Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Callum's POV (Investigating)

"Did you already send her a food? Her meds?" tanong ko kay Nanay Nelia pagkarating ko sa hapag.

May mga pagkain na sa lamesa pero wala si Patricia.

"Opo, pero hindi pa niya kinakain kasi sumusuka pa siya. Yung gamot naman kumpleto ang ibinigay ko," sagot nito bago umalis.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin bago nag simula kumain. Gusto ko sana siya puntahan sa kwarto at alagaan pero alam kong susungitan niya lang ako.

Hindi naman lingid sakin na iniiwasan ako ni Patricia. I get it that she felt awkward every time we're together after that hilarious night.

I know because of what happened between us, she confirmed her doubts to me even more. I can't blame her because every time I tried to make a conversation with her, she'll walk out and will distance herself. Every time I looked at her, I'd remember that night and I want to curse myself because of that. That's why I feel that she was mad of me.

"Nariyan na po ang driver, sir"

Tumango ako sa isang katulong bago binilisan ang pagkain. Tumayo agad ako at pumunta sa kwarto para mag handa na sa trabaho.

Nang matapos at akma na ako'ng aalis ay hindi ko mapigilan na hindi mapatingin sa kwarto ni Patricia. Pinigilan ko na lang ang sariling puntahan siya at dire-diretso na ako'ng lumabas at sumakay ng sasakyan. "Let's go. I'll have a meeting at exactly 8:00 a. m" I said to my driver.

I took out my phone when I felt it vibrating.

Umangat ang labi ko ng makitang si Austine ang tumatawag. I think he has something to report.

"Hello? What's for today?" bungad ko sa tawag.

"You already know my purpose, huh?" he chuckled. "Well, I have a good and bad news" "Spill it" usal ko.

"The good news is...I got a file from the source of the Laurier Real Estate company that might destroy them. But wait, there's more" narinig ko ang halakhak niya. "It's about Raven, your enemy. My cousin was a friend of him. Minsan niya'ng nasabi sa pinsan ko na balak niya na sirain at palubugin ka, just to get Patricia. Maybe he's already panning now..."

"How was that good news if it's about that jerk?" singhal ko. "What about the bad news?"

"Oh, about that..." bigla kong nahimigan ang kaba sa kanya. "Your mom find out about us investigathing Mr. Clemente❞

"What?!" napalakas ang boses ko kaya napalingon sakin ang driver. "How? What did she say?"

"Nakita niya ang mga folders na ibinigay ko sayo roon sa office mo. She confronted me so I don't have a choice but to tell the truth!"

Napasapo ako sa noo at napailing.

I forgot to put that folders into a safe place! I also forgot that mom's hobby was to checked on my office, damn!

"What are we going to do?" Austine asked. "Explain to her, bro! She's scary! Ayaw kong mawalan ng trabaho!"

"Yeah, I can handle this" sabi ko kahit ang totoo ay nakaramdam din ako ng kaba. "Ako na ang bahala kay mommy. Just don't forget to send me the copy of the files you're talking about" Pinatay ko ang tawag at napahilot sa sintido dahil sa maagang problema.

Nang makarating kami sa kompanya ay hindi ko magawang sulayapan ang mga empleyado na bumabati sakin. I'm not in the mood. Sinalubong agad ako ng secretary ko pagkapasok ko ng office. "Sir, yout meeting will be at 8-"

"I know" I cut off.

I immediately opened my laptop and started working with some important files.

"Did my mom come here?" tanong ko sa kanya at mabilis siya'ng tumango.

"Hihintayin niya lang daw po kayo pagkatapos ng meeting. Do you want some coffee, sir?"

"No, thank you. You can now leave"

Gusto ko ng itapon ang mga folder sa lamesa ko nang makalabas ang secretary ko. Ngayon ay nag-iisip na ako ng dahilan kay mommy. I'm sure she's really mad.

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She'll think that I betrayed her because she already warn me to stop investigating with the Clemente Family but I continued anyway, so now I'm doomed.

Nag simula na ang meeting ko kasama ang ibang investors. Kung pwede lang na hilingin na sana wag matapos ang meeting ay ginawa ko na pero hindi.

As I exited the meeting room and entered my office, I was greeted by a hard pinch in my ear.

When I look at who it is, it's none other than my mother.

"M-Mom?" my voice shutter when I looked at her angry face so I shifted my gaze.

Tumalikod siya at umupo sa lamesa ko. Itinuro niya ang upuan sa harapan kaya agad ako'ng sumunod. Damn, I'm so nervous!

"Why did you still make your plan? What's wrong with you, Callum?" she said in a stern tone. "What the hell is your problem with the Clemente's? I thought we're already clear about this? Patricia is such a nice girl! Why are you hitting on her father?"

Halos mapapikit ako sa lakas ng boses niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ipinakita sa kanya ang ilang folders na hindi niya pa nakikita, consisting all Mr. Clemente's folly.

"What is this?" tanong niya ngunit kinuha parin ang folders.

"It's all make sense now, mom. All my doubts about him..." iminuwestra ko ang hawak niya at agad niya'ng binuksan 'yon.

"I did investigate about him and I was right. Check it by yourself before scolding me" I scoffed.

I saw how her eyes widened as she saw the pictures and read all informations about Mr. Clemente's doing.

"Oh my god!" usal niya at sobra ang gulat. "Is this true?"

Umangat ang labi ko bago tumango sa kanya.

Marahas siya'ng suminghap at agad lumatay ang galit sa mga mata. "He's been doing these illegal shits all along? I trusted him! I thought he's a good father but not! He even let his daughter to marry you just to cover his shits!" Taas baba ang dib-dib niya ngayon kaya dinaluhan ko siya. I caressed her back to calm her.

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"At least now, we're aware about his doings"

Nagulat ako ng biglang humarap si mommy sa'kin at hinaplos ang tenga at mukha ko.

"I'm so sorry, anak. I'm just carried away, sorry... does your ear hurt?"

"It's okay, mom" ngumiti ako. "What's our plan now?"

Bumalik sa seryoso ang mukha ni mommy. "Wala tayong plano. We already know his tactics and I'm sure he will use her daughter again-"

"But I think Patricia won't agree if ever he has a plan" putol ko sa sasabihin niya.

Austine also said that Mr. Clemente will use her daughter. Patricia is smart so I'm confident.

"Hmm, you seem having a lot of quality time with your wife. It looks like you already know her"

Gusto kong matawa ng makita ang mapanuya niya'ng ngiti.

"It's not like-"

"Well, I know that she'll not take on her father's side"

May munting ngisi parin sa labi ni mommy kaya pinili ko na lang ayusin ang nakakalat na folders sa lamesa ko. She's teasing me.

"That's why you need to work more on your relationship with her" tumayo si mommy at nag lakad sa may pintuan. "Akala mo ba ay hindi ko alam na palagi kang maaga pumapasok dito at gabi na rin kung umuwi. Paano naman kayo ng asawa mo? I even heard from Nanay Nelia that she's sick yet you're here-"

"Yeah, mom. I'm trying to interact with her but-"

"Then try harder!" sigaw niya at natahimik ako. "If you don't want me to interfere in your married life, fix your relationship with Patricia. I know you'll give us a grandson. I'm hoping on that"

Halos mapatanga ako sa huling sinabi niya.

What the hell? Is she serious?

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay lumabas na si mommy sa office at malakas na isinara ang pinto.