Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Date) "1, 2, 3! Smile!"

Matamis akong ngumiti sa camera habang dinadama ang suot na toga. Today is our graduation pictorial and I feel so happy. I can already feel the juice of my sufferings.

Nang matapos akong kuhanan ng litrato ay si Jess naman. Saglit akong nag retouch at sinuri ang sarili sa salamin. Suot ko ang isang pulang off shoulder dress. Si Jess at Kelvin ang nag ayos sakin. Kahit ang mga kaklase ko ay masasaya at magaganda ang ayos. Kukuhanan ulit kami ng litrato para sa creative shot kaya umupo muna ako sa pinakadulong parte ng classroom para mag hintay.

Nabasa ko ang isang text messages ni mommy.

From: Mommy Callum will go to your school to pick you up. Good luck to your pictorial!

My mood suddenly changed. Kaya ko naman umuwi mag isa! I doubt that Callum will come because of me.

Hindi ko pa nga pala nakakausap si mommy tungkol kay Callum at sa babaeng kasama niya. Last week pa 'yon nangyari pero hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya dahil dumoble ang pagiging busy nila. Hindi na ako nag reply dahil nag start na ulit ang picture taking. Sigurado naman ako na hindi tutuloy si Callum dahil masyado siyang busy sa trabaho.

Sa creative shot ay iba-iba ang ginawa namin. Kasama ko rin sa picture si Jess, Kelvin at Tyrone, my friends. Dahil sila lang naman ang naging kaibigan ko at nakasama ko sa halos ilang taon na pag aaral sa iisang school. "Finally!" I said in relief when we finished.

Nag desisyon kami nila Jess na kakain sa isang chinese restaurant kaya nag ayos na kami.

I entered the comfort room to check myself in the mirror when I heard the squealing voices of my classmates.

"Oh my god! Patricia, look whose outside!"

Biglaang pumasok si Jess sa banyo at agad akong hinila palabas. Nagtataka ako dahil namumula pa ang pisngi niya na tila kinikilig.

Ang mga kaklase kong babae ay nagbubulungan at impit na umiirit habang nakadungaw sa labas ng bintana ng classroom. Unti-unti nawala ang pagtataka ko at napalitan ng salubong na kilay ng makita ko si Callum na nakatayo sa labas ng classroom at may hawak na... bulaklak?

Tuluyan ng nilamon ng malalakas na sigawan ng mga estudyante sa paligid ang pandinig ko ng lumapit sa'kin si Callum. Ibinigay niya ang boquet ng bulaklak. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo dahil sa ginagawa niya. What the hell is the meaning of this? He really came?

"For you" he said while looking at me straightly. "Let's go?" he even offered me his arm.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

He just smiled, obviously pretending. "Just go with the flow, woman. They're watching"

Tumingin ako sa paligid at halos lahat ng mata ay nasa amin. Gusto ko na lang mag laho sa sobrang hiya kaya wala akong choice kundi iangkla ang kamay ko sa braso niya. Nag kunwari akong walang pakialam sa paligid pero halos patayin ko na si Callum sa isip ko.

"Mag date na kayo! Next time na lang tayo mag bonding nila Kelvin!" pagtataboy ni Jess at ibinigay ang gamit ko.

Nag padala na lang ako sa hawak ni Callum. Kahit sa hallway at sa field ay hinahabol parin kami ng mata ng mga estudyante. I'm sure we'll be the topic again tomorrow.

When we arrived at the empty parking lot, I quickly removed my hand that was wrapped around his arm.

"What are you doing? Are you really annoying me?!" I hit him using my bag with so much irritation. "Or maybe because you like the attention that people give you and you're happy that I'm the one they mock and hate?!" Umawang labi niya sa sinabi ko at pilit na iniiwasan ang pag hampas ko.

"What are you saying? It's my way to show gratitude to my soon to be wife" kampante niyang sabi bago hinawakan ang mga braso ko. "And I don't do it just to get attention, I did it for you, so somehow people will stop thinking bad things to you by atleast showing that I care about you?"

"Whatever!" umirap ako at lalapit na sa sasakyan ko ng hilahin niya ulit ako. "Hey! Don't touch me!"

Pilit kong tinatanggal ang kamay niya ngunit mahigpit 'yon. Dinala niya ako sa harap ng magarang mercedes bench at may isang lalaking lumabas doon at binuksan ang pinto ng back seat. Siguro'y driver niya.

"I had my own car and I can go home alone!" I shouted.

He's stronger than me so he just quickly put me inside the car. I had no choice but to shout and stamp my foot in annoyance. If I could only just slap him!

"How dare you do this?! How about my car?" I growl. He sat next to me so I kept my distance from him.

"You're so loud" he sighed. "I just follow what your mom said and don't worry, one of my men will bring your car home"

Suminghap ako at hindi na lang nag salita dahil baka masampal ko na talaga siya. And mommy really plan this? I will talk to her later!

Tahimik ako buong biyahe, kahit si Callum. Buong akala ko ay ihahatid niya ako sa bahay namin pero dumiretso ang sasakyan sa isang mamahaling restaurant. "Bakit tayo nandito?!" eksahadera kong tanong.

Hindi siya nag salita at lumabas ng sasakyan, umikot siya para pag buksan ako ng pinto.

"We're going to eat" sagot niya at hinila ang kamay ko.

"Kung gusto mo kumain sana ay ikaw na lang!"

"It's our date can't you see.."

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Lumaglag ang panga ko. Date? Sino naman ang nag sabi sa kanya na gusto ko makipagdate! I was about to speak when he suddenly pulled me inside the restaurant. I didn't complain anymore, especially when he made me sit to his reserved table. So he's really ready for it?

I remained silent as he ordered our food. Gosh, it's my first time eating here with only one person with me since I don't go on dates. Good thing that I'm wearing a dress now and not school uniform.

I turned around and just saw few people. Buti naman dahil baka bukas ay makita ko na naman ang mukha ko sa articles.

Callum ordered some steaks and drinks. Tahimik lang din kaming dalawa na kumain. Ayaw ko naman na awayin at komprontahin siya sa harap ng pagkain.

"Did you like what I ordered?" he suddenly asked and I just nodded.

We remained silent until we finished eating. Gutom din ako kaya naubos ko ang pagkain, Callum doesn't seem to care about that.

Tahimik parin kami hanggang makalabas ng restaurant. So, he's usually this silent all the time?

"Ihahatid na kita-"

"I will go straight to the company" I said.

"Okay" he shrugged.

Nakarating kami sa company ng walang usap-usap. Lalabas na ko ng sasakyan ng makita kong lalabas din siya.

"You don't have to" natigil siya. "It was okay that you fetch and brought me here. Thanks for the treat"

Tinalikuran ko siya at pumasok sa building. Ayaw ko na siyang sumama dahil siya ang pag uusapan namin ni mommy.

Nagulat si mommy ng pumasok akosa office niya.

"Pat? Why are you here? How's your date with Callum?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"So it's really your plan, huh? We just ate. By the way, I have something to tell you, mom"

"And what is it?"

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang nakuha kong litrato ni Callum at ng babae noong nakaraang linggo. Ngayon ko lang ito masasabi sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo ni mommy at mariin na tinitigan ang litrato.

"I saw him. Is that his girlfriend? Well, if that really is.. I think we need to cancel the wedding? He loves someone else and I don't want to be an obstacle there" kampante akong ngumiti. "Callum is single and never been attach to any woman"

Nawala ang ngiti ko. "What? Mom, it's already the evidence! I saw them! The girl even hug him!" giit ko.

"Maybe his ex? Believe me, he's not dating someone. You two are getting married so he don't have a reason to do that" mariin na sabi ni mommy na para bang sigurado talaga siya. How she can be so sure about this? What if Callum lied to them?

"Come on, stop thinking bad about him. He's nice and the girl he's with on the picture was Zara Banner"

"Zara? You knew her, mom?" kumunot ang noo ko. "But wait, is she related to the Banner Legacy?"

"Yes, the heirs of Banner Legacy, our rival company. I just know her recently because of Mrs. Veronica Velasquez. Zara was once promised to marry Callum but it didn't happened" Literal na lumaglag ang panga ko sa narinig, hindi ako makapaniwalang napatingin kay mommy.

"Like me, she also got engaged with Callum?" naguguluhan kong tanong. "But why did they end up like that?"

"The Velasquez found out that their family was doing illegal things"

"Oh my gosh.." bulong ko at napatakip sa bibig.

All this time, the good image of their family had a evil history? H-How come? Hindi ko alam ang bagay na iyon dahil wala naman akong nabasang articles tungkol dito.

"Hindi iyon naisapubliko ayon kay Mrs. Velasquez kaya walang ibang nakakaalam doon. Zara was inlove with Callum but he doesn't like her that's why she still insisting herself to him"

Callum didn't like Zara Banner? I didn't met her personally even once but I already saw her pictures in the magazines and articles because she's a model. I admit that she's really pretty but I did not recognize her that time. Gulat parin ako sa revelations na ni mommy.

"I hope it just stays with the two of us. It's too confidential"

Wala sa sariling napatango ako.

"I think you already enlightened. Wag mo na pag-isipan ng ganoon ang magiging asawa mo. Just go home and rest, I still had work"

Napatunganga na lang ako ng umalis si mommy sa harap ko. Wala akong choice kundi umalis umuwi sa bahay. Habang nasa biyahe ay lutang parin ang isip ko.

So...my hopes are gone? Callum didn't really have a girlfriend? Damn!