Chapter 7

Camilo came into a sudden epiphany— well, more like he had finally accepted the fact that he had fallen in love. Madly in love with his aloof friend.

He sighed dreamily as he held his cheek, the same place that she had placed weeks before— it's imaginary warmth still tingles on his skin. Her eyes shone brighter than any glimmering gem that exists, it was like he found a random gem- not knowing it was one of the most precious jewel in the world. Her voice smooth butter, sweet like honey, intoxicating—

He abruptly sat up from his bed, his hands aggressively rubbed his freckled face as to push such thoughts away. As his hands runs through his curly hair, he tries to quell the erupting volcano that is his feelings. .

", I wanna ask you about som—"

"Is it about that little , from a few weeks ago?"

His eyes widened, face flushed with crimson as his father merely smirked at his son's reaction. It's quite hard to ignore the lovesick gaze Camilo gave to the oblivious girl as he bid her goodbye that day, not to mention the speed he ran just to see her was phenomenal in Felix's opinion.

"It was so obvious, . You are down bad for her, man. Now what do you want to ask your old man, eh?"

"Well it's just, how did you know that— y'know, that is the one that you'd want to spend the rest of your life with. Why her?"

"Why anyone else if she exists?" Felix replied with no hesitation. His eyes filled with overflowing admiration to Pepa, she was the sun that brightens up his entire day— no, life. They see each other every single day, yet Felix could not help but fall in love with her over and over again. He couldn't believe that so many years had passed as it felt like it was merely yesterday that he and Pepa were married, amidst the hurricane and rain, it was the best day of his life.

Why must he find something else when everything he needs is already right in front of him? Love is such a finicky thing, Camilo concludes, it's unfamiliarity was terrifying yet he couldn't get enough of it. It was euphoric.

He thought, his eyes stared at front door of his friend's home. He doesn't have a plan, his legs just simply followed what his heart truly desires deep in inside. . It's been weeks since he last saw her, and he felt so deprived of her existence. I guess Camilo Madrigal is an insatiable being, he just couldn't get enough of her.

"Camilo?"

.

He blinked, he didn't even notice the that door had opened. He was standing there for god knows how long that it was kind of concerning for the girl, who was peeking through the curtains every few minutes waiting for Camilo to actually knock on the door, or perhaps he was used to Casita opening the door for them that he's not used to normal doors anymore. Either way, she's going to open the door for him; he looks pathetic just standing there like an abandoned puppy anyways.

"! I just wanted to know if- if you wanna hang out today?"

He mentally cursed himself for stuttering, he wanted to be smooth, dang it! But the girl didn't seem to mind as she let him in to her humble abode.

"Let's come to my mother's garden, I was painting there earlier."

Like hell as if she's going to let him come to her room, all her stockpiled art of him was in there!

Her mother's garden was filled with a menagerie of plants and flowers, arranged beautifully as if to convey hidden meaning, or perhaps her mother was just borderline obsessed with plants. It can be either of the two.

"I was kind of hoping that one of the magical Madrigals would miraculously come and visit me."

Speed walking to her painting, she took the canvas from the easel it was formerly resting upon and gave it to Camilo. Once again he was at awe at her work, it was a painting of Camilo's parents in a field of sunflowers, with his mother even holding a few. Their faces filled with mirth as a beautiful rainbow formed above his mother's head. As he was enamored by the painting, his eyes caught sight of a little message on the bottom corner of the canvas,

His parents would be elated to see this, he could imagine the utter joy on his mother's face when she sees this. It'd be a wonderful sunny day for a few days when they see this painting she made, Camilo would also like to have something similar to this hung on his bedroom wall.

"Gracias, mi would absolutely love this!"

"I'm glad, it was cloudy for a few days and I couldn't help but worry for Pepa, she must've been feeling down lately and I hope this would make her feel a little better."

His heart warmed at the thought of her being worried for his beloved mother's emotional well being, his Mamá is his number one after all. Camilo wonders. She's kind and patient, understanding and talented, and so much more! At this point Camilo feels far too inadequate to even stand beside her, more less to even try to court her.

"Then I'll go back to the and give this to then, see ya!" He said in a hurry, a valiant attempt to forget about the blooming insecurity that started to grow in the pit of his stomach, and before the girl was even able to retaliate, he ran off straight out of the door with her hands slightly reaching out to his direction.

"I... I thought we were supposed to hang out today..." She muttered softly, her hand now placed on the chest as a sudden unfamiliar feeling had appeared. And this time, it was unbearable— uncomfortable. She was used to being alone in the house, and barely making friends in town, she was used to be alone, but never once had she felt lonely. Not until she met Camilo. Being with him was like the coffee she drinks every day, downright addicting— mood souring if suddenly deprived of it.

The moment he took a single step inside the Casita, painting secured around his arms, he was greeted with an unimpressed Dolores. Her arms crossed as her eyes bore through his being, silently judging her brother. He was certain that she definitely heard the way he just not so smoothly excused himself just to run away from her.

"You left her hanging there."

. He said to himself, walking away from his sister, lips pressed into a thin line as he knew it's wrong to just run away from his friend so suddenly.