A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 5

“THE SUN WAS RISING ON THE WEST,” Audrey said when Manang Nena told her that her father asked her to eat breakfast with them.

Sandali pa siyang napatigil sa may pintuan ng kusina at tinignan ang magulang na nakangiti habang nag-uusap. I thought they were going to be bankrupt now. Why do they look happy?

Noong nakaraang araw narinig niyang nag-uusap ang mga ito at narinig niyang usapan nila ang tungkol sa bankruptcy ng kumpanya. Something was not right.

“Upo ka, Audrey.” Ang kaniyang ama ang unang nakapansin sa kaniya at inaya siya nito.

Audrey walked towards the table.

Freya and Felicia snorted at Audrey. Halatang ayaw nila sa dalaga.

This was the first time that Audrey would sit at the dining table. Umupo siya sa bakanteng upuan malayo sa kaniyang magulang at kapatid. Ayaw niyang makitabi sa mga ito baka kung ano pa ang gawin ng mga ito sa kaniya. Yes, she’s being cautious.

Kukuha sana si Audrey ng sandwich pero tinapik ng Ate Freya niya ang kamay niya kaya naman hindi niya itinuloy.

“Freya.” Ramon scolded his daughter.

Freya pouted and glared at Audrey.

Tahimik lamang si Audrey.

“Audrey, gusto kitang makausap.” Saad ni Ramon.

Tumango si Audrey. Inaasahan na niya ‘yon. Bakit naman sana siya uupo sa hapagkainan kung hindi siya kakausapin. “Ano pong pag-uusapan natin?” tanong niya.

“Our company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Someone lends a hand, but you have to marry him.” Seryosong saad ng kaniyang ama.

Napatigil si Audrey sa pagsubo at napatitig sa ama. “Ano?”

Sabi na nga ba. Tama siya ng akala. May hindi magandang nangyayari. May kapalit ang pag-upo niya sa dining table. Sa panahon ngayon, wala ng libre sa mundo. May kapalit ang lahat.

“Daddy, I am not a tool for a marriage,” she said. But as an outcast of the family, she would likely be a tool for her family’s ascension to the top.

Ramon angrily slammed the table. “Wala kang karapatang tumanggi! Anak ka lang! Ako ang ama mo kaya makinig ka sa akin!”

“Audrey, tumulong ka naman sa pamilyang ‘to,” wika ni Felicia.

“Audrey, pumayag ka na lang upang magkaroon ka naman ng silbi.” Wika ni Freya.

Hindi na umimik si Audrey at tahimik na lamang na kumain. Naiiyak siya pero pinigilan niya ang luha na gustong tumulo.

“Marry Emerson Montenegro, and we will love you,” kalmadong saad ni Ramon.

Uminom ng tubig si Audrey saka tumango. Wala na siyang pakialam kung sino ang taong ‘yon. Wala siyang laban sa ama niya. Even if she escapes, her father will find her. To love her there was even a condition.

“And by the way, this weekend, you will visit your in-laws. Leave a good impression on them,” Felicia said.

“Yes, Mommy.”

Mabilis na tinapos ni Audrey ang pagkain at nang matapos siya agad siyang umalis pero hinabol siya ng Ate Freya niya. Humarang pa ito sa harapan niya.

“Do you know what kind of man you will marry? The rumors said he was ruthless and killed whoever stood in his way. But it was okay, mayaman naman ang mapapangasawa mo. Just serve him well and he will give you money.”

Hindi alam ni Audrey kung tinatakot siya ng kapatid niya o gumagawa lamang ito ng kwento. “Ate, ikaw ang panganay sa ating dalawa? Bakit kaya hindi na lang ikaw?”

“Audrey, sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang hindi mahal ng magulang natin. I’m their precious daughter, so they would protect me. Unlike you, you deserved whatever unlucky thing comes to you.” Wika ni Freya at tinignan ang kapatid mula ulo hanggang paa. “So unlucky,” she mocked Audrey and left.

Walang nagawa si Audrey kundi ang mapabuntong hininga na lamang. Isang malungkot na ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi. Hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan niya kaya ang ganitong nangyayari sa kaniya.

She was the unloved daughter of her family and she would never experience the love of her parents. Nakikita niya kung gaanong kamahal ng magulang niya ang panganay niyang kapatid. Before, she wanted to get her parents’ love too, so she obeyed them with everything, but it wasn’t enough.

And she was asking herself why she couldn’t get the love she deserved too? Anak naman siya ng magulang niya pero bakit nararamdaman niya na hindi siya mahal ng mga ito.

A tear fell from Audrey’s eyes. Mabilis niyang pinunasan ang luhang tumulo mula sa kaniyang mata saka umalis na. Habang palabas siya ng gate, nakita niya ang kapatid niya na sumakay ng kotse. Their driver will send her sister to school, while she will take the minibus. It was unfair treatment of her parents.

Sighing, Audrey waited for the minibus. As she was waiting for the minibus, a luxury car stopped in front of her. Aalis na sana si Audrey sa kinatatayuan nang bumaba ang driver ng kotse.

“Miss Audrey.”

Audrey pointed to herself. “Ako?”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Nagulat si Audrey saka mabilis na umatras.

“Young Lady, huwag kayong matakot. Wala akong gagawing masama sa inyo. I’m Mark. I’m Mr. Montenegro’s head of bodyguards. Inutusan niya akong ihatid at sunduin ko kayo sa university.”

“Mr. Montenegro?” Nagtaka si Audrey.

“Yes, Young Lady. He is your fiancé, right?”

Mahirap magtiwala si Audrey kaya naman ngumiti siya ng peke.

Kapagkuwan may tumawag kay Mark.

“Yes, Boss. The Young Lady is with me right now.”

“Give her the phone. I want to talk to her.”

Mark nodded and looked at the Young Lady. “Young Lady, the boss wants to talk with you.” Lumapit siya sa fiancée ng amo saka ibinigay rito ang hawak na cellphone.

Alanganing tinanggap ni Audrey ang cellphone. “H-hello.”

“It’s me, Audrey. Your fiancé,” the man said in the other line with a cold voice.

Hindi naman alam ni Audrey ang sasabihin kaya hindi siya nagsalita.

“Huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi ka sasaktan ng tauhan ko. He will be your driver and bodyguard from now on. You won’t take the bus anymore. I don’t want my fiancée to suffer while taking the bus.”

He’s concern? Kumunot ang nuo ni Audrey dahil familiar ang boses ng kausap niya. Parang narinig na niya pero hindi niya matandaan kung saan niya narinig.

“Mr. Montenegro, I’m okay. You don’t have to waste your time on me—”

“Audrey, I’m your fiancé now.” There was a firmness in his voice. “I have to take care of you. I will be on a business trip for a week, so I can’t meet you. But we will meet on our wedding day. And remember to go to my parents' house this weekend. I left something for you. My mother will give it to you. See you, Audrey.” Then the call ended.

Napatitig si Audrey screen ng cellphone. Though her fiancée sounded cold, she thought he was a nice person. Ibinalik niya ang cellphone kay Mark.

Mark opened the door in the backseat. “Young Lady, please.”

Audrey politely nods her head. “Thank you.” Then she gets into the car.

Pagkatapos pumasok ni Audrey sa loob ng kotse, maingat na isinara ni Mark ang pinto saka siya umikot patungo sa driver seat.

Tahimik ang naging biyahe ni Audrey hanggang sa makarating siya sa university. Before she got out of the car, she talked to Mark. “Huwag ka ng mag-abala na sunduin ako mamaya. May part-time job ako.”

“Young Lady, I will pick you up.” Pahabol na sabi ni Mark.

Napailing na lamang si Audrey at hindi na pinansin ang lalaki. Deretso na lamang siya sa pagpasok sa school gate.

Mark sighed. “Boss’ fiancée was cautious,” he said, and drove to park the car in the parking lot. Tinignan niya sa cellphone niya ang class schedule ng fiancée ng boss niya. Regarding this matter, his boss forwarded it to him. At kung may gustong malaman ang boss niya, magagawa nito dahil sa koneksiyon nito.

AUDREY doesn’t have a mood for the whole day because of what happened this morning. Her father wants her to marry Emerson Montenegro to save the company. It was saddening to think that her parents didn’t even care about her feelings. Pero kailan nga ba nagkaroon ang mga ito ng pakialam sa kaniya?

Habang naglalakad si Audrey patungo sa convenience store, nagulat na lamang siya nang may tumabi sa kaniyang sasakyan.

“Young Lady,” Mark waved, “get in.”

Napabuga ng hangin si Audrey. “Go away!” Binilisan pa niya ang paglalakad.

Bumuntong hininga naman si Mark. “Young Lady had a temper,” he said. “Good luck to the Boss after marriage.”

Nakasunod na lamang si Mark sa fiancée ng boss niya dahil ayaw naman nitong sumakay sa kotse. Pero nagtaka siya dahil may kaya naman ang pamilya ng fiancée ng boss niya. Bakit kailangan pa nitong magtrabaho?

Mark rubbed his chin.

Audrey looked outside and saw the car. Bumuga siya ng hangin. Hindi niya alam kung maganda ba ang magkaroon ng fiance dahil may hatid-sundo siya? O minamanmanan siya nito para isumbong sa fiancé niya kung may ginagawa siyang hindi maganda?

“Fiancé…” Hindi pa man siya nagkakaroon ng boyfriend pero may fiancé na siya. Ang bilis lang ng mga pangyayari.

When Audrey stepped out of the convenience store, it was already 8:10 in the evening. Akala niya umalis na ang driver s***h bodyguard niya pero nakita niyang nakatayo ito sa tabi ng kotse at halatang hinihintay siya.

“Hindi ka nainip sa paghihintay, ah.” Wika ni Audrey.

Mark smiled and opened the backseat door. “I’m following the Boss’ order, Young Lady.”

“Just Audrey. Nagtataasan ang mga balahibo ko kapag tinatawag mo akong ‘Young Lady’.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Audrey groaned in annoyance. “Bahala ka.”

Mark just bowed his head and closed the door after the Young Lady got in. He sighed. I think I need some help in case the Young Lady escapes in the future. Though Audrey looks innocent, she doesn’t look simple.