an epistolary

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.

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?

THE LOSERS' CLUB SERIES #1 Have you ever been so smitten with someone that you were just so grateful they existed? Tipong makita mo lang siya, solved ka na. Kahit hindi mo siya makausap o makasama, inspired na inspired ka. That was the case for Dawn Karsen Navarro, a die-hard fan of a prominent singer and songwriter, Dior Kobe Gallardo. Kahit pa laging General Admission ticket lang ang nabibili niya at halos kasinlaki lang ng gagamba ang natatanaw niya mula sa upuan, marinig niya lang ang boses ng binata, kuntento na siya. So, when luck pulled a trick on her poor heart, she didn't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. She went from being in the farthest row to being in the backstage, from seeing only a glimpse of her idol to a face-to-face encounter, and from hearing only a fraction of his life to knowing everything there was to know about him. She had made a lot of progress. But, why did she go back to being seated in the farthest row? Why did she go back to being just a mere fan? After everything they vowed, why did she go back to being a stranger in the midst of the crowd?

Status: Completed Rain, a sucker for romance stories was content to read someone else's love stories. Truth is, she wasn't planning on falling for anyone other than her favorite fictional characters. But when she met Ace Alvarez, she just found herself yearning for something real... something that books couldn't offer. And that's his eye-roll on her, his arms around her waist, his nose brushing on hers, and his face nuzzling on her neck. She badly wants his last name. She wants everything that makes him. By that, she knows that she's falling hard... but she's mindless of the consequences the moment she gave in to him.

She can see the future, her name is Jill Morie. They are Peculiars, they exist. And this is their tale. ***** Jill Morie, the girl who can see the future, never wants her power and believes that every event in the universe is already determined. Until one day, she decided to interfere with fate to compensate for her guilt. And this is the beginning of her quest. She then discovered that there are other beings like her who have exceptional abilities and a secret organization called 'Memoire' who hunts them down. -- THE PECULIARS' TALE (Wattys 2015 Winner) Genre: Scifi, Action, Young Adult, Mystery-Thriller Status: Completed

Meet the detectives of the Moriartea Cafe. Cover artwork by @CryAllen