Tacenda || Carlos Madrigal x Reader

𝐕𝐈𝐈

"Do you like me?"

   You stood there in shock, "like you?" Your chest rose and fell with every breath you took, each one of your breaths getting heavier by the second.

"It's a simple question, amor." The boy moved his hands off of yours, travelling up your arms and resting on your shoulders.

"Amor?" That name gave you butterflies. "Uhm.." you struggled to find words, almost as if your knowledge of communication completely disappeared.

   All he could do was chuckle, cupping your face with one hand. Oh, how he was obsessed. Carlos didn't want to get distracted from his initial plan.

You gave in. Your emotions took over you. "Yes. Yes, I do like you, Camilo. I really, really like you."

Carlos smirked at the response he got, leaning in and getting centimetres away from your face. He saw how your eyes fluttered closed.

"Just as a friend, of course... right?" He stopped, watching your eyes shoot open as he pulled his head back, placing the tip of his index finger on your lips. "Because that's all that we are."

   "What?" Your voice cracked. It was almost as if your heart began to slowly break. Was he having fun with this? You noticed his smirk that slowly grew. You didn't think Camilo was like this. You didn't think Camilo would do something so toxic. You didn't think Camilo would even bring this up.

   "Did you think I was attracted to you?" He took a step away, hitting your shoulder with the back of his hand. "Out of everyone in this encanto, you think I'd choose you?"

   "Camilo, why are you.." you tried to swallow the tears that threatened to fall out of your eyes. "...why are you doing this? This- this isn't like you. Why are you being so insensitive?"

"My sincerest apologies, would you like me to get down on my knees and tell you I'm sorry?" Carlos was getting carried away, almost forgetting he was supposed to be imitating his brother.

You were confused, you were hurt, you could barely process what was going on. You wanted to leave, but it would be embarrassing if you were to suddenly run away.

   "Friends.." you muttered that word under your breath as if it was some sort of knife that dug into your chest. "R-Right." Your emotions slowly shifted from grief to anger.

   "Good. You're starting to understand." He cupped your face and leaned close once again. The hurt in your eyes was almost amusing, especially since you thought that you were speaking with his brother rather than him. "Sometimes you forget where you stand by me. I'm a Madrigal."

   "I know that!" You snapped, pushing him away. "I know that, Camilo! Your life is so perfect." Your empathy towards Camilo all of a sudden seemed to leave. It was clouded by your heartache and hurt. "You're so selfish! This is messed up! I didn't think you'd even do something like this, I thought you were a good person!" Tears began to trickle down your cheeks as you ranted, taking a few steps back.

   "Are you done, yet?" Carlos stood there, arms crossed as if he was waiting for this to be over, and he was. He didn't want to listen to your cry. It was annoying.

   It was annoying, yet a part of him felt terrible.

   A part of him hated seeing you like this; tear-stained cheeks and voice dripping with nothing but hatred. Camilo must've been an important person to you... and Carlos didn't realize that.

   Carlos was being selfish. He'd never admit it, of course, he was just jealous. Not of you, per se—his brother.

   Every single day, Carlos lived in his brother's shadow. Carlos was always the second choice. Things wouldn't be any different if he wasn't here. In fact—it may even be better.

   Identical twins are never planned. One of them is a mistake.

   That's what Carlos saw himself as. The boy that lived in Camilo's shadow. The boy who caused nothing but trouble and havoc.

   But he can live with it.

   No one has to know how he feels. No one will care how he feels.

   Carlos is living a life of tacenda.

"You're so- you're— you—" you couldn't even finish your sentence. You didn't even want to insult him. Camilo owned a part of your heart, you couldn't say anything horrible to his face. You were hoping this was some sort of nightmare, just a dream. That you'd wake up and it'll all be fine.

But no.

This is real.

"I'm what?" Carlos grabbed you by the fabric of your shirt, pulling you close to him. "Finish that sentence, sweetheart."

"Leave me alone!" You placed both of your hands on his chest and pushed him away, stumbling back and turning to leave. You were quick, you didn't want to spend another minute with that Madrigal.

Carlos didn't even try to get you back. He watched as you walked out of sight, exhaling heavily while he walked deeper into the forest.

"That was..." Carlos spoke to himself, shapeshifting out of his brother's skin. "..not as easy as I thought."

   Carlos thought that it'd be done and over with. He'd be happy and he'd walk home without regrets. But now that the episode was over, he felt like maybe he had gone too far.

   If you know Carlos, you know he's never thought that before. He enjoyed the tears that streamed down someone's face when their feelings were hurt. Watching them walk away out of fear and emotional pain made his heart happy; it fed his ego.

   But this time?

   Why was it so different? Why did he feel this way? Why did his heartache when he saw the tears escape your eyes? Why did he want to stop halfway through and tell you it was nothing but a cruel prank?

   He can't tell you it was a prank. You'd hate him. He had convinced that it was Camilo. You thought Camilo said all of those awful things to you. You'd never be able to look at him the same way ever again.