Hi everyone, I wrote a mini fic. Every now and then I like to play with cannon, and make the characters of my fandom do morally grey stuff, you know play with the personalities. So this is it. I had the Idea thanks to my little cousin. She is seven, and I got her for Christmas a Mirabel doll and the Encanto novelization, and her conclusion for the book and the movie was that Camilo was super awful to Mirabel. I don't think so, but it works for a fic.
Just a quick warning, I know the comments section is going to be lit, every time I write one of these things I recieve at least one of those commentaries: a fangirl really angry because I ruined her prince charming fantasy fav, or a M'lady kind of guy, angry because the "nice guy" didn't get the girl, but here is the thing, this one is not a nice guy. So if the commentary falls into one of those categories, please don't.
[A place for us]
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
While Camilo Madrigal watched his cousin chat with her friends by the river bank, he came to a conclusion: His cousin didn't make things easy for him. Truth be told, she had never made it easy for him.
"Mirabel" said Camilo "grandma says you have to go back, there is a lot of work to do at home before the party tonight".
She observed over her shoulder and looked at him like she would look at a particularly annoying insect.
"Is it really necessary to attend?" Maribel asked kindly, but begging him with her eyes to leave her alone.
Unfortunately, this was one of those circumstances where the wishes of others collide with our own.
"Grandma orders it," Camilo insisted.
Mirabel snorted. At that moment, she lifted her legs out of the water and put on her espadrilles. Camilo felt a perverse pleasure observing that scene, and it was precisely in moments like that that his cousin did not make things easy for him.
"Do you remember when we were little?" Mirabel asked while they were walking. "we both escaped from the children's room to go play in the river".
"That was before we had responsibilities" Camilo said smiling.
"How responsible …" Mirabel joked, since everybody knew that he took life more lightly than any other member of the family.
"Speak for yourself, as you don't have a gift, you can be as lazy as you want," Camilo said.
Mirabel went silent, and he knew immediately he had chosen his words very poorly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have …"
"Camilo, you're very funny, but sometimes you can be very cruel. What I don't understand is why it always has to be me," Mirabel said, moving away from him as she walked faster.
"Mirabel!" Camilo shouted. As said, nothing with Mirabel was simple. Unfortunately, Camilo couldn't deny that Mirabel was right. It was always her who had to deal with the shortcomings of his personality.
"You finally arrived," Pepa said, annoyed. "Mirabel please go change your clothes and dry off, you're soaked. Where were you?
"In the river with Adelaida Rosas and her sisters" Mirabel answered.
"Camilo" her mother called him "go and help Luisa, then go change your clothes".
Camilo did what Pepa asked him to do. After which he returned to the patio of the house to prepare for the night of the candles. The party at the Madrigal family home was one of the most anticipated nights of the year. Camilo looked around for Mirabel. He hadn't had a chance to apologize to her. Although at that point in their relationship, any excuse would sound silly and empty. And still, he had to. Everyone could be mad at him except Mirabel.
"Isabela" said Camilo "Do you know where Mirabel is?" He asked.
"No, I think Mom sent her to town and she hasn't arrived".
"What did she send her to look for?" Camilo said, trying to get a clue.
"I don't know, but it shouldn't have been important since Mom didn't ask about her again," Isabel said with a shrug.
"Oh, she has to be flirting with that teacher from the capital," said Luisa.
"What teacher?" Camilo asked, annoyed.
"The one sent by the Ministry of Education," said Luisa.
"I don't know him" Camilo answered "I'm going to look for her, this is a family party. All Madrigals are supposed to be here"
"Don't ruin it for her. She is happy, leave her alone" said Antonio, the eternal Mirabel's defender, and her number one fan.
"I don't want to annoy her, I just can't understand why we all have to do our chores and she …"
"Camilo," said his grandmother who had approached them without anyone noticing her presence. "You're right, go get her. This is a family party. Mirabel may not have a gift, but she has to play her part. She can bring her friend if that's what she wants, we'd love to meet him
"Yes, grandma," said Camilo who went down the steep path to the main square where those attending the last religious service left the church, and the inhabitants of the entire town began to illuminate their traditional lanterns.
Camilo saw one of the Rosas sisters, Mirabel's friends, but no one seemed to know where she was. "She must be with Professor Domínguez," said Adelaida Rosas who gave him a silly little smile.
"Grandma wants her to go home immediately." Camilo said, trying to make them understand that Mirabel was in trouble.
"In the park of San Andrés" said Adelaida referring to a park in the northeast extreme of the town. Camilo thanked her before heading to the park. Just as Adelaida had said, Mirabel and Professor Domínguez were sitting on one of the park benches holding hands. He felt nauseous seeing that perfect scene.
The darkness of the night, the song of the cicadas, the glow of the fireflies, and the small lanterns that the neighbors already placed in their windows. Camilo hated that scene with all his heart. Mirabel was a Madrigal, and she had an obligation to stay with the family on such an important night. How dare she let a stranger occupy her time.
"Mirabel" Camilo said as he approached them "I'm sorry to interrupt but Grandma needs us. She demands your presence at the Casita".
"Me?" Mirabel asked. "But she has told me on many occasions that it is better to know when to step aside".
"She said: Camilo, go find her, it doesn't matter that she doesn't have a gift, she has to be here" Camilo said.
"I understand," agreed Mirabel, who seemed to remember that she was not completely alone.
"Camilo, this is Mario Dominguez, he is the...
"School teacher, I know," Camilo said as he shook hands with the teacher, without returning the smile. Professor Dominguez was a man a little taller than Mirabel, dark-haired, who wore an impeccable suit, which showed that he was from the Capital, just like Mirabel's father. They made a beautiful couple.
"We have to go." Camilo insisted.
"Oh yes" Mirabel answered "Camilo, do you think there would be a problem if I introduce the family to Mario?" He asked.
"I think it's a terrible idea" Camilo replied with a false smile "don't be offended, Mario, I'm sure you're a very nice person, but it's a family event. Our grandmother will not be happy" he lied.
"Don't worry," Mario said, "we'll see each other later, maybe tomorrow".
"Yes," Mirabel agreed, after which she gave him a quick kiss goodbye.
Camilo and Mirabel started their way back to the Casita. At first, neither of them said anything, until Mirabel dared to speak first.
"Go ahead, make fun of me, I know you want to do it" Mirabel said smiling. Camilo knew immediately what she was talking about. He was the kind of younger brother or cousin who used to enjoy teasing his sister or his cousins whenever they had some kind of romantic relationship. Ironically, Mirabel had also been his victim on a couple of occasions, for he used to invent fictional couples and lovers in the most unlikely places, with partners she would never accept. She used to laugh and enjoy his occurrences, but he didn't want to do any.
"Make fun of what? your behaviour?" asked Camilo. Mirabel looked at him resentfully.
"We were just sitting in the park" Mirabel said "besides, all the others have already dated someone, and even Dolores is married, I don't see why it's so bad that I want to go out with someone.
"That teacher has been appointed by the ministry, he will be sent to any other municipality in the country" said Camilo.
"I could go with him" said Mirabel "anyway, I don't have a door or a place for me in the house. It would be a nice change".
"You hardly know him".
"We have been dating for almost a year" Mirabel answered "we have been talking, and maybe it would be a good idea to get married ...
"Have you gone crazy?" asked Camilo, who had never been so furious with Mirabel as in those moments.
"Many people court for less than six months," Mirabel said.
Camilo felt his blood boil. Those words belonged to the vocabulary of his older cousins and sister: marriage, engagement, courtship. But Mirabel had never talked about it. He did not understand when his cousin had gone from being a butterfly dancing around, singing to the children, and trying to be loved and useful to the rest of the family, to talking about those topics that should be forbidden for her. This could not be possible.
"Are you so desperate for someone to accept you, to go with the first stranger who says a couple of nice words to you?" Camilo asked "I don't understand why you had never told me about him."
"I did not tell you because of this behavior" Mirabel answered furious "because you are the most unpredictable person I know. There are times when you are funny, sweet and nice, but instantly you turn into a mean, cruel and rude jerk. We used to be best friends when we were kids, but if there's anyone in this family who looks down on me for not having a gift, it's you, "Mirabel said.
"Do I treat you worse than Isabela?" Camilo asked, mocking her.
"At least my sister has changed, you are getting worse every day," Mirabel said.
Camilo said nothing else, as there was nothing to say. It was not easy to hurt Mirabel's feelings. She had learned to be strong. But, he had finally made it, he had hurt her.
"You are finally back," their grandmother complained when she saw them pass the threshold.
"Mirabel," his grandmother continued. "Where is your friend?" I told Camilo to invite him to the party."Camilo felt Mirabel's resentful gaze on him. She found out very quickly.
"Camilo" said his grandmother, annoyed as Mirabel did not answer her at all "Did you tell her, or not?"
"I forgot, I'm sorry Grandma," Camilo apologized.
"Well, we can meet him formally on another occasion," said their grandmother, giving her granddaughter a smile. Mirabel returned the smile. His grandmother left, leaving them alone.
"You are incredible" Mirabel said, annoyed, who left through the hall towards the stairs. Camilo took a long breath. This couldn't be possible, not only was Mirabel talking about nonsense like marriage, engagement and courtship. But his grandmother also seemed to play the same song.
When he was a child, shortly after Mirabel did not receive her gift. A discussion took place in the family, the question was: where to locate Mirabel?. They did not want to leave her in the nursery, since it would be depressing for her to remain in that place. But they could not give her a new room either. Camilo never understood the problem. The two of them had shared a room since they were born, so they could continue to do so. After all, it didn't bother him. If it had been up to him, Mirabel would stay with him forever. It might seem absurd, but even after so many years, he kept thinking the same thing.
Camilo danced with a few girls, joked, became the soul of the party while everyone laughed at his occurrences, and perhaps, he had too many drinks.
"Have you seen Mirabel?" He asked one of his friends as the two momentarily moved away from the dance floor on the patio.
"I saw her at first, but she disappeared suddenly," he answered.
Camilo took a sip of his drink to give himself courage. That was so Mirabel. His beloved cousin had a talent for disappearing at the slightest opportunity. Sometimes the family noticed, sometimes they didn't, but he always ended up noticing it, even if he didn't say anything. Camilo walked through the hallway to the nursery and knocked on the door.
"Mirabel," he called as he leaned his forehead against the door and closed his eyes to rest a bit.
"What do you want?" She asked from inside.
"Let me in, please, I need you to forgive me," Camilo said.
Mirabel opened the door at once. She could have many flaws, but she was never a spiteful person, which was fortunate, considering all the drama in the family.
"What do you want?" Mirabel asked, annoyed.
"I want to talk to you," Camilo said.
"Come in," Mirabel said, letting him go inside.
Camilo noticed immediately that the room looked completely different from what he remembered. Although, of course, the house had been rebuilt and now was specially decorated for a person of Mirabel's age.
"It's a pity that this room changed so much," Camilo said "I liked the way it looked.
"It was for a girl, and I'm not a girl anymore," Mirabel replied.
Mirabel was certainly not a girl. He had been painfully aware of that fact since she was fifteen, when she looked like a woman, and he was still struggling to get out of his limp noodle phase. However, time had changed them even more. He was finally out of puberty, and she was still more beautiful than he remembered her.
"I'm very sorry about everything I told you," Camilo began as he sat on Mirabel's bed. "Why don't you tell me anything anymore?" She asked.
"What are you talking about?" Mirabel asked, joining his side.
"When we were little, and we lived in this room, you used to tell me everything, and I did the same with you, but you no longer say anything to me. You didn't tell me you had been dating that teacher".
"I didn't think you cared" Mirabel said "Uncle Bruno was the one who suggested that I should be very cautious, because we didn't know how Grandma might react."
"So it was Uncle Bruno's idea," Camilo answered.
Uncle Bruno's relationship with Camilo was always quite complicated. He still remembered the fear that inspired him when he was little, and all the exaggerations he said to Mirabel just to have the pleasure of scaring her. Bruno seemed even more indolent since his reappearance, and he couldn't understand why he was like that. On the other hand, Mirabel was his favorite nice, and if anyone was the one to be her accomplice, it was him.
"It's a lousy idea."
"Camilo ..." Mirabel sighed.
"I don't know why you have to leave this house and look …"
"I don't understand you" said Mirabel "all the women in the family have done it".
"Mirabel, please don't force me to say it," he asked. Mirabel's warm smile descended immediately, and she gently pulled away from him.
"Please don't do it," Mirabel replied, "I don't…" she stammered. Camilo took both of Mirabel's hands in his and squeezed them so she couldn't slip away.
"You never were especially nice to me"said Mirabel "you are charming, funny and kind to everyone, except to me".
"I never wanted it to be noticed" said Camilo "you know well, it is not something easy to accept. Although there are families where it happens".
"Only in such small towns where there is no other option," Mirabel replied.
"Do you remember that famous book that they forced us to read when we were in school?" asked Camilo "it's a classic of the country's literature, we both hate it. The protagonist falls in love with María, his cousin …"
"That's a book from the XIX century. In the book, the protagonist's parents oppose the relationship, they send him to Europe to get away from her, and she dies of a seizure of epilepsy." Mirabel answered immediately, who immediately took a deep breath. "Please leave," Mirabel said.
"I know our parents wouldn't like it" Camilo said "that's why I tried not to show it, but I didn't think you would think of something as absurd as leaving this house. I always thought that we would be together".
"Camilo" Mirabel began trying to get rid of his grip "I'm very sorry, but I already love someone else".
"How can you say something like that?" Camilo asked, annoyed. "You're upset because I didn't take your side when the whole thing about the cracks in the house happened, but you have to admit that the whole thing about Bruno's prediction was quite convincing," said Camilo.
"No," Mirabel denied immediately. "That has nothing to do with it, I just don't love you that way. I just can't love you the way you want it." Mirabel said without daring to look at him. Camilo released her hands very slowly. That had been a direct blow to his heart.
"Wow" Camilo said avoiding her gaze.
"Sorry".
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Mirabel" called Bruno from the other side of the door "there is someone who wants to see you, I thought it would be a good idea to invite Professor Dominguez today, so I went for him".
"I'm coming," Mirabel said, who quickly gathered herself.
They left Mirabel's room, Bruno was waiting for her at the door. Mirabel thanked Bruno, gave him a quick hug and left in the direction of the main patio without thinking twice.
"All good?" Asked Bruno.
"Yes, why not," Camilo replied, who did not want it to sound as harsh as he did.
Camilo saw his uncle walking away back to the party. He had never been particularly fond of Bruno, but he was beginning to feel real annoyance for him. Mirabel had dated this guy for months, and no one knew, all because of him. Bruno also dared to invite him to that party.
When he came downstairs he found even more people at the party. Camilo looked through the crowd where he found his grandmother welcoming Professor Dominguez, while Mirabel hung on his arm like a leech. His grandmother seemed happy, and they made a beautiful couple, that filled him with anger.
"You've gone mad" Dolores murmured in his ear as she took him tightly by the arm. Of course, he was forgetting his sister's hearing. Camilo knew it was impossible to hide the truth.
"I don't want to explain to you," Camilo said annoyed as he freed himself from his sister's grip.
"Camilo" she said again "I'm sorry that you find yourself in this situation. Believe me, if there is anyone who understands you, that is me, but this is not about you. The family cannot know.
"They won't," said Camilo, who got away from Dolores's hand and smiled widely.
"Wow, such a pair of lovebirds," Camilo said happily as he wrapped his arms around the shoulders of Mirabel and her boyfriend.
Mirabel didn't know it, but to be a worthy bearer of his gift he had to be a very good actor. It was not enough to physically resemble people, you also had to assume the role. And if necessary, he could pretend to be the wonderful happy cousin of the bride.
"Mario" Camilo said while he was standing in front of them. Then, he offered a glass of aguardiente to Mario "you guys had it very well kept, right?" He said.
"That's not my fault, it was Mirabel's decision," Mario said as he let Camilo serve him a new drink.
"It must be sad that your girl hides you," Camilo said.
"Ignore him," Mirabel replied as she took the glasses from her boyfriend's hand. "He knows how difficult our grandmother is." Besides, Mom and Dad already knew him.
"Really?" asked Camilo who insisted again with the glass.
"Yes," said Mirabel. "Uncle Bruno suggested it."
Bruno's name kept popping up over and over again. Camilo didn't understand what his problem was. They all lived quietly since the reconstruction of the house. Mirabel was perfectly fine, he was perfectly fine, and nothing needed a change. However, his uncle had to ruin their day.
"Mirabel," said Camilo, "let's dance. Mario, there is Mirabel's sister, Isabela. You should ask her to dance. You will win brownie points if you do it".
"Yes, why not," Mario replied happily.
"You were trying to make him drink more so he would humiliate himself in front of the family," Mirabel accused him.
"Maybe" Camilo accepted "and maybe I sent him to Isabela, since everyone prefers Isabela." He said. Mirabel looked at him in pain and tried to get away from him, but he wouldn't let her.
"It was a joke," lied Camilo, who had actually sent Mirabel's boyfriend with Isabela, with all malicious intent.
"I don't understand you," Mirabel said. "You've never been very nice to me. To be honest, on your side of the family, your dad and Antonio are the kindest".
Camilo kept silent for a few moments. She was right. None of Pepa's family members were especially nice to Mirabel. Actually, aside from her parents, Antonio and Luisa were the only ones who had always been very good to Mirabel. Of course, no one was rude to her. But she never received the best treatment from all the family members. He partially blamed his grandmother for this. There was an unwritten rule in the family that Mirabel was slightly "less than." After all, there seemed to be no place for her in this house. And of course, he had gone along with the flow.
On the other hand, they were cousins. Camilo considered it wise to hide and walk away from her, to the point that there were situations in which he could appear rude to her. However, he never considered that she would ever leave him.
"Don't be foolish," Camilo replied, who was not ready to accept the truth "you reminded me today when we used to spend time together.
"Mirabel" Mario interrupted them "I would like to talk to your parents for a moment".
"Oh, yes, of course." Mirabel said as she left him alone without thinking twice.
The Christmas and New Year celebrations passed without the slightest change. Professor Dominguez was on school break until February, which would imply that he would leave for some time to spend the holidays with his family. Camilo had no choice but to wait for a miracle to happen. If Mario disappeared, Camilo could take that opportunity to prevent something like that from happening again. Perhaps his grandmother would agree to authorize his relationship if he found a way to convince Mirabel.
Unfortunately, the good luck was not with him. Professor Dominguez arrived on the first day of February. Antonio was in charge of giving Mario an invitation to dinner from his Aunt Julieta. Ironically, Camilo was surprised as his grandmother was not involved in a possible engagement for Mirabel. He supposed he didn't care much for her. After all, she did not have a gift like the rest of the family, and there was a very good chance that her children did not produce magical gifts either.
"Bruno had the idea of a wonderful dinner to welcome Professor Dominguez back," Julieta said. Mirabel barely smiled, and Camilo knew it immediately: there were trouble in paradise.
"What's happening?" Camilo asked one day while Mirabel accompanied him to do one of the tasks imposed by his grandmother.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"You don't seem very happy about the possibility of inviting the professor to dinner".
"I shouldn't tell you this, but he's been here for three days and he's been a bit distant," Mirabel said.
"That is wonderful news, if you ask me, '' said Camilo "if the teacher disappears from the scene, then "entre primo y primo más me arrimo'' Camilo joked, quoting a saying. However, Mirabel didn't find it funny.
"Camilo, even if my relationship with Mario doesn't work, I don't think I can reciprocate as you want," Mirabel said. Camilo got angry when he heard that. He wanted to hurt her the same way she did.
"Are you sure?" Camilo asked "what are you supposed to do then? Do you want to spend your life in the nursery?
"I-I don't know".
"Your room must have become a warehouse a long time is no place for you, at least if you are with me you can stay without being an interference" he said. Mirabel looked at him in was too much, he knew that. Maybe she would accept it if she kept up this game and managed to mess with her head badly enough.
The two walked in silence back to the house, where Bruno was lounging in a rocking chair at the end of the central patio.
"Hello Uncle Bruno" Mirabel said before running into her room.
"What did you do to her?" Bruno asked Camilo.
"Nothing," Camilo answered reluctantly.
"Nothing, just like that night during the party," Bruno answered. Camilo took a deep breath and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"What's your problem with me, Uncle Bruno?" asked Camilo.
"You're an adult now, Camilo, so I can be honest with you," Bruno replied as he stopped rocking the chair and gave him his full attention.
"I think your gift is very useful for the family, and everyone appreciates you in this house. I also think you have a charismatic personality, so the townspeople like you. But frankly I don't think you're a good person" said Bruno.
"So you think I'm not good for Mirabel?" Camilo asked Bruno.
"I just think you are not good, but you are not used to hearing this, because people keep telling you how wonderful you are. You don't know anything else but to be adored" Bruno replied. Camilo wanted to laugh, he would never have imagined that his pathetic Uncle Bruno would have that opinion of him.
"I'm sorry I can't take that seriously, I would, if it didn't come from a guy who spent ten years locked up in the walls of his mother's house, living with rats. Uncle Bruno, you didn't even have the courage to leave this town".
"And you don't know the price and love that a sacrifice requires, because you've never made one," Bruno replied. Camilo laughed. It was clear that his uncle had run out of arguments and was throwing him the first thing that came to his mind.
"Anyway, see you at dinner," said Camilo, who was in an excellent mood despite everything. He went up to his room and got ready for dinner, because if things turned out that bad, he would be the one who would have to pick up the broken pieces of Mirabel, which would make it much easier to manipulate her into accepting him.
He went down to the dining room. Mirabel looked especially sad that night, but very beautiful, as always, while Mario struggled to cheer her up. The meal went smoothly, until it was time for coffee.
"We are very happy the Ministry has renewed you as a rural teacher in Encanto" Agustín said cordially as he gave his daughter a smile.
"I'm afraid that even though they renewed me as a rural teacher, I won't be able to stay in Encanto for much longer," Mario said.
Camilo used all of his acting skills to feign sadness. It was as he could hear Mirabel's heart breaking from across the room. It was terrible to think like that, but now she would have no choice but to stay there with him. Eventually, she would accept him, as there was no place for her. Camilo felt almost disgusted by his thoughts. Possibly, Bruno was right, he was not good.
"Why not, dear?" Julieta asked who had also realized the blow that this meant for Mirabel.
"I was offered a position at a university in the Capital. I won't become a millionaire, but it's a good job. I talked to Mom and Dad and they could help me with some money to get my own place to live, "Mario said with a trembling voice.
"It seems that you are doing fine, dear" Julieta answered.
"Yes ma'am" he replied "that's why I would like to take this opportunity, to ask for Mirabel's hand, and to ask her to be my wife". Mario continued as he took out a small velvety box from his jacket.
Next to him was Dolores. She took his hand firmly in hers, to give him strength. Camilo thanked her. Mirabel's answer was obvious, and he couldn't help but hear an uncomfortable ringing in his ears as he saw the embrace and celebration in Julieta and Agustín's family. Luisa and Isabela congratulated Mirabel while the others stood up to wait for their turn to congratulate the future bride and groom.
Camilo barely touched Mario's hand when he congratulated him, but he gave Mirabel a big hug.
"Don't do this to me, Mirabel," Camilo asked.
"Sorry".
As expected, Camilo could not sleep during that week. Until he decided to get up a little past midnight. He was surprised to see a light on in his grandmother's office. Camilo walked there, knocked on the door and waited for her permission to enter. His grandmother was wearing her reading glasses, and she was at her desk looking at different notes, receipts, and bills.
"You should leave that job for tomorrow, grandma" said Camilo
"I can't sleep as when I was young, so if I'm going to be awake, it better be worth it," said his grandmother.
"Grandma" Camilo began as he sat in the chair in front of her "I would like to tell you something very important".
"Does it have to do with the reason for you being awake, dear?" Asked his grandmother without taking her eyes off her documents.
"Yes, actually it has" Camilo answered nervously, since what he was about to do was a dangerous balancing act that could cost him his head. "I'd like to talk to you about Mirabel's marriage".
"What's with that?" she asked.
"I don't think it's a good idea to let Mirabel go to the capital, it wouldn't be good for the family. It is the first step to a separation and to the loss of the magic." Camilo said as he watched his grandmother take off her glasses and give him her full attention "what happened years ago taught us two things: the first, we do not fully understand the magic of this house. Secondly, Mirabel has a deep connection to the magic.
"Explain yourself".
"She had that vision the night Antonio received the gift. She was the one who opened the door of the house and returned the magic to normal. This house listens to her more than it does to any of us. I don't understand how it works, but she has a strong connection with this place. If we let her go, it will be a matter of time before things go wrong" Camilo said very seriously.
"I suppose you have a possible solution, otherwise you wouldn't be here. I suppose you want something for yourself, "replied his grandmother. He understood that her opinion of him was not very different from Bruno's.
"I don't want anything other than to keep my magic. I don't want to lose it" Camilo began, who did not know how to introduce the subject, since he had spent years denying it and hiding it from his grandmother. "That's why Mirabel must stay, it is necessary for her to do so".
"She wants her own family, I can't deny her that," said her grandmother seriously.
"I could make a family with her," Camilo answered, as he could not believe what he was saying. His grandmother stared at him as she opened her eyes very slowly, showing him that she had understood.
"It's not something usual" said his grandmother, leaning back in the chair and taking a long and uncomfortable exhalation "I'm not saying it never happens, but it's not common".
"Mirabel loves me" Camilo continued "not like she loves Mario, but I know that eventually I could convince hern".
"Convince her or manipulate her?" Asked his grandmother who put on the glasses again "forget it, dear, you will not make me an accomplice in something so cruel".
"Grandma, you are the only one who can dissuade her from this madness. I know Aunt Julieta and Agustín will object, but we both know that they will eventually give in. If I remember it well, it was you who was days away from getting Isabela and Mariano married." Camilo said. His grandmother took off her glasses again and she stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Dolores and Mariano have not been able to have children after years of marriage. Isabela doesn't seem interested in any man. Luisa is slow as a turtle with her boyfriend. This family is in danger, and you know it. Mirabel and I could have children, and if we are both Madrigal, surely many new blessings will come" Camilo continued. He was glad to see a glint in his grandmother's eyes, apparently he was playing just the tune she wanted to hear.
"Forget it," said his grandmother before putting her glasses back on.
"What? Why?" said Camilo "Do you really intend to condemn us to lose the magic of this house?" he asked.
"Mirabel is my granddaughter as you are, dear. I love her very much, just like I love you" his grandmother began,"and it would be really cruel to make her go through that situation. We do not know if the magic will be lost, and frankly, if it has to be so, then let it happen".
"But the magic …"
"Camilo, stop," said his grandmother as she raised her hand to prevent him from continuing. "I did not survive a war, a trip through the mountains with three newborn children, lost a husband and founded a town in the middle of nowhere, to allow a young man like you to think he can manipulate me." She continued."I know very well what you want, and I can't give it to you. I won't hurt Mirabel".
"I understand, it is very clear to me. You don't want to hurt Mirabel, but instead you don't hesitate to hurt me." Camilo said. It was then that his grandmother's gaze softened.
"Camilo," she began as she put her hand on her grandson's, "I know you feel hurt, but you can't force someone to feel the same as you. I'm very sorry that you have to go through this situation." She said, At that moment, Camilo's eyes began to water, so he let go of her grip and stood up.
"I already understand it. It is more important that Mirabel get what she wants than that the family and the entire town can preserve the miracle, that is clear." He said before leaving furious.
"Camilo!" His grandmother yelled, but he didn't answer.
The next day, Camilo flopped down in his chair at breakfast, nibbling on his eggs. The talk took place between discussions of fabrics for dresses, colors and flowers.
"It will all be for nothing if the bride looks like a giant fly with those glasses," Camilo said. He always made jokes about Mirabel's glasses, but this time he had gone too far.
"Camilo!" Pepa scolded him, annoyed. Mirabel did not respond, but she almost instinctively removed her glasses. He didn't answer, but he immediately left the table and went to the kitchen.
"Camilo" called Dolores as she joined him "you have to be more cautious, it is beginning to show"
"I do not mind. Mirabel knows it, Bruno knows it, you and grandma knows it. At this point, we could publish it in the newspaper and there would be no difference." Camilo commented in a bad mood.
"Yesterday I left my room for a glass of water," said Dolores. I overheard part of a conversation you had with Grandma. That was very bad. Mirabel would hate you if she knew what you meant to do.
"I had to try," Camilo replied as he shrugged.
"Please stop".
Camilo didn't answer. It was easy for everyone to tell him to stop, to get over it. However, no one knew what it meant to have spent years thinking about her, unable to speak or act. Mirabel must not leave, she could not.
"Leave me alone," Camilo said before leaving.
Julieta's family took care of everything related to the marriage, while his grandmother silently stepped aside. Mirabel made her wedding dress herself, and his grandma helped her with the embroidery. It was a horrible month for Camilo, who had to endure all those preparations in silence. However, the calm ended a couple of days before the wedding, during a dinner offered by the Madrigals for Mario's parents who were visiting Encanto. The event went easily but Camilo finally felt that he couldn't take it anymore.
Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe the rage. Camilo didn't know what made him do this.
"Mirabel," Camilo said as he approached Mirabel who was sitting in the shade of one of the acacia trees in the garden. She stood up and confronted him.
"Camilo" she said "you have hardly spoken to me in several days, what is happening to you?"
"I can't believe that at this point I have to explain what is happening," Camilo answered desperately.
"Please" Mirabel asked "leave it, I don't want to keep fighting with you, I can't keep listening to your reproaches and your anger" she said.
"Is that what bothers you about me?" asked Camilo. "I really need to know why you don't choose me".
"We haven't been close in years. You have taken care of it yourself,"said Mirabel.
"Perfect, then everything is my fault" Camilo said frustrated.
"It's not that" Mirabel said as she crossed her arms "Camilo, you're my cousin ...
He was annoyed when he heard that, so he took her tightly by her shoulders, so she had no choice but to look into his eyes.
"What do you want from me, Mirabel?" Camilo asked furiously.
"Nothing, I don't want anything from you, I'm very sorry, but I never saw you that way, I couldn't have even if I wanted to," said Mirabel who tried to free herself from his grip.
That hit him even worse than the initial rejection. Mirabel was confessing to him that there was never hope. Mirabel would never reciprocate his feelings. Suddenly, he transformed into Professor Dominguez.
"That means my only hope would have been to look like this," Camilo said, annoyed. Mirabel gave him a fearful look.
"Stop that," Mirabel replied, who tried to free herself even harder. Camilo didn't know what happened to him, but he held her tighter and tried to kiss her in that alien and strange body that he detested so much.
"No," Mirabel said, turning her face away from him.
"No." he repeated as he lifted his hand and pushed him away. Camilo had no choice but to let go of her and transform back.
"Have you ever gone into my mom's room?" asked Camilo.
"A couple of times," Mirabel replied as she caught her breath from the struggle. "Why?"
"It is a beach, eternally sunny, without a single day of rain" said Camilo "she told me that before her marriage it used to be a meadow covered with flowers. But dad comes from the coast, and the house mutates according to our needs, so she decided to give him a gift: a piece of his home here in Encanto" Camilo explained.
"I always thought that eventually I could change my room for you, make it whatever you wanted. You don't have a place, but I could give it to you. A place for you, a place for us" Camilo said as she looked at him carefully.
"I would like to believe you, but you have always been cruel to me, Camilo" Mirabel said suddenly "I have felt so alone in this house, so unwanted, so inadequate, and you have always been one of the reasons".
"I tried to hide …"
"Is that why you tried to convince grandma to cancel my marriage?" Mirabel asked.
"I do not…"
"Don't deny it", she told him. "She said to me that I had to hurry to plan everything, since you behaved in a very strange way," Mirabel insisted. Camilo understood she had kept that feeling of anger for weeks, incubating it to come out at the slightest provocation.
"What would happen if our grandmother had been the same from the past?" Mirabel asked "What have you done during our wedding night? Would you have forced me? as you did minutes before?" Mirabel asked.
"I hadn't thought about it," Camilo admitted.
"You know well that my life has never been easy, and for some reason you wanted to make it more miserable, and here you are insisting on ruining one of the few really good things that have happened to me." Mirabel said.
"Mirabel I'm sorry, I just wanted …"
"That's the problem, Camilo, you only care about what you want," said Mirabel "It's true, I want to find a place for myself, but not like that."
"Mirabel, please wait," Camilo asked. "There must be something I can do".
"Please leave me alone," Mirabel said before leaving.
Mirabel's marriage was perfect. From the flowers to the groom's parents. Camilo attended all the events without feeling truly present at any of them. However, as he watched them share their first wedding dance, Dolores approached him.
"They got married, despite everything you did," said Dolores.
"Really?" Asked Camilo "come on Lolita, we both know that if I really wanted to sabotage that marriage I could have created much more disaster. Maybe if I had insisted to Grandma a little more she would have fallen like a house of cards".
"You're right, but still, I'm glad you didn't. Mirabel is not Isabela, her deal is not being "too perfect", she deserves to have happiness." Dolores said with a touch of irony in her voice. Camilo looked at his sister. He had the impression that Dolores had been too involved in the debacle with Mariano, and here she was confirming his theory.
"It's easy for you to say, in the end you won" Camilo answered.
"Did I?" Dolores asked "sometimes I find it hard to think like that, but I suppose I did. Even if Isabela is happier than I ever will be" Camilo looked at her sister, she would never have imagined that she was dissatisfied.
The party continued until the couple decided that it was time to go to the inn where they would spend the night before heading to the capital. Camilo watched Mirabel and Professor Dominguez share hugs and kisses with their family, while they all wished the newlyweds luck. At that moment, Camilo realized that Bruno was next to him.
"Uncle, you know well that Mirabel's departure will extinguish the magic in the future. She will not return to El Encanto" said Camilo, who had not discussed it with anyone again. Bruno shrugged his shoulders. and he kept looking at the scene.
"Let it be what it has to be" answered Bruno "I owe a lot to Mirabel, and the sands of time tell me that this is the right path for her. I just want to see her happy, even if it means losing the magic".
"You don't know the love that requires a sacrifice" repeated Bruno's voice in his mind.
Camilo saw Mirabel and Mario holding hands. If one good thing remained of all this, it was that finally his cousin seemed to be on her way to finding her place.
Hi everyone I am taking a quick rest from my other Encanto fic, here is a random fact about this:
The Book Camilo cites is "La María" from Jorge Isaacs, a Colombian literature classic from the XIX century. I HATE this book with burning passion. They force me to read it at school. It is a book about a guy (the writer) who falls in love with his cousin, a super bland story that only became famous (in my opinion) because the guy was super rich. Seriously, the only good part of the book is the story of how his slaves arrived to his farm from Africa (yeah I know, I know, he even had slaves), not his sappy love story with his cousin.
Anyway the house in the book exists, it's a touristic place and it's very lovely. I liked it very much. It's called El Paraiso. Does it sound familiar? like El Encanto perhaps? Yeah I do not think it's a coincidence.