[The Wattys 2025 Shortlist] They say that it is a sin to turn platonic love into romantic one, but can a person command their feelings when they are nothing but slaves to it? Primo Roshan is a boy who is loved, valued, and spoiled by his parents. He has almost everything - wealth, parental love, and a best friend named Asher Martin. Everything in his life is like a heaven's kiss, not until his mom left them alone. His father could not bear the idea, so he immersed himself in work and created a barrier between himself and his son, thinking that without his wife, it is no longer a family. Therefore, Primo had nothing but his wealth and Asher. The latter became his anchor in times of distress, his safe space, and his constant source of support and hope in his otherwise turbulent world, where there was a quest for unconditional love, survival from the pain his world could offer, and hope for peace amidst the chaos. However, his platonic love for Asher gradually turned into romantic one as time nurtured his feelings, causing him to lose the only person he had - his close friend, a brother-like figure, and a potential lifetime companion. How will these series of events work to put the puzzle pieces back together into their old places, or will there be a new artistic creation from the same old pieces?

17 years ago, I was abducted. Brought to the remote island in the middle of the ocean, and was trained to be an assassin. We have no names, until our graduation. The woman behind this organization called her chosen assassins as Alfabeto de la Muerte. I was named Aurora for I ranked as the highest and the 26 remaining girls were named according to the placement of the alphabet. She deployed us in different countries for our missions. And I thought it will be easy, like our normal deadly training. But I'm mistaken. I didn't control myself, until I slowly realizing that I was far from what I'm molded to be. I began to have feelings. A feeling that wasn't part of the mission. I began to love. Him.

Scarlet never expected to be drawn to Sawyer, the man who saved her on the day the Cerebravirus outbreak began. Together, they found safety in the Tent Zone -- isang malawak na kampo na naging pansamantalang kanlungan para sa mga survivors -- kung saan niya ito mas lalong nakilala at lumalim pa ang nararamdaman para rito. But when chaos broke out in the camp, they were forced to flee. Kasama ang iba pang mga survivors ay magkasama nilang hinarap ang bangungot na dulot ng epidemya. They had to fight, run, and hide just to stay alive. They also found love, only for it to shatter when Sawyer suddenly disappeared -- leaving her a heartbreaking note, saying he never really loved her and could not be with her. Nasaktan man, subalit nang malaman niyang nasa peligro ang buhay nito, she made a choice: to risk everything for the man who once saved her. The question is -- can she save him in time, or love will be the reason for her to become infected and lose her life in the process? Started: July 28, 2025

Hanggang kailan ba dapat maghintay? I mean, they say that everything will fall into place in God's perfect timing. But when is the perfect timing? Bakit hindi na lang ngayon agad? Bakit kailangan pang maghintay? Kung kayo talaga, bakit hindi pa ngayon? Para sa akin, hindi totoo ang "what's meant for you will always come back to you." Kasi kung para sa'yo talaga, bakit pa mawawala sa'yo? Gets mo? Bakit pa kailangan na maghiwalay kayo? Ako, if ever man na papasok ako sa relasyon, papanindigan ko yung mga sasabihin ko, aba! Mag-stay ako kahit parehas kaming nasa dark times namin. We will grow together! I promise that. ↠ Her restless mind wanders, a teenage girl consumed with thoughts of the future and questions about her own beliefs. How long can she hold onto the words she once stood by? Will her perspective shift, or will the weight of it all lead her to finally let go? ✦ Started: January 12, 2025 Ended:

Patricia Jane Sanchez's unexpected reunion with childhood friend Bryan Xavier Diaz in their Visual Arts class is bittersweet. Forced to collaborate, old wounds reopen just as new sparks ignite. Enter Evan Louis Hernandez, the embodiment of Patricia's dream guy. As Bryan secretly pines for Patricia, Evan reciprocates her interest. "The Unfinished Sketchbook" explores the intersection of art and love, where Patricia must choose between the boy who knows her past and the one who represents her future.

Warm light. Vast greenery. Cozy blue sky. It is how Rial Blanco visualize the ephemeral summer every year-that even it only last for a short period of time, she can feel heat with her frozen heart. Those heavy and dark wounds of her life, the trauma brought by her past, which resulted her to become mute. The scene where the shot of gun, the growling sound of thunder, while the rain is pouring out so hard, and her loud voice calling for help but, too low 'cause it was trapped onto the storm. Those were all be gone as soon as the sun reigns again. The monster within her would calm, hide, and vanished for awhile. She can be free, that is why it is her favorite season of all time. Sa mga araw na iyon, masaya siya, nakakakilos siya ng matiwasay, at nagiging produktibo ang kaniyang mga oras. Kaya't laking pasasalamat niya nang tanggapin siya bilang kasambahay sa mansion ng mga Cordova, at least may pagkakaabalahan siya at magkakapera pa. Doon niya makikilala ang apo ni Senyor Cordova, isang laking abroad, matabil ang dila, at kinamumuhiang umuwi sa Pilipinas magmula nang lumisan ang kaniyang ama-si Jose Cordova. He wants to stay in San Francisco, where a part of him is abandoned. Where he craves attention. Where he always shot an arrow, taking risk just to complete the missing part of his life. He's clouded with black. Thus, what if both of them would meet and know their dark present? Would they help each other bring sunshine onto their lives or would they only worsen those ghosts they are hiding within them? With the couple of days left before summer ends, would they even knew well who they really are? (Seasonal Love Duology #1)

Sabia, a librarian, embarks on a desperate journey to save her partner, Darian, from a mysterious illness. Using a forgotten communicator and a cure hidden in the future, she teams up with the reclusive scientist, Sophia. As she navigates shifting timelines, Sabia must choose between saving Darian and preserving her own reality, facing the ultimate question: can love change fate without unraveling everything she holds dear? Futures Entwined is a powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between destiny and free will.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pamamayagpag ng dakilang Shiloh ay muling mabubuhay ang isang matandang propesiya. Maririnig ang huling babala ng kalangitan - ngunit wala ni isa ang tumugon. Kaya't ang pagbagsak at paghihirap na hatol ng tadhana ay tuluyan ngang magaganap. Si Abrielle Aragon, o mas kilala bilang Hime, ay anak ng isang dakilang heneral. Walang alam sa karahasan o digmaan; pinalaki sa layaw, kayamanan, at sa pilosopiya ng sariling mundo. Bata pa lamang, itinakda na siyang sumunod sa trono ng Shiloh - ang magiging reyna ng isang bansang tinitingala ng marami. Ngunit sa isang iglap, guguho ang lahat. Ang pagpasok ng mga mananakop na magpapaikot sa politika at kalakalan ng Shiloh - ang tuluyang magpapabagsak sa trono. Babagsak ang mga haligi ng pamahalaan, ang relihiyon ay magiging sandata ng kasinungalingan, at ang kasakiman ang magiging bagong batas. Sa gitna ng pagtataksil at pagdurugo - ang pangalan ng Shiloh ay mauukit muli, hindi sa ginto, kundi sa abo. Maririnig ang iyak ng mga babaeng inabuso, ang sigaw ng mga sanggol na nawalay sa pamilya. Ang panaghoy at hinagpis ay babalot sa Shiloh; ang luha ng mga miserable ay babaha. Higit bang nakakatakot ang mga dayuhan, o ang galit at determinasyon ng mga taong nawalan ng lahat? Sino ang magbabangon mula sa abo ng Shiloh? Sino ang makakaalala sa huling pag-asa? At sino ang mananatiling tapat - kahit wala nang dapat paglingkuran? Sino ang tapat hanggang sa huli?