Hatin' Hue: SB19 JOKEN (COMPLETED)

HH 20

Holding Caleb's hand tenderly with sparkling eyes, Han exclaimed, "Amusement park, done! Museum and coffee date, done! Arcade, bowling, golfing tapos na rin in just a week! Cal, camping na lang kulang sa list natin."

Only a week has passed since they made the decision to allow themselves to experience freedom, and all that Han did was make Caleb the happiest. How he wishes this could last. Caleb pressed his hand to Han's face, holding back his tears. "Prepare your things; we'll go camping."

Just before the day is out, Han's smiles turn to terror when he realizes that Caleb has vanished from his sight. Han managed to call Silver on his phone and tell him to get help, saying, "Nawawala si Caleb! Hindi ko siya makita! Hindi ako makakita!"

When Silver, Crimson, and Gold got to Han's location, they witnessed him crying, growling in pain, and terrified all at once. "Bespal! Gamot mo please!" cried Silver.

"I already asked the authorities to search for him. Let's get you home; you need to rest," Crimson said in an attempt to soothe him.

Gold couldn't help but feel even more terrible for Han after learning about the news from home, all the while watching his friends try in vain to cheer him up. "Cal went to dad. I don't know what made up his mind, but he accepted the engagement," he muttered as he approached Crimson.

Crimson's phone was ringing nonstop at that moment. "Sorry, I have to get this. We really need to get back now."

"Hindi natin pwedeng iwan si Caleb dito! Baka makabalik siya dito sa tent," declared Han in response.

Crimson gripped him tightly. "Cal is fine! Hindi siya nawawala. He left, and he won't be back."

Caleb was already gone when Austin got back to their mansion. He wept and crawled to his bed, saying, "It's time to let Crimson go."

Only Crimson was aware of Caleb's location. To keep him safe, he was being thrown to one of their former properties, where he was to remain until they announced their engagement. Crimson ran to Caleb and hugged him tightly while asking, "Why?"

"We've been followed. Han will be in danger if I continue to stay with him," Caleb replied. "A week of my freedom is more than enough. I couldn't risk Han's life even further. He still has a bright future ahead of him, and I shouldn't drag him into the grave with me."

It was never "losing him as a lover is better than losing him forever," as to Caleb, he would lose him either way if he prolonged it.

"So, tuloy na?" Crimson questioned as he sat down next to him, and Caleb nodded. "It's okay. I'll take care of it."

Caleb's tears came from guilt, saying, "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

"This fucking hierarchy and our families are to blame, not you or me," Crimson muttered, pinching the cheek of the guy sitting next to him. "Will you be fine here?"

"Yes, I want to be alone for a while," Caleb answered. Caleb doesn't have any choice but to stay there since he is surrounded by his father's security.

Weeks passed, Caleb's father hauled him to the mansion. As guests began to arrive, he couldn't help but feel dispute for every other family that attended an event of this nature. The voice called out to him, "Kuya Caleb," stopped him in his tracks.

"Eton, you're also here," Caleb said to the young child. Eton rushed to Caleb and, without a word, embraced him tightly while smiling sadly.

And in that moment, Caleb started crying. He saw how Eton's fate was exactly the same as his own. Being the family's firstborn son comes with a lot of responsibilities, one of which is to stay away from love.

"Eton, remember that it's not a sin to love. You can still change your destiny. You are not obliged to just follow orders. You can be more than just this," pointing to himself. Hugging the kid once more, he headed out of the garden and tried to hide in a little secret room.

He heard someone say, "Gold! Nahanap ko na si Crimson!"

Crimson was startled to see Silver and exclaimed, "Silver? What are you doing here?"

"Han's not answering. I can't find Cal either," exclaimed Austin as soon as he arrived.

Confused Crimson knitted her brows and asked, "What's going on?" He continued, "Kung ano man 'to, stop it already. Cal and I made up our minds; you can't change it." He left the two and looked for Mr. Hue so that the event would begin already.

"He's Red's son."

"That can't be! No one's left in the Red family."

"I spared the kid's life. He wasn't part of the plan you told me. Oh, right, I forgot how you acted like there was no plan at all and just shed everyone's blood."

Crimson can't take any more of what he's just heard from them, "Sirs, what's the meaning of this?"

But Mr. Hue yelled, "Guards! Look for the outsider; bring him dead or alive!"

Crimson protested, "No! You can't do this!"

"Don't meddle with this, Crimson! This is for your own good!" Mr. Hue dragged Crimson in as nothing had occurred, preparing to properly start the event, and started to entertain the guests. Mr. Hue asked Crimson, referring to his son Caleb, "Where's that bastard?"

In front of Han, in a room, was the person they were all searching for. Though everything was silent, there were occasional sounds of Caleb crying. Han was standing at the door, stifling his fear and bursting through. "Cal, hon, I know you're in there."

And as quickly as he could, Caleb gave Han a firm embrace and buried his face in his chest as be opened the door for him. "You came."

"I came to save you. May plano kami nila Gold at Silver," Han said in a soothing voice, making Caleb's heart tug even more.

All of his sacrifices, though, will just pop like a bubble if he allows them to save him. Because for him, he's not the one who needs to be saved.

Han persisted until Caleb gave in. He then noticed that Crimson and Mr. Hue were the life of the party as they headed off to find their friends. "We can't contact you, Teo. Crimson disapproved of the plan," Gold and Silver remarked as they walked up to them.

Mr. Hue caught them in their attempt to get Crimson's attention. But before Mr. Hue could even get used to seeing Han's face, someone else grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the mansion without anyone else noticing but Crimson.

When Crimson attempted to flee in the direction of the man who had pulled Han, the security guards intervened and dragged Caleb and Crimson to the center for the big reveal. Left standing in the throng, uncertain about Han's whereabouts, were Silver and Gold.

Conversely, Han exclaimed, "Bitawan mo 'ko! Sino ka?"

When they reached the parking area, where few people were present, the man released him. Eton emerged when one of the parked cars lowered its window. "Eton!"

"He's my Lolo, Kuya," Eton innocently introduced. "Lolo, do as you promised. Don't hurt my kuyas," before the car drove off.

"How much do you remember from your childhood?" Mr. Chairman asked Han.

"Not much, sir."

The Chairman responded, "I see. From what I've heard, you're Han Teodoro."

"Yes, sir."

"Your house helper did a great job hiding you from families like us." The Chairman's statement made Han confused.

"What do you mean, sir?"

With brisk response, the chairman said, "You're a Red, Han. Or should I say, Theodore Red."

To be continued...

ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ Author's notes:

Thank you for the 1,000 reads! And here's the update, as promised.

Stay tuned for the upcoming updates! Chapters 21–Finale are on the way.

Stream SB19 - MAPA / THE FIRST TAKE