Reaction Paper on Filipino Online Stories

Until Trilogy by Jonaxx

By the way, this is my reaction after rereading it this year (2024).

Spoilers Ahead. Read at your own risk.

If you are a part of the Jonaxx Stories Lovers (JSL) Community, most likely you already know what this story is about, whether you have read it or heard it from word of mouth.

If you're not a part, and napadpad ka lang sa post na ito, feel free lang to read. :)

Please huwag niyo po sana akong atakihin. Ang mga sasabihin ko dito ay aking sariling opinion at perspektibo ukol sa kwentong ito. I am not urging you to have the same views as me. We can always have a healthy and respectful discussion.]

Nabasa ko na ito back in 2014, when it was still posted in the Wattpad app. As far as I recall, when I started reading this, ongoing pa ang third installment ng Trilogy, which is Until Forever. Whenever Jonah posts a new chapter, almost always trending siya sa Twitter/X. It only pushed me more to go read the whole trilogy para makasabay naman ako sa usapan ng mga JSLs. I even got copies of the first edition when it got self-published.

The first book is entitled Until He Was Gone, then the second is Until He Returned, and as previously mentioned, the last book of the trilogy is Until Forever.

Naging "controversial" ang kwentong ito dahil this is about cousins who fell in love with each other. Take note, they are first cousins. Mag-pinsang buo. Magkapatid kasi ang mga ama ng leading lady and leading man na sina Klare and Elijah, respectively.

Noong first time reader ako, grabe isa ako sa mga na-mislead dahil buong akala ko si Eion ang actual leading man ng kwento. I think sinadya talaga ng author to do this trick para may shock value kapag ni-reveal na ang actual male lead sa akdang ito.

Now, probably you are one of those who cannot stomach the idea of reading these books after finding out the presence of that taboo theme. That's totally okay. Wala namang pilitan dito. Kahit nga ang author hindi kailanman namilit ng kahit sino na basahin iyon.

So, paano ko naatim na basahin ito from start to finish?

I think it starts from having an open and mature mind. I was already 19 when I first read this trilogy. I know I have not reached peak maturity by then but I could safely say I was old enough to understand and decipher what is right or wrong.

I will admit, I sort of got that uncomfortable vibes when I gradually realized what is the central theme in UHWG, but not to the point of dropping out and giving up on reading this. Kasi instead of staying away, it made my mind more curious of what would happen next sa mga bida. I got sucked into their world. I wanted to see if ipu-pursue ba nila ang sigaw ng mga puso nila or magiging logical ba sila at mag-conform na lang sa kung ano ang acceptable sa mga naka-paligid sa kanila?

Besides, yung sinasabi kong central theme ang kwento, hindi na bago sa pandinig ko iyon. Even some prominent historical figures are involved in incestuous relationships. Heck one perfect example is European royal families. The following men also married their first cousins: Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Edgar Allan Poe. Cleopatra even married her own brother! *barf*

Ngayon para magkalinawagan tayo, hindi ako sang-ayon sa ganyan, at hindi nagbago ang pananaw ko kahit na nabasa ko ang Until Trilogy.

Magiging honest ako, kinilig pa rin ako kay male lead kasi....hay naker. Paano ko ba ipapaliwanag? That central theme/conflict aside, si male lead na yata ang personification ng wagas na pag-ibig. Minsan, makakalimutan mo na lang yung conflict ng mga bida dahil madadala ka talaga on how male lead shows his love for female lead, kahit na may pagka-red flag siya bwahahha!

Mapapa-SANA ALL ka na lang!! Damang-dama mo talaga na ML will hahamakin ang lahat para kay FL. Anebeh.

Well, I actually have my own real life Jonaxx boy naman na so, solved na ako hehe. At gusto ko lang linawin, hindi ako tumalo ng kamag-anak ah! Cinoconfirm ko lang! Besides, hindi nga kami parehas ng race kaya sigurado akong wala kaming blood relation lolz.

I guess what I loved about this story the most, and I can confidently say fans of this story will agree, is the writing and execution of the plot. Despite the controversy the theme brings, Jonah crafted this novel in a way that still makes the reader get absorbed and find out what is the outcome of the main characters' journey. It just...ebbs and flows naturally.

Now, I want to dive sa mga criticisms ng akdang ito. Natural lang na magkakaroon ng ganoon dahil sabi ko nga, controversial ang tema neto. Ayos lang naman sa akin na makabasa na kahit kailan hindi niya masisikmurang basahin ito. It definitely would not be everyone's cup of tea. I am sure even Jonah herself is aware about that before writing these stories.

Ang gusto ko punahin is yung mga nagkumento na sinulat raw ito ng author para i-promote yung tema.

I refuse to believe that was her intent. I found her post from the JSL fb page back in 2014 regarding her reason why she wanted to write this theme. Sabi niya, in her words "Yung gusto kong patunayan ay yung kaya kong sumulat na pailalim na kilig." "Basta yung alam mong mali pero gusto mo. Yun talaga ang gusto kong ma try." In my understanding, she basically wants to challenge her writing skills, and she did triumph on that challenge. She never encouraged any of her readers to imitate what the characters went through in her story.

In conclusion, the Until Trilogy is a great story of love. Love for family, love for a romantic partner, and love for one's self, as well. Despite the controversial theme, Jonaxx has woven an intricate story that does evoke an array of emotions from the readers.

Kung magustuhan mo yung daloy ng kwento, sweet! If otherwise, that's ok. Wala namang pilitan.

Thanks for reading this post!