Damn it, Maria! (Squad Series 1)

47🌈 Caleb, The H*rny?

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Caleb was speechless. Looking at her bikini top, it was still there. "So you have nothing... down there?"

Tumango ito.

"Wait for me," at nagmadali siyang pumunta sa tent upang kumuha ng ekstrang damit nito. He didn't wonder why she has too many clothes as if she was running away. Nakahagilap siya ng isa pang bikini at tinakbo and dagat.

"I'll throw it okay?" Tukoy niya sa pink na telang hawak.

"Wag," anito, "mahangin, baka ilipad at mapaplayo. Iabot mo please."

Sinulyapan niya ang tubig. Kahit na dapit hapon ay malibaw ang tubig. "But I'll see your... your..."

"You won't!" anito, "Tinatabunan ng kamay ko Mon-Mon."

"Don't -!" putol niya. "Don't say more." He doesn't want to think about it.

Kaya naman, hinubad niya ang T-shirt at sapatos at lumusong sa tubig. Nang pabewang na ang tubig, inabot niya ang tela ng patagilid, mata sa langit. "Here. This isn't string anymore."

Maria grabbed, not the cloth but his arms and pulled him. Bumagsak siya sa tubig.

"Just kidding!" anito at tumayo. "It's here, see?!"

Imbes na mainis, hinila rin niya ito pabalik sa dagat, para lang di makita ang katawan nito.

" Why did you do that?!"

"Kung di pa ako nagsinungaling, di ka maliligo."

"You little..." Then he realized her hands were snaked around his shoulders. She was so close. Kita niya ang mahabang pilik mata nito at ang pink na mukha salamat sa pagbabad sa tubig.

Caleb thought a little tan was perfect for her too. Then pink glow of her skin was perfect. And no matter what she does to him, she was perfect.

Then she grinned, satisfied. "Huli ka!"

Imbes na sumagot, idinikit niya sa mukha nito ang bitbit na telang pamalit sana. Maria took it and threw near the shore.

Sinundan niya ng pagbato sa mukha nito ng tubig gamit ang palad niya.

"Water fight!" at gumanti si Maria.

Hindi niya alam kung ganno katagal pinatulan ito. Pero alam ni Caleb kung ilang beses itong yumakap sa kanya at ilang beses siyang yumakap dito.

She hugged him twice.

He hugged her tighter four times.

Until the sun was almost gone, doon pa lamang sila umahon at nagbihis.

Dala ng training mula sa madalas nilang pag 'camping' sa sariling bakuran sa subdivision, naitayo nila ang tent, nakagawa ng campfire at kinain ang natitirang baon.

If Maria wanted adventure, he could've booked them tickets somewhere in Thailand or Africa. But this was fine too, he thought. Not bad.

"Sinikreto sa'kin ni Daddy ang sakit niya," sabi nitong bigla nang nakahiga sila sa picnic mat, pinapanood ang kalangitan. "Nang malaman ko, he was dying. Kahit pinakamagaling na doktor, hindi siya nagamot."

Caleb didn't say anything. He realized it was the truth that he demanded before he got sick.

"Bago siya mamatay, may sinabi siya sa'kin."

"Tanong mo, dali," himok nito nang nanatili siyang sahimik.

"What did he tell you?"

"Play."

"Play?"

"Play," at umupo. "Dahil kahit dati pa, tinutulungan ko si Daddy sa kompanya, hindi ako nakakapaglaro sa ibang bata. At kung meron man, gagamitin lang nila ako, sabi ni Daddy. So I played on my own. Sabi niya, magkaroon ako rin ako ng time na maging bad girl, you know, run wild."

She giggled looked down on him. "It was fun. Tapos nakita kita ulit."

"Ulit?"

Imbes na manghaba ang nguso nito, tumingin si Maria sa langit. "Hindi mo na siguro natatandaan. Super tagal na... dati, naimbita ako sa birthday party mo noon. It was nothing special. Ang pandak mo pa dati, matangkad pa ako."

Wala siyang naalala. Maybe he was very young back then, but then, it didn't matter to him. Now was more important.

"Bumalik ako dito para maglaro! Tinago namin ang pagkamatay ni Daddy para hindi magpanic ang board at bumaba ang stocks. I'm glad somehow, everything went well!"

Nabigla siya sa pagpalakpak ng nito na para bang napakagandang fairytale ang naikuwento. "Tapos na ako, Mon-Mon, ikaw naman."

"Anong ako?"

"Magkuwento. Paiyakin mo ako okay? Ipapadala natin sa TV ang life story mo ha?"

"I don't have any drama."

Maria smiled and accused. "Sinungaling." Pero hindi na ito nagpilit at nangako, "Don't worry Mon-Mon, maayos rin ang lahat!"

Hindi siya sigurado kung alin ang tinutukoy nito dahil sa pagkakataong iyon, walang kulang sa kanya. For him, everything was fine. The waves were relaxing, stars shone bright, but Maria shone brighter. It was perfect.

"Hey Maria."

"Hmm?" anito, abala sa pagkalkal ng natitirang pagkain. "Aha!" at nakakuha ng saging at binalatan.

"You know what I feel right?" Sa isip nagsusumigaw na tumigil siya, but his mouth won't stop.

"Ahuh," walang anomang sabi nito. "Gutom ka rin?" at inabot amg saging na may kagat na.

Nainis si Caleb. Umupo siya. He's spilling his real feelings but all she thinks is food and more food.

Inagaw niya ang saging at itinapon. "Making ka, d*mn it!"

Hindi ito nagsalita, napakurap-kurap. "Mon-Mon, ang saging!"

Pigilian niya nag braso nito bago pa makatayo. Hinila niya ito palapit sa kanya at siniil ng halik, habang gumapang ang kamay niya paikot sa beywang nito.

Then he let go. "That's what I'm trying to say."

Naipilig nito an ulo, nalilito. "You're... horny?'

Napamura siya. "Ye-no! Ang ibig kong sabihin... I like you!"

He wanted to say it. He likes her for real at hindi lang dahil pinagkasundo sila.

He buried the fear that one day Maria might find out the truth.

"Sinabi mo na sa'kin 'yan dati Mon-Mon. Ulit-ulit. Gusto mo lang yata marinig na gusto rin kita eh. Sige na, I like you too, super duper," at niyakap siya. Pagkatapos ay nangunot ang noo, "Teka, like lang?"

"Shut up, gano'n na rin 'yon, wag kang maarte."

Hindi ito nagpilit at hinanap ang tinapon niyang saging.

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