Having to care for her mother since the end of grade school, Meadow Jil Carreal was no stranger to exhaustion. Being the bigger person physically, mentally, and emotionally was excruciating, but Meadow always was. When Meadow, a DLSU student, eats dinner outside her campus one day, she sees Kalon Mangundapat, the Isko who often eats near her school. Kalon liked the cheap food he consumed on Castro Street. What reasons would the two find to know why their existence in each others' lives suddenly jumped from the air?

Dreams begin and end in school, that's what Diwata Yvon Mahalina, a student from UP Manila, thought. Because for her, after school, you must be aiming for stability. Nothing can compare to a safe life. However, Ignacio Trillano, a guy who lived in Blumentritt and studied at FEU, disagrees. A quiet life like Diwata's dream was not fulfilling and meaningful, Ignacio argues. Ignacio was a ComArts student who was loud as an airplane flying away. Would Ignacio's words and actions be enough to encourage Diwata to begin a life beyond her comfort?

Switching to a condo would be a huge shift in Eloise Danielle Madrigal's life, the Iska from UP Manila. From living in her aunt's home, she will independently live near her school. From growing up with so many hands to help her, she will face a new life alone. Since Eloise wasn't familiar with commuting from Padre Faura that well, the cousin of her block mate, Graham Anthony Laurel, will surely be of help. This walking GPS guy that was a first-year Thomasian had quite a temper as he taught Eloise. It seems as though one of them needed to teach the other beyond directions, would Graham find a calm and kind way to tell Eloise that her head was in the sand?

Anjel Delo Santos, a Lasallian, craved affection from her parents. It wasn't easy getting it. She had to be brilliant because her parents were intellectual people who yearned for recognition in their own fields. College was her opportunity of being brilliant. As Anjel walked on the streets of Malate, she will see a disappointed-looking River Alexandre Abad. As a fan of River, who is a DLSU student, she couldn't help but be concerned with the basketball player's state. While they get to know each other, would their eyes appreciate the silver lining in the midst of the nimbus clouds around them?

WATTY'S SHORTLIST 2023 Stuck in the never-ending responsibilities as one of the breadwinners of the family, Calisse Abigail Guillermo, an Iska from UP Manila, seeks to find true comfort between drinking and smoking. But she never does. Her desire to find consolation in everything is not found within the consumption of toxins. When she meets fellow smoker Chance Luy, a UP med student, in the bustling street of Pedro Gil, she thanks the heavens for a chance to meet him. Chance is your worn-out med student who is stingy. As they ponder about life, would they find solace as they share a moment of smoke?

Hi, bebi! An epistolary.

It all started with a glance and it made their hearts flutter. Augustine Luna, a painter, saw colors in Jay Villahermosa and painted a whole new portrait of him. Little did she know, those colors weren't meant to last. Like how the streetlight loses its brightness but she still manages to see the light in him. Will she continue loving him despite those colors fading? Or will she give up on their love like how the light in their hearts died? Ranks: #1 hoax #1 folklore # 2 metaphors Started: February 7, 2022 Finished: April 15, 2022

(Published under Pop Fiction) Hellary Angeles was head over heels for her long-time crush, Neo. And her obsession with him reached the point where she moved to the school where he transferred. But that new school had a myth - if a student talked to the mysterious guy who was wearing a gray hoodie, he or she would become ominous with love. She never believed that, but her curiosity led her to that one cold night when she mistook someone else for that hoodie guy! And that someone else, Nazareth Sarmiego, stole a kiss from her! Para makabawi sa ginawa, sinabi ni Nazareth na tutulungan niyang mapalapit siya kay Neo. However, as they kept on trying and trying to attain her goal, she unexpectedly fell for Nazareth. But no matter how much warmth and solace his hoodie could give her amidst this chaotic world, she just couldn't be with him because it would only hurt her more.

Maria Georgianne Marfori loved Noah Elizalde more than anything in this world. Ganon din halos lahat ng mga babaeng kilala niya. Yes, he's probably that hot and adorable. Kaya naman ay maaga niyang natutunan ang pag mamahal ng walang pag aalinlangan at takot. Kailanman ay hindi niya naisip na darating ang araw na susuko siya at mapapagod. Never. Noah will end up with her no matter what. But is it really right to love him intensely at a very young age? Her family didn't believe in love. They think it's pure sentiment. They think purely loving someone with your heart was wrong. Binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng puso at utak. Puso, para maramdaman ang sentimento. Utak, para mapag isipan kung dapat bang tanggapin ang sentimento ng puso. We have to identify who's the better judge. But then again, do we always have that chance to judge? Paano kung ipaglaban mo man iyon ay wala ka parin namang halaga? How are you going to fight for your heart when you know from the very beginning you will lose? That you are Worthless? Why do we all want this? To love what does not love us. To leave those who want to stay. To push away those who want to stay close. To treasure what is worthless.

Love Trilogy #1 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.