Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Doubt)

"Oh, sucks!" I said in pain when I woke up in the morning.

I held my head and face but I was suddenly hurt when I touch my cheek.

Kahit medyo nahihilo ay pinilit kong tumayo at lumapit sa salamin. Malamig kong sinipat ang tatlong gas-gas sa mismong pisngi ko. Hindi naman siya masyadong mahapdi at malalim pero visible parin siya. It was because of Zara's mess last night. Yeah, I remember that. I remember how she embarass me and how Jess slap her even Callum's... kissed.

Fuck! How dare him do this! Sino siya para halikan ako ng ganoon! Ang kapal ng mukha niya!

Umagang umaga ay nakasimangot tuloy ako at mainit ang ulo.

Bumaba na ako para mag almusal pero parang gusto kong sumigaw sa inis ng makita ko si Callum na umiinom ng kape sa lamesa at may hawak na magazine. Bakit nandito pa siya?

Nakuha ko ang atensyon niya pero saglit lang 'yon dahil bumalik ulit siya sa pagbabasa. He act like he didn't do anything to me last night!

"How's your feeling? Is your head hurt?"

Hindi ako kumibo at uminom lang ng tubig. Nag lagay ako sa plato ng pagkain at doon na lang siguro ako sa kwarto kakain dahil ayaw ko siya makita.

I'm about to leave when he speaks again.

"I'm talking to you, Patricia" his voice was cold but I didn't get affect by that.

I looked at him blankly before rolling my eyes and turned my back.

"Attitude..." rinig kong sabi niya.

Umakyat ako sa kwarto at kumain.

I also took a shower and got dressed. Now I have a problem with the small wound on my face because it's so obvious. I just applied some ointment to heal it quickly.

Dumiretso na ako sa garahe at nailabas ko na rin ang sasakyan ko ng makita ko ang sasakyan ni Callum na nakapark sa labas. Kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit hindi pa siya umaalis?

Malakas akong bumusina bago naunang umalis. Kita ko naman ang agad na pag andar ng sasakyan niya. Hinihintay niya ba ako? O, nang aasar na naman siya?

I can no longer see Callum's car because the school and their company have different ways. Nang makarating ako sa school ay ilang sulyap pa ang ginagawa ng mga kapwa ko med student sa'kin. Siguro dahil sa mukha ko. "Look what she have done to your pretty face!" bungad ni Jess ng makita ako. "You know what? That slap was not enough! Kakalbuhin ko siya kapag nag kita kami!" "Relax, malayo sa bituka"

"Kahit na! Well, have you read the new release articles? Her mess last night was all over there! Binabatikos siya dahil sa kasamaan ng ugali!"

"Huh?" sipat ko. "What articles?"

"Oh, wait.." she took off her phone. "Here..."

She shown me her screen. I read the articles she's talking about and Zara's face was really revealed on it.

"The Model Zara Banner was caught harassing and hurting Callum Velasquez's wife because of her unexplainable love for him..." basa ni Jess sa mismong article.

I can't help but to feel pity for her. Her image was destroyed but I can't blame myself because she was the one who hurt me. Yes I am angry with her but my pity is more dominant now especially that I can read the hurtful and negative comments of other people.

"She deserves it" mariin na sabi ni Jess. "Your husband was so worried about you last night! Buti ay naisipan kong tawagan siya!"

My brows furrowed. "What? You called him?"

Kaya pala nagising ako kagabi na buhat niya ako? Siya ang sumundo sa'kin?

"Oo.." nahihiyang usal niya. "Inutusan ako ni Tyrone dahil hindi ka niya kayang ihatid kagabi at lasing na rin ako! Sorry, okay!"

I shook my head before reading a book related to our lessons. Our class started and I can't focus to our discussions because my mind was still retrieving Callum's image while kissing me last night. Shit! Why am I thinking about that shameless guy?

I just can't forgot about what he did because it brings unexplainable feeling for me.

Maybe because it was my first time kissing passionately by a guy? I won't deny that he was my first kiss! He removed the virginity of my lips on our wedding day and he will just kiss me if he wants?!

"Huy, bothered ka ba sa articles kanina?" siniko ako ni Jess. "Don't worry, you're not included. I really wonder why only Zara's picture is spreading. There was no shots of her while hurting you even whe I slap her!"

Jess's stories was endless. On our break, lunch time and even dismissal, she's still talking and I'm not in a mood to get along with her.

Inaaya pa ako ni Jess pumunta sa mall para daw malibang ako at makalimutan ang nangyari kagabi ngunit tumanggi ako. My head is still aching and I wanted to sleep early.

Pag uwi ko ay nagulat ako ng makita si mommy sa bahay, sinalubong niya ako ng yakap.

Nagtataka ko silang tinignan dahil maging si daddy at Jordan ay nandito.

"Mom! Why are you here?" niyakap ko sila.

Ang kapatid ko naman ay nakaupo lang sa couch at mariin ang tingin sa mukha ko. He's looking to my scratch.

"We're so worried! What Zara did to you is spreading on the internet! Look at your face" she worriedly held my face. "How dare her!"

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"Calm, mom. Ayos lang ako" ngumiti ako sa kanila.

"No! What she did is unacceptable!" apila pa niya. "Your mom is right. Let's teach her a lesson-"

"We won't do that, dad. Ayaw kong lumaki pa 'to"

Iniwan ko muna sila para umakyat sa kwarto at mag palit ng damit. Pagbaba ko ay nagluluto na si mommy sa kusina at sila daddy naman ay nasa living room.

"Mommy, dito na kayo kumain ng dinner" saad ko.

"Yes, that's really our plan. This house is quite big, huh? Callum really has a good taste"

Si Callum na naman ang bukang bibig niya. I just help her cutting the ingredients even though I didn't know what she was going to cook.

Habang nagluluto siya ay pinuntahan ko muna sila daddy at laking gulat ko na naroon na agad si Callum. He's early today unlike the usual when he's coming home late from work. Our eyes met quickly.

We stared each other for a moment until I adverted my gaze. Here we go again.

Nag-uusap na naman si daddy at Callum habang ang kapatid ko ay nakasimangot sa isang sulok.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Hey, are you hungry?" I asked but he just looked at me blankly.

"Come on, Jordan. Wag mo nga ako sungitan!" kiniliti ko siya sa tagiliran.

"Stop it, ate!"

Ngumisi ako ng makita ang itinatago niya'ng ngiti. I know his weakness kaya ito ang madalas kong ginagawa kapag galit siya. "Don't ignore me, then" pangungulit ko at kiniliti ulit siya.

Napaigtad siya at pinipigilang tumawa. Isang kiliti pa sa tagiliran niya at tuluyan na siya'ng bumungisngis at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "I told you to stop! Hahaha"

I was laughing too. I even pinched his both cheeks so it's redden now. Narinig ko na tumatawa rin si daddy habang sinasaway kami.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Tumingin ako sa gawi nila at nakita ang malambot na ekspresyon ni Callum. He was looking at us. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at patuloy na nakipagkulitan sa kapatid ko.

Mommy finished her cooking and the maids prepared for our dinner. I was smiling as I placed Jordan's plate in front of him. I miss this. I miss eating with them, kapag kami lang kasi ni Callum ay tahimik at puro sungitan lang sa pagitan namin. Mommy cooked some steak and buttered shrimps, my favourite. I was sitting beside Callum and my parents and jordan was sitting in front of us.

We ate peacefully and as usual, my parent's was so talkative again. They keep asking questions about me and Callum. About our relationship. How is it going and our improvement. Hindi ba nila alam ang kontrata namin ni Callum? As far as I know is that they talked about it first.

So far our dinner was good. I was so happy not until my parents bid their goodbye because they already need to leave. I had no choice but to felt sad but they promised to visit here again.

Agad kong hinanap si Callum dahil bigla siya'ng nawala

"I think Callum just go there" mom pointed the back door. "Tell him that we were leaving"

Tumango ako bago pumunta sa pool area at hinanap si Callum. Medyo madilim dito kaya hindi ko agad siya nakita, nalaman ko lang na nakatayo siya malapit sa swing dahil naririnig ko ang boses niya. He was talking someone through the phone.

"What's the update?" tanong niya sa kausap.

Naintriga ako kaya lumapit pa ako at maingat na humakbang, nag tago ako sa gilid ng malagong halaman.

"Stop anyone from trying to release the video that night. Have you talk to the publishing? Good, I already banned her here in our subdivision so she won't be nearer to Patricia again" Namilog ang mata ko.

Me? Bakit ako nasali sa usapan? At anong video ang sinasabi niya? Si Zara ba ang tinutukoy niya na banned dito?

"Okay, thank you. What about the other thing I told you? About the investigation? How is it going?"Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Muli na naman akong napamaang sa narinig. Anong imbestigasyon? May kaaway siya?

"Yeah, I will give it to you, Austine. Just make sure you investigate Mr. Clemente properly, I really have a hint that my suspicion is right"

My jaw dropped...

My eyes stayed on Callum's back. My world seemed to crumble at what I heard. I don't want to think differently but what he said seems to convey something different. Anong meron? May atraso ba kami sa kanila?

Bakit pinaiimbestigahan ni Callum ang daddy ko?