author's note: this book is dedicated to each and every fan who stuck with this book from start to end. i cannot put my thoughts into words to say how thankful and grateful i am for your support. i've read every comment and each and every one of them would always manage to make me smile. i had so much fun writing this book and i procrastinated a whole week before posting the last 2 chapters even when they have been written long ago already (still unedited though) because i just didn't want TYB to end!! so i can't thank you guys enough but before i blabber too much, i'll move forward with the epilogue since that's why you clicked on this anyway because you wanted to see the epilogue and not some poor written author's note. so i'll leave this as it is now. 😜

also credits to meg ♥ for the lovely cover (that i an currently using) it's so ♥♥♥!

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After graduation, Camila and her family moved as expected. We maintained contact for two years before we broke up; We decided that a long distance relationship was not for us after all. We remained as best friends until one day, I couldn't get a hold of her. My texts, calls, voicemail, emails—everything was left unanswered.

I found it hard to concentrate in college whilst worrying about Camila. For months I've tried almost any means that were legal to try and find Camila but when you're all the way from Canada and the person you miss the most is in another country, it's almost impossible for an ordinary kid like me (without much money) to get information. And considering I'm not too sociable either, I don't have much connections.

While Camila and I parted ways and weren't having the best of luck, Hailee and Cameron were. They both attend the same community college and are still seeing each other. I still maintain contact with them—Cameron is now a licensed lawyer and Hailee, who recovered from leukemia, is now a certified doctor. And guess what she specializes in?

fast-forward to present ( 6 years later):

I majored in Bachelor of Business Management at the University of Toronto and am currently interning (if that's a word) as a marketing intern at some publishing company. Yeah, I don't know what happened either.

Ms. Parker, the editorial chief and my supervisor for the next 6 months, shrieked out from her office. "Mendes!"

I sprang up from my chair and scurried to her office. Closing the door, I placed my hands behind my back and looking upon the shiny flooring I had just mopped the other night, I prepared myself for the scolding that would ensue. "Y-yes, ma'am?"

Not even looking up from ger laptop screen, Ms. Parker made it clear she was in a bad mood. "The script for the meeting earlier. Where is it?"

"It's right here, ma'am." I managed not to stutter and took a folder underneath some documents on her desk. "I brought it earlier when you were on a meeting with the advertising team."

I kind of felt proud. It felt as if I had somehow won this time instead of Ms. Parker. And it felt good. I expected her to stay quiet or somehow shout at me with anger as she was wrong but what I didn't expect was for her to curse at me. "How could you be so stupid, kid?" she was furious, "Didn't Layla tell you to go to Empire State Building to interview a celebrity in lieu of her absence?"

Refusing to meet Ms. Parker's eyes, I answered. "No, ma'am."

She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself as she clicked on to the intercom. "Please send Layla Taylors to my office, Julie."

"Right away, ma'am."

As if on cue, Layla rushed into Ms. Parker's office and went staight to her knees. She was in mid-30s and had worked with this company for over 8 years. "I-I sincerely apologize, ma'am. It was my fault. I couldn't get a hold of Shawn's cellphone since the weekend."

Ms. Parker, who was slightly older than me but was way younger than Layla, landed her shap gaze on mine. I broke eye contact immediately as I let it land back on the floor

"You." Ms. Parker's cracking voice called out, "Leave."

I nodded before quickly leaving the office. As soon as I shut the door, I heard Ms. Parker scream, "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST ME AND MY CONNECTIONS JUST TO GET THIS MAGAZINE AN INTERVIEW WITH C!?"

Wait, C? The C? The C who never shows her face and just her voice? That C?! Holy shit, Layla's going to be in so much trouble.

There were faint murmurs after and those were what I assume to be Layla's reponse. I knew I shouldn't be eavesdropping but Ms. Parker was shouting way too loud that everyone outside her office working could hear it.

"HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR RECKLESSNESS? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN MY FATHER FINDS OUT? WILL YOU TAKE THE SCOLDING? WILL YOU BE THE ONE—"

I didn't get to hear the rest as Liam Parker, Ms. Parker's older brother pulled me away. "What do you think you're doing..." he scanned my I.D. for my name, "Shawn?"

"My apologies, sir." I said sincerely, "I will disregard everything I heard, sir."

"Good," he loosened his tie before slipping his hands to his pants. "now get lost."

---

Once I opened the door out of my boss's office, I was greeted by all my co-workers. They were all staring at me as if I had done something bad.

Have I?

"What?" I asked to no one particularly, "Do I have something on my face or—"

"Stop playing dumb, Mendes." Carol rolled her eyes. "We're all curious. What happened back there?"

"I'm afraid he can't disclose any information he heard." I turned around to see Liam crossing his arms, "You're an intern, am I not correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"State your full name again, Shawn." his voice seemer gloomy and dark.

"It's Shawn Peter Raul Mendes, sir."

He turned to the other employees before raising his voice. "Why are all you just standing here? Get to work!"

"You," his voice boomed. "Come with me."

I followed Liam—I mean Mr. Parker into his office. He offered me a seat as he flipped his laptop so that the screen was facing me before clicking on the play button;

He slammed the laptop shut after a few minutes. "What's a singer doing at my publishing company as an intern?"

"Sir, I don't sing anymore."

"Nonsense!" Mr. Parker yelled, "As your boss and as CEO of VN Magazine, I want you to be the next face of our magazine."

My chin almost dropped to the ground."What? But sir, I'm—"

He lifted a hand up before turning his back on me, staring into the magnificent view of New York City's busiest street. "I know what you are. I know your background, I know everything."

I was about to object when he said, "And I know you knew C."

My mind was in chaos. "Sir, you must be mistaken. I don't know C—no one except her team does—"

"I'm part of her team."

I stood up from my chair and to this moment, I have never been more thankful to my 6'1 height as it helped my confidence. "Sir—"

"Ms. Cabello has been looking for you for ages."

---

My eyes widened as I stammered, "W-what? Can you say that again?"

"Camila Cabello is C." Mr. Parker sat back down and paused, "Please, sit. We have a lot of things to attend to."

My mind went into spirals. "What is your relationship to Mila?"

"I'm the head of C's publicist team. So I am to make sure no one knows her true identity for now."

For now?

And as if he had read my mind, Mr. Parker answered my question. "C wanted to hide her identity until she releases a collab."

"But, Mr. Parker, sir—"

"Call me Liam from now on, kid." he winked. "If you're asking what's this has to do with you then good question."

He took out an envelope from his briefcase and laid a single piece of paper on the table for me to read.

It was a contract.

"C wants you to do a collaboration with her," Liam met my eyes before taking a deeo breath. "She wants to do the song you guys wrote when you were back in high school. It has already been approved by the board and so if you would—"

"I'll do it."

"Great! Please sign here then." Liam handed me a pen as I wrote down my signature. "You can stop working as a marketing intern here. Just head straight to the studio at 8am tomorrow." Just as I was walking to the door, Liam tapped on my shoulder, "And kid, in any case you need something." and handed me his business card.

Smiling, I thanked Liam again. As I left the room, a million thoughts invaded my brain; How could Camila have been C? How could she have not told me? How could she keep a secret like that from me? I had a lot of questions I wanted answers to. But I really wanted to know the most was why she suddenly ghosted on us—why she broke all means of contact with everyone.

Staring at the business card Liam handed over to me, I intended to find out.

---

As soon as I got in my apartment, I jumped into the couch and pulled out my phone to text Liam. In a matter of seconds, Camila's new phone number was on my screen. I hesistated for a good ten minutes before having the courage to press 'call'. With every ring, my heart sped up faster and faster. On the fourth ring, someone had picked up, "Hello?"

All I could do was grin at the sound of her voice. I must've looked like a fool.

"Hello?" she repeated.

"Hey." I tried my best to alter my voice. I had held my breath to keep myself from laughing.

"Who's this?" her delicate voice filled my ears.

"The person who promised you he'll keep you safe and he'd keep you sound one day." I managed to say.

"Right now it's pretty crazy and I don't know how to stop or slow it down." I began to sang, "Hey. I know there are some things we need to talk about. But I can't stay, so let me hold you for a little longer now."

A tear managed to slide down on my cheek. I heard Camila's weakened voice respond, "Shawn...I—"

She broke into sobs as I listened on the other side of the line. "I love you too, Mila."

fast forward to 4 years later:

And I never knew why I stopped wanting to know the answers to my questions since that day. Some things are just better left unknown, I guess. Like the Bermuda Triangle or like do aliens really exist or like why Camila—

"Honey!" someone screamed out from the 2nd floor bathroom. "There's a spider in the bathroom!"

I turned off the faucet and laid the gloves to dry as I finished washing the dishes.

"SHAWN PETER RAUL MENDES! HELP! IT'S STARING AT ME!"

I rolled my eyes and chuckled as I climbed up the stairs. Opening the bathroom door, Camila was only wrapped in a towel, on top of a chair looking like she had just seen a ghost. "Shawn!" she shouted, "Kill it!"

I smirked, "What's in it for me?"

"ANYTHING! KILL IT NOW! IT'S HEADING TOWARDS ME!"

I squashed the poor thing with my slipper, "Anything, huh?" I pulled Camila into my arms and carried her bride-style like as I smashed my lips into hers, heading for the bedroom.