✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

'DEAR MARIPOSA,

unfortunately, can't say that my date went any better. actually...it started off well too. she was absolutely beautiful in her dress, and I even made her laugh a couple of times.

     ah, and it's thanks to you that I could slightly relate to her. apparently she reads patricia woodward's works as well!

and it was during our time together that she had said something to me — something very...surprising. it was poetic in a way, and it was a compliment that I was never given before. hence I was stumped.

     I dumbly ruined the mood and offered to walk her home before things could get any more embarrassing, for I was sure that my entire face was burning red!

     and when I got home, I was pestered by my family. thankfully I managed to escape, but once I was in my room, I felt frustrated — wishing that I had not messed up.

     she also mentioned something about doing too much could be tiring, and she was right. I also felt tired'.

     'tired? well, I suppose he must be helping out with the family business a lot, just like me', felicia deduced.

'sometimes I look in the mirror for long periods of time and feel my original features slowly disappear'.

"gone? but features don't just disappear into thin air...", felicia muttered to herself, somewhat worried that perhaps the boy she's talking to was slightly delusional.

'though I suppose it's like what artists feel. I know ana finds her artworks ugly whenever she stares at it for a long time...'

     'as stupid as that may sound, it's actually a real concern of mine. I hope you don't mind that I'm ranting to you. after all, it is easier telling someone anonymously, rather than telling a close family member in person.

     now onto our game, your truth is: how do you relax during your free time? I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

signed by camaleón.

p.s. every guy likes being complimented. I wouldn't over think it. I'm almost positive that he's just shy. either that, or he's just stupid'.

     felicia softly chuckled at the last paragraph, appreciating the support.

"maybe I am just overthinking on it...", she mumbled, wondering how she should approach camilo and perhaps initiate a second date.

like penelope had once said, "if camilo doesn't ask you, then you should ask him instead!"

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

camilo finally got a break from babysitting and was in his room with the navy blue journal.

     'dear camaleón,

     I really appreciate your honest feelings, and I totally understand how tiring it gets when one overworks themselves.

so whenever I need to relax, I like to find a quiet place and either read or just enjoy the view. there's a specific place though — what I'd like to call my special place: the riverbank where I heard where the magic was gifted to señora alma.

     not only is there a sense of magic that resides there (in my opinion), but the scene's entrancing. there are times that butterflies would come visit you, and deers that hesitate to step any closer than the large boulder that's on the other side of the river. the trees shade you while you lean against one of its trunks, and the breeze isn't too harsh.

however, I do recommend that you bring some snacks and a quenching drink, as it does get pretty warm sometimes.

other than that, I usually eat some sweets to lighten up my mood — which also helps me de-stress.

I hope this helped, and for the next round: truth or dare?

     signed by mariposa.

     p.s. it sounds like you just need to explain yourself to the girl. I don't think that you ruined the date. you should talk to her about it once you find your courage again ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง'.

camilo cracked a slight smile at the cute doodle of the encouraging bear.

though before he could even close the notebook, a shout had resonated through the house.

"CAMILO!! SOMEBODY'S HERE FOR YOU!!", pepa yelled, causing camilo to confusingly get out of his chair as he peeked out of his bedroom door.

casita's tiles had then pushed the middle madrigal completely out of his room, forcing him down the stairs, as he arrived in front of an unexpected guest.

"felicia?!"

     "hey...camilo", felicia bashfully greeted with a smile.

     "so you're felicia?! oh my, camilo has told us so much about you!!", pepa gushed, inviting the girl inside, as camilo shot his mother a look of betrayal.

     "mamí, now's not the time!", the boy harshly muttered.

     "aww, don't be shy, mijo! anyways, felicia over here came to deliver a jar of..."

     "honey!", the diaz replied, "it's...good in tea. tea's good for the human body and relieving stress..."

     "ay, you're so thoughtful, felicia! here, let me take the jar first. why don't you have camilo show you around or something?", pepa suggested, snatching the jar, as she had then gained a bright idea.

"actually, why don't you stay for dinner?! it's getting pretty late and julieta always makes extra".

     camilo's head slowly turned towards his mother, who had a sun shining above her head, with some clouds trying to shield the brightness.

"oh, um...actually...I-I was just about to leav—"

     "I insist! and plus, camilo would love to have you stay, wouldn't you, ca-mi-lo?"

     the curly-haired boy hastily nodded in agreement, as felicia intertwined her own fingers, circling her thumbs around each other.

"but my mother's—"

"I can send one of my animals to go tell her!!", antonio chimed in from the top of the stairs.

rushing down the stairs with casita saving the youngest madrigal from face planting, antonio had a toucan sitting on top of his head.

     "you can write a letter and I can tell pico to deliver it", antonio explained, "then you'll be able to stay for dinner, right?"

     felicia had a really hard time saying no to the little boy, despite having young sisters herself.

     "I...if you all don't mind having me...", felicia eventually agreed, to which pepa had squealed in delight.

     "let me go inform julieta of this!! camilo, antonio, treat felicia with great care!!", pepa proclaimed.

     "okayy!!", antonio cheerfully replied, as he extended his hand out for the sixteen year-old to take.

     felicia grabbed antonio's puny hand, as camilo watched his brother introduce her to the different parts of their house while sending his pet toucan off to inform of felicia's dinner plans with them.

'was antonio always this extroverted around newcomers??'

"by the way, what did you bring over for camilo??", antonio curiously questioned.

"o-oh, just some honey...nothing much", felicia answered with a blush rising to the tip of her ears.

she didn't know why she felt so diffident when being asked such a simple question, but perhaps it was because antonio had mentioned the gift right in front of the receiver.

     felicia's original plan was to just drop the present off and leave, but apparently luck was not on her side.

     "honey?? are you just supposed to eat it out of the jar?", antonio inquired.

     "honey has a lot of refining qualities, but I specifically like to make it with green tea", felicia explained.

"then can you make some for me please? or is the honey reserved for camilo only?"

"o-of course not!! you both can share, and as for the tea...", the diaz glanced up towards camilo, who just shrugged and nudged his head towards where the kitchen was.

felicia certainly didn't feel comfortable just barging in the madrigal's kitchen where julieta was probably already preparing dinner.

camilo, sensing her discomfort, had gently bumped the side of his arm against felicia's.

     slightly misunderstanding the assignment, felicia had held onto the hem of camilo's amber ruana, meanwhile antonio had already rushed towards the kitchen to greet his tía.

     not expecting such a cutesy gesture, camilo cleared his throat as he hurriedly led the way, with felicia following close behind.

     once arriving at the cookery, julieta was already informed by antonio about felicia's tea-making plan. hence, the woman had welcomed the girl with some hot water and tea bags already prepared.

"thank you señora julieta. um, would you like a cup of tea as well?", felicia offered.

"that's very sweet of you, felicia — if you don't mind; please and thank you".

"I don't mind at all. thank you for cooking dinner", felicia replied with a smile, as she placed the tea bags into five separate mugs and poured boiling hot water three-fourths the way up the cups.

"who's the fifth cup for?", camilo asked, leaning against the counter, as antonio was right beside felicia — watching attentively.

"for señora pepa; she was the one to invite me to dinner after all", the sixteen year-old answered.

     "ah..."

     camilo simply watched, as a sort of smitten expression had taken over his face.

     sighing to himself, he had looked down and squeezed the edge of his ruana that felicia was holding onto for the previous few seconds.

"maybe if it gets cold, I could—"

"here's your warm cup of green tea with honey", felicia stated, holding the cup and handing it over to camilo, who's hands had encased felicia's for a split moment.

felicia quickly retracted her hands once camilo held a firm grip on the mug.

"MMH! it's delicious!! THANK YOU FELICIA!", antonio exclaimed.

     "indeed. it's very good", julieta praised.

     "I'm glad you both liked it", felicia smiled, as she turned back towards camilo, who had enjoyed the warm sip of tea.

     "yeah...thank you, felicia".

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧