"Fuck yes, after everything, I got it!"
Caleb reacted to seeing his scholarship letter on his laptop screen. The bold 'Accepted' was all he needed to see; he didn't read all its content, he just wanted to know whether he got it or not.
He quickly ran down the stairs and headed for the living room, where his mom sat.
"Mom, I got the scholarship! I'm going to Waywater."
She quickly turned and placed a hand on her mouth, tears welling in her eyes as they began to slide down her face, she was overwhelmed with joy.
Waywater was a prestigious university, some might even call it the best in the country, and that meant attending it came at a hefty price, one that Caleb could never dream of affording. The scholarship was his only way, his only route.
"I always knew you could do it, son," she said.
"I'm going to tell Emily now; she will be thrilled to hear the news."
"Do that right away; don't keep her waiting."
Emily was Caleb's girlfriend since high school. She was beautiful, had all those 'features,' and was also intelligent, like Caleb.
In his room, Caleb grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Emily's number. He patiently waited as the phone rang, seconds passed, and there was no answer. This was a new occurrence—unlike before, Emily now took some time before she answered his calls. However, he didn't put much thought into it.
Immediately she picked, he said, "I got the scholarship, I will be going to Waywater University."
Emily was caught off guard when he called, as she didn't expect a call late at night.
"Waywater University?! No way! That's amazing news, honey. I'm so proud of you," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and genuine excitement.
"So dinner tonight?" Caleb asked.
"Hmm... I already told Ethan I'd meet him for drinks," she says, biting her lip. "But you just got life changing news... fine, cancel that. You deserve to celebrate, baby. But make it fancy—I want champagne."
"You know I can't afford those things. What about the restaurant that just opened down the street?"
"Oh, come on now, it's your celebration dinner, and you wanna go to some cheap place?" she asked in a playful, slightly condescending tone. "It's your big moment, and you deserve to live a little... besides we've had plenty of cheap date nights."
"Okay I will see what I can do, but no promises."
"That's more like it, baby." She smirked, satisfied with his response. "I know you can handle it. And remember, it's your night to shine. Treat me like the queen I am."
"Yes baby, I love you," Caleb smiled.
"Love you too, sweetie." She blew a kiss in the air, "Looking forward to our fancy celebration dinner... and who knows, maybe I'll have a surprise for you afterward."
"Bye then," Caleb said as he hung up the phone.
After hanging up, Emily sets her phone aside, feeling excited for the upcoming celebration dinner. She starts planning out her outfit and makeup, wanting to look perfect for the special night.
'A surprise for me,' Caleb thought as he quickly opened his drawer.
In his drawer was a single pack of Durex condoms, as he hoped to finally consummate his relationship with Emily before going to college.
Then, he went to the drawer below it and opened it. Inside were his savings from his work as a waiter. He got a new job as a waiter in a casino diner, the pay was more substantial than his previous work, and he hadn't told Emily yet. He wanted it to be a surprise in the form of an expensive gift, but he could use the gift money he'd been saving to take her to the fancy restaurant.
It was 9 p.m., and Caleb was fully dressed. His rented black suit was perfect for this occasion. He had a good look at himself in the mirror, the frustrating pimple on his forehead staring back at him. He tried popping it, but it was too painful, yet it didn't make him look any less good.
"Who's that handsome guy over there?" his mom said as she saw him looking in the mirror.
"Mom," Caleb reacted, feeling a little embarrassed.
"No need to be flustered. Today is very special for you, and I want you to look your best."
With a smile, she continued, "I have something for you." She slowly brought out a red box and opened it. Inside it was a golden watch, an expensive one at that.
"Mom, when did you? How? This watch is very expensive," Caleb reacted to seeing the golden watch.
"It's from your father, a gift he wished to give you when you entered university," she said. She began to sob as memories of her late husband began to resurface. "And... every time I look at this watch, it reminds me of your father. I miss him so much."
Caleb quickly hugged his mother as she cried on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Mom, Dad is in a better place, a place without pain, a place he can smile all day, a place he will be treated with dignity."
"I'm sorry, I have stained your suit," she said as she tried to wipe her tears off his suit, but Caleb quickly grabbed her hands, stopping her before she could touch it.
"Don't say that, Mom. Your tears can never be a stain; they're a sign that you still love Dad till this very moment."
"Oh Caleb, you're so sweet. I'm glad I have you."
It was an emotional moment between mother and son, and Caleb intended to cherish such moments, but that didn't stop him from arriving at the restaurant on time.
The street was busy, and Caleb quietly tapped his foot as Emily was late. It was already ten minutes past 10 p.m., and she hadn't shown up.
After a long wait, Emily finally arrived at the restaurant, looking stunning in a form-fitting dress and high heels, her hair and makeup flawless.
"Sorry I'm late, honey," she said with a charming smile. "You know I had a hard time choosing the perfect outfit for our celebration dinner."
"You look so beautiful."
"Thank you, sweetie," she said. "And look at you, all dapper in this suit. You're trying to impress me, aren't you?"
She twirled in place, showing off the curves of her dress.
"I can say the same about you, but anyways should we?" He said, extending his hand in a chivalry manner.
"Mmm, so proper tonight... I like it," she purred, slipping her hand into his with a sly smile. "Lead the way, scholar. But don't think chivalry gets you out of ordering me that champagne."
With a chuckle, Caleb gripped her hand and led her into the restaurant.