A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 26

WHEN EMERSON woke up the next morning, he happily whistled while cooking. Last night was a good night for him after making out with his wife. Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi habang nagluluto siya. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok ang asawa niya sa loob ng kusina na nakasimangot.

“What’s the matter, Baby?”

Nakasimangot na itinuro ni Audrey ang leeg nito.

Emerson looked at his wife’s neck and smiled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Audrey snorted. “I told you not to bite me last night.”

Emerson bit his lower lip. “Sorry, Baby. I couldn’t stop myself last night.”

Audrey pouted. “How will I cover it?”

“Well, having a kiss mark was normal—” napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang pandilatan siya ni Audrey ng mata.

Natawa ng mahina si Emerson. “I won’t do it again.”

Naningkit ang mata ni Audrey. “I don’t trust you.”

Emerson just smiled and pulled out a chair. “Sit here.”

Nakanguso na umupo si Audrey sa may upuan.

Hindi naman napigilan ni Emerson ang sarili na halikan ang asawa sa labi nito ng madiin.

“Hmm…” Audrey pushed Emerson. “Scoundrel.”

“You’re brave to say that to me, Baby,” with that Emerson cupped his wife’s face and kissed her again.

This time, Audrey didn’t push her husband. Instead, she put her arms around his neck and kissed him back, making Emerson smile.

Emerson pulled up his wife and sat on the chair his wife sat on, then he put his wife on his lap without breaking the kiss.

They both didn’t want to break the kiss.

Pero naputol ang mainit nilang halikan nang tumunog ang cellphone ni Emerson.

Emerson ignored the call and kissed his wife. But the caller was persistent that it was Audrey who broke the kiss.

“Ignore it, Baby,” Emerson was about to kiss his wife again, but Audrey stopped him.

“Sagutin mo muna ang tawag mo.” Ani Audrey. Tumayo siya mula sa kandungan ni Emerson saka kinuha ang cellphone at ibinigay rito.

Emerson smiled as he took his phone. It was an unregistered number when he looked at the call. Sighing, he ended the call. His contact numbers were only known to a few people. His family and friends were the people who only knew his contact number. As for business matters, it will pass through Martin and his assistant will relay it to him.

Kumunot ang noo ni Emerson nang tumawag na naman ang numero kaya naman sinagot na lamang niya ito.

“Who is this?” he asked in a cold voice.

Napatingin si Audrey kay Emerson nang marinig niya ang malamig nitong tinig. Kusa na lamang na gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Now, he can differentiate how Emerson treats her and other people. When it comes to her, Emerson speaks gently. But when he was with other people, Emerson was indifferent.

Audrey started to eat and put some food on Emerson’s plate.

“Emerson, honey, I miss you—”

Emerson ended the call and blocked the number.

“Who was it?” Audrey asked. “Pinatay mo naman agad.”

“Insignificant person,” Emerson said and dialed Martin’s number.

“Sir?”

“Buy me a new SIM card.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Emerson ended the call and shook his head.

“What’s the matter? Magpapalit ka ng sim card?”

Tumango si Emerson. “I received some insignificant phone calls these past few days,” he smiled. “So, it’s better to change my sim card.”

Napatango naman si Audrey saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Emerson stared at his wife. “It was Debbie.”

Napatigil si Audrey sa pagkain at napatingin kay Emerson. “Ah?”

“Sabi ko si Debbie ang tumawag kanina.”

Audrey smiled hesitantly. “I didn’t ask.”

“You didn’t, but I wanted to tell you. I don’t you to misunderstand me.” Sabi ni Emerson habang nakatingin ng deretso sa asawa.

Tumango si Audrey. “Thanks for telling me.”

But that morning, she fell into a deep thought that caused her to call Mia to come over.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?” Mia asked. Nakatingin siya kay Audrey na nakangalumbaba sa kaniyang harapan. Nasa kusina sila ng penthouse nila Audrey, having snacks while chatting.

“Emerson’s ex-fiancée was calling him,” Audrey said, propping her head with her hand.

Bahagyang natigilan si Mia saka napatitig sa kaibigan. Kaya naman pala wala itong gana nang pagbuksan siya nito ng pinto. “What did your husband do?”

“He didn’t answer the call and changed his sim card,” Audrey answered.

Napatango si Mia. “Then he cared for your feelings.”

“Do you think Emerson’s old feelings for his ex will rekindle if he answers her call?” Audrey asked. It’s not she doesn’t trust her husband. She was asking with curiosity.

Mia sighed. “Audrey, I’m not your husband. I don’t know what was on his mind,” she said.

“What’s your opinion then?”

Napaisip naman si Mia. She was careful if she wanted to say something because this was about Audrey and her husband. “Well, I think he didn’t answer his ex’s calls because he didn’t care about her anymore. And he was worried that you would misunderstand him. Kapag seryoso siya sa relasyon niyong dalawa, he won’t care about the past anymore. He will only care about the present, which is you. Moreover…”

“Moreover, what?”

Mia smiled. “You two are already married. You are a legal couple. You two should be open to each other. It doesn’t matter if your husband was not open to you. At least you are showing your true intention. It will somehow pull him to open up to you… maybe…” she shrugged.

Napatango naman si Audrey at isinaisip ang sinabi ng kaibigan.

Nag-stay pa si Mia ng ilang oras sa penthouse ng kaibigan bago niya naisipan niyang umuwi na. Hinatid naman siya ni Audrey hanggang sa labas ng gusali.

Pagkaalis ni Mia, pabalik na sana si Audrey sa loob ng gusali nang marinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang ina.

“Audrey.”

Lumingon naman si Audrey. “Mommy? Ano pong ginagawa niyo rito?” tanong ni Audrey. Last time, they parted, not on good terms. Then her mother texted her those hurtful words. Though lagi naman lalo na noong nakatira pa siya sa bahay ng mga ito.

Inilahad ni Felicia ang kamay. “Give me some money.”

Napatanga si Audrey at hindi makapaniwala. “Pera? Nandito kayo para hihingi sa akin ng pera?”

“Bakit? Anak naman kita. It is your responsibility to be filial to me. And it is also part of your responsibility as my daughter to support me.”

Natawa si Audrey. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa tinuran ng kaniyang ina. Parang kailan lang na walang pakialam ang kaniyang ina sa kaniya. Now, her mother comes to her to ask for money, k********g her morally by telling her to be responsible and filial.

“Emerson doesn’t give me money,” she lied. Of course, she would not tell the truth. Though her husband gave her an allowance, she would never give that to her mother. Nakakahiya sa asawa niya kapag gagawin niya ‘yon.

“Seduce him and ask him for money. Ang hina mo naman, Audrey.”

Audrey sighed. “Isn’t the company already saved? You should have money.” Kapagkuwan na-realize niya kung bakit humihingi sa kaniya ng pera ang kaniyang ina. “Oh, I get it. You went to gamble again. At ayaw kayong bigyan ni Daddy.”

“Ang dami mong satsat. Bigyan mo na lang ako ng pera.”

“Mommy, sabi ko na wala akong pera.” Ani Audrey.

“Wala ka talagang silbing anak!” Galit na turan ni Felicia at dinuro si Audrey. “I regret raising you and letting you come into this world!”

Those words stabbed Audrey into her heart. Hindi niya napigilan ang pagtulo ng luha mula sa kaniyang mata. With tears, she retaliated, “Then you should have killed me before I was born,” she said, smiling bitterly, and walked into the building.

That afternoon, Audrey cried until her eyes became swollen. She fell asleep before Emerson got home.

Nang makauwi naman si Emerson, nagtaka siya ng hindi niya makita ang asawa niya sa living room. It was just five-thirty p.m.; it was impossible that she was taking a nap — Emerson stopped when he saw his wife in the master’s bedroom and sleeping.

Emerson didn’t make a noise. Nagpalit siya ng damit saka napatingin sa asawa. Alam niyang hindi natutulog si Audrey ng ganitong oras.

“Is she sick?” Idinampi ni Emerson ang kamay sa noo ng asawa. Hindi naman ito mainit.

Then Emerson noticed Audrey’s eyebags. It was swollen. Halatang kagagaling nito sa pag-iyak.

Did someone bully her while I was not home?

Hindi naging mapakali si Emerson kaya naman pumunta siya sa security room ng gusali na tinitirhan nila ni Audrey. Minabuti niyang alamin kung sino ang mga nakausap ni Audrey habang wala siya sa penthouse. Alam niyang hindi rin lang magsasabi si Audrey sa kaniya kahit tanungin niya ito.

Emerson finds out that it is Audrey’s mother again. Kumuyom ang kamay niya nang marinig ang mga pinagsasabi ng ina ni Audrey sa asawa niya.

After Emerson left the security room, he called Mark on his way back to the penthouse.

“Mark, investigate Audrey’s family.”

“Boss?” Nagulat si Mark.

“May mali akong nararamdaman. Her family doesn’t treat her well. Parang hindi siya anak ng magulang niya.”

“I’ll get it done, Boss.”

“Mark, I want every detail to be precise. Don’t make mistakes.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Emerson ended the call and stepped out of the elevator.

Before entering the penthouse, Emerson called Martin. “Martin, pull out my investment in the Perez Company. They don’t deserve it.”

“Consider it done, Sir,” said Martin. He didn’t ask why, because if the President of EM Technology decided like that, the Perez family might do something that offended Emerson Montenegro.

Pagkatapos patayin ni Emerson ang tawag, pumasok na siya sa loob ng penthouse at nagluto ng hapunan nilang dalawa ni Audrey.