Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

PATRICIA'S POV (Problem)

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nakayanan ang mga nagdaan na linggo.

Those weeks that turns into months have been so rough to me. Mabuti nga at naiwasan ko ang umiyak ng sobra. Good thing that I learned to control my emotions.

Pero minsan, kapag naaalala ko si Agatha, nagiging emosyonal parin ako. Kapag naiisip ko ang posibilidad kung hindi siya nawala, bumabalik lang ang sakit. Bumabalik lang ang pangungulila ko. "Ano'ng gagawin mo sa mga yan, ate?"

Nag angat ako ng tingin kay Jordan na nakahiga sa kama ko.

"Itatapon o... susunugin," sagot ko habang inilalagay sa isang box ang mga larawan namin ni Callum, especially our wedding photos.

Naaalibadbaran lang ako kapag nakikita ang mga ito sa paligid. Hindi ako kuntento na itago lang ang mga ito kaya nag pasya ako'ng likumin lahat kahit ang mga naka-display sa sala at kwarto nila mommy.

I don't want to see any trace that reminds me of him. I badly want him to remove in my life.

"I heard from mom yesterday that you want to file an annulment? Are you r-ready?"

"Of course I am, Jordan" I answered confidently.

He shrugged. "Well, I'm just here to support you..."

Tumayo ako at sumunod din siya hanggang sa likod ng bahay habang dala ko ang box. Agad inabot sa'kin ng isang maid ang lighter.

Naroon na rin ang ibang basura kaya inihagis ko na ang buong box doon. Binuhusan ko 'yon ng gas at agad sinindihan. The heat and wildness of the fire reflect on my eyes. Medyo lumayo ako at walang emosyon na nakatingin dito. "Do you feel better?"

Nagulat ako sa biglang tanong ni Jordan. Nilingon ko siya at nakitang seryoso siya'ng nakatingin sa mga sinusunog ko.

"A little..." I scoffed. "I somehow felt...relieve,"

"Are you happy? Satisfied? Want revenge or something..."

Nagtaka ako sa sobrang seryoso ng kapatid ko.

"I'm not a type of person who takes revenge, Jordan" hindi ako ganoon kasama. "Karma na lang siguro ang bahala sa kanila," "What are your plans, then?"

Bumuntong hininga ako. "I don't know...I don't want my paths to cross with them again. I just want peace for the mean time,"

"That's impossible. You two can still see each other because of some connections. You're still married to him and our company is associated with their-"

"I will cut those connections, then" mariin kong sabi. "Wag lang mag krus ang landas namin,"

"Mam, Patricia? Tawag po kayo ng mommy niyo sa sala..." lumapit ang isang katulong.

Tumango ako at lumapit sa naglalagabgab na apoy. I took out the wedding ring on my pocket and quickly throw it there. It's over. I already thrown everything with traces of him.

Iniwan ko roon si Jordan at dumiretso na sa sala.

Natagpuan ko sila mommy at daddy na seryosong nag-uusap.

"Ano'ng kailangan niyo, mommy?" tanong ko at umupo sa harap nila.

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"Your mommy told me about your desire to file an annulment," humina ang boses niya. "That's a heavy case-"

"I don't care about it, dad. Ayaw kong magkaroon pa ng kahit ano'ng koneksyon sa kanya,"

Dahil hindi ako mapapalagay sa isipin na mag asawa parin kami pagkatapos ng mga ginawa niya sa'kin. It feels like this marriage is choking me to death.

"Uh, we need to explain you something," singit ni mommy. "You know, it's not that easy to file an annulment. So many procedures and takes a lot of time-"

"I'm fine with that" I said with determination. "I had money so I can pay a lawyer. I don't care about how long it takes-"

"Pero kailangan ng cooperation niyo'ng mag asawa rito," biglang sabi ni daddy, parang nahihirapan pa siya'ng banggitin ang mga salita. "It will not work without your husband's cooperation..."

I greeted my teeth. "May magagawa naman siguro kayo di ba, dad?"

Nag ngit-ngit ako nang umiwas sila ng tingin, para bang wala ako'ng pag-asa.

Bumuntong hininga si mommy. "Sinabi ko agad kay Callum ang gusto mo pero...nagalit lang siya. He wants to see you and talk to you but we don't agree as what you want. He keeps bugging us. He even came to my office and begged to see you,"

Nahigit ko ang hininga. He really do that? Why doesn't he just agree?

"Alam namin na ayaw mo siya makita ngayon pero...magulang niya na ang lumapit sa'min," napalunok at nabalisa si mommy. "We have no choice, Mrs. Velasquez begged us to talk to you on behalf of his son," Hindi ako makapaniwalang napatingin sa kanilang dalawa.

"Can you just stop talking to them? I don't want our family to have any connection with them-"

"Tuad namin, nahihirapan din sila sa sitwasyon niyo ni Callum..." bakas ang pagmamakaawa at lungkot sa boses ni mommy. "Kailangan mo siya harapin. Actually, I talked to her earlier, she's already on her way here," Lumaglag ang panga ko kasabay nang pagdating ng isang katulong.

"Mam Alondra, narito na po ang bisita niyo..."

My eyes widened.

I stiffened on my seat when I saw Mrs. Velasquez entered. Wearing her fancy dress and shiny bag, she gave us a brief smile before returning to serious face.

Kumalabog ang puso ko. Heto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko kaya ayaw ko na silang makita. She's so intimidating.

"Have a seat..." mommy offered her the couch.

Bago umupo si Mrs. Velasquez ay bumeso muna siya sa parents ko bago bumaling sa'kin. Natuod ako at nawalan ng salita nang lumapit siya at bahagya ako'ng niyakap.

"It's nice to see you again, Patricia..." she uttered and her face softened when she scanned my whole face. "Good thing that you're slowly recovering..."

Pilit ako'ng ngumiti bago siya umupo sa harap ko. Si mommy at daddy naman ay lumipat sa tabi ko.

Ramdam kong hinaplos ni mommy ang likuran ko. It somehow lessen the pressures.

"I'm sorry for getting your time right now..." Mrs. Velasquez started. "First, I want to apologize with you Patricia and to your parents,"

I bit my lip and lowered my head.

"I'm so sorry...for all the pain that my son have caused to you, Patricia" she said sincerely. "It also hard for me to deal with my son after knowing what he does but at some point...his sacrifices won't appreciated. Alam kong naramdaman mo rin na minahal ka talaga ng anak ko, hanggang ngayon,"

Gusto kong matawa sa narinig. No, Madame. Everything your son showed was a lie.

"To your parents...I sincerely apologized Mr. and Mrs. Clemente, for disappointing you about my son," tagos sa pusong sabi ni Mrs. Velasquez. Umismid si mommy. "There's no need to apologize with us. Our daughter is the one who suffered here,"

Rinig ko ang buntong hininga ni Mrs. Velasquez. Tumango siya at kinagat ang labi.

"Who would have thought that the happy and good relationship I was hoping for you and my son would end up in this complicated situation..." Nag init ang sulok ng mata ko.

My first meeting with the Velasquez family and our wedding flashed back to me. That was indeed happy. I didn't expect it to end like this either.

"I raised my son well" she said proudly with a hint of strained. "I still hope that you will give my son a chance to hear his side, but who am I to force you?" she let out a sad smile. "He was wrecked as you. I don't even know him now. Malayo na siya sa Callum na seryoso sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya,"

Parang piniga ang puso ko sa lungkot ng boses niya. She's telling the truth. Callum is indeed irresponsible now.

"I came here because my son begged me to talk to you, Patricia" her voice shuttered a bit. "I just came here in behalf of my son because I don't want you to be triggered by his presence. When he knew about your plan filing an annulment, he gone crazy,"

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Nag excuse si daddy na aalis habang palihim kong pinunasan ang tumakas na luha sa mata ko.

Mrs. Velasquez is indeed a great mother. There's no doubt. I can't force myself to be mad at her just because of what her son did. She treated me like her own daughter, never shown me any bad things.

"Kahit ako, no'ng nalaman ko ang gusto mong mangyari...ako ang nasaktan para sa anak ko," tuluyan nang nabasag ang boses niya pero pinilit niya ang sariling mag salita ng maayos.

Bigla ako'ng nag angat ng tingin at nag tama ang mata namin ni Mrs. Velasquez. Hindi agad ako nakaiwas. Bakas ang lungkot sa mata niya at hirap. Alam kong naiipit na rin siya sa sitwasyon pero mapapadali naman ang mga ito kung paayag si Callum sa annulment.

"You gave up on my son...but I can't blame you though,"

Matinding lungkot ang bumalot sa mukha niya at hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng hiya. Sobrang bigat sa dibdib na nakikita rin siya'ng nahihirapan sa gulo na ginawa ng anak nila.

Nakita ko siya'ng pinunasan ang pisngi bago binuksan ang bag. She took out a folded white paper.

She look at me again. "I just want you to know that Callum won't sign any papers regarding the annulment..."

Umawang ang labi ko at napasinghap naman si mommy.

Mrs. Velasquez stood up slightly and gave me the paper. I frowned.

Without hesitation, I opened the paper. I felt a renewed surprise when I realized what it was.

"Yan ay titulo ng bahay na inilaan ni Callum para sayo,"

Nilingon ko si Mrs. Velasquez na puno ng pagtataka. I read what the paper contains. It says that the house is under my name? The one he referred as his dream house? Why the fuck he will give it to me? "W-What is this for?" nahihirapan kong sabi at napatulala sa papel. "H-Hindi ko po ito matatanggap..."

Callum really think that he will get me by this?

Isinukbit ni Mrs. Velasquez ang bag at umayos ng tayo, handa nang umalis.

"That house is really belong to you. It also renovated just like what design you preferred," she sighed. "Pwede ka raw pumunta roon kung kaylan mo gusto, kapag kaya mo na siya kausapin," Nanginig ang kamay ko.

Mrs. Velasquez smile shortly. "I'm telling you, Patricia. My son was a bit rough, let's just see if you can get rid of him,"

Napamaang na lang ako nang mag paalam siya'ng aalis na at tumalikod. Napatulala ako sa kawalan bago muling bumaling sa hawak na titulo.

How dare you, Callum. How could you do this to me? You really don't want to be removed from my life, what else do you want me to do to drive you away?