Beautiful Disaster (Ongoing & on Hiatus)

Beautiful Disaster - Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE:

It was just like any other night. I was in the kitchen washing the dishes and Caleb was playing his guitar up in his bedroom. A strong manly scented cologne filled the air and I heard footsteps coming down the stairs accompanied with the sound of clinking car keys.

Instinctively, I knew that Dad was going to be on yet another date. He always uses that cologne whenever he’s going out on a date. He came over to me and patted me on the head. That what his usual way of acknowledging me; like it was a reminder to him that there was another human being in the room.

“Don’t wait up for me,” he said as he looked at himself in the mirror and ran his fingers through his tousled hair. “I’ll be home later than usual.”

“Who is it this time? Tanya? Lou-Ann?” I tried to sound nonchalant. I’ve become very good at it lately.

“Nope, her name’s Sharmaine. I met her at a diner a couple of months ago.” He replied, assuming that that was the only information I needed to know.

I didn’t feel the need to ask him anymore, since I knew that all of his relationships are always short-lived. The longest I knew of was with a spa masseuse named Tiffany—it lasted for almost half a year.

“Alright, then. Say hi to her for me.” I said as I rinsed the porcelain plate I held in my hands.

“Sure will.”

The next thing I knew, he was out in the garage, starting the car.

* * *

Mom died of cervical cancer two years ago. It was a tragic moment, and after she passed away, Caleb refused to talk. He and mom were very close. A few months after that dreadful happening, Dad began to date women he’d meet at his office, at the grocery store, at the gasoline station, at the mall, or in any other place.

He didn’t understand how much it hurt me and Caleb, and because of that, Caleb resented Dad more than ever. He would brush Dad off and sulk in his room all day. On school days, he would come home past curfew, knowing that Dad would be fuming. He loved it when Dad got mad at him. And when he would get grounded, he’d still leave the house as if he weren’t grounded at all. But during the times he’d spend in his room, I’d hear him going wild. He would punch the wall, throw things around, and—though he’d never admit this—cry. Everywhere he went, Caleb always brought with him a grim aura. Despite Caleb’s rebellion against Dad, he never went into drugs or drank beer. In fact, he ranked first in his class.

Caleb was more expressive than I was. I just kept it all in. Over the years, I’ve mastered the art of feigning interest, affection, sympathy and honesty towards my Dad. If I had my way, I would be much worse than Caleb. But I couldn’t do that. Not when I was the only one left who was struggling to keep my shattered family together. I even try to encourage Dad on his dates. He never brings his women home, though. That was, until that Saturday morning.

I was outside in the garden, watering the plants, when Dad called me and Caleb into the living room. When I stepped into the living room, the first thing I saw was Dad. By the look on his anxious face, he had something important to tell us. Caleb was already seated on the edge of the couch in front of Dad, looking disinterested, and I sat beside him.

“I asked Sharmaine to marry me.” Dad told us.

Shock went through me like a sudden jolt of lightning.  And after that, the outrage surfaced, but I made an effort to appear composed as I tried to rack my brain for an appropriate response. But I couldn’t think of anything. All I wanted to do was scream right then and there. After a few moments, I was able to find my voice.