A/N: Warning: A few potentially suggestive themes in this chapter.

Chapter 5

"Mirabel, I can't go to dinner like this. Abuela will see me." Isabela grimly said, fear glistening in her eyes.

"But you should talk to her about your feelings, Isa. You should…"

Upon noticing her anxious face, Mirabel understood. Her sister wasn't ready yet. She scanned the hacienda.

"Casita! Help us up!"

The house responded immediately by lining up the steps of stairs leading to the first floor; they hurried to the older one's room.

"I feel like a kid again." Isabela admitted fondly.

Mirabel tittered. "You still are. In a good way, of course. I read somewhere that we should keep our hearts young, no matter how much we age."

She rummaged through the wardrobe until she came across one of Isa's less-used pink dresses.

"Here, put this on! Nobody will mind if you show up to dinner wearing it. You could wear a potato sack and still daze people."

If Mirabel had said that to her a week prior, she would've snapped instantly, believing she was mocked. But now she knew her intentions were good, she knew her baby sister would never purposely hurt or make fun of her.

The smile which the compliment had aroused faltered. "But Abuela…"

"We just returned from a trip and we're tired, she shouldn't object that you've decided to put on something simple. And even if she does, it's not like she'll make you change while you'll be eating. Less is more, Isa. Now get in here and let me do your hair."

She patted the backrest of the upholstered chair in front of the small dressing table with a flower-circled oval mirror near the bed. Isabela complied, trusting her sister's eye for fashion. Mirabel attentively combed her waist-long hair from the ends of it up to her scalp.

"Aw, Mirabel! It hurts!"

"You're crying like a baby. I used to play with every girl's hair in this family and you're telling me it hurts? No, no, no, you won't get away with that, querida hermana."

Her hands darted, her fingers prodding Isabela's sides. She was amongst the few who knew how to use the young woman's weakness to their advantage.

Isabela giggled, her laughter soon becoming raucous when Mirabel intensified the attack. In her haste to get her playful sister to stop, they ended up on the floor.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Isabela grew strong vines that tightened around the girl's shins and wrists, pinning her to the ground.

"What do we have here?" She mockingly wondered as she undid the black ribbon straps around Mirabel's ankles and took her shoes off.

"Isa, no! This isn't fair! No!"

Her sister's evil grin was Mirabel's only warning to brace herself before Isabela started scratching her soft feet and tickling her toes. She reveled in the teenager's howling and laughed along.

Mirabel threw her head back, helplessly trying to escape, but that only made the binding vines stiffen to hold her in place. Her chest was heaving from the fit.

When the torture ceased, she thought it was finally over.

She thought wrong, as the smirk she received told her.

Isabela approached her and knelt down beside her. Her sister's smug smile was almost frightening by this point.

"Isa… por favor…" she panted.

Isabela's fingers lightly danced on her belly. Mirabel arched her spine, squirming restlessly under the wiggling hands as she begged for mercy, only to not receive it. Isabela pinched her sides several times, adoring her melodious laughter.

"You've always been so sensitive, hermanita." she teased. "This is what you get for daring to tickle me."

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Hahahah! Just stop!"

With a final poke, Isabela backed off her vines, allowing Mirabel to regain her breath, who was still chortling.

"You are evil, sis." She wrapped her arms around her midriff in case she got attacked again.

The young woman chuckled. "You started it."

"But I wasn't that cruel."

"Maybe you weren't. But you deserved it anyway."

Mirabel grimaced at her in wry amusement. She'd been missing these kinds of moments. And by the looks of it, her hermana had too.

A knock on the door startled them. "¡Mijas! Come to dinner!"

Shoot! They'd totally forgotten about dinner. Lightning fast, Isabela was back on the chair and Mirabel was behind her; the latter worked nimbly to braid her smooth hair. She rotated the two braids around Isabela's head before fastening them to her scalp with thin green vines and small flowers, eventually embellishing the headdress with colored ribbons so that the tinged strands of hair wouldn't stand out.

"Do you like it?" She placed her hands on her sister's shoulders, both of them looking in the mirror.

Isabela was speechless for a couple of moments, and she dreaded the reply. "Yes… Yes, Mira, it's wonderful! Thank you!"

Mirabel breathed, relieved as Isabela felt the top of her head.

"This is the Isabela I want to see more often, if not always." She grinned warmly.

Her sister's face lit up like the morning sun chased away the night.

Mirabel chuckled. "Now, get changed! I'll be waiting in the hall."

With that, she left to give her sister some privacy. Her throat was stinging from laughter and her face was pinching from so much smiling.

She had a hunch Isabela felt no different.

Alma felt the atmosphere at the dining table had miraculously changed in a way she couldn't pin-point. She didn't even want to consider that her youngest daughter's stupid idea had anything to do with it.

Dinner was the best time to discuss what had happened over the day because her family were all together, their chores finished, therefore were able to bring up various topics for debating.

It was hard for her not to scold Pepa right then and there, so that her grandchildren would understand why it was wrong to just take a break whenever they wanted.

But she kept her words at bay, for her six mijos looked way too pleased to be disrupted.

"I've been working on this design lately. I haven't shown it to anyone before, not even to Antonio."

Mirabel tugged on the white sheet to reveal a mannequin in the corner of the nursery, and Isabela's jaw dropped.

The sleeveless v-neck bodycon dress was the deepest shade of night blue. It ended with a white ruffle which covered the knees and had glitter around the waist. The pair of kitten satin heels with ankle straps and encrusted with pearl-like jewels was gleaming next to the mannequin. The magnificent dress was also made of satin having a dark teal glow while exposed to the light of the lamp in the room.

Still astonished, Isabela stroked the soft material. "You made this, hermanita?"

Somewhat sheepish, Mirabel said: "Sort of. I needed some help, but it's finally finished."

"Mira, this outfit… This is only for special occasions. Like, really special."

The young woman studied the shoes. "Where did you buy these? They look outrageously expensive!"

Each of the Madrigal grandchildren received a monthly allowance (except Antonio for obvious reasons), but even if her sister had been saving up, it was a little odd that she'd decided to spend so many Colombian pesos. She'd never been one to spend money like water, especially on fancy stuff or things she already had, like shoes.

"I received them. From Señor Osvaldo."

Isabela raised her brows. "Señor Osvaldo?"

The man had been offering all sorts of gifts to Mirabel since her failed Gift Ceremony. Although he was well-meaning, she had no doubt that his kind deeds sometimes hurt Mirabel unintentionally. But he wasn't wealthy, he was living an ordinary life.

Isabela crossed her arms solemnly. "Mirabel, is there something I should know about?"

The teenager gulped, wiping her palms on her skirt. But before she could respond, a knock on the window startled both of them. Mirabel's eyes went wide as her older sister pulled her to her chest, instinctively growing vines as she took several steps back.

"Who's there?" Her heart thumped hard enough to break her ribcage.

Mirabel slithered out of her grasp and approached the wall. "Isa, calm down! It's okay, I know who this is."

"You do?!"

"Sí. Please, just… don't be mad, alright?"

Mirabel hesitated before reluctantly drawing the hangings aside to reveal a hooded figure waiting patiently on one of the branches of a tall tree Isabela had reared a few days prior, a branch so close to the window he or she could leisurely slip into Casita.

"Hermanita, are you sure…?"

"Yes, Isa, trust me."

She opened the windows widely and helped the person inside.

"Isabela, meet Carlos, mi… novio."

...

"He's your what?!"

Isabela stared, agape, as he took off the hood of his red poncho and intertwined his and Mirabel's hands.

Carlos couldn't be older than sixteen. He had a lean yet sturdily built figure, but not much taller than her sister, his brown, green-flecked eyes sparkling with curiosity and intelligence. His dark hair fell over his forehead and ears, and although it was cut short, Isabela internally cringed at its messiness. His complexion was similar to her and Abuelo Pedro's.

"Carlos Serrano is my boyfriend, Isa." Mirabel stated, undisturbed.

The nature lover composed herself, straightening her back. With a tinge of condescendence, she remarked she was taller than him.

"A pleasure to meet you, Señorita Isabela. I've heard a lot of great things about you." He offered her a large hand, which she hesitantly accepted; his grip was awfully firm despite his thin fingers.

"Pleased to meet you, too." She feigned a small smile for her sister's sake, which thankfully did the trick; Mirabel instantly beamed from ear to ear.

"For how long…?"

"Four months." Mirabel let her know.

She and Carlos shared a knowing glance, and Isabela felt an amalgam of fright, concern and slight anger settle in the pit of her stomach.

"Hermanita, can I talk to you? Between four eyes?"

Mirabel's face told her she'd been expecting that request.

"Excuse us, Carlos." The older Madrigal said in a sugary voice, her hands on her relative's shoulders and leading her to the door as if trying to shield her from danger.

"What do you think you're doing?!" she quietly snapped once they were in the hallway. "You're too young to be dating, Mirabel."

"Isa, I want someone to love me."

Those words stung more than all the remorse and longing Isabela had ever experienced.

"Oh, Mira, you are loved."

The hug was so tight that the teen could barely breathe, but she gratefully returned it nevertheless.

"You can't imagine how loved you are. And yes, that includes Abuela too." Her sister whispered, already aware of the unspoken question.

Isabela then held her at arm's length. "You can't just go out like that at night. What if something happened to you?"

"Pffft! You're one to talk, and I am perfectly fine, see?"

"Well, I'm older, an adult even, which you are not, and I have-"

... a gift to protect myself. She'd been used to rubbing it in her sister's face that she'd almost made a wrong step. Unfortunately, Mirabel had noticed, proof being that she was silent out of the blue.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Isabela back-pedalled before changing the subject to distract her attention from the upsetting matter, "Does anyone else know?"

"Nobody, but you." Mirabel's eyes went large. "Please don't tell anyone, especially our familia. They're already busy and worried as everything is. Plus, things between Carlos and I have been smooth. He's a really nice guy."

Mirabel seemed genuinely joyous at the thought of him, thus Isabela believed her words. Her sister was wise enough not to let herself get tricked by manly charm. Yet she was just a teenager.

"I won't tell on one condition."

"Whatever you wish, Hermana."

Isabela wagged her index finger. "That you will come to me the moment you feel something is off about him, okay?"

Mirabel pouted, but Isabela's stern expression left no room for negotiation, therefore she consented.

Something else still concerned the older sister. "Mirabel, is there another reason why you haven't told anyone else about him? Excluding me because I've been a despicable older sibling and the fact that we're always occupied. I mean, I'm sure Mamá wouldn't be mad, but instead would want to help and advise you, for example. Or Dolores, there's no greater listener than her in the entire Encanto."

Mirabel sighed and rubbed her forehead. She appeared exhausted all of a sudden.

"Firstly, Dolores has very likely heard that I'm with him, but hasn't revealed to me that she does - probably because she knows how badly I wish to keep this a secret - and hasn't spilled the beans either. Hopefully she won't do that. Secondly…"

She paused as if the next words were a huge strain for her to get out. "Carlos is Mariano's primo."

Isabela's jaw hit the floor for the second time that night, the declaration rendering her speechless.

"And I thought that things are already complicated enough with the idea of your and Mariano's engagement, so I didn't want to entangle us more and bring unnecessary attention to myself. Carlos and I are perfectly okay with the status of our relationship to remain hidden a little longer, and he's promised not to talk to any of his relatives about us. I don't think he's comfortable with that idea yet, just like me."

She bit her lower lip. "When I realized you don't love Mariano, and with us being on good terms again, I contemplated whether or not to tell you, but I decided not to. You're busy, you're on the way to discovering your true self, and I didn't want to disturb that with my personal life."

She exhaled slowly. "You said it yourself, Isa. I knew I should've waited until I'd be older to have a boyfriend, but I was desperate, I… I needed someone…" Her eyes shone with tears. "Someone who didn't and who doesn't see me as an obstacle and a scapegoat. Abuela's view about me would only worsen if she had any idea about him. Yet I don't regret being in a healthy relationship, which is ultimately what really matters."

After witnessing the sorrowful confession, Isabela processed what she'd just heard as she embraced her again. Two things dawned on her: she wasn't the only one who'd felt the urge to escape, and while she soon was to be engaged to a man she could never love, thus having to fake her affection, Mirabel was suffering the opposite: the certainty that she'd found someone special, judging by her words, but she didn't desire to, nor could she make her relationship public.

In the end, they were both lying and keeping their real feelings to themselves.

"But that's not the actual reason I'm with him." Her sister brought her back to the present. "What I adore is that Carlos is the sweetest guy I have ever met. He's caring and you'll love his sense of humor. He also doesn't mind me not having a gift, can you believe it? He says that I have other gifts he's extremely grateful for. No one's ever told me that before! He makes me feel a little better about myself."

Isabela mentally slapped herself for not supporting her baby sister and telling her the same thing sooner. It was partly her fault that Mirabel had such serious self-worth issues. But because Carlos had been there for her when she'd needed a shoulder to cry on, the least Isabela could do to assuage some of her guilt was to be thankful for his presence and support. That was, if he truly meant his words…

"Mira, if he dares to hurt you, you…"

"I know, I know, I'll tell you immediately, pero I really think he's a good one. I can… I can feel it in my bones, Isa! There's this bond which has been developing ever since I met him."

Mirabel leaned against one of the poles of the inward balcony, gazing at the stars, with a dreamy gleam in her eyes which Isabela sometimes wished she could have when remembering Mariano.

She twisted a curl around her finger. "I've never looked at guys, but with Carlos, ay… The moment I saw him, it just… it just happened, you know? I didn't expect it to happen, it did by itself, like Amor's arrow struck me out of nowhere… And I like him, Isa, I genuinely do. It's something there…"

Mirabel was young, she wasn't exactly free of worries and expectations as Isabela had come to conclude, but was free to have a relationship she felt comfortable in, free to not rush things, free of being forced to form long-lasting bonds for the sake of bringing a new generation of magical blessings into the Encanto, to quote Abuela. In spite of the six-year-old age difference between them, Mirabel's heart and soul were bursting at the seams with sentiments that Isabela thoroughly lacked.

"Don't get me wrong, Hermana, I feel attracted to him and to his personality. Don't think further than that, okay? I don't have any irresponsible or stupid plans with him and that will last for some good years to come if we remain together."

She nodded.

"Besides, even you can't deny that he's at least cute." she turned around to smirk at Isabela, who grinned. It wasn't a question.

"Even I can't deny that, sis."

Mirabel victoriously cheered. "Now, let's get inside. If you want to protect me, you'll need to get to know him a bit."

A heedful, solemn glance from Isabela Madrigal told the sixteen-year-old boy that every one of his moves was being watched.

"So how are you related to Mariano Guzmán, Carlos?"

"I'm more of a distant cousin, actually. We barely got to see each other a few times a year, whenever my parents could afford a trip here in Colombia. But we've recently moved to Encanto - which means we visit each other all the time now - and it's one of the most amazing places I have ever seen in my life. And then I met you."

He eyed Mirabel briefly, who was sitting next to him on the bed. She didn't show it, but she inwardly melted at his fond smile. Isabela had never sensed so much joy radiating from her little sister.

Dios, was she growing up!

"I understand that you managed to get past the mountains."

"Yeah, it was no easy task, but we're here."

She kept her face cool, just like she'd witnessed Abuela do when she wanted to be taken seriously. Which was all the time.

"How exactly did you meet?" She pronounced the words a bit too clearly.

Mirabel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It happened a week after they'd come to live here."

"And why did you climb to my sister's window at eight o'clock in the evening?" Isabela scowled at him, and it was effective in bringing about his nervousness.

"He was actually supposed to come later, right Carlos?" Mirabel butted in.

"Later?! For heaven's sake, Mirabel!"

"It's not what you think, Señorita Isabela!" the young man instantly defended. "I just wanted to see her before we… Does she know?" He turned to his novia.

"No. Isa, we're performing tonight."

Isabela was astonished. Not only had they been seeing one another privately and in secret, but they were also performing?

"We're dancing, to be exact."

The lovebirds grinned at each other, their hands clasped together.

The older Madrigal could barely speak. "You're… dancing? Then, the dress… the shoes…"

"I gifted her the shoes, even though she insisted not to. I would've bought her the dress too, but her talent is far better than anything I've ever seen in clothing stores."

Mirabel blushed as she laid her head on his shoulder. "You don't have to say that."

"You deserve to hear it."

Isabela allowed them to have a moment before interrupting. "Where and when is it gonna take place?"

"At midnight, near the mountains, but it's somewhat far from Encanto for the sake of not waking people up."

"Have you two done this before?"

Mirabel was the one to reply. "Only once. One night when I went out, I heard some music and I couldn't hold back, so I joined the fun."

"And I noticed her and invited her to dance with me, and that was our first encounter."

"After that, we kept in touch. We've been seeing each other at least three or four times a week ever since, during day or night, depending on how safe I deemed it was for both of us. Once, he suggested we take part in a small bailando contest in a park. We did and now, here we are, we're finally ready to participate again. At least I hope so."

"We're ready, Mirabel. We've been practicing our choreography for weeks, and I honestly believe we've improved in these four months." Carlos squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

His words proved to work in reducing her stress.

Isabela compared the way they'd met with how Alma and Pedro had met, and concluded that their first encounters were pretty similar. She retained every minute detail from their story.

"Señorita," he said with a pleading tone, "I trust Mirabel has already told you, but I'd also like to ask you to keep everything you now know a secret."

"You have my word." she vowed. "And please call me Isabela."

He beamed. "I'll meet you in three hours, then. That is, if you allow us to go."

"Come with us, Isa! Carlos, could she come? She's a spectacular bailadora!" her sister's excitement was infectious, and Isabela blushed at the praise.

"¡Por supuesto! The more, the merrier!"

Isabela noted he seemed genuine. She didn't want to be the third wheel, but when her beloved hermanita went out on a date outside at night, she had to keep an eye on her, even though Mirabel had done the same thing before and everything had been fine. Her past failed friendships had taught her some valuable lessons about trusting people too easily.

"Alright, I'll join you."

Mirabel giggled in elation. Isabela aided a now hooded Carlos to get down on the outside ground safely.

"What do you think of him, Isa?"

She pondered. She needed to tread carefully to avoid hurting her sister.

"His respect for me is… over the top. I'm only like, five years older than him. But otherwise, he does seem okay, not treacherous or malicious, but rather well-intentioned."

The teenager tittered in the most girlish way Isabela had ever witnessed her do. "He was the same way towards me when we met. His clumsiness was so endearing." she paused, wonder painted on her features. "Do you think Abuela could like him?"

Isabela sighed. "I'm not sure, you know how pretentious she is, but... maybe? And I'll have to get to know him more before I can accept him, though."

Mirabel frowned at her. "Wasn't this enough for you?"

"Mira, you can't trust many people in life, you know that. And just because you're in love, it doesn't mean you should lose sight of reality and think about anything else but him."

"I'm not doing that! When will you learn to trust him, then?"

Isabela playfully smirked. "Once he'll be your marido."

Her sister rolled her eyes. "If that's the case, I'll marry him right away, so you won't have to worry anymore."

Isabela's laughing fit was so ear-splitting enough to reverberate throughout Casita.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Thoughts?