Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Wedding Gown)

Within weeks, a lot happened. I became even busier as well as my parents. My meeting with Callum was not followed up anymore because I knew he was also busy and was just forced to follow mommy's order. Until my graduation came.

My hand was shaking as I received my diploma on stage. I didn't know what smile I would make in front of the camera because even my lips were trembling. I was so happy and my tears were welling up in my eyes but I tried not to cry because my makeup would be ruined.

Finally!

I watched how my parents proudly hung my medals on me when my name called as gaining a spot as Magna Cum Laude.

Malakas akong pinalakpakan ng mga estudyante hanggang makababa ng stage.

"Congrats!"

"Congrats, Patricia! No doubt, you're really a beauty and brain!"

Ngumiti ako sa pag bati ng mga kaklase ko. Natapos ang ceremony at kanya-kanya na kaming kuhaan ng litrato. May mga kaklaseng lumalapit sakin para magpapicture. Kasama ko rin sila Jess, Kelvin at Tyrone. "Ang galing mo talaga! Congrats satin!" ani Jess.

Nag picture rin kami nila mommy at daddy kasama si Jordan. My brother seems happy, buti na lang ay hindi na siya galit.

Mommy decided that we're going to eat at our favorite restaurant as our celebration. Kaya nag paalam na ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Hindi matanggal ang ngiti sa labi ko sa sobrang saya pero agad din itong naglaho ng matanaw ko ang lalaking sasalubong sa'min.

My mood quickly changed as I watched Callum walking towards us while holding a flower, it's a bouquet of a roses now. He look fresh with his blue shirt that tuck in his jeans. Nahigit ko ang hininga ng tumingin siya sa'kin ng diretso. "Oh, here's Callum! He will joined us" sabi ni mommy bago sinalubong si Callum.

Hindi na ako nagtaka. She's really a fond of him.

Peke akong ngumiti ng ibigay ni Callum ang bulaklak.

"Congrats" simpleng sabi niya

Tumango lang ako at nanahimik. Pagdating namin sa parking ay sumakay na sila daddy sa sasakyan pero nagulat ako ng ipaiwan ako ni mommy dahil kay Callum raw ako sasabay kaya halos nakasimangot ako buong biyahe namin. "Stop frowning there. I also don't want this" aniya habang nagmamaneho.

"Tsk, whatever.." bulong ko sa sobrang irita.

He really know his way to impressed someone, huh. Kaya ang tingin sa kanya ni mommy ay mabuti.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!" I rolled my eyes at him but he remained calm.

Nang makarating kami sa restaurant ay nagulat ako sa inasta ni Callum. He became talkative as we ate. He even answers all of mom's questions and they seems not getting tired of speaking even daddy. Only me and Jordan were silent. When we finished, I was shocked when mommy said that Callum and I were going somewhere else. When did they even start deciding what I would do and where I was going? I want to rest!

"Just go, Pat" pilit ni mommy at kinuha ang mga gamit ko bago kami tuluyang iwanan.

"Where are we going?" tanong ko kay Callum at padabog na pumasok sa sasakyan niya.

"I also don't know"

"What? Are you serious? I'm tired, I want to rest!"

"Look, if you're tired, I'm even more tired! I just followed what mom's secretary told me to go to that specific place"

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Nagutla ako sa pag taas ng boses niya. He also stopped and seemed to realize what he have done so he looked away and focused on driving. Nagkaroon ng kaunting katahimikan sa pagitan namin bago siya nag salita ulit.

"I'm sorry for s-shouting..." he said in a very low voice.

Hindi ako nag salita dahil may munting kaba parin sakin dahil minsan lang ako pag taasan ng boses. Am I too loud? Naingayan kaya siya sa'kin?

Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang makarating sa isang malaking bridal shop. Medyo madilim na dahil mahigit isang oras ang tagal ng biyahe.

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makitang may mga tao ng naghihintay samin sa entrance pa lang. I never asked Callum what we were going to do here because I already knew, it's pretty obvious. Sinalubong kami ng isang babae. "Good evening, mama and sir. This way po"

Sumunod kami sa kanya hanggang sa makapasok sa isang room. Bumungad sa'kin ang magagandang wedding gowns.

"Sabi po ni Mrs. Velasquez ito raw po ang pagpipilian niyo" a man prepared about 20 gowns in front of me.

My eyes widened in shock. Halos malula ako sa dami nito. Bakit kailangan ganito karami? I looked at it one by one and I couldn't believe seeing it's prices. Is this of real?

"It's too expensive.." sabi ko kay Callum.

"Yeah, just choose what you want"

It took me a few minutes to choose the cheapest but I was disappointed so I just chose a simple tube white gown. The woman started measuring my waist. Maging si Callum ay pinalabas para sukatan rin sa isusuot niya. "Ang ganda niyo naman po, Mam. Bagay talaga kayo ni Sir" ani ng babae at ngumiti sa'kin.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang at ngumiti na lang. I seemed to lose my mood as they talked about the upcoming wedding. I just kept quiet because my breathing was starting to get heavier as I stared at the wedding gowns. "Let's go"

Sumunod ako kay Callum nang matapos. Tahimik kaming pareho at hindi ako mapakali. Hindi ko alam pero habang tumatagal ay hindi ko matanggap na malapit na talaga ang kasal ko.

Now that I'm with him, it's as if I'm being strangled and tormented by fate and making me feel like I can't escape it. Deserve ko ba ito?

Nakaramdam ako ng antok at pagod pero tingin ko ay hindi rin ako makakatulog mamaya dahil sa mga nangyari ngayon. Paniguradong mapupuyat na naman ako sa kakaisip... Sumulyap ako kay Callum na tahimik na nagmamaneho pero halos magutla ako ng mag salubong ang mga mata namin sa rear mirror. Agad din akong nag iwas ng tingin.

"You can sleep" biglang sabi ni Callum. "Malayo pa naman ang biyahe-"

"No, thanks" singhap ko at nakita kong umiling siya.

Ipinahinga ko ang ulo sa head rest at tumingin na lang sa labas ng bintana pero tila may humihila sakin na sumulyap sa kanya.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili at unti-unti na lumingon sa likuran ni Callum. I scanned his hair to his broad shoulders and biceps. I gulped. I can't deny that he has a nice body. Siguro ay madalas siya sa gym. Ilang beses rin akong napasinghot dahil sa bango ng sasakyan niya. It's his perfume I'm sure.

Tumigil ang sasakyan dahil sa red light at tila nasisiyahan ako sa panonood sa galaw ni Callum hanggang sa bigla siyang lumingon sa gawi ko.

Damn! Halos mapamura ako at mabilis na tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Namula ang pisngi ko, he maybe thinking that I was watching him! Wala naman akong narinig sa kanya bukod sa pag sagot niya sa isang tawag.

"Hello? Who is this-Zara?"

Bigla siyang lumingon sakin ng makumpirma kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya. I know that's his girlfriend, Zara Banner, the model. Nagkunwari akong walang naririnig hanggang sa bigla niyang ibaba ang tawag. He's probably not comfortable talking to her around me. Of course, who wouldn't?

Ipapakasal lang naman siya sakin kahit may mahal siyang iba. Kahit sinabi ni mommy na wala siyang girlfriend, of course that's his tactics to hide their relationship since his parents also hate Zara.

I don't even know what to feel anymore. I want to blame my parents for getting my peace and happiness but when I able to understand Callum's situation, I think it's my fault too. It must be hard for him to deal with my family.

I want to cry. My parents... they really made me feel happy for my graduation first because after this, I will face another blow of my life. Good luck to my married life that will happen soon. Such a nice graduation gift.