English and Tagalog Compilation | #3 IN POETRY | The Fiction Awards 2016 Winner © 2016 kyeriella all rights reserved book cover made by @OhWanderlust_

If you ever thought that you already have that perfect love story you've always dreamed of, think again. Everything in this world is not what it seems to be. Everything's twisted, including your story.

A (not-so) hopeless romantic writer. A weird (not-so-much of a) stranger. A lot of (denying) feelings in between. A (continuation of the online) connection that ends on 11 / 23.

A writer. A weird stranger. A lot of little conversations. An online understanding. Every night. 23:11.

(U Series #1) Para kay Chino Alejandro, the best thing about life is its simplicity. Panatag ang loob niyang nakakakain ang pamilya nila tatlong beses sa isang araw. Kampante na siyang nakakasama ang mga kaibigan sa klase at computer games. At masaya na siyang mas nagiging close na sila ng all-time crush niya. Rose petals. Humiga sa kalsada. Skateboard. Maghintay ng himala. Beers. Pagka-intimidate sa chandeliers. Unexpected drunk tattoos. Ang Mabuting Salita ni Deus. Paintings. Prayer meeting sa loob ng elevator. Checkered polo shirts. Spoken words. . . at mag-YOLO. When lots of craziness, belief contradictions, and spontaneous adventures intertwine with uncensored words, not supposed to have feelings and out of hand emotions - life can get a lil bit out of hand for Chino. It's about time to get out from his comfort box to think, decide and act. FAST. Before that one particular girl gets trap in the box she wants to get out from. Life can never be just that simple and that's the best thing about it.

Sinteya Yeo has always been into "sinful" acts until her world was shaken when she took the challenge of playing fire with her respectable college professor. ***** Pinaniniwalaan ni Sinteya Yeo na sex objects lang ang tingin ng mga lalaki sa mga babae, a belief borne from the fact that she's the daughter of a single mother and unknown father. Kung sex lang ang habol ng mga ito, then sex lang ang ibibigay niya and nothing else. That view in life molded the woman she is today until she sets her sights on her handsome ethics professor, Sir Marco, who brushes off sexual innuendos and flirtations. As her frustration of proving her point turns into deeper, warm, and fuzzy feelings, hindi mapigilan ni Sinteya na ibaling ang tukso sa isa pang forbidden conquest, a more willing victim . . . because she believes that forbidden acts are the most pleasurable.

Lumisan pa-Maynila para magkolehiyo ang nagulong pangarap ni Mari Solei Lacsamana nang dumating ang isang tattooed bad boy sa buhay niya, kung saan ang pagtakbo sana niya palayo ay naging paikot-ikot pabalik sa pagkasira nilang dalawa. *** Walang ibang ginusto si Mari Solei kung hindi ang takasan ang abusive niyang auntie at pinsan. Pagka-transfer ng isang bad boy sa school nila, ibinigay nito ang panandaliang 'pagtakas' sa kanya nang hindi umaalis. Ngunit, nang tanggihan niya ang offer nitong tuluyang tumakbo, ang desisyon niya ang humadlang sa sana ay masaya nilang magiging buhay. Sa muling pagtatagpo, nag-iba na ang lalaking nakilala niya at mula sa innocent love ay iba na rin ang nais nito. Mao-overcome kaya ni Mari Solei ang pagbabago at paikot-ikot nilang dalawa kung sa bawat paglapit nila sa isa't isa ay kinasisira niya, nito, at ng mga tao sa kanilang paligid?

Si Girl - may pagka-childish, slowpoke, exaggerated mag-isip, accident prone, sweet, mabait, super friendly, hindi nauubusan ng energy, positive thinker pag dating sa mga problema. Si Guy - mature, seryoso, hindi ngumingiti, bossy, masungit, snob, magaling mag-handle ng mga bagay, a perfect decision maker, hindi nakikipag-kaibigan, lahat tinuturing nyang competitors/kaaway. What if magtagpo ang landas nilang dalawa? At magkaroon ng biglaang kasal dahil sa di inaasahang pangyayari? Are they going to prove na total opposite attracts? O maghihiwalay din sila in the end? paano pakikisamahan ni girl ang asawa nyang mafia boss? matagalan kaya ng isang mafia boss ang asawa nyang slow? Let's see..

Mikazuki convinces Bullet to meet his birth parents after being taken away by the former leader of the most powerful mafia group, Black Organization, for twenty-five years. But what if she later learns that their real families are in fact mortal enemies? Will Mikazuki dare to fight for their blossoming love--or will she choose to seek revenge? *** After staying in Japan for several years, Mikazuki finally convinces Bullet, her adopted brother, to go back to the Philippines and meet his birth parents after being taken away from them twenty-five years ago by Terrence Von Knight, the former leader of the most powerful mafia group, Black Organization. Things start to get more complicated as untold stories and secrets concerning their real parents unfold, and they discover Mikazuki's true connection with Terrence Von Knight. A battle between their hearts and priorities erupts. What will be Mikazuki's ultimate choice? DISCLAIMER: This is a story written in Taglish. COVER DESIGNER: April Alforque

Marriage is normally one's happily ever after in the movies, but for Aemie Ferrer-Roswell, it's just the start of a seemingly unending adventure. Can this sweet Barbie-loving airhead continue to survive the life of being wife to a Mafia boss? *** Many things changed after Aemie Ferrer became Ezekiel Roswell's wife. With the might of Yaji and Roswells combined, things should have become smooth sailing for Baby Ae and her Dong--or at least, that's what everyone thought. But with lies, secrets and betrayals constantly plaguing the two, no one knows who to trust. This time, the silly and ditzy Aemie must step up to protect everyone and everything she cherishes--including the man she loves. Will they win and overcome this battle again? Or is it the perfect time for them to accept that Mafia stories have no happy endings? DISCLAIMER: This story is in Taglish COVER DESIGNER: Rayne Mariano