Damn it, Maria! (Squad Series 1)

41 🌈Caleb, The Impatient

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If only killing intent is visible, darkness would've been seen coming out from Caleb. Pero limang segundo pa lamang ang dumaan, muling nag-ring ang cellphone niya, tawag mula sa numero ni Maria. Sinagot niya agad iyon.

[Just kidding] then he heard a chuckle.

[She slept after she drank medicine. You can pick her up once she's awake.]

Hindi pa man siya nakabitiw ng salita, naputol ulit ang tawag. Nakatayo lamang siya sa paanan ng grand staircase, nagpigil na ibato ang cellphone. He made the right decision, agad siyang nakatanggap ng text, gamit 'di rehistradong numero.

[Luna Hotel. Royal Suite 4.]

Syempre pa, hindi na siya naghintay.
Tinungo niya ang garahe at inilabas ang susi ng isa sa mga kotse.

"Just wait for me..." he mumbled. "D*mn it."

Maliban sa ilang mga bagay, hindi apurado si Caleb. He believes that some things are taken slowly, but surely. There is no shortcut to success. Kaya naman, sunod-sunuran siya sa ama at nag-aaral siyang mabuti.

He plans, he wins.

But when it comes to Maria, it has become so natural for him to be greedy and race against time.

"So your staying in my hotel," he whispered, waiting for the light to turn green, when it did, he swerved his car left for the next avenue.

Hindi na niya pinansin ang pambahay suot at buhok na hindi pa nasuklay. It doesn't matter. All his clothes, looked like they can be used outdoors anyway.

It doesn't matter.

As of the moment, the most important is how his hands hold the wheel and race through the streets, until finally, he reached the hotel.

Agad siyang nakilala ng valet. Binigay niya ang susi, tumango lamang sa mga pagbati. Mabilis siyang sumakay ng elevator, diretso sa pinakamataas ba palapag para sa mga suites. Above them, was the penthouse. Sa kasalukuyan, walang umukopa dahil umuuwi ang kanyang ama sa mansyon kapag nasa Pilipinas.

Before he met Maria as his fiancee, he'd imagine himself occupying the penthouse, just an excuse not to go home to his wife, unknown, at that time. But now, Caleb was not sure anymore. He doesn't want to admit why his feet are moving so fast as if he's running.

Sa wakas, narating na rin niya ang Royal Suite 4. She pressed the doorbell and stood straight at the camera in front of the door, just to make himself visible. Tinitigan niya itong mabuti, siniguradong ramdam ang galit niya sa kabila ng pinto.

Ilang sandali pa, bumukas ang pinto, nalantad ang pamilyar na mukha ni Master Hokage. He didn't like it that he was wearing sando and a black and white striped pajama, staring at him with twinkling blue eyes.

"As expected," he said. "Well, whatever," and let him in.

"Where is she?" tanong niya nang makapasok.

"Inside," gamit ang ulo, isinenyas nito ang direksiyon ng silid, sarado ang pinto.

Agad siyang humakbang papunta roon.

"Whoa there boyfriend," anito, itinaas ang kamay para pigilan siya. "Jeez man. She's still asleep. How about an intro first. We're gentlemen after all."

"Fine," sa wakas sabi niya, pinagmasdan ito.

"George Ashton... Maria calls me Georgie sometimes, you can too," at inalok ang kamay.

"Caleb Montreal," aniya, at tinanggap. They shook hands.

A man can reveal alot through his handshake. Caleb had his share of men who shook his hands; the powerful and the weak. And the way George shook his, a firm grip, not too constricting not too loose, how he looked straight at him, Caleb knew, George had his fair share of intimidating people. He wasn't just a nobody.

Pero hindi siya nagpatinag. Caleb took a good look at him. Mas matangkad nga ito sa kanya ng kaunti. He didn't like the fact that he had to look up at him a little bit, or that he was not ordinary looking. He was older, probably on his mid-twenties. Chirpy and charming.

He hated that kind. They are tricky enemies.

Pinaupo siya nito sa couch, though reluctant, he did so. Naningkit ang mga mata niya nang makita ang ilang box ng pizza at ice cream sa coffee table. Sigurado siyang para kay Maria iyon.

It was Pepperoni and Hawaiian. The ice cream was cookies and cream. Iyon ang kasalukuyang flavor of the month ni Maria. At ang fried chicken, ilan ay wala ng balat. That's how Maria eats. Inuuna nitong ubusin ang malutong na balat tapos ay uubusin ang laman.

"You're her boyfriend," anito. "She told me a lot of things about you."

"She didn't tell me anything about you," ganti niya.

"Naturally, she wouldn't."

"How are you related to her?"

"I'm sort of her guardian... though sometimes..." then he grinned, mysteriously, "never mind," at tumalikod patungo sa direksiyon ng kusina ng suite.

Higit siyang nainis. Obvious pa man sa simula pero kinompirma niya ulit ang iniisip: He doesn't like George. Not one bit. In fact, he hates him.

"Is wine okay with you?" sigaw nito.

"No, thank you," sagot niya.

"What? You're not underage anymore right? It's just wine," at bitbit nito ang dalawang kopita. Inabot nito sa kanya iyon pero di niya tinanggap.

"Wow," anito, "you're intense," at ibinaba ang kopita sa may mesa. "Relax boy, I won't do anything."

Caleb didn't believe him a bit.

"Really," George chuckled playfully. Ininom nito ang hawak. "I won't do anything... yet."

Sa sandaling iyon, bumukas ang pinto, lumabas si Maria, suot pa ang pajama nito mula sa bahay at kinukusot ang mata.

"I'm hungry," sabi nito sa maliit na boses at naghikab, katulad ng isang paslit.

"Baby Warrior, someone came for you," anito.

"Hmm?" at tuluyang nagising. She smiled. "Hi Mon-Mon! You found me."

Hindi siya umimik, pinagmasdan lang itong mabuti. Namumugto ang mata nito. By the look of things, he's sure it was from crying. She looked so defenseless and weak.

He was able to look deeper now. Pakiramdam niya, nasisilip niya ang itinatago ng mga ngiti nito.

"Mon-Mon? Are you okay?" tanong nito nang di siya nagsalita at lumapit. "Gutom ka rin?"

Umiling siya, hindi alam ang sasabihin. "D*mn it..." he muttered, the pain in his chest grew just by looking at her looking so fragile. "God d*mn it Maria."

Then took her hand and led her by the door.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Home," sagot niya. "We're going home."

"Wait," at binawi nito ang kamay. Tumakbo ito pabalik sa may coffee table, binitbit ang isang box ng pizza, at tumakbo pabalik sa kanya. "By Georgie! See you!"

All this time, George didn't say anything. Magiliw lang itong nakasunod ng tingin sa kanila. Nagtagal ang tingin nito kay Caleb. Caleb was sure there was a small mysterious smile on his lips. Nagliwanag ang ngiti nito nang lumipat kay Maria.

"Bye, my Baby Warrior."

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What do you think of Georgie? Is he good? Is he bad? Is he hot? Is he not? Kyaah.

Ellena Odde ♥