[Reencounters]
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Mirabel was very happy. That, if she put aside the fact that she had discovered that half of Encanto had been robbed, and now they were in danger of losing their land. The cause of that happiness was Roberto. Mirabel had not stopped visiting him during the course of the week in the free time left by work, school, her amateur research on Juan Pablo Escalante and her extra work as a seamstress.
From the moment of their reunion it was clear which of the two was more passionate and impulsive, and that place belonged to Mirabel. She was in control in the relationship, while he seemed to melt in her hands every time they met. Mirabel knew that it was not sensible after the explosive truth that she had in her hands, but she decided to drag him to one of the many dance halls in the city.
"You're crazy, Mirabel Madrigal," Roberto told her as the two moved slowly across the dance floor to the sound of a romantic song. Mirabel kissed him, and it was one of the most beautiful moments they had shared.
The next day Mirabel felt like she was walking on clouds as she went from one place to another, fixing cuts and finishing a dozen men's jackets ready to be delivered to the boutiques. She was very, very happy.
"Mirabel" said one of her workshop mates "I heard the good news, congratulations".
"Thank you," answered Mirabel, who was sure they were talking about her wonderful relationship with Roberto.
"Congratulations, Mirabel. He's gorgeous," someone else said. Mirabel smiled because the truth was that Roberto had gained a little weight, and with his new hairstyle on the side, he was beginning to look very handsome.
"I hope that with the good news, you don't decide to leave us," said Antonio Ruiz, the tailor.
"I don't see why I would do something like that," Mirabel replied.
"Please, Mirabel, if you decide to be a housewife after the wedding, please let us know so we can find a replacement," Mrs. Inés Caro said. Ok, things were already getting weird.
"Doña Inés, it is still too early to talk about marriage". Mirabel answered nervously.
Mirabel and Roberto's shift would end at one in the afternoon, so both agreed to go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Mirabel had decided that she would tell him the whole truth about her investigation. That afternoon she had an appointment with the journalist whom she had met during her grandmother's party. She had called him after her little investigation. However, when entering the warehouse of the factory, Mirabel realized that there was something very wrong, since Roberto's colleagues gave her ugly looks.
"What a nerve of yours, girl," said Roberto's boss while he scratched his chin, "you should be ashamed."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mirabel replied in a bad mood.
"Anyway, I'll call the boy, but try not to be hard on him".
"What?" Mirabel asked.
At that moment, Roberto left the office with a newspaper under his arm and a gloomy look. The two walked to the restaurant without saying a word. Mirabel didn't dare say anything, since he seemed in a bad mood.
"Two menus of the day," said the manager as she placed her plates in front of them.
"Mirabel" Roberto began seriously. "I don't think I need to explain to you the reasons, but I had to tell you that our relationship is definitely over." he said. Mirabel dropped her spoon so drops of her cuchuco soup splattered everywhere.
"What?" Mirabel asked, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "Why?"
"How can you be so cruel to ask me why?" Roberto said annoyed "the truth is that I've loved you since I can remember, Mirabel. I remember when we were fifteen. You were so sweet, despite having such a difficult life, it was so beautiful and inspiring to see you go around Encanto like some kind of Butterfly. I Never thought you would do something like this to me.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Mirabel said with a broken voice.
"If you didn't want me here, why did you insist that I come to this place?"asked Roberto "Do you know what bothers me the most? that he is not interested in you one bit, you should have seen how he talked about you in front of the townspeople, as if you were some kind of trophy. The only thing he talked about was that your grandmother had designated you as her heiress during the Easter Sunday party, that's all he cares about you".
"I haven't the slightest idea of what you're talking about," said Mirabel, who had the feeling that they were actually talking about Juan Pablo.
"Today I saw the photo that came out in the newspaper" answered Roberto while he put the newspaper in front of her. Mirabel looked at a photo of herself on the social events page. The most disturbing thing was the description of the photo. She didn't know if she should cry or laugh.
"This is my grandmother Julia's fault," Mirabel said. "She doesn't know it, but all her efforts are for nothing, because I would never marry him. The only thing Juan Pablo Escalante deserves is to go to jail".
"What are you talking about Mirabel? Roberto asked very seriously. Mirabel put her bag on the table and took out the photos and items that she had from the library.
"Roberto," Mirabel began, "it's time for me to tell you what I've been doing the last few nights. I thought I should investigate before telling you, something very serious is happening in Encanto.
"In the Encanto?" he asked, surprised.
Mirabel narrated each of the events of her grandmother's party, as well as what she discovered during her search for her in the library.
"It can't be possible," Roberto said horrified as he took one of the newspaper articles with both hands "Mirabel, my uncle gave his farm to that guy, he has six children and he's left with nothing".
"I know, I know, we have to do something," Mirabel said as she put her hand on his forearm to give him some support.
"I am so stupid, I thought what I felt was jealousy, but now I only feel ashamed" answered Roberto impressed "How can I help you?" he asked.
"To begin with, this afternoon I have an appointment with the journalist, I don't want to go alone, I want you to go with me," Mirabel said.
"Understood," replied Roberto.
"And then... we'll see," Mirabel continued.
Just as agreed, Mirabel and Roberto went to the journalist's office, which was located in a large and modern building downtown. Both went inside, while one of the secretaries guided them to a desk by the window. Mirabel barely remembered Francisco Vega. It was evident that the day they met he was wearing his best suit, and now he looked like the city version of her Uncle Bruno, with straight hair. He was an extremely skinny man, with the appearance of having smoked too much, who wore his black hair down to his neck, as well as a padlock-shaped beard.
"Good afternoon, Miss Madrigal, I was really dying to talk to you. Please, sit down," said Francisco, giving them a smile.
"Sir" Mirabel began "this is Roberto Herrera, he comes from Encanto, just like me. I have reason to believe that his uncle was also affected by this fraud".
The three shared greetings and went through the typical office ritual of offering each other coffee.
"Mr. Francisco" Mirabel began " you have to see these photos, this is the man I told you about." she said, while she gave him the photos of the actors who had come to the Encanto while posing as government officials.
"Do you recognize this man?" Francisco asked while he showed them the photos of an unknown man dressed in an elegant suit and light hat.
"I have no idea who he is," Mirabel said.
"Me neither," commented Roberto.
"Just as I imagined," answered Francisco, who took his cigarette, "his name is Alfredo Montes. He was Escalante's secretary when the whole issue on the oriental plains happened. I was sure he was just a useful fool, a puppet in this whole thing. I firmly believe that the true mastermind behind everything is Juan Pablo Escalante, and I would even dare to say that his father. The Escalantes are a very wealthy family from Medellin and political opportunists, one of the few in this country who have changed parties and survived to tell the tale. They have been very talented in amassing land and influence, but they also have many enemies, and that is our strength" he said.
"I don't understand," said Mirabel, "why would you put a lot of assets in the name of a nobody?"
"Alfredo Montes is just a figurehead, surely he plans to keep everything once the scandal has dissipated," answered Francisco.
"Certainly," said Mirabel, "he is not so smart if he believes that the same plan will work twice, when there are already scandals in the newspapers."
"You would be surprised at the reach of this family, surely they think they are untouchable, like so many of their kind.
"What is the next step? Mirabel asked. To which Francisco responded with a look full of surprise.
"Miss, I've been following this family for fifteen years, it's not something instantaneous," he replied.
"Forgive me, but I don't have that much time. Juan Pablo could decide to act and it would be a tragedy for Encanto," Mirabel answered.
"I have an idea, wait a minute" said the journalist who got up from his seat and came right back "Rubén Gonzales, the actor hired to pretend to be the head of the rural institute, is appearing at the Olympia theater, in the play Atala y Guatimoc" .
"Do you think we should talk to him?" Mirabel asked.
"Absolutely not," replied the journalist. "What's more, I don't want him to see you, but I need to check if it's the same person.
"I think we can do that," Mirabel replied.
"Perfect, then if there is nothing else to say…" said the journalist, giving him a smile.
"Wait, yes there is," Mirabel answered as she strongly took Roberto's arm. "Please, that information from the photo you took at my grandmother's party is false, and I would appreciate it if you correct it. I already have a boyfriend," he said. The journalist gave them a smile. It was clear that he found the matter very amusing.
"I'll do my best, miss, but I'm afraid that the one who gave us the information was Julia Cancino herself," said the journalist. Mirabel was petrified, because if she believed Alma Madrigal was controlling, it was clear that Julia Cancino could beat her without any problem.
"I would appreciate it if you made an effort, please".
That night Mirabel and Roberto walked to the Olympia theater, which luckily was very close to there. Mirabel wore the same pink dress she wore to her grandmother's dinner, and she borrowed a tailcoat from the warehouse for Roberto. Unfortunately, the play was not very good. It was a tragedy written by one of the patriots of independence, who through the drama of a couple of indigenous people wanted to propagandize the importance of the liberation of Spain. However, it was clear that although his intentions were good, the writer had never exchanged a word with an indigenous person in his life, unlike Mirabel who knew a few communities near El Encanto.
She strongly took her pendant in the form of a snake, and asked with all her heart that Rubén Gonzales show up that night, to make sure it was him.
"Look at that, Mirabel!" Roberto said scared when he saw an old man on the stage.
"It can't be," Mirabel replied, recognizing the old man immediately. It was the one and only: Efrain,
"At first I thought it was a theory, that you were wrong, but I am the one who is wrong," Roberto said. "Mirabel, my uncle will lose everything."
"I know," she replied while the two remained seated in their seats while the rest of the audience gave the actors a standing ovation.
"We have to do something".
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Luisa leaned her head against the window of the train to Bogotá. She was completely exhausted. Isabela, who was traveling next to her, was not feeling much better, since she was sleeping soundly on her shoulder. She didn't wake her, after all, neither of them had slept more than a few hours in the last few days.
Her journey began three days earlier in Encanto, after discovering that half the town had been scammed by a group of supposed government agents. She still remembered the chaos in the city council when people found out the truth. As always, it was the Madrigal family that took the initiative.
Julieta's family, Bruno, Camilo and Antonio made the trip in the company of Don Ignacio and his boys, while the rest of Pepa's family and her grandmother were in charge of selling the coffee harvest, which was essential for the family businesses.
"Toñito" Pepa said while she combed the boy's hair "you have to behave very well. It is a unique opportunity to get to know the city".
"I would like to accompany you," Dolores said, "but I'm afraid my ears can't stand the sound of cars, ambulances, and fire trucks. I went to Manizales once and almost went crazy".
"I wouldn't go to Bogotá either. They are mean to the people on the coast" said Félix to Agustín "the last time I went some people laughed at my yellow pants and my slippers." he commented. Luisa could almost read Agustín's mind, who probably thought: your fault, you asked for it.
"Meh, they're not that bad," Bruno said as he shrugged, "someone stole my wallet once downtown, and the guy gave me back a couple of coins after looking at me. He told me that I saw myself as someone who needed them more than he did.
The trip to Honda was easy compared to what Mirabel experienced. They did it in half the time, with the main roads clear, and entirely on horseback. Luisa stood up and took out of her suitcase a cardigan and her dark purple coat, since the temperature was beginning to drop rapidly.
"Isabela" said Luisa "wake up, you have to cover yourself or you could catch a cold". She advised her. Isabela got up with difficulty, while she cleaned a string of drool that came out of her mouth.
"Are we there yet?" Isabela asked "I'm dying of cold".
"We'll be there soon," Luisa said.
When the train stopped at the Savana station, the Madrigal family took a direct taxi to the house that Agustín's family lent them in the Palermo neighborhood. According to their grandmother Julia, it was bad enough with Mirabel living in a working-class neighborhood, to tolerate the rest of his family following her example. At least Mirabel's decision could pass as a "Bohemian period from the youth", but this excuse was not good for the rest of the family.
The house was very modern, with art deco details, and was not modeled after traditional country houses. Inside, it was even more luxurious. Luisa guessed it was often used by her grandmother's political friends since it had fine floors, lacquered mahogany finishes and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, as well as imported furniture.
"Frankly, I think everything would be easier if we had found a place near Mirabel," said Isabela, who fell heavily on the bed in the room she shared with Luisa.
"Maybe, but this won't have a price, this house belongs to Grandma Julia," Luisa answered. Isabela got up and lay on her side and looked at her.
"Everything has a price, even if it seems for free," answered Isabela.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang at the Madrigal family's temporary home. Isabel and Luisa immediately got out when they saw an elegant black car with a red flag waving in front of the house. The two went downstairs with the intention of receiving Liliana Cancino, because whether they liked it or not, she was one of her hosts. Unfortunately, everyone else was shopping for suitable clothing for the family, so the two sisters had to face this visit alone.
Luisa didn't feel any dislike for Liliana, but she knew that Isabela did. Her sister stiffened as soon as her cousin crossed the threshold. Liliana didn't seem to like Isabela either. After all, her older sister's behavior had always been cold and dismissive, not to mention that embarrassing incident during Mirabel's birthday.
"Want a coffee?" Luisa asked who really wanted to fill that awkward silence.
"I heard that Dolores is getting married," Liliana commented as she drank her cup of coffee in the living room.
"Yes, she is marrying Mariano Guzmán".
"Wasn't that your friend, Isabela?" Liliana asked as she watched her. Luisa had the impression that this was an attack on her sister, but she couldn't understand how.
"Not at all, I think he liked me, but I didn't like him back," answered Isabela more aggressively than Luisa would have liked.
"Ah, I hope Dolores is fine, I really liked her gift, it was incredibly useful," Liliana began in a dreamy tone. "Dolores has good luck to find a kindred spirit, but even if she doesn't, at least she has more in her life than to be searching for a husband. I feel sad for those people who have nothing, their only talent is to be pretty, who have spent their entire lives painting a perfect facade for themselves just to come up with a suitable marriage for their family, and not even that they can achieve '' she said with malice in her tone.
Isabela seemed almost to stagger at that comment. Luisa remembered her sister's words. She was right, everything had a price, and the price of this house would be to put up with the whims of her grandmother Julia and the ill-intentioned comments of her cousin. Luisa had forgotten that everything with the Cancinos was a poorly hidden power game.
"I was wondering if you could give us Mirabel's address, we want to visit her before our parents do. As you can imagine, they are not happy" said Luisa.
"Yes, of course," she said as she took a pen and a sheet of paper.
"I advise you not to go alone, you could get lost along the way," Liliana said.
"Thank you, Liliana, we will take it into account".
Isabela and Luisa took the wrong bus three times, but thanks to a couple of charitable souls, they arrived at the boarding house in the Las Nieves neighborhood.
"Mirabel is not here, I think she is visiting her boyfriend in a building a few blocks from here," the owner of the place told them. Luisa and Isabela insisted, explaining that they were Mirabel's sisters, until they finally got the address.
"This is incredible," Isabela murmured as they walked.
"What?"
"Mirabel is incredible".
"Is that good or bad?" Luisa asked.
"I don't know" answered Isabela as they walked "I just don't understand. I don't even have the guts to choose a blouse and skirt that don't match, and she took her savings and left, just like that, without thinking. Her life is so chaotic, boyfriends come, boyfriends go, and now this".
"You are so dramatic," said Luisa, who laughed and knocked on the door a couple of times. However, no one responded.
"This is strange" commented Isabela "the security guard said they were here". Isabela and Luisa shared a look. Mirabel was in mortal danger, although she did not know it.
"Do you think something happened to them?" Luis asked nervously.
"Knowing Mirabel, anything is possible." Isabela said "you have to knock down the door".
"Good." Said Luisa who began to gain momentum and count mentally until she reached number three. Then, a great cloud of dust and broken wood blinded them.
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Mirabel and Roberto arrived home the night of the theater barely speaking to each other, neither of them wanted to face the terrible truth that Encanto as they knew it was about to change. However, Mirabel decided that it was time to stop complaining and do something about the situation at hand. It was to one side of the room.
"I wish I could investigate inside Juan Pablo's office," Mirabel said.
"Forget it, that's very dangerous," replied Roberto. "It is not a good idea".
"Of course it is." said Mirabel "if I were him I wouldn't have the documents kept at home, where anyone can find them, but I wouldn't have them in a bank either, because if any of the bank workers find out he would have problems. The best hiding place would be in his office".
"Wait, Mirabel, this is too much for me," said Roberto, who fell heavily on the sofa.
"What are you talking about?" Mirabel asked.
"It's too much for me" repeated Roberto "a couple of days ago I was at home thinking about milking the cows, and today I find myself here in this city planning to rob a government official. You have to accept that this is crazy." She said, Mirabel bit her lip. Maybe he was right, maybe she had asked too much of him, after all it was she who seemed to carry an uncontrolled storm in her chest, and not him.
"You don't have to come with me if you don't want to," Mirabel said.
"I never said anything like that. El Encanto is also my home" answered Roberto.
"I'm serious, this is too much, if you don't feel safe…"
"Mirabel," Roberto began again. "I'm serious too. El Encanto is my house, my uncle is among the scammed, I couldn't stay with my arms crossed." he said. Mirabel stood up, sat next to her and kissed him.
"Thank you for your help," Mirabel answered. Who kissed him again, this time with greater force and need.
"For God's sake, sometimes I think you're a storm in a human body" Roberto said while his hands went up her back.
Mirabel stood up, took Roberto's hands in hers and gently guided him into the room. She unbuttoned her skirt and let it fall to the wooden floor, fully intending to show him some very uncomfortable lace stockings, which she bought without the slightest innocence. The first knock on the door sounded but she didn't care. She pushed him off and climbed on top of him, her legs at his sides.
"Have you gone crazy?" Roberto asked with a smile on his lips.
"No more than usual," Mirabel answered, kissing him on her neck.
"Someone is knocking on the door," Roberto said.
"Never mind" said Mirabel who felt that she was burning "We're not here" she shouted in a low voice, so he laughed as she began to touch her. Suddenly, a noise scared them away, so instinctively, Mirabel jumped to the ground, and she tried to take refuge under the bed.
"Mirabel, Roberto," shouted a woman's voice, which Mirabel could have sworn sounded like Isabela. Suddenly, two people entered through the doorway. She hadn't been wrong, it was Isabela and Luisa. For a few seconds, her older sisters were petrified, since the scene was evident. The two of them alone, locked up in Roberto's apartment, he lying on his bed, and she half dressed. Suddenly, Isabela grabbed Roberto's hat that was on a chair and with a solemn expression she began to hit Mirabel.
"Grandma has told you many times that this is for after marriage, you crazy and silly girl," said Isabela. Mirabel wanted to laugh since the blows didn't hurt, and the situation was absurd.
"Isabela" Luisa interrupted her while she rubbed her temples "Has anyone in this family ever heard what grandma said on that subject?," she asked as she stopped. Isabela looked at Luisa and placed her hat in the chair next to her very slowly.
"It could be…" Isabela accepted "but that doesn't mean I'm not upset because she disappeared for almost five months, without a single word".
"Isa, Isa, I'm sorry," Mirabel said, raising her hands in peace.
"At least put on your skirt," said Luisa, who couldn't help but laugh.
Mirabel got up from the ground very embarrassed, but her embarrassment seemed nothing compared to Roberto's state, who looked completely blushed and humiliated.
"Well…" Mirabel began, who finished adjusting her skirt "Do you want to go eat something? She asked, not knowing what else to say".
"You can go ahead, I think it's best to go find someone to fix the door," Roberto said as he looked at his ruined door.
"I'm so sorry," Luisa apologized.
The three sisters walked to a nearby restaurant. At first, none of them wanted to talk, until Mirabel was the first to have the courage to break the silence.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I don't even know where to start," Luisa began.
"How about the beginning?"
Isabela took the initiative, while Mirabel felt pale at the news: her family had separated, Camilo confirmed Mirabel's suspicions, and Bruno had had a vision of her and Juan Pablo.
"I already knew it," answered Mirabel, who began her own story before Luisa and Isabela's stunned gaze.
"That criminal…" Isabel said annoyed.
Mirabel didn't know what to think about Bruno. On the one hand, she understood why he had decided to hide that vision, since during the whole thing with the cracks in the house she had done nothing but precipitate fate. However, if it weren't for that decision, she would never have gotten involved with someone as shady as Juan Pablo.
Mirabel then remembered what she had told the Herrera brothers during the trip: no matter how much the victims fought, in the end, the prophecy would be fulfilled.
"Are you staying in a hotel?" Mirabel asked, trying to avoid that gloomy subject.
"We stayed in one of the houses that Grandma Julia has in Palermo. I thought you knew that," answered Isabela.
"No," Mirabel answered, "I am very upset because she invented a terrible lie."
"Are you talking about your alleged marriage to Juan Pablo Escalante?" Isabela asked.
"I told you, I knew it was all Grandma Julia's fault," Luisa told Isabela.
"It's terrible that she had invented something like that," Mirabel replied. "Roberto was furious".
"Really?"Asked Luisa, "it seemed to me that he was quite happy," she said. The three sisters fell into an awkward silence until all three of them laughed out loud.
"You two will never forget it, right?" Mirabel asked.
"Never," her sisters answered.
"Mirabel" Isabela began "I'm sorry to be the one to end the fun, but it's time to face mom and dad. It won't be easy, but you know you owe them an explanation".
"I know," Mirabel accepted.
Roberto did not join them, since he was still busy fixing his door. The three sisters took a bus back to the house in Palermo, this time without getting lost. Mirabel took a deep breath before entering the house. Her sisters were not lying, the reunion would not be easy. Her parents weren't home from shopping yet, so she had to sit for a few agonizing minutes in the living room, staring at some ugly German sculptures her grandmother had brought in her last trip to Europe, depicting milkmaid girls from the window. Mirabel hated them at first sight, they were corny and stupid, and she wanted to smash them against the wooden floor, until the bell at the entrance alerted them. Mirabel first saw her uncle, Bruno, and Camilo, who were carrying paper bags. It was obvious that they had been shopping.
"I still don't understand why we had to buy clothes…" Bruno started, who stopped suddenly when he saw her.
"Mirabel!" Camilo exclaimed, dropping the shopping bags and running to hug her. She returned the hug immediately.
"Hello girl," said Bruno who also hugged her. Mirabel looked him up and down. His appearance looked even more careless, if that was possible.
"We were buying clothes, apparently none of us are dressed for the climate of the capital," Camilo said.
"I don't understand why. This is troublesome," answered Bruno, "people here love socks, and I've already put on a pair," Bruno indicated as he showed him a pair of white socks under his slippers, which already looked almost gray from the mud caused by the rains of the capital.
"Don't lie, Uncle Bruno, several people have looked at us strangely," answered Camilo.
"I hadn't noticed, although I think people always look at me strangely," answered Bruno.
"Uncle," said Mirabel, "they already told me about the prophecy. Can we talk later?"
"It will be later, for now, you own an explanation to someone else," Bruno said as he pointed to the door.
Suddenly her parents walked through the doorway arm in arm. Her dad wore his full suit with jacket and hat, while her mom wore a nice dark aquamarine coat and her best hat. Mirabel saw her mother's look transform immediately, to an expression full of surprise and happiness.
She approached very slowly and gave her a hug, the strongest and warmest that she had ever felt in her life. Julieta moved slightly away from her with her eyes full of tears and a warm smile on her face. Suddenly, she slapped her hard.
"Almost five months without news from you, if it weren't for Antonio's birds, we wouldn't have even found out that you had left by train," Julieta said furiously, taking a deep breath and continuing. "Do you know how dangerous everything is? yes you do, but you never thought to send us a note saying you were okay.
"I'll go make the coffee so you can talk alone," Isabela said as she led the others out of the room.
Mirabel sat in front of her parents, while her mother refused to give her even a glance.
"Mirabu, if you had told us that you were here, we would have understood. We have always known that you are a person who expects great things from life. But leaving like this, you didn't even send us a letter," Agustín said softly.
"I'm so sorry. I was so angry" said Mirabel "I know I was wrong, I should have written, but the only thing that was in my head was to run and flee".
"was?" asked Julieta "that means that something has changed".
"Mom, dad, the Encanto is in grave danger," said Mirabel, who proceeded to tell them everything she knew. "We have to do something".
"You don't have to do anything," Agustín said. "We'll talk to mom. She has very powerful contacts"
Mirabel knew that it would be useless to try that, since her grandmother Julia would not help them. The Escalantes and their money were the new addition to her party, so they wouldn't let anything challenge them, especially when the Madrigals were unaffected. She didn't say anything, but she made the promise to continue with her plan. Mirabel didn't get to talk to Bruno since the conversation went for hours. Mirabel felt as if she had run some kind of marathon, so she quietly returned to the boarding house and decided to get a good sleep.
However, she couldn't rest at all. Mirabel wondered what she should do. She tightly gripped her necklace and thought. Maybe it would be best to stop her plan, or maybe it would be best to continue. It was almost dawn when she managed to fall asleep, and make a decision. The truth was that the last time she had faced one of Bruno's visions. It had been fulfilled, no matter how much she fought against it. So, this time she would let fate simply happen, at least she would have the pleasure of sinking Juan Pablo as the last great act of her life.
The next day, Mirabel prepared to go out. That morning the Madrigal family would take Antonio to the National Park so that he could have fun in the games for children. Mirabel walked in the company of her parents and Bruno. Suddenly, Agustín and Julieta walked away and Mirabel was left alone with Bruno.
"Miss," said one of the policemen who were walking around that area, "Is that bum bothering you?" she asked.
"No sir, he's my uncle," Mirabel answered. The policeman looked them up and down and then left.
"Why don't you wear the clothes you bought yesterday?" Mirabel asked.
"Bah, I'm fine like that," he answered as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I never thought you would dare to do something as risky as coming here on your own," Bruno said suddenly.
"I was very upset, I didn't want to listen to my grandmother's judgments, or my parents trying to dissuade me, or you saying that you expected something better," Mirabel answered.
"You would be surprised. Mom was the one who understood your situation best. I think deep down, she really understands who you are. She understands what you want requires looking beyond Encanto. She knows you're a hungry person," Bruno said.
"What are you talking about?" Mirabel asked.
"She knows you want it all," Bruno said.
Mirabel could not help but accept that description. He was not wrong.
"I never thought my grandmother could have thought that," said Mirabel.
"Maybe because she was like that too. Unfortunately, when tragedy strikes there is no way to choose what we want or not, we just have to do what is necessary to survive" said Bruno.
"About your prophecy, what exactly did you see? Mirabel asked.
"It was night, and there was a lot of fog, he was shooting at you, and you fell to the ground," Bruno said as the two sat next to each other on one of the park benches.
"I have decided that this time I am not going to fight against destiny," Mirabel said. "Last time I tried with all my strength to stop the future. This time, I will go ahead with my plan."
Bruno took a deep breath and spoke:
"I remember when I was young I used to get angry because of the reactions of those whose future I read. Most of them ended up blaming me for the misfortunes they saw. Others, I just saw them struggling like a drowned man trying to get out" Bruno began "but when I saw the house collapsing and you in danger I could understand a little better the situation of these people. The fear and helplessness is too much.
Mirabel listened in silence as she took the necklace tightly. The truth is that she did not want to lose her life. right now, she needed her own the magic of her house blessed her, she would be very grateful.
"Hey, Mirabel," Camilo said as he joined her and Antonio, who she was leading by the hand back home.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I know that we are in a very delicate situation, that this is very serious, and that we must be careful, but…"
"You want me to take you to a dance," Mirabel said with a smile. Camilo was very predictable.
"Hey," Isabela called, who was a few steps behind. "If you're going to have fun, you'd better take us. It is also the first time that we are in the city."
"I support the idea," replied Luisa.
"Roberto and I usually go to a salon downtown, it's not as fancy as Grandma's parties, but we have a lot of fun".
"It seems like a good idea," Camilo said.
Those who did not think it was such a good idea were Julieta and Agustín. Although, they finally gave in. Mirabel, her sisters, Camilo and Roberto met outside one of the most popular dance halls in the center of the city. It had been a long time since she had been lucky enough to spend time with her family, much less she had been able to formally introduce Roberto. Camilo just gave Roberto a "quiubo" and a nod.
The room was packed on that Saturday night. A band played on top of the stage while dozens of couples danced around the place. Mirabel didn't know anyone, for her sisters couldn't dance, but Camilo soon reappeared after being lost for a long time.
"I met a group of college students, they were wondering if they could dance with you two," said Camilo, who clearly already had a few drinks with him.
"But what a silly question" Isabela said "Do you think we want to sit here all night?"
Luisa and Isabela joined the dance, to the point that it was almost dawn when they decided it was time to go home. Mirabel, Isabela, and Luisa would stay at Mirabel's inn, while Camilo would spend the night with Roberto. However, his cousin had had too much to drink, so he was starting to babble as they all struggled to get him into a cab.
"Mirabel" Camilo said with a tearful voice "I don't want you to die, I've never told you but you're my favorite cousin".
"What? Roberto asked as he struggled to accommodate him.
"Don't pay attention to him," Mirabel replied.
"Bruno saw her, he saw Mirabel's death. Juan Pablo Estrada is the mourder," Camilo stammered, then began to mutter profanity in a very low voice. Roberto looked up and stared at her.
"Tomorrow we'll talk about this, Mirabel," Roberto said, staring at her.
And with that promise, the taxi left.
Hi everyone. I am not going to lie, I am so eager to finish this and work in something juicer. I wrote a soft core "dark Camilo" as someone described it, and I am hooked. Besides, some people asked for a full dark Camilo, and it seems like fun. You see, I am super conflicted here, since I am not into family pairings at all. But I am hyper fixated on Mirabel. I am mainly a romance fanficker, and I want to write something with cannon characters. The only thing I can more or less stomach is Camilo/Mirabel.
No notes today, since in this chapter there isn't anything.