(PRESENT)
After missing his last lecture, Cameron made sure to attend the next. It had been a long time since he skipped classes. Mateo’s influence mostly. Funny how it was also Mateo’s influence that made him ditch. That guy had too much power over him.
Totally worth it.
Between listening and taking notes, Cameron doodled in a notebook. Old habits died hard. He took his old notebooks with him when he moved in with Mateo last year. All of them. He couldn’t bring himself to throw any of them away. Some he might never look at again. Bittersweet memories. Others, he’d gladly re-read for eternity.
The lecture came to an end, everyone eager to escape. Cameron packed up. He couldn’t wait to get home.
“Yo, Cam.” An arm slung over his shoulder. “You gonna come bowling on Friday?”
Cameron ducked out of his classmate Lewis’ headlock. “Just try and stop me. I’ll pulverise you all.”
“Those be fighting words, Mr. Doran.” Another classmate, Xavier, chuckled. “I hope you live up to expectations.”
The final of his main course friend group, Alexander, joined them. “Maybe if we put the bumpers up.”
“Yeah,” Cameron grinned, overly confident, “then you guys will actually get a chance.”
“Put your money where your mouth is.” Lewis grinned, holding out a hat. “Winner keeps it all.”
Each of them put some money in the hat, competitive streaks running high.
“I almost feel bad.” Cameron emptied his pockets. “Like taking candy from a baby.”
“Cam, my man,” Xavier patted his shoulder, “pride before a fall.”
Alexander was the last to add his bet. “Let him brag. It’ll be funnier.”
“We’ll meet at the bowling alley after our lecture,” Lewis arranged. “Then we can go together.”
Plan in motion, Cameron said goodbye and left the lecture theatre. As always, he was eager to get home. Where Teo was. He cut down alleyways, stopping at a local store to grab some sweets for Mateo. That guy had the sweetest tooth around.
When he reached the flat door, he heard voices. Familiar. He stepped inside and left the sweets on a table. Teo sat on the sofa, phone in hand. On-screen was his mother.
“Cameron.”
“Maya,” Cameron shrugged his backpack off by the door, “it’s been a while.”
“Glad you finally started using my name without stuttering.” Maya smiled. “How long has it taken you, mijo?”
“Mamá, come on now.” Mateo sighed dramatically. “Don’t tease him.”
Maya laughed, short and sharp. “Like you don’t tease him at all.”
“I do,” Mateo puffed out his chest, “but I’m allowed to.”
Cameron ruffled Mateo’s hair. “You wish you were.”
Maya chuckled. “You boys are in good spirits today.”
“Of course.” Mateo wrapped his arms around Cameron the second he sat down. “Cam's finally home!"
"My son,” Maya smiled, laughter lines pronounced, “the excitable puppy dog."
Resigned to his fate, Cameron hugged him back. “Nothing’s changed there.”
“Oh yes,” she tilted her head, “but it happens especially around you, Cameron."
"I can't help it.” Mateo beamed. “He’s too cute."
"I know, mijo." Maya matched his dazzling smile. “You know, it has been so long since you visited.” She turned to Cam. “We also have a birthday to celebrate soon.”
“If it means I get to eat your world-famous tapas dishes,” Cameron nodded enthusiastically, “count me in.”
“Glad to see my years of feeding an army of hungry children has paid off,” Maya said. “So, you must come soon!”
“We can always make time for you, Maya.” Cameron double-checked the lecture schedule on his phone. “I don’t have classes in the evening, so pretty much anytime.”
“Perhaps next weekend then?” she suggested.
“Sounds perfect to me.”
“I suppose I’d better get ready to make my best batch yet.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll leave you boys alone, now. I’m sure you have many things to do.”
“Bye, Maya,” Cameron said.
Mateo waved enthusiastically. “Bye, mamá.”
Blowing a kiss, Maya ended the call.
Mateo put his phone down, snuggling into Cameron. “Guess we’d better fast for like a week. Gotta make room for mamá’s cooking.”
“You’re mum’s pretty amazing.”
“Don’t gotta tell me.” Mateo shuddered. “Just don’t get on her bad side.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen the aftermath of that.” Like Mateo, Maya’s emotions were almost explosive, good or bad. “She does have the patience of a saint, though.”
Mateo nodded. “It’s not easy raising a gaggle of unruly kids alone.”
“Pretty sure Rosa struggled to keep me on the straight and narrow these past few years.”
So many things could have gone wrong. If left alone, they probably would have. Cameron was still so grateful to Mateo for coming along at the right time.
Mateo gently squeezed him. “And I’m pretty sure you kept her going.”
“Probably.”
“Did you guys ever try to find your mums?” Mateo asked. “Or any other family?”
Parents. A topic both Mateo and Cameron avoided for so long. Both of them had lost their fathers at a young age. They didn’t speak about it much when they first met. Too painful.
Time had, fortunately, healed some wounds.
“We tried for a while but…” Cameron sighed, “it’s hard enough finding one mother, let alone two. Don’t think being full siblings would’ve even helped much.”
His father couldn’t hide the birth certificates forever. What he could hide was the reason why they had different mothers. Every time Cameron asked, he had been shut down. Rosa was curious but never pushed as hard.
“Your dad never told you anything that would help?”
“No,” Cameron sighed, “he didn’t talk much about either of them.”
“So, your mum could still be out there.”
“Maybe. Or she’s gone too. I don’t even know what I’d do if I saw her.”
Mateo gently rubbed Cameron’s back. “I guess, even if you’re related, she’d be a complete stranger.”
Cameron nodded. “For whatever reason, she isn’t here. Besides, I have an even better family right here.”
“Mamá always says you are her favourite son.” He nudged Cameron’s ribs. “If it was anyone else, I’d protest.”
Chuckling, Cameron recalled his first time meeting Maya Vargas. “I shouldn’t have been so scared to meet her.”
“I did hype you up - and we were totally crushing on each other, even if we didn’t want to admit it - so,” Mateo shrugged, “I get it.”
“Yeah, Maya was pretty perceptive, though.”
Mateo chuckled. “Not exactly like we were subtle.”
“You and subtle never mixed. Still don’t.”
“We’re just not compatible,” Mateo sighed dramatically. “Lucky for you, huh.”
“Your lack of subtlety made it harder to figure out you liked me. I just…” Cameron winced at his younger self’s hesitance, “thought that’s how you were with everyone.”
“Blame mamá for me being very affectionate.”
“She’s the last person I’d blame.” Cameron kissed the top of Mateo’s head. “I have a lot to thank her for.”
“You big softie.” Mateo closed his eyes, head resting on Cameron’s chest.
“Your influence,” Cameron reminded him.
So many things had changed since meeting Mateo. He felt calmer, safer and happier than he’d felt in years.
Mateo laughed softly. “I’ll take full credit for it.”
--------------------
It’s soft boy hours.
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