PASEO DE ESTRELLA SERIES #1: Growing up, I saw what real love looked like. Daddy loved Mommy in the quietest, most thoughtful ways. Never once did he raise his voice at her. He always listened when she talked. He remembered the little things, like her favorite mug and how she liked her coffee. Kailanman, hindi ko sila nakitang nag-away. Every conversation sounded like a gentle exchange of sweet nothings. Ganoon din nila kami pinalaki, punô ng lambing, pag-unawa, at respeto. They treated each other with so much care. Kaya naman, ang paraan ng pagmamahalan nila sa isa't isa ang naging batayan ko pagdating sa usaping pag-ibig. Back in high school, whenever we were asked to describe our ideal person in a scrapbook, I always wrote the same things. Someone who's soft-spoken. Someone who listens. Someone loyal. Someone responsible. Someone who would do everything to make sure I'm happy, even in the smallest ways. Kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkabihag ni Aaron Felix Ezpartinez sa nananahimik kong batang puso, unang kita ko pa lang sa kaniya. He was the kind of man who chose grace over anger, even when he was hurting. Bagay na tingin ko kung bakit mas lalong lumalim ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya. Ang problema nga lang, wala naman siyang gusto sa akin. Kinikilala lang niya ako bilang kapatid ng kuya ko. Pero kahit gano'n, hindi iyon naging hadlang para itigil ko ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya. Pinili kong gustuhin siya kahit sa malayo, kahit alam kong hindi niya ako kailanman mapapansin sa paraang gusto ko. What I didn't know was that some feelings only bloom in moments too fragile to last. And sometimes, the kind of love we give everything to... only grows in borrowed time. "I never said it out loud. But everything I became... I became because of him." [THIS IS WRITTEN IN TAG-LISH] DATE STARTED: 06/29/25

Status: Completed -- Mikee and Solomon's story began in a rush - a dizzying dance of fate, a tidal wave pulled in by the moon's insistent tug. Everything felt right. It was a perfect storm. But like most things that burn too bright, too fast, it always risked disappearing just as quickly. Now, Mikee is left wondering: What if everything he believed was real... wasn't? What if it all began with a lie - a carefully hidden betrayal disguised as fate? Their love felt like destiny. But what if it had been built on deception from the very start?

Student Series 5: Self-Deprecation

Student Series 4: Crab Mentality

Student Series 3: Filipino Time Punctuality seems less important in a society where being late is viewed as a negative yet normal culture. Some students grow up exercising Filipino Time habit that silently expresses impoliteness and disrespect to the time of the person they would be meeting. Eulalie Foinnuala knows the value of time since childhood, thus she always arrives earlier or just on time. Alam niya na ang mga kamay ng orasan ay gumagalaw at ang oras ng buhay niya ay nababawasan. Subalit hindi lahat ay tulad niya lalo na noong tumungtong na siya sa highschool. She gets used of waiting for people as she tries to understand their reason for being behind time. Crocheting is one of the things that keeps her from reducing to tears every time she waits for someone. The ball of yarn symbolizes her time. She hopes that even in the last knot of this beautiful woven craft, at least that certain person can see it. Would that person be able to fulfill her hope on time? Or just like she always does, she would keep waiting... until she cuts the last string of her life?

Student Series 1: The Mañana Habit 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 Delaying tasks is one of the constant poor practices of some students, and cramming is their last hope to atone for their unwise decision. Procrastinators live by the motto: If it is not the due date, it is not the do date. Eleftheria Isra is one of the great examples. She loves deadline hence working in full swing to beat the clock is her favorite habit. Bukod sa hindi madaling tigilan ang isang bagay na nakasanayan, mahirap din para sa kanya ang pigilan ang nararamdaman sa isang tao na hindi niya inakalang balang araw ay kanyang magugustuhan. A real smart cookie with a heart of gold puts her into a heated pan, melting her softly like a butter and stirring it with love. Could this person help her understand that making things ahead of time is always better than putting them off? Or, after making him feel loved and important, would she still do something that deliberately breaks a soft heart that it is too late for her to realize?

Student Series 2: "Bahala Na" Attitude 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 Manifesting a fatalistic attitude is nearly a norm inside a classroom and is often practiced by students who have lost their will or do not have any will at all to make a change in their life. They submit themselves to the Higher Being or anyone superior to them through tough times. Bahala na si Lord. Bahala na si Batman. Bahala na; babagsak din naman. Bahala na; at least tapos na. Aspasia Estiana was naturally born to be competitive for a reason so this kind of philosophy and bad habit is a blur in her dictionary. Alam niya ang sariling kakayahan at hindi siya kuntento sa 'puwede na' kung kayang higitan pa. Hindi puwedeng basta 'bahala na' kung may mababago pa. In fact, she can secure her valedictorian award if only not these two geniuses have to transfer in her school and overtake her place. But instead of feeling threatened, she sees them as some worthy academic rivals. Finally. Eventually, she builds a friendship with the kinder as she secures a special space in her life for the austere one... not realizing she just takes the risk of letting things happen out of hand for the first time. Little does she know, saving him a spot in her heart means taking her life into the pit of devastation.

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PUBLISHED UNDER TALKING PAGES Tears Series #1: Sieana Claire Atienza Naisipan ni Sieana Claire Atienza na lumuwas ng Manila para doon na mag-aral. Tutol man ang kanyang mga magulang, nagpumilit pa rin siya sapagkat may gusto siyang takasan. Walang iba kundi ang lalaking nanakit sa puso niya, ang kanyang first boyfriend. Hindi niya akalain na sa loob ng dalawang taon nilang relasyon ay niloloko na pala siya ng taong lubos niyang minahal. Masakit. Sobrang sakit para sa kanya kasi halos ibigay na niya ang lahat pero nagawa pa rin siyang lokohin nito. Isa lang ang nasa isip niya, ang lumayo sa lalaking nanakit sa kanya. Sinabi niya sa kanyang sarili na hindi na siya magmamahal kasi natatakot na siyang muling masaktan. Posible nga kayang mangyari 'yon kung makilala niya si David Ryker Santiago na ubod ang sama ng ugali sa Univeristy na kanyang nilipatan. Marami rin ang nagsasabi na aloof ang lalaking 'yon kasi iwas siya sa mga tao. Ngunit paano kung ang aloof guy na tinatawag nila'y wala nang ginawa kundi ang bwisitin siya... Hahayaan niya bang makapasok 'to sa buhay niya o ilalayo niya ang kanyang sarili kasi natatakot na siyang muling masaktan pa? Cover is not mine. Credits to the rightful owner.

PUBLISHED UNDER TALKING PAGES Tears Series #2: Zion Miguel Villareal