Chapter Text
The church bell echoed throughout the town as a flood of children rushed out of the school’s doors and filled the playground. The boy in the green poncho watched as the children all split up. A group of boys ran to the makeshift soccer field. Some played tag. The others played on the large playset. A flash of yellow and blue caught his attention.
A pang of guilt shot through Bruno’s heart as his brown eyes fell on his sisters. The pair sat on the swing set in the corner, away from all the other children. He could see them talking amongst themselves.
It had been like this since they had started school three years ago. During the breaks, the other kids would run and play, leaving Bruno on his own. They all avoided him like the plague. His sisters wouldn’t stand for him being alone, though. Instead of trying make their own friends, they chose to sit with their brother.
Pepa noticed him first, waving him down. Chuckling to himself, he walked to them. He took the empty swing between the pair. Reaching into one of his many poncho’s pockets, he pulled out three wrapped bundles. He handed each of the girls one, before opening his own and taking a large bite. “Two hours left, then we’re outta here for two months.”
“Counting it down.” Pepa muttered as she examined the contents of the bundle. She could tell from the smell it was one of Julieta’s banana empanadas.
“This year hasn’t been that bad.” Julieta sighed before biting into her own.
It was true. The first year of school after the triplets received their gifts had been much worse. At the time, none of the villagers understood that the magic was a gift, meant to help everyone in the village. It had taken almost a year of hard work, and a lot of convincing from their mother, but it seemed like the adults finally came to learn that the triplets were trying to help. Their children however, were another story.
Pepa snorted. “Easy for you to say. They aren’t afraid of you.”
“Or your gift.” Bruno added.
“They’re not afraid of you.” The eldest tried to reason with her siblings. The redhead’s eyebrow raised as she silently dared her to continue. Julieta opened her mouth, to take her sister’s dare. But, she couldn’t. She wasn’t deaf. She heard the stories and rumors about the ‘Fish Killer’ Bruno and the ‘Walking Disaster’ Pepa. “They just don’t understand, yet. Give them time. I’m sure they’ll come around.”
Bruno tossed the last piece into his mouth. Crinkling his wrapper in his hands he tried to stuff it into his poncho. “You don’t have to deal with the rumors.”
“Oh Julieta, our miracle child!” Pepa threw her hands up in the air dramatically. “Save us, oh perfect one, from your horrible hermanos . They killed my fish and flooded my prized garden.”
Julieta leaned back, giving her sister a scowl. She hated when they talked like they were less than her. The candle blessed all of them, not just her. “It’s not like that and you know it.”
“Mhm. Whatever you say, Juli.” The redhead stood up, holding her hand out. Julieta and Bruno placed their wrappers in her hand. The middle triplet turned and walked to the trashcan to their left.
“Hey Pep.” the seer called out. He nodded over to a group of boys that sat by on the ground, playing cards. “That kid’s staring at you again.” Pepa followed her brother’s gaze. She picked him out of the group instantly. He was shorter than the others by a few inches. His dark curly hair matched his dark brown eyes. And he was staring directly at her.
“Hey kid.” She called out. He looked around, before pointed at himself. She nodded and put her hands on her hips. Her temper flared, ready for a fight. “Yeah you. Do you have a problem with me or something?”
He held his hands up in surrender as he stood up and walked closer to her. “Uh- No. Not at all.”
“Then why do you keep staring at me?” She could see his eyes look above her. She mentally growled as the small fluffy cloud grew darker above her head. He was just like the rest of those boys that liked to make fun of her and her brother. She’d had enough. “What? Does my cloud bother you?”
His eyes widened slightly as it glowed with a few flashes of lightning. Recovering from his shock, his eyes lit up. “Not at all! I’ve never seen a cloud up close before. It’s amazing! Let alone hanging above something so beautiful. Pardon . Where are my manners. My name is Félix Castillo.”
“I- uh. Pepa. Pepa Madrigal.” Reaching out, he gently took her hand. Pepa was speechless. The cloud faded away as she repeated his words over. Did she hear him right? She could feel the temperature rise as her cheeks flushed. The only thing the boys called her was crazy. “You really think I’m beautiful?”
“The most beautiful thing in the world. Tell me, are you going to the fiesta tonight?”
“I- um. I mean.”
Bruno and Julieta shared a knowing look as their sister stumbled to find words. The boy, Félix, managed to fluster their sister beyond words. Julieta gave Félix a gentle smile as she linked her arm with her sister’s. “She’ll be there.”
“We all will.” A warning, Félix knew, as he watched Bruno look him over. The youngest of the triplets studied him with a careful eye. He didn’t trust him, which was fine. He’d just have to prove it to him, and the rest of the Madrigals, that his intentions were genuine.
Félix gave a wide toothy smile as he settled on a plan to win them over. “Wonderful! I’ll see you there tonight!”
“Do you have a death wish or something?” Armando asked as he joined Félix by the food table. His friend told him of his plans earlier in the day. He couldn’t believe his friend wanted to die, so young.
“What do you mean?”
“That’s the Madrigals’ mother.”
“And?”
The taller boy sighed, slapping his palm to his head. Armando and Félix had been friends long before they were able to walk. Félix was far too nice. It was Armando's job to watch out for him. They were practically brothers after all. He refused to let himself get mixed up with the Madrigals. His parents told him that that family was nothing but bad news. His parents were never wrong. “You’re just going to waltz up and ask her daughter to dance?”
Félix straightened his tie and brushed his hand over his hair, making sure it was still in place. His outfit need to be perfect if he was going to make a good first impression. “Yeah, I am.”
“Do you even think Julieta wants to dance?”
“Why does it matter? I’m not asking her.”
“Wait, you’re asking the walking disaster to dance?!”
“Her name is Pepa. And sí. I am.”
Armando let out a resigned sigh. It was clear that Félix wasn’t budging on this one. Some lessons needed to be learned the hard way, and if that meant he had to step aside and let him see it for himself, so be it. “It’s your funeral, pal.”
Félix shrugged it off. He heard the stories. The rumors that everyone spread. But he wasn’t going to let any of that stop him. He might not know everything, but he knew that Pepa Madrigal was the most beautiful creature in the world and he wanted to get to know her.
Straightening his tie once more, he approached the matriarch.
Félix cleared his throat. “Excuse me ma’am.” Alma looked at him and raised her eyebrow. She knew this boy. He was the son of Maria Castillo, the villages’ best seamstress. He bowed. Raising his head, he offered up the most charming smile he could offer. “My name is Félix Castillo. I’m sorry to intrude. However, I would like to ask your daughter to dance. With your permission of course.”
Alma smiled. It wasn’t the first time that one of the boys had come to her, asking to dance with her daughter. She had to admit though, this was the first one to properly introduce himself. She smiled down to him. “Very well. Julieta is over by the punch with her siblings. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”
“Actually, I’d actually like to dance with Pepa.”
“What’s he doing?” Pepa hissed to her siblings as she watched Félix give her a thumbs up, before approaching her mother.
“How should I know?” The eldest knew just as much of the situation as her sister. She put a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they watched the pair talk. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
Bruno shrugged as he picked up another arepa off of the table. “Maybe he’s asking for your hand in marriage.”
Julieta rolled her eyes and elbowed her brother. “Not funny, Bruno!” Turning her attention to her sister, she could sense the anxiety rising. It only worsened when their mother turned to look at Pepa. “I’m sure it’s fine, hermanita .”
“We’re about to find out. Here he comes.”
The temperature rose a few degrees as Félix approached the trio, a wide smile on his face. He stopped in front of Pepa. He reached his hand out to her, just as he had earlier that day. “Dios mio. You look stunning tonight. May I have this dance, mi nube ?”
Pepa smiled back, taking his hand in her own. “Fine. Just this once.”