A part of Mira is not surprised finding herself alone, but other, the big one, feels deep sadness. She knows why he looks for her, and she allows him, she knows and still she accepts the crumbles as symbols of affection. Axel went to her house; he helped her with the bags. That means something, it must mean it, because he could look for someone else, he could have chosen not to help her. Axel is plenty of women, and he chooses her. Mira is special, in his way and in a way that she doesn't understand, she is special to him, she knows it. Even if he is not capable of telling her, she knows it.

She gets dressed promptly and goes to the kitchen so that she can help to her brother. The poor thing must be almost dead that barely can carry with his own soul. Even so, it is impossible to Frank to forget the supposed responsibilities of being the big brother. Mira has repeated to him countless times that she isn't a child anymore, and now she can cook. That in fact at school they also teach her that.

Mira selected cooking workshop as a second club for two reasons; the first one was the input were given by the school and allowed to the students to take the dishes, and the second one that, even in the worst case, if Mira couldn't achieve nothing in life, she always can sell food. It is believed to be one of the best businesses.

"You're waken up."

"Let me help you."

"It's alright. I've almost done. Just bring fruit." Her brother picks the dishes with scrambled eggs and take them to the little table they use for eating.

Mirabella obeys.

If she had to describe the dining room and the kitchen, Mira would say that they are the same thing. There is no division and the fact is that the house in which they live is not too big to allow it, the dining room table does not belong to any game either and the chairs are different for each one. She leaves the fruit in the center and go for two glasses to serve water. Later, she accompanies her brother.

"Hasn't he returned?"

Mira denies in silence, her mount is full of egg and her throat has constricted at the very mention of he.

"Well, I guess it is better in that way" Frank sighs. "Thanks for the pantry."

"Not big deal."

Mira and Frank share the household chores and part of the expenses, they support each other as much as possible. If she didn't have him, Mira isn't sure she would have been able to reach 16, most likely she would have died as a child from some clumsy accident. Her brother has served not only as the noun indicates, but also as a father, he helped her in her homework when it was still possible to him, he fed her and he also from time to time bought a doll.

Faris finished his food first and yawns once again. His baggy eyes reveal his tiredness and effort, Mira doesn't like to see him in such condition, and because of that since junior high school she has tried to help her, even if her methods weren't the most orthodox. Anyway, she cann't resort to them.

"Go to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I will clean it." She asserts.

Her brother assents and goes to his room. Mira gobbles down the remains of breakfast and runs to wash the dirty dishes. She checks the time on her cell phone and gets into the shower. She has ten minutes to clean up and go to work.

Before leaving, she throws down the basics for staying over in another house in her bag; cellphone, keys, clothes and some passage money. Uh, she also takes a book so she can make progress with homework, in any case she has time.

After an hour in transport, a couple of blocks walking, Mirabella arrives to the place in question. It isn't a residential zone, but neither is like the suburbs where she lives. She found the job almost by accident, like if fate had sent to her. She had passed to make the pantry like every Friday when she saw a booklet on the floor, it is not like Mirabella goes around picking up papers, but for some strange reason that time she did. From there, it was a matter of... luck, perhaps? She's not sure what influences these situations, but the important thing is that she had obtained it. From there, it was a matter of... luck, perhaps? She's not sure what influences these situations, but the important thing is that she had achieved it.

He stops in front of a white door, the whole house is white with cream motifs. The contrast is not so stark and maybe is that what conveys her warm and peace. She rings the bell and waits patiently. It is Mrs. Sotomayor who opens.

"Good morning, Mira, come in. We're waiting for you."

"Thank you. How are you?"

"Very good. What about you?" Mrs. Sotomayor answers hurriedly and picks her bag, keys and stuff that Mira isn't able to distinguish.

"Hey, Mira, good morning". Mr Sotomayor puts in an appearance with a big smile. "You know what to do, Mira. If anything happens, please call us. Ximena sleeps in this moment, she's in her room."

"I'll go there, then."

Mrs. Sotomayor assents. Since the very first day she had taught her how to use the baby monitor, but Mira prefers go and see Ximena before to help with household chores. In that way she make the most and cleans the girl's room at the same time, if time allows her and Ximena is still sleeping by the moment is finishing, then Mira studies.

"Have a nice day." Says.

The couple waves goodbye and three seconds later, they cross the threshold of the door to the outside. Mira goes up the stairs to Ximena's room. She watches her for a few seconds in her bed, she is barely five years old, but she is already a little person with more energy than Mira herself. At that moment, Ximena's fist is clenched, and she gently sucks on her index finger, she supposes it's a habit she's carried around since she was a baby. She smiles and leaves her to start tidying up her room.

It is not that a girl can be very messy, however, on the floor are several of her toys and her little shoes are somewhat messy. Mira begins to collect and arrange in the appropriate boxes. Half an hour later, the little girl is still asleep, so she goes down to the kitchen to see if there is anything to wash or tidy. There are the dishes for the morning, Mira gets to it and cleans the table, then picks up the clothes hanging from her and begins to fold them in the living room. She plays low music meanwhile.

She's finishing up when she hears soft footsteps coming down the stairs. Ximena is awake and carelessly carves into her right eye while her left hand grips the railing. Since there is nothing appropriate to say to her, she pronounces the obvious.

"You're already awake."

"And mom?"

"She — she had to go to work." She gets up and goes to her, takes her hand to lead her to the sofa. "Come, let's watch a movie, what do you say? Or are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?"

Xim smiles, her little teeth gleaming and her little eyes narrowing with excitement.

"Can we see the croods?" She asks with her childish tone.

"Of course."

"Can I also have a chocolate milkshake, please?"

"Surely yes, give me a few minutes I'll put the movie on and I'll do it."

"Okay."

The kid is like an angel, calm, playful and very understanding, pacient also... Mira isn't sure about how definite that calmness that there is in her inside. Of course, as every kid from time to time she throws tantrums, bursts into tears and her face reddens like a tomato, but a few words are enough, a simple explanation, so that she understands the reasons why she can't have what she wants, or she must do something she doesn't want.

Mira isn't sure about how Ximena's parents have achieved it; however, it is clear that their method of nurturing is a whole success. It may be a good idea they write a book with all their tricks and advices. If adult people knew how much the childhood influences adult life, perhaps thew were more responsible in the moment of deciding if they want to be parents... and in each day of parenting they would teach with love and not through fear and pain. Mira knows better than anyone that complicated childhoods create unstable, broken adults...

She takes control of the TV and puts on the movie Xim chose before going to the kitchen and making the milkshake. She returns with two, one for the girl and a smaller one for her. Xim gets lost in the movie and Mira is able to finish folding her clothes, takes it to the rooms and arranges it. Returning to the living room, she allows herself to watch the movie for half an hour, before taking the book from her and beginning to read. Xim pays no attention to her, her eyes devouring the images on the TV.

Ximena's parents don't come back until the next afternoon, as soon as they cross the threshold the little girl jumps out of the room and runs to hug them.

"Look!" she points out excitedly. "Mira combed my hair.

"Oh, and you look great, honey." Mrs. Sotomayor takes the little girl in her arms and begins to pamper her.

Mira, who already has her things saved, takes the backpack and hangs it on her back. Ximena's father approaches her and gives her her pay.

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Mira. See you here next weekend."

"Take care." Mira waves both hands at the little girl. "See you Ximena."

"Bye bye."

She leaves the house and starts walking towards hers. In that, her cell phone vibrates. She checks her notifications, she has been ignoring them since yesterday and has only responded to her brother's and Mr. Sotomayor's. It's Axel, his heart thunders and his eyes mist up. What is he doing?

Mira really loves him, but he doesn't love her back, why doesn't he leave her alone? Why does he keep looking for her if he just wants to play? Or maybe he does love her and he can't tell her? Ah, Mira doesn't want to think about it, she blocks her phone and puts it back in the back pocket of her pants. Five minutes later, it vibrates again. She tries to resist, but she ends up seeing the message.

You know I still love you, look, right?

She doesn't answer. Axel sends another message.

If I walked away it was because of you. You deserve better

We could have tried.

No. You know it.

So why are you looking for me?

Because I still love you and we can be friends. You do not want that??

She squeezes the phone in her hands. She is dying to answer and part of her heart needs it. However, her brain knows that the right thing to do would be to block him, eliminate him from her life forever. He was the one who ended the relationship and, despite how much she begged him not to give up, he chose to end it, he preferred to let it die for peace.

Amidst her blurry vision, Mira can't help but smile as she remembers how they met. It was at a stupid football game. She was terrible at that sport, but since she had been chosen as a replacement since she was the least bad, she was covering a teammate who had injured her ankle. She remembered that match perfectly, especially because of what happened minutes after she entered the field. Mira was standing quite a way from the ball, she expected...what? Nothing in particular, just that time passed and she could return to the stands. Yes, she came back, although not in the best way.

Mira was watching the grass grow when someone called her name and the next thing she knew her face was receiving the ball, and then her nose was squirting hot blood. Mira savored it and brought her hands to the area in question. In those seconds she saw many things, her coach running towards her, the young man who saw her from a distance and who had a bad reputation, and some of her classmates laughing at her. The last thing made her react, she pinched the bridge of her nose and before the coach, who had already reached her, told her, she said that she would go to the infirmary.

She didn't, insted she went to the restroom to wash her face, the sinks were outside. That was when a relatively unknow voice approached her.

"That must hurt. Are you okay?

Mira reached her face and rolled up her eyes.

"That aren't manners." The boy reprehended her. "But I'll ignore it, just because you were beaten."

She was tempted to roll up her eyes once again, her brother used to say her the same. She tolerates when it comes from Frank, but she didn't have to do same from a stranger.

"Can I help you" Her tone isn't very cordial.

"You? I don't think so. But I can help you. Here..." He smirked and offered a pill.

Yes, his bad reputation was related to be a dealer. Axel, everybody knew his name, put the yellow pill over the sink, in the place where soap used to be. Mira clenched her fists, picked the pill and throwed it in his face.

"I am not consuming that shit.".

The boy smirked again and something very similar to tender settled in his countenance.

"It was a ibuprofen." Murmured before leaving.

Sighs... yes, that had been their first encounter.

It wasn't that Mirabella was unaware of his existence, just that until that second she hadn't had to speak to him.