A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 24

ILANG BESES NA KUMURAP si Audrey habang nakatingin sa pinapatayong bahay—este mansyon sa harapan niya. It was a three-story mansion. Tumingin siya kay Emerson habang nakaturo sa pinapatayong mansyon.

“This is…”

Ngumiti si Emerson. “Our house.”

Natigilan si Audrey. “Pero may penthouse…”

“That’s not a house. The construction of this house started a year ago. In just a few months, matatapos na ito.”

Napatango si Audrey.

“And this house was for you.”

Audrey looked at her husband. “For me?” Itinuro pa niya ang sarili.

“You’re my wife. Kung hindi para sa ‘yo, kanino? Ikaw lang naman ang asawa ko.”

Asawa ko… It came out of Emerson’s lips naturally, which made Audrey smile.

“This is not a house. This is a mansion,” Audrey said and held into Emerson’s arms.

Emerson shrugged. “It’s for you. When it is finished, I can hire an interior designer for you. You can design this house at your will.”

Audrey smiled and nodded her head. “Thank you.” But then she saw her husband look, “I know, I should have said it, but I really want to thank you.”

“You can thank me in another way, Baby.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Audrey. “Paano?” tanong niya. Nakita niya ang kakaibang ngiti sa labi ni Emerson pero hindi na niya pinansin ‘yon.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright. It’s up to you.”

Emerson smiled slyly. “Let’s go.”

“Won’t you look inside?” Audrey asked.

“It’s dangerous. Don’t worry, kapag natapos ‘yan at titira na tayo dito. Magsasawa ka.”

Audrey pouted.

“This will be your home in the future.”

Napatitig si Audrey sa asawa. “Home… I never felt at home while still in my parents' house.”

Natigilan si Emerson. “What did you say?”

Umiling si Audrey saka ngumiti. “Em, thank you for giving me a home. I’m happy.”

Emerson wanted to ask his wife about her life before they got married. Though she knew a part of it when he investigated her, it seemed that Audrey was avoiding it, so he didn’t pursue that matter. “I don’t accept thank you.”

“Then how do you want me to thank you?”

Emerson didn’t answer, but he gently pinched his wife’s nose and pulled her gently towards the car. Pagpasok nilang dalawa sa loob ng kotse, pinaandar niya ang makina saka sila umalis.

Habang humaharurot ang kotse, nagtaka si Audrey nang mapansin niya ang daan na dinadaanan nila ni Emerson.

“This is not the way towards where we live.”

Emerson smiled. “I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Kagabi pa ‘yang somewhere mo na ‘yan.” Ani Audrey.

Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Emerson saka binilisan ang takbo ng kotse.

Emerson drove for nearly thirty minutes before they arrived at their destination.

Napangiti na lamang si Audrey nang makita niya ang dagat. Ibinaba niya ang bintana ng kotse saka nilanghap ang hangin na nagmumula sa dagat. She closed her eyes as she felt the warm air that embraced her.

“Let’s go.”

Bumaba sila ng kotse.

Binuksan naman ni Emerson ang payong saka pinayungan ang asawa. Humawak naman si Audrey sa braso niya na ikinangiti niya ng malawak.

Mainit na kaya naman naglakad sila papuntan sa lilim ng puno na malapit sa may batuhan. Nasa gilid rin ito ng dagat. Maraming tao ang nasa tabing dagat. Some of them are tourists and having fun. May mga pamilya rin na nagpi-picnic.

Audrey took her phone from her bag and took pictures of the sea. Until her camera caught her husband, she smiled and clicked the capture ‘icon’. Natawa siya ng mahina dahil mukhang hindi stolen ang pagkuha niya ng larawan. Eksakto kasi na pinindot niya ang capture ‘icon’ nang tumingin sa kaniya si Emerson.

“Am I handsome in the picture?”

Tumango si Audrey. “I’ll make it as my wallpaper.”

Emerson smiled. Tiniklop niya ang payong.

“Bakit mo ako dinala rito?” tanong ni Audrey.

“To relax?” patanong na sagot ni Emerson.

Natawa ng mahina si Audrey saka nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng larawan.

Emerson stared at his wife. Audrey was the most beautiful and unique person he had seen. She was also talented. And he was lucky that he had become Audrey’s husband.

Nang magsawa si Audrey kakukuha ng larawan, ibinalik niya ang cellphone sa loob ng sling bag saka tumingin kay Emerson. “Can I play?”

Emerson nodded.

Ngumiti si Audrey saka tinanggal ang suot na sandals. Pagkatanggal niya ng suot na sandal, ibinigay niya kay Emerson ang sling bag niya saka siya patakbong nagtungo sa may tubig.

“Baby, don’t run. The sea won’t run away!”

But Audrey ignored Emerson.

Napailing naman si Emerson saka hinayaan ang asawa. Pinanood na lamang niya ito. Kusang gumuhit sa kaniyang labi habang nakatingin kay Audrey. He could see the smile he had never seen before. Nang bago pa lamang sila, Audrey was wary of him, but gradually, Audrey was slowly relying on him, which made him happy. Ibig sabihin no’n ay may tiwala na sa kaniya ang asawa niya. Hindi pa man buo, at least, kaya niyang palakihin ang tiwala nito sa kaniya.

It’s just that he was tortured every night. Hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan niya kayang magpigil. He slept with his beautiful wife every night. At hindi niya alam kung papaano niya nakokontrol ang sarili niya tuwing gabi. He must applaud himself for that.

Inilabas ni Emerson ang sariling cellphone saka kinunan ng larawan ang asawa na nagpupulot ng shell.

Then Audrey looked at him and waved his hand.

Emerson waved back.

When Audrey had enough fun, she returned to her husband’s side, but her feet were full of sand.

“Let’s wash your feet. I have water in the car.”

Tumango si Audrey saka ipinakita ang mga nakuhang shell sa asawa. “Look. They’re beautiful.”

“Mas maganda ka.”

Audrey pouted.

Natawa ng mahina si Emerson saka pinisil ang pisngi ng asawa. “Let’s go.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito. Pinaupo niya ang asawa sa isang bakanteng bench. Pinaghintay niya ito roon saka siya bumalik sa kotse. Kinuha niya ang water bottle na naroon at bumalik sa kinaroroonan ng asawa.

Emerson washed his wife’s feet and wiped them with his handkerchief.

May napadaan namang dalawang teenager na babae.

“Wow! Ang sweet.” Saad ng isa na halatang kinikilig.

Napayuko naman si Audrey dahil nakaramdam siya ng hiya. She never expected that her husband would do this in public. At halatang hindi ito nahihiya. Mukhang proud pa nga ito.

“Won’t this ruin your image?” Audrey asked.

Emerson shakes his head. “My wife is more important than my image,” he said. Ipinasuot niya kay Audrey ang sandals nito.

Napangiti naman si Audrey saka hinalikan si Emerson sa pisngi. “Salamat.”

Natigilan si Emerson at hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ng asawa. He looked at her in disbelief. “Did you just kiss me?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

Tumango si Audrey. “You didn’t like it?”

Napahawak si Emerson sa pisngi na hinalikan ng asawa. “I like it.”

Ngumiti si Audrey.

Kapagkuwan napatingin si Emerson sa labi ng asawa. Lumunok siya at pinigilan ang sarili na huwag itong halikan sa pampublikong lugar. Mahiyain ang asawa niya. He didn’t want her to become uncomfortable, so he restrained himself.

Nanatili pa sila doon ng ilang minuto bago nila naisipang umuwi.

PAGPASOK nila sa loob ng penthouse, biglang hinila ni Emerson ang asawa paupo sa kaniyang hita.

Lumaki naman ang mata ni Audrey dahil sa gulat.

“Baby, hindi ko na kaya.”

“Ah?”

Emerson put his hand behind his wife’s neck and pulled her closer. He pressed his lips against Audrey’s lips.

Mas lalong lumaki ang mata ni Audrey dahil hindi niya inasahan ang gagawin ni Emerson. Emerson was kissing her. Hindi naman niya alam kung ano ba ang dapat niyang gawin. She didn’t push Emerson away because she liked the way he kissed her.

Kusang ipinikit ni Audrey ang mata at tumugon sa halik ng asawa.

Emerson smiled between their kiss when his wife responded to him. Then he deepened their kiss. He took the opportunity to deepen the kiss when his wife didn't push him away when he kissed her. It means that his wife didn’t dislike his kisses. And Audrey even responded to it.

Audrey, I hope you will also like me, like how much I like you.