𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 | Isabela x Reader

After Dark

"Bring her home. It's late." Abuelita says as she pushes the two of you to the door. You start doubting if she was given a gift like Luisa's. With her age and energy, it was quite possible.

"But she's a grown woman! She can walk home on her own." You argue, just hoping to slump back on your bed again. It was definitely calling for you again.

Before Isabela could intercept into the conversation, your abuelita speaks once again, shoving you outside of the house and closing the door, locking it quickly. "No buts."

You let out a grunt in disbelief, already trying to twist the knob open, but failing miserably. "I can't believe this woman." You mutter, scratching your head in annoyance.

Isabela lets out a laugh as she watches you. "I love her. She's the sweetest." She says, a smile forming on her lips when you meet her gaze. The constricting feeling in your chest returns as you find yourself getting drawn to her smile.

You immediately turn away, a blush forming on your cheeks, thanking the unknown forces for the darkness that hides it. "Whatever. Let's go." You mumble as you place your hands in your pockets while you walk ahead.

She pouts, trying to start a conversation that would get you to open up. If anything would be able to do that, it would either be your abuelita, or Mirabel. And she wasn't about to listen to you talk about her annoying little sister during the whole walk.

And although she was trying to get you to talk, she truly loved your abuelita. From the way she raised you and let you do as you pleased while trying to teach you to be a better person... She admired how much affection she held for you.

Abuela had her own ways of showing that to Isabela, but she couldn't help but feel jealous of the nonexistent pressure on you. She wondered what it felt like to live under her guidance and care. And just for the night, she truly felt like she was part of your family.

She grabs your wrist before you could walk further away, making you release a grunt in annoyance. "You don't have to. Just wait out here for a few minutes then knock. Tell her you brought me home."

You smirk, making her let go of your arm and maintaining distance. "How very cunning of you. Must be a thing you say to boys who have to take you home huh?"

She nods with a smile, a playful glint in her eyes while it shines under the moonglow. "I try to make it obvious when I don't appreciate their presence."

...

Your smile instantly drops as her words sink in, turning away. You grab your chest as you start getting difficulty in your breathing. "Not that I was trying to imply I dislike your presence!" She immediately reassures, grabbing your hand.

You push her hand away, coughing into both of them as you cover your mouth. She's taken aback by the sudden harshness. 

"Quite the opposite actually..." She mumbles as she watches you with worry, hoping she hadn't offended you. It only laces in her eyes more when your coughs come endlessly. But you didn't catch what she said from the flurry of petals slowly pilling in your hands.

"Are you alright?" She asks, stepping in front of you and kneeling slightly to look into your eyes. When she sees the blood dripping from the corners of your enclosed fingers, she gasps. "Dios mío, we need to take you to mamá, fast."

Trying to hide the petals, you grip it in your hands and place it in your pockets. "I'm fine!" You shout out as you try to chase after your breaths, starting to hyperventilate.

You had certainly forgotten about señora Julieta and her gift. But the woman would probably be resting by now, you didn't want to be rude.

"You're obviously not!" She shouts back, grabbing your hand and pulling you beside her, stroking your back with her free hand to try and calm you. "Please, now's not the time to argue. You're in bad condition." She whispers, taking out a handkerchief and wiping your chin from the blood that trailed out.

With a gentle swipe of her fingers, she wipes the tears forming in your eyes as well. "Why are you suddenly acting like this?" You murmur, frustration coating the tone you used.

"I'm not a monster y/n..." She whispers, pulling you towards her home gently, slowly walking faster as you start to adjust to the pace.

You pull away from her touch, anger flaring in your eyes when you get the strength to properly walk on your own. "That's not what I've seen with Mirabel."

"Please, I don't need a lecture on how I treat Mirabel. I'm perfectly aware." She says, the worry and concern for you slowly fading away as you try to continue the argument.

You scoff, before letting out a cough once again, cursing under your breath as you fight the urge to punch a wall in irritation. Isabela grabs your hand again, supporting you as she holds your waist with the other. "Stop it!"

"I'm just trying to help you!" She whisper-yells. Everyone may already be back in their homes, but she was sure the two of you could be heard from the inside.

"I don't need your damn help." You shove yourself away from her, making her pinch the bridge of her nose in annoyance at how petty you were acting despite how obvious it was that you were feeling weak.

Isabela scoffs in turn. "This is why you're alone all the time. You never want to accept help when you need it." She says, not holding back with her words as she walks ahead, deciding not to care anymore if you even fainted on the street.

"Stop acting like you know me and my pain." You say, only loud enough for her to hear as the dead of night silence enwraps the two of you. "Mirabel hates you because you only ever thought of yourself. You never knew how to sympathize with those around you."

"Mirabel doesn't know half of what I've been through because of my gift!" Grabbing the collar of your shirt, she pulls you closer. You find tears brimming her eyes as they shine in the night. "I wish I could have what she has."

"She doesn't have anything." You whisper. She didn't have the affection Isabela had from Abuela, she didn't have love from everyone in town, and she didn't have the same excitement everyone showed towards the Madrigals with gifts. "All she ever had was disappointment."

Isabela harshly wipes her tears before they could fall down her cheeks, walking forward once again. "She didn't have the pressure we had, she didn't need to put on a show or be someone she wasn't. She could be happy... truly happy. Even if she was giftless."

Unable to think of a retort, you stay silent, letting it engulf the two of you on the way to La Casa Madrigal. Your coughs had calmed down with it, but the guilt you felt ate you up inside.

Julieta had given you an arepa to eat, Isabela rushing back to her room the moment the two of you stepped foot into Casita after calling her mamá.

You didn't feel much difference from the healing food, all you could feel was the need to apologize to her once again.

———————————————————

Please vote <3 it motivates me a lot!