Kababalik lang nila galing sa maagang game drive. Yun ang tawag sa mga drives to the safari looking for animals in their natural environment. The reason why people flock to the Africa. There are game drives in the morning, at mayroon din sa hapon. The best times are during the dawn hours and at dusk when the animals are busiest. The weather is cool, the game are either hunting or drinking. And the likelihood of spotting them are high. The drive normally takes about 3 hours but they were already back after just two. “You are back early, madam,” bati sa kanya ng butler na naka toka sa safari villa nila. He was very lean and very tall, characteristic of the Maasai tribe of Kenya. His skin was very dark against the crisp white of the short sleeved polo he was wearing. Gabby has seen Chege in his Maasai traditional clothes before, a red cloth over his shoulder and across his chest and wore numerous beaded necklaces and bracelets and he looked fierce in it, but he always had a smile and h
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 th
Napapailing siya while she hurried out. But those gray eyes bothered her at may naramdaman siya ng kaba at kaunting takot. Piniling niya ang ulo trying to shake her negative thoughts. It cannot be. Madiin nyang sambit sa isip.Dumaan muna siya isang Starbucks at one of the commercial spaces of the building to buy a cold drink. She’s so screwed today. Wala siya ng sasakyan at coding ang sasakyan nya.She booked a Grab and waited. Tumayo siya para kunin ang kanyang order pero sa halip na inumin she rested her cheek on it.She can’t show up na may namamagang pisngi. Alam nyang pinag titinginan siya ng ibang mga tao sa cafe but she did not care. She was G. Gabriel, afterall. Best-selling
“Mommy, what happened to your face?”Nakauwi na sila but Chico was still repeating his question. She already said she bumped ito something.“Baby, It was mommy’s fault. I was not looking.” Inayos ni Gabby sa day bed si Mango, Chico’s twin sister. She placed a pillow by her side so she won’t roll and fall.She went to the kitchen to prepare their dinner at nakasunod pa rin ang anak na lalaki.“Did someone hurt you, Mommy?” diretsang tanong nito.Napangiti naman siya. Chico loves acting tough kasi hindi na raw ito baby, something he always reminded her lately. Gabby turned once she reached the center island, she pulled a chair for Chico a
Gabrielle Gabriel. Gabby had very little luck early in life. She was told that she was left at the door of St. Gabriel Cathedral when she was a newborn. And that’s how she came to have the last name, Gabriel. And as if a joke by the nuns na kumupkop sa kanya, they named her Gabrielle, nakakalito tuloy when she had to say her name in full. She left the convent the convent when she reached Eighteen and tried to find her place in the world. She would have come back at nag madre kung hindi siya nakahanap ngiba pang dahilan para manatili sa secular world kung tawagin ng mga madre.She might not have had a conventional family but she had a huge family. She was clothed, fed, and educated by the nuns. She slept at the convent. She had her own room. She had simple things but she had enough.“Mommy, add more colors, please. Make it pwetty.&r
THE HOTEL WAS EXTRAVAGANTLY decorated for the Halloween party. Sa pagpasok pa lang nila sa lobby, it was as if the Disney parade was transferred to the hotel. This is the second week of the event but the most anticipated kasi nga Halloween. Tonight's event was also a fundraiser. Kinausap nya ulit ang mga anak na h’wag hihiwalay sa kanya. She was holding one in each hand and carefully checking where they were going. Ang mga anak nya naman were busy looking around.Napasigaw si Mango when she turned and found another kid in a scary costume. Takot na takot ito and quickly hugged Gabby’s leg.“Baby, Baby, it’s just a costume.” Napilitan syang kargahin ito as Mango was scared and spooked already.Nag-alala tuloysiya sa kay Chico. “Anak, are you okay?” tanong nya
Gabby was woken up by a text message tone on her phone. 6 AM.There were not that many people na tatawag o nagte-text sa kanya nang ganoon kaaga.She opened it.This is Matt Wilson. Call me once you read this.Agad na napaupo sya. Napasapo siya ng noo. She looked at the curt message on her phone again. She didn’t know how he got her number but a man like him looked like he had means. She just held on to her phone. Kailangan nya pang mag-isip.Inayos niya ang kumot ng mga anak and tip-toed to the bathroom and freshened up before she went to the kitchen.She put the phone on the counter and made coffee. She was making batter for pancakes
Halos lumuwa naman ang mata ni Gabby. No one ever talked to her that way. She tried to take her hand again.Matt interlaced their fingers instead.“You’re - You’re rude!” She gritted her teeth.“I am just being honest. We already have babies. What’s the problem?” Matt turned his head and smiled at her before he faced front again.“My babies. My kids!” madiin ang bawat kataga na pagtatama naman ni Gabby.“We’ll see, Gab. We’ll see.” Sagot ni Matt.He let Gabby have her hand when she pulled it again.Mas pinili naman ni