A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 10

“YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED?!” Napatayo pa si Mia pagkatapos makita ang wedding invitation. Audrey gave her a wedding invitation. Hindi pa siya naniniwala kaya naman binuksan niya ito at nagulat siya nang makita ang pangalan ni Audrey.

Audrey pulled Mia to sit down. “Hinaan mo ang boses mo. Nakakahiya.” Aniya saka tinignan ang mga kapwa nila estudyante sa canteen. Ilan sa mga ito ay napapatingin sa kanila mas lalo na kay Mia na napalakas ang boses nito.

“Totoo?” Naninigurong tanong ni Mia.

Tumango si Audrey saka ipinakita ang engagement ring na suot.

“Woah,” namangha si Mia. Parang ngayon niya lang nakita si Audrey na isinuot ang singsing nito kaya ngayon niya lang nalaman na ikakasal na ito. Muli niyang tinignan ang wedding date. “These were three days later.”

Audrey nodded.

Mia looked at Audrey. “You’re not force, are you?” tanong niya. Alam niya ang sitwasyon ni Audrey sa pamilya nito. Minsan may mga pagkakataon na nagkukwento si Audrey pero mas marami ang beses na tahimik lamang ito at laging nakatingin sa palayo. At parang palagi rin itong nag-iisip ng malalim.

“Mia, alam mo naman ang sitwasyon ko.”

Mia sighed and held Audrey’s arm. “Kaibigan kita. Gusto man kitang tulungan pero wala naman akong magawa.”

Ngumiti si Audrey. “Your presence at my wedding was already enough.”

Mia smiled. Kapagkuwan may naalala siya. “Oo nga pala, nawala na ang picture mo na kumalat online at wala na rin ang mga negatibong opinyon ng mga tao tungkol sa ‘yo. Did someone remove it for you?”

Tumango si Audrey. “It was my fiancé who took action. My sister was suspended because she was the one who posted it.”

Tumawag pa si Emerson sa kaniya upang tanungin kung ano ang gagawin niya sa taong nag-post ng picture niya online na umani ng negatibong opinyon. Freya made up a story about her having an affair with someone else while she had a fiancé. She actually felt down after reading the negative comments of hers. Dalawang araw siyang nagkulong sa penthouse.

Emerson called her and comforted her. That’s when she decided to go out and continue going to school.

As for her sister, no matter what happened, Freya was still her sister. Kaya naman na-suspend na lamang ito.

“You’re too kind, Baby Girl.” Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Emerson.

It wasn’t being kind. It was fear that was embedded in her heart. The fear had grown in her heart over the past years of being in the Perez Household. Pinapakita niyang kalmado siya pero ang katunayan natatakot siya.

“Ang sama ng ugali ng kapatid mo. Dapat nga pina-expel mo na. May malakas ka naman palang backer,” sabi ni Mia. She nudges Audrey playfully.

Ngumiti lang si Audrey at hindi na nagsalita.

PINAGPAPAWISAN si Audrey at pabaling-baling ang kaniyang ulo. She looked in distress.

Audrey ducked in fear when she heard the sound of a chain being pulled and hitting the floor. Takot na takot siya at umiiyak. Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang tainga upang hindi niya marinig ang tunog ng kadena. Ayaw niyang marinig ang tunog na ‘yon.

“Hindi ka talagang tumitinong, bata ka. Kaya naman ikakadena na lang kita. Sinong nagsabi sa ‘yo na itulak mo ang kapatid mo?” galit na saad ng ama ni Audrey.

Umiling si Audrey. “H-hindi ko…po siya i-itinulak…”

“At nagsinungaling ka pa!”

Umiiyak si Audrey nang ikadena ng kaniyang ama ang paa niya at iniwan siya sa maruming basement. It was disheartening to hear Audrey’s cries, asking for help, but no one came to help her.

Napabalikwas ng bangon si Audrey, deretso ang titig sa pader. She was breathing heavily. May isang buwan na rin na hindi siya nanaginip ng masama. Her nightmares were coming back again.

Feeling suffocated, Audrey poured water on the glass. Naglagay kasi siya ng pitsel na may tubig sa may beside table dahil alam niyang kailangan niya ito. Uminom siya ng tubig at kahit papaano kumalma siya.

Audrey took a deep breath.

Her dream just now was her nightmare. Ang napanaginipan niya ang totoong nangyayari sa kaniya noong bata pa siya. She was being chained before when she has done something wrong. That memory didn’t fade and she always remembers it. The time when her parents were beating her. Tumigil lang naman ang mga ito noong nagkolehiyo na siya.

At the time her parents were beating her, all she wanted to happen was to die and disappear in this world. But God didn’t let her. Tinignan niya ang peklat ng paglaslas niya noon. She wanted to die. That’s what she wanted to happen, but it didn’t happen. Hindi na niya kasi kaya noon ang sakit na nararamdaman niya at ang masasakit na salita ng kaniyang magulang. She tried to kill herself but the moment she woke up, she found out she was still alive.

Muling nahiga si Audrey saka napatitig sa kisame. Her nightmare was the reason for her distress and loss of appetite sometimes. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. But then she couldn’t sleep anymore. Nagmulat siya ng mata saka kinuha ang cellphone. May mensahe galing kay Emerson.

‘See you tomorrow, Baby Girl.’

Audrey stared at the message. Right, she’s getting married today. She looked at the time. It was already four in the morning. The wedding time is ten in the morning. That was just six hours left before she would meet her groom.

At dahil hindi na makatulog si Audrey, bumangon na lamang siya saka binuksan ang ilaw. She stared at the beautiful wedding dress that was intricated crystal, shimmering against the light. Her fiancé provided everything. From wedding dress, tiara, veil, jewelry and the shoes she will wear.

Hinaplos ni Audrey ang wedding dress. She never thought of wearing it someday.

Hindi alam ni Audrey kung ano ba ang dapat niyang maramdaman sa mga oras na ‘yon. Pinaghalong saya at lungkot ang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na ‘yon.

She’s getting married, but the future is unpredictable.

She yearns for freedom but is tied to a marriage.

When will she get her freedom?

MAAGANG dumating ang mga mag-aayos kay Audrey. Audrey’s parents didn’t come. Inasahan na ‘yon ni Audrey pero malungkot pa rin siya dahil halatang walang pakialam ang mga ito sa kaniya. But she was thankful that they didn’t come to help her. It was Emma, Eliza and Mia who came to see her.

“Perfect!” Emma exclaimed after she personally put the tiara on Audrey’s head.

Ngumiti naman si Audrey habang nakaharap siya sa salamin.

Unang beses na naayusan ng ganito si Audrey kaya naman halos hindi na rin niya makilala ang mismong sarili pagkatapos niyang maayusan.

“Siguradong tutulo ang laway ni Kuya neto,” nakangising saad ni Eliza.

“Audrey,” ibinigay ni Mia ang bulaklak kay Audrey.

“Salamat.”

“My son was lucky to marry you, my dear,” said Emma as she gently touched Audrey’s face. “Smile, my dear.”

Ngumiti si Audrey pero nakita ni Emma ang lungkot sa mata ng dalaga kahit pa masaya ang pinapakita nitong ngiti. Eyes can’t lie.

“Audrey, in the future, when my son bullies you, don’t hesitate to come to me. I will teach him a lesson for you.”

Tumango si Audrey.

Emma smiled. “If you’re ready, let’s go.”

Muling tumango si Audrey.

Umalis na sila ng penthouse at nagtungo sa simbahan. Nanatili siya sa bridal car at hindi siya pinababa hangga’t hindi nagsisimula ang oras ng kasal. Humigpit ang hawak ni Audrey sa bouquet at nagsimula na siyang kabahan.

Audrey took a deep breath. Panay ang tingin niya sa suot na relong pambisig.

Nang sumapit ang oras ng kasal, pinagbuksan siya ni Mark ng pinto at bumaba na siya dahil nagsimula na ang wedding procession. Then Mark guided her to the door of the church. Hindi niya masyadong marinig ang ingay sa loob ng simbahan pero nasabihan na siya na oras na bumukas ang pinto ng simbahan, pumasok na siya at maglakad sa aisle.

The moment the double door opened, Audrey felt nervous. Mas lalo pang humigpit ang hawak niya sa bouquet. She took a deep breath and stepped inside the church. Ramdam niya ang tingin ng mga tao sa kaniya.

The wedding march was playing.

Audrey looked at the church. It was indeed a grand wedding because the aisle was well decorated with flowers and fabrics.

Nang maglakad na siya sa aisle, nakita niya sa gitna ng aisle ang mapapangasawa niya. Nakatayo ito sa gitna ng aisle pero nakatalikod ito. Her soon-to-be-husband was a tall man, and he seemed to have a good physique.

Malapit na si Audrey sa groom nang dahan-dahan itong humarap sa kaniya. Literal na lumaki ang mata ni Audrey dahil sa gulat nang makita niya ang magiging asawa niya.

It’s him.

Malakas na kabog ng dibdib ni Audrey pero mas lalo pa itong lumakas nang makita niya si Emerson.

Emerson ang alam niyang pangalan nito dahil iyon ang ipinakilala nitong pangalan pero hindi niya alam na ito at si Emerson Montenegro ay iisa.

Emerson smiled at his stunningly gorgeous bride and extended his hand to her. Alam niyang maganda ang magiging asawa niya pero mas lalong lumabas ang ganda nito dahil naayusan ito.

Audrey was stunned and stared at Emerson for a moment.

“Baby Girl, you’re not going to run away, right?” Emerson asked, smiling.

Audrey didn’t expect it. Her groom was handsome and didn’t expect that they had already met. Itinaas niya ang kamay at inilapat sa nakalahad na kamay ni Emerson.

Ngumiti si Emerson saka pinagsiklop ang kamay nilang dalawa.

“I’ll walk with you.”

Tumango si Audrey.

Sabay na naglakad si Emerson at Audrey patungo sa altar.

As they have reached the altar, the wedding ceremony begins.