·37·

"Big Sis Material"

Gasp!

"Oh, my," Estella muttered, watching the rat play Antonio and his Tio Bruno orchestrated with the help of their other family members. And a bit from her, but it's not like she peeked through the script and stuff.

It's been a few weeks since they first aired their first episode on their play – they do one episode a week, and it's the 9th one today.

"Emmanuel, nooo!"

The curtains close, meaning that the play finally ended. Estella felt a child's head lean on her, while the others did the opposite since she was sitting in the front row with most of the kids.

"I feel so betrayed!" Cecilia said dramatically, making Estella laugh at the girl as she lays her head on her lap. "Why did Emmanuel have to leave?" She groaned.

"He and Gabriela were meant for each other!" A different kid exclaimed, also leaning on Estella in disappointment.

"Do you know if they'll get back together, Estella?" Cecilia asked the girl curiously.

"Nope," Estella said, popping the p, laughing at the numerous disappointed groaning. "Even if I did I can't tell you. It'll ruin the whole show," She explained helping someone them up and dusting their clothes.

"Alright, come on now, Cecilia. We're having your favorite for dinner," Cecilia's father spoke, smiling at Estella who did the same at him as he gestures for his daughter to come home with him.

The crowd filled with excited murmurs, all wondering what would happen next. Estella stood up and slid to the back where the others were found, lending a hand in tidying up the props.

"Cliffhangers like that should be banned soon," She said jokingly, making Bruno laugh.

"Well, it is keeping the audience hooked on the show for a while," He tells her picking up his rats with a proud smile.

"You guys did great," He whispered to them.

Estella chuckled at the man's wholesomeness, fixing the small clothes the characters wear and putting them into a small box filled with their other mini costumes.

Mirabel and Antonio hive five each other, happy about the successful show they finished for the night.

After a little bit of chitchat, while they cleaned up, Estella waved goodbye to the Madrigals, watching them all walk back to their house for dinner.

Dusting her hands, Estella was just on her way back to their house, to have dinner with her family as well, also seeing a few people on their way to their homes.

The girl turns her head, hears loud footsteps start approaching her, and sees Camilo running towards her at full speed.

"Why are you–?" She started to speak, wanting to ask why he was running at her when all of a sudden he cuts her off and says: "I forgot to do something."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Estella asked curiously, "What is it?"

But as soon as she did, Camilo leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead, catching her off guard.

"Wha–?" She breathed out, already blushing like crazy as Camilo laughs at her facial expression, running back to catch up with his family while he waved at her.

"See you tomorrow!"

"O-okay," She ended mumbling, hesitantly raising her hand to wave back at him before running back home herself.

At the dinner table, Estella almost spits out her juice, hearing her mother ask her a question completely out of topic out of the blue.

"So, are you two dating?"

"What?" Estella asked, chuckling nervously as she wipes her mouth. "W-Who're you talking about?"

Benito looks at his daughter and sighs, "I'm pretty sure you already know who, Mija."

Wide-eyed with disbelief, Estella asked where all of this was coming from, feeling like she stepped on a hidden landmine while she was just walking in the streets.

"Oh, no particular reason," Tacita answers, "Just wondering, sweetie."

The girl sighed, "Ma, Pa, we are positively not dating." "Yet," She murmured slyly under her breath. "And even if we are dating, which we are not (yet), you'll know," She said, looking at both her parents who simply eye each other as if they were conversing mentally.

Boy, would they be surprised at what that boy has in store for them the next day.

"Camilo?" Tacita blurts out in surprise and disbelief, seeing as the boy actually knocked on their door for once.

"Should I call Estella for you? She's just doing something upstairs," She said, urging for him to come inside.

"Oh, actually, I'm just here to ask you something," He said, getting a bit nervous as the woman let him sit near her husband in their living area.

Benito sips his coffee, staring at what seems to be the boy's soul as he sees him sit down.

Everyone heard footsteps start coming down the stairs, and they eventually see Estella emerge, carrying multiple paintbrushes in her arms.

"What the– what are you doing here, Camilo?" She asked, surprised to see him sitting on their sofa for once with her parents.

Estella eyes him suspiciously, walking to her Papa's art room to put back the brushes she borrowed yesterday when one fell from her grasp.

"Uhmm," Camilo started, catching the couple's attention. "I don't really know how to ask this properly, but," He said, scratching the back of his head.

"Can I have permission to court your daughter?"

"What?!" Estella exclaimed in shock, hitting her head while she was struggling to grab the brush that fell from her arms earlier under a table.

Almost Two Years Later...

"C'mon Lorena, we need to go now," Estella tells her little sister, the older twin, and picks her up with a grunt. "You're getting heavy," She smiled, looking at the little girl as their small hand lightly taps Estella's nose because of the comment.

The Cortez's were on their way to casa Madrigal, invited to dinner by the one and only, Alma Madrigal to discuss Dolores's wedding that's to happen in the nearing few months.

Estella's Papa was carrying her little brother, the younger twin, Lorenzo. He has a thing for hair, which is why Benito carries him most of the time so he almost has nothing to chew on.

"Come in, come in," Alma smiled greeting her guests.

It was a surprise for them to see that they all fit at the dinner table.

The little children, Lorena and Lorenzo were at the other end of the table, with Estella and her Papa on each side of them to help feed while Tacita was on the other end since if she were to sit with her family, she wouldn't be able to talk with the others clearly.

Camilo, of course, sat next to Estella, the girl he was courting even until now.

It's not that she's been rejecting him, it's just that both of them know that they were still a little too young two years ago when he asked for permission – something of which he was given, might I add. And it's not like he asks her to be his girlfriend on a regular basis or nonstop. Camilo doesn't want to rush her.

Sometimes the question just slips from his mouth at times where he finds it hard to contain his. . .

UnDyiNg AffEcTion ✨

"Dios Mio," Estella breathes out frustratedly, having trouble feeding Lorena – the older, more mischievous twin with her adorable freckled face, brown eyes, and curly caramel hair. It's hard to stay upset at cute children.

Camilo let out a short, quiet, chuckle, catching a glimpse of her trying to bargain with a one-year-old child.

"How about three? Last three bites," She said in a hushed tone at her sister, pouting at her smug-looking father who was having no trouble feeding her little brother, Lorenzo – the younger, more quiet twin who looks just like his sister. Except he's the male version.

I guess you could say that's how being identical twins work when it's based on appearances.

Lorena laughs at her sister with her hands going up and down for some logical baby reason, accidentally knocking off the spoon from Estella's hands.

Miraculously, Estella's reflexes finally managed to wake up even for that single moment, catching the utensil before it even made a sound.

If only the spoon was empty.

Sighing, Estella gives up, thinking that Lorena was still a bit full from the food their Mama gave them earlier at once (afternoon snack time).

-------------Kindly correct me if I'm wrong about "once". I don't know how to explain it shortly, hehe...

To my fellow Filipinos/Filipinas out there though, to sum it up, it's like merienda. -------------

The girl grabs a napkin, to wipe the food off the floor, taking a glance at her mischievously grinning sister.

One year old and you're already a cheeky little girl, She says to herself, shaking her head with an amused smile.

Camilo, who has been distracted for a bit by his Tia's delicious food and the conversations going on, noticed Estella with her head under the table.

Knowing her, he places his hand on the edge of the table just in case she accidentally hits her head again. He notices the intense stare Lorena was doing, looking at his soul and wondering what he was trying to pull.

Camilo smiles at her, as the child starts smiling back, flashing him her cute baby charms. 

I wonder who this little girl takes after. . .

A little too occupied with what she was doing, Estella didn't hear her mother just until her name was called out the second time.

"Estella?"

Surprised, the girl raises her head up, saying "Uh, yes?" A loud thud came from when she accidentally hit her head again. Only this time, not as hard since she had Camilo's hand to protect her. Chuckling nervously, she shows a toothy smile as a sign that she was alright.

"We were talking about designing the dresses," Her mother tells her, helping her catch up to the conversation.

"Oh, right. When are we planning to sketch it?" She asked, making Dolores ask a question back. "Is tomorrow good?"

"Of course, of course. Tomorrow is great," She tells them, letting the others go back to what they were talking about.

"Thanks by the way," She whispered to Camilo, looking at him. "Does it hurt?"

"It's alright," He smiled, pointing at her food with his lips and saying, "You should eat more."

"Yes, I'll make sure I finish everything," She grinned happily, turning to her sibling before adding, "Right after I wipe Lorena's messy face."

Camilo lightly chuckled, ever since Estella's siblings were born she'd mostly been occupied with them – feeding, changing, playing, carrying. Plus, she sews a lot with her mother now.

Her future has never been so clear, and the nice part here is that she's actually satisfied with what she has.

The boy on the other hand is also starting to form his own future. Even though he had a difficult time wondering who he really is, what's important is that he finds out someday when he's ready. And ever since he started voicing for the first rat show, he's been having fun with it.

And because of his talented Tio Bruno, who not only helped him find his calling for acting but also different other people who've always wanted to do the same, now their town is helping build a theatre for a soon-to-come live-action play.

Camilo watches his prima, Mirabel who was with his little brother, Antonio. The two of them were playing peek-a-boo with Estella's little brother, Lorenzo, while he could see his Tia, Julieta, carrying her little sister, Lorena.

Estella and her parents were still talking with Dolores and her Abuela, as well as the bride's parents regarding her wedding. Originally, Mariano was also supposed to be here since he's the fiance, but sadly, he got himself a cold and insisted that he'll just discuss his clothing with the Cortezs once he's feeling better.

Being the worried person she is, Estella couldn't help but take a peek at her siblings even though she knows they were in very capable hands.

Camilo noticed her of course, shaking his head at the girl. "Let me guess, you couldn't put your mind at rest again, couldn't you?" He asked, offering his hand which she takes as she laughs guiltily.

"Sometimes even my mom questions whether which of the two of us is the real mother," She tells him, making him chuckle as he starts gently pulling her arm in for a side hug.

"We're planning on doing measurements the day after tomorrow after the designs so we could start early. If I were you, I'd start eating a little less if I want to look good," She joked, the two of them separating.

Camilo scoffed, "Oh, Estella, Mi Amor," He said dramatically, stroking her hair, "Mi Querida, Mi–" The boy breaks out laughing after getting elbowed by her.

"Stop playing around," She scolds him but still with a smile.

"I just wanted to say that I always look good," Camilo said, shrugging, "But you already knew that, right?"

"Oh, gee, did I? I didn't think so," She teased back, the two of them laughing before one of the girl's little siblings saw her and started reaching out for the girl – their older sister, Estella is both their first best friend other than each other.

"Oh no," Mirabel says, seeing how Lorenzo's face started scrunching, looking like he's about to cry when she tried stopping him from leaning forward too much so he wouldn't fall.

Pretty soon, as soon as Lorenzo started crying for his sister, Lorena did the same too.

"Coming, I'm coming," Estella said, opening her arms to Lorenzo to pick him up, leaving Camilo as he watched her tend to her siblings' needs again.

Even before, she was a magnet for children. Can't blame the girl for being sisterly material, though.

And for someone who claims to be socially awkward, she makes a lot of friends easily, and gets along with children, and even with his family.

: Kinda hard not to imagine a life without her now, isn't it, Camilo?

"You said it."

**INITIATING CRINGE FRENZY**