Chapter Text
Isabela screams into her hands, why did she say that to you? She groans, "I think yours is more beautiful? Who says that? Ugh, she probably thinks I'm a creep..." She hoped you didn't misinterpret her compliment, it's not like she had experienced flirting, she was always helping villagers! She sighs, what else did she like about you? Was it your voice? The fact that you could play several instruments? Isabela was never the type to like someone just for their looks, but then again, if she wanted something, she'd for sure make the effort to get it. And she really wanted you–no, wanted to get to know you.
So she made sure to stay out in the village longer. She skipped lunch, with hopes to see you playing again, and to her luck, she spotted you walking to the market. She speed walks over to you, trying to hide her excitement, and taps on your shoulder. You turn around and almost jump out of your skin when you realize Isabela was behind you. You hope she didn't notice how wrinkled your clothes are, you barely woke up to get groceries. She reaches behind your ear, "You got something." Confused, you reach behind your ear and Isabela pulls out a flower. It's red and its stout petals reach out all around its radius. You smile as you take it, "What kind of flower is it?"
"It's a red chrysanthemum." You spin the flower around, admiring its beauty, "And what does it symbolize?" Isabela bites her lip, "Mmm...I can't tell you." You raise a brow at her, but shrug it off. Maybe she didn't know what it meant.
Isabela notices a piece of paper sticking out of your pocket, "Are you buying groceries?" You nod and grab a basket, "Yeah, it's not much, just something to have on hand, my mom just needs flour and some spices." Isabela takes the basket from you, "You mind if I join you?" You smile, "Not at all."
You ended up spending 3 hours over what should've been a 10 minute trip with Isabela, you just couldn't stop talking with her. You weren't sure how many topics the both of you discussed, but you're certain that your love for her only grew. Your mother wasn't mad when you came home late, she assumed you were with somebody and didn't say much of it. It's not the last time you spend hours with Isabela, as it becomes an almost daily thing. From picnics, or helping her out with her chores, you spend all your free time with her. And as the days passed by, your love for her only grew.
And you would've never guessed that Isabela felt the same way.
It was another picnic in the forest for you and Isabela, and it was her turn to bring the lunch, so she brought her mom's arepas de queso. And you both had the usual conversation about exploring the world outside the village.
"Sometimes I wish the band became big enough where we could perform outside Encanto."
Isabela rolls her eyes, "And where would you want to go first?" You shrug, "I don't know, Mexico? Cumbia is pretty popular there." Isabela giggles, "Shut up." You stand up, "Yeah, and then I'll bring you along and we'll dance like this–" You spin around multiple times while kicking your feet against the ground, and Isabela covers her mouth as she laughs at you.
You smile to yourself as you try to regain your balance. Isabela smiles sadly, "As much as I'd love to go to Mexico and jump around, I doubt I'd be able to." You feign sadness and stick your bottom lip out, "Aw...why not?"
"I have everything here, my family, the village...Abuela says we should stay and help those around us." You sit back down with her, and she rests her head on your shoulder, "I just want to make my family happy." You hold her hand, "I know how much your family means to you, Isa...but what about you? What do you want?" Isabela pulls away, her eyes scanning your face. She shakes her head, "I can't tell you."
You click your tongue, "Come on, you can tell me." Isabela shakes her head, "N-O." You frown, "I need to know! Maybe I can help you out!" She smirks and gets close to your face, "How bad do you want to know?"
"So bad."
Isabela smiles, slowly leaning closer toward your face, "Maybe you can figure it out." Before you could ask what she meant, she presses her lips against yours, and you finally connect the dots. Isabela pulls away, face flushed, "Does that answer your question?" You slowly nod, "I have another question though." "Hm?"
"Can I kiss you again?"
You just about skipped home after the picnic, feeling ecstatic knowing Isabela Madrigal liked you. However, you were still unsure of what your relationship with her has become. But, what do you do? You kissed your friend, and what's next? Ask them out? How would you do that? You grumble, you wish it that easy. You sit at the edge of your bed and think, and an idea pops into your mind.
You grab a paper and pen and scribble, trying to figure out how to describe your feelings for Isabela, while also managing to rhyme different words together. You grab your dad's guitar and start strumming some chords, testing which ones match your song the most. It's a difficult process writing a song, especially when you inherited your dad's perfectionist personality, well, only for music. You glance out your window when you realize how late it is, you figure you should get some sleep, it's not like you need to sing the song to Isabela as soon as possible.
But you were wrong.
You never knew about Isabela's engagement to Mariano Guzman, a nice guy, but someone who could have any girl in Encanto fall in love with him. Your dad brought it up at your daily rehearsal, how he saw Doña Alma in the market, and she asked for the band to play at Isabela's soon-to-be wedding after Mariano proposes. Your heart was just about shattered when your dad laughed about how he heard that Mariano wanted five babies. You tried your best to act as normal as possible for the rest of the rehearsal before running into your room. You tried not to cry, but your lip quivered and your tears rolled in what seemed to be never-ending streams. You should've known better. Isabela was way out of your league, but you let yourself believe that you even had a chance. You glance at the notebook on your dresser, the one that contained the lyrics to the song you wrote and its chords, you had the urge you rip it all up. But what was the point? You sigh as you felt a mild headache, "I'm so stupid."
Isabela plays with her fingers nervously as she stares up at her room's ceiling, tomorrow is the day Mariano is to propose to her, but he's not the one she wants to be with. She thinks of the times you've spent together and the kiss you shared. And she can't help but feel saddened that it's not you she will be spending the rest of her life with. As much as she loved her family and would do anything for them, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go this far, marrying a man she doesn't love for them. She turns and stares at her muse of you, made of flowers symbolizing her love and admiration for you. "I'm so sorry," she whispers quietly. She lets go of the tears she's been holding back and let's sleep overcome her.
The next day, your dad decides to have the band play at the village's plaza to get you more comfortable singing in front of a crowd. You didn't have the energy for it, but you needed to do something to get your mind off Isabela's engagement. A few songs in, you
notice Isabela is watching and you try your best to ignore her because you don't have the heart to see her now.
Isabela waves over to you but you seem too busy on the bass to notice her, she decides to wait until you finish playing to talk to you. She admires the focused look on your face and the way your foot taps to the rhythm.
And when it ends, she quickly runs over to you, not caring to hide her enthusiasm. "Hi!" You nod up at her while you lock your case. She beams, "You sang great today!" You give her a halfhearted smile, "Thanks, my dad wanted me to practice my singing for an important event." "Oh yeah? For what?"
"Your wedding."
Isabela pauses, "What?" You shrug, "Doña Alma asked my dad if we could play at your future wedding with Mariano. The whole village kinda knows at this point." Isabela chews her lip, "But-" "I should go. I have a lot to practice for." But before you could move around her, she grabs your wrist, "I don't want to marry him."
"Then why don't you say anything?" Isabela sighs and takes your hand, "It's not easy to do! You know what my family means to me!"
"But what about you? Are you really gonna get married to a guy out of nowhere?" You take a deep breath, and take her hand, "I know your family is really important to you, but please...think about yourself." Isabela looks up at you teary-eyed, "(Y/N)..."
You hear your father calling you, you look down at Isabela, "Now I really have to go." You kiss her hand before grabbing your case, running after your father.
But Isabela is still lost.
