Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

CALLUM'S POV (Patricia is Pregnant)

"I won't go to the office today"

Mabilis ko rin pinatay ang tawag pagkatapos ko sabihin 'yon. It was my secretary. It's weekend again so I will spend my day here in our house.

Kung makikita rin naman ako ni mommy sa kompanya ay magagalit siya. Dahil gusto niya na magkaroon ako ng oras kay Patricia.

I started my morning by opening some files. Una kong binuksan ang mga files at documents na isinend ni Austine. Ayon sa kanya, nilalaman nito ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa mga Laurier.

Pilit kong inintindi ang nilalaman nito ngunit tanging pinagkakautangan lamang nila ang nakalagay, sa pagkakaalam ko ay bayad na rin nila ang mga ito so there's no point anymore. "It is nonsense" usal ko bago pinatay ang laptop.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto at dumiretso sa kusina.

Nakaramdam ako ng uhaw kaya gusto ko uminom ng tubig. Wala ako'ng nakikitang maids at tanging si Patricia lang ang nadatnan ko.

Nakatalikod siya habang nagtitimpla ng kape at kusang lumingon ng marinig ang yabag ko.

"Good morning" bati ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit nag tagal ang titig ko sa kanya.

Maybe her look today is unusual? Well, I often see her in a ponytail but now, her hair is loose and a bit messy. Mukhang kagigising nya lang pero tila may kakaiba sa itsura nya ngayon. Well, the only thing that hasn't changed is her beauty.

"Morning..." naglakbay ang inosente niya'ng mata sa katawan ko bago lumihis ng tingin.

I looked at my clothes. I'm just wearing a fitted sleeveless shirt and a simple shorts. Is she uncomfortable with these?

Kumuha ako ng tubig at habang umiinom ay hindi ko mapigilang mapasulyap sa likuran niya. She suddenly fixed her hair and hang it to her right shoulder.

I seem even more thirsty seeing her nape. Damn!

Inilagay ko sa sink ang ginamit kong baso at ramdam ko ang pag sunod niya ng tingin.

"Uh, Callum," tawag niya ng akma na ako'ng aalis. "Do you want some...c-coffee?"

Her hands were trembling while holding a spoon.

I smirked secretly. "If will you made one, then"

Tila kinakabahan siya at mabilis tumayo para timplahan ako.

I'm watching her back while making a coffee. I scanned her body. Her legs were firm and seems so strong, ang balakang naman ay maganda ang hubog.

No wonder why she always won on the pageants. Smart with a very unique beauty indeed.

"Here..."

Inilapag niya ang kape sa harap ko at hindi pa nga ako nakakapag pasalamat ay tumalikod na agad siya. I really don't get why she always look upset every time I'm around her?

Bumalik ako sa kwarto at muling nag trabaho. Pinag aralan ko ang mga shares na natatanggap ng kompanya at wala naman problema roon, still increasing.

Ang iba naman naming business katulad ng hotels at restaurants ay inaaral ko parin kahit ang namamahala na ng mga 'yon ay mga kapatid ko. As an older brother, it's my responsibility to guide them.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pag re-review ko ng rates ng isa sa mga resort na pag-aari namin kung saan kami ikinasal ni Patricia ay nakatanggap ako ng tawag mula sa kapatid kong si Ramon. "Kuya?"

"What do you need?" tanong ko.

"Oh, how's my married brother, hmm?" he said in a teasing voice.

"Kung wala ka ng sasabihin na importante ay ibababa ko na ang tawag-"

"Hey, kidding!" tumawa siya. "I'm sure you already checked the rates of our resorts?" mayabang na sabi niya. "What can you say, kuya? Marami ang turista na napunta dito kaya sigurado ako na mas lalaki pa ang shares..." Umusbong ang ngiti sa labi ko. "Good job, Ram. Keep it up"

"Pero hindi talaga iyon ang sadya ko❞ naging seryoso ang boses niya. "One of our investigator reports that there's anonymous people who have been watching us"

Unit-unti nag salubong ang kilay ko. "What are you talking about? Watching our moves?"

"Yeah, some are watching outside the Velasquez Company and some are here in our house. That's why mom was worried..."

I shifted on my seat. "I-I can't understand you. Hindi parin ba sila tumitigil? I thought-"

"Hindi sila titigil hangga't hindi nakukuha ang gusto nila, kuya. They'll stop unless...we're already down and lack of power" kahit sa boses ay ramdam ko ang frustration ng kapatid ko. "We know who's behind it, only Mr. Laurier. Be careful to your wife too. Based on what I heard at mom and dad's conversation, Braven Laurier is a fond of Patricia. Love triangle ba ito-"

"Shut up!" iritado kong sabi.

"Oh, now you're mad" mapang-asar niya'ng sabi.

"I thought she's just your wife in paper? You're already inlove with her don't you? Is this some sort of your jealousy-"

"Stop pestering me. Is that all you want to say? I will increase our security and I will talk to Austine's well-known private investigator"

I was about to end the call but my stupid brother spoke again.

"You didn't missed me nor our family, aren't you?" he laughed teasingly. "Ganyan talaga siguro kapag may asawa na 'no? Hindi mo na kami nakakamusta-"

"What are you? A fucking kid who always need to update? You're a fucking grown up man now!"

"Well, just say my hello to your wife-"

"Yeah, I probably do that but also send my regards to Trixie-oh sorry! I forgot that you two were already broke up-"

"The fuck man?!"he sounds devastated.

Lihim ako'ng natawa dahil sa sunod-sunod niya ng pagmumura sa kabilang linya hanggang siya na mismo ang nagbaba ng tawag. Mukhang siya 'yata ang asar talo ngayon. Hindi ako nag aksaya ng oras at mabilis kong tinawagan si Austine. Kailangan kong resolbahan agad ang problema namin ngayon.

"What's for today, bro!" Austine answered the call.

"I need to-"

"Sir, Callum!"

Napabalikwas ako sa upuan ng marinig ang malakas na boses ng isang katulong. Nakabukas na nga ang pinto ng kwarto ko at humahangos siya'ng nakatayo roon. Pinatay ko muna ang tawag at lumapit sa kanya. She seems nervous.

"What happened?"

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! "S-Si... Mam P-Patricia po," kumunot ang noo ko sa nauutal na boses at pinapawisan niya'ng mukha.

"N-Nahimatay po, naroon sa may sala-"

I quickly run outside my room. I cursed when I found Patricia lying on the cold floor. May basag na baso pa malapit sa kamay niya at medyo basa ang sahig.

"Patricia?" I nervously tapped her face to wake her up but she didn't.

Maputla ang mukha niya at napansin ko na iba na ang suot niya ngayon. She's already wearing a dress and seems going somewhere.

"Call the doctor" sabi ko sa isang katulong bago buhatin si Patricia papunta sa kwarto.

Inihiga ko siya sa kama at ilang beses ginising ngunit ayaw parin. What happened to her?

"Narito ang gamit niya, Sir Callum" ibinigay ni Nanay Nelia ang bag at isang envelope. "Sabi ni Criza ay aalis daw dapat ang asawa niyo, uminom lang ng tubig pero nakaramdam daw ng hilo at nahimatay" kuwento niya na bakas ang pag- aalala. "A-Ayos lang ba siya?"

"Let's just wait for the doctor" I said to calm her.

Lumabas din siya ng kwarto kaya muli kong sinuri si Patricia. Maputla parin ito pero hindi naman siya nasugatan sa pagkahimatay kanina.

My eyes suddenly darted at her side table where Nanay Nelia placed her bag and an envelope.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

I suddenly remembered what Austine said last week.

"Isn't he referring to this envelope?" I picked up the envelope and suddenly felt nervous.

I slowly opened it and my eyes almost popped out at what I saw. A piece of ultrasound showing a forming fetus to the picture.

"Pregnant..." I read the word below and even saw a three pieces of pregnancy test showing a positive result.

Nag paulit ulit ang tingin ko rito bago kay Patricia at pilit iniintindi.

The pregnancy tests slide on my trembling hands, it fell on the floor.

What is the meaning of this?