𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦

iii

"I'm never tired of you and making others happy!"

"Pepa you have a cloud!" Elena hard Abuela's voice from above along with the winds whooshing and the thunders rumbling.

"I KNOW MAMA! BUT I CAN'T FIND ANTONIO. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME FROM ME?" The frustrated shout of Pepa from the distance caused Elena to put in the last batch of the cookies in the oven and get out the kitchen.

"Princesa, smells great!" Camilo called and Elena smiled with a nod, mouthing she was gonna look for his brother to which he only nodded and resumed back to helping the rest of the workers for the preparations.

A small frown formed on her face on seeing Abuela with Mirabel. She only hoped that the stern old lady wouldn't be so hard her friend, especially on a sensitive day like the gifting ceremony. She cleared her throat and rotated the knob to Mirabel's door, having a feeling that Antonio was there. After all, no one ever entered Mirabel's room. The door creaked opened and the girl entered with a small smile at the shadow beneath the bed. She took a seat on the bed, bouncing on slightly. It had become a habit for her to do so.

"Antonio, everyone's looking for you."

Her words were met with silence and Elena only chuckled with a shake of her head. She searched through her bag and got out a purple tiffin box, purposely hanging it lower for the younger boy to be able to see it.

"I made some Tres Leches Cake for your brother but you can have it if you want." She said in a sing-song tune and just as she expected, the box was snatched off from her hands making her laugh lightly.

Antonio lay on his belly against the floor, his eyes dull and his hands fidgeting with the tiffin box. He did not move nor respond when he felt two girls squeeze in beneath the bed and lay beside either sides.

"First of all, you actually know this house better the people better than I do." Mirabel mumbled and lightly hit her chuckling friend's head. They both then turned their attention to the boy. "Nervous?"

Again, they were met with silence although Antonio did sink his face further into his arms. Elena smiled. "Hey, you have nothing to worry about. You're gonna get your Gift." She recalled Camilo explaining his experience. "And you'll feel the happiest then and be coolest for weeks."

Antonio lifted his head up, a frown still evident on his face as he turned his head to each side towards both the encouraging girls who had small smiles. "What if it doesn't work?" He whispered in fright and anxiety.

"Well, in that impossible scenario," Mirabel begun with a shake of her head, "You'd stay here in the nursery with me." She whispered dramatically, "Forever." Her hand gestured to pretend to pinch the boy who giggled and moved away.