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As you walk through the village of Encanto, the villagers greet you happily as they always do. Even though you're just on a regular walk, they still take the time to stop and talk to you. The villagers ask you about your life, your family, your health, and how's the search for a husband has been. Of course, that last part always causes some awkwardness for you, but you don't really mind too much.
During your walk, you run into Osvaldo, the donkey delivery guy.
"Good morning, señorita Y/N," he greets while coming off his donkey.
"Good morning to you as well, señor Osvaldo; how are you this morning?" you ask.
"I'm doing alright," he answers.
"Oh, that's good to hear," you reply. He starts rummaging in a bag that's carried by the donkey and picks out a small package.
"This package is for you and your family," he says but doesn't give it to you and instead continues talking. "So, how is your family doing?" You try grabbing the package, but he swings it away as he's talking.
"Just fine, everyone's doing well," you think about how you're going to get that package from him.
"Good, good, I'm glad to hear it," he affirms. "Say, I hear that there is a celebration coming up at the Madrigals."
"Is that right?" you're still looking at the package in his hands.
"Yes, and I hear that everyone will be going, including some men your age," you had a feeling he would bring this up.
"Uh, that's something," you try to stay cheerful and polite.
"You bet," he says. After that, he finally gives you the package, and you're on your way again.
Unfortunately, you're stopped again, but this time it's by some of the other village girls around your age. You could hear their conversation slightly before they stopped you, and from what you heard, they were talking about the Madrigal celebration. They practically drag you into their conversation.
"So, Y/N, have you decided what kind of dress you'll wear to the party?" one girl asks you. You think for a minute before answering.
"Not really, although I think I'll get myself a new dress for the party," you weren't lying.
"Really? I'm so jealous," another girl says.
"I wish I was like you, Y/N," someone says, and the group agrees.
"Huh? What do you mean?" you become nervous from all the praise.
"Well, everyone loves you, and you're so nice all the time," the girl next to you says.
"And you pretty much could have anyone you wanted," the girl from across your way says.
"Yeah, and your life will be perfect," another girl says.
"You wouldn't even have to talk to Bruno Madrigal about your future. It's probably gonna be perfect no matter what," this last comment makes the wheels in your head turn. Bruno...
"Of course, you wouldn't want to," a girl says, and everyone laughs.
"What? Why not?" you ask.
"Because everyone knows that Bruno's predictions always come true, and he always predicts bad things," one girl explains.
"Really?" you ask.
"Uh, yeah," they all agree with one another.
"Maybe I should test that theory," you announce. As you leave the group, they all shout some sort of version of "good luck" or "it's your funeral." But, no matter their words, you were determined to see Bruno. You didn't care if the town feared him. What matters is that you don't.
When going up to the Madrigal family home, Mirabel is the one to show you the way to Bruno's room.
"It's good that Bruno is back and that his room is no longer staircase mania," she explains. "The first time I visited his room, I had to climb up a mountain of stairs. Luckily, it's not like that now." The whole conversation lasted the walk to Bruno's door, and Mirabel explained how to approach Bruno if you want a future reading.
When you enter his room, there is sand everywhere, and you have a feeling that you're going to find the sand around afterward when you leave. There are piles of sand practically everywhere, with a giant hand statue pointing up with a message carved into it. "Your future awaits." How fitting. From under your feet, Casita brings you up to the entrance of his reading room. It's littered with statues and a circular door at the end, and you know now how ready you indeed are in that moment. You confidently walk to the door, but you tentatively knock on the circular door. When the door opens, you are greeted with the infamous Bruno Madrigal. The man you've wanted to be face-to-face with for a while now. His big green eyes study your face before he lets you in.
"I've been, uh, expecting you," he says. You're halfway through the threshold when he says this.
"You have?" you ask. Does...does he already know why you've come?
"Yes, Casita more or less told me I had a visitor," he explains.
"Oh, I see," you reply. He runs to set up his small cave to do a reading. He has piles of leaves with little fires on them. It kinda looks like you're about to contact some dead relatives. He runs over to the piles and gestures you to join him and sit across from him.
"So, what exactly do you want me to look for?" he asks.
"It can be specific?" you ask. He nods.
"Sure, as long as I know what I'm looking for," he replies.
"Okay, then how about looking into my family and their future?" you ask. He nods and puts his hands out asks you to take them. You do so gently and nervously as he closes his eyes and takes a few breaths. When his eyes open again, they are a vibrant green now. It looks amazing. He then begins to relay some images he sees. He sees that your family is okay and that you all will live a good life. He doesn't seem to mention anything bad.
When he's done, a green glass plate shows you and your family at some kind of birthday party, having fun.
"Well, it seems as though you all will turn out alright," inspects the plate.
"That's a relief," you breathe out.
"You know, usually people come here to ask about their love life," he mentions.
"Really?" you ask, but it doesn't really surprise you.
"Yup, and I try to polite and honest as possible," he explains. "But, believe me, it's tough to do that." You laugh a bit at his comment.
"I can imagine," you reply.
"I'm a bit surprised that you didn't ask about that," he says. You become flustered from his comment.
"Oh, I just...I guess I already have someone in mind that I want to be with," you ramble. Of course, you didn't really mean to spill to him.
"Oh, I see, will I hope it works out then," he encourages you.
"Uh, thanks," you say.
"Sure," he replies.
"And thank you for the reading," you thank.
"Of course, you can come by any time if you like," he gives you a small smile. It makes your heart melt.
"Thank you," you say before you leave through the circular door. Once again, Casita carries you back down to the room entrance near the hand statue. You figure you'll spend the rest of your day finding a dress for the Madrigal celebration that's coming up.
As Bruno finishes cleaning up the piles of leaves, he goes down to the house to join his family for dinner.
As he's walking to the dining room, he runs into Camilo and Mirabel talking about something.
"What're you two discussing so secretly?" he asks his niece and nephew. They turn to look at him, and it seems like they are talking about him, judging by their faces.
"Uh, nothing," Mirabel tries to look innocent.
"Yeah, tío Bruno, nothing," Camilo looks even more telling.
"We were just discussing what we think dinner will be," Mirabel says. Bruno eyes them, but they won't budge under his gaze. At least, not at first. Mirabel and Camilo eventually crack under his eyes.
"Okay, we were talking about the fact that Y/N came to visit you today," Mirabel starts.
"Because she's been wanting to meet you for a while now," Camilo continues.
"She's been admiring you and asking about you all the time, and we were saying that we think it's great that she finally came to see you," Mirabel finishes. Bruno is speechless at first. He can't believe what he's hearing. You're the one everyone loves in the village, and he's the screw-up. Not to mention the age gap you have.
"She's...she's been admiring me all this time?" Bruno asks in disbelief. Mirabel and Camilo both nod.
"One might even say she has a crush on you, tío," Camilo butts in. Mirabel swats his arm for your sake.
"Camilo!" Mirabel shouts.
"What? It's true," Camilo shrugs. Bruno thinks about all this some more and comes to his own conclusion.
"It's okay guys, I'm pretty sure it's not true," Bruno says sadly. Mirabel and Camilo exchange looks.
"Huh?" they both utter, but Bruno ignores their confusion and joins the rest of his family for dinner. He eats a fulfilling meal with everyone, but his mind is on you. He always thought you were pretty, but he never really imagined anything else. You were so perfect. He could never hold a candle to you in a million years. The more he thought about you, the more he realized that he did really like you, but there's no way that you...like him.
According to the chore schedule, he and Dolores are on clean plate duty. Just washing the dishes after dinner. At first, Bruno is silent around his niece. He's just thinking of you.
"I heard about what Camilo and Mirabel told you," Dolores says, a bit out-of-the-blue. It surprises Bruno how direct Dolores is.
"Oh, did you?" he asks as if he's not entirely sure as to what she means.
"Yeah, and they're right, you know," she says.
"Right about what?" he asks. Dolores gives her tío a look.
"Come on, tío, you know what I mean," she replies. "The stuff about Y/N." He fake chuckles.
"Oh yeah, that," he tries to play it off. "It was nothing. I'm pretty sure that Camilo and Mirabel were just making a joke."
"Making a joke?" Dolores asks while scrubbing a bowl.
"Yeah, I mean, me and Y/N? Come on, talk about crazy," he says. "She's young and loved. I'm me."
"So?" Dolores asks.
"So...it's not like it'll work out or anything," Bruno says. Dolores sighs and gives him a new look.
"Tío, you need to take risks when it comes to romance, and besides, Y/N does like you, so you have really nothing to lose," she explains.
"How do you know that, though?" he asks, and she points to her ears. That's the only explanation he really needed. "Oh."
"So, you should ask her to be your date to the party," Dolores encourages him.
"You're right; I should," he agrees. And with that, he takes the trip to your house with Dolores, watching him run off. She's feeling extra proud of her gift today.
You're just reading a book in your living room when you hear a knock at your door. You wonder who would be at your door at this time, but when you open the door, your heart skips a beat. At the door is the man you saw earlier.
"Uh, hello," he greets. He seems almost nervous.
"Hello, can I help you?" you ask.
"Uh, yes, I just had a question for you," he says. You decide to go outside with him, as to not worry your parents.
"Okay, lay it on me," you say, and you both laugh.
"Right, so, about the party we are having soon," he starts. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go...with me...as my date."
"Really?" you ask, hopeful. He nods tentatively.
"If you want," he adds. "You don't have to, of course."
"I would love to," you say. "I would love to be your date." You wrap him into a hug, and he's stunned at first but returns it. The two of you stood there hugging for quite some time before having to let each other go.