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I
Despite being popular, Caleb isn’t successful in the dating department.
One time, a girlfriend was so obsessed with him that she harassed his classmates and professors during his sophomore year of college. Caleb had to speak to the dean and petition for a restraining order. When Caleb was interning for some indie company, the woman he had recently started seeing would not stop texting him. If he didn’t respond in time, she’d cry and yell that he was cheating.
There are many failures but Caleb doesn’t want to focus on the past. Instead, he faces his future with his head held high.
Which is why when Caleb is invited to the new year’s eve party his company is hosting, he is reluctant. Even though he accepts that love is something that isn’t easily obtainable, he doesn’t want to feel left out.
Most of his colleagues are committed to serious relationships. The ones who aren’t have travelled back home to visit his family. Caleb isn’t close to his adoptive grandmother so visiting her is out of the question, especially when his adoptive sister, MC, is vacationing in Aspen with her fiance Sylus.
Having nothing else to do, Caleb accepts the invite with dread weighing heavily on him.
The party isn’t so bad.
Caleb doesn’t feel like he’s third wheeling a party like he thought he would be. His colleagues’ partners are eager to meet him, treating him as if he’s some friend they haven’t seen in a while.
One in particular is Y/N.
She greets him with stars shining in her eyes and a smile as bright as the sun. For a moment, Caleb is left breathless. Until his colleague, Jacob, wraps his arm around Y/N’s waist, bursting Caleb’s bubble before it even fully developed.
“So, how long have you been together?” Caleb asks to hide his disappointment with an easy going smile stretching his lips.
Jacob answers just as Y/N is giving her answer, “Two years.”
The expression on Y/N’s falters yet she quickly fixes herself with a lighthearted laugh that sounds like anything but to Caleb.
“We’ve been married for four years.” She gives a pointed look at her husband who is busy scanning his surroundings as he empties his mocktail.
“Congratulations!” Caleb raises his glass to the couple. Y/N thanks him but Jacob’s eyes are glued to Janette’s–the company’s new hire– and doesn’t say anything.
If Y/N notices Jacob’s straying eyes, she doesn’t call him out for it. Instead, she starts up a conversation with Caleb on inflation and how it’s been difficult for her and Jacob to purchase a brand new car for two years now until Jacob drags her away to the buffet table, uncaring that he pulls Y/N away in the middle of a discussion.
Caleb doesn’t see the two couples again until he’s leaving just a few minutes after midnight. Despite his friends begging him to stay, informing him that the party’s just getting started, he is committed to the gym every morning.
The couple catch him outside the door as Caleb hands the valet ticket to the valet attendant.
“Hey, happy new year, man.” Jacob slaps him roughly on the shoulders.
“Happy new year.” Y/N wishes him apologetically.
Caleb brushes her off. He’s too Jacob’s brashness.
The trio wait silently for their cars. Snowflakes falling around, rapidly covering the streets in a canopy of white.
“Baby, I’m cold.” Y/N whines, huddling closer to her husband for some warmth.
Jacob shrugs as he steps away from Y/N, “What do you want me to do about it.”
Jacob doesn’t phrase it as a question. It’s not even rhetorical. He just doesn’t want to hear Y/N talk. He’s too annoyed by the sudden drop in temperature.
“Give me your jacket.”
Jacob snorts an ugly sound, “Do you want me to freeze to death?” He wraps his jacket tighter while saying, “You should’ve brought your own jacket.”
Y/N is stunned, mouth opening and closing unsure of how to respond to such brazenness.
Caleb watches this exchange with obvious incredulity yet the couple don’t seem to notice him as Y/N tries to convince Jacob to give her his jacket.
Caleb moves forward instinctively, ready to give Y/N the jack he’s wearing but his car pulling up to the pavement stops him. Again, he’s reminded that Y/N isn’t single. As much as he is bewildered from Jacob’s behavior, he can’t just give another man’s woman his jacket. Even if she’s shivering like a leaf.
Caleb’s heart aches in response to another’s pain but he forces himself to get into his car and drive home.
II
Caleb loves to cook.
Italian, French, Asian, any cuisine you can think of, Caleb can cook it. He’s been cooking for as long as he can remember; a foodie through and through.
What Caleb doesn’t love, however, is washing the dishes.
The feeling of sudsy water on his hands makes his skin crawl. And, no, gloves don’t help. There’s also the way the wet food just slides off the plates has him gagging. Sure, he can switch to using paper plates but the texture doesn’t feel right.
Another thing Caleb dislikes is shopping for groceries. Though, it’s mainly due to inflation because what do you mean eggs are almost four dollars?
Eggs are a basic human right and they shouldn’t cost more than two dollars a dozen!
To save himself from a full on mental breakdown, Caleb pushes his shopping cart away from the egg and dairy section and makes a beeline to the rice.
Caleb is in the middle of contemplating between Basmati rice and Jasmine rice when a familiar voice breaks his train of thought.
“Hey! You’re Caleb, right? From the new year’s eve party?”
Turning to his left, Caleb is greeted by the sight of Y/N with her shopping cart nearly full with an assortment of snacks and junk food. Caleb catches himself from lifting an eyebrow. He’s not one to judge after.
As if she has heard his unasked question, “We’re having a party tomorrow.” she explains while gesturing at the shopping cart. “You should come.”
Caleb thinks he has heard Jacob mentioning something about a party the other day during lunch break but, “I don’t think I should intrude. But thanks for the invite.”
“You’re not intruding, don't worry. You’re Jacob’s friend and this party’s for him. It’s his birthday.”
And there’s that breathtaking smile again. The one that fills his tummy with fluttering butterflies, momentarily leaving him breathless.
“Sure, I’ll make it.” Caleb finds himself agreeing.
Y/N beams up at him, “I’ll tell Jacob to text you the details. See you tomorrow!”
Tomorrow comes too soon, Caleb thinks, as he is about to knock on the apartment door with one hand carrying a small box wrapped in a croissant themed wrapper. It’s the only one he could find at the kitchenware store where he bought Jacob’s present; a coffee mug. Generic but Caleb doesn’t know the guy that well.
“You made it!” The second the door is opened, Y/N has her arms thrown around Caleb’s neck.
So startled by Y/N’s hug, a soft gasp falls from Caleb’s lips. He returns the hug, albeit awkwardly.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Come in!” Y/N ushers him into their modest living room. She gestures to the closet and instructs Caleb to hang his coat there before scurrying off somewhere.
Fairy lights decorate the hallway leading to the living room. Confetti litters the carpeted floor while balloons in blues and whites are stuck to the ceiling. There’s music playing softly in the background through a speaker that he can’t spot. A faint scent of honey and orange lingers in the air.
“Yo, Calster!”
Caleb’s eyebrows form a deep, puzzled crease as Jacob comes into his line of vision.
Calster? Caleb thinks to himself about the new nickname.
Caleb doesn't like nicknames.
Nonetheless, he greets his colleague with a one armed hug and a quick pat on the back, “Thanks for having me.”
Jacob waves him off.
“It’s not much but this is–” Caleb’s words are left hanging on his tongue as Jacob instantly leaves his side and blends in with the small crowd.
Okay then.
Scanning the room twice, Caleb is disappointed to learn that he doesn’t know anyone at the party. None of his co-workers are here.
Though Caleb is a natural social butterfly, easily making friends wherever he goes, he doesn’t really feel like mingling. Besides, he’s only here because–
“Jacob!” Y/N’s voice comes from another room, “I need your help please!”
Minutes by while Caleb awkwardly sips at his drink when he hears Y/N calling for husband again, “Baby, seriously, I need you!”
Caleb doesn’t mean to– really, he doesn’t– but he finds himself following Y/N’s pleas for help.
His feet lead him to the slightly narrow kitchen. An assortment of food is on the kitchen island but that’s not what captures Caleb’s attention. It’s the steadily growing stream of water coming from the sink.
“Baby, thank God you’re…here.” Y/N’s just turning away from the sink when her voice grows soft at seeing Caleb standing in the middle of the kitchen.
At her puzzled expression, Caleb says, “Dance floor.” while pointing over his shoulder.
Though Y/N’s smiling, it doesn’t quite reach her eyes like it usually does. Even the glimmer in her eyes is dimmed.
“Sorry. Could you please call him–” Y/N’s interrupted when the water pressure increases, filling the room with a thunderous roar that you’d expect to hear near a waterfall.
Caleb jumps to his feet, “Where’s the tool box?”
Within seconds, Y/N is kneeling beside him as he opens the cabinet under the sink and gets on his back to examine the pipes.
“I can’t see. Do you have a flashlight?”
“Oh!”
Y/N pulls her phone out from her back pocket and taps on the flashlight icon.
“Thanks.” Caleb mutters. He holds his hand out, “Could you pass me the wrench please?”
And he gets to work.
It doesn’t take long to fix the pipes. His tongue sticks out as he tightens the last bolt before sliding out.
Caleb wipes his hands clean with a towel he found in the cabinet then proceeds to fix hair by brushing his bangs away from his forehead and wiping away the droplets of sweat coating his skin.
“That should do for now but you really need to call a plumber.” Caleb accepts the cool glass of water Y/N’s offering him.
Caleb tries not to linger too much on her beautiful face but he really can’t help it. Especially not when they’re standing so close to each other.
“Thanks.” Y/N says softly.
Caleb can only nod his head once as his hand rubs the back of his neck.
She’s a married woman, Caleb.
A voice reminds him.
But what of it?
Caleb isn’t Jacob’s friend. Heck, even at work they aren’t from the same department. He’s just some guy he happens to bump into at the coffee machine or, very rarely, during lunch break if Caleb decides to eat at the company’s cafeteria.
And from what Caleb’s seen so far, Jacob isn’t a good husband.
Sure, it’s only two instances where Caleb has seen Jacob be terrible with Y/N, but that’s more than enough evidence for him. Jacob is trash. End of discussion.
Before Caleb could do anything stupid (like give Y/N his personal phone number), the birthday boy finally graces his wife with his presence.
“What is it?”
It’s a miracle Caleb didn’t glare at him.
“Nothing, baby. It’s fine.”
Jacob sighs heavily, sounding frustrated and irritated, “Then why’d you keep calling me?”
It’s at this moment that he notices Caleb in the kitchen. His eyes narrow slightly as they shift between Caleb and Y/N.
“Thanks for having me over.” Caleb rushes to say. He pushes himself as far away as he can from Y/N and pats Jacob’s shoulder again. “Happy birthday.”
Caleb’s gone within seconds.
III
It’s a month later when Caleb bumps into Y/N again.
This time, it’s at the deli Caleb visits from time to time during the weekend.
It’s a late Saturday morning when he’s hit with an intense craving of pastrami on rye. With hunger beating the warmth of his blanket, Caleb braces late winter breeze for a late breakfast.
There’s a woman standing in line in front of him. Her body keeps swaying sideways and she moves sluggishly as the queue moves forward. It’s a concerning sight but Caleb doesn’t do anything.
Until the woman’s phone goes off and she answers the incoming call with an annoyed huff, “What?”
She sounds oddly familiar, Caleb thinks.
“...Well you’re going to have to wait. It’s crowded…No, I know you’re sick but I’m sick too— Ugh, stop yelling. I know. I know, Jacob. Stop yelling! Look, I have to go— Do you want your stupid soup or not?!”
Caleb’s nostrils flare as he listens to the one-sided conversation. His jaw tenses visibly at the way Y/N’s being treated.
Any idiot can tell that she’s too sick to be out of her apartment, let alone out of her bed. Yet, for some reason, she’s here at this deli that’s almost half an hour away from her apartment to get soup of all things.
Before he even knows it, Caleb’s clearing his throat.
With a start, Y/N turns, apology at the ready, “Oh, Caleb.” Her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Caleb smiles softly.
There’s an air of silence surrounding them. It’s awkward but not to a suffocating degree.
Y/N’s the first to break it. “Sorry you had to hear that.”
Caleb shrugs, “It’s fine. No worries.”
Y/N’s ready to leave it at that but she surprises both Caleb and herself by continuing, “It’s just…Jacob’s being so infuriating right now. We both have the flu and the doctor strictly told us to stay in bed, stay warm, and drink lots of water, yet here I am! Out in the windy weather, waiting in line for cheese soup. Who even eats that?!”
Caleb waits patiently through Y/N’s rant. His gentle features encourage Y/N to continue, opening pandora’s box.
“Just because they don’t deliver to our place it means I have to go because, ‘Baby, please. I hurt all over. Don’t you want me to get better? Please, baby. Don’t you love me?’” Y/N scoffs after imitating Jacob’s raspy voice.
“And this isn’t the first time! I twisted my ankle once and my oh, so wonderful husband dragged three blocks down from our place to stand in line for a limited release of a game that’s mid! So mid that it shouldn’t even have a limited release! We had a cancer scare in the family last year and instead of comforting me, you know what this clown did? He lectured me about being a neglectful wife and that his feelings were hurt and why can't I be like those trad wives on Instagram?”
Y/N’s voice becomes frenzied, growing hysterically by the second, unbothered by the glances everyone’s throwing her way.
“Y/N.” Caleb places his hand on her shoulder. His touch grounds her like an anchor steadies a boat. “Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll get your order.”
As if remembering where she is, what she is doing, and who has been with her, she runs a hand down her exhausted face, hoping to wipe away the guilt and embarrassment, “Caleb, no. It’s fine. Really.”
But Caleb’s adamant.
Too tired to argue, too tired to even stand for another minute longer, Y/N accepts defeat.
The pair’s walking out the door of the restaurant when Y/N clears her throat, “Thanks.” She mutters.
She’s avoiding Caleb’s stare while saying, “I don’t know what came over me.”
A soft touch cools Y/N’s fever stricken chin.
Her face is tilted upwards and she is met with Caleb’s gaze.
He’s looking at her with concern. Purple eyes with speck of gold are asking her questions that Y/N can’t answer— No, not can’t, doesn’t want to answer.
“I…I should go.” Y/N disappears like a morning dew.
Additamentum
Y/N knows that Jacob isn’t a good husband.
She can see the way he looks at other women.
She can hear the hidden messages when he talks about trad wives on his for you page.
Y/N is embarrassed when Jacob ignores her when they’re with friends and family.
Most of all, Y/N is livid at his weaponized incompetence.
Despite all of those things, Y/N puts up with Jacob’s mistreatment.
Y/N married Jacob after turning thirty even though she wasn’t into marriage.
Maybe it’s internalized misogyny. Or it could be her existential crisis. Even society’s relentless pressure could have played a role. But she found herself agreeing to the first suitor her mother arranged for her to marry.
Being married is everything Y/N expected it to be but also nothing at all what she imagined it to be.
Yes, like every relationship, whether romantic or platonic, there are lots of ups and downs. She has cried, she has laughed, she has yelled, she has kissed, she has done it all.
But she can’t help but to feel…empty.
Y/N’s tummy isn’t filled with fluttering butterflies like the fairytales mentioned. She doesn’t get giddy or excited to see her husband after a long day of work. And intimacy feels like a chore instead of an act of pleasure.
After four years of being married and reaching her mid-thirties, Y/N is coming to terms that maybe this is what marriage is like. That she has to suck it up and be thankful that she isn’t a lot.
Had she been younger, then maybe she could have divorced Jacob and married someone else. She’s too old to meet someone new.
Yet that all changes when she meets Caleb.
Caleb, her husband's coworker who stares disapprovingly at her husband when he refuses to give her his jacket.
Caleb who fixes her kitchen pipes despite being a stranger.
Caleb who listens to her complaints with sympathy and understanding instead of belittling her grievance.
Caring, kind, helpful, and gentle Caleb.
A complete and total opposite of Jacob.
If only Caleb isn’t half her age.
If only she had met him sooner.
Caleb would’ve made a wonderful husband, Y/N thinks.
She’s at the park for her rare morning jogs when she thinks this.
Y/N picture Caleb holding her after being away all day at a stressful job. She is safe and protected in his arms. She can see him in her mind’s eye cooking dinner for her while she rests on the coach. He doesn’t call her lazy. He calls her a princess and playfully demands that she recuperates.
When Y/N is sick, Caleb would nurse her back to health. She won’t put it past him if he feeds her soup and her medicine. She chuckles at the thought.
Caleb would make such a good husband that she isn’t scared to start a family with him. She reckons that he’d be a wonderful dad. He’s probably a dog person and would get a pup so that their child would grow up with a friend. He’d teach their kid to be a good older sibling for the new baby. Caleb wouldn’t play favorites, always fair and just. He’s the cool dad but he knows when to be strict.
Any woman would be lucky to have Caleb as their husband.
If only Y/N is that woman.
Her phone buzzes in her pocket but Y/N ignores it. Yet Siri’s voice reads Jacob’s text messages through her headphones anyways.
Broke the playstation.
Buy a new one now.
Y/N comes to a sudden stop.
Both of her hands cover her face as she bends forward, fighting off the scream of fury that’s threatening to unleash itself.
She controls her breathing by counting backwards from one hundred.
As she reaches seventy five, Y/N senses a presence behind her.
Someone whistles and says, “What a view.”
A tingle rushes across Y/N’s skin, sharp and cold. She straightens up and slowly walks away from the man.
“Hey, where you going? Don’t be shy!”
Y/N’s heart hammers heavily as the voice grows closer. She doesn’t want to run because she knows he’ll catch her.
She glances around, searching for anyone near to help her. Y/N bites her trembling lips when she realizes that she’s completely alone.
Closer and closer, the man grows. So close that she can feel his body heat merging with hers.
Subconsciously, Y/N closes her eyes, bracing herself for whatever is coming.
Her breathing stops and closes her eyes tighter.
She waits and waits but nothing happens.
Inching her eyes open, Y/N is surprised to see a man blocking her view.
His broad shoulders encompass the stranger. His height towers over the man almost comically.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Wait, is that…
“Caleb?”
When familiar purple-ish yellow eyes meet hers, Y/N sags in relief.
Caleb has the man’s arm twisted behind his back. He applies so much pressure that the creep yells in pain but Caleb doesn’t stop, fully intending on breaking his arm.
“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again. Please! You’re gonna break it!”
Reluctantly Caleb releases the pathetic man who scampers on his feet, running as far away as possible.
“Don’t worry,” Caleb picks up his water bottle that’s on the dirt, “I informed security earlier. He’s been acting worried all morning.”
So overwhelmed by what has happened, Y/N falls to the ground, alarming Caleb who is quickly by her side.
“Oh my God.” Her voice trembles with fear.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asks as he goes to place a placating hand on her back but then remembers what happened and drops his hand.
Y/N nods, albeit still dazed.
“Come, I’ll take you home.”
The drive to Y/N’s home is mostly silent.
Her shuddering breath accompanies the silence. Caleb won’t stop tossing concerned looks over her way but Y/N refuses to meet his gaze. She just needs to be home, alone and safe.
Caleb walks Y/N all the way to her apartment, patient and providing enough space to not overwhelm her.
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling for an hour!”
Is the first thing Jacob says when Y/N opens the front door.
He takes one look at her, frowns, and says, “What’s wrong with you?”
Hope.
Hope that Jacob might comfort her for once. Y/N opens her mouth to reply but Jacob cuts her off, “Where’s the PS5?”
Right.
How can she forget that she’s married to a selfish narcissist.
“I didn’t get it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I was almost raped.”
Still, Jacob is a man and her husband.
He wasn’t great before but maybe this horrific incident will be an eye-opening experience that transforms Jacob into the husband Y/N dreams of.
“So? You still could’ve stopped to get the PS5.”
“What?” Y/N blinks, not sure if she heard correctly.
“You were almost raped so that means you weren’t which means you could’ve still brought home with you the PS5.”
Is he serio—
Y/N’s body is filled with so much rage that her body begins to shake. She wants to scream and cry at Jacob for his carelessness but instead she only asks one question, “Aren’t you worried?”
Jacob rolls his eyes and noisily sighs, “You said you weren’t rapid so you’re fine.” He then crosses his arms while staring down at her, “You know, you’re really selfish. How can you—”
A sudden, sharp whistle drowns out Jacob’s reprimands. The edges of the room blur as an intense white light fills her vision. Y/N’s hands tremble with repressed fury.
“— and you call yourself a wife.”
Suddenly, everything changes.
Like the flicker of a light switch, Y/N’s tensed muscles ease.
Her face that was pinched with anger is now relaxed.
There’s a small smile on her face as she stands taller.
Without a word, Y/N turns back around and walks out the door.
“Where do you think you’re going? Get back here!”
Just as Jacob is about to grab hold of her shoulder, Y/N sharply turns and punches Jacob, right in his nose.
Her knuckles scream with pain but satisfaction sings louder.
Caleb is standing in the hallway, gawking at the bleeding man who’s now withering in pain on the floor.
“Let’s get out of here.” Y/N beckons Caleb to follow her.
“I think I’m in love.” Caleb mutters in awe, trailing after his future wife.