Chapter 11

Soft pitter-pattering of gentle drizzling rain calms her weary mind, a momentary respite from all the internal struggle— the weird voices that suddenly whispered to her ears so mysteriously. If not for Camilo's appearance, she would have broken down like smashed porcelain-ware run over by a cart on the street.

"I love it when it rains, it reminds me that even the clouds get tired from holding—carrying whatever burden they have for so long."

"You speak like a 40 year-old woman, ."

Her eyes tore away from the window to look at Camilo, who is staring at her with a smirk etched upon his freckled face. He really enjoys staring at her up close, as he could see every single detail of her pretty face. Certainly a blessing to be with her up close.

"My mother is 42, yet not once did I hear nor witnessed her say the things I say."

"I guess your mom's different then." He replied arms crossed, leaning on the table resting his chin on it, his eyes closing for a moment. He should really fix his posture, the girl noted, eyes still fixated on the curly-haired boy in front of her. She really wants to touch his floofy hair, it looks quite soft to the touch. One day, she'll get the opportunity to do so. ()

"All of us are different, you and I are different. Not even identical twins are the same."

"I don't think I'm different. I mean, my gift is shape-shifting— I can be anyone but ." He said to his friend, voice muffled from burying his face on his arm; refusing to meet her eyes, fearing she'd see right through him. See his so-called

"Be anyone but you? Camilo, all I see is no one else but ." She immediately retorted, he could feel her gaze staring down at him, ready to stomp down or pluck out whatever negative thought that had sprouted on Camilo's mind like an unwanted invasive weed.

"Right now, all I see is a nice boy who's very caring to his friend." She began, standing up from the comfy chair she once sat on to stand behind Camilo's hunched form, she then held his shoulders to gently ushered him to sit up.

"I see..." She leaned down and whispered, her warm breath tickling his ear as she spoke, sending satisfying shivers down his spine.

"A very loving boy who loves his family more than he loves himself."

Gently squeezing both shoulders, she listed down everything that makes Camilo... Well, .

"I see a boy who makes people smile."

"I see a boy who is unsure of himself, yet is unaware that he has all the time of the world to figure out who he is—that there is no one rushing you to do so."

"Someone who has an insatiable appetite."

Camilo let out a small laugh at this, he is not one to deny seconds after all. His Julieta's cooking is just simply a blessing made from the heavens.

"Someone who makes the corniest jokes."

"Hey! You said you like my jokes!" He huffs, slightly offended that she called his jokes corny.

"I do, because it makes makes you, you."

"All I'm saying is, you are already different. You just haven't seen it for yourself yet."

"No amount of mirrors would let you see how amazing you are, Camilo."

Her head now leaning on his, curly hair tickling the side of her face; she rubbed gentle circles on his shoulder with her thumbs for reassurance.

"No amount of mirrors would let you see the good things me and your family sees in you."

Camilo felt overwhelmed with many emotions at the moment to the point that her touch felt too warm to touch, pulling away from her— to stare at his friend's face, who in turn, was unknowingly looking at him in such a soft way—almost so lovingly.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like—"

"Like you're the only star in the sky?" She breathes, inching closer and closer to his face forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"Like you're the only pretty flower in the garden?" Fingers featherly touching his hands all the way to his freckled face, Camilo wonders, he could feel his own face heat up from the girl's endearing actions and words that she effortlessly spouted out from her mouth.

"I, I think I get it—"

"Camilo, you are a work of art." Cupping his warm face with both of her hands, squishing his cheeks.

Camilo would like to say, however words refuse to spill from his mouth instead prefers to get stuck on his throat.

Her face is but a hair's breadth away from his, they were close, incredibly close. Camilo closed his eyes, unable to handle being so close to her. He could smell the herbal scent of the tea he gave to her, frolicking in the air— sweetly tickling his nose.

He wonders if she could hear his heart beating so loudly for her, as if she was his lifeline.

A loud creaking sound of the door made the girl's eyes tore away from Camilo to the person in front of the door.

"Hey Camilo— woah! Whoops, I hope I wasn't interrupting something.." Mirabel's eyes widened at the close proximity of the two.

"Not really, we're just chatting."

Camilo grumbled, sad and a bit salty at the sudden loss of her warmth from his.

"You should come and join us Mira, it's been a while since we've last talked."

He tried telepathically telling his cousin, to his surprise, she miraculously understood.