Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Strict Husband)

I was quietly reading a biology book here in the library when someone sat beside me.

"Hey! Mag kwento ka nga!" Jess interrupted me.

"Anong nangyari roon sa party noong nakaraan?! Hindi mo pa sinasabi sa'kin!"

Napairap ako sa ingay niya. Kaya nga hindi ko na siya sinama rito dahil mangungulit lang siya. Talagang sinundan pa ako. "Huy!" kinalabit niya ako. "Balita ko naroon si Zara? I even saw their pictures online-"

"There's nothing important there, Jess"

"Ang sungit mo naman" tumawa siya. "Sabagay, kahit ako maiinis kung ganoon makalingkis sa asawa ko ang babaeng 'yon!"

"Hindi ako naiinis, Jess!" mariin kong tanggi. I folded the book I was reading. I lost my concentration because of her.

"Sus, talaga ba?"

Tumayo na ako at iniwan siya. Alam kong aasarin niya na naman ako.

A few days have passed since Mr. Salvador's party but I still can't get off to my mind what happened that night.

I was hunted by it. To Zara's desperation, tears and to their complicated situation. I feel like I'm responsible of it for some other reason.

"You're too obvious, my friend!" humabol sa'kin si Jess makalabas ng library.

"Stop bugging me, Jess!" I burst.

Ilang classroom pa ang nadaanan ko at hindi parin nakakaligtas sa'kin ang tingin ng mga estudyante.

Until we got to the room, Jess didn't stop asking me. Even my blockmates were asking the same question, about the party.

"Pero mukhang close rin si Callum Velasquez at yung model" rinig kong bulong ng kung sino.

"Oo, bagay nga sila e.." humagikhik ang kaklase kong babae.

Nahigit ko ang hininga at hinayaan na lang ang narinig. Well, that's absolutely true. They look good together. They're are both famous because of their families.

Jess just stop bugging me when our professor entered the classroom. Nakafocus lang ako sa pakikinig at pagkatapos ng klase ay kinulit na naman ako ni Jess.

"You know what? Hindi kita titigilan!" ani Jess habang papunta kami sa parking.

I stroked my hair because of frustration. Sa kanya na ako palagi sumasabay sa pag uwi kaya wala talaga akong choice.

I told her how bored I was at the party while she was driving. Even the ones I heard in the conversation between Callum and Zara. Hindi ko na sana sasabihin 'yon pero parang may nag uudyok sa'kin na sabihin yon to at least, hear her opinion? "Ambisyosa naman pala ang Zara na yan! Desperada! May asawa na si Callum pero ginugulo niya parin" Jess reacted, as what I expected.

Since maaga pa ngayon ay pumayag na lang ako sa alok ni Jess na dumiretso sa condo niya at doon kumain.

"Bakit naman pumayag ka? I've seen their pictures and it was disgusting!" she really looks disgust as we enter the elevator.

"I can't do anything-"

"You have! Duh, you're the wife!"

I immediately put down my things before sitting on the large sofa in her unit. I have also been here to Jess's condo a few times and I would rather stay here.

Sa bahay namin ni Callum ay masyadong tahimik. I would prefer here at least, Jess is talkative and she understands the weight of the atmosphere around.

"Sinisisi mo ba ang sarili mo? Dahil doon sa narinig mo sa usapan nila?" nakapamaywang na siya sa harap ko.

Sumimangot ako. "No, it just that.."

"Tsk! It seems true that Callum doesn't really like Zara. It's just her being ambitious and trying hard"

"Can we just not talk about it? I'm hungry"

Pag-iiba ko sa usapan dahil walang preno ang bibig niya.

"Fine! I'll just ordered our food"

Jess came into her room while I turned on the big flat screen TV and watched some movies. While waiting for our food, Jess decided to bake some lasagna. "You're really good at this" puna ko sa ginawa ni Jess na lasagna.

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!

It was so delicious. Masarap at magaling talaga siya mag bake noon pa, in fact, sa kanya rin ako natuto mag luto.

"And so as you" she smiled. "You should baked some for Callum!" she suggested that makes my smile disappeared. "Nevermind.."

She laughed with my reaction, obviously teasing me. I continued eating until our food arrived. Jess ordered some pizzas and drinks, we shares so much stories while eating those.

"I invited Tyrone. He's already on his way and bought some beers. Just wait for him, I'll just shower"

I nodded and lay down on the long sofa after we ate. Minsan na lang kami mag bonding ni Jess kasama sila Tyrone at Kelvin. Our schedules were so complicated because we were so busy with other responsibilities. Si Kelvin naman ay sobrang busy dahil aalis na siya ng bansa.

I was peacefully resting while watching movies until I fell asleep without knowing it. Nagising na lang ako sa pag alog sa balikat ko ng kung sino.

"Pat?"

I slowly opened my eyes and Tyrone's face wearing a cap welcomed my sight. I even rubbed my eyes if I was just dreaming but not really.

I slowly sat up and realized that I had actually fallen asleep.

Napadako ang tingin ko sa lamesa dahil sa mga bote ng beer na wala ng laman.

"Naubos ko na yung mga dala kong beer hindi ka parin nagigising" kamot ulo na sabi ni Tyrone. "Ang pangit niyo naman kabonding"

"S-sorry, I fell asleep" I smiled apologetically.

Napatingin ako sa orasan na nakasabit sa wall ni Jess at nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita kung anong oras na.

"Gosh! It's already 8:00 p. m?" gulantang kong sabi.

"Uh-yeah? Napasarap ang tulog mo. May tumatawag din pala sa'yo kanina habang tulog ka"

"What?"

I immediately checked my phone and saw almost ten missed calls and text messages from Callum asking him where I was! Oh my god! Is he looking for me? Is he already at home? "That's your husband, right? I answered the last call and I think he sounds mad?"

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!

Nanlaki ang mata kong tumingin kay Tyrone.

"Bakit mo sinagot? Anong sinabi niya at sinabi mo?" tanong ko bago inayos ang mga gamit ko.

"Well, I just said you were sleeping because maybe you were tired and then he suddenly asked who I was, nagalit siguro hahaha"

I sighed heavily. Nagawa niya pa talagang tumawa. Maybe Callum is mad because I'm not home at this time.

Tumayo na ako at handa ng umalis nang maalala si Jess.

"Where's Jess?" I asked Tyrone.

"Umalis, nag grocery. Uuwi ka na ba? Sabay na tayo, hatid na kita"

Agad akong pumayag at mabilis na sumakay ng elevator. Nag text na rin ako kay Jess na aalis na kami ni Tyrone.

Sinabi ko kay Tyrone kung saan niya ako ihahatid dahil hindi pa siya nakakapunta sa bahay namin ni Callum.

"Wow, ang ganda naman ng bahay niyo. Iba talaga kapag kasal na" mangha na sabi ni Tyrone ng makarating kami sa harap ng bahay.

"Oh, shut up!"

Umirap ako at lumabas. Nag pasalamat ako sa kanya kahit marami pa siya'ng sinasabi bago tuluyang pumasok sa bahay.

Silence dawned on me as soon as I opened the door, as usual. I could hear no noise from the kitchen. Is Callum home or maybe on his room? Dahan-dahan akong nag lakad paakyat sa kwarto pero agad din napatigil ng marinig ko ang boses ni Callum.

"Where have you been?" it's Callum's serious voice.

"Shit!" I whispered nervously while looking to every corner where he was.

From the dark part of the kitchen entrance, Callum came out while holding a glass of water. He was looking at me straightly with his serious face. Napalunok ako at agad natuod sa kinatatayuan.

Agad akong kinabahan lalo na ng mag lakad siya dahan-dahan palapit sa'kin.