Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Raven)

"What's your plan?"

Namuo ang kuryosidad ko sa tanong ni Jess. Nandito kami sa may field at nagpapahangin dahil katatapos lang ng isa naming activity na ginawa sa laboratory kanina.

It was awesome.

"Plano tungkol saan?"

"Duh! Ganito lang ako pero binibilang ko ang araw simula ng ikasal kayo ni Callum!" sabi niya at ipinakita ang screen ng phone niya.

"Calendar? Yeah, it's july 14 today" simple kong sabi.

Umikot ang mata niya at parang naiinis bago itinuro ang mismong date ngayon. Tama naman ako, ah?

"You dumb! Manhid ka talaga! July 14 ngayon at ikinasal ka ay April 14!" halos pandilatan niya ako ng mata. "It means 3 months na kayong kasal!"

Kumunot lang ang noo ko at nagtataka na tumingin sa kanya. "Oh, yeah.. it's been three months"

Parang kailan lang ng malaman ko na ipapakasal ako ni mommy. I don't expect us to last like this. Well, our married life will really work because me and Callum don't interfere in each other's business.

"Oh my god, Patricia! Hindi ba kayo mag cecelebrate?" eksahaderang sabi ni Jess. "Hindi na nga kayo nag celebrate noong first at second month, ngayon ay hindi parin?"

"What for, Jess?" umismid ako. "That's just for people who love each other"

Marahas siya'ng suminghap.

"Gaga! Of course those are your precious moments so you should treasure them. Mag asawa parin naman kayo" "We're just married in papers-"

"Iyan palagi ang dahilan mo. You also need to have sweetness to change and work on your situation with him!"

That's a big no! Tama na iyong pagluluto ko ng pagkain at pag timpla ko sa kanya ng kape. That's it! I'm just doing my duty as his wife and it won't go beyond that. Maybe it's not good for me to show sweetness and he doesn't. "That's impossible. I already told you that I found his relationship with Zara right? They called each other at the middle of the night!"

"You said it by yourself that Callum is stopping Zara for pestering him because he's already married to you! Your husband must be so serious about this matter" she sounds so proud.

Damn, how can she bo so sure about this? Hindi naman siya ang kasama ni Callum araw-araw.

"Sigurado ako, Jess. Callum is just pretending, believe me!" I insisted.

She shook her head and didn't seem to believe me.

"Bahala ka! Swerte ka sa asawa mo dahil mabait, hindi tulad ng iba. Meron nga riyan na napilitan lang din mag pakasal tapos iba ang trato sa asawa"

Napailing na lang ako. Bakit nga ba nakikinig pa ako sa mga ganitong sinasabi ni Jess? It's all nonsense! Malabo na mangyari ang sinasabi niya.

Callum is in love with someone else at kaya siguro maayos ang pakikitungo niya sa'kin ay dahil na rin siguro sa pamilya ko?

Well, I heard from mommy that it's also a good thing that Callum married me because the company won't be given to him if he doesn't have a wife so technically, we both benefited from this marriage.

"Anyway.." Jess paused a moment. "Alam mo ba na nakita ko si Raven na naghihintay sayo sa may parking noong nakaraan na linggo! Sinabi ko lang na nauna ka na umuwi kahit na ang totoo ay sinundo ka ni Callum dito!" "Raven?" my mood lighted up a bit.

It's been months since I last saw him and that was still in school. I haven't seen him for a while.

"Yes. Ang haba talaga ng hair mo, biruin mo... hindi ka parin tinitigilan kahit ilang beses mo na siya'ng nireject at hanggang ngayon na may asawa ka na"

"Hindi ganoon, Jess. Maybe he need some friends"

"Are you joking? Gusto ka parin niya at nagkataon lang ba talaga na parehas sila ni Callum na anak ng may ari ng mag kalaban na kompanya?"

Nanliit ang mata ko sa kanya dahil parang iba ang ipinararating niya.

"The Velasquez Industries was already belong to Callum" I replied.

"Kahit na! Nagpapataasan parin ang kompanya nila!"

"Come on, let's stop talking about this.."

Tumayo na ako at pinagpagan ang suot na puting lab coat. "Let's go"

Dumaan muna kami sa cafeteria para bumili ng tubig at bumalik na ulit sa science lab para ituloy ang ginagawa naming operating activities.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses ng napagalitan ng prof namin si Jess dahil sa mga mali niya. Nalilito pa siya sa ibang procedure kaya tinuturuan ko siya roon. "Very good, Clemente! You got the highest score and finished that fast. This is really for you"

Sabay-sabay na pumalakpak ang mga kaklase ko kaya nahihiya akong ngumiti sa kanila maging sa prof namin. I felt so happy especially when you love what you're doing. "Nakakainis! Paanong hindi ako mapepressure, ang sungit ng prof natin!" himutok ni Jess sa tabi ko.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha niya kaya mahina akong natawa. "Bawi ka na lang next time.."

"Ano pa nga ba! Buti na lang nariyan ka kanina, kung wala ay mas lalo sigurong nagalit sa'kin si prof.." she pouted.

"I got you!" I wink and smiled.

After our long discussions, recitations and doing some experiments and activities, our class finally dismissed.

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!

We're in our usual white blouse and skirt uniform so I just put a white jacket on it while we we're heading to the parking lot.

"Oh, fuck!"

Agad akong napatingin kay Jess. She's busy on her phone. "What's wrong?"

"Mom called and she wanted me to pick her up at the hotel that they bought! It's far away and you'll spend the night if we pick her up" she looks devastated. "Fetch her, then. Don't mind me. I'll grab a taxi"

"No! I need to-"

"Its okay, Jess" giit ko.

Nahihiya na rin ako sa kanya minsan dahil sa kanya ako palagi sumasabay sa pag uwi, kung minsan naman ay si Callum ang naghahatid sa'kin at iniiwasan ko ng mangyari 'yon. My car is at our house. Maybe when I have free time I'll go home to get it and so that I can visit mommy and daddy. I missed my car.

"Are you sure it's just okay?" Jess asked again so I gave her an assuring smile.

Since papunta na rin kami sa parking ay dumiretso na lang din ako rito at dito na lang ako mismo daraan papalabas ng campus.

Habang papalapit kami sa sasakyan ni Jess ay may naaninag agad akong isang lalaki na nakatayo malapit dito.

Namilog ang mata ko ng makilala kung sino ito. His posture was really familiar together with his neat outfit. Kanina ay pinaguusapan lang namin siya.

"See? He's here again" saad ni Jess.

Nakita ko kung paano mag liwanag ang mukha ni Raven ng makita ako bago siya umayos ng tayo.

"Patricia" aniya ng makalapit kami.

"Hey, Raven.."

"Tamang tama! Hindi ko siya maihahatid ngayon dahil may pupuntahan ako, pwede ba na ikaw na lang Raven?" "What?!"

Halos manlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Jess.

Agad akong bumaling kay Raven. "Sorry, she's just joking"

"Ano ka ba!" pabiro akong hinampas ni Jess bago humarap kay Raven. "Ngayon lang ito, ha! Iuwi mo agad siya"

Parang gusto ko na lang maging bula at mag laho sa mga sinasabi ni Jess. Ako ang nahihiya sa kanya. Ngayon na nga lang ulit namin nakita si Raven ay uutusan niya pa. The nerve!

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!

"Uh-yeah, I'll bring her home safe"

"No! Its okay, Raven-"

"Nah, it's fine" pigil niya sa'kin.

Si Jess ay agad naman kaming iniwan kaya wala tuloy akong choice lalo pa at binuksan na ni Raven ang sasakyan niya.

"Let's go?" he smiled at me before offering his car.

I shyly nodded before getting inside the car. Sasakyan pa lang ng mga kaibigan ko at ni Callum ang nasasakyan ko kaya medyo pakiramdam ko'y biglang tumaas ang balahibo ko dahil hindi ako sanay sa amoy na bumungad sa'kin.

I think it's Raven's perfume. I'm not saying that his perfume isn't smells good, it's just that.. I'm not used to it. Siguro dahil nasanay ako sa sasakyan ni Callum na mas magaan ang awra at masarap sa ilong ang bango.

But wait, why am I thinking about Callum? Erase that, Patricia!

"So how are you as a med student?" Raven suddenly asked while driving.

Nakahalukipkip ako at nakatingin sa bintana. "It's good and awesome"

"It's nice to see you again" nahihimigan ko ang saya sa boses niya. Nakangiti siya habang nakatingin sa daan. "And thank you because you let me take you to your house. It's my first time and I won't miss this day without us eating out" Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"

"Chill.." he laughed. "Remember the last time I asked you to go out with me? That didn't happen and I don't think there's anything wrong with doing that now"

I'm still processing what he was said. Wala na ba talaga akong choice? Mukhang mali pa yata ang choice ko na mag pahatid sa kanya.

Tumingin ako sa relos at nakitang maaga pa naman. Siguro ay hindi naman kami gagabihin dahil ayaw ko ng maulit ang nangyari noong nakaraan na kinagalitan ako ni Callum.

"Don't worry, iuuwi agad kita. Kain lang tayo sa paborito mong japanese restaurant. Please?"

His dimple shown when he cutely pouted. I remember the days when he always asked me to go out and there was nothing wrong with me giving it to him now.

"O-Okay.." pilit akong ngumiti bago nag iwas ng tingin..

"Yes!!"

Inilabas ko ang phone ko at pinakatitigan 'yon. Nagiisip ako kung itetext ko ba si Callum para naman updated siya kung nasaan ako in case na late ulit akong umuwi. Gagawin ko ba o hindi? Baka naman kapag ginawa ko 'yon ay iba ang isipin niya.

I was about to type a message for Callum when I remember something.

Raven will take me home so what if Callum sees him? What will he think?

Wait, does Raven already know I'm married? Shit, I got confused a bit that my brain can't process what I'm going to do.