A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 4

WHEN AUDREY OPENED her eyes, the white ceiling welcomed her sight and the smell of the medicine invaded her nostrils. Alam agad ni Audrey na nasa hospital siya kahit hindi pa man niya tinitignan ang paligid. Ang tanong niya lang, paano siya nakarating rito?

“Gising ka na,” saad ng isang boses.

Mabilis na napatingin si Audrey sa kaniyang gilid at nakita niyang nakaupo doon ang isang lalaki. “Ikaw.”

Emerson showed a small smile. “My name is Emerson.” He extended his hand to Audrey.

Audrey got up and shook the man’s hand. “Audrey.”

“Paano ako nandito? Did you help me?” Audrey asked.

“Of course. Ako ang nandito, eh.” Malamig na saad ni Emerson. “You passed out on the roadside. May konsensiya naman ako kaya hinintuan kita.” I won’t tell her that I’m following her. It would be embarrassing if Audrey found out. “Don’t worry, the doctor checked you. You’re fine now and your fever has subsided. You can go home tomorrow.”

Audrey nodded. “Salamat.”

“Do you want to call your family?” Emerson asked. Though he knew that Audrey’s family badly treated her, he wanted to know what she thought.

“No need,” nakangiting tugon ni Audrey. “They don’t care about me.”

“So, you won’t care for yourself too?” Emerson was pissed.

“No one cares about me. Why would I take care of myself?” Audrey retaliated.

“I…” I care for you. I was worried about you. “Alright. Do you want to call anyone who will accompany you here?”

Umiling si Audrey. “No one. I can accompany myself. You don’t have to worry.”

Tumango si Emerson. “I have something to deal with. Babalikan kita rito mamayang hapon.”

“Hindi na kailangan,” wika ni Audrey.

“Come on, Miss Audrey. Don’t refuse my help. You helped me before, and I am repaying the favor you did to me.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Audrey. “I… I helped you before. You helped me too. We’re even now.”

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?” tanong ni Emerson.

“This means our fate has ended here. Let’s not meet in the future,” sabi ni Audrey. She could observe that the man in front of her was a wealthy man. Halata sa damit at suot nitong relo. A person like him is not what she deserves to know. Baka kung hindi pa ito naawa sa kaniya at dinala siya sa hospital, baka hindi pa sila mag-uusap.

“Miss Audrey, you’re a cold person,” said Emerson, staring straight into Audrey’s eyes.

Pekeng ngumiti si Audrey. “Likewise of you, Sir.” Then she looked away.

Isang katok mula sa pinto ang pumukaw sa atensiyon nilang dalawa. Pareho pa silang napatingin sa pinto nang bumukas ito at pumasok ang isang lalaki.

“Boss, Miss Audrey,” pagbati nito.

“This is Martin. He was my assistant.”

Audrey and Martin politely nod to each other.

“Boss,” ibinigay ni Martin ang packed lunch sa amo.

“It was already twelve-thirty in the afternoon. Have something to eat first.” Emerson opened the packed lunch and reached it out to Audrey.

Napatitig si Audrey sa pagkain. She doesn’t trust men when it comes to food.

Napabuga ng hangin si Emerson nang makita niya ang ekspresyon ni Audrey. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing on the food. I’m not that heartless. I won’t bully a little girl.”

Audrey frowned. “I’m not a little girl,” she said and took the pack lunched from Emerson. “Thanks.”

Emerson inwardly smiled.

Walang ganang kumain si Audrey pero pinilit niyang kumain para magkaroon siya ng lakas. Wala siyang balak mag-stay sa hospital.

After an hour, Emerson and his assistant left. But before Emerson left, he told Audrey he had settled her bill. And she has nothing to worry about.

Naiwan namang mag-isa si Audrey. Natulog pa siya ng dalawang oras bago niya pwersahang tinanggal ang IV na nakakabit sa kaniya. Nagpalit siya ng damit saka umalis ng hospital. Medyo nahihilo pa siya pero tiniis niya ito hanggang sa makauwi siya sa kanila.

Pagdating ni Audrey sa bahay nila, agad siyang sinalubong ni Manang Nena na nag-aalala.

“Bata ka, saan ka nagpunta? Bakit hindi ka umuwi kagabi? Sobra akong nag-alala sa ‘yo.”

Napatitig si Audrey kay Manang Nena. Simula noon hanggang ngayon, ito lamang ang taong sobrang nagmamalasakit sa kaniya. Mabuti pa ang hindi niya kaanak, may pakialam sa kaniya ngunit ang sarili niyang magulang ay wala.

Pinilit niyang ipakita na maayos lamang siya at hindi niya ipinakita na may sakit siya.

Ngumiti si Audrey. “Nakitulog po ako sa bahay ng kaibigan ko.” Aniya. Hindi niya sinabi na nasa hospital siya dahil alam niyang mag-aalala lamang ito.

“Kaya pala hindi ka umuwi kagabi. Kumain ka na ba? Ipaghahanda kita. Wala rito ang magulang mo.”

Umiling si Audrey. “Huwag na po, Manang. Pagod po ako. Gusto ko pong matulog.”

“Sige. Sige. Pumunta ka na sa kuwarto mo.”

Tumango si Audrey saka umakyat ng hagdan. At nang makapasok siya sa sarili niyang kwarto, ibinagsak niya ang sarili sa kama. She felt dizzy and as soon as she closed her eyes, she fell asleep.

MEANWHILE, Emerson had just arrived in Audrey’s room. Wala siyang Audrey na nakita. Ang tanging nakita niya lamang ay ang nurse na nagtutupi ng kumot.

“Nurse, nasaan ang pasyente?” tanong ni Martin.

“Umalis na kanina pa.”

“Damn,” Emerson cussed in a low voice. “She’s still sick. What was she thinking?”

Martin remained silent.

Emerson left the hospital, feeling pissed. In his mind, he was thinking of Audrey. Audrey needed to stay in the hospital because she was sick. But now she left without the doctor’s confirmation.

Napabuga ng hangin si Emerson. “Go to the restaurant. I’ll meet Audrey’s father.”

Martin politely nodded and drove the car towards the restaurant.

Nang makarating si Emerson sa restaurant, naroon na ang magulang ni Audrey at naghihintay sa kaniya.

Emerson’s face was indifferent. No emotion could be seen in his face.

Martin, who had been working for his boss for almost ten years now, knew when his boss was wearing an indifferent face. He sighed. Someone’s going to die tonight. He thought and was about to call Mark, his brother, but his boss stopped him.

“Don’t call your brother yet. I’m not going to kill someone tonight.”

Martin put his phone back in his coat pocket.

Emerson walked towards Audrey’s parents. Umupo siya sa bakanteng upuan sa harapan ng mga ito. He crossed his legs and leaned on the chair. “Mr. Ramon Perez.”

Parang maamong tupa na ngumiti ang ama ni Audrey kay Emerson. Kilala ni Ramon ang taong nasa harapan niya. At a young age, Emerson Montenegro, the heir of the Montenegro Group and the President of EM Technology, was well-known. He was not only known for being a business tycoon, but also known as a ruthless man because he never let anyone stand in his way.

Ang isang Emerson Montenegro ang isa sa mga taong iniiwasan niya at kakumpetensiya niya rin ito sa negosyo. They were enemies. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya nitong gustong makausap.

“Mr. Montenegro, why did you call us?” Ramon asked. His hands were shaking, but his posture remained calm.

“I heard your business was about to be bankrupt, and you were looking for potential investors.”

“Yes, Mr. Montenegro. And I have already found one.”

“Oh. Was it Mr. Wang?” Emerson asked.

Emerson was a powerful man, it’s no wonder that he knew about it. Ramon smiled. “Mr. Montenegro, pwede bang deretsuhin mo na lang kami ng asawa ko?”

“Yes, Mr. Montenegro. Alam naming makapangyarihan ka. We don’t deserve to sit at the same table with you. So, can you just tell us what you want?” Felicia asked. She was worried though. Sino ba namang hindi kakabahan kung ang kaharap mo ay isang makapangyarihang tao.

Ngumisi si Emerson. Isang ngiti na may halong pagbabanta. “Dodoblehin ko ang perang ibinigay ni Mr. Wang. But there was a condition.”

Namilog ang mata ni Ramon. “Dodoblehin?” That was millions.

“You don’t believe me?” Emerson asked.

“Of course, I believed you, Mr. Montenegro,” Ramon answered while nodding his head.

Though Emerson Montenegro was known for his ruthlessness, he was true to his word.

“But what is your condition?”

“I want your second daughter. Audrey Perez.”

Parehong natigilan si Ramon at Felicia. Nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa.

“I can double my investment, but you have to marry off your daughter to me,” Emerson said in a serious voice. He stood and buttoned his coat. “The money will be sent to your account tomorrow.” Then he left.

“Ramon, was Mr. Montenegro telling the truth? Will he really double the money that Mr. Wang invested?” Felicia asked.

Ramon nodded. “He will. So, we must talk to Audrey. This time, we can really get rid of her.”

Felicia smiled. “She won’t dare to say no. And if she dared to say no, we would kick him out of the house.”

Sumang-ayon naman si Ramon sa sinabi ng asawa.

HABANG si Emerson naman ay tinawagan ang kaniyang ina.

“Anak, napatawag ka?”

“Mom, as a mother-in-law, are your dowries for your daughter-in-law ready?” Emerson asked.

Sandaling nawalan ng imik ang nasa kabilang linya.

“Mom, are you still there?” Emerson asked. Tinignan pa niya ang screen ng cellphone at nakita niyang hindi naman patay ang tawag. “Mom?”

“Sorry, anak. Nagulat lang ako sa sinabi mo—wait— anak, nababaliw ka na ba? Gusto mo mag-appointment ako para sa ‘yo.”

Emerson rolled his eyes because his mother didn’t believe him. “Mom, I’m serious. I’m getting married.”

Napatayo si Emma. “Really? Emerson Montenegro, you’re not kidding, right?”

Ngumiti si Emerson. “No, Mom. I’m serious. It’s real.” Then he sighed. “I’ll come home and explain the situation to you.”

“Alright, son.”

Emerson ended the call and looked at Martin. “To the old house. I want to talk with my parents.”

“Yes, Boss.”

This time, Audrey must marry me.