THE WATTY AWARDS 2021 WINNER: ROMANCE Due to an unexpected pregnancy, ex-lovers Ryo and Frankie are forced to live under the same roof. They can't stand each other but when the moments from their past are slowly catching up, their lingering feelings seem to be much stronger than they thought it would be. *** When Frankie Castañares broke up with Ryo Canencia, she is determined to move on and never meet him again. They are living well on their own with her working hard to be a magazine editor and him reaching his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. But with the news of Frankie being pregnant with Ryo's child, they've got no choice but to act civil and live under the same roof. They bicker over the simplest things and their situation couldn't get any easier than they ought to be. With them still hung up on their past, can they be brave enough to settle their differences and start all over again? Disclaimer: This story is written in Taglish. Cover Illustration by 17aila_

I am Clementine. This is my story. And this may or may not be about love.

The thing with Valentine's Day is, either you hate it or you love it. And Zade Pascual definitely belongs to the first category. Para sa kanya, isang araw lang ito ng commercialized version ng pag-ibig. Walang kakilig-kilig at napakalayo sa true love stories na nababasa niya sa mga libro. Nasubok ang kanyang anti-Valentine's sentiment when she unexpectedly meets Andreau Cortez-an award-winning actor and film student at her university-in the cafe where she works-- on Valentine's Day of all days. Andreau, their new cafe regular, surprises Zade by asking for her help with his latest short film project, which she hesitantly agrees to. Despite a rocky start, Zade discovers the real Andreau Cortez beyond the camera and celebrity gossip. Over the fika-not date hangouts and late-night conversations, their effortless friendship blurs into something more, to the point na akala ng lahat (yes, friends and family included) na sila na ni Andreau. Caught off guard by her evolving feelings, Zade must confront her own heart. Hanggang best friend nga lang ba ang tingin niya kay Andreau? Can their story unfold like the happy endings she loves in books? Well, sometimes, the best love stories take time to tell.

A (not-so) hopeless romantic writer. A weird (not-so-much of a) stranger. A lot of (denying) feelings in between. A (continuation of the online) connection that ends on 11 / 23.

"In love ka na once accepted mo na 'yong person na 'yon kahit ano pa man siya. Buong-buo 'yong acceptance, hindi kalahati lang. Hindi sala sa lamig, sala sa init. Hindi napipilitan. Hindi natatakot." "Malalim," aniya. Tumikhim. "Mukhang based on experience." Tumawa si Kaye, hindi um-oo, hindi rin humindi. "Ikaw, ano'ng answer mo?" "Ano na bang pagmamahal pinag-uusapan natin? Fans, supporters-readers o romantic na ata 'yan?" natatawang aniya. "Hindi ako nag-a-assume kaso 'yang mga hugutang ganyan, eh. . .may mga pinaglalaban." Tumigil sa paglalakad si Kaye. Nagpamulsa. Ang lawak ng ngiti sa labing may kaunti pang kintab. "Sige, romantic na." Umiling si Rayne, nangingiti rin. "Bilis ng change topic natin." "Oo nga, eh. Let's take it slow," anito, may pilyang pagkagat pa ng kaunti sa labi. "Dito muna tayo sa usapang 'to."