A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 18

AUDREY and Eliza went shopping. Nakasunod lamang si Audrey kay Eliza. Sa totoo lang wala naman siyang balak na mag-shopping. Wala siyang balak na bumili ng kahit na ano dahil kumpleto naman ang mga gamit niya.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Audrey habang nakatingin sa mga bodyguard na kasama nilang nagbubuhat ng mga pinamili ni Eliza. They only spent three hours and Eliza had spent more than a hundred thousand pesos buying jewelry, perfume, dress, shoes and many things that a woman needs.

“Magagamit mo lahat ng ‘yan?” tanong ni Audrey saka itinuro ang mga paper bag na kinalalagyan ng mga pinamili ni Eliza. Sandali silang nagpapahinga sa isang resting are sa loob ng mall na pinasukan nila.

Sa totoo lang, naaawa na siya sa mga bodyguard na nakahawak ng mga paper bag.

Is this how rich people buy? Audrey asked.

“Anong para sa akin? Para sa ‘yo ang lahat ng ‘yan.”

Nagulat si Audrey saka napatingin sa mga paper bag at kay Eliza. “Para sa akin?” Itinuro pa niya ang sarili.

Tumango si Eliza.

“Hindi ko naman magagamit ang mga ‘yan.”

Ngumiti si Eliza. “Well, then just put it in your closet.” Nagkibit siya ng balikat.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Audrey. “Tell me, why did you ask me to go out today?” tanong niya.

“My brother asked me.”

Audrey smiled and shook her head. “Anong nakain ng Kuya mo? I planned to rest for the whole day.”

“Maybe Kuya wants you to unwind.”

Bumagsak ang balikat si Audrey. “Mas gugustuhin ko pang matulog kaysa ang lumabas.”

Natawa naman ng mahina si Eliza. “Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang nakain ni Kuya kung bakit niya ako tinawagan para ayain kitang lumabas. But that’s okay, gusto rin kitang kasama na lumabas. Si Mommy kasi wala, kasama ni Daddy. Out of town silang dalawa.”

Napatango si Audrey. Magsasalita pa sana siya nang makita niya ang dalawang pamilyar na tao.

Freya’s suspension had not yet ended.

“Audrey, nandito ka pala. Are you happy that you got me suspended?” Ani Freya. Halatang galit ito kay Audrey.

Eliza looked at the woman. Alam niyang ina at kapatid ni Audrey ang kaharap niya pero unang kita niya pa lang sa kapatid ni Audrey, ayaw na niya rito. Freya was bullying Audrey. Actually, the suspension was already the kindest act by her brother.

Audrey sighed. “You put yourself into trouble. Wala akong kinalaman doon.” Aniya sa walang ganang boses. “Let’s go, Eliza.”

Eliza smiled. “Let’s go.”

Pero humarang si Freya saka tumingin sa ina. “Mommy, looks like my sister has changed after getting married.”

Umismid lang naman si Felicia.

Freya looked at Audrey. “You looked good. Mukhang maayos ang trato sa ‘yo ng asawa mo.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Audrey. Gusto niyang sumbatan si Freya pero walang salita na lumabas sa bibig niya. She knew that Freya’s words were malicious, but she couldn’t utter any words. Parang umurong ang dila niya. Right before, when she was still in the Perez’ household, she wasn’t allowed to speak rudely to them, otherwise she got punished.

Natawa si Freya. “You can’t retaliate, right? Mukhang hindi ka naman nagbago.” Kapagkuwan inilapit niya ang bibig sa tainga ni Audrey. “Even if you married a rich man, you will always be behind me.”

“Anak, huwag mo ng sayangin ang oras mo sa kaniya. Tara na.” Aya ni Felicia sa panganay na anak at hindi man lang tinapunan ng tingin si Audrey.

Freya smiled at Audrey. A kind of mocking smile. “Why are you here? Shopping? Come on, Audrey. You don’t have money.” Nang-uuyam na sabi niya. Audrey’s husband doesn’t like Audrey at all.

“My brother’s money is my sister-in-law’s money. An outsider like you should not interfere in someone’s married life.” Malamig na sabad ni Eliza saka tinignan si Audrey.

Natigilan si Freya at susumbatan niya sana ang babae pero pinigilan siya ng kaniyang ina.

“Tara na. We shouldn’t waste our time with useless people like them.” Pag-aya ni Eliza kay Audrey.

Tumango si Audrey.

Hinawakan ni Eliza si Audrey sa braso saka niya ito inakay paalis sa lugar na ‘yon. Dinala niya si Audrey sa isang restaurant.

“Are you alright?” Eliza asked with a concerned voice. “You’re trembling.”

Umiling si Audrey. “Okay lang ako. I was just not used to them.”

“Lagi ka ba nilang binubully?” tanong ni Eliza. Kinuha niya ang glass pitcher na nasa lamesa nila at nilagyan ng tubig ang baso.

“I don’t want to mention it anymore,” sabi ni Audrey. Since she has a new life now, it’s not worth mentioning the past. At isa pa, takot lamang ang ibinigay sa kaniya ng sarili niyang pamilya. She wasn’t free as she is now.

But Eliza saw that Audrey was trembling. Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Eliza. She didn’t know how to comfort Audrey and the only person who came into her mind was her brother. She texted her brother to come to the restaurant. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginagawa ng kapatid niya. Basta pinadalhan na lamang niya ito ng mensahe dahil mukhang hindi maganda ang lagay ni Audrey.

When Emerson received his sister’s message, he was currently in a meeting with the directors of EM Technolgy. One of the directors is reporting in front. Mabilis siyang tumayo kaya napatigil ang nagrereport sa harapan.

“Sir, what’s the matter?” Martin asked.

Emerson looked at Martin. “Take over the meeting. I have to go to see my wife,” Aniya. Hindi na niya hinintay ang sasabihin ni Martin. Nagmamadali lamang siyang lumabas ng meeting room. Sa mga oras na ‘yon si Audrey ang nasa kaniyang isipan.

‘Kuya, Audrey met her mother and her sister. Right now, she doesn’t seem to be in a good state.’

Meanwhile, Audrey kept on drinking water, hoping to calm her nerves. ‘You will always be behind me, Audrey.’

It was just a simple sentence from her sister, and yet it had many meanings for her. Her sister meant that she could crash at her anytime she wanted. Audrey took a deep breath. Sinubukan niyang kalmahin ang kaniyang sarili. But the years of humiliation and suffering from her family were already engraved in her mind. Hindi ito basta-basta mawawala.

Dumating ang order nila ni Eliza, hindi magawang kumain ni Audrey ng maayos. Bumabalik kasi sa isipan niya ang mga nangyari sa kaniya noon sa bahay na kaniyang kinalakihan.

“Baby!”

Mabilis na napaangat ng tingin si Audrey nang marinig niya ang boses ni Emerson. Parang pakiramdam niya nasa isang madilim siyang mundo at si Emerson ang ilaw na nagbigay ng liwanag sa kaniya. Hindi alam ni Audrey pero pakiramdam niya ay may nagtulak sa kaniya upang tumayo at yakapin si Emerson.

Niyakap ni Emerson ang asawa saka masuyong hinagod ang buhok nito.

Audrey closed her eyes because she felt the comfort that succumbed to her. Emerson’s scent made her feel calm and at ease.

“I’m here.”

Tumango si Audrey nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Emerson.

Tinignan ni Emerson ang kapatid. “Anong nangyari?” tanong niya. Ramdam niya ang panginginig ni Audrey.

“It was her mother and sister.”

Mabilis na tumingin si Emerson kay Audrey. “Did they bully you?”

Umiling si Audrey.

Tumingin si Emerson kay Eliza.

Umiling rin si Eliza.

But Emerson was not a fool. Alam niyang may nangyari at ayaw sabihin ni Audrey sa kaniya.

“Audrey, I’m your husband. You can tell me anything,” said Emerson. Pinangko niya si Audrey at lumabas sila ng restaurant.

Agad namang binuksan ni Mark ang pinto nang kotse nang makitang lumabas ang mga amo niya mula sa restaurant.

Emerson gets into the car with his wife in his arms.

Habang humaharurot ang kotse, nakahawak si Audrey sa braso ni Emerson. Mahigpit ang hawak niya na para bang tatakbo ang lalaki palayo. Tahimik lamang sila buong biyahe.

Emerson didn’t ask anything, which Audrey appreciated. Kasi kahit magtanong si Emerson, hindi niya rin lang alam kung papaano ito sagutin.

Later, Emerson noticed the scar on Audrey’s wrist. Lagi kasing mahaba ang manggas na suot na damit ni Audrey at minsan lamang ito magsuot ng t-shirt. Napansin niya ang peklat nito na halatang resulta ito ng paglalaslas.

Emerson looked at his wife. Has she done it before? Audrey, what have you experienced in your family?

When they arrived at the penthouse, Audrey went to bed to get some rest.

Umupo si Emerson sa living room saka tinawagan si Eliza. “Come into the penthouse.”

“Yes, Kuya. I’m on my way.”

Pagdating ni Eliza sa penthouse ng kapatid, agad siya nitong ginisa. Oo, ginisa talaga dahil agad itong nagtanong kung ano ba ang nangyari kung bakit nagkaganun si Audrey.

“It seems like Audrey had trauma, Kuya." Her sister said something, then Audrey went pale. Hindi ko narinig kung ano ‘yon.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Emerson. “Sigurado ka?”

“Kuya, I swear,” itinaas ni Eliza ang kamay, “totoo ang sinasabi ko. Pero sa tingin ko, may mga hindi magandang karanasan si Audrey sa pamilya niya. Her mother didn’t even give her a glance earlier when her mother saw her.”

Emerson sighed. “I noticed the day when we got married, Audrey’s family didn’t seem to like Audrey. Though they were smiling, it was obviously fake.”

Nangalumbaba si Eliza. “Pero, Kuya, Audrey seems not in a good state earlier. Though nakangiti siya habang kasama ako bago niya nakita ang kapatid at nanay niya. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.”

Napangiti si Emerson. “You’re worried about her?”

“No, I’m just concerned.”

Emerson rolled his eyes. “Worried and concerned are the same thing,” Tumayo siya. “You can leave now. I’ll accompany my wife.”

“Kuya, kapatid mo ako.”

“And so?”

“So, basta mo paalisin na lang ako ganun?” Eliza crossed her arms over her chest.

“Bakit may gagawin ka ba rito?” tanong ni Emerson.

“Wala.”

“Oh. Iyon naman pala.”

“Pero hindi mo na ba ako aayaing kumain?” tanong ni Eliza. She pouted. Her brother doesn’t care for her anymore after getting a wife.

Emerson smiled. “Umuwi ka na at doon ka sa bahay nila Mommy kumain. Don’t disturb me and my wife.” Naglakad siya patungo sa kwarto. “Don’t forget to close the door when you leave.” Emerson waved his hand and entered the room.

Napailing na lamang si Eliza. “Iba na talaga ang may asawa.” Aniya saka bahagyang natawa ng mahina.