𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐎 𝐌. 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

His girl

"Mamá asked me to do today's errands for her." You say, trying to change the subject and recalling your mother's stern but still soft reminder for you to return home as soon as you were done. "But I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out the difference between a ripe or an overripe mango." You say with a soft sigh which Camilo chuckles at.

"No te preocupes, (Name). I got this." You can only smile gratefully as the boy began filling up your basket with mangoes and all the other fruits and vegetables on your list. Even haggling with Paulina for your sake.

"Ay, come on, Paulina! Why not a discount for my girl?"

Paulina playfully sneered at Camilo, the older woman looking at you two with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Your girl, huh?" As she repeated these words, Camilo had suddenly stilled, coughing as his form began to change from Abuela, to Mirabel, to his mamá, and finally a disfigured version of himself before he changed back to normal. All the while you stayed quiet by his side, beyond flustered yourself.

Sure Camilo had called you different pet names before but something about him calling you his girl had allowed the butterflies to flutter inside your tummy. Your cheeks felt so warm that it would put Pepa Madrigal's happy sunny days to shame. Don't tell her you said that though.

"Huh?! You must have heard wrong, Lina!" He averted his gaze, freckled cheeks burning at the slip-up. "You better get to Tia Julieta and get some of her arepas, your hearing is getting worse, Abuela Lina!" He says, grabbing the now heavy basket in your hands and marching away.

"¡Vamos, princesa! I'll walk you home!" He says, not even turning back as he starts to walk away. You quickly snap out of your stupor. You were about to pay Paulina but she had stopped you.

"On the house. For Camilo's girl." She teased before shooing you away. You can only thank her before following Camilo.

The way home was filled with laughs and giggles, along with actually eating some of the mangoes with Camilo telling you how he had messed with Dolores again by teasing her of Mariano and how he had successfully secured a batch of arepas under his bed. Unbeknownst to him, his Tio Bruno's rat friends had already gotten to it.

Seeing the familiar steps that led to your home, you had turned to him with a sweet smile on your face. "Thank you for today, Camilo." Upon hearing your voice, he turned to you, the burning of his cheeks gone but you could still see that the tips of his ears had turned pink. "No hay problema, princesa." He couldn't help but admire your face, taking in every inch of your features as if it would be the last time he'd see you. You were always so beautiful, he had thought when he had first caught a glimpse of you, prior to meeting you in the library.

You had accompanied your mamá on your very first trip outside your new house. He remembered it fondly, you were wearing a white top with delicate ruffles, your skirt a yellow that surprisingly had matched the color of his ruana. When you smiled, though not at him or for him, he swore his heart stopped beating before picking up in a much faster pace from before. He was honestly whipped. Of course he wouldn't tell you that though. At least not yet.

You smile wider, not even paying attention anymore, unaware that Camilo had lifted his hand with the intention to gently pat your head but upon seeing his hand raised, your eyes widened in alarm and you flinched hard, stumbling back with a gasp and landing on the pavement with a loud thud. Your arms instinctively cover your face.

"(Name)! Princesa, ¿Estás bien?!" Camilo was as startled as you were, dropping down to his knees as he looked at you with concern in his eyes. Your heart hammered against your chest, wide eyed as you couldn't believe how you had just reacted. To Camilo of all people.

But before you could answer him, he was suddenly shoved aside and you were quickly pulled in said someone's arms. squinting a little as you realized who it was.

"M-Mamá!?" You gape before glancing at Camilo who had swallowed thickly as Magdalena glared at him.

"What do you think you're doing to my daughter? You stay away from us, Madrigal! If you know what is best for you." Camilo's eyes widened and he quickly stood up. "No, no, Señora! You misunderstand I was just trying to-"

"Mamá, please, Camilo was just..!" You tried desperately to explain before your mother had hoisted you up. "I don't need to hear anything from him." She says stubbornly, snatching the basket from his hands.

"You men are the same." The older Basilio had hissed. "I better not see you anywhere near (Name), Madrigal. I don't want you anywhere near her!" She says as she turns her back on Camilo after making sure you were alright. "And you (Name) stay away from him. You know what would happen with men like him." She made you look at her, unknowingly dropping the shawl that had covered her face to reveal the ugly scar going across her face. A scar so deep not even Julieta Madrigal's arepa could heal it. She had quickly covered her face again, looking at you with an unreadable expression.

And you paled, throat tightening as you remember just who had given her that.

"No, mamá, Camilo I.. he isn't like papá..!" Before you could say anything else you were pulled along inside your home, casting Camilo a desperate and sorrowful expression, mouthing an 'I'm sorry' before your mother had shut the door behind you, leaving Camilo in shock and wondering what he had done wrong. Or rather, what was your mamá's problem with him?

And he knew just the person to ask.