If we were to talk about making the first move, boys are usually the ones who do it, but not in the case of Ireena Razon. For her, it was a now or never situation. Given that it was her last year of high school, she felt she had to do everything. You only turn 17 once in your lifetime, and after that, you can't afford to make foolish decisions anymore, she thought. Little did she know, this "foolish" 17-year-old decision she was about to make would shape the rest of her life. Book Cover from: Su Minh in Pexels

[THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A TWO-PART STORY.] '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. Lovestruck Series: HEARTBOUND (Part Two of Two) ynativity, 2024 Cover illustration by charameldraws

(Game Series # 10) Tali coursed through life with ease. Coming from a family full of lawyers, she knew that getting a job would not be a problem. Kailangan niya lang pumasa sa school at pumasa sa BAR exam. Madali lang naman iyon lalo na kung wala ka namang ibang iniisip kung hindi ang mag-aral. Hindi niya kailangang isipin kung may pambili ba siya ng libro o pambayad ng tuition. Life had been really good to her. But one night, she met this guy named Lui... She had heard stories about him, but has never really met him. And when she finally put a face to the name, that was when she understood the stories about him. Nakaka-baliw nga pala talaga iyong lalaki na iyon. There's just something about him that makes you want to say yes... So, she said yes. Yes to kissing him. Yes to making out with him. Yes to everything. Tali told herself that it was just for one night, but she found herself wanting for me despite all the protest of the people around her. She kept on convincing herself that he's not worth it... but she knew the moment his lips touched hers, it was already game over.

Almost was never enough. The most is where it all lies; the second is no different from losers. If you want to be chosen, be the best among the options-a sweet rule to every test, a bitter reality Eiah was raised in. She gives everything a hard try, even though she can't grasp it all just right. Maybe she was chasing the wrong things. Maybe she needs to work harder. Maybe she's really... almost there. Whatever it is, she's determined to prove her father she's worthy of her name-but heck, not to the point of marriage! That's why, when he demanded that she get engaged while still in college, she had to 'call a friend', Chase, an accounting junior who has kissed girls everywhere. They had to level up their call sign. From bes to babe, will fake couple rings work? Or was it, again, just another almost? Almost the right move; apparently not the best. Maybe they should've just sat with their friendship bracelets rather than become almost too-almost what they aren't meant to be, almost everything they could no longer be.

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

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

Love Trilogy #2 This work of fiction may include potentially disturbing readings, scenes and discussions around topics such as sexual, self-harm, physical violence, emotionally triggering materials, death and suicide. Please engage in self-care as you read this work. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.