Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)
CHAPTER 20

Patricia's POV (Serious)

"Could you please informed me? Your mom told me that you weren't at their home so I was worried"

Callum's serious voice echoed in the living room.

I didn't answer. Nanatili akong nakayuko at kinakalikot ang mga daliri ko. I never thought he would talk to me in such serious way.

"Nanibago lang ako dahil hindi kita nadatnan dito. You had my number so I hope that you just called or texted me"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at sumagot na ako sa kanya. "I'm safe, okay? Nakatulog ako sa condo ni Jess at hindi ko namalayan ang oras"

He's too talkative today, huh. I just got home late! Pero kapag siya naman ang gabi na umuuwi ay wala akong sinasabi.

"But a guy answered my call earlier. Are you letting someone else hold your phone?" may pag-aakusa sa tono niya. "Sinagot ni Tyrone ang tawag dahil natutulog ako-"

"Oh yeah, Tyrone is the name. Next time don't do that again" bumuntong hininga siya. "You may now rest"

Napaismid na lang ako sa pagsusungit niya.

Tinalikuran niya ako at iniwan mag isa. Tumayo na ako at dumiretso sa kwarto para mag bihis ng damit. Hindi na rin ako nag abala na kumain dahil busog na ako sa kinain namin ni Jess at antok parin ako. Mabilis akong nakatulog dahil na rin siguro sa pagod ngunit agad din nagising dahil sa pag kalam ng tiyan ko.

"Gosh!" I said in a sleepy voice while digging my phone under my pillow.

I almost cursed as I saw what time it was.

3 a. m pa lang!!

Wala akong choice kundi ang bumangon kahit na sobrang antok pa ako. Magulo pa ang buhok ko ng bumaba ako sa kusina.

It was so quiet. Mabagal kong binuksan ang ref at kumuha ng gatas at nag hanap ng madaling lutuin ngunit ang tanging nakita ko lang ay mga beef steak.

Niluto ko 'yon at pagkatapos ay mabilis akong kumain. Nawala ang antok ko kaya nang mahugasan ko na ang pinagkainan ko ay nag pasya akong pumunta muna sa pool area.

Nanindig ang balahibo ko ng dumaplis sa balat ko ang malamig na hangin, idagdag pa ang manipis kong night dress. Napayakap ako sa magkabilang braso bago umupo sa isang resting chair habang nakatingin sa pool. Hindi ko na rin binuksan ang ilaw dito sa labas dahil sapat na ang liwanag ng buwan na tumatama sa pool.

Tahimik akong nagmumuni sa paligid ng may marinig akong isang tikhim.

"Can't sleep?"

Lumingon ako sa pintuan at nakitang nakatayo roon si Callum. Binuksan niya ang switch ng ilaw kaya biglang lumiwanag at wala sa sariling naitakip ko ang mga braso sa dibdib.

My night dress is just so thin and too short so my cleavage was a little bit exposed.

He glanced at my arm that was placed on my chest before looking away. Uminit tuloy ang pisngi ko.

Dahan-dahan siya'ng lumakad palapit at umupo sa upuan na nasa tabi ko. I immediately felt conscious because of what I was wearing, my hair was also messy. Heck, nakakahiya!

"Uh..." I trailed off, don't know what to say. "N-Nagpapahangin lang ako"

"This place is so peaceful, isn't it?" he's looking at the pool too.

"Y-Yeah" I said before arranging to sit down.

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"How about you? Can't sleep?"

"Nah, I just finished signing some documents"

I nodded. So hindi pa pala siya natutulog? Ano'ng oras na, ah! Ganito ba talaga siya mag trabaho? Very workaholic.

I stared at his hands. I noticed that he was not holding a glass of water or coffee this time. Madalas ko ng napapansin na mahilig siya roon.

"Do you want some coffee?" alok ko bago lumihis ng tingin.

"Uh, that will be good"

"Okay, just wait for me"

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kusina para mag timpla ng kape. I made one for him and also for me. Bago ako pumunta sa kanya ay itinali ko muna ang buhok ko dahil magulo ito, medyo itinaas ko rin ang manipis na strap ng suot kong night dress. "Here.."

I bent a little to put the coffee on the small table in front of him but that was a wrong move! Nakita ko kung paano lumipad ang tingin ni Callum sa dibdib ko at bahagyang napaubo bago umiwas ng tingin.

Fuck! I almost cursed on my mind! How dumb, Patricia!

"T-Thanks" he said and simp to his coffee.

He was trying his best not to glance at my side. I could almost feel the awkwardness between us. Inayos kong muli ang suot ko at itinaas pa. Baka mamaya ay isipin niya na inaakit ko siya. Hell, no! "How's your school?" he suddenly asked, breaking our silence.

"Continue to give me stress"

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Banayad na ako'ng napapatingin sa kanya ng maayos ngayon. I don't expect that we will have time to talk like this seriously. Talking that I'm not being rude to him and him not being so cold.

Too much has happened in the past months and days. Too many revelations including about Zara.

It seemed like there's something was urging me to ask Callum about that. Pero hindi ko alam kung may karapatan ba ako. I'm just his wife though.

Naubos ko na lang ang kape ko at hindi na nasundan ang pag-uusap namin.

We're both silent until I decided to go to my room. Pero hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa kwarto ko ay narinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ni Callum. Someone's calling him.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

Nag tago ako sa hamba ng pintuan at sinilip siya na sagutin ang tawag. Sino naman ang tatawag sa kanya ng ganitong oras?

"Zara? Hey.." he answered the call with his soft voice.

It's Zara? I knew it! I looked at Callum's face with no sign of reaction and excitement while he's talking to his girl.

They really replace a way for each other. I always wondered about how the hell Callum manage hide the attachments and care to Zara while we are together, everytime we ate together and sleeping in the same house? Alam ko na nahihirapan siya sa sitwasyon namin pero kahit kailan ay hindi niya ako kinompronta o di kaya'y magalit sa'kin.

We can't escape into this marriage though.

Kaya pagdating sa huli... wala parin ako'ng magagawa lalo na sa relasyon nila ni Zara. Katulad niya lang din ako na naipit sa sitwasyong ito.