My First Novel: Noelle, Last Chapter

Three Years Later

Noelle sits by herself at Jollibee and smiles as she recalls that conversation she had with her friends in Sing when they gamely chose to meet here at this fastfood. How time flies. She couldn’t believe it has been three years since. She couldn’t believe how her life has changed greatly.

After finishing her studies abroad, she came back to start her own pre-school with her friend Kara. The idea came when Denise was complaining how she can’t find a good pre-school for her two toddlers. They started small with less than 20 students, children of friends and family members. At present time, only after a year of operation, their students more than doubled.

You can say 2010 was a great year for Noelle and Kara because that was when they started their pre-school, “God’s Little Angels.” It was also the year when Noelle finished her MBA and finally came back to Manila for good.

Kara finished hers in 2009 and came back home. After a year, Jason couldn’t bear being away from her anymore, so he came home for good and they became Mr. & Mrs. Rivera. Their wedding was held at their favorite beach, Boracay, where only their closest friends and family members were invited. It was a beautiful intimate wedding under the setting sun.

Anton and Frances are still based in Singapore but are planning to come back home for good when their eldest, pretty little Clara, who is now two years old, starts school. More than anything, Frances misses her family and her best friends. She is now pregnant with her second baby. The couple is excited and hoping for a boy this time.

The city is all dressed up with lights and tinsel to welcome Christmas and this fastfood is not spared. There’s a Christmas tree decorated with toys and candies and more gifts on its foot. The mood is festive. But these are the times she becomes the loneliest. It was nearly Christmas some three years ago when her life took a topsy-turvy turn. It was when she first went abroad for studies and her beloved David proposed to her. They made a lovely plan together. After she finishes her studies, they will get married and right away they will have beautiful kids. But they didn’t agree on the number. Noelle wanted four, David just two. But fate was not on their side. Who would have thought, that their love story would end so suddenly and tragically?

Noelle will not forget that fateful day Eric calls to say David met an accident. That day, her brain seemed to stop functioning. She could not process the news. She becomes teary-eyed remembering these as she plays with her engagement ring. Three years doesn’t seem a long time, she thinks. It was like just yesterday.

“Ninang Noelle!” Clara calls her and her thoughts are back to present time. The little girl runs to her followed by Frances and Anton. Soon, Kara, who is pregnant, walks in hand in hand with Jason.

“Where is David?” they all ask.

As soon as he heard his name, a 2-year old boy who was at the playhouse runs to Noelle and cries, ”Mommy!”

“There he is,” Noelle beams with pride at David Jr. “Say hello to everyone.”

He mimics his mom and says, “hello to everyone!” They laugh at him and he laughs as well.

He takes the grown-ups’ hands for a blessing. They all marvel at how smart he is and how he looks much like his dad. Too bad, David did not see his boy growing up. But Noelle thinks he is always taking a peep from Heaven to watch over them.

My First Short Novel: Noelle, Chapter 10

David Meets An Accident

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

“I leave you for one day and you go flirting with Jason?!” Noelle tells Kara as she plays with her engagement ring on her finger. Frances and Kara laughs at her statement. They just finished lunch at the Mendoza couple’s apartment. Kara is recalling to them how she and Jason got together the night after David proposed.

“So, who said I love you first?” Frances asks and with that the trio roared in laughter. About a week or so after that night, Jason expressed his love for Kara. Soon after, they are couple and they couldn’t be any happier to be in each other’s arms.

“Maybe you guys need popcorn,” Anton says as he comes in to the living room from the kitchen, teasing the ladies.

“What time will you be back, honey?” Frances asks his husband.

“Right before you miss me. Going.” With that, he kisses his wife goodbye and waves at their two friends.

“Where is he going?”

“Visiting a colleague in the hospital so we can be alone.”

“Oh, but Jason is coming.” Kara tells them while she spoons some ice cream.

“Why?”

“I told him we’re watching a movie here and he said he wants to join us.” Kara is blushing now.

“You guys are really inseparable now! You will soon be finishing school. Any wedding plans? ” The two continues to tease her when Noelle’s phone rings.

It’s her sister, Denise, on the other line. As soon as she said hello, Noelle sensed something is wrong. Her sister who is usually jolly sounds frantic today. She could not understand was she was saying. She was blabbering something about David, praying to God, speeding truck . Noelle had to tell her to take a deep breath. Then her line was cut off.

When the phone rang again, it was David’s younger brother on the other end. And he delivered the saddest news Noelle has ever heard in her life.

His voice was calm and cool. “Ate Noelle, this is Eric. Kuya David met an accident last night. His car was hit by a truck. He is in ICU right now. He’s in a critical condition…”

“I don’t understand,” was all Noelle could say almost in a whisper and Eric repeats himself but what she actually meant was how could he deliver such an unfortunate news in such a calm manner.

She hands the phone to Kara. It’s just too devastating for her, she had to sit down. Kara, who took the phone, could only gasp in disbelief upon hearing Eric’s words. After she put the phone down, Noelle looked at her waiting for her to say something else, not those words, accident, critical condition. She was hoping she mistook what Eric and Denise said. But Kara confirmed her fear by hugging her. Noelle could only sob silently.

Kara told Frances the news about David and as soon as Noelle heard David’s name, she goes, ”no, not my David. No!”

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

My First Short Novel: Noelle, Chapter 9

Jason & Kara

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

Kara is alone tonight. Her roommate is out with David the whole day for a tour at Sentosa. So she thought of seeing Martin. It’s been awhile since she saw him last. He’s been asking her out but because of her promise to her friends, she has been avoiding him. But the next thing she knew she was dialing Martin’s office number and asking for him. But somebody else answered the phone.

“Kara, what are you doing calling up Martin?”

“Jason?” Apparently, she dialed Jason’s local number.

“You didn’t answer my question.” She was caught redhanded and felt so embarrassed.

“How about we go out for dinner tonight or drinks? Whichever you like,” Jason offers instead.

So the two met at Zouk’s The Wine Bar.

“What’s up with everybody getting engaged? First, Mark and Sophie, now Noelle and David.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, just a very keen observation. You think, the universe is telling us something?”

Kara could not help but laugh. “You are probably just envious,” she kids him. He shakes his head.

“Aren’t you afraid? Are you sure we will find ourselves great partners?” She was surprised Jason thinks about things like this.

“I used to ask God that before. But I am wiser now. To answer your question, yes, I think he’ll find me!” Kara felt good when Jason asked her out and is feeling better now that they’re together .

“Wow, you sound so sure of that, huh. Do you really believe it? Is that just some positive thinking stuff?”

“I think everything has a purpose. My being single has a purpose. If I were not single now, I wouldn’t have thought of taking up my MBA and here, abroad. My being single pushed me and gave me the chance spend time with myself, to improve myself intellectually thereby increasing my worth in my career life and internationally at that. Socially, I learned to make friends with people who are not from my side of the fence. I gained new friends both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. Living here, away from my family, taught me to cook, wash my own clothes... I learned to be more patient, humble, loving…” She pauses to check if Jason gets it.

He was quiet as though trying to absorb it all.

Later she adds, “oh, you probably don’t understand. Never mind.”

“Of course, I get it. Am I not single?”

Kara was chuckling, “Jason, you’ve grown up!”

“Why do you treat me like a baby? Just because I am younger than you does not mean…”

“Why are you so sensitive?”

Jason ignores her question and narrates,” I used to be selfish. I only thought of myself. What I can get from other people. In a way, our regular meet-ups helped me to become a more giving person. I can see now how blessed I am. I now think of other people, and of what I can give. Not just of what I can take. It’s good to be friends with you guys.”

Kara pretends she doesn’t get what he’s saying.

“If Andrea and I got married back then, we would have been in trouble by now.” He shakes his head. “But now, I feel like I am more open to…you know…” Wait, was that message for her?

“Wait, so Andrea did come after all?”

“Yeah, she came here with friends for vacation. We met for lunch. She said she wanted to see me in person to find out if I still have a place in her heart. And for me to find out the same.”

“And?” Kara was curious.

He shakes his head and adds, ”I just see her as a friend...a sister.”

“Like me to you,” she finishes for him. But he laughs and feels uncomfortable, runs his hand on his hair and takes a swig of his beer.

“That is what you told me after our date,” Kara reminds him.

“I told you that?” Jason was kind of embarrassed, then asks, as if fishing,” why? What did you want me to say?”

“That I was beautiful, smart, charming, with a good heart.”

“You are all that,” he said as he looked her in the eyes.

“Thank you.” Kara felt his sincerity. What did he actually mean? She was wondering to herself.

Jason continues, “lately, my fear is that maybe, it’s too late for me,” then sighs. “What if the one for me has found another?” He cannot believe he is being this open to Kara.

She, on the other hand, is beginning to think that he is telling her something. But she couldn’t be sure. She heard herself say, “no, you’re not late.”

That is all he wanted to hear. They both smile and take a sip at their drinks.

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 8

David Flies

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

As Noelle takes her seat in her class, David adjusts his seatbelt in the plane. He does not like flying but he does it anyway.

Kara and Frances stand craning their necks at the arrival area looking for a tall, lean, goodlooking gentleman. As soon as they spotted him, they waved gingerly at first then when he smiled, they too were all smiles. It was their fist time to meet him, but who would have thought that they would easily feel comfortable around him. The moment he reached them, they were hugging and kissing him. For his part, it was like meeting his sisters after a long time of separation. As if they read his mind, they both told him he can call them “ate.”

Noelle sits by herself at a restaurant at her favorite hotel, Raffles, as she patiently waits for her friends. She is wearing her new Venus-cut dress. Frances said she is announcing something important. It is a surprise, she said. She just asked everyone to wear something nice worthy of the occasion. Maybe she is pregnant. What else could it be? She was just promoted recently. Or maybe it’s Anton this time.

Where are her friends? She checks her watch. They’re late as usual. She is starting to get upset. But despite that she tells herself, something good will come out of this. This is something she is teaching herself, to always see the good in every situation, good or bad. She decides to while away the time by calling up David overseas.

From the outside of the restaurant thru the glass, David instantly spots his beloved. It was as if he has radar in him leading him to where she was. In his anticipation, he does not know whether to go to the toilet or head straight to her. His heart was beating loudly. They are meeting here for the first time. He took out his hanky to wipe his forehead damp from sweat. Suddenly his phone rings. Why is Noelle calling me, why now? He didn’t want to take the call, not now, but he could not disregard his girlfriend so he picks up.

“Hello sweetie.” There was something odd in his voice. Noelle sensed it right away. Is he with another woman? Oh my God, my David is probably in a restaurant with another lady right now.

“Hi David, where are you?” Her voice sounded suspicious.

Oh no, he’s caught.

“I miss you,” she adds.

“I miss you too baby,” David replies.

Noelle’s next statement was “I wish you were here with me.” And that was his cue.

“Do you want me to come over right now? Because if you say so, I will definitely come over. Now.” David was so excited, he was chuckling.

“You’re teasing me again.”

“No baby, I’m serious. Just say you want me there now and I will come.”

Noelle decides to play along and says, ”I miss you Dr. David Yuson. Please come to me now.”

“Sure, I’m coming,” and he gallantly strides to her seat.

Noelle laughs at their game but she felt that he was really there right that moment. She looks around the room and there was David, looking as handsome as ever in his crisp white button-down shirt and slim fit trousers, right before her. She could not believe her eyes!

As soon as he reaches her, he says, “I told you I’d come,” and gives her the sweetest kiss on her forehead.

She did not say anything, her joyful eyes said it all. They touch, kiss and held each other for awhile. Right there and then, she knew he came to ask for her hand in marriage. Right there and then, she knew her answer was a yes!

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 7

Jason-Kara Loveteam

*reprint from Mod Magazine



“Nothing beats shopping with best friends,” Frances declares in the middle of her favorite store, Forever 21. Her friends Kara and Noelle laugh at her.

“Hey, did anybody get to meet Andrea?” Andrea is Jason’s girlfriend. Kara was trying to be casual about it. But her friends can tell, she wasn’t cool about it. They both shook their heads to answer her question.

“Ah, I thought maybe, Anton met her… Just a thought.”

Frances picks a ruffled sheath dress and tells Kara, “hey drama queen, stop sulking and try this one on.”She pauses to smile and says, ”you will look the prettiest in that school party of yours. Who knows you might meet your Prince there.”

Kara smiles and takes the little black dress to the dressing room. Noelle looks at Frances and asks, ”so did you meet this Andrea girl?”

“No!” She protests.

“Anton?”

“If he did, he would have told me. I know, I will ask Anton to ask Jason what happened between them. In fact, I am going to call up my husband now.” She searches her limited edition Longchamp bag for her phone but Noelle stops her.

“Take a hold of yourself. Later please. She will come out anytime soon.

“The suspense is killing me.”

“Have patience.”

Just then Kara comes out and asks them, “what do you guys think?”

Both ladies were nodding and giving her thumbs up without thinking.

***
“He said they broke up.” Anton replied when Frances was pestering him about the outcome of Jason’s girlfriend’s visit.

“Are you sure?” Frances could not believe her ears. “What, the girl came here to break up with him? She could have just done it over the phone. More practical.”

Anton was partly not minding her as he adjusts his glasses while he reads Love Life, a book by George Gabriel, given to him by Noelle on his birthday.

“But that is good because now that Martin, Noelle and Andrea are out of the picture, there is hope in Jason-Kara loveteam.” Then she remembers, “honey, would you know if Jason is interested on anybody in his office. Or anywhere?” When Anton does not respond, “baby, I am talking to you.”

“What?” So she repeats herself.

Anton just shakes his head meaning he does not like the topic at hand. Frances pouts and asks pretending to be interested, “what is that anyway?”

He tells her how the author changed his life for the better when he started his day by affirming what is good about his life and thanking God for it. And adds, ”maybe we should try that honey?”
“Sure,” but she was not really listening. All she want is to get back to Jason-Kara topic.
“Listen to this, this is nice, ’We are children of the richest, most famous, most powerful Father. And so we deserve the best in life & we should dream big.’ So, he encourages us to say this to ourselves ten times a day, ’I am a child of God. I am good. I am awesome.’”
“All right,” was all Frances could say. Frances cannot believe her husband is actually enjoying a book like this.

“Baby, you are good. You are awesome. I thank God for you,” Anton tells her and she is instantly transported to heaven. Forget Jason-Kara loveteam. For now, she wants to focus on her husband who was waxing some poetics or whatever it is. All she knows is, she is enjoying all the attention.

Hmmn, she is beginning to like this George guy.

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 6

David Has a Plan

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

That night when they had dinner with the engaged couple was the loneliest night for Noelle. She cried herself to sleep. She was certain David had another girl. Why else would he not take her call? She thought of writing him to be man about it and tell her straight if he wants out. But later decided against it, it was too much effort to get up and write an email. It can wait in the morning.

The next day, her phone was ringing. She almost jumped when she saw David’s name flashing on the screen of her phone. As she was about to pick it up, she thought, what if he wants to break up with me?

She prayed, Oh God, please prepare my heart to accept whatever news he has for me. Give me strength, Lord. She was preparing herself for the worst. She thought of opening her Bible to Psalm 23 to give her courage. That always works for her. But, she decided against it when she saw herself from the other side of the room and realized how comical this is looking.

Just then, Kara groggily shouts from her bed, ”for heaven’s sake, Noelle, answer the phone or I’ll throw it out of the window! So Noelle picked up her phone.

“Good morning, honey! Did I wake you up?” Just the sound of David’s voice was soothing her already.

And he called me honey. She almost melted.

But she had to put up a strong front, “not really.”

“Sorry I missed your call last night. I had a long day yesterday and I felt like, I was coming down with a flu so I slept early to get some rest.” Poor David, she thought.

Noelle felt the thorn pricking her heart was suddenly lifted off. She was thanking God under her breath. And to think she thought he was being unfaithful to her.

“Sorry to hear that, honey. I hope you feel better now. Take lots of water and fruit juices.”

“Will do. How was dinner with Mark?” he asks.

“Mark is engaged!” She was so excited she could not help but scream. Kara hushed her.

“Oops, sorry Kara,” turning to her sleeping roommate. “Kara is still in bed, ” she speaks on the phone with a softer voice.

“To Sophie I suppose?” David asks to confirm.

“Yeah, who else. He was so sweet, he proposed inside the plane while they were flying across Indian/Pacific Ocean.”

“They must be very happy.”

“Oh yeah. Too happy actually. I wanted to strangle their necks.”

“What?!”

“They were over the top. They were doing lovey-dovey in front of me. They made me jealous and envious. They made me miss you.” Her voice almost cracked when she said her last sentence.

David was laughing at his girlfriend for being childish. And right that very moment, he misses her all the more. He had a crazy idea. If only he had wings, he would have flown to her. Right now. He wanted to say, come back home, honey. But he realized, it was so cartoonic. Cheesy as it was, he said, ”I miss you too.”

Having said that, he thought to himself, he was officially a member of the Cheesy Club.

Suddenly, they both felt lonely. So lonely, Noelle said, “I wish you were with me right now. I am so lonely here,” without realizing it slipped out of her lips.

And having said that, is now, like her beau, a member of the Cheesy Club.

When David realized it, he said, “welcome to the Cheesy Club!”

“What?”

David explains and later the two were laughing.

“With the two of us in, makes us automatic members of the Cheesy Couples Club,” Noelle adds. And they laugh some more.

Right there and then, David thought of a plan. Though sketchy, he thinks, it’s a brilliant plan.

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 5

We are Engaged!

*reprint from Mod Magazine



“Why would you think that Kara is upset about Jason having a girlfriend?” Noelle and Frances are talking in low voices between the racks of Forever 21.

“Oh, so you don’t know.”

“I don’t know what? Tell me.” Noelle’s curiosity is heightened.

“Jason and Kara went out for awhile. Jason’s sister is Kara’s good friend. She introduced them on Kara’s first year here in Sing. They went out a few times but didn’t hit it off.” Frances was close to whispering. Kara was just somewhere in the accessories area.

“Why?”

“They decided to be friends. And so, he is now one of our friends.”

“Kara decided that?”

“She actually saw the possibility of him being a boyfriend despite her being older. But I don’t know what happened exactly. Maybe he is like most guys who prefer younger girls.”

Both ladies were startled at the sound of Kara’s voice, “Noelle!” She is rushing to them, “why is your boyfriend calling me?” and hands her Iphone to her.

“Oh thanks,” she accepts Kara’s phone. David was apparently calling her on her mobile phone but she forgot hers at the dorm. She moves away from her friends to talk to her beau.

“He just called to say he misses me,” Noelle told her friends when she got back.

“Oh, sweet,” her two friends purred.
***

“Hey, Mark is coming to Sing!” Noelle excitedly announces while in front of her laptop checking her emails.

“You have so many boys, Noelle. Who is Mark?” Kara asks drowsy from her afternoon nap.

“He is my good friend, a wonderful preacher from my charismatic community in Manila. He is single and cute,” winks at her roommate, “but I know he is still with her long-time girlfriend, Sophie.”

“Preachers are not my type.”

“He is asking if we can show him around the city.”

“Why am I in the equation? I don’t even know him!” Kara asks pretending to be disgusted with the idea.

“Because you are my roommate and my good friend,” Noelle explains with the sweetest voice she can muster.

“No, those are not the magic words,” Kara tells her friend then asks, “will you treat me to a mani, pedi and foot spa afterwards?”

Noelle thinks for awhile then says, “alright.”

“Count me in!” was Kara’s quick reply.

***

Noelle and Kara sits by the restaurant close to where her friend Mark was billeted. They are waiting for him and his girlfriend, Sophie.

Kara asks, “so, we’re not going to show him around anymore?” Noelle shakes her head. ”Bummer. What about our spa date? Is it still on you?”

Noelle looks at her and says, ”all right since you are a dutiful friend.”

Kara claps her hands and cries, ”yipee! Let‘s invite Frances. She will get jealous if she finds out.”

“Yeah, let’s ask her to join us but don’t tell her about my treat for you.”

“Yeah, let her pay for her own. She can very well afford it.”

“There’s Mark,” Noelle alerts her friend.

“He’s cute all right. He doesn’t look like a preacher.”

“What does a preacher look like?”

“Dunno,” Kara changes the subject as she notices a pretty, slim and fashionably dressed lady with him.” Who’s that with him?”

“His longtime girlfriend.”

“Is that why we are not going around the city anymore?” Kara was speaking in a low voice.

“Maybe,” Noelle replies and stands to greet the approaching lovely couple.

After the greetings and short introduction, Mark holds Sophie’s hands and announces, ”Sophie and I are engaged!”

Noelle was shocked. She could not believe that her friend Mark is getting married. Sophie shows off her 18 carat diamond ring as proof.

“That explains the glow around you two,” Noelle exclaims. The ladies congratulate Mark and wish them both well.

“We couldn’t be any happier,” Mark told them but he actually didn’t need to say it because it was written all over his face. Sophie’s pleasant face was a picture of joy and love. They made a nice pair.

Mark explained that city tour with Noelle is a back-up plan. In case, Sophie rejects him, he has company.

“The guy with a plan,” Sophie comments.”Apparently, my whole family knew about his plan and I was the last to know.”

Without much prodding, Mark narrated how he asked for her hand aboard PAL flight to Singapore. He made arrangements with his friend pilot, and the crew who were happy to oblige. So while they were 30,000 miles up in the sky, this young preacher asked his lady love to marry him and she accepted his proposal in front of her family who were traveling with them and some 200 or so strangers. The passengers and crew were delighted to witness a profession of love up close. Some even took their pictures, or had their pictures taken with them. It was fun, everybody was happy.
Everybody even Kara, everybody except Noelle. She could not take any more of this. She wants to bolt out of the room and head back to her bed. The sweetness of the two lovebirds was killing her.

If truth be told, she suddenly missed David. As soon as she got to the dorm, she calls him up. But he was not answering. She dials again and again but no reply. Then she thought maybe he’s out, with somebody, somebody prettier, somebody there. And the idea killed her. I pushed him to somebody else’s open arms, she thinks to herself. Oh, what have I done?

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 4

Jason Has a Girlfriend

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

“I miss Chickenjoy,” Noelle declares as she looks around Lei Garden, a resto located inside Chijmes, during one of their weekly night-outs.

“Chickenjoy or Aga Muhlach?” Anton asks.

“Aga!” Frances and Noelle cries in unison.

“I am a big fan of Jollibee.”

“Really? Us too,” Frances reveals.

“No, I am not.” Anton chides his wife.

“Yes, you are,” Frances insists.

“I have an idea. Let us have lunch at Jollibee one time when we go home to Manila for Christmas.” Noelle was quite happy with her idea. The couple agrees.

“Guess what I did differently lately?” Kara butts in as she joins the group and takes her seat.

”I don’t think it’s your hair, still black,” Anton guessed. All three looked at her expectantly.

“Next day after our blessings game, I started writing my blessings. Everyday since, I wrote down all my blessings for the day. You know what’s amazing? My blessings kept getting more and more each day. Thursday I listed down 6, Friday 10, Sat 12…And when I read my list again, I realized some I’ve received in the past but didn’t recognize them as blessings. So, I think a grateful heart attracts blessings.

Frances repeats, “a grateful heart attracts blessings. Nice. I think I’ll post that as my shout-out on my Facebook.”

“Go, then I’ll “like” it.” Noelle tells Frances.

“So, you see it’s good not to have Martin around. You spend more time thinking and realizing wonderful ideas like this.” Frances smiles at her observation.

“Also, I thought why don’t we have an activity like it every time we meet? Kara suggests.

“And, what is that?” Anton sounded lost in the conversation.

“Sharing each other’s good news, good fortune, miracles. Whatever you call it.”

“Isn’t that what we do when we see each other?” Anton asks.

“Yes, but we only tend to see and celebrate only the big ones. Let us teach ourselves to see even the small good things too.”

“What have you been taking lately? You into drugs?”Anton acts as if he is deeply concerned. The other two laughs.

“Where is Martin, by the way?” Anton asks surprised that her pseudo-boyfriend is not with her.

“He can’t come tonight.”Kara replied.

“He is not coming ever again.” Frances declared matter-of-factly.

Anton was about to ask why but of course he knows why. He decides to joke about it but instead said, “you will find a better guy. Don’t worry, sister! I promise you a better guy is coming.”

Just then Jason comes in. Anton continues, ”in fact he is here.” Everybody turns to look at Jason.

“What are you guys up to?” Jason asks and looks at Anton .

“We were just saying how lucky we are to have a friend as good looking as you are,” Anton replies.

Kara quips, “Anton, I am beginning to think…” They all have a good laugh.

“Are we sharing our blessings again tonight?”Jason asks.

“Oh, somebody has some good news to share,” Noelle kids her seatmate.

“Did you get promoted, pare?” Anton asks Jason.

Jason replies, “no, well…I… do not know if it is even a good thing…but…anyway, my girlfriend Andrea is coming over for a visit.

“You have a girlfriend?” The ladies were all shocked and dumbfounded.

“No, yes ,I mean…yes. We lost touch when I came here. The other day she called me up, out of the blue and started talking about closure. We agreed to meet and see...” He meant to say, see how things will go between them.

“That Andrea better be nice to you or she won’t get back to Manila alive,” Frances said jokingly.

“Honey…” Anton gives her the look.

“But we have to protect our little brother here from heartbreak or heartache,” Frances says defensively. Jason is 28, about 3 years their junior. Noelle is the youngest at 25.

So, Jason has a girlfriend. Kara and Noelle are still processing this piece of news and both could not help but feel disappointed.

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 3

Jason Has a Good Heart

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

published on Mod Magazine

After a delicious dinner at Anton and Frances’s apartment and while the host was serving cake and coffee, Noelle suggests they play a game.

“I like playing games.”

Everybody got excited. Noelle gives them each a piece of paper and pen. She explains, “this is called the blessings game. Write down your name on top. When I say “go,” write down as many blessings you have received in your life, big or small. This will be timed for 1 minute,” she checks the timer on her phone.

“Then what?” Jason thinks it’s a lame game.

“I will tell you the rest later.”

“Hey, don’t be a sourpuss. Be a sport and just play along. Do as I say, you are under my roof.” Frances kids Jason.

“Yeah,” her husband supports her. Jason shakes his head and writes his name.

“What blessings?” Kara asks.”Give me an example.”

“Like for me, this scholarship, you my friends, my family, this wonderful dinner tonight.”

“David!” Kara declares to let Jason know they are still together. Jason looks at Noelle and she said yes to Kara silently.

“My handsome hubby,” Frances declares Anton as his blessings.

“Yes,” Noelle nods.

“Make sure you write her name too, Anton or it’s World War 3,” Jason was chuckling.

“I got a new client today,” Martin tells the group.

“Alright, so you guys get the idea. So let’s?” Everybody nods in agreement so they start.”Remember, big or small blessings.”

When the phone beeped, they were feeling good about writing down their blessings. They started counting and comparing what they have listed.

“All right. Next, turn to the other side of your paper. Write your name of top. When I say pass, pass your paper to your right. Once you get your seatmate’s paper, I want you to write down the blessings you think that he or she has received. Including his or her good traits and talents he or she is blessed with. Time here will be shorter. Ready? Pass.”

When they were done and each got their paper with their name on it, Frances told them to compare what they think are their blessings and what their friends think as good about them.

“Hey, what do you know somebody thinks I am sexy,” Anton announces and flexes his flabby arms. Then asks Frances, ”honey, did you write this?” To which his wife said yes. “Then you’re gonna get some sexy loving tonight.”

“Yuck,” Kara was pretending to barf. The group laughs.

“Would you guys want to share what is written on your paper?”Noelle asks her friends. They were game so each got a chance to talk about their blessings. When it was Frances turn, she told them about her promotion.

“Is that what this lovely dinner is for?” Kara asks and gives her friend a congratulatory hug. Anton was nodding.”My wife is now Managing Editor,” he said.

For the first time, Frances was speechless but was just beaming with joy and pride.

“Congratulations!”

“Thank God.”

“Let me shake your hand so I could be next,” Jason takes her hand laughing. The gang was having a great time tonight.

Later, Jason approached Noelle in the corner and asked, “did you make up that game?” She nodded. “It was fun. So, you count waking up in the morning as a blessing?”

“Yes. I believe it is God’s gift to me.” Noelle smiles.

“That is something I take for granted. That is a new and fresh insight for me.” He smiles at her. Oh, what a sweet guy, Noelle thinks to herself.

Suddenly he changes the subject that jolts Noelle, “so, you and David got back together? I am happy for you.” Noelle was nodding and said thank you. She saw his sincerity. He does have a good heart. That made her like him all the more.

My First Novel: Noelle, Chapter 2

Noelle Makes The Move

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011



published on Mod Magazine,Jan-Feb 2010 issue


“What, are you just going to look at me like that? Are you going to ask me out or not?” Noelle cannot believe how straightforward she is tonight. Maybe she should stop ordering Margarita.

“I thought you have a boyfriend back home?” Jason asks as he puts down his beer bottle. It was just the two of them tonight. The other two couples did not show up on their weekly night out.

“Not anymore.” Noelle’s conscience was shouting liar, liar!

“What happened?”Jason sounded concerned.

“We broke up, ok? End of story.” She pretended to look hurt that she did not want to tell him anything about it and at the same time, exasperated at his being nosy.

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” Unless you do something about it, she adds in her mind. She just looks at him and stares at his eyes then his lips and back. She read in a mag, that that is how to signal the guy that you’re interested in him. Is it working on Jason?

Jason looks at her, stares at her eyes and sees a lonely, confused girl. He takes the cigarette she was lighting and puts it out in the ashtray.

”It doesn’t look good on you,” he says. She did not bother arguing and just let him. Then Jason takes her hand gently and brings it to his nose to smell it. As if making sure her hand was not tainted by the awful smell of the cigarette she held earlier. He smiles as if to say, it’s clean.

***

“What are you and Martin?” Noelle was hoping to sound innocent but it sounded more like she was snooping. “What is going on between the two of you?”

“Are you my mother?” Kara snaps but was still in a good mood. She just came in the room from class and she was not ready for this. What has gotten into her? Is my angel roommate turning into a devlin, she asks herself.

“No, seriously. I am just concerned because from what I gather, he is engaged.” Noelle was really pushing the topic.

“What you gathered is correct.” Kara hoped she would just shut up. Where did she get that? Oh Frances, who else. Or Jason. Martin and Jason are colleagues.

“Then why are you going out with him? I don’t understand.”

Ah, the nerve of this girl! And so she retaliates, “why are you flirting with Jason? Have you forgotten you have David waiting for you in Manila?”

“I’m not!” Noelle could not believe Kara said that. Never in her life has she been accused of being a flirt. That remark did not quite sit well with her.

“Yes, you are!”Revenge is sweet, Kara was thinking. She can see Noelle was fuming mad but was trying to mask it.

As Frances enters the room, she caught a drift of their exchange and sensed the tension in the air. ”Girls, girls. No need to fight. For all you know, David is just unfaithful and maybe even dating in Manila.”

Noelle just stares at Frances. She could not believe she could say such a mean thing. Kara saw how pitiful she looked and she sides with her roommate.

“Don’t listen to her. She’s just messing with you.”

“Relax, Mother Teresa. I’m just teasing her.” Frances snickers.

“If you have nothing good to say…” Noelle was close to tears. What if it was true, that David is dating his intern.

She cuts her short, “look at the two of you. Earlier you looked like you were going to pounce on each other. Now, you’re bonded like glue against me.”

She moves inside her friends’ room as if she belongs there. She sees Noelle’s laptop and sees the funny pictures of Noelle and David on slideshow, points at it and starts to chuckle. Her laughter is so contagious, soon the three of them are laughing.

When they have settled, Frances says, “I think he’s a player.”

“Who?” Noelle asks. Is she referring to David? Can she sense it? Can she read faces?

Frances adds, “he courts every girl around him and whoever responds favorably, he dates.”

“You think?” Kara asks.

Noelle could not take it,“hey, who are we talking about?”

“Jason,” the two spoke in unison with a tone showing bit of irritation because she is too dense to follow their conversation.

But the Jason that she knows is such a gentleman. They are probably just… jealous? Listen to yourself, Noelle. Are you falling for him? We are just friends, she tells herself.

My First Novel: Noelle

David or Jason?

*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011

published on Mod magazine, Jan-Feb 2011 issue

Chapter 1
David or Jason?

Noelle sits by her bed alone hugging her pillow, staring at her laptop, a slideshow of her pic with David is running. After a month in Singapore, she misses her boyfriend of 2 years who is in Manila. She longs to hear his voice, caress his face and mess his hair. If he was only across the hall, across the street or right in this city, she would have marched right now. But he is far away, across the ocean, thousand miles away.

Why did I put myself thru this? She asks herself. She remembers the day she told David about her receiving a scholarship at Nanyang Technological University. He was in total shock. Why wouldn't he, she only told him when she was just about a month away from leaving. She had her reasons she said which all the more fired him up.

"I don’t understand," was all David could say. He kept shaking his head in frustration. He repeats himself and looks at her in disbelief.

"It’s just two years. I will be home on Christmas and summer breaks. You can visit me any weekend you are free. David, please let me do this."

"It ‘s not that I don’t want you to grow and…. You know I want what’s best for you. I don’t understand why go behind my back?"

"Honestly, I never thought I would pass and be chosen… Can you not be happy for me? Why are you so selfish?"

"Now, I’m selfish?"

"I’m sorry. Let’s not talk. This is getting nowhere." Noelle was feeling so lonely that time. She was so near him and yet he seemed so far away. She wanted to give David a hug but she couldn’t.

“Is it because I started talking about getting married and having kids lately?” he asked.

“No!” Noelle was quick to reply. She thought to herself, liar! She looks at David’s handsome face again and she is beginning to hate herself for putting him through this hurt.

She applied at NTU as prompted by her older sister Denise. She said, "it’s best to do this now while you’re still single. Besides, if you miss us, we are just a 3-hour plane ride away," and that got her moving.

Just then her phone buzzed and she remembered she is in Sing. It was a text message from her roommate Kara reminding her of their movie date with their friends in Sing. She gets up and gets ready.

She is quite happy she got assigned to Kara for a roommate. Noelle is in her mid 20’s while Kara is in her early 30’s but they get along fine. She can tell Kara likes her a lot. She even calls her her “angel.” During their free time, she tours her around, where best to eat, where to shop, which restaurants to avoid. She has been in the Land of Merlion for a year now. She knows the ins and outs of the city. Kara is taking up her Master in Business Administration (MBA) too like Noelle.

“Noelle, here.” She turns to find her chums. Kara was waving at her, smiling. There was Frances Mendoza, features editor for a women’s magazine, her chef husband, Anton. Martin, the Singaporean businessman is right beside Kara. But the face that she was looking for is not there. She was not meaning to ask, but the words just came out, ”where is Jason?”

“I don’t even know if he is coming, though this afternoon, he said he will. He is not answering his phone right now.”

As soon as Anton finishes his sentence, Jason, the dashing debonair that he is appears. He flashes his smile and Noelle’s face lit up.

“There you are!”Anton shouts at him and they high five.

“Am I late?” he asks the group and walks beside Noelle as the group starts walking shaking their heads as if to say, you are late again as always. He gives Noelle a side hug and tells her she looks pretty tonight. She sure hopes he did not see her blush. He was too close, she could smell his manly scent.

Noelle was telling herself, one minute you were missing David, another minute you are flirting with Jason? It is nothing but silly attraction, nothing to it, she assures herself. Or is it really?