T H I R T E E N

The next day, I was in my room after breakfast , writing in a spare journal Mirabel had and she gave it to me as she never got to use when I asked if she had one lying around. I wrote down what I discovered so far in my 3 days here:

   •Camilo, Isabella, Luisa, and Pepa haven't reached their full potential. •Their powers only work within a mile (?)   •The Mysterious woman protects the Madrigal's •The Mysterious woman helps Camilo reach his full potential. •Mirabel has no gift •Isabella and Mirabel don't get along.

This morning was a ruckus between the two sisters. They were throwing daggers with one another about how helping around town for some reason.

•Augustin is an accident prone. •Camilo is super talented. •Camilo had a memory of a mysterious woman. •Bruno went missing for a decade. •Felix is a great father. •Dolores has a crush on Mariano. But he likes Isabella. •Dolores is a chismosa. •Abuela Alma is hard on Mirabel.   •They lost their grandfather 50 years ago during the 'A Thousand Day War.'

Knock. Knock.

I put away my notebook under my pillow and fix my hair. I cleared my throat and compose myself.

"Come in," Camilo opens the door and walks in.

"Hey Y/n, would you like-"

"Woah... pause right there. You called me by my name. What happened to "mi angelita"?" I asked. I observe him and see him not wearing his poncho. Now that I think of it, he didn't wear it at the dining table for breakfast.

"I'm just not feeling it today with nicknames," he sighs and let out a yawn.

"Couldn't sleep?" I pat the spot next to me and sat down on my bed.

"I was thinking all night of what I saw. It feels like Deja Vu," he explains. "But its not... ugh! It's so hard to explain." Camilo lays down in frustration as his arms rested on his forehead.

I frown and tried to think. "What do you think the woman was doing?"

   "I had like two memories, but its all a blur. We looked so happy and enjoying each other's company. And the other other was terrifying... she left and to be only found all chained up," he says. "I don't what's happening..."

   "We can solve this mystery together," I say offered.

   "I wouldn't bother... if my uncle was here, I think he can tell me what it all mean," Camilo closes his eyes and sighs.

   "Possibly. Like... I don't know much about the guy, but I think he would be the best resource," I say agreeing with his statement. I look at my bag and look down. "How about get some... rest?" I here light snoring and I look at him and poked his cheek. "Camilo?" I chuckled as he falls asleep on my bed. I take my notebook out of my pillow and place it my bag. Then I adjust Camilo in my bed and tuck him in.

Camilo sleeps peacefully. His face unbothered and relaxed. Overthinking really worn him out. The sun that shine through my window lit up his features. The tint on his eye lids and the curls rising and falling with each breath he takes. His freckles being visible in broad daylight.

   I take my eyes off him and get out of the trance I was in. I quietly grabbed my bag and pulled out the shard examining it. 'There has to be more shards. But where? Is it around town? In his room? Should I go to his room? Am I even allowed in there?'

   Antonio's gift ceremony is this Thursday, when everyone is distracted. I will go in. 'I must not touch anything that will change the events.'

   Eventually, Thursday came around. The past few days, I learned their customs and familiarized myself with town. I helped a lot to be honest. Mainly with the townsfolk as Abuela Alma gave a role to do, since I was a bit bored and hanging with Camilo sounds tempting, since he is fun, sweet, and the qualities of true gentleman, but I need a break and find clues to which is the reason I'm here.

   Mirabel woke me up before the others, to help her out set the table and prepare food with Julieta. They even got me my own designed Apron and hook. After we made breakfast, we set the table and 3 little kids were talking to Mirabel about the gifts, with a greeting to me as well. Mirabel started to sing a run down of her family. I help wake up Pepa's family members as she was on the other side. We all went outside and Abuela Alma gave me a list to help check off stuff as she will help a new family move in and build. I gladly accepted as I do want to pitch in and not burden them with me lying around the house. If I'm going to live there, I have to do something.

   •Remind Isabella to put fresh flowers around the house   •Tell Luisa to put the piano upstairs    •Check on the food preparations   •Keep Pepa Calm, no clouds allowed.    •Decorate Antonio's door.    •Check in Guests with Camilo.

   We all got to work. I helped Julieta in the kitchen again. Isabella came in to get a drink of water.

   "Oh Isabella. Abuela Alma told me to remind you of fresh flowers around Casita," I said giving her a smile.

   "Oh! Thanks for the reminder, Y/n. You're a big help," She smiled back and started to do her thing as the flowers in the kitchen changed and left.

   After that, I saw Luisa and told her about the Piano. I saw Mirabel carry a basket which she was struggling with. She almost tripped on her feet and I caught the basket before she could fall.

   "Huh?" Mirabel moved the basket to the side and sees me. "Oh! Thanks Y/n!"

   "No prob. Need help?"

   "No. I'm all good. Thanks though for the offer," she walks away and I see Pepa freaking out. But luckily Felix was there to calm her down and Isabella gave her a bouquet.

   I head upstairs to check on Antonio's soon to be door. I see Camilo chilling complimenting the people helping.

   "Camilo... could you be so kind to help Don Jose?" I asked as I see him struggling.

   He nods and says, "Jose~!" I chuckled and backed up a bit to see it.

   "A bit higher.. almost.. perfect!" I clappedmy hands.

  "Wow... mi angelita is working hard today," Camilo ties Antonio's banner and goes back to normal.

   "Your grandmother sure got expectations tonight," I pull the list out.

   "Yeah ever since Mirabel's ceremony," he stares at his cousin and Isabella beefing again and sighs. "She tries so hard..."

   "I can tell..."

   "Y/n. Hey, I got you something," Camilo says as he pulls out a red ribbon from his pocket. "I saw this from Señora Osma's stand and I thought it would look on you. I saw you struggle with your hair in the way today, so here."

   I felt touched and smiled. "Thank you. Mind putting it my hair, mister stylist?"

   Camilo chuckled and grooms my hair with his slender fingers and puts my hair up in a ponytail. "There you go. I give you... the Camilo Madrigal original ponytail." He bows. He plucks a red flower from Isabella's fresh flowers and puts it my hair.

   I laugh and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. See you in a bit to help greet guest. I need to do something really quick." I walked away and get ready for party quickly.

   I joined Camilo outside as it was time to let guests in Casita's open doors. I giggled as Camilo shapeshift into the people he greets. One guests caught my attention as I was greeting them.

   "I see the way you look at him." An old woman named Genesis says with a smile. "Camilo sure got a beautiful lady."

   "Oh no... you got all wrong-"

   "Did I?" She chuckled. "Anyone can see it." She walks away and I felt smile appear on my face. I shake it off and resume with the task.

   'No room for love. Save the Madrigal's. Find the vision.'

   Once everyone was inside, I stood with Julieta waiting for the ceremony to start. Camilo soon joins me and Julieta. He grabs hold of my hand and stares at Antonio whom showed up in the isle. To start the ceremony.

   Antonio looks out to someone behind the curtain. He held his hand out and Mirabel appeared. Camilo's grip soften as he saw his cousin. They walked down the isle and up the stairs to Antonio's door.

He look hesitant but touches the door. His door lights up like millions of fireflies.

"Wow..." I gasped at the sight of the door's transformation. "It's so... beautiful."

   Camilo leaned into my ear and grinned. "Right? Once we become 5 years old, we get a gift and serve our home."

Everyone goes in and Camilo drags me with him as he was excited to see his little brother's room. We watched him enjoyed the ability to talk to animals. After that, Camilo congratulated his brother with full joy. There was a family picture and I smiled at their happiness.

Camilo came over and pulled me with him. Music started to play and Camilo spun me around and smiled.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" He bows.

   "I... I no longer dance," I tried to back out of his grasp and look down.

   "Come on... trust me." He says in a gentle tone. "You can trust me... follow my lead angelita."