Jackson Ramirez has always followed the rules-his family's, society's, everyone's but his own. Trapped in a life dictated by expectations, he buried his passion and silenced the voice that once made him feel alive. So when Kenzo Adachi walked into his class-blunt, intense, and always acting like he owned the room. Jackson couldn't help but feel . . . annoyed. Annoyed by his confidence. Annoyed by how he said whatever he wanted. Annoyed by how free he was. But Kenzo? He saw something else. He saw a bird trying to breathe through its cage. And Kenzo, the kind of man who lives by his own rules, was ready to go beyond the boundary-just to help Jackson learn how to fly.

Santiago Alverio is torn between family expectations and his own internalized fears from homophobic relatives. As he enters a casual fling with Diablo Delgado, he discovers that love, patience, and acceptance might be the blueprint to healing and embracing his true self. *** Santiago Alverio has always lived by the rules of his family, peers, and a silent world that tells him who he should be. As a civil engineering student, he hides behind toxic masculinity and the fear of being noticed because of expectations and a homophobic upbringing. Then comes Diablo Delgado--fearless, affectionate, and unapologetically himself. What begins as a no-strings "friends with benefits" arrangement slowly converts into something deeper. With every touch, every unguarded smile, Diablo breaks the walls Santi has built around his heart. But love is never simple. Santi is caught between family pressures, societal judgment, and his own insecurities. Will he ever realize that happiness was never about meeting expectations but about choosing the person who makes him feel whole? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano ILLUSTRATOR: Ri Ot

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OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #2 Being the niece of the volleyball team's coach, Alia is hired to design the uniforms of the players. Seven, who has had a crush on her since the first time he saw her on the campus, feels shy and awkward whenever her presence is there. What more if one summer, the whole team will have to train in the coach's province near the ocean, where Alia is also having her vacation? Every night, since Alia cannot go to the house where the team is staying, the two would just write silly letters to each other and put them in a bottle, then hang the bottle in its usual spot.

OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #3 "Winning is everything. If you don't win, you are a failure." Ice is living by those words. After her mom fails to participate in the figure skating championship because of a tragedy, she is expecting four of her daughters to pursue the same goal. Ice feels all the pressure when her sister wins during her time but pursues a different field upon winning. For Ice, the only important thing is figure skating. Nothing else matters. She is only allowed to feel something when she wins or loses a competition. Until she meets Lyonelle in the sports center during summer training, the swimmer who has already won every swimming competition he participates in. Unlike Ice, Lai has it easy. He can have fun, flirt, and be playful and still win. He is not pressured, because he doesn't think winning is the only thing that matters in a competition. He thinks enjoying what you do matters more. "And a smile from you matters too," Lyonelle teases Ice, but the latter just looks at him with no emotion on her face. "Ah, I failed... but it's okay. We still have sixty-four days of summer to spend together."

OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #1 Estella and Yori have always been rivals ever since high school because of debate competitions. They would always switch places for years until Yori transferred to Estella's school and both of them became members of the debate team. They may not be competing against each other in the debate anymore, but they are now competing for the honors and the top student spot. From enemies and academic rivals, they find themselves falling in love in a series of summers.