Make It Without You

Chapter Two: Gabriel

Billy looks at the space she wants to lease for a small bakery. Because she's decided to stay in Nueva Valencia for a while, she needed to find a source of income, even just for the moment.

"Ano Billy, okay na ba sa'yo yan? 20,000 a month lang naman," the landlady asks.

It's a small space. Kasya lang siguro ang ilang racks para sa trays ng tinapay sa likod, tapos may display lang na maliit sa harapan. Malamang sa bahay na siya magbe-bake tapos idadala na lang dito para maibenta.

"Kasama na lahat dun sa 20,000 ha ate! Tubig, kuryente..."

The landlady sighs. "Oo na, sige na. Pasalamat ka talaga matumal ang rentahan ngayon!"

After signing the lease papers, just when she's about to cross the street to get a trike home, a bus passes by. An ad for VillariCorp on the back of the bus catches her eye.

The very person she is looking for is smirking back at her, all haughty, and every bit of him shouted money, money and more money!

And he's even wearing a nice suit!

Gabriel Villarica.

She can't believe that the homeless guy who collected trash for a living in Croatia is the one and only heir to one of the largest corporations in the Philippines, VillariCorp. Paano? Bakit siya napadpad dun?

Billy stands there, frozen, until the bus finally drives away. How can the Gabo she knew back in Croatia and that man be one and the same? Maybe he has a twin??? Ano bang mga naiisip mo Billy! Ano 'to, teleserye?! Romcom?!

She knows him. She knows that smile, the way his eyes crinkle at the sides, that smirk...

She shakes her head and walks to the waiting shed. Belinda, gutom ka lang yata. Kung anu-ano nang nakikita mo!

But now that she's home with a full stomach, thanks to the sumptuous dinner Lola Iling and Ate Esmie prepared, she knows it's true: Gabo is Gabriel Villarica.

She curses herself inwardly. Billy, di mo man lang kasi tinanong! Tinipa niya sa Google ang pangalang nalaman niya kanina.

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala, she calls Helen.

"O Billy! Anong balita?"

"Ate Helen... Nakita ko na siya," sagot ni Billy. She's still a bit shaken.

Narinig niyang napatigil si Helen sa ginagawa. "Si Gabo?! Agad-agad? Saan? Paano?"

"Sa bus..."

"Ha?! Nagkasabay kayo sa bus? Nakausap mo naman ba? Aba iba rin naman si destiny sa inyo ha!" Medyo nanunukso pa si Helen.

Napahawak na lang si Billy sa ulo niya. "Hindi..." she says. "Kasi... picture lang naman niya yung nakita ko."

Helen laughs. "Picture??? Nakakaloka 'to! Anong picture?! Saka teka nga, bakit parang di ka masayang nakita mo siya agad? Tignan mo nga, wala ka pang isang linggo dyan, nahanap mo na! At least di ka nahirapan!"

"Hindi ko alam anong mararamdaman ko eh. Nakita ko nga siya... pero nalaman ko naman kung sino talaga siya. Ate Helen, hindi siya pulubi. His name is Gabriel Villarica." Parang maiiyak na si Billy sa laki ng problema niya.

"Teka. Villarica? Mayayaman yun dyan ah! Ano bang sinabi niya sa'yo? Saan ba talaga siya galing?"

"Ate, wala. Ang tanga ko rin naman kasi! Di ko man lang tinanong! Tayo kilala niya pero di natin alam kung saan siya nanggaling," Billy says, frustrated. "Hindi ko na talaga alam anong gagawin ko."

Helen was quick to appease her. "Huy, ano ka ba. Di mo na kasalanan kung nagsinungaling man siya! Naku! Mukhang marami kayong pag-uusapan. Kailangan niyang mag-explain!"