The thing with Valentine's Day is, either you hate it or you love it. And Zade Pascual definitely belongs to the first category. Para sa kanya, isang araw lang ito ng commercialized version ng pag-ibig. Walang kakilig-kilig at napakalayo sa true love stories na nababasa niya sa mga libro. Nasubok ang kanyang anti-Valentine's sentiment when she unexpectedly meets Andreau Cortez-an award-winning actor and film student at her university-in the cafe where she works-- on Valentine's Day of all days. Andreau, their new cafe regular, surprises Zade by asking for her help with his latest short film project, which she hesitantly agrees to. Despite a rocky start, Zade discovers the real Andreau Cortez beyond the camera and celebrity gossip. Over the fika-not date hangouts and late-night conversations, their effortless friendship blurs into something more, to the point na akala ng lahat (yes, friends and family included) na sila na ni Andreau. Caught off guard by her evolving feelings, Zade must confront her own heart. Hanggang best friend nga lang ba ang tingin niya kay Andreau? Can their story unfold like the happy endings she loves in books? Well, sometimes, the best love stories take time to tell.

"But if you close your eyes does it always feel like nothing changed at all?" It's a Pompeii kinda day. I just feel like listening to my song of the month. Everybody has their own interpretation of the song but for me this about a person, not moving, idle, someone who's still hovering. "Where do we begin?" Ano nga kaya ang feeling no? Yung feeling na hindi ka makaalis, hindi ka makaahon? Well I am not afraid to be in love, but I'm afraid to fall because you wouldn't know who'll be there to catch you, if there'll ever be someone to catch you. Isn't that depressing? This is a story. May it be a story about love? Friendship? Moving on? Perhaps finding your better half? Or just plain... This is a story that happened, happens and is happening prolly to you? Us? Him and her? "Yeye bumaba ka na, stop day dreaming!" Oops! "Yes Mom!"

"Mahalin mo rin naman ako kahit minsan lang.." "May asawa ako. Alam mo yan." -------- "Anak ko yan! Kaya magingat ka naman!" "Anak ko rin ito kaya alam ko ang ginagawa ko. Don't shout at me!" -------- "I miss my family. I miss my friends." "Sorry. Sorry kung kinuha kita sa kanila." -------- "Ang kabet parang anay yan, akala mo walang ginagawa pero hindi mo alam unti-unti ng naninira. Peste ang tawag sa kanila. Peste na dapat mawala." ---------- "Ma, I'm sorry. Sorry for being a failure. For being a disappointment." "You're not a failure nor disappointment, Anak. Nagmahal ka lang ng maling tao but you proved to us that you're strong enough to face all the struggles in life." -------- "Wag ka ng pa-bebe, Best. Alam ng lahat na siya pa rin." "It's still him. Always him." -------- "Please.. Mika. Please. I want to be with you and our child. Ibalik natin ang tayo noon." "There was never an us. There will never be an us. Hindi naging tayo, Kiefer! Ano ba?!" * * * STARTED: APRIL 3, 2015 FINISHED: NOVEMBER 20, 2015 Highest Ranking: #1 in MIEFER

Avah Chen is my name and hating is my game. Loved by no one, hated by everyone. Half-Chinese. Pure-Maldita.

Aftermath -noun 1. Something that results or follows from an event, especially one of a dreadful or ill-fated relationship; consequence: the aftermath of pain; the aftermath of a break-up. 2. A manifestation of a new personality and character.

What's a reckless transferee with a feisty attitude got to do when her new school puts the lives of its students in danger? According to Summer Leondale...try and save it, of course. *** Used to being the new girl, Summer Leondale thinks nothing of staying long in her new school Montello High before she gets kicked out again for not being a model student. But she can't be further from the truth when she discovers that Montello High is more than what meets the eye--a school for delinquents with two rival gangs running the campus. Summer's chance for a normal high school life gets thrown out the window when she gets involved with Van Freniere, the leader of one of those gangs and rumored to be connected to an underground organization. A fire, murders, death threats, and more mysteries...Montello High is a magnet for danger, and Summer's attraction to Van has warning signs all over it. But when the school is surrounded by sinister forces that puts its students' lives in danger...well, Summer's always been a reckless troublemaker, and it's up to her to save it--if she can. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Regina Dionela

Published under Pop Fiction (2014)