·43·

"Something in the Air"

---------Camilo, in Mirabel's, err. . . How do I say this, like, form? Yeah, yes, let's just call it that. Whatever, I'm running out of words 😂😭---------

C̶a̶m̶i̶l̶o̶ w̶a̶s̶ i̶n̶ h̶i̶s̶ M̶i̶r̶a̶b̶e̶l̶ f̶o̶r̶m̶

C̶a̶m̶i̶l̶o̶, i̶n̶ h̶i̶s̶

: Oh, /bleep/ it—!

★ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ★

Camilo transformed back into himself, holding an envelope in his hand as he looked at the two girls in disappointment.

"Three days, huh?"

"Well, how we're we supposed to know that Pal was gonna change the way they deliver letters?" Estella says, shrugging.

"Maybe Pal caught wind of what we were doing somehow," Mirabel suggested, taking the envelope from Camilo and tucking it in safely in her bag.

"It won't bring back my three days either way," The boy says, "But, I am looking forward to my extra desserts," He then added, rubbing his hands together as he wiggled his eyebrows at Mirabel.

"Yeah, yeah, a deal's a deal," She sighed, waving her hand. "Guess we will end up waiting," Mirabel tells Estella while the girl simply nods her head in response.

"Ugh! But we were so close," Estella grunted, clenching her fist for dramatic effect. "So close I could smell it!"

"What do they smell like?"

"Eh, it was mostly just an expression. Though I do think Pal's letters have a certain, familiar smell on them whenever I sniff them."

Mirabel and Camilo look at Estella in a mixture of disbelief and. . . uh, disgust. "'Stel, you know I love you but why do you need to sniff the letters? Mirabel has a nose too," Camilo says, pointing at his prima.

"Hey!" Mirabel exclaimed, grumbling at Camilo as she swatted his finger away from her.

"Speaking of sniffing, mind if I borrow the letter?"

"No?" The two said in confused unison, looking at her with furrowed brows and wide eyes.

"What? It's like when I smell books a–and paint sometimes, okay? You guys are making it weird," Estella stuttered, trying to defend herself after being attacked by their gazes.

"Anyway, speaking of books," She then changed the subject, patting her satchel. "I still have to return the one I borrowed."

"Right," Mirabel nods, "And I have to go back home to help Tio finish his script."

"And I have to make up for all those naps I lost," Camilo yawned. Now it was his turn to be stared at.

Estella and Mirabel just shook their heads at him as they smiled and chuckled lightly, their little meeting coming to an end as they all tend to what was originally planned on their agendas for today.

Going inside pretty much the only library in their town, Estella heard the door chimes chime as it opens and closes.

"Hey, Julio," She greeted, smiling at the boy behind one of the desks.

"Hey," He greeted back, waving his hand as he stands up from his seat to see if he can help her with anything.

Julio was just a few years older than Estella. He was a very quiet kid who loved to read and stay indoors. Julio has beautiful brown eyes and coffee-colored hair which is tied up into a small, useless ponytail since some of his hair isn't that long yet, therefore covering up his pretty face.

He'd look pretty average from afar, but as you stare at him long enough you'd see how good-looking he'd be if he actually tried putting more effort into it.

"I'm just returning this book," Estella mentioned, getting the wonderous object out of her bag.

"Got it," He nodded, taking it and placing it on the desk to put it back on its rightful shelf and place later, along with all the other books the other people have returned today.

"And," The girl added, smiling sheepishly. "I was wondering if I could borrow another one?"

Julio smiled, putting his hand out to gesture for her to go look around, saying, "Of course."

"Sweet! Thanks, Julio," She squealed — ever since she got interested in one of the books she saw Pepa was reading, she started borrowing more and more books like she was in a reading frenzy. And currently, she's really into medieval fantasies that of course, have very romantic genres.

Hence the reason why she could compare Pen Pal's way of talking through their letters like they live in Medieval times.

"Got any suggestions for me?" Estella asked, scanning for an interesting book to read from a random aisle.

"Well, what kind of book are you trying to look for?"

"Uhm, something romantic and interesting," She says, grabbing one that caught her eye before returning it, realizing how she actually already read that one before.

"Maybe a little bit of comedy? I dunno, surprise me," She added, chuckling.

"Huh," Estella could hear Julio let out. "Well, seems like you've been interested in romance novels that take part in the Medieval Times," She heard him pause, hearing his footsteps.

Pretty soon, Julio was already beside her, also looking at the shelves filled with books for a little while before reaching out to one that was located on the top shelf.

"Try this one," He says, tip-toeing since he got lazy to grab the ladder. Estella smiled, taking the book Julio soon handed to her.

"Gracias, Julio! I'm sure I'll enjoy this one since you suggested it," She said, thinking how he's probably read almost every book their family owns. Plus, ever since his uncle let him stay and help out with the library one, he became so hooked on the place and almost refused to ever leave.

"Ah," He smiled shyly, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment from the compliment. "No problem," Julio muttered.

"Anyways, I'll be taking my leave now," Estella waved, passing by him, and then for a second, she picked up a faint, familiar scent.

"See you," Julio says, walking back to his designated space behind a desk, on a comfy chair with a book he probably read twice already in the past.

The chimes by the door made a cute little twinkling tune as Estella exited the place. Humming as she heads back home.

Plopping down on her bed after taking a peek at her still-napping siblings', Estella couldn't resist the urge of sniffing the book and inhaling its wonderful and addicting smell.

"Totally not weird at all," She says to herself, remembering how Mirabel and Camilo looked at her for suddenly having a random knack for smelling things now.

"Hm," Estella hummed, picking up the faint smell from earlier like a flipping trained canine that sniffs out bombs and stuff.

"...Wait a minute," She then says, closing the book she just happened to open and putting it on her bedside table.

"THAT'S WHY IT'S SO FAMILIAR, HOLY SH–"

★ ★ ★

"Maybe this is why other female leads like older guys," Estella trailed off, still dazed with the fact that Julio was the one sending Mirabel those letters of affection, sounding like a romantic poet.

"I'm older," Camilo says, placing a hand on his chest. "By a few months, but it still counts," He added proudly, making her laugh.

"Does it though?" She asked jokingly.

"Pretty sure it counts," He said, pretending to think as they both laughed it off in the end.

Estella sighed, a bit bummed about how they already found the identity of Mirabel's secret admirer – taking away one of the things she looks forward to and puts so much energy into doing.

"Uh-oh, I know that face," Camilo says, looking at her with narrowed eyes.

Estella laughed weakly at him. "It's nothing, just another thought," She answered, looking in the distance.

"Well, then what is it?"

"I... want to go out," Estella answered, turning to look at him, watching as he takes a minute to understand what she was trying to say.

"Go out and go where though; visit Enrique?" He asked, a bit curious himself.

"I mean, it's one thing on the list." She paused for a moment, adding, "I just wanna go someplace I haven't been to and make more exciting memories, you know?"

"And it's not like I'm not having fun HERE, I just feel like I'm someone different over there," Estella explained, looking back in the distance again, trying to find the right words to describe how she felt when she was out there in a small, simple town.

It was mesmerizing to her, yet it was just a mere fragment of the gigantic and wondrous world that lies beyond their tall, protective mountains.

"I just feel so...so..." She trailed, still trying to find the right words.

"Free," Camilo finished for her, causing her to look at him again. And as their eyes met, she knew how he understood what she was trying to say. Especially since he felt it too.

No one outside knew he has powers, so no one would need him to be someone else. Out there he'd just be a typical teen without that many heavy responsibilities and worries. 

"Yeah, exactly," Estella smiled warmly at him before laying her back on the roof and letting out a dramatic heavy breath.

"Alas," She says, bringing herself back to reality. "I'm afraid my need for adventure has to wait. I've got siblings I still need to watch grow a bit more and chores that need to be done."

Camilo smiled, leaning on his arm as he looked over her, laying down and looking up at the sky. "I'll wait with you, if you'll wait with me," He says, making her look at him and grin.

"Oh, yeah?" She hummed, sitting back up and looking at him; their faces weren't that far away from each other.

"Hell yeah," He said with determination, making her laugh. "One day we're gonna go out there and see whatever it is you want to see, do what you want to do, and go where you want to go."

"We'll make lots of unforgettable memories," Camilo smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "All we gotta do is wait."

"That," Estella breathes out, pausing for a short moment. "Was kind of romantic."

"Really? I thought it was kind of cheesy when I replayed it in my head," Camilo admitted, the two of them burst into laughter.

His laughter soon faded away, he asked in a serious and slightly nervous tone, "I just ruined the moment didn't I?"

"What?" The girl laughed, confusedly tilting her head at him with a smile. "What do you mean?"

"Were we or were we not about to kiss? Cuz it kinda looked like it was a good moment for a kiss before I suddenly blurted something ridiculous out," He explained making her laugh again and shake her head at him.

"No, seriously though, were we?"

Estella simply laughed at the boy, infecting him with her contagious giggling later on until they eventually talked about something else before heading down.

Camilo has always been the affectionate type so it's no surprise that he'd say something like that. Still, the girl can't help but feel embarrassed most of the time whenever he gets too comfy. Especially in public where other people can see them.

And although Estella isn't as affectionate as he is, she manages to give him some sugar every once in a while when the time she thinks is appropriate. He likes it whenever she does that even though he gets surprised and a bit shy sometimes.

"Hello, my cheeky little sister," Estella smiled, walking up to the infant's crib seeing as how she was already tossing and turning, her younger brother already awake and playing downstairs.

Still a bit dozy from her nap, Lorena stayed quiet and let herself be picked up by her older sister, to which Estella amusedly mutters. "This is a first."

The two girls go down the stairs where Estella let Lorena sit next to her twin brother, Lorenzo by the sofa. Lorena's mood immediately lifted up, and became more awake and energized at the sight of her twin along with their favorite toy.

Looking out the window for a moment, the girl spotted Isabela out there in the crowd with their friend, Wendy. Who, just like Enrique, wandered into their village by chance.

She said she travels from one place to the other and climbs mountains for fun. Wendy even has short, pretty, ginger hair with smooth, light skin. Plus, she's pretty tall and talented.

Estella smiled by herself, watching Isabela get a familiar sparkle in her eyes as she converses with their "guest", on their way to get somewhere.

Tacita hummed, noticing how her eldest seemed to be distracted, catching her attention. "And what exactly are you smiling about this time, hm?" She asked, making Estella chuckle lightly as she shook her head.

"Nothing," She replied, shrugging as she added. "Must be something in the air."