Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

PATRICIA'S POV (Trust)

Isang malakas na katok sa pinto ang bumulabog sa tulog ko. I can't even open my eyes properly because I'm too sleepy.

Maingat kong tinanggal ang braso ni Callum sa baywang ko.

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makitang topless si Callum. Inangat ko ang comforter na nakabalot sa katawan namin at halos mapamura ako ng makitang pareho kaming walang saplot! "Oh my god," bulong ko at kusang nag init ang mukha ng maalala ang ginawa namin kagabi.

We're not even able to wear our clothes last night!

Nag patuloy ang katok sa labas kaya medyo nataranta ako. Sino kaya 'yon?

"Uh.. wait!"

Kinuha ko muna ang isang manipis na kumot at ibinalot sa katawan ko bago dumiretso sa banyo. Kinuha ko roon ang puting bathrobe at isinuot.

I also fixed my hair and washed my face.

Tulog parin si Callum kaya dumiretso ako sa pinto. Pag bukas ko ay bumungad sa akin ang kaibigan ni Callum, si Austine.

Nakaangat ang kamay niya at muli sanang kakatok. Umawang ang labi niya at nanlaki ang mata ng makita ako.

"H-Hi" nahihiya kong sabi. "Si Callum ba? He's still asleep"

I didn't receive an answer. He's still look amused.

Nag lakbay ang mata niya sa kabuuan ko bago sumilip sa pinto. Unti-unting sumibol ang multo na ngiti sa mukha niya. "Uh, Austine, right?" I clarified. "Do you need something? Gigisingin ko lang si Callum-"

"Who's that?"

Napaigtad ako ng maramdaman ang isang mainit na hininga sa tenga ko kasabay ng pag pulupot ng braso sa aking baywang. Parehong nanlaki ang mata namin ni Austine.

I look up and saw Callum behind me with his deep eyes. He's still not wearing a shirt. My eyes slowly travelled down to his body. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag na makitang nakasuot na siya ng shorts. Gosh! Bakit bigla siya sumusulpot!

"What do you need?" tanong ni Callum sa kaibigan.

Austine look so stunned.

Nag init tuloy ang mukha ko dahil sa makahulugan niya'ng tingin sa amin ni Callum. I'm just wearing a bathrobe and Callum only on his short, of course Austine would think the malicious way because of our looks! Shit! Austine cleared his throat. "Tungkol ito sa bagay na ipinagawa mo sakin"

He look at Callum with a witty smile. "Pero mukhang busy yata kayong dalawa-"

"N-No," sabat ko. "We're not busy. You can talk to him. I'll just cook breakfast,"

I smiled awkwardly and badly want to disappear because of shame.

Iiwan ko na sana silang dalawa pero agad hinapit ni Callum ang baywang ko.

"Just wait me in the pool area," utos niya kay Austine bago isinara ang pinto.

"Callum!" I slap his arm. "He needs to talk to you-"

"Morning..." he suddenly hugged me tight from behind while sniffing my neck. "You smell so good,"

Halos tumayo ang balahibo ko sa ginawa niya. Sa sitwasyon namin ngayon ay naalala ko na naman ang mga ginawa namin kagabi kaya mabilis ako'ng kumawala sa yakap niya.

"I-I need to change my clothes," naiilang kong sabi. "I also need to shower. Ikaw rin,"

Hindi ko siya matignan ng tuwid at hindi ko na 'yata kakayanin kung matatagalan ko pa na kasama siya sa iisang kwarto.

"Okay," bulong niya at pinakawalan ako.

Hindi ko na siya nilingon at lumabas na ako ng kwarto niya. Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko at mabilis naligo. Kahit nga roon ay naiisip ko parin ang mga nangyari kagabi.

I can still feel it. I can't help but to think of it time to time. It was so passionate and we did it while he was stating his true feelings for me. He loves me.

"Damn!" I shouted while wearing only a towel.

I just finished tooking a shower and I'm here facing my reflection in front of a mirror. I had hickeys above my boobs!

Well, no one can seen it though.

Nag suot ako ng isang dress. I also put some red tints on my lips and cheeks.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto at dumiretso sa dining area. Nakita kong maraming pagkain ang nakahain kaya hindi na ako magluluto.

I heard from the maid that Callum and Austine are already talking in the pool area so I ate alone.

Habang kumakain ay naisip ko na naman ang nangyari kagabi. Para tuloy ako'ng tanga na namumula habang kumakain. I just can't belive it especially to Callum's confession. He love me. He really do love me and it makes me happy how he explain to me everything.

But there still one answer that I want to hear from him. Why he's investigating about my father. I still remember that night when I heard him talking with Austine to the phone.

Ayaw ko na mag isip pa ng iba kay Callum dahil nagkaayos na kami. Sigurado naman ako na sasabihin niya rin sa akin kalaunan ang tungkol doon katulad ng ginawa niya kagabi.

After his confession last night, I feel relieved but I don't get those woman who still gets near him like Stephanie.

Nang matapos ako kumain ay dumiretso ako kay Callum sa pool area para mag paalam. Today is my first check up and I'm with Jess. Alam kong may trabaho pa si Callum kaya hindi siya ang isasama ko.

Namataan ko sila na seryosong nag-uusap ni Austine at natigil nang makita ako.

"Today is my check up. Kasama ko si Jess-"

"I'm going with you" bigla siya'ng tumayo.

"Uh... no need!" pigil ko. "You had work and you still have errands to do. Nag paalam lang ako"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Those can wait, Patricia. Wait for me-"

"Callum," tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Just go with me next time, okay?"

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Ang kulit talaga. Hindi naman maganda na iwan niya mag isa rito ang kaibigan niya.

"She's right, bro!" Austine said. "We still have important things to talk. She's safe with the bodyguards"

Ngumiti ako kay Austine habang nakasimangot si Callum.

"Take care" he said seriously.

Nagulat ako ng lumapit siya at hinalikan ako sa labi!

"Ehem... may single dito, bro!" Austine fake a cough!

Namula ako sa hiya at mabilis na tumalikod sa kanila.

Sumakay ako ng sasakyan na ngayon ko lang nakita. Callum said that it's bulletroof so I kinda feel safe. Iba na rin ang driver ko at pansin ko na agad ang mga sasakyan na nakasunod sa amin. Dinaanan na lang namin si Jess sa bahay nila at habang nasa biyahe, sinabi ko sa kanya lahat ng nangyari kagabi. Of course except to that 'thing'.

She was so shocked and happy as I expected. She keeps shouting inside the car makes the driver to confused.

"Oh my gosh! I knew it! He really loves you!" she pinch my arm. "Ang sweet naman! I'm so happy for you! Wala na ang kinatatakutan mo dahil mahal ka pala no'ng tao! Ikaw kasi, paranoid!" "If you're in my shoes, you'd still think that way!" sambit ko.

Malay ko ba na lahat pala ng hinala ko sa kanya ay mali!

"Sabihin mo, in denial ka noon pa! Ano, sinabi mo rin ba na mahal mo siya? Ha?" nangingiti niya'ng tanong.

Nag init ang mukha ko ng maalala ang kagabi. "O-Oo naman..."

"Ah! Ang landi mo!" sumigaw sigaw siya. "Walang kiss? Ano'ng nangyari pagkatapos? I'm sure you cried on his confession, aminin mo!"

Nahiya ako sa mga tanong niya. Hindi naman pwede na sabihin ko sa kanya lahat ng ginawa namin ni Callum kagabi! Some were still not sinking on me.

"Ano ka ba, J-Jess"

"Sus, nahihiya ka pa! May nangyari nga?" impit siyang umirit kaya kinurot ko siya.

"Your mouth! What are you saying!"

"I'm just overjoyed!" nagulat ako ng yakapin niya ako. "Buti ka pa magkakaroon na ng pamilya soon! E, ako? Kahit boyfriend wala!"

Natawa ako sa pagmamaktol niya. "It will come, Jess. Right love in a right time"

"You mean, Callum is your right love?"

I shrugged.

"Do my parents need to set an arranged marriage for me too? Para mahanap ko rin ang right love ko?" pagbibiro niya. "Nasa arranged marriage pala ang true love, sis!" Pareho kaming natawa sa sinabi niya.

Nakarating kami sa ospital at dumiretso agad kami ni Jess sa clinic ng personal doctor nila Callum. She will check me up.

"Good morning, Mrs. Velasquez!" the doctor greeted me.

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She consulted me first. She checked my blood pressure and ask me some questions.

Everything goes well and it's all went fast.

"I'm almost three months pregnant" I said while caressing my tummy.

"Can't wait to know the gender!" excited na sabi ni Jess at hinawakan din ang tiyan ko. "Sana babae tapos kamukha mo para sobrang ganda! Kapag lalaki naman, syempre kamukha ng tatay!" "Let's just wait for few months," nakangiti kong sabi.

"You really look different these days, huh?" she said teasingly, my brows furrowed. "You're always happy now. Noon, palagi ka nakasimangot at problema si Callum o di kaya'y si Zara. That's why communication is the best key! When you try to understand and listen to him, see what's the result? Your peace of mind! Tignan mo ngayon, you're already trusting him,"

"Not that fully," I replied. "I heard him a month ago, Jess. He's investigating about daddy"

Dumaan ang gulat sa mukha ni Jess na kalaunan ay napairap. Mabuti pala na nasabi ko 'to sa kanya. To at least hear her opinion. "Maybe he's doing that to make sure? That his family were surrounded with good people,"

"What do you mean?"

"Duh! I should the one asked you about your thoughts when you heard that! You overthink, right? You think the negative way!"

Napaisip ako. Noong narinig ko si Callum ay ganoon nga ang ginawa ko. I overthink. Maraming pumasok sa isip ko na ibang bagay.

"Just like what you did when your parents announced that you're going to marry Callum" Jess continued. "You searched online about him, his family and their doings, right? To gather some informations about their background! Ganoon din siguro ang ginawa niya sa daddy mo"

"But I heard him said that his hint about daddy might be true. What does that mean?" I asked worriedly.

"Oh..." she trailed off. "Siguro tungkol ito sa pagkalulong ng daddy mo sa sugal noon-"

"That was years ago, Jess. Sobrang tagal na no'n at hindi naman nalulong sa casino si daddy, siya na mismo ang nagsabi. Nalibang lang siya bago humina ang baga niya at nagkasakit"

I admit that my family was not perfect. Naadik noon si daddy sa casino dahilan ng unti-unting pagkaubos ng pera namin pero agad din siya tumigil. He promised that he will do everything to make those money he spent, back. Our company had an issue about money, kasabay ng pagkakasakit ni daddy kaya napunta ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

Ang mga Velasquez ang nag salba sa amin sa pagkakautang.

"Siguro nalaman nila ang tungkol doon kaya they seek more information? Don't worry, if they have a problem regarding your dad's doings, I'm sure they will consult to you!" she tap my shoulder. "Now that you and Callum are in good relationship, still the best thing to do is talk to him if you're upset,"

Kahit paano ay nawala ang pangamba ko.

"Mahal ka ng asawa mo kaya wag ka na mag isip ng ganyan!"

I'm not thinking bad about him. I know he respect me so if ever he had something to say about my parents, he would talk to me.

I can't deny his efforts day by day.

My trust for him slowly building up and I'm hoping that he won't broke it.