Chapter 20

"I bought some snacks and some other stuff to entertain us throughout the night." Camilo spoke, flopping the bag down on the ground as he sat beside the girl, who was doodling mindlessly on her sketchbook —the bright lamp they brought provided her enough light to have been able to see what she's drawing.

"Your company alone is enough to entertain me 'till midnight." Pencil at hand she still scribbled mindlessly, not bothering to look at Camilo. Yet she could feel his gaze lingering on her as she continued to draw.

An open field, not too far from the —and the perfect view to watch the fireworks. It's almost as if it was perfectly made for this certain occasion.

"Ay, Camilo we haven't reached an hour and yet here you are, eating all the snacks. We still have five more hours to wait on."

". You know how heavenly Julieta's cooking is! How can I not eat it when it's just there, basically begging to be eaten?" Camilo complained, laying down on the grass with a big dramatic sigh:

"Oh, , my one true love! Why must fate be so cruel as to separate us from each other?" he theatrically monologues, one hand on his forehead as he choked out a fake sob.

"Now I know why you and Niko get along so well."

"Heh, I guess I just have this natural charm bestowed upon me."

"... Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." She was about to say that they're both idiots but oh well.

The girl laid down beside him, stretching a bit before getting comfortable. Her back aches at the prolonged time she had sat down on the ground hunched over whilst she draws, Camilo often compares her posture to that of a shrimp as the girl simply bit back as if his was any better.

"Camilo, tell me a haiku." She asked, her eyes never leaving the starry sky. "A hai- what now?"

" told me it's a type of poem originated from the East, it only consists of three lines with five syllables on the first one, seven on the second, and five at the third."

"Sounds hard, no way, . I highly doubt I have the mental capacity to make one, you do it instead." Camilo groaned, turning to the side to face her, beautifully lit was her under the moonlight; his heart beats truly, and only for her.

The girl pondered, eyes fluttered to a close.

"My courageous love, longing was I for your touch; Sweet kiss of the sky."

Sweet honeyed words filled his heart and ears, oh, how he wished it has he she was referring to, and not anyone. It was wishful thinking.

"That was, uhm... Romantic."

"Funny, because it was meant to be romantic."

"And I thought I was the romantic one." Camilo breathed, pulling out some of the grass on the ground, separating it from the ground it lives upon. "Seeing as I basically flirt with you all time."

"You were flirting at me?"

"I have for a long time actually, but I appreciate it for realizing it just now."

The girl turned her head away from his teasing gaze, Camilo's smirked widens upon seeing the tips of her ears tinting faint pink. "You are such a dork, Camilo."

"Running out of flowery words to say, eh?"

"Perhaps, I am." She whispered, covering half of her face with a sketchbook, her heart hammering in her chest —threatening to burst out. There's that weird feeling again, the annoying floaty feeling to get close to Camilo and punch his gut —the sudden urge to hug and, and slap his face or whatever.

.

"I don't like to play this game anymore."

"You don't like it because you keep losing."

.

Camilo groaned and flopped himself back to the grassy bed, he regrets bringing a chess board on his bag of entertainment. It all about strategy, moves, rules, and more strategy it's much too late in the night () to use his brain to win at chess.

The lamp shined brighter than ever as they continue to lightly bicker during their session of chess. "Okay, now you're just letting me win." Camilo pouted, his voice lacing in a bitter tone as he stared at the girl in front of him.

She merely shrugged at his statement with a miniscule smile, barely noticeable as ever. "Perhaps you're getting better at chess." She spoke. "I don't believe the lies that spill out from your mouth."

.

her wrist watch sang, its hands danced with each passing second, it danced along with the song of their heartbeats; hearts that unknowingly long for each other.

"I'm getting tired, Camilo." The girl yawned as she leaned back, her hand supporting her weight. "Then sleep, I'll wake you up when midnight comes." He suggested, cleaning up the chess pieces and stuffing it back on the bag.