Defeaning silence filled the house. Señor Ernesto glared down at Camilo behind his calm facade.
Camilo stared up at the man, trying to figure out how to explain himself.
Tio Agustin attempted to save him.
"Now, now Ernesto, the boy was just complimenting-"
"I didn't ask you, Agustin, I was asking your nephew", Señor Ernesto said, his voice smooth as silk and yet as sharp as a blade, expertly cutting through the comfort Tio Agustin tried to give.
Camilo still couldn't speak. He could feel everybody's eyes on him.
"Tay-"
"My daughter, I made the mistake of striking you before you could even explain yourself and I do not want to make the same mistake towards your best friend" ,Señor Ernesto said, not even taking his eyes off of Camilo.
Y/N on the other hand just clenched her fists on her apron to not reach for the scratch on her cheek. A gesture clearly read by Camilo, making him send a worried look toward her.
"Are you deaf, boy?"
"N-no, Señor", Camilo trembled, snapping his head toward the man.
"Then answer the question... What did you just say?"
Camilo tried to breathe a shaky breath, "I- I said that Posa- I mean Y/N would look pretty in- in a wedding dress, Sir", Camilo said, trying to hide his fear.
"Like, her mother, Sir", he added.
His heartbeat was erratic and his palms were cold with sweat. He wanted to run his finger through his hair to calm himself but he knew it would come off as prideful.
"Why, pray tell, would you say that?", Señor Ernesto's head tilted ever so slightly, his voice just above a whisper.
"B-because I wanted to compliment her, Señor" Camilo said, avoiding Y/N's terrified eyes.
"Erning, it's just a compliment-"
"Are you telling me Julieta, that when your daughters have male friends of their own, you don't get the least bit inquisitive? Nor protective?", Señor Ernesto sent Tia a side eye.
"I almost lost my first daughter to an arranged marriage! Yes, I will be inquisitive but I would never threaten her friends!"
"Isabela is an adult. My daughter-"
"Should be allowed to be a teenager!", Tia cut him off.
Señor Ernesto didn't reply.
"You will not strike my nephew. I won't let it happen!", Tia yelled, not backing down.
"Well, that action only depends on his answer", Señor Ernesto shrugged turning his eyes back at Camilo.
"Señor, I didn't mean any malice-"
"Like your kiss to her cheek didn't mean any malice as well?!", Señor Voice boomed, his gentle expression gone, replaced by pure fatherly fury.
"Tay!-"
"Am I talking to you, ha?", Señor Ernesto turned on Y/N.
"Tay, you're doing the same thing you did to Angelito! You're trying to push my friends away!!"
"WE BOTH KNOW ANGELITO BERNAL WANTED TO BE MORE THAN FRIENDS WITH YOU", Señor Ernesto yelled making everyone in the house flinch.
"And we both know you wanted to return those feelings", Señor Ernesto said.
Y/N looked down, silent, angry tears falling down her face.
"Tay, please, I know what you're thinking, Camilo is not my suitor!", Y/N begged, tears welling in her eyes in fear of her best friend's fate.
YOU ARE READING
His Mariposa (Camilo Madrigal x Filipina!Reader)
FanfictionHeneral Luna is dead. With Y/N's father being one of his most trusted men, he flees with his family to a magical safe haven his former colleague mentioned to him. The Madrigal family helps them settle and a budding romance forms between two certain...
