The conclusion of The Runner series. ================================== Half a year has passed since the fall of Babel. In that time, tales of the Runner have drifted from truth into legend. There are stories of a thief who toppled an empire, whispers about a hero who sacrificed everything to free us from the iron grip of a madwoman. They say that the Runner is broken. They say that she is fearless. They say that no enemy stands a chance against her unstoppable army of warriors. They say that she fights because her veins run red with rebellion, but I know better. She fights because she has nothing left to lose.

A companion to The Runner series. ================================== You already know the hero. Now, meet the survivors. Friends, enemies, Intacts and Fragments. These are their stories.

Pagbabago. Lahat ng tao hangad ang pagbabago. Pero bakit nga ba tayo naghahangad magbago? Para ba sa sarili? O para sa ibang tao? Kaya ba nag-iiba ang tao dahil ginusto nito? O dahil sa iyon ang nararapat. Sabi nga nila, ang buhay ay isang malaking hamon. At ang buhay ko? Siyempre inuulan ng pagsubok. Pagsubok na susukat, magpapatibay at sa akin bilang isang indibidwal. Mahirap makisama, mahirap makisalamuha. Sa kadahilanang ito, ang pagbabago ang naging sandigan ko. Kailangan kong ibahin ang sarili ko. Para sa sarili ko, para sa mga taong nakapaligid sakin, at upang ma-inda ang lahat ng ibinubuhos ng buhay. Ngunit hanggang saan ang kaya kong baguhin? Ano ang mga bagay na kaya kong isakripisyo? Kaya ko bang ikaila ang sarili ko para lang tanggapin ng mundo? Ng mga tao? Upang makamit ang sinasabing pagbabago? Pipilitin ko pa rin bang magbago? Kahit na ang kapalit nito ay hindi ko na makilala… ...ang tunay na ako? Isa lang ang sigurado. Lalaki talaga ako. Promise!

"Honestly, I don't have much to offer. I'm just a typical random guy who was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Nothing more, nothing less. But I will still give you everything I've got even if it's barely anything at all," Aidan Gabriel. Note: This is not a side story of Miss Astig. This is Aidan Gabriel's story. *TAGLISH* *NO SOFT COPIES* This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's creative imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this book must be copied, modified or reproduced without prior consent from the author. Violators will be dealt according to law. Have fun reading! :) © 2015 Cursingfaeri All Rights Reserved

Mukhang prinsepe ang lalake. Usap-usapang mangkukulam naman ang babae. Sa mundo kung saan namumuhay ang iba't ibang mukha ng mga sinungaling, silang dalawa ay magtatagpo, magmamahalan, at magkakasakitan. © 2012 http://princeofbanat.tumblr.com/

PUBLISHED UNDER LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and is available in all Precious Pages Bookstore Nationwide for only 129.75php. Please do grab a copy guys! Thank you and God Bless. :) Note: Also available in all National Bookstore nationwide starting this July 8, 2014 onwards. :)

"How could I ever beat someone as perfect as her? I will never be good enough for my father even if I strive myself to death. Because I am nothing compared to her, his precious memory of his love... His only daughter... Who doesn't even care about him." -Lloyd Hiro, The Neglected Son. *TAGLISH* *NO SOFT COPIES* This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's creative imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this book must be copied, modified or reproduced without prior consent from the author. Violators will be dealt according to law. Have fun reading! :) © 2016 Cursingfaeri All Rights Reserved

Lalaki ako. Yun. Period. Bago kayo mag-isip ng kung ano pa man, lalaki po ako. So clear all your misconceptions about my gender. Ayaw ko mang aminin, pero meron akong konting feminine feat. Dahil cute ako. Sa sobrang cute, nagmumukha na akong babae. Kasalanan ko bang skinny ako dahil di ako mahilig sa sports? Kasalanan ko ba na mas malapit ako sa mommy ko kesa sa daddy ko? Kasalanan ko ba kung wala akong father figure dahil laging nasa business trip si daddy? Kasalanan ko bang pinapasuot ako ni mommy ng - Hay. Basta ang bottomline. LALAKI AKO.

"I won't go easy... on anyone," Louie Antoinette. *TAGLISH* *NO SOFT COPIES* This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's creative imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this book must be copied, modified or reproduced without prior consent from the author. Violators will be dealt according to law. Have fun reading! :) © 2016 Cursingfaeri All Rights Reserved

*This story is a work of fiction. Although many locations and events are based on actual places and real experiences, the characters are purely figments of my imagination. Any similarities to a living person are purely coincidental. by hunnydew November 2013