Anabel was delighted to see Gabriella, her favorite daughter-in-law. Though the Cebuano was not afraid to share her opinions and speaks her mind, she's full of compassion, generosity, and kindness.

At first, she was against her engagement to Jason because of their age difference. She was a starter and very ambitious while Jason was already established in his chosen career. In addition, she didn’t approve of her carefree nature. Anabel used to believe that she won't fit in their family, in their neighborhood. But that was all in the past.

Because, despite her objection, Jason still married Gabriella. She was hurt and insulted that her opinion barely matters to Jason, until her husband, Romy, persuaded her to reconcile with the fact that Jason was in his thirties already and has a mind on his own.

“Welcome home, Gabby. How was your trip? “She welcomed her with a hug and a kiss to both cheeks. She signaled Jefferson to go ahead and prepare the table for lunch.

“Great, Mama. “Gabby didn’t kiss her back. Instead, she reached for the old woman's hand, bowed to her and pressed her forehead at the back of Anabel's hand. It's an honoring gesture practiced in the Philippines to show respect to the elders. After she showed her respect, she asked for Kelly, and Anabel informed her that the child was still sleeping.

Anabel told her to follow to the kitchen so they can eat their lunch. Gabby followed inside the detached Bahay-Kubo that served as their kitchen and dining area. Once inside, her nose was filled with the delicious aroma from the food on the temporary table made of bamboo.

Native chicken with malunggay and basil leaves were served with white rice. The soup was smoking hot in a porcelain china all-purpose bowl that was uniquely decorated with colorful patterns inside out.

“You remembered my favorite, Ma. She announced delightfully when she noticed the chicken blood and liver in her bowl. Others would find it disgusting to consume, but they were her favorite since she was a child.

Oops! Her eyes widen and her heart skipped a beat when she realized that it was Jeff who prepared the table and made sure that the parts she favored were present in her bowl. “Thanks, Jeff, but how did you know that these are my favorite? “She asked him while pointing to the chicken liver and blood.

Jefferson tried to ignore her question and looked elsewhere. Then, he went outside to pick some chili in the garden. When he's back, he squeezed at least five chilies on his bowl that the soup turned orange. “Would you like some, Gabby? “He passed the saucer that has chilies to Gabby. Jefferson smiled in a smug manner when she tried to copy him and squeezed at least five chilies into her soup too.

“You also knew that I love hot and spicy foods? “She tasted the soup and when the spiciness seemed lacking, she added more chilies into it. She smiled in triumph when she saw his mouth remained open in shock. Good riddance! She knew that he was challenging her to try the chilies. Good thing, she's into spicy foods or her tongue would burn! Her eyebrows met at the center of her forehead when she tried to analyze his action.

Jefferson accepted defeat and just ate. From time to time, he glared at Gabriella. He planned to convince Jason to have a second opinion, and in the meantime, he would try his best to annoy her so she would go back to where she came from. He just realized that Jason was a fool to blindly believe the diagnosis he got from his doctor. That doctor could be wrong because, for Jefferson, Jason looked healthy and fine.

“You want more chilies, Jeff? “She winked just to annoy him. What's wrong with this guy? If he's still angry at her, she's also annoyed at him. She just hoped that Anabel wouldn’t notice their animosity. She hated being interrogated and-

“Gabby? “Anabel has no problem with Gabriella being around, but she wanted to have Kelly all the time. She might be selfish, but she loved the little version of her son, Jason.

“Yes Mama? “She gave Jefferson a dirty look before she turned to Anabel.

“Kelly and I were invited to attend her classmate's birthday, would you like to tag along? It would be okay if you'll come with us. If they knew you were coming, they would have invited you too. “Anabel continued.

Gabriella stared at the old woman for a few seconds. She wanted to say yes, that she would tag along, that she won't give a damn if she's invited or not. “I’m fine, Mama. You can just go and bring Kelly. I will just stay here and rest.”

Anabel expressed a sigh of relief. Now that Gabby's here, she would be the authority in the house, and she would spend more time with Kelly. “Jeff, don't go anywhere after lunch. You wash the dishes and keep Gabby company. “She instructed Jefferson.

Jefferson nodded at Anabel's instruction but he won't really keep her company. He was also invited by Leah, his former schoolmate, to attend at her mother's birthday. He had committed to her that he would be there. But he has to let Anabel leave first.

After lunch, both women left him to wash the dishes. Anabel would be taking a nap in a bench made of bamboo under the shade of a mango tree.

Gabby went to her bedroom and unpacked her things. After unpacking, she went to the toilet to pee but she noticed first that there's no water to be used for flushing.

What should I do, she asked herself. She went outside to look for a place to hide to empty her bladder. Finally, she found the perfect spot! It was behind the pigpen in their backyard. There was only one piglet in it and its sleeping!

Gabriella lowered down her blue jeans first, followed by her white underwear before she positioned herself to pee...

When her bladder was empty, she felt intense relief after holding it for a few minutes. She was about to stand when she heard someone coming and the piglet cried in delight. God, it must be the piglet's lunchtime and who else but Jefferson who brought his food!

Gabriella panicked! And he's coming too fast!

As fast as she could, she pulled up her underwear and jeans. What about now? He would surely ask her what she's doing behind the pigpen. Think Gabriella, think!

She praised the Lord when her smartphone was inside her jeans pocket.

Jefferson almost forgot to feed the piglet because of Gabriella. The woman was inside his head since she arrived and he didn’t like it! Tonight, he must call Jason to persuade him in getting a second opinion!

His jaw dropped and was lost for words when he saw her behind the pigpen! Wait. Was that her bare buttocks? What was she doing behind the pigpen? Showing her humps to the innocent piglet? Leah must have been so shocked that she didn’t cry for her meal earlier.

Right, the piglet was named after his friend, Leah. She wouldn’t like it for sure but she wouldn’t know.

He slowed down to give her time to finish whatever she's doing there. And he was deeply embarrassed when the reason why Gabby was hiding behind the pigpen dawned on him. Rage pulsed into his veins and he made a mental note to get some water for the toilet and bath inside her bedroom. What if it’s another person who saw her? “Gabby? Why are you here? “He called her to be warned of his arrival.

Gabriella raised her phone to the air as if she was searching for a better reception. She has erased the trace of urine in the area by covering it with dirt. As if she did nothing in particular, she didn’t move and just remain seated in the ground, and smiled at him slyly. “Hello Jeff, just don’t mind me. I'm just here to look for better reception. Globe has no signal inside the house, “she reasoned out.

“If you say so, just don’t bother Leah while she's eating or she will lose her appetite. “It was too late when he realized what he just said.

“The piglet? “Gabriella tried to control her laughter but the more she suppressed it, the more it wanted to be out. Jefferson scowled when she almost died by laughing too hard. “Goodness, that's so tacky! How could you name the piglet after your girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend, alright?” Leah has been showy about her feelings towards him but she's not his type. And he made it clear that their relationship will always be friends.

“Whatever. Anyway, I better get back to my room and rest. Just wake me up when you're back and do it before Mama comes home. “From the look on his face, she's sure that she guessed it correctly. He's leaving her alone even if he promised to Anabel that he would keep her company. Hmmm, bastard!