His Mariposa (Camilo Madrigal x Filipina!Reader)

CHAPTER 71

'Lambing' in Filipino means 'affection'

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Camilo has cooped himself up in the room. Y/N was in the other room with her brother. He could hear the faint sound of a guitar coming through the wall between them. It seemed like Butch had asked for Y/N to sing him to sleep.

Please go to sleep after that too, Posa, Camilo pleaded in his mind.

He couldn't bear it any longer. As much as he wanted to fulfil Tio Ernesto's request from him, his body was so goddamned tired.

A regular school day is already tiring as it is, which is why he only helps Encanto as a shapeshifter whenever he's specifically needed, and not on a regular basis.

Shapeshifting is very tiring. On some days, he could even say, it's such an agonizing gift to carry. The magic constantly works his skin and bones, molding his body to fit one person or the other.

Not only is it tiring for his body, but it's also so damn tiring for his mind. To play a character, you literally have to be the character. He has to remember how to walk like the person, how to talk like the person, how to react to things the way he believed the person he shapeshifted into would react, and Camilo felt absolutely awful for helping other people lie to other people.

Shapeshifting required constant focus, and strain, and energy to Just. Keep. Going, until his help was no longer needed.

The more Camilo knew the person he was shapeshifting into, the easier it would be for him to work. Sure, impersonating Profesor deLos Reyes at school would be a piece of cake, but the man just had to need Camilo to be Tio Ernesto. Y/N and Butchokoy's Tatay Erning.

Why Tio Ernesto wanted him to pose as him for the night, Camilo didn't know. All he knew was that when Camilo went to his office after class, the man looked so damn tired. His usually gel kept hair almost resembled a bed head, his had slightly bloodshot eyes and he didn't like that he was asking Camilo for help.

Flashback

"I'm so sorry for asking you to do this, Camilo", Tio Erning said, looking down at his entwined fingers on his office desk. Camilo didn't know what to say. Hell, he didn't even know how to react to this situation.

"I promise this'll only be just for tonight. It won't happen again", Tio said. It was almost as if he was ashamed to ask for help. Camilo decided to go the polite route.

"I'm more than happy to help, Tio", he started. "But can I ask you why?", he asked cautiously.

"It's my and your Abuela's business, hijo. You don't have to worry yourself about that any further"

"But why can't Posa- err-, Y/N and Koy know?"

Tio took his time to choose his next words. "Because I know Nanda would either react like her mother or she'll react like her reckless teenage self"

Camilo's question still wasn't answered. Tio Ernesto pursed his lips as he looked at him.

"Either she'll baby me or she'll want to come with me"

"Oh", Camilo forced his chuckle down.

"And Pepito...", Tio looked at the little picture frame on his desk. It contained a picture of him, Y/N, and Butch in one of the diners in Encanto. It was probably taken during their first weeks here since Y/N still seemed a bit uptight in her chair. Tio had a soft smile on his face while Butch wasn't even prepared for the photo, with barbecue sauce all over his face.