For dinner, he didn't sit next to me.

The next morning, by the time I knocked on his door, he was already downstairs making breakfast. A pity not getting to see him in his loose pajamas like the day before. Without his ruana, you can really see how small he is and, at the same time, how big and strong his hands are in comparison. Besides, it was only a few seconds, but the hang of his shirt looked really good on him; it made me want to unbutton it and find out what was under the fabric.

During breakfast, he literally sat as far away from me as possible. Was he running away or was it just chance? Had I scared him? Had he realized how I felt about him?

I didn't get to see him all day, we didn't exchange a word all night, and, when our eyes met, he would withdraw his as fast as he could.

So yeah, he was running away from me.

One day; I had tried to be honest with my feelings for one single day and I had already scared him away. And, probably being his the logical reaction, why did it make me so angry? I'm his niece! And he is thirty-five years older than me! Of course he was horrified by the idea of me falling in love with him! To him… to him I was just a girl. And… if I tried to prove him wrong, I would probably only scare him further away from me. Who did I want to fool? That would never get anywhere.

The next day, I didn't try to get closer or talk to him, not even look at him… It hurt too much. I just wandered from one place to another with a lost look and aimlessly, with my soul dragging behind my feet and holding hands with my shadow.

"You okay, mi vida? Do you feel sick?"

Mamá always so sweet.

"I'm fine, mamá. I just slept poorly today."

"Here, mi amor, eat."

I took a bite of that arepa mentally knocking on wood to it really fixing what was wrong inside me and helping me abandon those feelings that oppressed my chest when I remembered Bruno knocking on wood in his own way; but, obviously, that couldn't work; there was nothing physical to heal; so, I put on the best smile I could paint on my face, thanked her, and got out of there.

"Why does Mirabel look like a ghost today?" Camilo asked bluntly as he entered the kitchen.

"Ay, Camilo… There are things magic can't fix."

I didn't know how many of those things my mother was aware of, but I didn't have the strength to think about it, so I let it go. I had a long day ahead of me and I had to invest my energies in concealing.

"If you keep digging in that hole, we're going to be able to get out of the Encanto through it."

Camilo was right. Maybe it wasn't necessary to dig for fifteen minutes without a break in the same spot just to plant a few seeds.

"Ehrm… I am strengthening my arms. I'll cover it up later."

"Mirabel… What's wrong? You know you can tell me, right?"

Camilo could be a bit mischievous, but he was always attentive and loving. I wonder what would have become of me if I hadn't grown up with him.

"Nothing's wrong," I poorly lied. "I'm just a little tired."

"Are you on… those days?"

"What days?"

"Tía Julieta said there were things she couldn't heal… and… well…"

"Camilo, I'm not with my period."

"Oh, okay. What, then? Is it something I could help with?"

"I'm just feeling a little down. Don't worry about me, I'll get over it."

Camilo wrinkled his nose and crouched next to me in front of the huge hole.

"Sometimes, talking with the best cousin ever and a good hug speed up the process."

I smiled at him. For the first time all day, I was able to crack a real smile.

"I guess you are right. Will you give me that hug first?"

"All yours."

Camilo hugged me tenderly and, between his thin arms, I was finally able to relax a little; just enough to tease him a bit.

"Your arms are so tiny, you knew that?"

"Would you prefer that I become Mariano and cuddle you as a giant bear would?"

"No! Not Mariano!"

"What do you got against the poor man?"

"Oh, no. I have nothing against him, it's just…"

"You can't put up with him, huh?"

"Not a bit."

"Neither do I."

"Well, we should get used to him soon, I don't think it will take long to have him at home every day."

"Don't make me think about that…"

"Thank you for the hug, Camilo; I needed it."

"Even if it was provided by my tiny little arms?"

"I like your tiny little arms: they are nice."

"At least they're not as bony as tío Bruno's."

And… the magic was ruined.

"What with that face? What did I say?" Camilo asked surprised to suddenly meet my expression of anxiety.

"It's…"

"Does it have something to do with tío Bruno? You can talk about him now, you know?"

"I know, you idiot!" I answered laughing. "It's just that… lately… I have the feeling that he rejects me. Maybe I've offended him, or scared him in some way, I don't know, but… every time I get close to him, he flies in the opposite direction."

"And that's it? You had me worried!"

Of course, it was nothing for him…

"C'mon, tío Bruno is a weird guy. You can't hold it against him."

"He's not that weird…"

"Really…?" he replied arching an eyebrow sarcastically.

"Fine, he is very weird, but…"

"Mirabel, he has spent ten years hiding who knows where and interacting only with rats. He probably just isn't comfortable dealing with humans. I love him, you know? It seems that I just met him, but he is cute and tiny, and he's easy to love; but he also seems fragile and hurt, and I don't think he can get over that in a few months. He's been through a lot. But, don't worry, there is no soul in this world that can resist your charm. He will come back to you."

"Was that a pun?"

"What?"

"The soul thing. You know… like Alma…"

"I don't get it."

"Nevermind. I shouldn't have asked: you looked cooler that way."

"Hey, Mira, don't leave me that way…"

"Thanks, Camilo. I'm feeling better now."

I couldn't explain to Camilo the true origin of my pain, but at least I knew that I would always have that cheeky little elf there looking after me.

"Glad to hear that. Whenever you want, you know where to find me."

"I do?"

"Of course! In your hole! It already covers half of the Encanto!"

"Such an exaggerated person you are… Would you help me cover it up?"

"I'll take care of it, you go get some rest."

"Okay, I'll make it up to you."

"You already have."

"Wh…?"

"C'mon! Go!"

"Okay, okay… I love you, Camilo, you know that?"

"I suspected something, yeah," he replied while lifting a mound of dirt with his shovel just before looking at me one last time. "I love you too, Mirabel."

After that strange talk, I returned to Casita grateful to have my sweet cousin and to be able to take a break before I ended up causing an accident; then stopped by the kitchen to say hello and went up to my room. It would have been a good day to just sleep, but my eyes were not ready to stop crying.