Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Patricia's POV (Unexpected Visitor)

I want to continue my sleep but the sound of the alarm clock on the side table envelops my ears. I slowly opened my eyes before turning off the alarm.

"Gosh! It's morning again" I murmured before getting up.

Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko bago lumabas ngunit pababa pa lang ako sa hagdan ng may makita akong babaeng nakatalikod sa may ibaba habang may hawak na mop at nilalampaso ang sahig. Mabilis kumunot ang noo ko.

Nang marinig niya ang yabag ko ay lumingon siya sa'kin at doon ko lang napagmasdan ang mukha niya. Who's this? She's not familiar with me. I stared at her from head to toe, she's just wearing a simple shirt and a long pants. Tingin ko ay nasa mid 40's na rin sya.

"Good morning, mam" bungad niya at naunahan akong mag salita.

"Sino po kayo?" maingat kong tanong.

"Kasambahay niyo po. Ipinasok po kami ni Sir Callum dito kaninang umaga lang. Dati na rin po kaming nagtatrabaho sa kanila pero roon po sa bahay ng magulang niya"

Tumango ako, a little bit amused. So Callum also thought of hiring maids? Siguro dahil nagsasawa na siya sa luto ko? Or dahil masyadong tahimik sa bahay na ito dahil kaming dalawa lang?

"May pagkain na po, kumain na kayo. Sabi po ni Sir Callum may pasok pa kayo"

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at handa ng tumalikod ng may maalala. "Ano po pala ang pangalan niyo?"

"Ah, Nelia po, Mam!" aniya na tila nahihiya.

"Thank you po, Nanay Nelia"

Dumiretso na ako sa kusina at nakita ang mga bagong luto na pagkain. May nakita pa akong dalawang babae roon. Nagulat sila ng makita ako.

"Good morning po" yumuko sila sa'kin.

I felt amaze. They respect me and I have only just experienced it. Yes, we also have a maid at home but this is not how I am treated. Yes they respect me but now is different...

There are different kinds of food on the table. Halos kumalam ang sikmura ko sa bango. This is really a good idea. It won't be a hassle for me to cook because I'm also not sure if Callum likes that.

After I ate, I immediately took a shower and wore my school uniform. Lalabas na ako ng gate ng may sumalubong sa'kin na matangkad na lalaki.

Muli akong nagtaka. Sino naman ito?

"Mam, driver niyo po"

I looked at him from head to toe. Well, he's wearing casual and he seems a nice guy.

Ginugulat ako ni Callum, huh? He didn't tell me about this. He hired a driver for me because he wasn't able to fetch and pick me up at school, is that it?

"Ihahatid ko po ba kayo? O, gusto niyo pumasok mag isa?" he handed me a familiar keys.

"Oh, this is mine!" I uttered in amazement when I saw my keys again. "How did you get this?"

"Ipinakuha po ni Sir Callum ang sasakyan niyo. Kung ayaw niyo raw po na ihatid ko kayo ay kayo na mismo ang mag drive ng sasakyan niyo"

"O-Okay. No need to take me to school"

Lihim akong napangiti at dumiretso sa garahe. Doon ay nakita ko ang aking sasakyan na ilang buwan ko ng hindi nagagamit. Gosh, I miss my baby!

Nakangiti tuloy ako habang nagmamaneho papunta sa school. Nang makarating ay agad ko iyon sinabi kay Jess. Hindi na rin magiging hassle sa kanya na ihatid ako.

Our class started and I got active with our discussions again. I don't know why my other fellow med students are having hard time and complaining about the amount we do but I find it very interesting though. Maybe because I really like what I'm doing. Ever since I was a child, I already dreamed to be a doctor in the future and I will be able to accomplish that even though I am already married to Callum.

We did some laboratories and I have this one classmate named Charles who always asks me about our other lessons that he don't really gets so I help him and in return of his gratitude, he invites me to go out. "So.. are you free?"

"Uh.. s-sorry but.. I have some errands" I said in a very apologetic voice.

Natutop ko ang labi at naghihintay sa sasabihin niya. Sumandal ako sa railings ng science lab bago tumingin kay Jess na nakatayo di kalayuan sa'kin.

I told her to wait for me because I wasn't comfortable talking to Charles.

"Iyon ba talaga ang dahilan o magagalit ang asawa mo?"

Kunot noo akong napalingon kay Charles.

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"He's out of this. I'm just really busy" pabalang kong sabi.

Ano naman ang gusto niya mangyari? Pumayag ako? We're not yet close and even though he's my classmate, I don't want to be close to him.

I noticed that he was just looking at me at our first day of class and he knew that I was already married, but why is he still inviting me to go out? Does he know the word respect? "Oh, sorry.." he said. "Next time, then?"

Pilit akong ngumiti at tumango para lang makalayo na sa kanya. He's not the only guy who asked to date me. But I rejected them because I was worried that someone might see us and think malicious things. I don't want to see my face in articles again and labeled as a cheater.

"Una na ako, Charles"

Sinalubong agad ako ni Jess ng makitang iba ang timpla ng mukha ko.

"He's asking you out?"

Tumango ako.

"Why don't you give it a try? He seems nice. Alam mo ba na anak siya ng isang lawyer at may ari ng recording studio!"

I rolled my eyes while heading to the parking.

"Don't be too hard for yourself. Your marriage is just in papers and your contract is only for one year and then you are free again. Don't push those who approach you!"

I looked at her. "I don't have plan for that. I'll focus on myself and my dreams first"

I already started the engine of my car.

"It's just my opinion. The decision is still yours but it's a better idea if you don't have that contract anymore!"

"Gosh, Jess! Hindi kami pwede, okay? He has Zara and he recommended that one year contract maybe because based on what they talked about? I don't want to get in trouble with them so I'll just go with the flow" Jess doesn't seem satisfied with my reason.

What can I do? That's what Callum and I agreed on and he arranged the contract himself.

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"Have you ever talked to Zara-"

"Of course not! I won't do that. Why would I?!"

I swear, Jess really pushing my limits!

"Chill.." she laughed. "I'm sure Zara hates you so be careful and watch out for your husband too... because there's a snake around him!" "Whatever!" bulyaw ko sa kanya bago nag drive paalis.

Alam ko naman na inaasar niya lang ako. Why would I keep an eye on Callum? Ano siya bata? He's not even mine so I'll let him be!

Nag sound trip na lang ako sa sasakyan para naman gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Nakapasok na ang sasakyan ko sa mismong village ng bahay namin at sa malayo pa lang ay nakikita ko na ang puting sasakyan na nakapark sa labas ng bahay. Nag salubong ang kilay ko at nagtataka. Hindi ito ang sasakyan ni Callum. Kilala ko rin ang sasakyan ng magulang niya. So who owns it?

Bumusina ako. Agad lumabas ang isang maid at binuksan ang malaking gate. My forehead was still furrowed when I parked in the garage. "Kanino po ang sasakyan sa labas?" agad kong tanong sa katulong.

"Sa bisita niyo raw po, Mam Patricia"

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Wala akong bisita ngayon"

Tila nagulat siya at magsasalita pa sana ng pumasok na ako sa loob. Nasa bungad pa lang ako ng main door ay napatigil na ako ng makita ang isang babae na nakaupo sa sofa. Nakatalikod siya ngunit pamilyar ang postura niya.

She probably heard the sound of my shoes so she turned around. Our eyes met and there was no trace of shock on her face. Gradually her eyebrows rose before standing up.

There, I saw her face more closely. It was angelic and her cheek bones are very highlighted. She was wearing a tight dress so her body was more curved.

I gulped when she looked at me from head to toe while her face was still sophisticated. I seem to be being judged.

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