Akiro Raveen Hayashi's story "Can I ask you something?" Kuya Akiro suddenly said. Tumingin ako dito. His face was very near mine! Tumango ako. "You said that your Aunt and the girl yesterday were your stepfamily?" I bit my lower lip and nodded. "Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang tunay kong pamilya. Sabi nila Auntie Tina ay tinapon na lang daw ako," my heart ached. "I refuse to believe it," umiling ako. Hinawakan ko ang kwintas na suot ko. I showed it to him. "I have this locket when they found me. Hindi naman siguro ako susuotan ng ganito ng totoo kong mga magulang kung itatapon at iiwanan na lang nila ako. They must have their reason." And I'm gonna find out. "I can help you find them," he breathed. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatingin sa kanya. "In one condition," he said and stared into my soul. "If we find them, you'd have to pretend to be my wife and stay with me for a year." I felt chills run down my spine. Umawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. What? I don't understand. He raised his arm and held my cheek. His thumb brushed against my lower lip. He leaned against my ear. "What do you say, Ina?"

Damon Preston De Alvaro's story

"Are we gonna start our lessons?" tanong ko rito. Pinatong nito ang isang kamay nya sa likod ng upuan ko habang ang isa naman ay nasa gilid ng braso ko. He was looking at me like I'm some puzzle that he can't solve. Tinaas ko ang isang kilay ko. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Umiling ito. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet and for us to get along we must familiarize ourselves with each other," Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang sumunod ang mga mata nya doon kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin. "What do you want to know? My name is Kelsey Fleurette Diokno. The only daughter of Karylle and Frederico. I'm eighteen years of age." Tinanggal nito ang kamay nya sa likod ng upuan ko saka sumandal sa upuan nya. He breathed and looked at me intently. "You are... eighteen," Ngumuso ako saka tumango. "Yes, I'm eighteen." Tumango ito na parang iniintinding mabuti ang sinabi ko. What's wrong with him? "Okay. I'm Finnick Kaiden David Rodriguez. Twenty seven years of age. I majored in chemistry and I have my own company of producing new drugs that can cure rare diseases." Tumango ako saka namangha sa sinabi nya. At least he already figured out everything in his life. Not unlike me. "Are you married? Should I call you kuya?" Kumunot ang noo nito. "No! And you're not my sister so don't call me Kuya." matigas nitong sabi. "Okay. Blondie then?" sabi ko saka ngumiti. I was caught off guard when he advanced to my space locking me in my chair. Sobrang lapit ng mukha nya sa mukha ko I can almost hear his breathing. "Drop it, Fleurette... Finnick, just, Finnick. Okay?" he hoarsely said. Napalunok ako saka tumango. "Finick..." [Warning: SPG, Mature, Explicit] Read at your own risk. Cover by: @acymystic