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

(Whisky Bottle Series # 1) Mostly because of her upbringing, Erisette Veraño grew up painfully empty on the aspect of self-esteem. Even most of the people around her just added up to the weighty pile on her fragile shoulders constantly bringing her down. And all the while sinking, she would crash down upon finding out even just a pair of eyes set on her definitely not flawless skin. She feared attention. He showered her with it.

She was raped. She was destroyed. She's always been alone despite the crowd of people surrounding her. A mentally unstable girl who is so close to cutting her wrist and ending her pain. Until he came. Her sister's boyfriend. CAUTION: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. THIS STORY IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. BE OPEN-MINDED. THIS STORY MAY TRIGGER YOUR DEPRESSION. READ THE WARNING AGAIN BEFORE READING. Thank you.

Wounds heal, but scars remain. So even with the possibility that one can accept and move forward, it's impossible to forget. Because there will always be an irremovable mark that will remind you of every bit of pain. Growing up without a mother was Zarih's first heartache. It scarred her more than anything else. She sees how her dad grieves for her mom all the time-even after years-and it breaks her. When Zarih learned about the possibility that she might have inherited her mother's heart disease, she knew she couldn't afford to love because she wouldn't want anyone to suffer at her death. She wouldn't want to love someone just to wound him at the end. It was easy not to fall in love, only if Ace Timotheo Salvador, her summer enemy, didn't dare touch her scars... as if they were the most beautiful parts of her existence. Zarih feels like losing it... She wants to love and be loved. Maybe he can heal her scars. Maybe their story is different from her dad's. Maybe they can have a happy ending. Or maybe... She should've not risked it at all. Maybe she could've not scarred her heart more. Finished: July 21, 2022

The Runaway Girls Series #4 Janna Beatrice Regalado is the breadwinner of her family. Mag-aral nang mabuti. Magtapos ng pag-aaral. Maghanap ng magandang trabaho. Pag-aralin ang mga kapatid. She was treated like a damn investment-ang anak na mag-aahon sa kanila sa kahirapan. Wala naman siyang choice kasi pinapaaral lang siya. Ang magagawa lang naman talaga niya ay ang sumunod. However, when she met Vance Emerson Dela Vega, she learned that there is more to life. Hindi lang pala sa pag-aaral at sa pamilya umiikot ang mundo. It was like a happy dream-a song only the two of them knew. It's true that life has yet to offer, but they aren't all about passionate kisses and silly jokes. Beatrice almost forgot that the world can be harsh, too. And now the only thing she can do is listen to the same old song they once enjoyed together, all by herself. Date started: April 21, 2024 Date finished: January 26, 2025

Carpe Noctem Duology #1 Wanting to be free and create a life of her own, Nezie left her privileged life to chase after her dreams. While juggling her studies with multiple part-time night jobs to survive, she meets Aquio. A steady, rulebound guy who lives for the future. She's a dreamer, willing to head on whatever it takes just to realize her dreams. He's pragmatic, seeing the world as it is, but never once wanted anything enough to take a leap. Having contrasting views about life yet having the same hope for the future, the two set out towards an unknown road of chasing dreams, following one's heart and self-discovery. But when the stars align and the universe conspires, life becomes yet another transient astronomical event seen from afar. *** Date started: September 3, 2020 Posted: September 30, 2022 Date finished: November 19, 2024

Lewis has a strange fascination with death, because of the unexplainable emptiness she's been feeling inside for years. After finding out--on her 29th birthday--that she's sick and finally dying, she rode the bus home, hoping to reconcile broken relationships from the people in her past. But little did she know... that this ride will turn more than a trip down memory lane, as she stumbled upon one of the ghosts from a long-buried memory at the back of her head. *** Date started: September 18, 2020 Date finished: December 6, 2020

A short story about Tyrese and Eisley living in a parallel universe. Would their alternate realities finally get their happily ever after?

"When you fall in love with an atypical guy who does not love you back and you try to move on, but no matter how much try, you just can't, will you do everything to make him love you back or will you do everything to forget him? I don't ever want to force someone to love me back, but I can't forget him either. He's not a bad boy. No way. Not in any way. He's just... a little bit awkward." - Tyrese Janelle Hao Dela Cruz

After knowing that someone aside from her is capable of securing the top spot, Aphra felt nothing but hatred and utmost dislike towards that person. Will her opinion of him change after witnessing his personality behind closed doors? ****** Being second is never an option. Para kay Aphra Danine Pantorilla, makakausad lang siya kung siya ang laging nangunguna. She badly wants to prove her relatives that she is highly competent by being academically superior to everyone else. She should be first all the time. Kaya nang dumating si Sulivan de Lopezes, a man who is effortlessly good at everything, she started to lose the only achievement she thought she had. Dito nagsimula ang pag-usbong ng kanyang matinding pagkamuhi sa lalaki. Ang pagiging top student na nga lang ang maipagmamalaki niya, aagawin pa sa kanya? What made her hate him more is the fact that all people around her are rooting for Sulivan to defeat her. Her downfall is their happiness. What could possibly happen when the man she disliked the most accompanied her on her journey to find the better version of herself? On her journey to overcome the obstacles in her life? Amidst all failures, battles, and uncertainties, an unexpected friendship blossomed among students who were victims of college struggles. A special bond was formed between two persons who were once involved in an academic rivalry.