Chapter 2

"i've had this since birth, or so i've been told."

"Mateo! it's time to wake up!" my ears ringed as the priest called for me. I groaned and stretched under my blanket. my consciousness fought hard to stay asleep, but when his voice got louder and louder till the voice downstairs was now in my room, it was hard to ignore. i groaned again and turned away from him. i was almost unconscious again when my blanket was ripped away from me. i jumped and sat up, previously closed eyes now wide open. "hey! i'm sleeping here, padre!"

padre santiago stood up straight, dropping my blanket onto the floor and bringing his hands behind his back as he stared down at me. "mateo, mijo, it's time you get out of bed. we must get a start on the day. it's nice out, and it shouldn't be wasted away because you slept in. get up and get dressed. there is food downstairs."

i glared at him, reaching behind me for a pillow and quickly throwing it at him. padre Santiago however, knew this was coming and dodged. the pillow hit the stone wall  with a thud as he shook his head at me, a smirk rising on his cocky face. he looked at my mirror on my bedside and lightly adjusted his collar and moved to leave. "nice try, chico. i'll see you for morning prayer."

i grabbed my second pillow and threw it at the closing door, making another thump as it crashed into the wooden obstacle. i could hear his chuckle from the other side of the wall, his footsteps in the hall and down the stairs. my glare dropped as i yawned and my arms stretched above my head. i scratched my back and turned to stand up, going to remake my bed that santiago indirectly destroyed.

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After changing and doing my normal routine, i rushed down the stairs and grabbed an apple off the community food table, stuffing it into my mouth and quietly jogging to the doors of the church. father stood at the alter leading a prayer, half of the pews were filled with the townspeople kneeling and following along with his words. he looked up at my footsteps, "and where are you going mijo?"

i froze and hid my half eaten apple from my mouth behind my back as i turned to him, stiff as a board at being caught. everyone inside stopped and turned to me as i spoke, watching me with their curious eyes. "oh! uh... i'm just, heading out, father Santiago."

"oh yeah? to do what, mateo?" i gulped at my name.

"uhh... just going to stroll the market. help out señor Garcia with the cattle maybe. visit the madrigals. ya know, the normal. hehe." i shrugged trying to convince him of my agenda for the day. he stared me down, trying to catch any mischief in my hazel eyes as i stared back with an innocent smile.

"have fun then. don't forget about Antonio's ceremony tonight. oh, and don't cause any more trouble, teo. ." he warned me, eyes pointed with a steel gaze. i felt sweat roll down my back, and cross my fingers behind me. my smile widened at this. "i promise padre. no trouble from me. and i'll meet you at the madrigal's."

he hummed and nodded his head at the door before calling back to the kneeling citizens, catching their attention and apologizing, restarting the prayer. i walked backwards until i felt the big wooden door on my back. i searched around with my hand for the door handle before pulling it towards me and quickly slipping through, walking out and closing it in front of me.

(play the audio at top if you want. it's just outdoor market ambience. really helps with visualizing)

i sighed and fully relaxed my body before standing up straight and taking another bite out of my apple. i turned and smirked at the town before me. i placed my hand in my pocket cooly and walked down the path towards the market place.

everyone had a task to do. some work with animals, others with crops, a few with food and a couple with fabrics. people carried carts around filled with products and others set up booths to sell said products. tables filled with handmade pots, jewelry, blankets and clothes. colorful banners hung with strings upon the buildings. smells of fresh food and the voices of the citizens traveled through the air. it was a beautiful sight.

after i finished my apple, with only the seeds and steam left, i made my way towards the farm land. meeting with señor Hernandez who was head of the farming family here in Encanto. "hola señor! i've got some more apple seeds for you!"

he turned from the plowed field, his giant sun hat spinning slightly with him. his open hand outstretched towards me as i lightly tossed them to him. señor pocketed them and waved as thanks. i waved back and walked towards the ever growing market as more and more people gathered outside, the sun rising higher and higher.

i started a trek for the Madrigal casita, the one that holds a family of miracles. each member has a gift, besides the two men who married into the family, blessed upon them and a magical candle that helped save señora alma long ago and practically built encanto. it's a beautiful and amazing story. and i basically grew up with some of the younger grandkids.

except alma could barely tolerate me. something about me almost putting out the candle or whatever. she could hardly take a joke.

i shrugged and continued on. kids would run past me and at times, the adults would get distracted. if i was anyone else, i wouldn't do anything and keep going.

but i'm me, mateo santiago. i'm a problem.

with their eyes elsewhere, smalls artifacts that i could easily grab are shoved into my pockets. some rings, a necklace, a colorful ball of yarn, this and that. i kept my calm face as i strolled along towards the big house up on the hill, easily seeming unsuspicious.

i heard some yelling as three kids were asking about the gifted family. i squinted ahead and saw a familiar girl. her short hair being only dark curls resting above her white huipil and turquoise rebozo that was clearly costumed decorated with her own designs and threads. even her bag was creative with color.

i smiled softly at her, since she hasn't noticed me yet. i straightened my shirt, ran a hand through my slightly frizzy but still curly hair and cleared my throat. i walked up towards her, an idea popping into my head. the kids turned their attention to me and before they pointed or said anything, i placed my finger to my lips, signaling them to stay quiet.

once i was behind her, i brought my hand before her and rose it up from her mouth to her eyes, effectively moving her glasses up onto her forehead. my other hand wrapped around her waist to keep her from turning or running. "huh! what the-?"

i leaned down and whispered in her ear, my smirk very evident in my voice. "guess who?"

her hands moved to cover mine, making my heart tense slightly but i made no movement at her reaction. her body shifted around, trying to turn. her hands gripped mine to get them off. my chuckle, still next to her ear, made her freeze. i felt her body heat rise.

finally she relaxed and giggled, no longer resisting my hold on her. "buenos días, mateo."

i pouted lightly and moved my hand from her eyes to join my other at her waist, moving to just hugging her from behind. my head rested on her shoulder as i grumbled.

she moved to turn in my hold so she could hug back, my head arose again as her arms wrapped around my torso. her face was shoved into my chest, glasses going askew. i was sure she heard my heartbeat speed up and i moved my arms to wrap around her shoulders instead. i kept her flush to my body and stared down at the three kids i almost forgot were there.

i smirked at them, confident and cocky, and kissed the beautiful girl in my arms on her head. "buenos días, mi hermosa."

"what the—! who is this, mirabel?"
"who the heck is this guy?"
"is he your novio, mirabel?"

mira quickly jumped out of my arms, hands waving and head shaking as she denied our relationship, making me drop my arms back to my side. it's true by the way. we aren't actually dating. we've just been friends for so long that it got easy to be so comfortable with each other. i'm a jokester with no actual parents and she's the odd one out of her magic bearing family. two peas in a pod we are.

she turned back to me and asked me to verify the truth. i sighed, one hand in my pocket and the other wrapped back around the shorter girl's shoulder. "yeah, sorry to disappoint you chicos. we're not dating, yet."

i teased her, looking down and squeezing her slightly to my side. she scoffed and rolled her eyes behind her round framed glasses, crossing her arms while nudging her elbow into my side. i laughed and released her from my hold once again, rolling up my sleeves before tucking them into my pants pockets. mirabel tries to change the subject back to what they originally asked from her.

"anyway, who wants to learn about mi familia la madrigal?"

the children quickly changed their attention to my newly revealed arms and jumped back scared, but interest is still very clear in their eyes. they seemed a lot more intrigued in my arms than our relationship status. "woah! what's up with your arms?"

"yeah what's with those crazy lines on them?" i looked down, mira's eyes followed from behind her round glasses  to see the pale lightning-like lines that traveled around my tan arms. i looked back up and shrugged. my fingers felt around the items i collected, reminding myself to hand them over to mira after this.

"no clue. i've had these since birth, or so i've been told. all i know is what padre santiago told me, which isn't much."