A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 23

BAHAGYANG NAGULAT si Audrey nang makita niya ang kaniyang ina na nasa harapan ng gusaling kinaroroonan ng penthouse nila ni Emerson. But she doesn’t have to guess why her mother was here. Sigurado siyang nandito ang ina niya dahil kay Freya. Her mother will seek justice for Freya because of what she did to her elder sister.

Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Audrey saka lumapit sa ina. “Mom.”

“Bakit mo sinampal si Freya?” tanong agad ni Felicia na may halong panunumbat.

“Tinanong niyo po ba siya kung bakit?”

“Hindi pero alam kong ikaw ang may kasalanan kung napagsalitaan ka man ng kapatid mo ng hindi maganda.”

Natawa ng pagak si Audrey. “Hindi na ako nagulat na ganiyan ang iniisip niyo dahil kahit kasalanan ni Ate Freya ay ginagawa niyong kasalanan ko.” Aniya sa malungkot na tono. “Pero okay lang. Sanay na po ako, Mommy.”

Balak ni Audrey na lagpasan na lamang ang ina pero hinawakan nito ng mahigpit ang braso niya. “Kinakausap pa kita, Audrey. Huwag mo akong talikuran.”

“Mommy, wala na akong sasabihin sa ‘yo dahil kahit magpaliwanag ako, hindi rin lang kayo makikinig sa akin,” sabi ni Audrey na totoo naman dahil simula pa noon hindi nakikinig ang kaniyang magulang sa kahit na anong paliwanag niya.

“Audrey, mukhang tumapang ka na. Hindi ka naman ganiyan dati. Did your husband badly influence you?”

Audrey was about to speak to defend her husband, but she heard his voice right behind him. Nag-park ito ng kotse kaya nahuli ito.

“I didn’t influence my wife to become a bad person. You should ask yourself why she was like this towards you,” said Emerson.

Sumulyap si Audrey sa asawa.

Ngumiti si Emerson saka ipinalibot ang braso kay Audrey. “Are you okay?” he asked in a gentle voice, always.

Tumango si Audrey.

Emerson’s soft face disappeared when he faced his wife’s mother.

“I don’t hit women, but I will if you dare to hurt my wife again.”

“I’m your mother-in-law. You should respect me.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Emerson. “Respect? Pili lamang ang mga taong nirerespeto ko. Ina ka nga ng asawa ko pero kung hindi mo nirerespeto ang asawa ko, bakit naman kita rerespetuhin?”

“Audrey slapped her sister,” Felicia said. Nakaramdam siya ng takot ngayon na kaharap niya ang isang Emerson Montenegro.

“I don’t even care if your daughter will die. I only care if my wife gets hurt,” Emerson said, looking at his wife. “Let’s go. I’m tired. I wanted to rest.”

“Alright.” Audrey nodded.

Iniwan nila ang ina ni Audrey sa labas ng gusali at pumasok na sila. Hindi na pinansin ng mag-asawa ang mga sinasabi nito. Hindi naman ito makapasok sa gusali dahil hinarangan ito ng guard.

“You slapped your sister?” Emerson asked after they entered the elevator.

Audrey nodded.

“Why did you slap your sister?”

Napasimangot si Audrey. “She insulted you.”

“What did she say that made you slap her?” tanong ni Emerson. He inwardly smiles because he feels he has won something. His wife slapped Freya because she insulted him. Now he wondered what Freya had said that made Audrey slap her.

“Sabi niya kasi na mayaman ka at maraming babae ang nagkakagusto sa ‘yo. You could get tempted. I was just an ordinary woman who didn’t know anything…” napatigil sa pagsasalita si Audrey nang yakapin siya ni Emerson.

“Baby, I don’t care what your sister said about me. But I can assure you that I never fooled women. I have you and I’m content with it. Wala akong balak maghanap ng iba. Moreover, I told you I will stay loyal to our marriage. I won’t cheat. All I want is for you to trust me.”

Tumango si Audrey.

Pinakawalan ni Emerson ang asawa nang bumukas ang elevator. Lumabas sila ng elevator at nagtungo sa penthouse nila.

Nakatanggap ng mensahe si Audrey mula sa ina.

‘Audrey, I told you before. A pheasant can never become a phoenix. Your husband spoils you now because you are still newly married. Pero darating ang araw na wala na siyang pakialam sa ‘yo. Maghahanap at maghahanap siya ng ibang babae. I’m telling you this considering that you are my daughter. Don’t come back to us if you have trouble. Isa pa, isa ka lamang na ordinaryong babae. Your husband won’t like you and later, he will replace you with another woman. That’s life.’

Napatitig si Audrey sa screen ng cellphone. Mom, you never cared for me. I know you will never, and I am already used to it, but why does it hurt so much?

Sa mga salita ng kaniyang ina, hinihila nito ang pride niya pababa. The words coming from her family make her feel down.

Malalim na napabuntong hininga si Audrey saka nangalumbaba. Nanatili siya sa kusina at wala siyang kabalak-balak na gumalaw kahit pa pumasok si Emerson. Nakapalit na ito ng pambahay.

“Baby, hindi ka magpapalit ng damit?” tanong ni Emerson.

Hindi sumagot si Audrey. Tahimik siyang bumaba mula sa kinauupuan at lumabas ng kusina.

Napasunod naman ng tingin si Emerson sa asawa. Kapagkuwan nagsuot siya ng apron saka nagluto ng hapunan.

Audrey went to the master’s bedroom. Bigla siyang nawalan ng gana kaya naman pagkatapos niyang magpalit ng damit, ibinagsak niya ang katawan sa kama. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mata at dahil na rin siguro sa pinaghalong lungkot at pagod, nakatulog siya ng hindi niya namamalayan.

Nagising na lamang si Audrey nang marinig niya ang boses ni Emerson. Ginigising siya nito para kumain. Inaantok siya kaya hindi niya pinansin si Emerson. She just hummed and ignored Emerson.

Napailing na lamang si Emerson habang nakangiti. “Good night then, Baby,” he said, and kissed Audrey on her forehead. Hinayaan na lamang niya ang asawa na matulog. Inayos pa niya ang pagkakahiga nito sa kama saka ito kinumutan.

Kumain siyang mag-isa ng hapunan.

Kinabukasan, nagulat si Audrey nang magising siya at napagtanto niyang nakahiga siya sa ibabaw ni Emerson.

Audrey facepalmed. Ano bang pinaggagawa niya? Paano siya nakapunta sa ibabaw ng asawa niya?

Aalis na sana si Audrey sa ibabaw ni Emerson nang gumalaw ito, ipinalibot ni Emerson ang braso sa beywang niya saka ito tumagilid ng higa kaya naman napahiga siya sa kama pero hindi naman siya makagalaw dahil sa brasong nakapalibot sa katawan niya. Then what made her suck her breath when Emerson buried his face in her neck? She could feel his breath fanning on her neck, and it made her feel a tingling sensation that ran through her body.

Napalunok na lamang si Audrey dahil sa mabilis na pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. She took a deep breath and tried to get away from Emerson’s arms, but he tightened his arms around her, making her impossible to escape.

Nabuga na lamang ng hangin si Audrey. Mabuti na lamang at sabado, wala silang pasok ni Emerson. She couldn’t get away from Emerson’s hold and didn’t realize she had fallen asleep again.

When Audrey woke up, she was already alone in bed, but she could hear the open shower in the bathroom. Inabot niya ang cellphone sa nightstand saka tinignan ang oras. It was already seven a.m.

Audrey closes her eyes again and her phone slides from her hand. Her phone dropped on the carpeted floor. Hindi na siya nag-abala na pulutin ang cellphone niya at muling ipinikit ang mata. Napamulat na lamang siya nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto ng banyo.

Natigilan si Audrey nang makita si Emerson na bagong ligo at nakatapis lamang ng tuwalya ang pang-ibaba nito. Emerson’s body was exposed in front of his wife. Alam ni Audrey na maganda ang katawan ng asawa niya pero hindi niya akalain na ganito kakisig kapag walang suot na damit. Broad shoulders, chest muscle, v-shape body with six-pack abs.

Audrey closed her eyes before her husband noticed she was staring at him.

“Baby?”

“Hmm?” Audrey hummed.

“Get up. I’m taking you somewhere.”

Nagmulat ng mata si Audrey saka nilingon si Emerson na nasa harapan ng closet at nagsusuot ng damit.

“Saan?” tanong niya.

Emerson glanced at his wife. “It’s a secret. But the key was, I want to make you happy.”

Audrey frowned. “How?”

Emerson smiled while buttoning his polo. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“It was a surprise.”

Audrey pouted. “I hate surprises,” Aniya. She dragged herself out of bed and walked towards the bathroom.

Natawa naman si Emerson saka napailing. He picked up his phone and called a restaurant. Nagpa-book siya para sa kanila ng asawa niya. He’s taking her somewhere, and he hopes it will lift her mood.