A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 6

AUDREY SIGHED DEEPLY. Malaki ang problema niya. Ngayong araw siya pupunta sa bahay ng magiging biyenan niya. Sa totoo lang kinakabahan siya. Hindi niya kasi alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa kaniya doon.

Kanina pa siya nakatitig sa damit na nakalatag sa kama. It was just a simple floral dress but revealing. But she hates flowers. She was a conservative type of person. The dress was given by her mother, but she can’t wear it.

“Audrey.” Kumatok si Manang Nena sa kwarto niya.

“Pasok po.”

Bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto at pumasok si Manang Nena na may dalang box at paper bag.

“Manang, ano po ‘yan?” tanong ni Audrey.

Ngumiti si Nena. “Pinamimigay ito ng fiancé mo. Dala ito ni Mark.”

Napakurap si Audrey saka kinuha ang box saka ito binuksan. She was surprised to see a conservative elegant white dress just above the knee. There was also a set of jewelry, but thankfully, the jewelry was just too simple for her not to look over-decorated. Napangiti siya saka tinignan ang paper bag. There was a pair of white sneakers that could be paired with the white dress.

“Paano niya alam na ganito ang mga gusto ko?” wika ni Audrey sa sarili saka nagkibit ng balikat.

Napatingin si Audrey sa sariling cellphone nang umilaw ito.

‘You like it?’

It was from her fiancé. Kung paano nito nakuha ang contact number niya, ‘yon ang hindi niya alam.

‘Thank you.’ She replied.

Nagbihis si Audrey saka nag-ayos ng sarili. She made sure that she looked presentable to the Montenegro Family. She finds out that the Montenegro Family was one of the wealthiest people in the world. Kaya naman kinakabahan siya dahil hindi niya alam kung anong klaseng tao ang kakaharapin niya sa araw na ‘to.

After all, they are rich people, so their attitude might be… Audrey didn’t want to judge, but she couldn’t help it.

“Ang ganda mo, Audrey.” Puri ni Nena.

Ngumiti lamang si Audrey ng tipid saka tinignan ang sarili sa salamin bago lumabas ng kwarto.

“Audrey, why don’t you wear the clothes I have prepared for you?” Medyo galit na wika ni Felicia nang makita niyang dumaan si Audrey sa sala kung nasaan siya.

“It’s too revealing. I can’t wear it.” Sagot ni Audrey. “Aalis na po ako.” Paalam niya saka nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay bago pa man siya makarinig ng kung anong salita mula sa kaniyang ina.

“Mom, saan kinuha ni Audrey ang damit na suot niya? Ang ganda tsaka halatang mamahalin,” sabi ni Freya.

Felicia snorted. “Wala akong pakialam. Basta ang alam ko malapit na siyang umalis na sa bahay na ‘to. Mabuti naman para wala na akong iniisip na problema.”

“Oo nga, Mommy. We will finally get rid of her,” said Freya.

AUDREY stepped out of the gate. “Sorry, I am late.” Hingi niya ng paumanhin kay Mark.

Mark bowed his head. “It’s okay, Young Lady. You are the future wife of Mr. Emerson Montenegro. You can be late anytime. No one will dare to question you.”

Napakamot na lamang ng batok si Audrey saka pumasok sa loob ng kotse.

Nagtaka si Audrey nang makita niya ang dalawang paper bag na nasa backseat.

“Young Lady, Boss bought it for you. It was your gift to your in-laws,” said Mark.

Mabilis na tinignan ni Audrey ang loob ng dalawang paper bag. One of the paper bags contained wine and the other one was a scarf. Pero halatang mamahalin ang mga ito. I should thank him. Audrey thought and texted her fiancé about the gift he had prepared for her.

Habang patungo sila sa mga Montenegro, grabe ang panlalamig ng kamay ni Audrey. Inakala pa ni Mark na nilalamig siya kaya pinatay nito ang aircon ng kotse.

“Young Lady, halatang kinakabahan ka,” nakangiting wika ni Mark.

Audrey sighed. “That’s normal I guess.”

Suddenly, Mark thought of an idea. It was a one-hour drive from the Young Lady’s house to Montenegro’s household. It would be boring if they stayed quiet in the car during the trip. “Young Lady, do you want to ask me about Boss?”

Isang tango ang itinugon ni Audrey pagkatapos niyang tignan si Mark ng ilang sandali.

“Boss was the eldest son in the Montenegro Family, and he established his own business called EM Technology.”

Napatango si Audrey. “How about his family? Are they nice people?”

Mark smiled. “Yes, Young Lady, especially the boss’ mother. She is a nice person.”

Isang tipid na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ni Audrey. Well, I hope.

PAGDATING nila sa Montenegro’s Household, namangha si Audrey dahil sa laki ng bahay ng mga Montenegro. But it wasn’t a house, it was a huge mansion. “He really came from a wealthy family,” Audrey whispered. And she knew to herself she was not worth being Emerson Montenegro’s fiancée.

Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Audrey.

When the car parked in front of the huge double doors, three people were waiting for Audrey. They are Emerson’s parents and siblings.

“She’s here,” nakangiting saad ng ina ni Emerson. She was anticipating to meet her daughter-in-law. Hindi na nga siya nakatulog kagabi dahil sa excitement niya para sa araw na ‘to.

“Don’t get too much excited, Hon,” saad ng ama ni Emerson sa asawa. “Baka matakot sa ‘yo ang magiging manugang natin.”

Napailing na lang si Eliza dahil mga magulang saka mabilis na ngumiti nang makita niyang bumaba mula sa kotse ang magiging hipag niya.

“Wow, ang ganda niya,” saad ni Eliza sa sarili nang masilayan niya ang fiancée ng Kuya niya.

Audrey politely bowed her head. “H-hello po.” Kinakabahan niyang wika.

“Hi, Audrey.” Bati ng ina ni Emerson. “I’m Emma, Emerson’s mother.” Niyakap niya si Audrey.

Bahagyang nagulat naman si Audrey dahil sa pagyakap sa kaniya ng ginang.

“I’m Samuel,” pakilala ng ama ni Emerson.

“Hi, Audrey. My name is Elizabeth, but you can call me Eliza. Masyadong mahaba ang pangalan ko, eh. Huwag ka ng magtaka kung alam namin ang pangalan mo. Kuya Emerson has told us.”

Emerson? Was it him? Pero marami namang tao sa mundo ang may pangalang Emerson. It’s not him, right?

Tipid na ngumiti lamang si Audrey.

Hinawakan ni Emma ang kamay ni Audrey. “Huwag kang masyadong kabahan, Audrey. Just feel at home.” Kapagkuwan inaya niya si Audrey sa loob.

Audrey was more amazed when she entered the mansion. Every corner of the mansion screams wealth. Kaya pakiramdam niya nanliit siya sa sarili niya. Her father sold her to a wealthy family and if not because of that, she wouldn’t be able to step into this kind of house and meet these wealthy people.

“Have a seat.”

Ngumiti si Audrey saka umupo sa mahabang sofa. Umupo naman sa tabi niya si Emma.

“Audrey, I know that you and Emerson have no emotional foundation. And you are marrying him to save your father’s company. But even so, I hope you and my son will have a harmonious relationship. You are now my daughter-in-law. If you suffer injustice, don’t hesitate to ask for help from us,” Emma said, full of sincerity.

Ramdam ni Audrey ang sinseridad sa mga salitang binitawan ni Emma. “S-salamat po.”

“Young Lady.” Mark handed the paper bags to Audrey.

“Thank you,” Audrey said, taking the paper bags from Mark and placing them on the center table. “Ma’am, Sir, E-Emerson prepared these gifts for you.”

Bahagyang natawa ang pamilya ni Emerson.

“Hija, I like you already,” said Emma.

“You are too honest,” wika ni Samuel saka napailing.

“Mommy, Daddy, my cold brother has become a doting person now,” natatawang sabi ni Eliza saka tinignan ang laman ng mga paper bags.

“Hija, hindi pa kayo nagkita ni Emerson ‘no?”

“Paano niyo po nalaman?” tanong ni Audrey.

“You called him by his name awkwardly,” nakangiting wika ni Emma.

“It was my parents who met him, Ma’am.”

“What Ma’am? You should call me Mommy from now on.” The smile on Emma’s lips didn’t disappear.

“And call me daddy.”

Sandaling natigilan si Audrey dahil hindi niya inaasahan ang ganitong trato sa kaniya ng pamilya ng mapapangasawa niya. She was never treated like this, like a part of a family. And she felt the warmth she never felt before.

“Anyway, Audrey, hija, pasensiya ka na kay Emerson dahil wala siya ngayon. Nasa business trip. Kaya pagpasensiyahan mo na kung ako ang magbibigay ng engagement ring mo.” Kinuha ni Emma ang isang velvet box mula sa bag nito saka ibinigay kay Audrey.

Audrey opened the velvet box and saw the diamond ring inside. It’s expensive. I was already overwhelmed by the expensive things that I received. She closed the velvet box. “Okay lang po, Ma’am. Naiintindihan ko po. Salamat po rito,” aniya.

“Ma’am again. Call me mommy.”

Bumuka ang bibig ni Audrey.

Emma was waiting for Audrey to call her mommy.

“M-mommy…”

Emma squealed. “I love it!” She even pinched Audrey’s cheek.

Eliza sighed. “Mommy, baka mabinat ang mukha ni Audrey dahil sa ginagawa mo.”

“Oh,” mabilis na tinanggal ni Emma ang kamay na nakapisil sa kamay ni Audrey. “Sorry, Audrey. I was just excited.” Ngumiti si Emma. “Emerson has told me that your wedding date has been decided.”

Nagulat si Audrey dahil hindi niya alam ‘yon. “K-kailan po?”

“Next week.”

Namilog ang mata ni Audrey dahil sa gulat. “Ho?! Next week?!”

Bakit parang ang bilis yata ng mga pangyayari?

But then Audrey suddenly remembered something. “Mom, can we have a civil wedding?”