A dumb suggestion from my friend says that there's a foolproof method to know whether you like someone romantically or not. It's simple. All you have to do is close your eyes, think of that person, and imagine kissing them. Kapag nandiri ka, e di hindi mo gusto. But if the opposite happened, e di, delikado ka na. I'm a hundred percent sure that I only see Chio Cervantes as a friend. I just got confused because he's suddenly everywhere right after my ex-boyfriend got into a relationship with a girl he told me not to worry about. Besides, hindi ko rin siya type. He's noisy. He's shameless. He procrastinates a lot. He likes wiping the sweat off his forehead and wipe it on my arm. He drives with both his hands which somehow doesn't look appealing . . . and for some reason he doesn't refuse picking me up even when it's late at night. He always brings an extra handkerchief because I keep on forgetting mine along with a shirt I can borrow in case I need to change. He brings me good food to take my mind off deadlines. He doesn't hesitate to communicate his feelings and I honestly envy him for that. And he makes me laugh. Whatever. But just to be sure, at dahil madali lang namang gawin 'yong method, I closed my eyes and imagined his lips against mine. I realized one thing after opening my eyes. I'm in deep trouble and there's no way of getting out. BETWEEN YOUR LIPS AND MINE Cervantes Series Second Generation #1 2022, ynativity

Tired of endlessly messaging his famous vlogger crush in hopes of getting noticed, Cholo Cervantes finally gives in and installs a dating app to find the right one for him. . .only to end up matching with the same woman he has a hopeless crush on, Sean Velasco. The Art of Kissing Back ynativity, 2020

After two years of not hearing anything from each other, Billie and Deion unexpectedly meet at a college orientation. Not ending up on good terms in high school, both of them knew that they are never going to be friends again-not when they could only talk in the form of arguing most of the time. Surely, they did not want to meddle with each other's lives again. The last time they did, they ended up breaking each other's young, hopeful hearts. But things take a different turn when Billie is in desperate need of a token boyfriend, and Deion is her only available option. Lovestruck Series: HATEMATE (Part Two) ynativity, 2021 Cover illustration by charameldraws

Everybody knows that Billie has only ever liked Deion. She spends her four years in junior high school waiting for him to notice all her advances. The most she can get in return is a friendly glance. But when Deion finally paid her some attention, Billie starts to rethink if he is worthy of her efforts. Disclaimer: This is written in epistolary format. Lovestruck Series: HATEMATE Part One Cover illustration by charameldraws ynativity, 2021

'Do what makes you happy; be with whoever makes you happy,' they say. But what if the things or people that make you happy aren't what you need? There are some things that go together that make you happy but don't necessarily result to something good in the long run. But you keep coming back to it. Like your heart is bound to keep wanting it. Like drugs and candy. Like cigarettes and alcohol. Like tempting fatty foods and a high-sugar drink. Like two hearts bound to retrace its steps back to each other, craving for the familiar rush. And after sleeping with her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Nadia finds her and Elias in this same category. Disclaimer: This is written in epistolary format. Lovestruck Series: HEARTBOUND ynativity, 2023 Cover illustration by charameldraws