A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 17

“YOU’RE MARRIED?” tanong ni Xander kay Audrey habang nakatingin sa kamay nitong may suot na singsing.

Napatigil naman si Audrey sa pagkain saka tinignan ang kamay na may suot na singsing. Ngumiti siya saka tumango. “I’m married.”

“Oh.” Xander sounded disappointed.

Napailing naman si Mia. Mukhang hindi naniwala sa kaniya si Xander kaya naman kinumpirma nito mismo mula kay Audrey kung may asawa na ba talaga ito o wala.

Nagpatuloy sa pagkain si Audrey.

Habang si Mia naman ay napatingin sa loob ng restaurant. A familiar face caught her attention. Is that Audrey’s husband? May mga kasama ito at mukhang nasa dinner meeting sila. They were in the VIP suite of the restaurant, but the wall was made of glass so she could still see the people inside.

“Audrey, is that your husband?” Mia asked as she looked at the VIP Suite.

Tinignan naman ni Audrey ang tinitignan ni Mia at nakumpirma nga niyang si Emerson ang nasa VIP Suite. “Dinner meeting.” Aniya.

Mabilis nja tumalikod si Audrey upang hindi siya makita ni Emerson. Nagpaalam ito sa kaniya na male-late ito ng uwi. Though she told Emerson that she was with her friends and eating dinner, baka iba ang isipin nito. Baka isipin nito na minamanmanan niya ito dahil nasa restaurant siya kung saan din ito naroon.

Audrey sighed. Dapat umuwi na lamang ako.

But it was a good thing that she had finished eating, makakaalis na siya ng hindi siya nakikita ni Emerson.

“Why are you covering your face?” Mia asked.

“My husband was here. I don’t want him to see me.”

Nagtaka si Mia. “Bakit naman?”

“I didn’t want him to think I was tailing him,” said Audrey. Uminom siya ng tubig. “Baka isipin niyang wala akong tiwala sa kaniya.”

“Pero hindi mo naman alam na may dinner meeting siya dito.”

“Kahit na.”

“It’s okay. I will explain if your husband saw you,” said Xander.

Sinipa naman ni Mia ang pinsan sa paa na nasa ilalim ng mesa. She gave him a knowing look but Xander just shrugged.

“What? I will just explain,” Xander said.

Mia looked at her cousin, but Xander ignored her.

“I’ll pay the bill.” Wika ni Xander saka tinawag ang waiter. Isinenyas niya ang bill. The waiter nodded and brought the bill to Xander.

Meanwhile, Emerson had just finished his dinner meeting with some investors. He was invited to have dinner with them but was thinking of his wife at home. Hindi sana siya pupunta pero kailangan niyang makisama. Baka hinihintay na naman siya nito. Audrey messaged him that she was having dinner with her friends.

“Thanks for coming, Mr. Montenegro.” Nakipagkamay si Mr. Garcia kay Emerson.

Emerson nodded his head. “Thank you for inviting me.” Then his eyes wandered outside the VIP Suite. “Audrey?” He muttered his wife’s name under his breath when he saw his wife outside. A smile broke into his lips. Pero natigilan siya nang makitang may kasama itong lalaki. Who’s that man?

Mabilis na nagpaalam si Emerson sa mga kasama saka nagmamadaling sinundan ang asawa na papalabas na ng restaurant.

“Audrey, ihatid na kita.” Xander offered to Audrey.

“Wow, ah. Pinsan mo ako. Hindi mo ako ihahatid?” sabad naman si Mia.

Xander ignored his cousin. “Audrey, ihatid na kita.”

Umiling si Audrey. “No need. I’ll text the driver to come and pick me.” Aniya.

At isa pa, ayaw niyang iba ang isipin ni Emerson kapag nakita nito na hinatid siya ng ibang lalaki. She doesn’t want Emerson to misunderstand her. They have agreed to work out their relationship. So, she mustn’t destroy what they have now.

“No need. Tinawagan ko na si Mark. Papunta na siya rito.”

Nagulat si Audrey nang marinig ang boses ni Emerson. Kahit anong tago niya nakita pa rin siya nito. She smiled at Emerson and couldn’t look into his eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Emerson asked.

Audrey bit her lip and looked at her husband. “I didn’t follow you. Hindi ko alam na dito ang dinner meeting mo.”

Ngumiti si Emerson. “I know.” Then his eyes settled on Audrey’s companions. “They are…” he looked at his wife.

“Oh, she’s Mia. She came to our wedding.” Then Audrey gestured her hand to Xander. “He’s Xander. Mia’s cousin.”

Napatango si Emerson saka tinignan ang lalaki. The way Xander looked at his wife held something. An emotion that a man shouldn’t feel towards a married woman. Inakbayan niya si Audrey saka iminuwestra ang kamay kay Xander. “Emerson Montenegro, Audrey’s husband.” He introduced himself.

Nagulat si Xander nang marinig ang pangalan ng asawa ni Audrey. He is Emerson Montenegro? Gulat niyang tanong sa kaniyang isipan.

Emerson Montenegro was a private person. Wala kang makitang picture nito mga news at hindi rin ito nagpapaunlak ng interview.

Emerson Montenegro’s name alone was enough to shake someone’s steadiness.

Nakipagkamay na lamang si Xander sa asawa ni Audrey pero humigpit ang hawak nito sa kamay. It wasn’t a firm handshake. It was a warning for him to stay away from Audrey.

Binitawan ni Emerson ang kamay ni Xander saka ngumiti. “Nice to meet you,” he said, and looked at his wife. “Let’s go. Mark is here.”

Napatingin naman si Audrey sa paparating na kotse.

When the car stopped in front of them, Emerson opened the backseat door for his wife.

Audrey waved at Mia before getting into the car. Then Emerson followed.

Naiwan naman si Xander at Mia sa harap ng restaurant.

Tinapik ni Mia ang balikat ng pinsan. “Okay ka lang?”

Umiling si Xander. “I didn’t know that her husband was him.”

Mia sighed. “I told you before. Don’t mess with Audrey.”

“I didn’t,” Xander reasoned.

“You didn’t. But Audrey’s husband knows you like his wife. The handshake earlier, it wasn’t firm but it was a warning for you.” Sabi ni Mia. “Kaya naman kung ako ikaw, huwag mo ng ituloy kung ano ang binabalak mo. Marami pang ibang babae diyan.”

“But I really like Audrey. Do you think her husband will treat her well?”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ulit si Mia. “Xander, every husband has their own ways of treating their wife. As for Audrey, wala ka ng pakialam pa doon.”

“But Emerson Montenegro was ruthless. Alam ‘yon ng lahat. No one dares to stand in his way, otherwise he will destroy them.”

Mia smiled. “He was indeed known as a ruthless businessman, but he never took advantage of the innocent people. Everyone knows it. But I think he would become ruthless if you took what’s his.” Tinapik niya ang balikat ng pinsan. “Insan, you should stay away from Audrey from now on.”

“But I’m worried.”

Napabuga na lamang si Mia. “Ang hirap mong kausap.” Aniya saka iniwan si Xander.

“HOW WAS YOUR EXAM?” tanong ni Emerson kay Audrey.

Audrey sighed. “It’s tiring. Pakiramdam ko napiga ang utak ko sa kakaisip kung ano ang isasagot ko sa exam.”

Natawa si Emerson. “Then rest.”

“Baka makatulog ako.”

“It’s okay. I’ll wake you up later.”

Ngumiti si Audrey saka sumandal sa kinauupuan. Hindi niya namalayan na nakatulog siya.

Emerson didn’t have the heart to wake his wife, so he carried her to the penthouse. After he deposited her in bed, he went to the bathroom and took a shower.

Pagkatapos niyang nagshower, lumabas siya ng banyo at kumuha ng damit sa closet. Pagkatapos niyang manamit, napatingin siya kay Audrey nang gumalaw ito. Audrey was still wearing her uniform and her skirt was above the knee.

Pinilit ni Emerson ang sarili na mag-iwas ng tingin nang gumalaw si Audrey at tumaas ang laylayan ng suot nitong palda.

Emerson sighed and closed his eyes. Hinila niya ang kumot saka ipinatong ito kay Audrey. Mahimbing na ang tulog ng asawa niya at ayaw naman niya itong gisingin para pagpalitin ng damit.

Audrey looked tired.

Hinayaan na lamang ni Emerson ang asawa. Pero bago siya natulog, nagpadala siya ng mensahe sa kaniyang kapatid.

NANG MAGISING SI AUDREY KINABUKASAN, siya na lamang mag-isa sa kama. Well, lagi naman kasi mas madalas na nauunang nagigising si Emerson kaysa sa kaniya. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa ito ang nagluluto tuwing umaga o talagang maaga itong nagigising.

Kapagkuwan bigla niyang naalala na nakatulog sa sasakyan at ngayon ay nandito na siya sa loob ng kwarto nila ni Emerson. Malamang ay binuhat siya nito. Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi sa iisiping binuhat siya ng asawa.

Nagmamadali siyang bumaba ng kama saka pumasok sa banyo. She did her morning routine, took a bath, got dressed and left the room. Bahagya pa siyang natigilan nang makarating siya sa kusina nang hindi niya nadatnan doon si Emerson. Si Eliza ang nadatnan niya na agad namang ngumiti nang makita siya.

“Morning, sister-in-law.”

Audrey smiled. “Morning too.” Tinignan niya ang buong kusina, wala si Emerson.

“Huwag mo ng hanapin si Kuya. Maaga siyang umalis.” Sabi ni Eliza.

Napatango na lamang si Audrey. “Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong niya. “Ahmm… don’t be offended by my question. I’m just curious.”

Ngumiti si Eliza. “I’m here to pick you up.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Audrey. “Pick me? Bakit?” Nagtaka siya.

Lumawak ang ngiti ni Eliza. “Let’s go shopping.”

Umatras si Audrey. “Can I pass?”

Eliza shakes her head. “Uh-ah. No way. You can’t pass, sister-in-law. My brother sent me a message last night asking me to go you shopping today. Let’s go.”

“I have…”

“There was no class for today, Audrey.”

Audrey sighed in defeat. Sa tingin niya hindi na niya mararaunan pa ito kaya naman tumango na lamang siya at walang nagawa. “Let’s go.”