Crushing On A Madrigal | 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜

·23·

"An Intervention"

Estella woke up early, just like every day, and hopped out of bed. She sleeps late but always ends up waking up early which she doesn't know is actually bad for her.

On her way for a little stroll in her favorite place, the woods – a place with natural beauty and a place that grants her peace of mind, sort of, – she happened to cross paths with the town's first tourist– Err, we mean, guest.

"Enrique," She smiled, jogging towards him, "You're up early."

The boy smiled back, getting the girl. "Yeah, I'm a bit of a morning person," He says, "What about you, you're up early too."

"Oh, yeah, I wake up early. I'm an early bird." Estella answered, mentally facepalming herself for saying such a lame thing.

Why am I so awkward?

"Sorry, I'm so awkward when I'm not bombarding you with questions," She laughed nervously, avoiding his gaze as she fiddles with the strap of her carriel (leather satchel). "It's okay, I get awkward too. And I actually like it when you ask questions," The boy said comfortingly, making her smile.

"You do? Cuz I can really be annoying. Like, very annoying," She says, her tone more prideful than embarrassed.

"Yes, actually, I do like it," Enrique confirmed, a familiar giddy smile creeping to his face as he keeps his eyes on the ground, "It reminds me of someone I know."

"Ooh, "someone you know", huh?" Estella teases, intentionally bumping Enrique as he scoffs, "It's not like that, you two are different. The only thing the two of you share is the sparkle in your eyes whenever you're talking about something you like." He explained, adding, "Or read since she likes y'know uh..."

Enrique trailed off, noticing how the younger girl was staring at him intensely, patiently waiting to hear more with a wide smile on her face. "okay, nope, I said too much." He embarrassingly said, hiding his face like a kid making Estella laugh.

"It was cute," She chuckled, crouching beside him on one of the big rocks near the river. "You know what else is cute? You and you're boyfriend," Enrique says, teasing her back as payback.

"Ha! Nice try, I don't have one." Estella said quite proudly, making the boy look at her with disbelief, "Wow, so you're the oblivious type." He said with an amused smile changing Estella's expression from a confident face to a confused one.

She tilted her head and asked, "What do you mean?"

"You really don't notice how he acts around you, or even just looks at you?" Enrique questioned while the girl nibbled on the skin of her bottom lip.

"It's not that I don't notice," She admitted, "I know how clingy he can be, and," Estella paused, averting her eyes as her cheeks started blushing.

"How much of a tease he can be," She whispered before her voice returned to normal as she tried reasoning for herself, "But I don't want to assume that he likes me when he can literally do that with anyone else."

"Exactly, so why does he only act that way with you?"

Enrique's question slapped Estella's brain out of its slumber, shooing away her self brainwashing which kept on turning Camilo's efforts into dust. "Wha– I–," She stuttered, getting red as a tomato.

"Okay, mm-mnn! That's enough about me," She says, wanting to change the topic into something less embarrassing for her while Enrique laughs at her blushing face.

"The only thing missing is their steam going out your head, Estella," He joked, making a smile creep to her face.

"Hey, you said my name."

"Well, of course, I would. How do you want me to call you?" Enrique laughed as the girl chuckled back.

The two of them had fun exchanging words with each other near the flowing river inside the Encanto's peaceful forest. And although they had /only met last night, it already felt like they knew so much about each other. As if they were meant to meet and become friends with one another.

Enrique talked to her about his town, his friends, his family, and the places he got to see – either with the people he loved or just by himself even at a young age.

As he tells her more and more about himself, Estella couldn't help but feel like she was missing out on a lot of things. Unlike Enrique, she hasn't been to the beach or anywhere near the sea, she hasn't been on an adventure that even came close to being as exciting as Enrique's, and she doesn't exactly get the opportunity to meet new people inside their little town either.

Unless, of course, you count the newborn babies.

Since, well, they're newborn babies.

"Wow," Estella said with a sigh, letting go of a heavy breath but still giving him a smile afterward. "I wish I got to see your town. You make it sound too fun to resist sneaking out someday!" She joked.

"Well, why don't you come along with me tomorrow? You could always ask your parents. They'd probably let you go, right?" Enrique suggested though Estella wasn't exactly fond of the idea.

"My parents may not look like it but they're kind of worrywarts," Estella tells him, pointing at herself, "And unfortunately I'm two times worse at worrying than they are." The girl joked, making him smile.

"Maybe an adventure will come to me some other time," She says as the boy nodded in agreement with her optimism.

"Yeah," He nods, "You could always visit me when you get the chance. Still, though, It would be nice if you came along." 

"Yeah, it would," Estella agreed before the two fell silent for a short moment.

Enrique had no magical powers and he was no Dolores, but he could have sworn he heard something just a little while earlier. "Estella," He murmured, his voice deep but clear to understand.

"Hm?" She hummed, not looking away from her feet. "Someone's watching," He whispered, surprising her and making her lean closer involuntarily.

"How do you know that?" She whispered back, feeling a little tense, and not wanting to look around for some reason. "Wait a minute, you're not trying to fool me are you?" She asked, her voice still in a whisper as she narrows her eyes at him while he smiles at her random ideas.

"Maybe," He jokingly said, stifling up a laugh. Estella scoffs and opens her mouth to say something to him in her normal voice, feeling fooled when all of a sudden someone ends up popping out from the bushes.

"Hey guys, what are we laughing about?"

"No, wait Camilo!"

"OOF–"

The two of them fall to the ground after bumping into each other, embarrassing themselves, and making an awkward mess out of the situation.

"What the–?!" Estella cut herself off, springing up. "Miercoles," She sighed exasperatedly, immediately going over to help them, "Are you two alright?"

Enrique gives a hand, trying to help them up too, guilty for being a little amused by Camilo's sudden interval.

Jealousy at its finest, I guess, He thought to himself as he smiled amusedly.