A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 8

AUDREY closed her suitcase after she put on her clothes and some important documents. Ipinalibot niya ang tingin sa loob ng kwartong naging saksi ng iyak, lungkot at tuwa niya.

“I would leave this place of misery, and yet I wasn’t sure what would happen to me in the house I would move into. I don’t even know if I can call it home later.”

“Babalik ka pa ba rito, anak?” tanong ni Manang Nena na mangiyak-ngiyak na siyang tumulong kay Audrey sa pag-iimpake.

Ngumiti ng tipid si Audrey. “Hindi ko po alam, Manang. Pero mamimiss ko po kayo.” Yumakap siya kay Manang Nena. Ang tanging tao na nag-alaga sa kaniya at ipinaramdam na kahit papaano ay may dahilan siya upang mabuhay dito sa mundo.

Minsan napapaisip siya. Her parents didn’t love or care for her. Pakiramdam niya wala siyang pamilya. What’s the use of living?

“Pero mabuti na rin ‘to para makalayo ka sa mga magulang mo. Hindi nila deserved ang maging magulang mo dahil sa mga ginagawa nila sa ‘yo,” sabi ni Nena. Saksi siya sa mga paghihirap ni Audrey sa bahay na ‘to. At masaya siya na makakaalis na si Audrey sa bahay na naging saksi ng mga paghihirap nito mula ng bata pa ito.

Hinatid ni Nena si Audrey hanggang sa labas ng bahay.

“Nasaan po sila?” tanong ni Audrey.

Nagbaba ng tingin si Nena saka napabuntong hininga. “Hiniling ni Freya na kumain sila sa labas kaya umalis sila kanina.”

Tumango na lamang si Audrey.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na si Mark na siyang magsusundo kay Audrey.

Bumaba si Mark ng kotse. “Young Lady,” he greeted as he slightly bowed his head.

Audrey politely nods her head.

“Is this all your things, Young Lady?” Mark asked. Kinuha nito ang dalawang maleta na hindi naman ganun kalaki.

Tumango si Audrey.

“Lagi kang mag-iingat.” Paalala ni Nena.

“Opo. Kayo din po.”

Kumaway lang si Nena.

Pumasok na si Audrey sa loob ng kotse. Pero muli siyang sumulyap sa bahay na kinalakihan niya. Dito siya lumaki at ang bahay na ‘to ang naging saksi sa lahat ng pag-iyak at lungkot niya. Ngayon makakaalis na rin siya sa wakas.

Sana hindi niya muling danasin ang mga dinanas niya sa bahay ng magulang niya.

She was sold to Emerson Montenegro for the sake of saving the family’s business. “From now on, I have nothing to do with them. Saving the company was the last thing I could give them for raising me.”

“Young Lady.”

“Let’s go.”

Tumango si Mark saka pinaandar na ang makina ng kotse.

Akala ni Audrey ay sa bahay ng mga Montenegro siya ihahatid ni Mark pero sa isang penthouse suite siya nito dinala.

“Where is Mr. Montenegro?” tanong ni Audrey. Akala niya makikita niya ang magiging asawa niya sa araw na ‘to.

“Young Lady, Mr. Montenegro is busy preparing for your wedding right now. Baka sa mismong araw na lamang kayo ng kasal magkikita.” Tugon ni Mark.

Napatango si Audrey. Ayaw pa naman niyang makita ang lalaki. Hindi pa siya handa. “Hindi ba makakapunta rito ang magulang ko?”

“According to Mr. Montenegro, you have all the say if you want them to come here, and you can tell the management to blacklist them in this place. So, they can’t come to bother you.”

“Salamat.”

Then Mark showed an envelope. “Young Lady, this penthouse has already transferred under your name.”

Nagulat si Audrey saka itinuro ang sarili. “Sa akin?”

“Yes, Young Lady. This is the transfer agreement and there was a card inside,” Mark said, giving the envelope to Audrey. “The boss said to use it for your expenses. You can use the card to do whatever you like. Don’t go to work anymore. Just focus on your studies.”

“How much?” Audrey asked. Tinignan niya ang nasa loob ng envelope. Nakita niyang may Mastercard na nakalagay doon.

“The boss has told me to put a few bucks in it.” Nakaukit sa isipan ni Mark ang sinabi ng boss niya na huwag niyang sasabihin sa fiancée nito kung ilan ang nakalagay sa Mastercard pero sa tingin niya tatanungin pa rin ni Audrey kung ilan ang laman ng card.

Audrey frowned. “Exact amount?”

Mark showed his six fingers.

“Six thousand?”

Tumango si Mark sabay iwas ng tingin.

Mas lalong napakunot ang nuo ni Audrey. “You’re lying. Sixty thousand?” tanong niya. Malaki na rin ‘yon.

Muling umiling si Mark. “Six digits.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Audrey sa gulat at napaawang ang labi. “Six digits?!” hindi makapaniwalang saad niya. “How much?”

Napakamot ng batok si Mark.

Tumikhim si Audrey.

Mark sighed. “Half-million.”

Napaawang ang labi ni Audrey at hindi makapaniwalang napatitig sa card. “Ang ibig mong sabihin five hundred thousand ang laman ng card na ‘to?” sabay labas ng card at ipinakita kay Mark.

Tumango si Mark.

Mabilis na ibinalik ni Audrey ang card sa loob ng envelope saka ibinalik ito kay Mark. “I can’t accept it. Baka mawala ko. Hindi ko kayang bayaran ‘yan. Moreover, I have my own money.”

“Pero…”

Pumasok si Audrey sa Master’s bedroom saka isinara ang pinto.

Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Mark saka tinawagan ang amo. “Boss, hindi tinanggap ng Young Lady ang card.”

“Kulang ba ang pera? Then add more money to it.”

“Ahmm, boss, sabi ng Young Lady na hindi raw niya kayang bayaran kapag nawala niya ang card.”

Emerson sighed on the other line. “Iwan mo na lang diyan ang card at ang transfer agreement. I will call my fiancée.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Kaya naman bago umalis si Mark, iniwan niya ang envelope na may lamang transfer agreement at ang card.

AUDREY LOOKED INSIDE THE Master’s bedroom. Namangha siya sa lawak ng penthouse suite. Buong floor ay ang penthouse suite. There are a variety of elements inside the master's bedroom, such as art pieces, bed curtains, upholstery, bedside tables, and metal accents. The wall was made of glass and was covered with curtains. May sariling banyo ang master’s bedroom at may malaking closet. Binuksan niya ito at nakita niyang may mga damit na ‘to. Some of the dresses are for women and some are suits.

“Is this for me?” tanong niya sa sarili saka hinawakan ang mga damit na pambabae. Isinara niya ang closet.

There were no pictures of him in the penthouse. She thought when she saw that there were no pictures of her husband-to-be in the room. How would she know what her future husband looked like?

Shrugging, Audrey looked inside the bathroom. She was expecting to see men’s things inside the bathroom, but she was surprised when she saw feminine things inside the bathroom. New toothbrushes and personal hygiene for girls.

“Is this prepared for me?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Audrey. “Or is it Emerson’s ex-girlfriend? But they looked new.”

Audrey’s phone suddenly rang. It was Emerson and the name saved in her contact was ‘Mr. Montenegro’.

“H-hello.”

“Do you like the house?” Emerson asked. “If you don’t like the interior design, I can send an interior designer to redesign it.”

“No need. I like this place. It’s beautiful. Thank you, Em.” Ang ganda nga, eh. Mas maganda pa ito kaysa sa bahay ng magulang niya.

Emerson smiled from the other line. “I’m glad you like it. Oh, by the way, I prepared some dresses for you in the closet and some personal hygiene kits. I’m sorry, I don’t know what brand you use, so I bought them.”

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ni Audrey. “You bought them for me?” gulat niyang tanong.

“Yeah, Mom organized the penthouse for me according to a woman’s preference.”

Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Audrey. She felt cared. “Thank you, Em.”

Emerson hummed while signing some documents. Martin gave him a folder that he needed to sign. He signed it while talking with his fiancée.

“Can you send me a picture of you? I just wanted to see what you looked like,” Audrey requested.

“Bakit? Inaakala mo bang pangit ako?” Emerson chuckled. “Don’t worry, Baby Girl. I’m handsome, and you won’t be embarrassed at our wedding.”

“Hindi ‘yon ang ibig kong sabihin. Gusto ko lang makita ang hitsura mo.” Mabilis na saad ni Audrey.

“Sorry, Baby Girl. My appearance was a surprise to you. But I can assure you that you won’t be embarrassed on our wedding day. Baka purihin ka pa ng mga bisita natin na gwapo ang asawa mo.”

Martin looked at his boss suspiciously. Ang boss ko pa ba ‘to? Parang iba, eh. Aniya sa isipan. Hindi ganito ang boss niya dati. Laging seryoso ang mukha nito at hindi mo pa ito makitang ngumiti. Pero nagkaroon lamang itong fiancée, parang nag-ibang tao na ito. So, scary.

“Are you lifting your own chair?”

“No, Baby Girl. I’m telling the truth.”

“Then I will wait.”

Emerson smiled. “By the way, Baby Girl, your wedding dress will be delivered to the penthouse later. Mom and my sister picked it for you. But if you don’t like it, feel free to tell them.”

“How will I dare?” Audrey sat on the edge of the bed. “Nanay at kapatid mo ‘yon.”

“It’s okay. You are the bride. Dapat komportable ka sa isuot mo.”

“That’s what mom has told me,” Emerson said, and chuckled. “Oh, the penthouse and the card that I gave you. Keep it. Use the card for your expenses.”

“But…”

“Audrey, don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t go to your part-time job anymore.”

Natahimik si Audrey. Are you going to control me too?

Humigpit ang hawak ni Audrey sa cellphone.

After she put her clothes in the closet, she went to the kitchen. Nakita niya doon ang envelope na hawak kanina ni Mark. Kinuha niya ito saka siya bumalik sa master’s bedroom.

“There was no free bread in this world,” she said, staring at the envelope. Then she put the card in the drawer.