A/N: Hey guys! Apologies for the longer-than-usual wait, but this chapter was a real challenge. It went through a lot of editing, and I wanted to give it my all, just like all the other chapters, so... happy reading!
Chapter 4
Reunion and Dance
Mirabel jovially strode towards the tree where Carlos had obscured himself minutes ago.
His whole body was in profile view. Even amongst the shadows the crown of the tree offered, she easily took in his features and attire. He seemed to be glowing even in the dark.
As if sensing her presence, his head turned; his gaze seemed to be ablaze. He fully turned towards her just as she closed the distance.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Much!"
Her eyes were drawn by the meticulous pattern of his red poncho and his sombrero vueltiao.
"You look wondrous," he complimented.
"You don't look bad yourself."
They both blushed.
"Shall we?" he offered to alleviate the awkwardness.
She nodded eagerly and they started towards the plaza, from where music seemed to be intensifying with every heartbeat.
Carlos's eyes glazed over. "Back there, you reminded me of my sister, you know. Alejandra was… truly free-spirited." He managed a small nostalgic grin.
Mirabel's curiosity grew. "If it doesn't hurt you to say, can you tell me more about her?"
If it had been anybody else asking him that - except for Rafael - he would have denied immediately. But Mirabel… Ay… It was as if she'd put a spell on him. Her genuine curiosity was so pure, so innocent!
"Yes…" he breathed, the growing volume of the music almost drowning out his words. "Alejandra and I… we were partners in crime. I've lost count of how many times we made the plan of the century to stuff ourselves with cookies and chamoyadas after we'd had our fair share of sweets for the day.
"She was always optimistic, always supportive, especially of me and Rafi.
"Then… she fell in love."
Mirabel would've smiled, but the way his eyes darkened slightly made her hold it in.
"I… wasn't particularly fond of Fernando, but… she was incredibly in love with him. They got married. She said it was true love. It seemed that I was the only one not seeing eye to eye with her."
He gulped. "You know the rest."
She nodded pensively, feeling her heart crumble. "I'm sorry… You and Rafael shouldn't have to go through this. I… I can't even imagine…"
She tried to push away the scenario of her parents and sisters and family being gone, but her eyes still watered.
When he spoke again, his voice was steady. "Look at me."
She did, and she marvelled at how he could endure such sorrow and still have the strength to pull that charming smile, conceal his misery, his worry, and face his fate head-on.
"I don't want you to be sad, especially tonight. Let's be happy, sí? 'Cause we're here."
She scanned the plaza, where some people were still dancing, but others had gathered in the pavilion to eat. Mirabel wiped the moisture of her palms on her arms.
She nodded pensively, feeling her heart crumble. "I'm sorry… You and Rafael shouldn't have to go through this. I… I can't even imagine…"
Resolved (at least she hoped to appear so), Mirabel straightened her back. "No."
Although she wasn't facing him anymore, her gaze studying her family members each where they were, she swore he was smirking.
"Really?" he said, his tone all too playful now. "You made me feel good about my encouragement skills back there."
It was Mirabel's turn to grin smugly at him. "And there I was, believing that was about me, not about your pride."
His expression was priceless, and it only widened her grin.
"I was just kidding."
She chuckled. "Be careful, Carlos."
His fluster amused her even more.
"I'm serious, I was joking!"
"Sure, sure, alright." She raised her palms as if in defeat.
His eyes were far more expressive than his face let on. There was a question she couldn't guess in his gaze, a slight twitch of his lips that made him look as if he wanted to utter something, but restrained himself.
"I think that's your cousin who's waving you over."
Mirabel followed his gaze to notice that indeed, Dolores was holding her long skirt in one hand as she was beckoning to her with the other.
"It seems that it's time for the main course."
Although she always enjoyed having meals with her family, Mirabel hesitated. Something tore inside her at the thought of leaving him. She just felt so… comfortable in his presence, and the tranquillity rippling in waves from him was something she hadn't realized how much she'd come to adore.
"What will you do?" she questioned.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll just hang around. I'm not leaving, not yet."
"Well then, see you!"
With a heavy heart, she sauntered towards the pavilion. Feeling a rush like never before, Carlos called after her right before she would have entered the illuminated area, "Mira, wait!"
He closed the distance, remaining inches away from her. The young Madrigal's heart raced, her face was on fire.
"¿Sí?"
He took a breath and pulled slightly at the edge of his poncho, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I was thinking… would you… like to dance with me later?"
Her heart leapt.
Oh…
Oh!
She studied his eyes and felt as if she could see beyond their beauty, into the depths of his soul. A soul that had somehow found hers…
They both let the moment linger. He was so close she could feel the faint brush of his breath on her nose.
"I would," she replied at last, amazed that her composure was still intact.
His beam was unlike anything she'd ever seen before.
"Great! I'll be waiting for you."
He turned on his heels, disappearing into the shadows of the trees and bushes. Doing the same, Mirabel went in the other direction, knowing she'd barely be able to eat something.
On his way to the fountain in the plaza, Carlos picked up an apple and a grape and started eating. Out of the corner of his eye, he made out Mirabel having a meal with her family. She was laughing with the curly-haired boy who was probably her cousin Camilo. Carlos had had the chance to see the Madrigals at work during the weeks since his arrival in Encanto, and he was pretty sure he knew who was who and what gifts they each had.
Still, a tinge of jealousy at seeing Mirabel laughing with another guy - even though he was her family - still pinched his heartstrings. He pushed away the negative emotion. Mirabel was happy, and if she was happy, then so was he.
Carlos reached the fountain and sat on its ledge, looking down at the clear shimmering water. Children were chasing each other; his gaze followed them, and he grinned to see them so carefree.
He'd asked Mirabel to dance with him... He smiled to himself.
What would they dance? How long would the dance be? Would it be more rounds? Would it require speed and energy or only calm?
He let out a soothing breath, briefly looking to the moon and praying the night would be a beautiful one.
A figure he hadn't spotted almost knocked him over into the water when the young boy jumped into his arms.
"Whoa, Rafi! Take it easy on your older brother!"
His sibling snickered. "I found somebody who wants to see you."
"If you're trying to matchmake me with who knows who again…"
"No! They're…"
But he didn't get to finish, since Carlos's eyes shot up to the two figures standing some distance away from them. His breath hitched.
First, he noticed the young man with hair similar to his, then the woman next to him, whose eyes reminded him painfully much of his mother.
He rose from the ledge, putting down Rafael, his voice a whisper. "Mariano? Tía Helena?"
Señora Guzmán stepped closer to him, and he inhaled her perfume. Still the same after all these years… She glowed with fondness as she cupped his face in her warm hands, having to bob her head up to be able to meet his gaze.
"Mi sobrino… Ay, look at you!" She sighed with teary eyes, studying him from head to toe. "How tall and handsome you've grown!"
His eyes watered as he embraced her. "Tía…"
Mariano stepped closer, a large shiny smile making his unspilt tears glimmer.
Carlos' eyes lit up. "Mariano?"
"In person, primo!" The young man clasped his shoulders. "Well… You're almost as tall as me now, aren't you?"
The hug was similar to the ones Carlos and his father had used to share, and Carlos relished in its warmth.
"It's been... what? Three years since we last saw you?" Mariano recalled their last moments together.
Carlos nodded. "Time passed so quickly… I'm sorry it took so long to see you again."
"Don't be. This is a time of joy, not regret."
Señora Guzmán took his hand. "¡Bienvenido a Encanto, mijo! But where are your parents and siblings?"
Carlos froze. "They're… not here."
"What do you mean? Lorenzo and Emilia would never leave you and Rafael by yourselves, and Alejandra wouldn't either."
"Really?" Carlos challenged.
"Don't pretend you don't know that, primo. You have a streak for getting in trouble everywhere you go."
"I think that kind of wore off."
"But where are they now really?" Señora Guzmán insisted. "Where are you all staying?"
Carlos chewed his lip, the unspoken words pinching his tongue. He felt horrible for having to tell them this, but…
"Mamá, Papá and Alejandra… they… are in a better place."
The woman gasped, and Mariano released a disbelieving "What?", horror visible on their features. Carlos didn't say any more. An unspeakable weight was pressing on his ribs while heat accumulated behind his eyeballs.
"Carlos, come live with us," Señora Guzmán firmly offered without reluctance. "Both you and Rafael."
"Rafael is living at the orphanage, I can't get him out of there."
Upon seeing their bewildered faces, he added, "After the tragedy, we were separated through the hand of fate. Please, I… I can't recite the whole story right now."
She touched his shoulder. "You don't have to. But where have you been staying?"
"I bought a small flat."
"Sobrino… Why didn't you come to us for help? You knew we were here."
"I didn't want you to know what happened, I didn't want you to know… And I don't want to disturb you…"
"You could never bother us, mijo. How long have you been here? And Rafael?"
The teenager scratched his head. "Rafael… for about… a month?"
"A month?! And you?"
"Um… Three weeks, I guess."
It was Mariano who stole his mother's words. "We'll take you both home."
His primo looked terrified. "I don't want to intrude in your lives–"
"You could never intrude. You're family," Helena reassured him. "You're always welcome. You should know that."
"But–"
"Think about Rafael, primo. Do you want him to keep living there at el orfanato?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Do you not want to live with him? Rafael wouldn't do anything without you, wouldn't go anywhere without you. You two are virtually inseparable."
"Of course, I want him to have a great life! He deserves so much more than to live there."
Helena's face hardened. "Then it's settled. After these celebrations end, we'll take you both home."
Carlos' heart leapt despite his feeling of guilt. Rafael wouldn't have to live in the orphanage anymore. And they'd be together after all this time…
"Thank you! I'll find somewhere to work to make it up to you."
"Oh no, you won't! Carlos, cariño, how many times do we have to tell you? You. Are. Family."
"Ay, Tía, you're gonna make me cry again."
Mariano patted him on the back. "Let's enjoy ourselves now, shall we?"
Carlos beamed, bouncing Rafael in his arms, and making him titter.
"Definitely!"
"Mirabel, can you take a walk with me?"
Mirabel stared at Dolores, who was next to her at the table; they were both finished eating, just like a few other Madrigals.
"Sure, Lola."
They politely excused themselves and began ambling through the plaza.
"So, who were you talking to back there?" Dolores asked quietly to ensure no one, even through the noise of conversations and music, could hear them.
Mirabel almost choked on air. She would've responded, but she remembered what her prima's gift was.
"Are you asking me just for your own fun or you honestly don't know who that was?"
Dolores snickered. "You can't be outsmarted, can you, Mira? Fine, I know that was the Serrano boy. Carlos, right?"
"Yes. So you have been spying on me."
"I haven't!"
Mirabel arched an eyebrow.
"Alright, alright! But I was worried, and I still am, so I wouldn't call checking on you spying."
"What are you worried about?"
Dolores fixed the bow on her head. "We're talking about the fact that you've been seeing a boy. I'm your older cousin, and this concerns me a big deal. If you only knew how fast your mother's heart had beaten that evening you told her you'd met Carlos at the orphanage."
"But you fell in love with Mariano when you were still a teenager. How is my case any different?"
Dolores glanced around hastily.
"Quieter! Somebody could have heard you."
The younger Madrigal ignored her. "What I don't understand is why you never even tried to confess to Mariano."
"Mira, we've gone through this before. On an unspoken decision by Abuela and Señora Guzmán, Isabela has been promised to him ever since she turned eighteen."
"Isabela this, Isabela that. I'm so sick of it! You deserve to be with Mariano, Lola! And I have a feeling he'd love you too."
Dolores's cheeks flushed. She might be used to keeping her emotions to herself, but sometimes, they were so powerful they shone through.
Mirabel played with the tassel of her earring. "Anyway, how much of my conversations have you spied on in the last month?"
"Not much." Since Mirabel frowned, Dolores added, stressing her words, "I swear it, Mira! As soon as I realized nothing too concerning was going on, I attempted to keep my ears off you as much as my conscience allowed me to, except for the times I overheard. I still respect your privacy - and everybody's privacy for that matter - as far as I can curb my gift."
Mirabel's eyes widened. As far as I can curb my gift. Why was Dolores so dejected when she said that?
"By the way, Carlos is Mariano's cousin," Dolores randomly threw in.
"What?!"
"Shh! I heard them a few minutes ago, but I think Carlos is the one who should tell you more, not me. Ask him if you want, but do it subtly. He's looking for you right now. Do you still want to meet him?"
"Yes."
"Then I hope you have fun, Mirabel. Promise me this though."
Dolores gazed steadily into her eyes, one of those looks that if Mirabel was the target of for too long, it would become uncomfortable.
"Promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise, Lola. Don't worry about me. I'm old enough to look after myself. Enjoy the rest of the night!"
Her cousin gave a suggestion of a smile, patting her on the hand. "You too. Just… don't get distracted, alright?"
"Mhm."
Mirabel had already started ahead when Dolores sighed.
Her younger prima had always looked after herself, hadn't she? From the moment that door had faded into nothingness, Mirabel had had to learn to pick herself up and march through the difficulties of life with a smile on her face.
Dolores' sight blurred.
Who, amongst all the Madrigals, had been forced to grow up as fast as Mirabel?
Carlos was approaching the wooden bench she'd picked hidden behind some bushes. He was radiating, and Mirabel was not sure if she'd ever seen him so blithe.
He sat beside her.
"Hey! How are you?"
"I'm alright. I'm awaiting the big change tonight."
"Yeah, me too."
The silence wasn't awkward. The music of the party was behind them, a meadow in front of them, the moon above them. This was so much like a scene worth being in a book…
"So…" he tried, all but jumping from the bench and extending his hand, "Are you still willing to dance with me?"
She also got up, studied his fingers, then his face, her heart just as wild as the first time he'd asked her this, an hour ago. Was it just an hour?
The stars in the sky paled compared to the ones in his eyes.
She smoothed out her skirt. "I may be."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
She smirked. "I don't know, you tell me."
He squinted, smiling. "I'll be positive." He grabbed her hand to twirl her to his side, making her gasp.
A new song was launched just as Mirabel accepted the challenge confidently. She was suddenly hyper aware of every inch of her body, every one of her breaths. He placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer; his other hand found her fingers, and she gripped his shoulder lightly. They swayed to the music, bounced at the correct beats, the breeze blowing away whatever worries they still had.
"I know it's a weird thing to say, but your hands aren't sweating."
She hadn't even noticed that.
"I guess that's a good thing, right?"
He twirled her. "How wouldn't it be?"
The music changed to a faster rhythm, one that she identified as belonging to cumbia.
"Already?" he asked, bewildered. "The orchestra is unpredictable."
"That's the fun of it! Come on!" She was becoming more animated with every second, with every step.
The world vanished again, the trees turning to a blur of deep green, the navy sky to a spill of ink, the stars into smiles, and the moon into a guardian. Only the music remained, strong and steadfast. They moved around and circled one another, exchanged places, whirled and guided each other. Their laughter echoed through the meadow, the wind, the sky. Their clothes swept around, and fireflies sprang from the trimmed spiky grass their feet touched. The flow of their improvised choreography matched the flow of the gushing river nearby.
The music underwent another change.
Rich. Energetic. Lively.
Samba.
"Now. Let's see if you can match my pace," Carlos said, his face shining with mischief.
Mirabel braced herself for the speed and precision she knew she'd need to have. But she adored the energy and spontaneity the traditional Brazilian dance had, so she let herself get lost in the rhythm, in the sounds of the instruments, in her own exhilaration. With every sway of her hips, every landed foot and flail of her arms, she was a step nearer to getting entirely engulfed in a perfect fantasy. She was young, she was free, and unstoppable.
Carlos was a part of that fantasy. With well-practised, coordinated moves, as well as hardly-earned tirelessness, he easily kept up with her, spicing his dance and letting out a vigorous cheer every now and then. Even through the most complex of moves, his eyes didn't wander away from her.
Dancing with him felt natural, Mirabel realized. It was as if they'd practised together for countless hours, as if they had known each other for a lifetime.
Mirabel pirouetted; that, coupled with the whisper of the zephyr and the angelic light of the moon, created a fairytale picture of a girl who was so much more that she seemed, one that he took care to put inside his heart to revisit every time he thought about her.
There had only been one instance after the incident that had aroused unimaginable rapture: reuniting with Rafael. But now, as he held hands with the amazing Madrigal teenager that fate had allowed him to cross paths with, Carlos was glad to add another moment to the bouquet of extraordinary memories.
They did not even realise when the clock struck midnight.
Yet once it happened, they both felt it. Felt the shift in the atmosphere, the smell of the wind that somehow seemed sweeter, the glow of the stars that intensified, the trees and flowers that spoke to them in an ancient language.
All told them that something great was waiting to arrive.
They only had to be prepared to receive it.
