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.

As she navigates the turbulent journey of self-discovery, Wednesday Denise learns that true freedom comes from within. She realizes that letting go of toxic relationships and embracing her own desires is not only necessary but empowering. *** Wednesday Denise's life is a constant struggle to win the approval of her indifferent parents. Despite the obligations she never asked for as the eldest, she can't bring herself to abandon her family. As a founding member of the Anagapesism band, her dreams take a turn when she leaves the group to pursue a nursing career, wanting to find a solid route that will eventually validate her. Having North Barrinuevo beside her, offering her the support and understanding she's been yearning for, is a blessing, as she discovers her voice, the importance of self-love, and the courage to break free from the chains of expectation. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Louise De Ramos

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

Anselmo's stories for Era. Stories to remember whenever he forgets how to love.

There are some things that aren't worth keeping. Nastia Kahlila Quijano has been convincing herself that walking away was the right thing she did. Even if it's already been three long years ever since she left. But with every passing second and every in-between of those years, she couldn't seem to getaway with the feelings still lingering in her system. She was haunted by the ideas of him, what might have been, and their memories together. Each day, each night; it was a choice she didn't want to regret. She was determined to move forward. But the biggest relapse struck her unexpectedly. All of her effort and hard work went down the drain. She couldn't seem to pull herself back from the memories reeling her in. From the phantom lurking in the form of her next door neighbor seemingly pulling her back to his arms. Maybe she should run away. Far enough where they wouldn't meet ever again. Far from his reach. Maybe she should treat him indifferently until he finally gives up. But Nika couldn't seem to handle the thought of him walking away and ending up with someone else. She couldn't have that either. Maybe, it was time for her to let things happen like clockwork. Maybe fighting it was futile. Maybe the right thing to do was run back to him. In his arms wide open. A place in the world that's only meant for her. Maybe, this time, they were meant to be. Book cover by: goldenaraw (on twitter)

[PUBLISHED UNDER LIBxWattpad] erps series #1 complete [unedited] If only I knew, would things be different? And if only you knew, will things change? Celest Haeia Ybanez is tired of being the NBSB girl in her circle. Blame the academic workload, the fictional boys, the strict curfew created by her mother, and even the ones who told her they'll wait until she's in college-graduating na siya pero wala pa ring nagpaparamdam sa kan'ya. Idagdag pa na bugbog na bugbog na siya sa katyaw ng mga kaibigan at kamag-anak n'ya na tatanda siyang dalaga. She promised herself that she'll date someone in her last year in college. . .and there she meets Iscaleon Altreano, a meek Architecture student who's also graduating this school year. She had a plan upon seeing him. She knew that Iscaleon was way out of her league; kaya nag-offer siya na magpanggap si Iscaleon na boyfriend n'ya kahit hanggang sa graduation lang nila. For experience, for memories, and for her to have a memorable first boyfriend. Everything was fun. . .if only she knew how things can get hurt if things are bound to get real.

'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

Isaiah's winter formal proposal crashes - literally. His buddy messes up the address, and he ends up proposing to some random girl. To make matters worse, in his rush to bail, he crashes into the girl's car. Yikes. Mia recognizes him right away, though. At first, she thinks it's a prank, but when she sees he's genuinely upset, she realizes he doesn't know who she is. Plot twist: Isaiah is the hotshot captain of the Farris Knights Hockey team, the arch rivals of their high school - which Mia's dad coaches. They exchange numbers to settle the repair costs. But that's only the beginning. Will their messages melt this icy rivalry and turn into potential flames?

Because life after leaving the priesthood isn't as easy as it seems. An epistolary.

Paano magkaroon ng connection sa cute (kahit ninakawan ka ng sukli) na ilang beses mo nang nakakasabay sa jeep: Step 1 Nakawin (debatable) siya sa date niya sa Fair. (Nakaw pa rin ba kapag siya ang naunang lumapit?) Step 2 Manghingi (Important: huwag nakawin) ng halik (na first kiss pala niya) bago umuwi. (Important ulit: ihatid kasi late na.) S̶t̶e̶p̶ ̶3̶ Tapos, bahala na. CERVANTES SERIES The Art of Free Falling © ynativity