Dos Oruguitas (Camilo Madrigal)

Chapter 4

[Camiloʼs POV]

Come on now, I can do this. How hard can it be? A lot it seems. Well, I guess Iʼm going for it.

"Look, um, Gabriella, I donʼt really think that this is working out anymore..." I said, a heavy weight in my chest, as if I was about to explode.

The look on her face changed into pure terror, then anger, then sadness, then God knows what else. Just like I shapeshift into different people uncontrollably when Iʼm upset, but she did that with emotions.

Until she stopped to one emotion. And that was disguist and bitterness. I could clearly see it. But of course, being who she is, she tried to hide it under fake tears.

"Wait, are you... breaking up with me?" she fake-sobbed.

"Um... yes... I donʼt want to make a big deal out of this okay? You have the rest of your life to find someone else and be happy!" I tried saving as much as I could, as I could see the tornado coming.

No fake tears now. She didnʼt care about that. Her face was morphed into complete anger and she didnʼt even care to hide it.

"It is because of that fat 'friend' of yours, isnʼt it?" she spat out with hatred, irony in her voice as she spoke the word 'friend'.

She was finally showing her true self, making me want to ditch her even more. But I have to point out the anger that was boiling inside of me as well when I heard her insult Veronica.

"No, itʼs not because of her, weʼre friends. And donʼt you dare talk about her like that ever again!" I said, still trying to remain as calm as possible.

"I will talk as I want! You know what? Sheʼs fat and ugly! What do you even see in her?!" she screamed, and I could see many heads turning to us because the attention her yelling was drawing.

"First of all, calm down! And second, I said donʼt talk about her like that, sheʼs my friend and you donʼt have the right!" I said, unable to hold back.

There come the fake tears, again. "You are a pig, Camilo! This is not over, youʼll pay for this!" she yelled again, and ran away, fake-crying.

I tried to be as calm as I could and not make a big deal out of it, and she just wasnʼt having it. Of course, I do realise that a break-up is never easy, but still! She was overreacting!

And I just canʼt get over the fact that she insulted my best friend like that, when Vero had done absolutely nothing to her. It just wasnʼt right! Also, why in the world would she think that Vero is the reason I broke up with her?

All I knew was that I needed some time alone to think. I couldnʼt deal with this, it was too much.

Sighing, I started going for a walk to calm my anger. Perhaps it would work.

I didnʼt get back to my house until dinner. I just needed to be alone and I guess I was way calmer by then.

Of course, everyone in my family was worried that I hadnʼt shown up, but, hey, I am 22 years old, Iʼm not some baby that would get lost in the village.

I have to admit, dinner was pretty awkward. It was like everyone was looking at me, like I had done something terrible, and I donʼt even know why they were so mad. Was it because I ditched lunch? Well, I know they all thought itʼs weird for me out of everyone to skip a meal, but itʼs not like itʼs the first time I did it!

Finally, Abuela spoke up, letting me in to the reason everyone was so tense. Frankly, I should have imagined it was that.

"So, Camilo, the Bernardiʼs came and spoke to me earlier today. They told me that Gabriella came home crying because you broke up with her and insulted her."

And of course, she goes and tells everyone her side of the story so I will seem like the bad person. And everyone believes her!

"I did break up with her but I never insulted her!" I said, trying to defend myself.

"Maybe you did it without realising," my father said.

"No, I did not! I told her I wanted to break up with her, then she started blaming Veronica and calling her fat and ugly! I told her that she doesnʼt have the right to talk like that and she called me a pig and ran away!" I explained.

"Are you sure thatʼs how it happened, Camilo?" my mamá asked.

"Yes, mamá, I am sure! You can ask all the people who could hear her screaming from miles to make sure!" I said, putting my fork down. Somehow, I had lost my appetite again.

I could still see that nobody had fully believed me. I can be a great actor just like Gabriella if I want to, but I prefer to tell the truth about the whole thing. I still wonder how and why I allowed myself to be associated with her in any way.

"We believe you, we do. But thatʼs not the only reason we are having this talk, son," my father said to me again.

I just looked at him, waiting for him to explain further, even though I wasnʼt so sure I wanted to hear what he was going to say.

"You are getting older Camilo, youʼre 22 years old. We all think that itʼs your turn to find someone to get married, weʼve told you many times!"

My hands balled into fists as I was trying not to get angry. Why were they all so obsessed with the marriage thing? And why were they so obsessed about me getting married and not someone else? Mirabel, for example?

"Gabriella is a beautiful girl and she comes from a nice family! But instead, you broke up with her! And so youʼve done with all the other girls! Why?" Abuela asked.

"Because theyʼre not right for me!" I sighed.

"Why was Gabriella not right?" Dolores asked, stepping in the talk as well.

"Because Iʼm not getting married to someone whoʼs so mean! She insulted Veronica!" I said, getting even angrier when I remembered her words.

"Then why donʼt you just marry Veronica?" Isabella asked angrily, that being the final shot.

I was sick of this, I was done. Instead of saying something back, I just got up and went into my room in silence. Vero is my friend, why canʼt anyone realise that? Sheʼs my friend and nothing else, and Iʼm sure she feels the same way! Just because I canʼt stand anyone insulting her means that I like her? Well, sheʼs my friend. She was, and she will always be my friend.

Despite everyone yelling at me to come back, I didnʼt care. Once again, I always try to be happy and optimistic, but that doesnʼt mean I never get angry. I didnʼt want to accidentally say something I would regret later, so going to my room at that point was the only solution.

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Hey everyone! Itʼs pretty hard to find songs that match each chapter, so I donʼt always make it, donʼt judge me.

I hope you liked todayʼs chapter and you can tell me your opinion if you want. Thank you for reading and have a lovely day/night!

-BC