*Artesia's pov*
Mams probably told you to behave almost fifty times before ya'll got up the hill. Remember your weak disposition? Yes. You've been heaving like crazy when Mariano finally took pity on you and let you ride his back.
"Thank Riano, such a strong man," you pretend to swoon, giggling as he rolled his eyes.
"No wonder papi kick you out, you haven't matured since the last time I saw you, and did you grow even weaker?! Have you been a couch potato all this time?" He threw an accusing look.
"Hey! I'll have you know... I'm carrying paps machine and tinkering... I'm not just used to.... uhm sustaining the endurance part." You countered pouting while Mariano carried you to the peakest part of the hill.
"Yeah right, you probably just on your laptop screen counting numbers-"
"Crushing market numbers," you corrected him. "Remember? Your sister here is already a multi-shareholder and might become a CEO if the company just give in already," you huffed.
"You and your money obsession... you need some love to balance that, some romance." He sighed daydreaming while you shot him an incredulous look.
"Thats-" you countered before he cut me off.
"Wonderful isn't it? Oh speaking of which," he brought you down his shoulder. "Mi amor," he greeted the petite girl wearing pink? Purple?... lilac dress.
"Thats his girlfriend? How! I mean... wow." You looked at mams still retaining that 'incredulous' stare. Which earned you a playful pinch.
"Ay!" You giggled, well its not like he's not.... good looking so. Maybe she fallen for that... I hope... because as far as I'm concerned, Mariano is a big baby that needs constant attention and assurance.
"Be kind to your Hermano," Mams rolled her eyes, Did she read my mind?
"No hija, just your face gave it away," she said before greeting the girl with you tailing them.
Curse this expressive face!
"Mi amor this is my hermana, Artesia,... Artesia, Isabela Madrigal... my one and only love," Mariano introduce you first before grinning when it's Isabela's turn.
Creepy.
You felt your face twitch from staring at your brother's animated smile. Sighing internally, you faced your sister-in-law to be.
"Pleasant to meet you Isabela, I'm sorry you have to bear with my brother." You gave her an apologetic look while offering your hand. Which took her a back for a second before retaining her gorgeous smile.
"Pleasure is all mine..señorita Artesia" Isabela greeted you shaking your hand, as electrifying sparks were felt between the two of you.
You both let go at the same time, simultaneously gazing at eachother, as if confirming what happened.
"Just Artesia would be fine," you said covering whatever just happened, Mariano looked at the both of you confused before deciding to check in with Isabela.
"Mi amor are you ok?" He assisted her as she nodded.
"Just... little tired," she said before stealing a glance on you. "Pleasure to meet you again Artesia,"
You gave her a smile as you gripped your hand still feeling the tingles in your fingertips.
"Artesia?" Your mams touched you. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yeah, traveling to long places is... really not my thing," you smiled as you both followed the couple.
Madrigals introduce themselves to you one by one. Which started a tug of war between the cousins and siblings on who would ask you first about the outside world first.
"So is there a device that can help you fly?" Antonio, the little one popped out tugging your dress.
"Uh, if you're thinking of like transporting you like what horse does but in air... yes. It's an airplane," you showed him pictures, bit thankful that the mobile signal here wasn't bad.
"How about the places?" Mirabel, the second youngest asked you. "Are there some quirky places you've been?"
"Yes, unfortunately..." you grimanced.
"What is it? Is it bad?" She muttered, her eyes looked at your drained face.
"It's not bad... just," you trailed off as Mariano finished your sentence for you with small explanation.
"My hermana is kind off a vampire, active at night....asleep by day. She's also a worst travel buddy you could have," he sighed which you nodded.
"In a nutshell it's that... but in my terms I got super drained by traveling... but if you want to see some photos... here," you gave them your phone to fiddle with.
"Wow," they looked at it amused, well except for the two ladies, which were Dolores and Isabela, who helped prepare the dinner cutlery.
"Okay we'll have the dinner, lets go lets go," Abuela announced as the kids returned your phone, sitting on their designated seats.
The dinner was scrumptious and you couldn't help but to compliment the food.
Julieta, the house's chef and the mother-in-law to be of your brother, couldn't help but laughed.
"Well if you like it that much, I can pack you food to go," she smiled.
"No offense to Señora Guzman but...don't you... uhm," she eyed us, while mams sighed shaking her head.
"My ex-husband has only the brain capacity to cook noodles so, she only get to eat other people's cooking in restaurants or when we visited," she sighed, gesturing you. "Artesia probably cooked more than half of her life,"
"I enjoyed it though," you said. "But having someone cook for me is a treat I'll always welcome," you grinned.
"That is why hermana you should-" Mariano started but you kicked his foot, making him shut his mouth.
"Not a word." You gave him a frightening smile.
"But-" Mariano tried again, but like earlier felt a sharp kick on his shin.
"Ow," he grimanced.While you retained your dark smile.
"Ay! You two behave," Señora Guzman chastised you two, looking pointedly at the twins.
You both straightened up, and simultaneously released a huff.
"Ay you two are already 22! Look at Isabela and Dolores, they are well behaved and they are younger than you both," your mams started.
"Sorry for their antics they are so alike they butt heads sometimes," she commented.
"We're not alike!"
"We're not alike!"
You both argued spitting the exact words at the same time.
"Are you copying me?"
"Are you copying me?"
You both groaned.
"Seriously,"
"Seriously,"
You both sighed.
"Mariano," you gave him the most deadpanned look.
"Artesia," while he gave you a frustrated one.
"See what I mean?" Señora Guzman mentioned you two, which earned a laugh from the younger ones and amused look from the two aforementioned Madrigals who were younger than you both by one year.
"Ay! It means that they are close," the Abuela of the Madrigal smiled. "I remember the time when my kids are like that," she gave you both a fond look.
She shared the history of Encanto as you listened half-heartedly. That was until the gift ceremony were mentioned, specifically the bestowing of the gift.
It interest you greatly, not because its magic or that you want one yourself... but you are searching for an answer. Maybe its because you also have a gift, one you thought to keep it a secret.
You are lost in thought when you felt your brother nudge you. You snapped out as you scanned the crowd looking expectantly at you, waiting your answer.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that," you said, noticing Mariano who was giving you his teasing grin and his waving eyebrows.
"We would like to know what are your thoughts in getting in a relationship, since your brother has his own girlfriend," Abuela asked, Mariano gave you his thumbs up as you fight the urge to flip him off.
"Nothing." You answered plainly, but their insistent stares made you continue. "Not my type of tea and probably will be, until I'm old and wrinkly," you said as Mariano choked holding his laughter.
"Are you sure? Your hermano already has taken a step on his life. Don't you want to do the same?" Abuela gestured her eyes flicking to your brother and to Isabela.
You bit your lip, controlling your vile word vomit...just because you tend to offend people when you're riled up... like this for example. So you breathed through your nostrils, showing your customer service smile. And answered.
"Yes, I feel I can achieve more in my career path in my golden years of being in the 20s." Your monotonous voice slipped through as you added.
"And honestly, I think getting..." you cleared your throat. "Life together at 22 is kind of-" you pieced your words carefully.
"Irresponsibl-" your mams covered your mouth as she covered up your sentence.
"What Artesia means is... she still needs time to think about it." She laughed nervously. " My daughter is kind of a businesswoman and a bit enthusiastic in earning money. Right Artesia?"
"I mean... you'll need money if you want to spoil your partner." You smiled getting the gist. "I want to be earning my share when I do.... got to the point I'm searching for a partner."
You saw Isabela's eyes on the corner of yours, glittered at your answer, before masking it with indifference.
"But isn't your boyfriend supposed to do that?," Camillo quipped who was hushed by his father, Felix.
"Yes.... in a way. But I want to have my own, either to spoil.... him or myself," you answered unsure.
"Oooh, I like you! Strong independent girls need no mans!" Mirabel said making a sassy move.
"Period!" You laughed at her comment agreeing, Hi fiving one another celebrating when Mariano opened his mouth.
"But Artesia, you'll still need to find one, at least to protect you." You facepalmed in your mind.
"Riano, no offense but I can hire a bodyguard for that," you gave him your dead set look.
"But if you insist... I can take some self-defense lessons." You shrugged sipping your juice."Just not a man."
"How about a woman then?" Antonio asked. While you choked on the juice... while the flower girl pop some small orange petals....wait what now?
"Antonio!" His mother Pepa scolded him as you coughed your lungs out.
"Thats *cough* an interest- *cough* -ing take. *cough* *cough*" you drank some more to calm your panicking system, with the fluid going down in the wrong chamber.
"Antonio where did you learn that?" Dolores asked him, she definitely never heard of people talking about it, at least not to Antonio.
"Oh I just overheard. Maybe sister Artesia likes girls that's why," he beamed.
"Do you?" Mariano and your mams said their mouth quivered.
"You're asking me who never had a lover, either a girl or a boy," you sighed.
"Then! You could come with me! I could introduce you to some of girls I know and also my friends, then you could decide," he beamed.
"That's creepy and I don't think." You shook your head refusing. "That's a good idea."
"If you'd like I could also help you," Abuela smiled. "Since you're Mariano's sister, a family."
"Thank you Señora Alma but I'm-" you looked for help and landed on Isabela.
Isabela's eyes widened, seeing her smile faltered for a second. Before turning her gaze to her Abuela, "Maybe. We should tour Artesia first, seeing she's new here?" She suggested.
"Magnifico Mi Amor," he hugged the girl, who smiled widely, clearly uncomfortable.
"Riano," you called him tapping his shoulder, to get his attention, letting go of Isabela. "I thought you're going to prepare?" You whispered before being interrupted by Señora Alma.
"Why not you and Isabela tour Encanto? Isabela's route encompasses the whole town," the oldest woman suggested.
You glanced at the pink girl who agreed, nodding quietly and flashing you an enchanting smile. She then leads you and your family outside Casita, this time she held your hand.
*thump* you felt your heard pump.
"Would you like to tour the Encanto with me?" She asked you in her sweet voice. "I'm not pressuring you...just making sure,"
*thump* *thump*
"I... sure, Don't worry you're not pressuring me...Thanks," you swallowed thickly, what is happening? Is this because I'm tired? You questioned yourself as you felt giddy and light-headed.
"No problem," she smiled, her actions mirrored the boy from earlier but why does it feels different. She let go of your hand as she bid goodbye with your mams and Mariano.
*thump* *thump* *thump*
"See you tomorrow, Artesia," she said before making you a flower crown but with darker theme: red, blue, purple and black roses.
What?!
.-..-.-.