Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

PATRICIA'S POV (New Life)

Naging mahirap sa'kin ang mga unang linggo at buwan.

Ako lang mag isa, walang makausap at nag-aasikaso. I can cook so I'm the one who cooks for myself. Naging hobby ko na rin ang mag linis ng bahay kaya ibang iba na ito sa itsura noong una kong matirahan. I was currently making coffee and sitting on the high chair when I heard a few knocks on the door.

I frowned when I saw Beatrice holding a box.

"Beatrice? What do you need?"

"I have something for you!" I let her in, she placed the box in the table. "May nakalkal lang kami roon sa bahay. Alam kong mahilig ka rito kaya sayo na lang!"

My eyes lit up when she took some art materials out of the box. Different types of brushes, color paints and hard papers.

"Wow, ang dami naman!" I said in amazement. "Saan ito galing?"

"Kay kuya Josh ang mga yan pero no'ng mag proceed na siya sa law school, hindi na niya nagamit," inilahad niya ito sa'kin. "You like paintings, right?"

Alanganin ako'ng tumango. "Noon, Beatrice. I just stopped when I got busy in college and when I got married..."

"There's no problem! You can paint again!" she grinned. "You're good at painting. Wala naman sigurong masama kung ipinta mo ako?"

She look at me with puppy eyes.

I laughed. "I'll try, then..."

It's been years since I stop from painting. Aside from ambitioning to be a doctor, I also want to build my own art studio someday. But I just wanted to be a doctor more so that's what I pursued. But when I see the art materials now that I once loved before, it seems that my longing to hold a brush and to paint again has returned.

Umalis din agad si Beatrice dahil pupunta pa raw siya sa mall. Gusto pa sana niya ako isama pero tumanggi ako. Wala ako sa mood na umalis ngayon ng bahay, I just want to lock myself in my room and read books. Pagkatapos kong kumain ng almusal ay diniligan ko ang mga halaman sa harap ng bahay na dalawang linggo ko na rin inaalagaan. Umakyat na ako sa kwarto pagkatapos.

My routine every day is just so boring. Every time I woke up in the morning, I would stare first on Agatha's picture that I placed beside my bed, eat breakfast and will do some household chores. Kinuha ko agad ang litrato ni Agatha pagkasampa ko sa kama.

"I love you..." bulong ko at pinatakan ito ng munting halik bago muling binalik sa ibabaw.

I lay on my bed and tried reading some books but when I got bored, I just throw it back to the shelf.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at nag scroll ng mga pictures sa gallery. Napangiti ako habang pinakatitigan ang litrato namin ni Agatha. Ito ang litrato na kinuha ko noong bisitahin ko siya.

I can't help but to smile sadly.

As I keep scrolling through my phone, I accidentally saw some of my photos with Callum. Bumagal ang daliri ko sa screen ng phone. I scanned the pictures one by one.

May mga litrato kami habang kumakain sa restaurant, nasa bahay, loob ng sasakyan at karamihan ay noong birthday celebration naming dalawa. I looked at the pictures for a long time and couldn't help but feel regret and longing. Marahas ako'ng napapikit. I can't force myself to delete our pictures. We look so happy here. I felt regret, not for our broken relationship but for our happy memories and almost having a family.

In the end, I just throw my phone to the bed with so much frustration.

What did you do to me, Callum? Why I can't forget you! You hurt me but why do I feel this?

It looks like I'll have a hard time forgetting you here.

-

Those days turns to months had passed so quickly. Sa loob ng nagdaan na buwan ay nakahanap na ako ng med school na papasukan. I already enrolled and when the class started, at first I got a hard time but as the days passed, I got used to it.

I met some people who unexpectedly became my friends so somehow, my life in med school was not too difficult.

Nilunod ko ang sarili sa pag-aaral. Kahit ang mamasyal o pumunta kung saan ay madalang ko na lang gawin dahil mas priority ko ang med school. I'm desperate to finish it. "Oh, Patricia!"

Sinalubong ako ng malaking ngisi ni Beatrice pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan. Kagagaling ko lang sa school at paniguradong pansin niya sa mukha ko ang pagod. "Hi, Beatrice..." I kissed her on cheek.

She's wearing a black dress now. Minsan na lang din kami magkausap ngayon since busy na rin siya sa law school.

"You looked tired. Med school is stressing you out, huh?" she smirked and held my arm.

"Indeed stressful, Bea"

Didiretso na sana ako sa pinto nang patigilin niya ako.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit?"

"May ipapakilala ako sayo" nahihiya niya'ng sabi bago namula ang pisngi. "Boyfriend ko..."

Tumaas ang kilay ko ng mamataan ang isang lalaking matangkad palapit sa'min. He's wearing an eye glasses. Medyo may kagwapuhan at medyo chinito.

He's wearing a white polo short that was tucked in an ash gray slack.

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"Uh...Pat, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Brandon" Beatrice introduced me. "Brandon, this is Patricia, my beautiful cousin,"

Tipid ako'ng ngumiti sa lalaki at nakipag-shake hands. "Nice to meet you..."

"Pat, he's the one I'm telling you..." Beatrice whispered behind my ears. "One of my law professor. He's hot isn't he?"

"Oh my gosh!" I uttered so shock then smiled at her playfully. "You got him!"

"Ako pa ba!" she winked and hug her boyfriend's arm. "We're going for a date, bye!"

Kumaway ako habang pinanonood kung paano siya alalayan at pag buksan ng pinto ng boyfriend. How sweet. I scanned her boyfriend for the last time. His features and the way he dressed is quite familiar. Someone immediately pop in my mind.

That polo shirt. It used to be my favorite especially if he's the one who's wearing. I still remember that I bought him pieces of that so he could be more neat and handsome in my eyes.

I shook my head with that silly thought again before entering the house.

Inihagis ko ang katawan sa couch at pagod na bumuga ng hangin. Nag kalat sa lamesa ang mga librong binasa at pinag-aralan ko kagabi, sa sobrang antok ay hindi ko na ito naayos. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako sa couch at nagising na lang ako sa pag ring ng cellphone ko.

My eyes are still closed when I took out my phone from my pocket.

"Hello..." my voice is still sleepy.

"Patricia! Anak, kamusta?" narinig ko ang masayang boses ni mommy. "Kanina pa ako tumatawag sayo..." "Uh, s-sorry, mom" I said and slowly sat on the couch. "I fell asleep when I got home from school,"

"Oh, you must be tired..." her voice softened. "Sad that I'm not there to made your favorite snacks," Napangiti ako.

"It's okay, mommy. You don't have work?"

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa frigde para uminom ng tubig. Napansin kong malapit na maubos ang mga stocks ko, siguro ay bukas na ako pupunta sa grocery store. "I'm still here in my office and I just think of calling you. I miss you..."

"Mommy naman, e..." masuyo kong sabi. "No need to be sad. Christmas is just one month away, we'll celebrate together here,"

"I can't wait for Christmas, then" she giggled. "Jordan also asking me about you. Jess visited to the house last week and your dad is really doing better in the company,"

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! Napangiti ako sa kawalan. She really didn't forget to update me about the happenings there.

"It's good to hear, mom..." I hid the sadness on my voice.

"I still have more to tell you! But for now, I need to hang up now. I still had meetings..." "Goodbye, mommy. I love you,"

Bumalik ako sa couch at nilinis ang mga gamit ko roon bago ako umakyat sa kwarto.

I quickly took a shower then proceed cooking my dinner. Since I was alone here, I know more about cooking. I can cook different dishes now.

Nang makapagluto na ako ay mabilis din ako'ng kumain. I locked the gate and the main door first before making my own ice coffee and go straight to the balcony.

"What a peaceful night..." I whispered and hugged my arm because of the cold wind.

I can see the beautiful building lights from afar.

Inilapag ko ang iced coffee sa isang lamesa bago pumunta sa kwarto. Kinuha ko ang mga art materials na binigay sa'kin ni Beatrice. I arranged and assembled it all even the stand on my card board.

I find this night a great opportunity to paint because it was relaxing. I sat on the chair and placed all the color paints that I will use in the table. Hindi ko na kailangan mag isip kung ano o sino ang ipipinta ko.

Si Agatha agad ang pumasok sa isip ko.

I started brushing the brush from the paints to the card board and reminiscing Agatha's features even though I'm not holding her picture. Sa halos araw-araw kong tinitignan ang litrato niya, nakabisado ko na agad ang detalye nito. I continued painting while my mind was up to something.

Kapag iniisip ko si Agatha, hindi maaaring hindi ko rin maiisip si Callum. Naalala ko na naman siya.

His innocent face that hides so many lies...

I tried to focus on what I am doing but my hands just trembling. Damn it!

Iritado kong hinampas sa lamesa ang paint brush. Pinasadahan ko ng kamay ang buhok sa sobrang inis. Bakit hindi ko siya maalis sa isip ko?

Sa huli, hindi ko na lang tinapos ang pag pinta at nilikom na lang ang mga gamit. Pumasok na ako sa kwarto at humiga sa kama pero kahit sa pag pikit ko, mukha niya parin ang nakikita ko!

"Why don't you just disappear!" I whispered annoyingly.

I shouldn't be affected like this because of him. What's the purpose of staying here if I'm still that weak every time I think about him?

I should be braver and tough.

Many more months and years will pass though and this time, I won't let the past affect me anymore. I will strengthen myself and when we meet again, I will make sure that I will not cry in front of him anymore.