Novels by Lily Ella

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

Sinalat ni Matt ang noo ni Gabby. She woke up from the movement. “Hey, morning,” a smiling Matt greeted her, his voice low. He moved his hand and felt her neck with the back of his hand. “You are all good, no fever,” he added before dropping a kiss on her lips. Gabby’s cheeks flushed with the recollection of how she came down with a fever after their first time together. She was still wearing Matt’s shirt. She already had pajamas on. She realized, binihisan siya nito and carried her to bed last night. She glanced at the twins na tulog na tulog pa din. “Sorry that woke you up. You can get back to sleep. We still have a couple of hours.” ani Matt, not leaving and still sitting on her side of the bed.Pero bumangon na rin si Gabby, she stopped herself from winching, her legs were aching, and every part of her body. “I need to pack,” sambit niya but she remained seated on the bed. Pinapakiramdaman if strength is back to her legs. “Done.” Kiniling ni Matt ang ulo pointing to the lugga

Parang mas maliwanag ang mundo pagkagising ni Gabby kinabukasan. The sea was bluer than usual and the sky was clearer. The trees that lined the street below even looked greener. Napailing siya sa naisip pero hindi niya napigilang ngumiti. “Mommy, let’s go,” malakas na tawag ni Mango from the living room. Agad na pinulot niya ang hair dryer at sinimulang tuyuin ang buhok. “Yes, baby. Five minutes,” sagot niya dito. She just half dried her hair at nilagyan ng kaunting leave-on hair conditioner. Her hair was not cooperating and was giving her riot curls. She wanted to look for a hair tie pero malamang at naubos niya na sa pag-aayos sa buhok ng anak na babae. Mabilis na dinampian ng lip tint ang labi. She checked herself in the mirror. Matt said lalabas lang sila para mamili ng ilang gamit for their safari vacation. She wore a black track pants, a white shirt and threw on a black, zipped Philipp Plein track top. The twins picked it for her. It had cartoon monsters printed on it.

“DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?” Tanong ni Nico kay Matt. Kaaalis lang ni Lio and they were left in the cigar room. Matt was still frowning, still thinking of everything he had heard. “There is something off.“ Pauna niya. He slowly poured another shot of whisky into his glass. “Like it was a partial truth?” ani ni Nico. He also had an unlighted cigar in his hand. He brought it closer to his nose to smell the premium tobacco but his eyes never left Matt. “Yes.” Nico took an envelope from inside his jacket and slid it to Matt. “Personally picked up and delivered.” “Thanks, bro.” Matt grabbed the mid-size brown envelope. He looked at the address first. It was very indistinct but it carried the name of the laboratory from the US. He opened it and quickly ran his eyes on the few pieces of paper inside. He neatly folded it and placed it back on the envelope, tsaka isinuksok sa inner pocket ng sariling jacket. “So?” Nico widely smiled. He has been with Matt since they were starting out

Lio flipped a coin between his fingers. His eyes tracked Matt until Matt occupied a solo seat in the living room. He continued to look around, he stopped flipping the coin when his eyes met Nico’s sharp gaze. “So, G is not invited to the conversation?” Lio asked and sat back comfortably. He was wearing a tan button-down shirt, sunglasses in his shirt pocket, and dark brown pants. “You might want to start talking before you overstay your welcome,” Nico interjected. He comfortably leaned on the counter of the small kitchen of the suite. “I want to talk to G first.” was Lio’s response. Sandaling nagtinginan muna si Nico at Matt before Matt turned to look away and stared at the view outside with his jaw clenched. Nico moved and walked to the bedroom, paglabas nito ay nakasunod na si Gabby. Saglit namang sinulyapan ni Gabby si Matt but he was looking away from her. A sharp pain pierced her heart. Sa maikling panahong nakilala niya ito, he always had his eyes on her, as if he k

Matt was a benefactor of the center. Kaya kakaibang welcome ang natanggao nila. May mga inihanda pa ang mga kababaihan at mga bata na mga palabas para sa kanila. There was no time to be alone which was a relief for her. Matt had a formal meeting with the sisters. He asked her to come with him pero nagdahilan siyang aayusin ang mga inihandang pasalubong para kay Sister Mary. May nagpresentang tulungan siya. Bumalik sila sa sasakyan at naroon din ang isang pang sasakyan that escorted them. She may never get used to it pero napansin niyang Matt rarely travelled alone. “We need the boxes,” she politely asked one of the armed men na kasama nila.Agad itong tumango at nagbigay ng instructions sa tatlo pang kasama nito. Kinuha ni Gabby ang isang bag ng mga pasalubong galing pa ng Pilipinas na hinanda niya para kay Sister Mary sa sasakyang ginamit nila.Limang malalaking box ng mga laruan at mga bagong damit ang ipinahanda ni Matt para sa pagbisita nila. He just called someone somewhere