Between life and love

Words that sting

Episode 15

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Mariel’s POV

The picture on the wall caught my attention before I could even stop myself. It was framed in glossy wood, hanging just above the living room table, and though it was clearly old, the image inside was vibrant.

A small baby, wrapped tightly in a white blanket, stared back at me with the grumpiest little pout I had ever seen. His hair was a thick mess, his cheeks pudgy, and his eyes wide like he hadn’t been ready to be born but was dragged here anyway.

I tilted my head, staring harder, until I couldn’t resist anymore.

“Who’s on that picture?” I asked, pointing at the frame.

Caleb followed my gaze, and the second his eyes landed on the picture, he smirked. That proud, self-satisfied smirk of his that always made me want to roll my eyes.

“The baby is handsome, right?” he asked, puffing his chest out as if he were presenting the crown jewel of his family.

I blinked at him, then burst into laughter. “Handsome? Please. You look like someone who was forced into this world. Like—like the doctor pulled you out and you immediately regretted being born.”

I bent over, holding my stomach as the laugh escaped me louder than I wanted it to.

Caleb didn’t even flinch. He crossed his arms, leaned on the couch like he owned the world, and said with maddening confidence, “That didn’t stop me from looking handsome.”

I clicked my tongue, narrowing my eyes at him. “Handsome, my foot.”

“Handsome, your eyes,” he corrected smoothly, and that smug grin made me want to throw a pillow at him.

I shook my head and forced myself back into focus. “Let’s just get to work.”

We walked over to the study table tucked neatly in the corner of the living room. It was polished mahogany, the kind of furniture that screamed expensive without trying too hard. We set our notes and textbooks on it, and I quickly sat down before Caleb could make another ridiculous comment.

As usual, he dragged the chair noisily and plopped into it like he had no care in the world.

We started working. Or at least, I started working. Caleb was doodling at the edge of his notebook, tapping his pen against the table, his eyes darting anywhere but the assignment.

It wasn’t new. It was Caleb.

“You know,” he said suddenly, voice casual, “we’ll soon be done with high school.”

I didn’t even look up. “So?”

He leaned closer, propping his chin on his palm. “So… that means we’re about to enter another phase in life.”

I finally looked at him, unimpressed. “You’re going, but is your brain going with you?”

His eyes widened dramatically, then he threw his head back and laughed. “She’s sarcastic again.”

I didn’t join him. I placed my pen down and fixed him with a serious stare. “No, Caleb. I’m dead serious. Part of the reason I don’t really like you is because you don’t take your education seriously. You think because your parents are rich, their fortune will cover you. But you’re mistaken.”

His laughter faded slowly. His playful smirk dimmed, though he tried to keep it up.

“And who said I’m not serious?” he asked finally, almost defensively.

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. “Do you really want me to answer that? You miss classes. You come late to school almost every day. You’re a playboy. You only contribute jokes to class. With all of that, does anyone else need to tell me you’re not serious?”

The silence between us grew thick for a moment.

Caleb opened his mouth, then shrugged with that irritating calmness. “At least I contribute something.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “Unbelievable.”

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Caleb’s POV

Her words… they hit me harder than I expected.

It wasn’t the first time someone had told me I wasn’t serious. Teachers said it. My parents had said it too. Even friends, jokingly, would throw the word at me. But hearing it from her… for some reason, it stung.

Maybe because her voice had no trace of teasing. Maybe because her eyes had been sharp, almost disappointed.

And maybe because deep down, I knew she was right.

The death of my girlfriend had left a hollow space in me, one I’d tried to fill with laughter, pranks, and distractions. Being “the unserious guy” was easier than letting people see the pain I carried.

But Mariel… she didn’t even know my past, yet her words sliced right through the mask.

I tapped my pen against the table aimlessly, my thoughts drifting. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’ve been wasting time. But if I want to change, where do I even start? And if I ask her for help… ha, she’d murder me with her words before agreeing.

I was still lost in thought when her voice jerked me back.

“We’re done!” she said happily, stretching her arms.

Her smile was small, but it was real.

“Tomorrow is Saturday, and I’d love to have my weekend to myself. We’ll practice our presentation on Monday to submit on Tuesday,” she went on, her words flowing smoothly.

But her voice faded in my head. I was staring at the way the sunlight hit her face through the window, the way she spoke so passionately about something as boring as an assignment.

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?” she snapped her fingers at me, snapping me out of my daze.

“Uhmm, nothing. Sorry about that,” I muttered, getting up quickly. I walked to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of juice to mask the weird twist in my chest.

I turned back, holding up the bottle. “Want some?”

“Yeah,” she said simply, still scribbling in her notebook.

I poured some into a glass and handed it to her. She took it with one hand, eyes still fixed on her notes.

Then, casually, she lifted it to her lips and paused. “Hope you didn’t poison this.”

I laughed, the sound bouncing around the room. “Maybe I did.”

Her eyes widened instantly, and she dropped the glass onto the table with a soft clink.

“Just kidding,” I added quickly, grinning.

She glared at me like she wanted to stab me with her pen. Funny girl, I thought, biting back another laugh.

“Okay, I’m leaving now,” she announced, packing up her books with swift, efficient movements.

I followed her outside, hands in my pockets, watching the way she didn’t even acknowledge me. She just walked straight, head high, like I wasn’t there.

We reached the gate, and she pushed it open without a glance back.

“Goodbye, partner,” I called out with a smirk.

“Goodbye, annoying,” she shot back over her shoulder before disappearing down the street.

I stood there for a moment, smiling despite myself.

Her words still lingered in my mind, sharper than anything else. And maybe… just maybe… it was time to change.

From Monday, I’d start being serious in school.

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Mariel’s POV

I had to give Caleb a piece of my mind. Because why would a boy with so much potential keep wasting away? At his house, while we worked on our assignment, I couldn’t hold back. He had been playful as usual, teasing about the baby photo of him on the wall and calling himself handsome even though he looked grumpy in it. I laughed but soon shifted the conversation.

When he asked about finishing high school and moving on to the next phase of life, I told him bluntly that I didn’t like how unserious he was. He skipped classes, arrived late, fooled around in school, and acted like his parents’ wealth would cover everything. He tried to joke about “at least contributing something,” but I didn’t find it funny. I wanted him to hear the truth.

Caleb went quiet, and I noticed my words actually hit him. For once, he wasn’t brushing it off. He grew lost in thought until I snapped him back to reality. We finished our work, and I reminded him we’d rehearse the presentation after the weekend.

Later, he offered me juice, joking it might be poisoned, which made me glare at him. Typical Caleb. When I finally left, he followed me out. I walked ahead, not acknowledging him until he called out, “Goodbye partner.” I responded without hesitation: “Goodbye annoying.”

I didn’t show it, but I was curious about the effect of my words. I hoped they would sink in because Caleb needed to change. And as I left his house, I could tell something about him had shifted.

Maybe he’d actually start taking school—and his life—seriously.

TBC