Damn it, Maria! (Squad Series 1)

30 🌈 Caleb, The Surprised

🌈🌈🌈

Matapos ng agahang napaulanan siya ng tukso, nagsimula na silang maghanda para sa maliit na salo-salo.

Dahil may mga pagkaing nabili na mula sa siyudad, kaunti na lang amg kanilang gagawin. Naging abala sila sa kusina, iginiit kay Mrs. Sabel na 'di nila kailangan ng tulong.

Nag-ihaw si Matthew ng isda habang si Tamara ay masayang naghihiwa ng kikilawin, nakangiti sa bawat tama ng kutsilyo sa laman.

Everyone looked busy, but Caleb was sitting like a king at the head of the kitchen table, reading the business section of the newspaper. He wasn't giving any help.

Hah, he thought, why would I?

Ipinanganak siya para mang-alipin. Wala sa bokabularyo niya ang gumawa ng manual labor, kahit para sa birthday ni Maria.

As if he would.

"Please..."

Ibinaba niya ang dyaryo, muntik ng matumba nang agad bumungad ang mukha ni Maria. Kanina pa itong humihiling na tumulong siya.

"Don't wanna," sabi niya, higit na itinaas ang dyaryo. Isa pa, interesante ang binabasa niyang article, tungkol sa Rainbow Industries. Pinupuri nito ang CEO, si William Bahaghari, an ama ni Maria.

Sa kabila ng biglang pagiging mailap nito sa media at publiko ng halos isang taon, nagpatuloy pa rin ang pag-unlad ng kompanya. There are rumors why he was away from the public for a while but none of them took off. He was called a 'Conqueror Of The Business World'.

Dahil sa pamununo nito, lumago ang dating chain ng junkshop. He expanded his business, started taking in small businesses until taking over larger companies. He does not bat an eye and take over rivals and close down subsidiaries that don't make profit.

Despite the constant unconventional methods, Rainbow Industries is now undeniably at its peak.

It has been known that in the past years, Rainbow Industries has created a new subsidiary, Colors Trap, that ventures on rather quoted as 'random and unique' investments. This includes Martial Arts schools, food parks and even glowing stickers.

And now, they have turned to manufacturing of pedal boats, with designs ranging from yellow ducks to snails, an addition to their rather unique roster of booming ventures.

Tumigil siya sa pagbabasa, tinitigang mabuti ang picture sa dyaryo. William Bahaghari. Conqueror Of The Business World, they say.

Caleb smiled. The title fits him better.

If it goes well, he'll marry Maria and control Rainbow Industries too.

But first, he has to work his way up conquering the world. Ibinaba niya ang dyaryo, para burahin ang nanghahabang nguso ni Maria. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi nito, at tulad ng huwarang boyfriend na hindi matanggihan ang nobya, pumayag si Caleb. "Fine, what do you want me to do."

Ngayon ay ngumiti ito, ganoon din siya. Fooling an ignorant girl's heart is way easier than running a multi billion company.

🌈🌈🌈

"Mon-Mon, ganit- oh no! Bakit mo dinamihan?"

"Mon-Mon, hindi ka marunong gumamit ng kutsilyo?"

"Mon-Mon, like this o."

"You do it!" sigaw niya sa wakas, tinitigan ng masama si Maria. "Tumulong ka, it's your idea in the first place."

At bakit siya nito pinagdikdik ng bawang? It was degrading.