Soft pitter-pattering of gentle drizzling rain calms her weary mind, a momentary respite from all the internal struggle— the weird voices that suddenly whispered to her ears so mysteriously. If not for Camilo's appearance, she would have broken down like smashed porcelain-ware run over by a cart on the street.
"I love it when it rains, it reminds me that even the clouds get tired from holding—carrying whatever burden they have for so long."
"You speak like a 40 year-old woman, chica."
Her eyes tore away from the window to look at Camilo, who is staring at her with a smirk etched upon his freckled face. He really enjoys staring at her up close, as he could see every single detail of her pretty face. Certainly a blessing to be with her up close.
"My mother is 42, yet not once did I hear nor witnessed her say the things I say."
"I guess your mom's different then." He replied arms crossed, leaning on the table resting his chin on it, his eyes closing for a moment. He should really fix his posture, the girl noted, eyes still fixated on the curly-haired boy in front of her. She really wants to touch his floofy hair, it looks quite soft to the touch. One day, she'll get the opportunity to do so. (Sweetie you can just ask him, he'll be quite happy to comply. Perhaps a bit too happy—)
"All of us are different, you and I are different. Not even identical twins are the same."
"I don't think I'm different. I mean, my gift is shape-shifting— I can be anyone but me." He said to his friend, voice muffled from burying his face on his arm; refusing to meet her eyes, fearing she'd see right through him. See his so-called ridiculous dilemma.
"Be anyone but you? Camilo, all I see is no one else but you." She immediately retorted, he could feel her gaze staring down at him, ready to stomp down or pluck out whatever negative thought that had sprouted on Camilo's mind like an unwanted invasive weed.
"Right now, all I see is a nice boy who's very caring to his friend." She began, standing up from the comfy chair she once sat on to stand behind Camilo's hunched form, she then held his shoulders to gently ushered him to sit up.
"I see..." She leaned down and whispered, her warm breath tickling his ear as she spoke, sending satisfying shivers down his spine.
"A very loving boy who loves his family more than he loves himself."
Gently squeezing both shoulders, she listed down everything that makes Camilo... Well, Camilo.
"I see a boy who makes people smile."
A boy who can't do anything.
"I see a boy who is unsure of himself, yet is unaware that he has all the time of the world to figure out who he is—that there is no one rushing you to do so."
How come you can read me like a book? It's just isn't fair, I want to be the one who should comfort you. You literally broke down in the middle of a street, yet you pretend that nothing even happened.
"Someone who has an insatiable appetite."
Camilo let out a small laugh at this, he is not one to deny seconds after all. His Tia Julieta's cooking is just simply a blessing made from the heavens.
"Someone who makes the corniest jokes."
"Hey! You said you like my jokes!" He huffs, slightly offended that she called his jokes corny.
"I do, because it makes makes you, you."
It's not fair, I want to be the one who's saying these words, I want to be the one who make you happy.
"All I'm saying is, you are already different. You just haven't seen it for yourself yet."
Do I plague your thoughts the same way you plague mine?
"No amount of mirrors would let you see how amazing you are, Camilo."
Her head now leaning on his, curly hair tickling the side of her face; she rubbed gentle circles on his shoulder with her thumbs for reassurance.
"No amount of mirrors would let you see the good things me and your family sees in you."
Does your heart race as fast as mine when I see you?
Camilo felt overwhelmed with many emotions at the moment to the point that her touch felt too warm to touch, pulling away from her— to stare at his friend's face, who in turn, was unknowingly looking at him in such a soft way—almost so lovingly.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like—"
"Like you're the only star in the sky?" She breathes, inching closer and closer to his face forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"Like you're the only pretty flower in the garden?" Fingers featherly touching his hands all the way to his freckled face, since when did she learn to act like this? Camilo wonders, he could feel his own face heat up from the girl's endearing actions and words that she effortlessly spouted out from her mouth.
"I, I think I get it—"
"Camilo, you are a work of art." Cupping his warm face with both of her hands, squishing his cheeks.
I could say the same to you, Camilo would like to say, however words refuse to spill from his mouth instead prefers to get stuck on his throat.
Her face is but a hair's breadth away from his, they were close, incredibly close. Camilo closed his eyes, unable to handle being so close to her. He could smell the herbal scent of the tea he gave to her, frolicking in the air— sweetly tickling his nose.
He wonders if she could hear his heart beating so loudly for her, as if she was his lifeline.
A loud creaking sound of the door made the girl's eyes tore away from Camilo to the person in front of the door.
"Hey Camilo— woah! Whoops, I hope I wasn't interrupting something.." Mirabel's eyes widened at the close proximity of the two. She was totally interrupting something.
"Not really, we're just chatting."
You're certainly interrupting something. Camilo grumbled, sad and a bit salty at the sudden loss of her warmth from his.
"You should come and join us Mira, it's been a while since we've last talked."
Wait, they've met before and they never told me? Also Mirabel I beg of you decline, it's rare for me to hangout with her alone already! He tried telepathically telling his cousin, to his surprise, she miraculously understood.
"As much as I love to sit down and chat with you, I—uh, have to help my Tió Bruno with something."
"Oh, what a shame. Tell Señor Bruno I said hi, see you around, Mira." The girl waved as she watched Mirabel walk out and closing the door. A busy bee as always, that Mirabel. She thought to herself, turning to face Camilo again, who was pouting and seemingly deep in thought.
"Now what's on your mind again, Camilo?"
Camilo wouldn't admit that he jealous, but he is. They've been friends for who knows how long now and he wasn't aware that she's friends with his cousin, Mirabel. To make matters worse, she gave his prima a nickname! Are they that close?
"Didn't know you met Mirabel before..." He murmured with a slight bitter aftertaste, looking away from his friend.
"Yeah, we got acquainted when all of us were rebuilding the Casita."
Rebuilding the Casita? How come he never noticed her before?
"I guess I just wasn't interesting enough for you to notice at the time."
"No! You're plenty interesting! I was just busy with the rebuilding and stuff, I don't like the thought being homeless y'know?" Camilo was quick to interject, hands practically flailing around in attempt to prove his point.
Simple moments such as these are the ones she appreciates the most. For simplicity is beauty after all, there is no need to be or go somewhere extravagant to enjoy one's company. Sometimes, two people stuck in a closet could make pleasant memories, two people stuck on a deep hole would be a memory reminisced to laugh and jest at. Nothing has to be fancy, just the mere presence of another would suffice.
The sun came to rest as the moon arises to the east, poking it's luminous head from the horizon.
The girl laid on her bed staring at the ceiling, mindlessly counting sheep for who knows how long.
8997...
8998...
8999...
9000...
It was now 10:30 at night, she muttered to herself, an arm covering her eyes in a pathetic attempt to lull herself to fall into humble slumber. She twisted and turned on her bed yet she is still unable to fall asleep.
Frustrated, she finally stood up from her bed and sat on a chair in front of her messy desk.
"Glistening moonlight, your ivory orbs shone so beautifuly under night's gaze." She recited, holding her grandmother's favorite novel— the girl never did finish reading it, it was always given the next time and maybe later's for her each time she stumble upon the book again.
"Yet I, but a mere worthless sky, was able to caught your eye. How honored I was to be given such privilege to be here by your side." It was cringey, it was cliche, but she couldn't help but continue reading it— just to see how it ends. Mi Luna, Mi Estrella. The title itself was already foreshadowing it's upcoming cliches and common tropes, it's predictable drama and tooth rotting flirting.
'Perhaps life is but a whole big cliche, don't you think mi vida?'
Perhaps, Abuela.
'One day you'll get what I mean, one day you'll stumble upon a certain person— a chance encounter, and feel like something inside of you clicked when you meet their gaze.'
The small flame danced inside the lamp, providing decent candlelight for her to read.
'And suddenly in your mind, it'll make you go— 'oh, they're the one. They're the one I want to get to know with for a long time.' and when that moment comes to fruition, it'll feel like a whole splash of colorful paint was thrown into your life. And finally you'd realize how dull your life was before.'
"O, my sweet oblivious sky, you are not worthless nor that you are a burden. Look at the glistening sea and the twinkling stars, it is vast and almost endless."
The flame flickers as time passes by, its fuel almost used up— clinging to its last ends of its life.
"Just like my love for you."
Two hearts beats for each other at a far distance, in the dead of night, unbeknownst to them, the wind sings a mirthful and hopeful song. For they too wished to see the sky and the moon fall for each other once again.
•ACT I FINISHED•