Chapter 1

Nagmamadaling umuwi si Gabby, she went to the studio to work with the screenwriter. It was the latest of her novels to be turned into a television drama. And if someone asked, she wanted it to be the last. She loved her books but turning them into motion pictures or serializing them into dramas was a headache. She was constantly headbutting with writers and directors. While she sold the rights to her books, it came with a lot of clauses. She made sure they stick to the story as closely as possible. It was the last of her contract of two movies and two television dramas and she did not intend to renew the contract with the production studio anymore.

The soap was already halfway done but airing just started. It was number one on its time slot which was a relief after all the work they were doing. She passed by the huge poster of One Last Wish, she stopped and stared at it for a moment. In small text below the drama title -- Based on the Original Story by: G. Gabriel. 

It would have been perfect if the main lead was the same age as the female character in the book. She looked at the beautiful face of Lisa Samuel on the poster. She was too young. She was a huge hit last year at bini-build up ito ng network. It was rumored she was having an affair with the producer of the drama. She sighed wala na siyang paki-alam doon, she was just disappointed that she was casted. One Last Wish was a story closest to her heart. It was not one of her bestsellers, but the book had a sort of cult following. 

 An actor attracts an audience and Lisa’s fans were not exactly the target audience that Gabby imagined for her book.  She wanted someone with more depth sa pag-arte and not just a pretty face. She wanted someone less popular to act on it, drawing more focus on the storyline than the popularity of the actress. 

Gabby sighed and started walking for the exit. It was a long corridor. The walls were adorned with movie and drama posters. Panaka-naka ay may pinto going to another office of the production studio. 

“Well, well, mabuti naman at nagpakita ang magaling naming writer.” 

Gabby heard a voice. She stopped and turned. She saw Lisa and her manager and the open doorway to one of the offices that she just passed. 

“Hi, Lisa,” batiniya dito. She also nodded to Lisa’s manager. “Do you have a problem?” tanong ni Gabby kay Lisa coldly. She was not a push-over if Lisa thought she can act like a prima donna around her nagkakamali ito.  

“Miss G, sorry,” agad na pagitna ng manager ni Lisa. She looked beggingly at her. “ Thank you for allowing the revisions po. Natanggap na namin yung bagong script.” 

Gabby nodded. “Sorry, if I can’t stay long. I have to go.” 

She turned to leave nang may humaklit sa braso nya. 

“Really? Leukemia? Wala ka bang ibang maisip para sa ending ng story mo?” mataray na tanong nito nang may pangungutya sa kanya. 

She controlled raising an eyebrow at mahinahon pa rin itong sinagot, “That’s a published book. If you read it, you would have known kung ano ang project na tinanggap mong artehan.” 

Lisa scoffed. “It’s not very original. My fans won’t like this project.”

Nagpanting naman ang tenga ni Gabby with the scoff from the starlet. “It’s Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia,” she said slowly, enunciating every syllable. “You should be able to say that by now already.” Piniksiniya ang braso to remove Lisa’s hand. 

Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Lisa. “Totoo nga ang sabi nila, ang arte-arte mo sa projects mo. Yet I find that your books are so average.” 

One side of Gabby’s lip raised in a smirk. “And if you are half as good sa pag-arte like what are doing now, I will be satisfied.” 

Gabby did not expect it, but Lisa raised her hand and slapped her across the face. 

“Oh my,” napasigaw ang manager ni Lisa sa ginawa nito. 

Gabby did not take a moment para sapuin pa ang nasaktang pisngi. She slapped the actress across her face and she made sure it was twice as hard and slapped her other cheek with the back of her hand.

Agad na hinawakan ni Lisa ang mukha. “How-How dare you!” sigaw nito sa kanya at humagulgol ng iyak. 

“Do not be quick with that hand kung wala sa script at lalong walang nagroroll na camera.” She turned to leave when her long braid was pulled hard. Gabby took hold of her braid, she almost lost her balance as she was dragged backward. 

Someone grabbed her by the waist and helped pull her hair back. 

“Shit!” Itinulak niya ang may yakap sa kanya wanting to get back to Lisa. 

“Hey, calm down, hellcat.” ani ng baritonong boses. 

Gabby looked up. She found gray eyes staring back. He was tall, kasing gwapo ng mga actor o pwedeng mas higit pa but she did not recognize him. He had an authoritative air to him just like the men in her books. 

Itinulak niya pa rin ito. She was uncomfortable being too close to him. He let go of her waist but kept a hand on her arm.

Hinarap naman ulit ni Gabby si Lisa. Another tall and muscled man stood between her and Lisa.

Lisa was already crying like a damsel-in-distress. 

“Kath,” Gabby addressed Lisa’s manager. “Make sure na magtino yang alaga mo.” 

Tumango naman ito. 

Gabby sighed. She can now feel her cheek throbbing. Ayaw niya naman hawakan ang pisngi further drawing attention to it. She placed a hand over the guy’s hand on her arm, meaning to remove his hand para maka-alis na siya. 

His hand was big and warm. Gabby can feel current starting from where he was holding her. If she was not in this situation, she would probably swoon. She tugged his hand again para maalis nito ang pagkakahawak sa kanya. 

“You’re hurt.” 

Narinig ni Gabby na sabi nito. 

She did not dare look at those gray eyes again. 

“I’ll live.” She tugged his hand harder at tuluyan na siya ng binitiwan nito. 

She walked as fast as possible to leave that place.

“Matt!” 

Gabby heard Lisa call out. She saw Lisa step into the guy’s embrace from the reflection on the mirrored wall. Napaismid siya  at napailing.