#TryNotToCryChallenge

PUBLISHED UNDER TALKING PAGES Tears Series #2: Zion Miguel Villareal

When her longtime boyfriend proposes to her, Nari does not seem happy. She rejects him, hoping he would understand. But two years, seven days, three hours, five minutes, and thirty seconds later, Nari enters a church and watches him get married to someone else. *** At 21, Nari Miranda graduates from college wanting to complete her bucket list-being independent, visiting the US, traveling Europe, and adopting a dog-so when Benny, her longtime boyfriend proposes and surprises her with a house-their own house--she doesn't feel right. Until she follows the first thing she thinks of that moment: she rejects him. Nari hopes that everything will still be okay between them, but seeing Benny with another girl becomes too much for her. Feeling broken, she goes to a bar to drink her pain away and meets Preston, the man she always coincidentally crosses paths with, not knowing her life will take a whole new different turn. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish COVER DESIGNED BY: Louise De Ramos

(Yours Series # 2) Julienne Salvacion definitely didn't think that she'd reach the age of 32 and still be unmarried. She was sure that she'd, at least, be engaged before she turned 30. But she was dead wrong. She badly wanted to settle down already like everyone else around her, but guys kept on dumping her because according to all the male population, she's just 'too much.' She was the problem. Fine. So, when she met Levi, arguably the hottest guy she's ever laid her eyes on, she 'fine-tuned' her personality to match his. She could do that. She grew up in a family where she's always forced to smile and say that everything's alright. But until when can she pretend?

Karaminah Viel Trajano has always been told that she's... peculiar. She just doesn't like the things that girls her age are expected to like. But she loves writing... that's probably the only normal thing about her. Problem is, her parents do not support her 'career' of choice. For them, it's nothing more than a hobby. It's either she follows their steps and become a lawyer or become a lawyer. She chose neither. Now, she's forced to work to make a living. But she's not really made for work. Given the choice, she'd spend the day daydreaming about her scripts and characters. Fortunately, someone offered her a job... Madali lang naman daw ito. Magiging 'manager' daw siya ng basketball team. She agreed... After all, how hard could it be to manage a bunch of boys who spend their days running back and forth on a wooden ground... right?

After being dumped by her boyfriend because 'she's too much of a prude,' straight-A student Dana Ferrer enlists the kissing tutorial services of the Good Kissers Inc., made up of the three campus heartthrobs. She chooses notorious Campus King, Andy Guzman, to tutor her, thinking she can ace their lessons and have her ex crawling back to her in no time. She soon realizes she's not immune to Andy's irresistible advances. Nor is Andy oblivious to Dana's charm, which reminds him of someone from his past. Will Dana and Andy break the rules and fall in love with each other? Or will Dana opt to play safe and choose someone else?

Si Chloe, isang dalagang taga-probinsya ng Capiz, ay handang magpatuloy sa kanyang pag-aaral sa kolehiyo sa Iloilo City para sa mga susunod na taon. Dito niya makikilala si Angelo, isang lalaking spoiled at sadyang makulit na makakatagpo niya sa paaralan. Hindi niya inaasahan na unti-unti siyang mai-inlove sa binata, at sa paglipas ng panahon, masusubok ang kanyang mga damdamin para sa kanya. Ano kaya ang magiging takbo ng kwento ng dalawang taong pinagtagpo ng tadhana? Tuklasin ang mga kaganapan sa kanilang magulong pag-iibigan sa pagitan ng Roxas at Iloilo City. ⓒ 2023 Anthony Bueno

THE LOSERS' CLUB SERIES #1 Have you ever been so smitten with someone that you were just so grateful they existed? Tipong makita mo lang siya, solved ka na. Kahit hindi mo siya makausap o makasama, inspired na inspired ka. That was the case for Dawn Karsen Navarro, a die-hard fan of a prominent singer and songwriter, Dior Kobe Gallardo. Kahit pa laging General Admission ticket lang ang nabibili niya at halos kasinlaki lang ng gagamba ang natatanaw niya mula sa upuan, marinig niya lang ang boses ng binata, kuntento na siya. So, when luck pulled a trick on her poor heart, she didn't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. She went from being in the farthest row to being in the backstage, from seeing only a glimpse of her idol to a face-to-face encounter, and from hearing only a fraction of his life to knowing everything there was to know about him. She had made a lot of progress. But, why did she go back to being seated in the farthest row? Why did she go back to being just a mere fan? After everything they vowed, why did she go back to being a stranger in the midst of the crowd?

Started: 04/27/2021 Ended: 08/24/2021 Ang hirap palang tumanda. Ang hirap magbayad ng bills. Ang hirap suportahan ng pamilyang akala ay isang milyon ang suweldo mo. Ang hirap ngumiti sa nanay na mataas ang tingin sa'yo pero hindi ka kayang ipagtanggol. Ang hirap tabihan sa hapagkainan ng tatay na pinag-uubusan mo ng pera pero hindi ka maalala. Ang hirap mag-abot ng tulong sa kapatid na baon sa utang. Ang hirap intindihin ng hipag na nakakapagpa-rebond pa kahit kapos na kapos na. Ang hirap pakisamahan ng bunsong halos ilahad ang mga palad tuwing makikita ka. Ang hirap ngitian ng mga taong tanong nang tanong kung bakit hindi ka pa nakakapag-asawa. Ang hirap humarap sa mundong isasampal sa'yo na mag-isa ka. Tulong, bigay, utang. Isang iling mo lang, madamot ka na. Kasama mo sila kapag may maibibigay ka, pero hindi mo sila mahahanap kapag wala na. Ikaw ang kakayod, sila ang tutuka. Ikaw ang iiyak sa pagod, sila ang magtatamasa. Iyon ang summary ng buhay ko. Sobra-sobra ang naririnig na paghingi, kulang na kulang ang naririnig na pasasalamat. Sobra-sobra ang pagpapasensya, kulang na kulang ang natatanggap na pagpapahalaga. Sobra-sobra ang binabayaran, kulang na kulang sa kasiyahan. Kaya nang dumating sa buhay ko ang nag-iisang lalaking hindi ako nakita bilang naglalakad na alkansya, ang nag-iisang lalaking nakinig sa mahabang listahan ko ng problema, ang nag-iisang lalaking nagbigay sa akin ng kakaibang saya, ipinangako ko sa sarili na sa gitna ng hirap ng pagtanda, magtitiis ako basta't siya ang kasama. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay pagtalikod sa minahal na pamilya. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay paglaban sa mundong pinatatakbo ng kapangyarihan at pera. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay ang pagdurusa't pag-iisa. Siya ang ginhawa, pahinga, at kasiyahan ko. Dumating man ang araw na tanaw ko na ang dulo. Dumating man ang araw na wala na kaming sagot sa lahat ng bakit at paano. Dumating man ang araw na pareho na kaming talo.

Jia was living her simple life but after she attended her friend's wedding, unexpected thing happened. She was stalked, she received flowers, chocolates and text messages. It feels like she has her own bodyguard. Six months ago she met two men, which they gave her hints and motives. The question here is who's one of them is the stalker. Sajiax Preal Rivera & Priam Carrius Acker Deception Series #1 (COMPLETED)