Damn it, Maria! (Squad Series 1)

50 🌈 Caleb, The Changed

Heyah babes.
Kinda short, sorry, I'll update another one later or tom.
Sorry rin medyo na late. Mahirap mag-maintain ng two watty accounts lalo na pag parehong may ongoing stories. 3-4 po ongoing ko sa kabila 🤧 And cp lang gamit ko for now kasi walang wifi (Salamat Odette 🙄)

Ellena_Odde name ng main account ko.
Beke nemen 👉👈

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Nagising si Caleb ng may pumipitik na sakit ng ulo. Nakahiga na siya sa kama at rinig pa rin ang sintunadong kantahan ng videoke sa baba.

Tumingin siya sa wall clock, alas dos y media ng madaling araw at mukhang walang katapusan ang selebrasyon sa labas.

"Do these people know what rest is?" maktol niya.

King saan siya, siguradong kuwarto iyon ni Matthew, tadtad ng litrato nito ang sdngding mula binyag hanggang kasalukuyang litrato sa highschool. It looked like a gallery of someone who died, remembered through pictures.

"Hmm..."

Nanigas si Caleb, nawala ang atensyon sa sakit sa ulo. Humigpit ang brasong nakapulupot sa baywang niya.

Binuksan niya ang kumot na nakatabon, lumantad ang tulog na si Maria, naglalaway pa at mahinang humilik.

"What the hell," bulong niya at niyugyog ito. "Maria?"

Hindi ito sumagot, hinigpitan ang yakap.

He felt outraged. Dapat ay konserbatibo ang taga probinsya. Hindi pinagsasama sa iisang kwarto ang babae't lalaki.

But then, there's Matthew. His cousin is a manwh0re. Caleb wondered the extent if his aunt and uncle's distorted parenting.

He gave up, sinuklay ang malagkit n buhok ni Maria. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon, hindi rin siya ulit nakatulog ng maayos.

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Nagising siya ng alas nuwebe, wala na si Maria sa kanyang tabi. Umalingawngaw na naman mula sa labas ang videoke at tawanan.

He hates fiestas, the celebration seemed endless. People bond over food and drinks instead of working.

Una niyang tiningnan ang cellphone, nakatanggap ng text mula kay Matthew, nagsasabing uuwi sa fiesta, isasama ang ibang kasama sa club, maliban kay Lord dahil may trabaho. He didn't reply.

Instead, he called back the three missed calls from his father's secretary.

"Your father wants to talk to you," ani Teo Kumar at namatay ang tawag. Ilang segundo lamang ang dumaan, direktang numero ng ama niya ang tumatawag

"Good day Sir," pormal niyang bati.

"Where are you?"

Natahimik siya, nagdalawang isip kung sasbihin ang totoo. But then, he'd eventually find the truth. If he asked the staff back at home to lie for him, his father would replace them all.

"San Mateo."

Natahimik rin sandali ang kabilang linya.

"I met Mia," tukoy niya sa ina. "She's still the same. She looked healthy, Sir. I talked to her."

Siguro ay pahamon ang dating niya. It was not his intention. He just wants to tell his father that he won't be like him. He'd try to change. Yes, he'd surpass his achievements, but he'll grow a heart. He'll try to be a real person with warmth.

Caleb cringed at his own thoughts. He was disgustingly melodramatic. Pero kahit aning tanggi niya, iyon ang totoo. Nagbabago siya, sa ayaw niya't sa gusto.

"We talked Sir... after all these years, we did."

"I'll be coming home," malamig na sabi nito. "Let's talk about your engagement."

Then the call ended.

Ilang sandaling tulala si Caleb, nakaupo sa gilid ng kama at nakayuko. He tried to gather his thoughts, all the changes that was forced upon him.

Bumukas ang pinto at sumilip ang mukha ni Maria. "Good morning Mon-Mon! Mabuti gising ka na. Baba ka na para sa agahan."

Hindi siya sumagot, nakatitig lang dito.

She was the reason of it all.

Tuluyan na itong pumasok, tumabi sa kanya. "Masakit ang ulo mo? Hangover? Grabe, ang lakas ng hilik mo. Naglalaway ka pa kaya kanina."

Caleb kept on staring, memorized the worried knot on her forehead, the small dot of ketchup under mouth, the messy hair tied at the back and the catty eyes reflecting him. May kaunting muta pa nga iyon.

Bumaba na nga an taste niya sa babae. He was beyond saving. Dahil dito, nakausap niya ang ina. Nakaranas niyang makipagsiksikan sa piyesta, matulog ng walang aircon at mapuyat. Naalala pa niya ang pagkalasing at pagkanta sa videoke.

He, Caleb Montreal, did ridiculous things.

He changed. His world was turned upside down.

"Because of you," he mumbled. "D*mn it."

"Mon-Mon?"

He pulled her for a tight hug, his head on her shoulders like a vulnerable boy. "You little hellion..." he whispered. "It's all your fault," and inhaled her scent. "Thank you..."

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