Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Confrontation)

I didn't sleep well the whole night. I was pre occupied by dad's revelation.

Callum's softness to me can't get rid of my anger towards him. What he did was inexplicable so last night, I thought to myself that why don't I take time to listen to his sides?

I decided to talk to him as he wanted and of course, with Jess's advice.

"Are you ready?"

Isang tango ang sagot ko kay Jess nang makasakay ako sa sasakyan niya. Sasamahan niya ako'ng makipag-usap kay Callum ngayon.

"Handa ka na ba sa mga sasabihin mo?" tanong niya ulit.

Umiling ako bago huminga ng malalim. I'm a bit nervous.

"Bakit ba kasi kailangan pa na gawin niya 'yon," galit niya'ng sabi. "He better have a nice and acceptable reason! Dahil kung walang kwenta lang ang sasabihin niya, baka ako pa mismo ang sumampal sa kanila ni Zara!" Salubong ang kilay niya at padabog na pinaandar ang sasakyan.

Sinabi ko sa kanya lahat ng sinabi sa'kin ni daddy kagabi. Hindi ako mapalagay.

"You're not mad at your daddy anymore?" she asked while driving.

I just shrugged. "Mom is already fine with him. He should make sure that he won't bring trouble,"

Aaminin ko, nang sabihin ni daddy kagabi na humingi siya ng tawad sa mga Velasquez, nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Kahit paano nabawasan ang pag-aalala ko.

"Don't tell me...you're already melting with Callum?" she asked horribly. "Dahil sa sinabi ng daddy mo tungkol sa pag pigil sa kanya ni Callum? It won't change the fact that he cheated on you. Kahit ginawa niya 'yon, hindi parin katanggap- tanggap ang ginawa nila ni Zara,"

Natahimik na naman ako. Well, she's right. Bakit ko nga ba kikitain si Callum? Like what Jess said, I need to confront him. I'm not a toy that he will just abandoned when he wants.

"Saan nga ulit kayo magkikita?"

"In his house," tahimik kong sagot bago bumaling sa bintana.

Ngayon pa lang iniisip ko na kung ano'ng pakikitungo ang gagawin ko. Tatanungin ko ba siya agad? Kokomprontahin o baka umiyak lang ako sa harap niya.

"You mean...sa bahay niyo o roon sa dream house niyo?" makahulugan niya'ng tanong.

"Sa dream house niya," mariin kong sabi at inirapan siya.

Nakaramdam agad ako ng kaba habang nasa biyahe.

At nang makita ko na pumasok na ang sasakyan namin sa pamilyar na village, parang nanigas ang buong katawan ko. Malakas ang kalabog ng puso ko at hindi ko maintindihan kung nang-aasar ba si Jess dahil mas binilisan niya ang pag drive.

"Let's go and slap him with your beauty!"

Nag park si Jess sa labas ng bahay at excited ako'ng hinila palabas. Hindi ako mapakali at parang gusto kong hilahin siya pabalik.

May nakita kaming ilang trabahador sa labas na nagpipintura. I almost forgot that he had a plan to renovate this house.

"Ano? Don't tell me natatakot ka na?" hamok ni Jess at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago matapang na tumitig sa kanya.

"I'm going,"

Tinalikuran ko na siya at pumasok na ako sa loob. Sa labas niya na lang ako hihintayin. I calmed my shaking hands as I headed to the back door, sabi kasi ng isang trabahador ay nasa pool area raw si Callum. Nang nasa harap na ako ng backdoor, naging mabagal ang lakad ko. Nasapo ko ang dibdib sa sobrang kaba. Tuluyan na ako'ng lumabas doon at nakita ko agad si Callum, nakatalikod.

Bigla siya'ng lumingon kaya nanlaki ang mata ko at umiwas ng tingin.

"P-Patricia? You came!"

He hurriedly run and hugged me tight. Hindi ako makagalaw sa yakap niya.

"Damn. I miss you..."

Isiniksik niya ang mukha sa leeg ko at mas humigpit ang braso. Medyo naipit niya na ang tiyan ko kaya pilit kong itinulak ang katawan niya palayo. "Uh, sorry"

I cleared my throat. "I came here for us to talk,"

I was avoiding his gaze. Iminuwestra niya sa'kin ang isang upuan kaya umupo ako roon.

"I thought you wouldn't come," he uttered. "But thank you because you're here. Are you really not coming home with me?"

Hindi ako nag salita.

"Those pictures of me with Zara..." it seems like he can't say the words properly. "It shows the other thing. It's really not what it was showing,"

Kumunot ang noo ko at nag angat ng tingin sa kanya. His eyes were pleading, it's so full of sadness. Nakita kong bumaba ang tingin niya sa tiyan ko at nangilid ang luha. Nagulat ako ng bigla siya'ng lumuhod sa harap ko at hinaplos ang malaki kong tiyan. I bit my lower lip as his lips slowly touch it.

"I miss you..." he whispered against my tummy that made me shiver.

Umiling ako at napapikit.

"Move. Don't touch me, please..." I said between my heavy breathe.

Mabilis siya'ng tumayo at hinaplos pa ang kamay ko bago bumalik sa pagkakaupo.

"Uupo na lang ba ako rito?" inis kong sabi. "Kung ganoon uuwi na lang ako-"

"No, please!" he held my hand. "Let's talk about us, then"

Our eyes met then he smiled sadly.

"I'm so sorry about the pictures," he lowered his head. "I think it was p-planned-"

"How about the kiss?" I interrupted, his eyes widened. "I don't think it was manipulated. You two planned it-"

"Of course not, Patricia," his voice softened. "She was just having a favor to me. I helped her to finally stop-"

"What kind of favor is that, then?" my voice trembled. "Is that favor is you being her boyfriend for a day? Go shopping and eating in a fancy restaurant with her?!"

I maintained my straight face but my anger was overflowing! I just can't stand his reasons! Kung ginawa niya ang mga favor na 'yon para kay Zara, paano pa siya lalayuan no'ng tao? If he still showing care towards her! I clenched my fist when guilt became visible on his face.

"Y-You kissed her..." halos pabulong kong sabi kasabay ng pangingilid ng luha.

My chest skipped. Their kissing pictures were flashing again. How can he explain that!

"I did not..." he said with determination but his voice was shaking.

Nakuyom ko ang kamao sa inis. He did not kiss her? But he's even holding Zara's shoulder as if enjoying their moment! Why do I have this feeling that he's lying? That it's not his real reasons?

"You stop lying on my face! I'm not dumb, Callum!"

Kahit gusto kong sampalin siya ay hindi ko magawa. Hindi ako ganoong babae.

"I just want to know why you did that! Akala mo ba nasa pretending relationship parin tayo? Akala ko ba gusto mo ng maayos na relasyon sa'kin? I thought you loved me?!"

"I do love you and it didn't change. Hear me out first. Please, I'm not a cheater..."

Tuluyan na nga ako'ng napaiyak sa sinabi niya. I want to laugh at him because he seems joking around.

Tinitigan ko siya ng masama habang ang mga mata niya ay halo-halo na ang emosyon.

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"Why don't you just admit that you really love her, huh?" I mocked. "Your reasons are so fuck up just like what you did!"

Mabilis ako'ng tumayo kahit nanghihina ang tuhod ko. I just want to disappear! Dadamputin ko na ang bag ko ng marinig ko siya'ng tumayo.

"Fuck, no! Don't leave yet, please..."

He held my waist and rest his face on my neck. "Mag-usap pa tayo. Intindihin mo ako. Let's fix this misunderstanding. Take a look at those pictures again, Zara initiate the kiss-" "Shut up! I heard enough of your lies!"

Lumayo ako sa kanya at kinuha ang bag ko. Nakaawang ang labi niya at bumagsak ang balikat.

How can he explain their pictures in Zara's condo, then? He's lying! Mali talaga ang desisyon ko na kausapin pa siya!

"Let me leave. I don't want to see you now, please..."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko para pigilan ang mga hikbi. Ayaw ko siya'ng makita ngayon.

Nanlambot ang tuhod ko ng makita ang ilang luha na tumakas sa mata ni Callum. Bago pa niya mapansin na sobra ako'ng apektado, tinalikuran ko na siya.

Hirap ako'ng huminga dahil sa pag iyak. Pinagtitinginan pa ako ng ibang trabahador kaya binilisan ko ang lakad. Naririnig ko si Callum na tinatawag ako.

My hands are still trembling when I wiped my tears. Nang malapit na ako'ng makalabas sa gate ay may nakasalubong ako'ng hindi inaasahang tao.

My heart filled with more anger now seeing her satisfied face with a trail of annoying smile. She looks so happy seeing me so wreck.

It's Zara Banner.

She really came here, huh? Dito sila nagkikita ni Callum? She seems comfortable here. Sabagay, sa kanya nga pala unang inalay ni Callum ang bahay na ito bago sa'kin.

Alam kong 'yon ang totoo at hindi lang sinabi ni Callum.

"Patricia..." she uttered and look at me from head to toe.

She seems judging me. Nagtagal ang tingin niya sa mata ko at nawala ang ngiti.

"I knew it. You're hurting now. Did you like the pictures I sent?"

Napamaang ako. "S-Sayo galing ang mga 'yon?"

Kumulo ang dugo ko ng ngumisi siya. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa bag. No, Patricia. Wag mo siya patulan.

"Look how dumb you are! Can you realized now that he don't really loved you? He just used you to forget me but in the end, sa akin parin talaga ang bagsak niya," she laughed insultingly. "We're going out. Pinupuntahan niya ako kapag kailangan ko siya habang ikaw, naghihintay sa kanya-"

"Shut up!" I shouted.

Nangilid ang luha ko at kahit ano'ng pigil kong wag umiyak sa harap niya ay hindi ko kaya! Pinagkakaisahan nila ako!

"Zara? Why are you here?!" Callum's voice thundered as his eyes darted on Zara.

Humagikhiksi Zara. "Oh, I'm here to visit you-"

"Leave!" Callum shouted at her and pointed the gate.

Halos mapatalon pa ako sa gulat. Bumaling sa'kin si Callum at lumambot ang mata ng makitang umiiyak ako.

"Patricia!"

Natanaw ko si Jess na seryosong naglalakad palapit. Mas lalo tuloy ako'ng umiyak. Gusto ko na lang umuwi. "What happened? Bakit ka umiiyak?" tanong niya at pinunasan ang luha ko.

Hindi ako nag salita kaya tumingin siya kay Callum at Zara ng masama.

"Oh, look who's here. A proud mistress..." Jess smirked at Zara before turning to Callum. "And a cheater..."

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"Jess, let's go..." hinila ko siya palayo pero talagang nang-aasar si Zara. Si Callum naman ay sinundan kami.

"Yes, get out of here!" Zara hissed.

Napatigil kami ni Jess at ramdam ko ang panginginig ng kamay niya. Namumula rin ang mukha niya at masama ang titig kay Zara.

"Can't see you. Me and Callum are back together-"

"What are you saying, Zara?!" Callum gasped aggressively. "Patricia, don't believe in her-"

"Why, Callum? We're back together, right?" Zara mocked that make him furious.

Hindi ko na alam kung sino ang pakikinggan sa kanila pero hindi na "yon mahalaga! They both want to do that shit.

"You liar!" kita ko ang matinding galit sa mukha ni Callum.

Biglang tumawa si Zara at itinuro ako. "Pareho lang tayong sinungaling. Look at her! We fooled her-"

"That's not true!" Callum turned to me. "She's lying. Please, let's talk..."

Lumapit siya sa'kin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Binitawan ako ni Jess pero agad ko rin inilayo ang sarili kay Callum. Kita ko ang sakit sa mata niya dahil sa ginawa ko. "Callum, pabayaan mo na muna ang kaibigan ko. She's so suffocated!" sabat ni Jess.

"You don't even need her," maarteng sabi ni Zara at inirapan ako.

"Pwede ba wag ka na makialam dito, haliparot!"

Nagulat ako ng biglang lumapit si Jess kay Zara at umamba na sasampalin ito. Mabilis ako'ng lumapit at hinila siya sa braso.

"What? You're going to slap me again like what you did last time? Do that again and I will sue you!" matapang na sabi ni Zara pero bakas ang takot sa mukha.

"Jess, let's go..." bulong ko pero hindi siya natinag. Si Callum naman ay pilit na pinapaalis si Zara.

"You keep defending your friend. Why? Hindi mo rin ba matanggap na ayaw sa kanya ni Callum?"

I acted like didn't hear anything. Zara is really good at this, huh?

"A woman like you who acted that it's fine to be a mistress is stupid!" sigaw ni Jess kaya nawala ang ngisi ni Zara. "You and Patricia had a big differences. Everyone's proud of her but you? I'm sure you're such a disappointment to your family..."

Nagpuyos sa galit ang mukha ni Zara.

"Disappointment ka na nga sa pamilya, malalaman pa nila na anak nila ay isang kabit! Where's your manners! Kapag kumalat 'yon, mas lalong masisisra ang reputasyon ng pamilya niyo,"

I can't explain how red Zara's face because of shame.

"I don't care! Your friend is still cheap and boring-"

Zara didn't finish her word because Jess's hands already hit her face. Hindi isa kundi dalawang sampal.

"Jess, that's enough!" awat ko at hinawakan siya.

"You don't insult my best friend," marrin niya'ng sabi kay Zara bago kami tumalikod.

Pareho kaming hinihingal at nagpupuyos sa galit.

"Patricia, let's talk-"

"We don't need to talk anymore, Callum!" sigaw ko ng sumunod pa siya sa'min.

"You know what?" I looked at him straight in the eyes. "We better end this relationship,"

I turned my back on him while his lips were parted and there's shock and sadness in his eyes.