CTTO: mari-mari-maricela
⇨ encanto
⇨ camilo x fem reader
⇨ in which y/n is confronted by the oldest of the madrigal children about the arranged marriage and doesn't know how to deal with it.
"I'm home!" Y/N calls out, shutting the door behind her as she places her bag on the table. It was around dinner time now, and having worked all day, she was tired out. Camilo had offered to walk her home, since he accompanied her, but she quickly declined, saying that he should get his rest as well.
"Welcome home, mi hija." Her mother says, leaning over to press a kiss against the side of her head, "How was your day? Josè told me that you were seen around town with Camilo Madrigal all day."
Y/N stops at that, sliding off her shoes and putting on some slippers. She hears her father chime in, "Oh? That's wonderful. Our families coming together will be good for Encanto." She looks over his shoulder to see what they're cooking. "I heard from the Guzmàn's that you got along well with Dolores and her husband, and that you had Camilo help you when fixing their radio."
She sighs, nodding her head as she grabs a drink from the fridge, "Yeah, and I also fixed the clock tower. Did you hear about that?"
"Oh yes, Camilo apparently swept you off your feet when you finished, isn't that right?" Mrs L/N chitters, nudging her husband beside her.
Y/N stands there, watching the back of their heads as they continue to talk. She knows they care, deep down they do. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have taught her all she knows about mechanics and building. They were just confused, or just not paying enough attention. But they cared.
Dinner was soon served and the three had quiet chat. About Camilo Madrigal. Y/N didn't have much to say about the subject, but always nod her head when asked a question about how sweet the boy was. When their food was eaten and everything was cleaned, Y/N bid 'goodnight' to her parents and left to go to her room. She flicked on the light, the bulb pulsing once before settling into a fine shine across her room. She sits on her bed, flinging her arms wide and closing her eyes as she falls back.
The last week has been tiring, trying to keep the secret to themselves as well as the act up. Camilo seemed to be having an easy time, he was a great actor. But Y/N couldn't keep up. All their parents talked about was Camilo. It showed just how much they cared for this 'marriage'.
She gets up and opens the balcony door, stepping across to get some fresh air. Today she was working extra hard. But because Camilo and her were seen together, that was overlooked. It wasn't his fault at all. Word got around town that the two of them were to be married by the end of the month. Thank God it was only the 4th today.
She begins to play with the little trinkets in the box beside her balcony table, when a call below her sounds.
"Señorita Y/N!" Below, she sees the mailman. She's fixed his bike multiple times and he had been the person who sends out letters outside of Encanto every week. The man waves his hat happily, holding out three letters. "I have mail for you from a town over!"
Y/N nods her head, stepping onto the wooden platform she had built into the side of the balcony. With a hand on the rope beside her, she pulls the material down and continues to do so until she hits the floor. Her father had called it an elevator, and she used it to move some things into her room to work on and out of the room to send off. It was useful now.
Her parents were very proud when she build that on her own.
"Here you are." The mailman says, tipping his hat as she takes them from him, "Have a nice night."
She hums back, turning the envelope in her hands, "Thank you, and you as well."
Y/N stands back onto her wooden elevator, holding the papers in her palm as she pulls the rope back up to her balcony. She's noticed the name on the back of it, the red seal curving with every detail. After shutting the door, she sits on her bed and tears open the first letter.
A smile falls on her lips.
She hasn't heard from her best friend in ages.
The next morning, Y/N is set out to find the mailman so he can send her responses to each letter. It was at the time where all the shops were opening up and the Madrigals were finally out of their house to help. Y/N doesn't think anything of it before she's stopped on her way to the post office.
"Y/N?" A voice calls, making the girl stop on her way. When she turns around, she locks eyes with Isabela. "Oh, it's nice to see you again. How have you been?"
Clearing her throat and putting her envelopes back into her bag, Y/N smiles awkwardly, "Morning, Isabela. I've been well, how about you?"
Isabela responds, sporting a flower from the ground and picking it from its stem, "Wonderful, thanks for asking. Dolores tells us that you and Camilo are getting along perfectly. Is he being nice to you?"
Y/N blinks, a warmth washing over her cheeks as Isabela hands the blue star flower to her. Once she takes it, she sighs, "Of course, he's... very kind to me."
The eldest Madrigal grandchild lifts her chin, watching her carefully. She goes to say something when another person jumps in.
"He was muttering to himself last night before bed, trying to figure out how to spell your full name correctly." Dolores claims, making both Isabela and Y/N nearly scream in their spots. Where did she come from? Dolores walks beside Y/N, nodding to Isabela on the other side of the younger girl. "He keeps a journal to remember everything that happens throughout the day. He was writing a lot last night."
Isabela gasps softly, "That means that he had a lot of things he wanted to remember about spending time with you yesterday."
"Maybe." Y/N responds, eying the post office far ahead of them, "He did accompany me while I was working."
"Mirabel mentioned that you seemed... overwhelmed with work yesterday." Isabela says, looking towards her with a bit of concern. Y/N nods her head once, to acknowledge the statement. "But then that you were comforted when Camilo came around. He must mean a lot to you."
She doesn't know what to say about that.
Dolores then stops in her spot, turning her head. She hums, "He's talking to Abuela about dinner. Something about... a big decision in a month."
Isabela widens her eyes a bit, turning to Y/N. She seems to be concerned as well, but shows little. She grabs onto her bag strap before settling into a smile.
"My family and friends will be visiting Encanto then." She states, fixing her shirt, "They wrote to me about it and how they want to meet the Madrigals, and I'm on my way to send off my response."
Isabela and Dolores blink at the claim before watching her continue on her way to the post office. But she doesn't get that far before they follow after. In the entrance of the post office, Isabela begins to talk.
"So they'll be in town in time for the wedding?" She says, trying to seem excited rather than concerned. Y/N nods her head, holding her bag close to her chest. "And that wedding is in a month. Seems... very early, don't you think? You and Camilo had just began going out together a few weeks ago. You don't know each other that well yet."
"Isabela, be considerate." Dolores squeaks out, "What she means to say it, are you certain that you and Camilo should be getting married so soon? Why don't you give each other time to become friends first?"
Y/N takes a deep breath in, turning to the both of them. "Okay, please... give me a minute to hand these in. And then I'll speak to you." She chimes, not awaiting an answer before she makes her way into the post office.
The two wait a few minutes, a bit nervous to speak to her. While both Dolores and Isabela were now 25-years old, and Y/N was only 19, they felt uneasy. She was a smart and collected young woman, but none of them have really seen the more personal side of her. Dolores, who would sometimes pick up on her talking with her family or customers unknowingly, only heard her be more formal rather than express any personal interest.
Once Y/N comes back, the two are standing up straight. She looks up to them. "Can we speak somewhere private?" She asks, leading them towards the end of the shopping street. As soon as they are further from crowds, Y/N skips right to the point, holding onto her skirt tightly. "Camilo and I are pretending to be together for the sake of my parents and the fake marriage."
"What?" Isabela screeches, making Delores cover her ears, "Why would you do that?"
"Because I've never had a partner before and they were worried for me. They practically jumped at the chance when Abuela Madrigal offered." Y/N responds, standing tall, "I already spoke to Camilo. I won't hold him back, he can still do all he wants and I will as well. All I ask is that he keeps up this charade."
Dolores knits her brow, holding her hands behind her back. She mumbles, "Wouldn't that... not make you happy? If you have no intention of really loving him, why would you put yourself in such a situation?"
Y/N lifts her shoulders and sighs, "My parents mean everything to me, I know they'd be happy if I found someone. Plus, Camilo is very sweet and considerate of me. We're friends... I believe."
Isabela is soon placing her hands on her shoulders, making the younger girl watch. "You shouldn't comply with what your parents ask just because it might make them upset not to." She says sternly, giving Y/N talk from experience, "If they are truly as good as everyone says, then it shouldn't matter if you marry or not, just as long as you are happy."
Y/N holds the blue flower in her hand a little softer. She feels her heart ache at that, making her turn to the floor. "I know... I know that." She huffs back, "I don't think I'd be able to explain that to them. They are very happy about Camilo and I's 'relationship'."
Dolores and Isabela lock eyes with one another. How could she finally be happy?
Before the conversation can go any longer, a bright call is heard, "There you are, mi 'mor!"
The three of them turn to see Camilo jogging towards them. His smile changes to a confused look when he realises that his sister and cousin are standing by. He stops in front of them.
"What's going on?" He asks, taking place to face his faux fiance. He notices the look on her face, resulting in him slowly reaching out and holding her face in his hands. "Are you okay?"
It's not real. But the warmth in her heart when he takes care of her is.
"Yeah... I'm fine, Camilo." She responds, pulling his hands from her face with her fingers wrapped around his wrist. She looks to Dolores and Isabela, who have surprised expressions. "I was telling the truth about us and everything."
He stills, looking over his shoulder to his family. And almost instantly, he moves to takes the hands of both his sister and cousin. "Please, please, please, do not tell Abuela or anybody else about this." He pleads, "Y/N will get into a lot of trouble if this gets out."
Isabela furrows her brows in concern. She didn't know what to say. In her experience, it was draining to keep an act like that up for so long. She didn't want Y/N to be as unhappy as she was.
"We promise." Dolores, who is the one person who hates keeping secrets the most, informs the younger two. Isabela looks at her. "We won't tell anyone."
A smile draws on Camilo's lips as he pulls Dolores and Isabela into a tight hug. He thanks them both, relieved and happy they are so understanding. Y/N stands a few feet away. They were caring.
Camilo turns to Y/N, wrapping an arm around her shoulders with a chuckle, "Looks like we're safe!"
She smiles back, holding onto her bag. "Yeah, we are."