  Let $a$ and $b$ be elements in the closed ball of a unital C$^*$-algebra $A$
(if $A$ is not unital we consider its natural unitization). We shall say that
$a$ and $b$ are domain (respectively, range) absolutely compatible
($a\triangle_d b$, respectively, $a\triangle_r b$, in short) if $\Big| |a| -|b|
\Big| + \Big| 1-|a|-|b| \Big| =1$ (resp., $\Big| |a^*| -|b^*| \Big| + \Big|
1-|a^*|-|b^*| \Big| =1$), where $|a|^2= a^* a$. We shall say that $a$ and $b$
are absolutely compatible ($a\triangle b$ in short) if they are both range and
domain absolutely compatible. In general, $a\triangle_d b$ (respectively,
$a\triangle_r b$ and $a\triangle b$) is strictly weaker than $ab^*=0 $
(respectively, $a^* b =0$ and $a\perp b$). Let $T: A\to B$ be a contractive
linear mapping between C$^*$-algebras. We prove that if $T$ preserves domain
absolutely compatible elements (i.e., $a\triangle_d b\Rightarrow
T(a)\triangle_d T(b)$) then $T$ is a triple homomorphism. A similar statement
is proved when $T$ preserves range absolutely compatible elements. It is
finally shown that $T$ is a triple homomorphism if, and only if, $T$ preserves
absolutely compatible elements.
