Chapter 16
34 years before Encanto
Alma stood at the door of Julieta's room, the candle glowing warmly in her hand.
She chuckled as she noticed three shapes hidden under the covers of Julieta's bed, all cuddled up together. Alma shook her head with a smile.
"Buenos noches, my angels." Alma said lovingly, before softly closing the door behind her and heading down the hall to her own room.
There was a moment of silence in the bedroom, then from outside the window, hands grabbed the windowsill as Julieta pulled herself up to peer inside the bedroom.
"Ok Bruno," Julieta whispered towards the cupboard. "Coast is clear - let's go."
The cupboard door opened and Bruno tumbled out, his arms and legs askew as he got tangled up in garments of Julieta's clothes. Julieta giggled softly as she watched Bruno's rats tumble out after him, landing on top of him then scrambling out of the way as Bruno clambered up to his feet and headed over.
"That was way too close!" He whispered as he made his way to the window, Julieta watching with a smile. "I didn't expect mama to get to the door so fast."
Julieta laughed quietly, then she let go of the window and dropped down to the garden.
Bruno climbed up onto the windowsill after her and held onto its edges nervously as he looked down at his sisters waiting below.
"Come on!" Julieta whispered encouragingly, beckoning him with her hands. "It's not that far. You can do it!"
Bruno glanced at the ground with a gulp.
"Come on Brunito!" Pepa whispered with a big smile, holding her arms out for Bruno. "I will catch you."
Bruno smiled in relief. He tapped his knuckles on the window frame and his head before holding his breath, crossing his fingers as he let go of the windowframe and fell down.
"I don't think-" Julieta didn't have time to finish before Bruno landed on Pepa, her body instantly collapsing beneath him as they both tumbled to the ground in a heap, groaning. The rats pattered down from above as they landed on top of them. A grey cloud formed over Pepa's head and rumbled angrily.
"Oh dios." Julieta remarked in concern, taking two arepas from her bag and popping them into her siblings mouths. Bruno and Pepa instantly straightened back up as the food healed them.
"You alright?" She whispered. They nodded as she helped them up, kissing their faces. Julieta glanced quickly towards Mama's window, then back to her siblings.
"Ok," Julieta whispered as they headed over to mama's brown horse. She took a deep breath and pulled the hood of her ruana up, then exhaled. She couldn't believe they were actually doing this.
"Let's go."
The streets of town were bustling with sounds of music as the people gathered to the town square to watch the band play.
Agustin played his piano vibrantly to the beat of the drums, but his mind was distracted. His eyes continuously searched through the dancing crowd hopefully, until finally he broke into a smile. She made it.
The crowd parted slightly as a horse made its way through the town square, three hooded figures riding atop of it. Some of their friends clapped and laughed as the Madrigal triplets removed their hoods and jumped off the horse, joining in on the festivities.
Agustin watched as Julieta jumped down from the horse, tossing her curly black hair back as she straightened up. She lay her ruana out over the horse's back as her siblings did the same, revealing the blue party dress she was wearing. Agustin held his breath nervously.
Julieta turned towards the stage, her eyes meeting Agustin's. Julieta's face became brighter as she smiled over at him.
Agustin's fingers suddenly missed the beat, a dissonant clunk of notes momentarily breaking up the groove, before he quickly caught up again. Eduardo looked over from his drums and shook his head with a grin as Agustin glanced back at him apologetically. He then turned back to Julieta, gulping as he noticed she was still watching him. She was effortlessly beautiful.
Agustin exhaled. He couldn't believe she actually came. He thought back to Julieta healing his bee stings earlier that day.
Agustin watched as Julieta turned the corn carefully with her fingers. The warm light from the flames danced softly across her face.
Julieta noticed Agustin watching her and she looked up.
Agustin swallowed nervously as Julieta's dark eyes met his. She smiled endearingly at his bee stings.
"Not much longer." She assured him.
"No problem."
Julieta turned back to sprinkle salt over the corn.
"You like to cook?" Agustin asked with a quick smile, gesturing to the grill.
Julieta's face lit up as she nodded, the warmth of her smile reaching her eyes.
"I love it." Julieta replied in a genuine voice. "I always have. There's just something so grounding about it."
"Well," He managed to say back, "You're very good at it."
Agustin breathed slowly, hoping he was saying the right things. He'd been practising having this conversation in his head all day.
"Thanks," Julieta replied with a smile. "It's all just practice. I wasn't very good when I first started, but the more I cooked, the better the food became..." She leaned in a little, her hand covering her mouth as she quietly added, "I might even be better at it than Mama someday."
Julieta grinned at the thought, before turning back to the grill. Agustin stood and watched her, trying to catch his breath. Julieta had smelled so nice when she'd leaned in.
Julieta handed a corn cob to Agustin and their hands brushed. Agustin's heart raced and he almost dropped the corn, but thankfully some small part of his brain managed to keep it together just enough for him to catch it again.
Julieta giggled as she watched him fumble. Agustin smiled nervously.
Agustin took a bite of corn and sighed in relief as his bee stings began to disappear. Julieta watched him curiously. This was the third day in the row now, so either he was just hopelessly clumsy, or he was using this as an excuse to talk to her. Julieta smiled to herself. Maybe it was both.
"Well, thanks again." Agustin said quickly, his hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out a flower. Julieta's face softened as he handed it over to her. Agustin gave her a flower every time she healed him.
"For your troubles." He said breathlessly.
Julieta took the flower with a smile. This time he had brought her a pink flor de mayo.
"It was no trouble." She replied, her eyes affectionate. "I like helping you."
Agustin grinned, putting his hand back into his pocket, then quickly taking it out again. He waved awkwardly, turning to leave, then quickly turned back around again, changing his mind. Julieta hid her face against the flower as she tried not to laugh at how adorable he was.
"My band is playing tonight at town square." Agustin spoke quickly before he could lose his nerve again.
He watched Julieta in nervous anticipation, adjusting his glasses as he waited for her response.
"What time?" She asked curiously.
"Midnight?" He replied in a high pitched voice, before coughing and speaking in his normal tone. "Uh- hem. Sorry. Midnight."
Julieta looked down thoughtfully, her expression momentarily concerned, before changing to one of confidence. She looked back back up at him and nodded.
"See you there." Julieta said with a smile.
As Julieta stood in the crowd, Pepa and Bruno joined her, drinks in their hands as they passed Julieta one too. She took the cup, but didn't look away from Agustin.
"Estar bueno!" Pepa commented in approval, bumping her hip playfully against Julieta's.
"Yeah sis," Bruno nodded in agreement. "He's cute."
Julieta smiled, grateful for their support.
Pepa put a hand up to her mouth and trilled loudly at the band. Julieta quickly grabbed her sister's hand in embarrassment.
"What?" Pepa asked with a grin, before ululating again.
"Stop!"
"So he knows you like him."
"He knows." Julieta said as she turned back to Agustin, before hesitating. "I think."
"Ay, Pepa!"
A group of boys called out to Pepa from the crowd, beckoning her to come join them as they danced. Amongst them was Juan, an athletic looking boy who Pepa had been spending a lot of time with lately.
"Mamasita! Come over here!" Juan called out playfully.
Pepa placed a hand to her hip and smiled playfully back, her chest puffing up a little as she watched Juan. She then quickly turned back to Julieta. "Well, you better figure it out then." She laughed softly, kissing her sister's cheek before heading off to join the boys, the group of them loud as they called out and trilled to her.
Bruno stayed and watched the band with Julieta. The rats crawled up his back and onto his head to get a better view of the show. Julieta sighed with a smile as she watched Agustin play, enjoying the way that he got lost in the music and the way his body swayed in time with the melody.
Bruno gulped down his drink beside her quickly, holding the cup with both hands and enjoying the taste and the warm relaxed feelings that it gave him.
"So you liked the show?" Agustin asked with a smile, nervous to be sitting so close to Julieta. They were on the edge of the stage, looking out at the crowd who were still dancing and partying on, musicians playing and singing in the streets. Julieta nodded quickly, turning to him with a smile.
"I loved it." She said in a genuine tone. "We all did." Julieta added, glanced at her siblings in the crowd with a laugh. "In our own way."
Pepa had her arms wrapped around Juan, her back up against a wall as he kissed her. A rainbow floated over Pepa's head as Juan's hands ran through her hair.
Bruno was surrounded by a laughing crowd. They cheered him on as he chugged down another jug of drink. Finishing it, he put the jug over his head and started to dance as the crowd laughed even harder.
"My name is Jorge and I dance the bambuco!" Bruno announced loudly, the alcohol making him feel playful and fearless.
Julieta laughed softly, then stopped as she felt a hand touch hers. She turned back to Agustin in surprise.
"Sorry." He said quickly, pulling his hand away, but Julieta reached forward and took it in hers. Agustin's expression softened as he gazed into Julieta's eyes, feeling his heart start to race. Her hand felt soft and warm against his. Julieta gazed back at him and smiled too.
"Do you want to... get some food?" Agustin asked, immediately regretting his words. He had been too nervous to eat before the show and now his stomach was grumbling, but he wished he'd said something a bit more romantic.
Julieta's face lit up in excitement and she quickly nodded. Agustin watched her in surprise. Maybe he had said the right thing after all.
"Sorry," Julieta laughed, noticing his reaction. "I just really love food."
"Me too." He grinned, holding his arm out for Julieta to take.
Julieta looked at him, feeling a deep excitement that danced around inside her like butterflies. She wrapped her arm around Agustin's and they stood up, heading off together into the night.
