Obsession

1.

            It was a buzzy day for the madrigals. As usual, the gift holders used their power to help the community and labor along with their jobs. Julieta, Mirabel, and Augustin manage their small restaurant while Isabella helped Pepa and Dolores with the garden and vegetable stand and Felix dealt with the sales. 

Luisa helped the shepherds, gathering donkeys and lending a hand in constructions while being courted by a so-called Mateó, who admired her for her resilience and eagerness. He was a bit too skinny for her liking, Luisa preferred a much more athletic hombre, not that there was something wrong with being skinny, she was flattered by his confession but far too buzzy to pursue a relationship regardless. She didn't intend to hurt his feelings with his skinny build, similar to Bruno,  and precious hazelnut eyes.

The only ones who took a break were, well, Camilo and Antonio. With the youngest boy being five and his brother working as the babysitter they spent the most time with one another, well excepting the times Camilo would vanish but with his shapeshifting ability, you never know when he was truly gone. 

" Hermano! Hermano!" Antonio dash on his leopard back next to his brother who was rocking a baby to sleep. Camilo tilted his head in a silent gesture pointing at the tiny newborn warped in a pink blanket. 

 " You will wake her up, hermano," he shushed calmly placing a finger over his lips. He rocked her a few more times to make sure she was completely asleep before placing her in the crib. " Can your bird friend watch her until I deal with the rest of the kids? Her parents will be home in an hour or so. "

Antonio giggled, he idolized Camilo, admired him for his chill and calm personality. It was more than a brother bound, he look up to him as a role model even if Camilo lectured him at times that he should be himself as long as he is the best he could be. He was a bit hostile, or so Antonio believed,  about falling in his big brother's footsteps. 

" When I grow up I want to be just like you, hermano." he smiled," of course, I will help her!" he whispered to his toucan and the bird flew over the crib gazing at the infant. 

" Thanks, little man " he fist-bumped picking Antonio and carrying him out at the other kids. " Alright, what's all the noise about? You almost woke Sierra up, she needed her rest. " 

" Hermano Camilo," a girl grabbed on his brown  pants," el circo esta en la ciudad, can we go?" She asked with puppy dog eyes the other kids joining in with a "please?"

Camilo sigh, clearly they won't allow him to say no about going to the carnival but then again, what was the harm? It could even be fun, difficult with so many energetic youngsters but not impossible, and he thrived for the challenges. 

" Of course can go amigos, but only after Sierra's parents come back. I don't want us to leave her all alone. " 

" Then take her to the festival with us!" argued a pigtailed hispanic girl wearing a sun hat sipping from a coffee cup she steal from her brother. " Please hermano Camilo! Please take us!" 

" Hold up principesa, we need to wait a bit more until they come back," Camilo clarified patiently patting her in her back," we'll all go together if you promise not to leave my sight, ok?"

" Gracias hermano" smiled Antonio puffing his little checks into a smile," until then can you talk about Bruno?"   

Camilo smirked and arched a brow, this was his que. 

" Pedro, musica!" he shapeshifted dancing to the music. 

                                        💃💃💃

" Gracias for taking care of our beloved Sierra, Camilo," the couple smiled handing him some money for his hours of babysitting. " We don't know what we would do without you, nuestro héroe."