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Mirabel squirmed in her seat. Dolores wasn't saying a thing, but she couldn't be sure. Sooner or later, she might break, and what will they do then?
Meanwhile, the buzzing around her from her family was enough to remind her exactly where she was: at the dinner table, discussing Isabela's engagement to Mariano. Right. Marriage. That.
Mostly, she heard Abuela talking with his mother, small talk that bored her just a bit. Isabela had told her to not make a sound, but there was nothing interesting going on anyways, so what could she say?
"Yes.. of course, Abuela." Though she could hear the strain in Isabela's voice right next to her. And the way her minimal movements seemed so stiff and nervous. Was it because of the proposal? She didn't seem excited, though..
Isabela said nothing more, just nodding along to whatever they were talking about. She could hear some subtle kicks at the floor from below coming from her. Frustration? She didn't think Isabela would cope this way, but then again, it didn't seem like she knew her too well.
Mirabel felt a grin come onto her face as she watched Isabela keeping her eyes glued to the other end of the table. She wasn't looking, so that meant she could look.
Isabela kept biting her lower lip, subtly nibbling on it, just enough so no one would notice.. except Mirabel, of course. She was already far too close. Much closer than usual to her sister. It was almost like she could feel the warmth radiating onto her.
(Mariano, on the other hand, felt weirdly cold.)
The taps her fingers made on the table were almost completely silent. Though Mirabel could feel the thumping, and somehow, hear it as well.. for a moment, she'd wondered if her gift was superhearing, just as Dolores, because it didn't seem that anyone else heard it.
(Dolores sneaked a look to Isabela, but said nothing. Probably about the tapping.)
Mirabel knew she was getting distracted. Maybe a bit too distracted. She could feel gentle tugs from her Pa on the sleeve of her shoulder, drawing her attention to *something*, but was it really more interesting than watching Isabela gulp down her nervousness?
"Mirabel?" "M- Eeh?" "The cream, please."
Right. Dinner.
"The.. cream?" Her pa gave her a nervous smile as he passed it to her. She shouldn't be nervous, but for some reason, her hands trembled just a bit when she took the bowl.
Isabela shot her a look. It seemed like one of usual, annoyed ones, but there was something foreign in her eyes. For a moment, it felt like her fingers lingered just a bit too long against Isabela's.. She looked to Isabela's face, as if for confirmation, but it looked like she had forced her eyes away from Mirabel, almost like there was a faint blush on her cheeks, reaching up to her mole... was that always there?
But just like that, it was gone almost immediately, replaced with her usual complexion. And with the same daggers coming from her stare.
Did she have to be so mean? What was that just now? Mirabel sadly tore her eyes away from her sister. She was getting proposed to today. That must be a big stress, right?
Mirabel didn't even notice as her fork slipped from her grip and promptly fell onto the floor with a loud clink.
She flushed with embarrassment as every pair of eyes around the table turned to her. As she was about to lean, Isabela interrupted her. "It's alright, sis, I'll get it for you."
Huh?
Before she knew it, Isabela was already under the table, retrieving it for her. Why would she do that? Mirabel followed her movements once more, only to shiver from surprise as Isabela's long, almost elegant hand brushed against hers, gentle but very, very intentional. But just like that, it was over, and Isabela had already held out the fork towards her.
Her eyebrows arched, almost looking amused as Mirabel felt her heart freak out in her chest. "Thank you, Isa," She mumbled, trying her best to look composed, but she already let her older sister know.
Only when she looked to her hands, did she find a little aster, wrapped with a thin vine around her finger.