A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 25

“AUDREY.”

Mabilis na napalingon si Audrey sa kaniyang likuran. “Mia?” Aniya.

Napahawak si Mia sa sariling labi saka tinignan si Audrey mula ulo hanggang paa. “You’re so beautiful.” Puri niya sa kaibigan. Kapareho niya ito ng damit. Off-shoulder dress below the knee pero magkaiba sila ng kulay.

Audrey was wearing a peach-colored off-shoulder dress below the knee while she was wearing a dark red dress. Well, they bought their clothes together last week.

“May kasama ka?” tanong ni Audrey.

Umiling si Mia. “Ikaw?”

Umiling rin si Audrey.

“Akala ko ba sasamahan ka ng asawa mo?”

“That’s the plan. Pero may dinner meeting siya. Pupunta siya pero baka mamaya pa ‘yon.” Ani Audrey. Hinatid lang siya ni Emerson pero kung sakali man na hindi ito makakahabol, susunduin siya nito. She was disappointed but she understood Emerson’s work.

Ngumiti si Mia. “Then tayo na lang ang magkapareha dahil wala naman tayong kasama. It was just a social event.”

Tumango si Audrey. Magkaligkis ang kanilang braso na pumasok sa loob ng paaralan at nagtungo sa gymnasium kung saan gaganapin ang acquaintance ng department nila. Pagdating nila sa gymnasium, namangha si Audrey sa ganda ng event. Talagang pinaggastusan ito ng college nila. Mabuti na lang at hindi sila pareho ng Ate Freya niya ng kinuhang kurso. Kahit papaano nagkaroon siya ng katahimikan.

Umupo si Audrey at Mia sa naka-assign na lamesa para sa kanila kasama ang kanilang mga kaklase. May kasama ang mga kaklase nila, si Audrey at Mia lang yata ang walang kasama pero hindi na nila pinansin pa ‘yon.

They just enjoyed the night, watching and eating at the corner. Mia was now on the dance floor dancing with someone while Audrey was sitting in the corner. Pumunta pa siya sa pwesto kung saan siya madaling mapansin.

Pinapanood ni Audrey ang mga nasa dancefloor nang makatanggap siya ng mensahe mula kay Emerson.

‘Where are you?’

‘School?’ Patanong niyang sagot.

‘I know, Baby. But I’m asking where you are at the gymnasium? I’m here.’

Namilog ang mata ni Audrey at nakaramdam siya ng tuwa. He’s here.

Finally, makakauwi na rin siya. Masakit na ang paa niya na nakasuot ng heels ng ilang oras. Though hindi man panay ang lakad niya pero talagang masakit na ang paa niya.

‘Where are you? I’ll come to you.’

Agad namang nagreply ang asawa niya. ‘Outside the gym. Front door.’

Napangiti na lang si Audrey sa tumayo.

“Audrey.”

Napatigil si Audrey saka napatingin sa tumawag sa pangalan niya.

Xander smiled. “Kanina pa kita hinahanap. Nandito ka lang pala.”

“May kailangan ka ba?”

Inilahad ni Xander ang kamay. “May I ask you to dance with me?”

Audrey let out a small sigh. “Xander, I’m sorry, but as you know, I’m already married. Getting close to another man was inappropriate for a married woman like me. Moreover, my husband was already here to pick me up.”

“Uuwi ka na?” tanong ni Mia.

Tumango si Audrey.

“Then see you next Monday.” Mia waved.

Audrey waved back and left. Nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng gymnasium. She didn’t know, but she was excited to see her husband. Pagkalabas niya ng gymnasium, agad niyang nakita ang asawa niya na nakatayo habang nakapamulsa.

“Em!”

Mabilis naman na lumingon si Emerson. Kusang sumilay ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi nang makita niya ang asawa niya na naglalakad palapit sa kaniya.

Audrey walked towards her husband. Habang palapit siya ng palapit kay Emerson, pabilis naman ng pabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. When she reached his side, she took the initiative to hug him.

Natigilan naman si Emerson. She is proactive. But he enjoyed it. “What’s the matter? Did someone bully you? Someone wronged you?”

Umiling si Audrey. “No one bullied me.” I just don’t understand my feelings. I am excited to see you.

Niyakap ni Emerson ang asawa. Kapagkuwan hinubad niya ang suot na coat saka pinasuot kay Audrey. He was wearing a vest coat inside, so he didn’t get cold.

“Let’s go?”

Tumango si Audrey pero hindi siya gumalaw siya kinatatayuan.

“What’s the matter?”

“My feet hurt,” wika ni Audrey sa mahinang boses habang nakayuko.

Emerson smiled. “Anong gusto mong gawin ko?”

“C-carry me…” nahihiyang wika ni Audrey.

“Sure, Baby.” Walang pagaalinlangan na pinangko ni Emerson ang asawa. Audrey immediately clung to him, making him smile.

When they reached the car, after Emerson put his wife in the passenger seat, he changed his heels into her fluffy slippers. Just like the way he did on their wedding day. And it touched Audrey’s heart. Emerson was a big shot in the business world, but when it came to her, Emerson could lower his pride and become a devoted husband.

Meanwhile, Mia, who followed Audrey, took a picture of Audrey and her husband.

“Why do you like these soft kinds of slippers?” Emerson asked.

“It’s soft and comfortable.”

Napatango si Emerson saka isinara ang pinto ng kotse.

Kapagkuwan napatingin naman si Audrey sa sariling cellphone nang tumunog ito. It was Mia, sending her a picture of her and Emerson. Napangiti na lamang si Audrey saka nagpasalamat kay Mia.

“Em?”

“Hmm?” Emerson glanced at his wife as he started the engine.

Ngumiti si Audrey. “Salamat sa pagsundo.”

“Salamat? Baby, alam mo naman na hindi ako tumatanggap ng salamat.”

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

Emerson pointed to his lips.

“You want me to kiss you?” tanong ni Audrey. Bakit ba hindi na siya nagulat?

Tumango si Emerson. “Yes, Baby.”

“Now?”

Emerson smiled and held his wife’s name. He pulled her into a kiss. He crashed his lips against hers. They both closed their eyes as they savored the kiss they were sharing.

Nakagat na lamang ni Audrey ang pang-ibabang labi nang maghiwalay ang labi nilang dalawa ni Emerson.

Emerson gave his wife a peck before he maneuvered the car.

Napahawak si Audrey sa sariling labi. Bakit parang gustong-gusto naman na niyang hinahalikan siya ni Emerson? She likes the softness of his lips that were pressed against hers. From the kiss they shared the other day, Emerson didn’t stop kissing her. He would kiss her every time he had the chance when they were together. Minsan nagnanakaw pa nga ito ng halik sa kaniya. Hinahayaan na lamang niya si Emerson at hindi siya nag-iinarte. They were a legal couple. It was normal to kiss each other. At isa pa, gusto naman niya. Pero syempre hindi niya aaminin ‘yon kay Emerson.

Pagkauwi nila, agad na nag-shower si Audrey. She felt fresh after showering. Habang nasa harapan siya ng salamin at tinutuyo ang buhok niya, lumapit sa kaniya si Emerson at inagaw nito ang blower sa kaniya.

“You…”

Emerson smelled his wife’s hair. “You smell good.”

“Of course, I just took a shower.”

Emerson smiled and dried his wife’s hair using the blower.

“You should take a shower too. I can dry my hair,” said Audrey.

“I want to dry your hair, Baby.”

Hinayaan na lamang ni Audrey si Emerson sa gusto nitong gawin. Pagkatapos patuyuin ni Emerson ang buhok niya, hinila siya nito patungo sa kama.

Emerson sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his wife to sit on his lap.

“Anong ginagawa mo?” tanong ni Audrey.

“I want to be close to my wife.”

“By this…” Audrey said, pointing to their position.

Ngumiti si Emerson. “Bitin ako sa halik mo kanina.”

“I…”

Napatitig si Emerson sa labi ni Audrey. “Baby, can you kiss me again?”

Audrey stared at her husband. Inangat niya ang kamay saka hinaplos ang mukha ni Emerson. Her fingertips trailed his skin and he smiled. Kapagkuwan sinapo niya ang mukha ng asawa saka dahan-dahang inilapit ang mukha sa mukha nito. Their lips met and Emerson moved his lips.

Naging mapusok ang halikan nilang dalawa.

Naglakbay ang kamay ni Emerson sa katawan ni Audrey.

Emerson trailed his lips on Audrey’s jaws down to her neck.

Audrey tilted her head to give her husband more access while her eyes were closed. “Em…”

Emerson smiled. “It’s okay to moan, Baby.”

“Ah?”

Emerson suddenly bit Audrey’s skin, startling Audrey.

Hinampas ni Audrey ang braso ng asawa. “Why did you bite me?”

“Sorry.” Ani Emerson saka muling hinalikan ang labi ng asawa.

Audrey responded to her husband’s kiss.

But their kiss was disturbed when Emerson’s phone rang.

Emerson ignored his phone, but it was his wife who pushed him.

“Sagutin mo. Baka importante—” napatigil si Audrey sa pagsasalita nang kabigin ni Emerson ang batok niya at mapusok siyang halikan sa labi.

Pero muli na naman silang napatigil nang tumunog na naman ang cellphone ni Emerson.

Emerson groaned in annoyance. He picked up his phone and looked at the caller. It was an unregistered number, so he just declined the call, blocked the number, put his phone into silent mode, and threw it onto the carpeted floor. Then he continued kissing his wife.

Walang mas importante ngayon kundi mahalikan niya ang asawa. It was a rare opportunity that his wife would let him kiss her. And he doesn’t want to let go of that opportunity. Baka kasi magbago pa ang isipan nito.

Pinahiga ni Emerson ang asawa niya sa kama at hinawakan niya ang dalawang pulsuhan nito. They continued kissing. But before Emerson lost control of himself, he quickly left Audrey’s top.

“I will take a shower,” he said, smiling, and quickly went to the bathroom.

Audrey followed her husband with her gaze. Napahawak siya sa tapat ng kaniyang puso dahil mabilis ang pagtibok nito. Kapagkuwan natawa siya ng mahina saka bumangon. Humiga siya ng maayos sa kama saka natulog na.