Welcome to my blog! I'm an artist and writer who does creative stuff, but only when the mood strikes. I post and share anything related to my interests, fandom or otherwise.
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FANFICTION
Legend:
❤️ - romance
🌶️ - spicy
😀 - general
⚔️ - drama
Pre-canon to Post-canon Encanto:
What We Don't See (main fic) ❤️ COMPLETED 4-Feb-2023 (48 Chapters)
You're My Kind of Perfect (one-shot) ❤️🌶️ COMPLETED 9-Apr-2022
I Knew Before We Met (one-shot) 😀 COMPLETED 7-May-2022
How I Feel About You (one-shot) 😀 COMPLETED 10-Jun-2022
Your Past, My Present, Our Future (one-shot) 😀❤️⚔️ COMPLETED 16-Jul-2022
Till Death Do Us Part (one-shot) 😀❤️ COMPLETED 5-Feb-2023
The World Beyond Our Own (spin-off) COMING SOON
Encanto Reader Inserts:
Just the Cure I'm Looking For (Bruno x Reader prompt by @neon-green-eyes) COMPLETED 26-Sep-2022 (8 chapters)
*Only on AO3; MAY undergo revisions (or be rewritten entirely)
FIRST-PERSON POV | SECOND-PERSON POV
ACT II: GABRIELA
–
After a close call, Gabriella finds herself in a predicament she would never have guessed.
+👠👠👠+
After her confession, Gabriela tried her best not to think about that night. She didn’t have time, anyway, to dwell. The schedule for the first cast meeting filming was coming up very soon and she needed to get herself in order. Alexandra had already called her in advance with all the details and what to expect.
She had to make the opportunity count.
The fateful day came sooner than she thought. There was nothing that would stand in her way.
Except...
Gabriela was all dressed and ready to go when her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, so she let it go to voicemail.
The voice on the other end made her hair stand up on its end.
“Ella, it’s me. I’ve given you enough time and space. Can we please talk this out?”
What once sounded so melodic and full of love now sounded malicious and threatening. So it was only normal for her to feel frightened when she looked out her bedroom window and saw her ex waiting outside the building with a bunch of flowers in one hand, wearing dark clothes and a mask covering his face.
Ávila suddenly bursting into her bedroom did not also do any favors. “ELLA!” Ávila half-screeched, looking more frazzled than ever. The fear was evident in their eyes. “WHY is your ex outside? How the hell did he find my address?”
“I don’t know!” Gabriela was on the verge of tears, the stress and nerves mixing together in a not-so-good cocktail. She felt like throwing up. “You know I haven’t been active on any socials since we broke up, and I’m careful whenever I post something on the rare occasions that I do go online to remove all of my locations.”
“I believe you…but why the hell is he here?” Ávila resisted the urge to sneak another peak outside. Though it would probably be wise to do once they’ve better assessed the situation. “Jesus. I’m not sure if he’s seen me, but I hope he didn’t.”
Gabriela’s stomach dropped. “Why? Why would Marco see you?”
“I was out on the balcony to take a quick breather from work, when I noticed something, or rather, someone suspicious watching the entrance. I hid immediately, but who knows?”
A knock coming from out in the hallways startled the both of them into silence. Dread churned Gabriela’s insides, and looking outside, she knew Ávila and herself were in a potentially dangerous, and volatile situation.
“What are we going to do…” Ávila began, chewing on their thumb. “Out of all the times this would happen…it had to be on the first day of your new acting job!”
It was indeed terrible timing, but she knew it wasn’t be far-fetched for the world to consistently fuck her over. “Ávi, you have to help me get out of here.” Gabriela schooled herself to remain calm. It would not help her cause to panic, not when Marco was for sure somewhere within the building, trying to look for Ávila’s apartment. A split-second was probably more than enough for him to figure out the number of floors.
What terrified Gabriela the most was how calculated it seemed. Sure, it didn’t take a genius to put two and two together, and she had become too complacent, in a way. She could’ve reached out to Julián much earlier and moved out before she got into this mess.
“What? No. José’s not even going to be back for another hour, and I can’t just let you walk out of here alone.” Ávila stood firm, eyeing Gabriela while she quickly stuffed a go-bag with clothes, makeup, and whatnot. “Your psycho ex is outside, and while I know you have to be somewhere soon, your safety before your career comes first!”
Gabriela listened for any changes that might be happening across the hall from the apartment, hoping that their neighbors would buy her enough time to escape. Thankfully there were three other units whose balconies faced the street, and it would take Marco some time, albeit small, to pinpoint the correct one.
“I know. I know Ávi, but I really have to go.”
“Not a chance, chica.”
“Ávi, we have an even dire situation on our hands, and if I don’t leave now, it’ll get very nasty very quickly for the both of us.”
Realization flickered in Ávila’s eyes when Gabriela refused to say any more, and they quickly whipped their phone out to dial a number. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit!” They cussed. “José’s not answering.”
“Just try again.” Gabriela’s eyes darted to the apartment door, just as she placed her prized red heels in the bag. She then quickly pulled on a pair of shorts and a loose shirt. “Don’t stop until he answers you—”
Both of them froze when someone rapped on their door. “I know she’s hiding here, Ávila.” Marco’s voice was clear through the heavy wood. “I mean no harm. I just want to talk to Ella. Please.”
“Don’t say anything.” Gabriela whispered, carefully slipping into a pair of running shoes. “Not a single sound.”
Ávila watched their friend open her bedroom window. “What are you doing?!” Ávila hissed, with eyes so wide. “Are you insane?!”
Gabriela shrugged as she quickly and quietly slipped out into the fire escape. “A little bit messed up in the head, but I’m not letting my ex stop me.” She responded in a hushed tone. “I’ll also go get you some help while you just keep contacting José. Just hang on tight.”
…
The driver kept eyeing Gabriela in the backseat, who was busy making herself look presentable. She glared at the man through the mirror, hoping to God that he wasn’t thinking of trying anything funny. She was already running way behind, and if not for her audacious getaway, Gabriela was sure she would’ve been promptly replaced.
The stars were aligning just for her, though the odds of finding an Uber only to be stuck in traffic did little to ease the tension on her shoulders.
Gabriela had reported the disturbance to the police station near the apartment to try and get her ex apprehended and away from everyone. But just as expected, the police found no trace of Marco an hour later when they checked in. Thankfully, Ávila was safe, and José had arrived back home safely without any incident. Though knowing that Marco would not rest until he had his way, Gabriela knew that she could no longer stay there for her friends’ sake. Ávila would beg her to reconsider, but knowing how it shook them both, Gabriela did not want to put any of them in any more danger.
The thought of having to move again on such short notice worried Gabriela, but there were more important things that needed her attention. She shot her brother with a message not expecting much, as the car finally arrived at the co-space in Avenida Carrera 15.
Gabriela almost flung herself out in a hurry, glad that she had enough credit in her card to forgo cash payment. Her heels clacked on the pavement as she made her way inside, carefully balancing the tote on her shoulder, filled with the clothes she wore earlier as she ran away.
Standing in front of the large door, she took a deep breath and reminded herself of the spiel she rehearsed. Her destiny was waiting on the other side, and she entered without a moment’s hesitation.
And when she did, Gabriela got more than what she bargained for.
Never in a million years did Gabriela think it was possible. She had never expected to cross paths with him again. But there he was, the person who plagued her thoughts even though she tried hard to forget.
“Lo siento, llegó tarde. Traffic was terriblé.” She greeted as she smoothed down the invisible wrinkle on her dress while apologizing to the director and the crew who had already started without her. She had never been late for any of her appointments, but circumstances had prompted her to take the long way there.
“Ay, no, no. Glad that you made it.” Hernando motioned for Gabriela and proudly introduced her to the rest of the group. She had worked with Hernando multiple times in the past and was familiar with his methods and style, and it definitely worked in her favor. “Everyone, this is our leading lady. Since we’re all complete, we can start the screen test and script reading after this meeting.”
“Thanks, Nando.” Gabriela whispered. “For that introduction.”
“No worries, Ella. It’s unlike you to be late, but there’s always a first time, eh?” He ribbed good-naturedly and Gabriela rolled her eyes at him. “I’m joking.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“By the way, your leading man is over…there.”
Hernando pointed over to the man sitting in the far corner of the room whose face was buried deep in the script he had in hands. She had thought him to be a minor cast member at first, or one of the production crew, but was surprised to find out that he was the actor whose performance everyone raved about.
“He had star power, Ella, and he would for sure match your energy.”
He matched her energy, all right. She shooed the thought away and made her way towards him.
Gabriela made a small wave to catch his attention, unsure of how to approach him. Surely he doesn’t remember me, does he? He remained oblivious, not until one of the crew members sitting next to him nudged him a little too harshly. His brows furrowed in slight annoyance as he glared at the intruder, and then their eyes met.
For a moment, whether she’d like to admit it or not, it felt like time had stopped.
Gabriela prided herself in being able to keep her emotions in check. But standing there, in front of the man with whom she shared all of herself — the truest version of her — in a one night stand, made the tiniest crack on the walls she cocooned herself in. There were a million and one thoughts running through her head, and it was terrifying.
Had she not learned anything?
So she did what she did best — masking her anxiety with humor. “I think we’ll get along, director.” Gabriela exclaimed as she extended a hand toward the man in greeting. She flashed a brilliant smile, but could feel her hand starting to get clammy. “Hola. Fancy seeing you here. Soy la Imelda de tu Héctor. Llámame Gabriela.”
He just stared at her with his mouth agape. An awkward silence fell, and Gabriela thought to retract her hand, and almost yelped when he took it in his. “Uh, yeah.” He croaked, his grip on hers a little too firm. It was an innocent handshake, but the contact was just enough to make her blush. “Same. I wasn’t expecting it myself. Anyway, nice to meet you, Gabriela. I’m Bruno.”
…
The principal filming for the early flashback scenes would start early the next morning. It was how Hernando usually shot his films — usually all out of order — to maximize the time with each actor he worked with. He also rarely utilized screen testing actors until the day before actuals to make sure the comments would be still fresh on everyone’s mind.
In his words, everyone had chemistry — and even terrible chemistry could work in someone’s favor.
Gabriela went through the motions with ease, but by the fifth take she could tell that Bruno, while courteous enough, was struggling with Nando’s instructions.
“You good?” Gabriela asked Bruno while Hernando discussed something with the assistant director way out of earshot.
Bruno blinked back at her. “Sorry.” He muttered. “Just nerves.”
“First time?”
“Being in front of a camera or ogled by people?”
Gabriela contemplated for a bit. “Both?”
“Nope.” Bruno snorted. “I’ve acted before.”
“Then why the nerves?”
Bruno’s lips twitched upwards into a smirk, though a faint dusting of pink started across his cheeks. “This is going to sound pretty stupid, and I don’t want to be too forward, but I was just thinking how God is probably real. I’m amazed at the odds. It must be fate.”
Her eyes widened at the implication, and Gabriela shot him a mortified look. “Dios mío.” She had been trying to keep her cool about the whole one night stand ordeal, and hoped he wouldn’t dare bring it up, especially while working. “What?”
“You know what I’m talking about.” He said, almost coolly. “I had been thinking about you since then.”
Was he trying to play with her?
“Don’t tell me you want to discuss it right now!” She hissed. “If you’re referring to that night, I know it’s a little slimy to leave without an explanation, but…”
“I understand.” Bruno chuckled, taking Gabriela aback at his nonchalant attitude all of a sudden. “If I were in your shoes, I would also sneak out just to avoid the awkwardness after.”
Would it have been awkward if she stayed? Gabriela knew that it probably wouldn’t be the case. But before she could say anything further, Hernando loudly yelled ‘CUT!’. The way Gabriela quickly turned her head to face the camera probably gave her whiplash.
When had Hernando returned to filming them?! She returned her gaze back to Bruno, who mouthed an apology.
“That’s exactly the energy I wanted to see between our two lovebirds.” Hernando clapped, unaware of the dangerous glint in Gabriela’s eyes. “Great work. Make sure to keep that up tomorrow on the first scene. Let’s wrap up for the day.”
