Through Your Eyes || Camilo Madrigal

---- • ¤《 Chapter 9 》¤ • ----

"You are coming to Antonio's gift ceremony tonight, right?" Camilo asked, leaning against their desk on Monday morning.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything." Ana put her book back in her bag as Camilo sat down.

School was considerably more boring in comparison to the events of the past few days. Ana felt herself relating to the teacher more and more.

During algebra class, the teacher called Camilo up to the chalkboard to solve an equation. He computed the formula flawlessly, except at the end, when writing the final answer, he placed the negative sign in the denominator.

"Aye, Camilo." Ana sighed under her breath.

"Incorrect." The teacher said with a grin, probably waiting for this moment to destroy Camilo since the quiz.

"Actually," Ana stood up from her chair, "the negative sign is able to be put anywhere in the fraction without changing the overall value of it if kept in proper format. It is generally placed in the numerator or in front of the entire fraction, but placing it in the denominator is not technically incorrect." Ana tried very hard to stop the smug grin itching to be seen from spreading across her face, but she couldn't stop a tiny bit of her success from leaking out.

Camilo smiled at her from up front. The professor looked like he was debating whether to argue with his top student or just walk out of the classroom. In the end, he just dismissed for break period early.

"What is a gift ceremony like?" Ana asked, sitting with Camilo and Mirabel under their tree.

"Well mine was kind of a bummer." Mirabel took a bite out of her sandwich, not looking up from the book she was reading.

"What she means," Camilo interjected, "is that they are usually big parties for the gift receiver. You know, music, dancing, food, all the usual festivities."

"Sounds fun." Ana shrugged.

"It is." Camilo caught a glance from Mirabel. "Usually." He corrected.

"Ugh, you have no tact whatsoever." Mirabel hit him with her book, which happened to be hard backed and very large.

"Ow! Hey! What has got you in such a foul mood. I understand that your gift ceremony didn't go as hoped, but no one here resents you for it. And, for the record, mine wasn't all happy and sunshine either."

"Not this again." Mirabel rolled her eyes.

"The hurricane." They both said at the same time, Mirabel mocking Camilo.

"What happened?" Ana asked, genuinely curious as to the story behind Camilo's gift ceremony.

"Well, as you know, my gift is kind of, how do I put this... different from the rest of my siblings and cousins. Dolores and Luisa have enhanced physical capabilities. Mamá and Isa can manipulate elements of nature. Tía Julieta heals. My gift tends to appear a little... darker than the rest of my family. I mean, I can take on someone else's form down to the clothing. Essentially, my gift is based on deception to some extent. Naturally, my parents and Abuela were shocked when I first got my gift. The mischievous figure decorating my door proof of the underlying nature of it. Then there  was the hurricane, thanks to mamá, of course. The celebration eventually got back on track, but it was far from perfect."