' accidental penpals' // mirabel madrigal x reader

chapter. 12 - we need a break

" Y/N?"

One knock. No response. Another one came but no one responded at the door. Mirabel rushed to knock again for the third time when suddenly her knuckled hit something else that made a hollow " tock" sound.

" Ow-" Y/N placed both of her hands on her forehead, leaving Mirabel in shock and Camilo bursting into laughter.

" Y/N! I thought you died or something! Oh my goodness I'm so glad to see you again!" Mirabel exclaimed while immediately wrapping her arms around her bestfriend. Her friend responded with a slight gasp. " Wh-What're you doing here?" she whispered.

" To check on my friend of course! Have you heard the village issue?" the Madrigal responded. Y/N shook her head.

" Oh damn then you have a lot to catch up on." Camilo mumbled with a concerned gaze. " And that's why we need your help. This is a serious issue that can destroy the entire encanto."

Y/N's eyes widened. " The...the ENTIRE encanto?" her eyes and thoughts wandered off, Mirabel's words muffling.

Camilo, noticing this, slightly patted Mirabel on the shoulder. His cousin stopped talking, looking straight into Y/N's face. " Y/N... is there something you wanna tell us?".

It's quite ironic how she's the one asking her that when really, Mirabel has been hiding a lot of things that she considered a weight on her both her back and her own heart. Now there she stood, wanting to uncover another's secrets when she doesn't even know how to reveal her own.

" I ... well it's quite a long story." Y/N replied, voice growing gradually louder as she tried to grasp onto confidence. Usually used to talking to Mirabel alone, with Camilo as accompany she was basically still trying to get used to it. " That's alright. We just want to hear your take on this." Camilo replied.

Hesitant, Y/N took a deep breath before stepping aside to make way for their entrance. " If that's the case then I suggest we get started."

Y/N left the door ajar before making her way to the stairs, the echoes of her sandals clacking through the hallway as Mirabel followed the light blue color of her dress upstairs. Camilo hurriedly closed the door and locked it, trying to keep up with his cousin and her bestfriend.

" Are you sure she knows something?" he whispered to Mirabel's ear.

Mirabel replied with a long exhale. " I don't know. But then again, I would take anything at this point."

As the two talked, Y/N pushed a desk in the middle of the second floor hallway with a grunt, almost toppling over a vase before Mirabel lunged to catch it. The two locked eyes for a moment, exchanging the same worried looks on their faces before Y/N slightly bowed her head as thanks.

The girl jumped her desk and tip-toed to reach what seems to be a a handle before pulling it down.

" Whoa." the shapeshifting boy couldn't help but let out as he admired the floral prints carved on the sides of the ladder.

Y/N headed up first before lending a hand to Mirabel, and Mirabel did the same for Camilo afterwards. Both were speechless the same way Y/N was when she first saw the place.

The attic was left the same way it was, dusty, with the ancient clock still lying around in the corner accompanied with dozens if lamps and bookshelves.

Only a pile of documents and folders laying on the ground looked out of place.

Y/N approached it, kneeling down to grab one. " I found out about these just maybe 2 days ago." She turned to her friend, feeling guilty. " I wanted to tell someone about it badly. I want to help my parents. But no matter what I did I didn't know how to word this." she continued, voice cracking as if she was about to cry.

Camilo turned on a lamp to guide the darkness away, and to also possibly lift the sad aura that filled the room the moment they got in. " Well you don't have to worry about that Y/N. Someone is here willing to listen to whatever it is now." Mira told her as held her hand.

In contrast to the Madrigal's hand, Y/N's felt cold. As if the situation sucked some life off her body. But Y/N despite feeling pale, felt the heat travel to her chest. As if it was reminding her to take it slow and breathe.

" Thank you ... I appreciate this a lot."

Camilo silently chuckled. " We should also be saying that to you."

" True." Y/N took a deep breathe, hand gripping on the folder as the fear lingered behind her neck.

" I'm gonna try my best to summarize this. I hope you can forgive my difficulty in expressing the words-" she got cut off by Mirabel's hand on her shoulder.

" A-Alright ... let me start then.?"

Y/N began explaining her father's success as a writer. Mainly his interesting stories that leave people hooked. Readers demanding a continuation to be published in the next paper just to be able to have more of his works.

Since he was that incredible, of course there will always be people there to exploit it.

" They used to be so passionate about their jobs. Looking for their own original stories, discoveries, and whatnot. But you know what money does to people." Y/N mumbled the last part, remembering her family's difficult position during their last.

" So ... this IS connected to the town." Camilo concluded, looking straight at Mirabel. Mirabel looked directly at Y/N.

" And you think these men are the same ones raiding the village citizens?"

Y/N gave her a light nod. " The hunger for stories is proof to be honest-"
" The fact that they wanted you to marry a random boy is horrible though."

Y/N just nodded, shuddering at the thought of the forced marriage again.

" For the past few days, just thinking about it drains me. I couldn't even write to you and that made me feel even worse." Y/N mumbled. Mirabel, touched, began to blush, just a little. " Now that I know your situation, you don't need to worry. I would much rather have you write letters to me in a good mood than to feel forced to write one." she said, adding the last part in a jokingly tone.

Y/N gave her a sweet smile, causing her fellow friend's heart to jolt.

Meanwhile Camilo sat in-between them, totally third-wheeling as his cousin and the new girl exchanged cheesy puns. After the days they've spent apart, they really needed it.