Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

PATRICIA'S POV (Complicated)

Everything feel so unreal.

Akala ko pagbalik ko rito, ayos na ang lahat. I thought I wouldn't feel heaviness in my heart anymore but the moment he looked at me with cold, the better version of myself that I build through the years slowly...loosen up. After my epic meeting with Callum, I stayed in my room all day without talking to anyone.

I haven't talked to Jess in a few days now. I was mad at her. I tried to think why she had to do that to me. She set us up.

"Good morning, doc..."

Tumango ako kay Nurse Aubrey. Wala ako sa mood na ngumiti ngayon.

Nilunod ko ang sarili sa trabaho ngayong araw kahit pa ilang beses na tumatawag si Jess. I don't want to talk to her. Para ano? Ipagtanggol si Callum? At some point, I feel so betrayed. She knows what Callum did to me and my depression when I lost Agatha was no joke.

Could Callum ask her for a favor? To introduce him as the owner of the land so we can interact again? For what?

"Doc, are you okay?"

Napatianod ako nang marinig ang boses ni Nurse Aubrey. Ibinagsak ko ang ballpen sa lamesa at itinapon ang scratch ng papel.

"I'm fine..."

Kumunot noo siya'ng pumasok. Pinakatitigan niya ang mukha bago bumaling sa pagkain sa upuan.

"Hindi kayo kumain, doc? May sakit po ba kayo?" nag-aalala niya'ng tanong. "Your eyes are swollen,"

I let out a heavy sighed before smiling at her.

"Don't mind me. Kulang lang ako sa tulog,"

She looks unconvinced. "Sige po. Pahinga na lang muna kayo, doc. Wala pa naman pong pasyente..."

-

Lumabas siya at hindi na ako kinulit. Medyo nakaramdam nga ko ng antok dahil sa kakaisip kagabi. Masyado kong dinamdam ang nangyari kaya pinahinga ko ang ulo sa ibabaw ng lamesa at pinilit matulog kahit saglit.

"Patricia?"

Naalimpungatan ako. Nanatili ako'ng nakapikit at nakasubsob sa lamesa.

"Hey, Patricia..."

Wait, is that Jaime's voice?

Naramdaman ko ang pag kalbit sa braso ko at haplos sa aking buhok. Nag mulat ako at unti-unting nag angat ng tingin. I rubbed my eyes, I saw Jaime in front of me. Standing and smiling sweetly. "Jaime?"

"Yes, it's me, sleepy head," he chuckled.

He was wearing a formal clothes today.

"Wala kang trabaho? Bakit ka nandito?"

I fixed my hair.

Tumayo ako at sinilip si Nurse Aubrey sa labas. Nakita kong kinukuhaan niya ng blood pressure ang isang babae at wala ng ibang pasyente.

Bumalik ako sa table at nadatnan ang malalim na titig sa'kin ni Jaime. I can't say anything to his looks, he's always this presentable. His smile, very friendly and the way he spoke, full of respect. "Again, why are you here, Jaime?" I asked and smiled back.

"I don't have work so I came here to visit you," he formally said and raise his hand holding a food. "Your nurse said... you haven't eaten yet. It's already late, why you didn't eat?" Wala ako'ng gana pero nang maamoy ko ang bango ng pagkain na dala niya, kumalam ang sikmura ko.

"Wala ako'ng gana kanina..."

He smirked. "Ngayon may gana ka na. I'm already here,"

Umiling ako. Wala ako'ng choice kundi saluhan siya kumain.

Hindi na rin bago sa'kin itong ginagawa ni Jaime. He's such a good friend. Naalala ko pa noong nasa med school kami. He's always cheering me every time I'm about to give up.

"Patricia? Are you still talking to your ex-husband?"

Muntik na ako'ng masamid sa tanong ni Jaime. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig bago inosenteng tumingin sa'kin.

"Uh...bakit mo naman naitanong?" I said awkwardly.

I bit my lip as I remember about Callum again. Why he suddenly opened that topic?

"Noong nasa bar kasi tayo at bigla kang nawala..." he trailed off and looked at me straightly. "Narinig ko sa kaibigan mo na hinatid ka raw niya sa bahay,"

Natuod ako at umiwas ng tingin. Damn! I felt guilty again. Guilty for leaving him there and let Callum take me home!

"W-Wala naman kaming koneksyon," nakayuko kong sabi. "He just accidentally saw me that night so he took me home thinking that I was alone..."

I looked up and saw him smiling. I blinked. Why he's smiling?

"Can I ask you another question? It sounds sensitive-"

"Ask me, then" I smiled.

He cleared his throat. "Uh...do you felt any special-"

"I don't, Jaime" diretsa kong sabi. "What we had...is in the past. Why did you asked?"

Pagkatapos nang nangyari noong nakaraan, mas lalo kong hinihiling na sana hindi na mag krus ang landas namin ni Callum. Dahil ayaw kong masira pa ang pader na pilit kong itinayo noon. Kung patuloy ko pa siya'ng makikita, baka unti-unti rin matibag 'yon.

"I can't still believe that you're once married. After years, you both see each other again,"

"Yeah," I sighed. "But...we're still married in papers though,"

Natigilan siya sa pagkain at tumitig sa'kin.

"Still not annulled?"

Tumango ako bago nag patuloy sa pagkain.

"I guess, neither of you wants to file an annulment?"

I just faked a smile then proceed on eating again.

Pinili kong hindi sagutin ang tanong niya.

Kung tungkol doon, hindi ko alam ang isasagot. Years ago, when I was wrecked, I pushed to file an annulment but Callum don't want to cooperate. Ngayon kaya? Ngayon na mukhang nakalimot na siya sa mga ginawa niya sa'kin at masaya na sa buhay niya'ng wala ako, papayag na kaya siya?

Maybe he will initiate the annulment now that I'm here.

I drank some water and when I put the glass down, Jaime's finger met the corner of my lips. Nagulat ako, kalaunan ay napagtanto ang ginagawa niya. There's trace of food beside my lips and he wiped it using his thumb.

"So messy," humalakhak siya at kumuha ng tissue.

Namula ang pisngi ko nang lumapit ang mukha niya sa'kin para punasan ang bibig ko. I could smell his perfume more and see his face in more detail. He really had a beautiful eyes, perfect bridge nose, sharpened jaw, red lips and perfectly arch brows.

"Doc-"

Mabilis kaming nag hiwalay nang marinig ang naudlot na boses ni Nurse Aubrey. Nakasilip siya sa pinto at naka-awang ang labi.

Nag init ang mukha ko bago siya nilapitan. The confused on her face turned into a grinned.

"What is it?" I asked innocently.

"Ah, itatanong ko po sana kung kumain na kayo pero..." nilingon niya si Jaime bago ngumisi. "Mukhang napasarap na ang kain niyo kasama siya. Sige, doc! Tawagin ko lang kayo kapag may kailangan,"

I laughed when she closed the door by herself. Bumalik ako sa table at inayos na ang pinagkainan, tinulungan ako ni Jaime.

Nag kwentuhan lang kami pagkatapos at natitigil lang kapag may dumarating para magpa-consult. Iniiwanan ko muna siya sa office kapag lalabas ako. He's watching some movie through my laptop so he won't get bored. "Madalas niyo ho ba maranasan ang paninikip ng dibdib?"

Tumango ang babae sa tanong ko. Inalam ko ang pinagmulan ng sakit niya bago nag bigay ng advice kung ano'ng dapat niya'ng gawin. Kahit ang gamot na dapat inomin.

Nang pumatak ang alas sais, wala ng pumapasok sa clinic kaya nag decide ako na magsara na. pumasok ako sa office, nanonood parin si Jaime.

"Sorry, marami ako'ng inasikaso kanina. Hindi tuloy kita nasamahan manood," paumanhin ko at hinubad ang coat.

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Ngumiti siya bago pinatay ang laptop ko. "It's okay. I enjoyed though. We talked and ate together. I guess, you're already going home?"

"Yes,"

Kinuha ko na ang bag ko at sabay kaming lumabas.

"If you didn't brought your car, I'm taking you home now for sure" ani Jaime habang papunta kami sa parking.

"You should've inform me that you'll visit me! Sana'y hindi na ako nagdala ng sasakyan," I joked.

"I'll do that next time,"

Nag park lang siya sa tabi ng sasakyan ko kaya sabay kaming nag bukas ng pinto.

"By the way, are you free this weekend?" tanong niya at lumapit.

"Hindi naman. Rest day ko 'yon..."

Habang naghihintay sa sasabihin niya, napansin ko ang isang sasakyan sa gilid namin. It was a black raptor with a thick tinted.

"Uh, I just want to ask you out? Let's go to Tagaytay? If it's okay with you,"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

Tagaytay? Ilang taon na ba simula no'ng mag punta kami roon nila mommy? Almost ten years na!

Namula ang tenga ni Jaime nang tumingin ako sa kanya. Nag iwas siya ng tingin. Wala naman talaga ako'ng gagawin next week kaya hindi masama kung sasama ako sa kanya. "I'll go with you," I said smiling.

A small smile also crept on his lips. "Damn, thank you for agreeing. Don't worry, I'll bring some of my cousins. I'll just call you next week, then?"

Tumango ako at napangiti parin. Sa totoo lang, wala ako'ng gana pumunta kung saan pero kung siya naman ang kasama ko, why not? Madaldal naman siya kaya hindi ako maboboring. "Let's go home?" paalam ko. "Take care!"

Papasok na sana ako sa sasakyan pero nagulat ako nang hapitin ni Jaime ang baywang ko at pinatakan ng munting halik ang aking ulo.

"Take care," he whispered softly.

Pinilit kong itago ang pagkabigla. Binitawan niya ako at pinanood ko siya'ng lumapit sa sasakyan niya at naunang umalis.

Damn, what was that for, Jaime?

I held my chest, it continuously throbbing fast. Nanatili parin ako sa labas ng sasakyan at wala sa sariling napabaling ulit sa itim na sasakyan sa gilid. Why do I feel someone is staring at me inside that?

I shook my head.

Pumasok na ako sa sasakyan at binuhay ang makina. Umusad naman ito pero hanggang bukana lang ng parking lot. Kumunot ang noo ko. Agad ako'ng lumabas ng sasakyan. Nasapo ko ang noo dahil flat ang dalawang gulong ng sasakyan

ko!

"Fuck!" I cursed frustratingly. "Bakit ngayon pa!"

Lumuhod ako at nakita ang malaking butas na parang sinadya. Hindi naman ito ganito kanina, ah!

Ano'ng gagawin ko ngayon? Nakaalis na si Jaime! Nakakahiya naman kung tatawagan ko siya para bumalik.

Gusto kong sumigaw sa inis pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. Kukunin ko na sana ang cellphone ko sa loob nang makitang umandar ang itim na sasakyan kanina. Mabagal ang andar nito kaya nag dalawang isip ako kung hihingian ko ba ng tulong. I just get my phone and called Jordan but he's not answering! My parents are surely busy on work. Kung minamalas ka nga naman!

Habang tinawagan ko ulit si Jordan, naaninag ko ang itim na sasakyan na lumagpas sa'kin. Nawalan ako ng pag-asa. Hindi parin sinasagot ni Jordan!

I frowned and stamp my foot. Sumandal ako sa sasakyan at hinihintay na mag reply si Jordan. Hinabol ko ng tingin 'yong itim na sasakyan, laking gulat ko ng bigla itong huminto.

Umawang ang labi ko. Unti-unti itong umatras hanggang sa mag pantay ang sasakyan namin. Nahigit ko ang hininga nang bumaba ang bintana ng sasakyan. Seryosong mukha ni Callum ang nakita ko! What the hell!

Bigla ako'ng tumalikod sa sobrang gulat. Siya ang nasa sasakyan? So, he also saw what Jaime did earlier?

Napaigtad ako nang marinig na bumukas ang sasakyan niya. Hindi ako lumingon. I kept calling Jordan but he's still not answering!

"What's the problem?"

Nanginig ako. I felt him behind me, damn!

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Hindi ako makaharap. I can't even speak!

"Flat tires..." he uttered and checked my car.

Narinig kong may tinawagan siya at pagkatapos, bumaling sa'kin. Nag iwas ulit ako ng tingin.

He came closer. "I'll just take you home-"

"N-No, thanks..." I shuttered. "I called Jordan-"

"Don't fool me. He's not answering your call,"

I bit my lip. Hindi ko parin siya nililingon. Parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba ngayon.

"Let's go. Don't be hard headed," he said seriously.

Umiling ako. "D-Dito lang ako. Hihintayin ko si Jordan-"

"I called someone to fix the tires. Kung hihintayin mo pa si Jordan, aabutin ka ng ilang oras. Or you're waiting for your boyfriend?"

Kunot noo ko na siya'ng nilingon. He's raising a brow.

"B-Boyfriend?" is he referring to Jaime? "I don't have,"

"Tsk. But you let him kissed you,"

I heard him whispered.

"What did you say?"

"Wala. I said let's go. I'm offering a ride,"

"Ayaw ko nga" pagtanggi ko. "Salamat na lang, I'll wait for Jordan,"

Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ayaw ko ng magkita kaming dalawa pero ano 'to? Bakit ba palagi kaming nagkikita? Sa ganitong sitwasyon pa?

"Are you sure?" he said teasingly.

"Of course!" matapang kong sagot.

"Fine..."

Narinig ko ang pagsara niya ng sasakyan. Hindi ko siya nililingon.

My phone vibrated and I just got disappointed reading Jordan's message that he can't fetch me, he's still in school!

Tangina, sino ang susundo sa'kin ngayon?

Takot ako'ng bumaling sa sasakyan ni Callum pero laking gulat ko na naroon pa siya! Nakasandal sa sasakyan at nakangisi sa'kin!

"What now?" he teased. "Get inside before I carry you,"

I'm already cursing inside my head.

I just found myself sitting on the passenger's seat of Callum's car. I'm frowning. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa o maiinis ako dahil tinulungan niya ako. There's playful smile on his lips while driving! Hindi kami nagpapansinan.

I just wear an earphone and listen to music. I don't want to hear his voice.

Mabilis lang ang biyahe dahil walang traffic kaya kalahating oras lang ay nasa village na kami.

"Thank you," pasalamat ko at agad bumaba sa sasakyan. "Yung car ko nga pala..."

"Ipapadala ko bukas,"

Seryoso ang mata niya kaya isinara ko na ang pinto at pumasok na sa bahay. Buti ay walang nakakita kung sino ang naghatid sa'kin.

"Patricia!"

My eyes widened when I saw Jess, behind her is mommy. She hugged me tight

"Sorry na!" atungal niya. "Hindi ko 'yon sinasadya, ipapaliwanag ko sayo lahat, promise!"