·9·

"Smile"

"You know, Mirabel taught me how to make flower crowns," Estella mentioned, smiling as she intertwined the stems of the flowers together. "I used to make funky-looking crowns before." She chuckles, remembering the times when she and Mirabel were the best of friends and how they used to do cheeky stuff together along with Camilo who enjoyed playing pranks and scaring them.

Estella places the finished crown on Parce's head as the jaguar lets out a short purr-like sound, feeling her warm hands. "They like you a lot." Antonio laughs softly, swaying his feet as he sits on a sturdy tree branch.

"Why I'm flattered," Estella grinned, grabbing the face of the jaguar and gently shaking it playfully as she makes faces at it as if it was a child she was holding.

"When Mirabel said that you taught her how to embroider when you were younger, she even smiled just like how you did when she told me." The boy says to the girl. "We were the closest of friends when we were little." She tells him, facing the little boy with a smile still visible on her face.

"But then that would mean you were closer before than you are right now." He mentioned, tilting his head in confusion, knowing how friends get more and closer every time they spend time with each other.

"Well, not being able to spend a lot of time with each other like how we used to doesn't mean we aren't friends anymore," Estella remarked, her hands slowly dropping away from Parce's head making the animal sit and look at the two of them as they continued to talk. "If Mirabel calls for me, I'll always be ready to be there for her, and I know she'll be the same."

A moment of silence came across the two since even the animals were keeping quiet. The girl nibbled on her lips, picking up more flowers from the pile to make another crown to pass the time when the little boy opened his mouth.

"I..." Antonio spoke, his voice unsure and his eyes started avoiding hers once more. The girl's attention quickly diverted itself to the little boy as she looks at him, patiently waiting for him to open up.

"I just wanted to help." He muttered under his breath, fiddling with the ends of his shirt. "They said that they still don't know how my gift could help so I wanted to see if we can practice some things..."

Although the boy's voice was soft and his way of talking was almost like he was mumbling, it was clear enough for Estella to hear.

She climbs on the tree and sits beside him, her hands placed on her lap as she stares at him. "Antonio," Estella starts, "You don't need to push yourself too hard, y'know."

"You're still a kid, you have all the time in the world." She smiles, "You should be having fun and making mistakes while you can still get away with it." The girl chuckles weakly, trying to lighten him up as he slowly turns his head to face her.

"Besides, you bring joy to your family and you already do your best every day making everyone proud. That's more than enough." She said sincerely, patting the boy's head as he flashes her an understanding smile.

Antonio didn't say anything, instead, he expressed his gratitude by giving the girl a tight hug and a smile making her clutch on her chest. "Ack! How are you so adorable?" She said through gritted teeth, tickling him and helping cheer him up.

★ ★ ★

Camilo has been wandering the forest in search of Estella, unsure whether he should keep looking for her in the woods or go back to town to see if she came back already.

Squawk

The chameleon boy jumped in surprise at the sound, eyeing the suspicious toucan who appeared out of nowhere. Camilo tilted his head at it and got even more confused when it did the same thing.

Squawk

It said once more before flying away.

Well, that was weird, Camilo thought, scratching his head as he watches the bird fly away, back toward town.

Sighing, Camilo was on the verge of giving up and going back when he suddenly heard faint overlapping chirping. He followed the sound and was met with two giggling figures, backs faced him as they sit on a thick and sturdy-looking branch not too high from the ground.

Estella hums her little tune once more as the birds tried mimicking the sound, creating a beautiful melody, her smile was wide along with his brother's bright eyes.

Whatever they were doing, it was obvious that they were having fun doing it. Camilo couldn't help but scoff and put on an amused sideways smile as he watches two of his favorite people smile and laugh in the distance.

He knew how Estella used to like the idea of being a princess – the typical pretty dresses, the handsome and cunning prince at almost every story, and the cute animal friends that came along with the package, but neither of them knew she'd actually get to sing with birds someday. The flowers on her head made her look even prettier in his eyes, especially since she was smiling like crazy, making his heart pounce and do all sorts of circus tricks in his chest.

He takes an involuntary step backward, breaking a twig in the process. He winces at the ground, lifting his foot away from the scene of the crime.

At the corner of Estella's eyes, she noticed a familiar yellow, well-designed piece of clothing. She turned her head and attention towards the figure and saw Camilo inspecting his foot.

He rose his head and their eyes met. Estella smiled at him and waved, before informing Antonio about his brother's presence while Camilo was stuck in that short moment, his whole world in slow fucking motion all of a sudden.

He was embarrassed about how he was caught looking like some sort of stalker by her but then she smiled at him and it felt as if an arrow shot through his heart. He felt all sorts of things just by the sight of her face, and it's already replaying over and over again in his head regardless of the fact that it literally just happened a few seconds ago.

He couldn't even do anything but smile and wave back, thinking that he probably looks like an idiot. Not to mention that his little brother was there to see him as he continues to look weird in front of the girl he secretly likes.

It's frustrating how every time the girl smiles it feels almost like the cue for cupid to do target practice with his heart.

How many times has he been hit anyway?