* A boy, a boy who was so close to Mirabel
* She saw in that little moment, how much they work together
* The way the act as if they have been together forever
* Pepa knew a good match when she sees one, they remind them of herself and Felix
* Even Antonio knew Mateo, so she goes to the him to discuss Mateo
* “Toñito can you tell Mama about Mateo?”
* Antonio look confuse at her question, but brighten considerably when he realize she wanted to know more about Mateo
* Antonio tells the stories of their adventures together
* How the three of them celebrate his Tio and Mateo’s birthday together
* The lunch they had with Mateo’s mother
* How they play futból together
* Even that Mirabel embroider on Mateo’s shirts on quiet days
* Pepa’s face was in a big grin the entire time, not many people had Mirabel’s embroider on their clothes
* Most of the town ask her to fix in solitude along with the seamstress
* For Mirabel to embroider for someone outside the family is a big deal
* Pepa wanted to know, what is Mateo like? How did they get close?
* She remembers that Camilo was really close to him when he was younger
* But how did Mirabel became best friends with him is the mystery she wanted to solve
* Pepa, waited until everyone went to bed, it was late enough that no one should be up,
* Pepa saw Mirabel go into the nursery and wondering why she is up still
* On a mission she went towards Julieta’s door and knock on it
* The door open towards Julieta her hair outside of the bun
* “Pepa?” Said Julieta, there was no sleep in her eyes and she was wide awake
* Pepa grab Julieta’s wrist and pull her out the room, Julieta close the door with her other hand silently
* “What is this about Pepa?” Julieta ask
* “That boy Mateo?, how close is he to Mirabel?”
* Julieta was surprised and a little worry
* “Is that the reason you took me out of my room?” Julieta sigh at Pepa’s nod
* “He’s a friend Pepa, he and Mirabel hang out many times, he also have helped her out often. He even helps me out at the table”
* “Yes but I saw them, it was like two bodies but one soul”
* “Pepa” Julieta said drawing out her sister’s name “ I know you want to put those two together but it isn’t something you can force”
* “I know Julie, but I see how it is, he likes her”
* “Pepa please, let’s talk about this tomorrow”
* Pepa let Julieta go back to her room, but she knew what she saw, and she saw something
* Pepa went back to her room, and made a step back in surprise, Felix was up looking at her
* “What are you doing amor?” Felix question as Pepa went to her side of the bed
* “I went to talk to Julie”
* “At this time?” Felix turn to look at her more awake wondering what was going on
* “Yes, about Mateo Lopez” that name woke Felix up more, he sat up straight as he listen to what happened earlier
* “Don’t force it Pepa, I rather they stay friends”
* Felix voice was gruff, there wasn’t a single hint of teasing in his tone
* “Why?” Pepa question, “Antonio and Julieta said he is a good man”
* “Yeah, a good man to impress us”
* Pepa knew what he was talking about instantly “Felix… Mirabel doesn’t have a gift, we all saw how the kids back away from her.”
* Felix nod in agreement “Mirabel is still a Madrigal. That doesn’t mean if she doesn’t get a gift, any children she have will be giftless”
* Pepa eyes widen at the conclusion Felix gave her, but she let him continue
* “A giftless Madrigal means that she could be more vulnerable to the Encanto, I’ve seen children Camilo’s age who stop playing with Mirabel suddenly start to talk to her, now? Why now?”
* Pepa knew that Felix’s heart was in the right place and in any given day she would agree with him, but this was different
* “Then why did Mateo stick with her after all this time? Why did he never follow his other friends and tease her or pick on her. Antonio told me, that he seen Mateo defend Mirabel and lost a friend because of that”
* Felix sigh “Pepita, I’m not saying that Mateo is like them, but you could never be careful… I don’t want to get her hopes up again”
* Pepa was quiet at that last part, she understands, that Mirabel with as big as an heart she has, she is still a bit fragile. Pepa doesn’t want to see a Mirabel that broken again.
* “We won’t let that happen, and I don’t think Mirabel would let that happen either” Pepa place her hand on top of Felix and gave him a small smile, even if he can’t see in the dark. Felix gave a squeeze back.
* They won’t stop what could happen, but they could support Mirabel, and help her when she needs it.
I really wanted to write something like this, to flesh out the world. Mateo’s relationship to Mirabel and the story is based on Mirabel’s perspective like the movie. We don’t know the rest of the family’s motives. Why they act this way towards Mateo and why to Mirabel they are being weird. They love Mirabel but haven’t been the best at showing it. The next POV will be Isabela and Luisa, with a hint of Alma
Pepa is an romantic, she truly believe in that friends to lovers trope and she is the mosey aunt who wants the best for her niece. Felix doesn’t want to dislike Mateo at all, but he along with Agustin was there when those kids stop wanting to play with Mirabel and how it affect her. In the same way Dolores is also an romantic, Camilo is just more protective but neither of them dislike Mateo. Antonio is team Mateo 100%
