to pay attention to you," Camilo replied. Mirabel would have liked to ask her how he knew about Daniela Valenzuela's disappearance, but she preferred to go to her room to pack a small suitcase with a change of clothes for a couple of days, and give Antonio a call so he could feed and play with her cats.
Camilo and Mirabel took the difficult and winding road to Ibagué. The capital of the neighboring department was already outside the coffee zone where the weather was much hotter than in Encanto. "It's late," Mirabel said, looking at her wrist watch. "It doesn't matter, we'll get a hotel, take a bath, and meet someone at a restaurant. I want to get out of this whole situation as quickly as possible" Camilo said. Mirabel was already beginning to worry, because the secret of this unexpected trip made her nervous.
However, she did as Camilo asked. She bathed and dressed in a simple white dress, the lightest she owned, as the night was extremely hot. Camilo and Mirabel arrived at a nice family restaurant. There was nothing strange or surprising about that place, decorated with hanging plants and filled with happy families celebrating one of its members' birthdays.
"Mirabel" Daniela Valenzuela called her from one of the tables, wearing a huge smile. Next to her, was Marlene who looked annoyed and frowning. "What does this mean?" she asked Camilo Mirabel before the two went to sit at the table. "This was why Marlene needed the extra money. She wanted to help her friend leave town and start a new life," Camilo said. "Why am I here?" Mirabel asked. "Daniela told me that she wanted to talk to you, I think it's important," Camilo explained. "Okay," Mirabel nodded.
The four shared an awkward greeting. Daniela asked Marlene and Camilo to let them talk in private. Mirabel and Daniela remained at the table looking at each other while Marlene and Camilo sat at the bar a few meters away. "Why did you want to talk to me?" Mirabel asked after sharing some small talk. "Mirabel, I owe a lot to Camilo. I always dreamed of having my own life, doing something for myself, and now I can start doing it, that's why I can't stay silent while I see you make mistakes. Please stay away from my brother" Daniela requested. "You don't have to ask me Daniela. Your brother told me what his plans are, I'm afraid I'll have to leave Encanto, I can't let him and his friends get away with it" she replied.
Daniela bit her lip, as if she were searching for words to continue. "To be honest, I'm not sure how important Victor is in the region. However, I am clear that he is a strange person" Daniela said. Mirabel frowned and prepared to listen carefully, but Daniela didn't seem to know how she should continue. "I don't know how to explain this, because I don't understand it either, but my parents and I have talked about it on several occasions," she said, clearly uncomfortable. "You see… There's a conversation I've heard over and over again throughout my life, and it's about mom and dad asking Victor to leave you alone. To be honest, I don't know why you're not more freaked out by Victor's attention, don't you think that's a little weird?" Daniela said. "I don't understand you," Mirabel stammered.
"Think about it, Maribel. He relentlessly chased you when we were kids. Your parents talked to mine dozens of times. And to be honest, Dad was pretty hard on Victor. He punished him, beat him up, sent him out of Encanto and he was still there, behind you. Mom and dad aren't opposed to a relationship with you, but I'm not going to lie to you, we're all terrified," Daniela said. "Victor needs me to carry out his plans with the river, he simply wants the powers of the Madrigal family" Mirabel stammered. "Could be," Daniela began. "But that is the rational excuse that he himself has invented, but it terrifies me to think that you are thinking about him, when the truth is that not even we, his family, know what his intentions are" she said.
Mirabel listened perplexed. Many people had warned her about the danger of going out with Victor. However, Daniela's words had another dimension, one that she had never seen. Suddenly, she understood that she had never paid any real attention to Victor's actions. In a true act of selfishness and negligence, she had only taken into account her own feelings towards him, and her family's impression of him.
"Dad and mom understood that this hadn't stopped since the very day he set foot in Encanto after his graduation. As soon as he got to town he made plans to visit the Madrigal house with the intention of talking to you, still after everything that happened, even after the rejection" Daniela continued. "Did he have girlfriends during the time he studied away?" Mirabel asked. "Yeah, two girls. That was the reason daddy let her come back, we thought the whole thing was over, that it was just some dumb teenage crush, but it's still there nonetheless, and it scares me because I've seen some of the documents that my brother hides at home, I have read the telegrams that he shares with other rural leaders, it is scary" she said.
Daniela was right. Victor's behavior was beyond that of a normal opportunist. She had always questioned him about the ease with which he had gone from being her bully to being her suitor. Probably, in his twisted head there was not much difference between the one and the other.
"Don't worry, Daniela. Your warnings will be taken into account. Camilo and I will leave Encanto for a while. I got a job as a teacher on the coast, we'll find a way to survive" Mirabel said. Daniela smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear it, I hope you are very happy" she said.
"All in order?" Camilo asked. Daniela smiled at them, "perfect" she replied. "Perfect," Marlene commented reluctantly as she flopped carelessly back into the chair. "That means we can leave and never have to see Mirabel Madrigal again," she said. Mirabel frowned.
"Excuse me?" Mirabel asked. "You heard it," confirmed Marlene. "If there's anyone who should be upset, it's me, since we were teenagers you've made my life hell," Mirabel said. "What a nerve. I can't believe you don't have even a little bit of shame for everything you've done to me" Marlene replied. Mirabel narrowed her eyes, but she didn't dignify that comment with a response. "First, I was dating Victor, and you had to screw it up. Later, I had been engaged to Camilo for a year and you ruined it again, and somehow, according to your family and all the people in town, I am the one they treat as the third wheel in this matter. I'm the one who should feel insulted." she said.
"With whose money are you undertaking this escape? oh, yes, with my family's" Mirabel said sarcastically and crossed her arms. Daniela shrank into her seat. After all, she was using that money too. "If your beloved cousin hadn't left me penniless, I wouldn't have demanded money from him," she replied. "You spread a lot of rumors about me, you humiliated me the night of the town's patron saint's party, in front of my whole family during the family dinner, and I don't even want to touch the subject of the night of the candles. Everyone looks at me like I'm a traveling show," Mirabel replied, who would have wanted to add being Camilo's fiancée to Marlene's list of sins, but she knew that wouldn't sound good.
"Oh please, you take not one but two boyfriends from me and I'm the one who ends up owning you," Marlene replied sarcastically. Suddenly, Daniela had to intervene. "Mari, leave it at that, could we agree that the two of you behaved like a bitch with each other?" she asked. Mirabel nodded and Marlene followed. To be honest, if she had been Marlene she would hate herself too. "Like, you didn't even really want the boyfriends I took from you" Mirabel said to put salt back on the wound. "Mirabel…" Camilo warned by way of warning. "Yeah I know, but I don't care. It's still not cool, you don't go through life doing that, it's a matter of respect" Marlene replied. Mirabel looked away. She knew it hadn't been cool, but she still didn't want to make it up to that asshole.
"You should shake hands and settle your differences," Daniela said happily. Mirabel looked at her and saw true kindness in her eyes. Camilo looked at her as if he were about to laugh out loud, surely he found that hilarious. Marlene and Mirabel looked into each other's eyes, neither of them could stand the other, but they both wanted to please Daniela, who had always been very kind to them, unlike her brother. Marlene and Mirabel had the most uncomfortable handshake that Mirabel had ever felt in her life, since Marlene looked at her as if she wished her the worst, and she was not far behind her. "Yay" Daniela clapped as soon as they shook hands, although the two immediately let go.
Camilo and Mirabel left the restaurant a couple of hours later. The two finished their meal and decided to walk back to the hotel. "I'm really glad that the two of them can be happy," Mirabel said, meaning every word. "We should follow their example," Camilo replied. "Would you like to go dancing?" Mirabel suddenly asked. Camilo looked at her like when they were children and she suggested some prank. "Yes, it sounds fun, as you can imagine, I'm short of money, but we'll see," Camilo answered calmly.
Mirabel and Camilo found a small, dark place filled with colored lights and a jukebox. It wasn't what she usually would have chosen, but it was the only thing that remained open. Ironically, she didn't mind the rustic feel of the place. The two of them danced and shared a single half bottle, because as Camilo had said, the two of them were quite short of money.
"Tell me you'll go with me to the coast" Mirabel said as she practically hung around Camilo's neck as the two of them danced. "I'll go with you, if that's what you want, but it won't be easy, it will be hard at first, I used all my savings to pay Marlene, and it's no secret to anyone that teachers in rural areas are sometimes paid with delay," Camilo said. "I know, but we'll think of something, we can't just stay here," Mirabel answered. Camilo agreed. they didn't have much choice but to be creative, and had to do something, anything.
"That asshole Victor. This is all his fault, we could stay in Encanto living quietly, getting the family business back, but now we have to go. I don't want to leave" Camilo murmured. Mirabel sighed. "I'm going to confess something to you: My original plan was to graduate as a teacher and return to work at the town school, or in a nearby municipality," Mirabel said. "Why didn't you do it?" Camilo asked. "Because I knew that it would hurt me a lot to see you engaged, I avoided going back to Encanto, even though deep down it was what I wanted the most"
"I don't understand you, Mirabel," Camilo replied. "You do everything you can to irritate the family, but you also want to be with them," Camilo replied. Mirabel smiled at him. She preferred not to tell him that perhaps what she wanted was their recognition and their love. "It doesn't matter what I want anymore, after what Daniela told me, I'm sure it's not a good idea to stay in Encanto" she answered. "What did she say?" he asked. "The same as so many others: he prevented me from accepting Victor. However, she gave me a different perspective, one that I hadn't considered," Mirabel replied.
For some reason she didn't want to retell her conversation with Daniela. Something about that subject seemed too dirty and irrational. She preferred that Camilo continue to believe that everything was due to Victor's interest in the river and not in a personal matter that she could not explain. For some reason that intimidated her even more.
Camilo and Mirabel spent the night together in every sense of the word. They hadn't shared a night like this since their escape to the river during the night of the candles. For the first time, Mirabel experienced what it meant to be free from guilt. It was about the peace of mind that the two of them could finally love each other freely.
"I've missed you so much Mirabel" Camilo murmured into her neck as the two entered the room in the middle of the darkness. Mirabel knew that the two of them had lost any shame in their relationship, when he requested a room with a single double bed without hesitation .
"Me too," Mirabel replied, kissing him. She could barely catch her breath and continue as she put her hands on his chest and pushed him inside the room. Mirabel closed the door. She knew things would escalate, and she didn't care. For the first time, the two of them were completely free to make a decision like this. Finally, they were adults who freely chose to be with each other. As much as their relationship was increasingly unusual, they would be doing as they wanted.
"Finally," Camilo muttered as he sat up in bed. "Finally," Mirabel repeated as she sat down next to him. The two looked at each other for a few moments. He brushed a couple of strands from her forehead and stroked her cheek with the point of his fingers. Mirabel had had relationships before, and if she had learned anything, it was that often those small, seemingly insignificant gestures could excite her and make her feel much more passionate than bigger expressions. She shivered the moment Camilo touched her.
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Mirabel woke up the next day sore but happy. It was the feeling of something that she had wanted for a long time and it has finally come true. She turned her face away and saw Camilo sleeping soundly on the pillow next to her. She would have wanted to say that it was one of those scenes in the romantic novels she used to read when she was a teenager, but everything about him was chaotic, even the way he slept.
He was snoring loudly with his mouth half open with one of his hands extended above his head, the other dangling carelessly off the bed, as well as one of his legs. Mirabel felt sorry for him, since she had read that people who snore couldn't rest completely, so she decided to improve his neck posture to make him more comfortable. Mirabel stood next to him, almost on top of him, took her head in both of her hands and moved it slightly. However, a muffled snore told her that he had woken up.
"Wow, surprise attack," he muttered as he quickly stood up. Unfortunately, he didn't realize she was still on top of him and hit her hard on the head with his own. "Ouch" Mirabel groaned as she rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I thought it was Antonio, sometimes he jokes with me when I'm in bed. One time he put glue on my sheets" he said as he tried to comfort Mirabel. "I'm fine, I'm fine," Mirabel replied.
"I should have known, Mirabel Madrigal is so stubborn she has that head hard like no other" Camilo scoffed, "Look, this is the proof" he said as he changed the shape of his head, making an unevenness in his forehead. "Ha ha ha, how funny," Mirabel replied without laughing. "You're the stubborn one," she said. "Maybe we're both the stubborn ones, and the irrational ones," Camilo said. Mirabel had no choice but to accept, considering everything that had happened to date.
Camilo looked at the clock next to the bed. "Oh my god, Look how late it is, if we don't hurry it will be noon and we'll have to pay for another night in this hotel," he said.
Mirabel guffawed as he clumsily scrambled out of bed and ran to the bathroom completely naked. Quickly, they returned to the road. Mirabel looked out the window at the dense trees of the mountain passing quickly as the wind hit her face. She had not felt so free in a long time, despite the fact that both of them had a difficult and uncertain future ahead of them, and that they would have to start a new life with great effort, while everyone she loved remained in Encanto. Mirabel resented Victor once more, because if he hadn't been a dangerous ticking time bomb, she wouldn't have thought of escaping.
Camilo and Mirabel arrived at Encanto shortly before midnight. Everything was silent, except for a couple of seedy taverns on the outskirts of town. The truck climbed up the cobblestone road to the hill where Casita was located and they finally finished their journey. The plan was to let the family know they were finally back and get something to eat. Later, Camilo would take her back to her house and the night would end up being a success. However, Mirabel knew that this dream of tranquility could not be realized as soon as she looked towards the entrance.
"Is that Victor?" Camilo asked when he saw someone standing in front of the door in the distance. Mirabel looked at him carefully. The pale light from the bulb above the front door barely illuminated him, but if it was him, there was something odd about the way he looked. "It seems so," Mirabel replied while Camilo parked the truck. Indeed, something very strange was happening with Victor. His suit didn't look as immaculate as usual, nor did his mannerisms as elegant.
They got out of the truck and Victor ran towards them. Mirabel immediately smelled the alcohol on his breath. "So you finally have the nerve to show up, Camilo Madrigal," he said. Mirabel would have liked to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, but not even drunk Victor lost his menacing air, a perception that had only worsened since the night he confessed his plans for Encanto. "It's late, Victor, we'll talk tomorrow," Camilo answered. "Where is my sister, Madrigal?" he asked, annoyed. "I don't know, I have nothing to do with your sister, that's not my problem" Camilo replied, as Mirabel and him hurried towards Casita's door.
Mirabel was close to asking Casita to open the door, but she was unable to do so, as Victor grabbed Camilo hard and slammed him roughly against the wooden door. Mirabel heard a low howl of pain. She knew that Camilo was a charismatic person, with a soft spot for drama. However, he was not violent, and being physically strong was not one of his talents. Victor, on the other hand, had been looking for trouble with the other kids in town for decades, and he still seemed as strong and impulsive as he remembered from his teenage years.
"Victor no" Mirabel said when she saw that he raised his fist again. She tried to get in the way, but she ended up on the floor and with an injured eye, as he reacted instinctively and moved his elbow. Mirabel scraped her hand when she fell and her eye socket ached. She heard the door open. Of course, with all that racket and yelling, it was a matter before someone showed up. "Mirabel" Julieta shouted horrified to see her on the ground.
She looked up and realized that her cousin was trying to fight back as best she could, but without much success. They stopped when they saw the rest of the family leave the house. Of course, Victor wasn't stupid enough to take on all the Madrigals, especially her sisters.
"What's happening?how do you dare to come to my house at this hour to disturb us?" her grandmother asked in an almost imposing manner. Mirabel had to admit that despite her age and all her problems, she still had that gift of leadership. "I'm very sorry, ma'am, but I can't find my sister, and I know he had something to do with her disappearance," Victor said as he pointed a trembling finger at Camilo.
"Why do you make such an accusation?" her grandmother asked again. Mirabel knew, she was only feigning ignorance since they both knew what had happened. "My sister had no money, and she knew I needed her. The family needed her to fulfill her duties, even though she didn't want to. Today Marlene disappeared, with the money he paid her, surely she took my sister away, the two were too close, "he said. "Well, it's Marlene who should give you the explanations, not Camilo, he just borrowed money from me to pay off the debt he owed that girl for breaking off the engagement. We never imagined that she would take it to run away with your sister" Alma said quietly.
"Lies!" Victor practically screamed. Mirabel had never heard anyone talk to Grandma like that, well, except for herself, but that didn't count. "No one knows how they left the town, none of the chivas that came out of the plaza took them. Someone must have taken them in a private vehicle, and he disappeared for two days," he said. "Camilo and I went to see the new thresher, this has nothing to do with your sister" Mirabel lied, while she felt the stabbing pain in her eye and her head about to explode.
"I don't think so, whenever something bad happens to me, he is involved, dad decided to send me to Medellin because of you, if you hadn't provoked me that night in that inn, I wouldn't have been rash enough to wet Mirabel and made her sick. Then the whole thing with the road, now the investigation, Mirabel and my sister. Why do you insist on ruining my life, Madrigal?" Victor asked. "Most of the things you've said are your own fault, I had nothing to do with it" Camilo answered. For the first time Mirabel saw how hurt her cousin was, his face was purple and a thin trickle of blood came out of his nostril.
"Please go away Victor" Mirabel requested. He looked at her carefully for the first time and must have realized that she was hurt. She would have felt sorry under other circumstances, but she couldn't. After all, this seemed like a constant in Victor's life, a sick cycle of getting angry, losing control, being reckless, and apologizing. Mirabel always turned out to be the victim of his stupidity and she was fed up. "I'm so sorry Mirabel…" Victor started, but she didn't let him continue as she held up her hand as a gesture for him to be quiet.
"Go away, Victor," she began quietly. "I don't want to see you around here again, and the kind of relationship we had is over. You hit me, and I will not allow this to happen again" Mirabel said quietly as she stared at him. He looked at her for a few seconds as he seemed to understand her words. Mirabel would have liked to have that conversation at a better time, or in a more private way, but she was not willing to wait, she wanted to end it once and for all.
"So this is how things are going to be, huh? '' he asked with sarcasm in his voice. "I see. I am no longer useful to you. I already gave you what you wanted, the job you wanted and you had fun with me while he was engaged, but now that he is finally free, I am as useful to you as yesterday's newspaper" he said. Mirabel felt horrible, because he was right, that was exactly what she did: play with his feelings and push him aside. Again, her grandmother's words replayed in her head over and over again, for no matter how bad Victor was, this was wrong
"I'm so sorry, Victor, but I can't trust you, you're impulsive and violent, and frankly your reactions scare me, sometimes I don't know what you're capable of" Mirabel said. He took a step forward and took her arm tightly. However, he couldn't say a word.
"You can go now" Luisa said as she gently put her hand on Victor's shoulder, in such a way that it sounded like a suggestion, but it was an order. Despite her power, Luisa rarely made direct threats, so everyone in town knew that when she intervened, the situation was serious.
Victor gave one last resentful look to the Madrigal family, and to Mirabel and Camilo in particular, before he left to return to the village.
Hi everyone, I didn't make it graphic, as you can see. I have changed the rating a couple of times on other fics, but I have received complaints every time. I used to feel irritated a couple of years ago, but I get it now, it's like when you are watching a show with your parents, and the creators suddenly slap you in the face with a full naked sex scene.