Bata pa lang ay namulat na si Sunny na tatlong bagay lang ang kailangan niya sa buhay: bahay, pera, at pamilya. Namuhay siyang mahirap sa loob ng labing siyam na taon at ngayong bente na siya ay hindi iyon nagbago. Ang tanging nag bago lang siguro sa kanya ngayon ay ang pagkawala ng kanyang katuwang sa buhay: ang kanyang ina. Hindi pa nakakabangon sa sakit ay pinili niyang magpakatatag at mabuhay para sa sarili at para sa mga pangarap. Life is hard but it's easy to be strong. Iyon ang panlaban niya, ang pagiging matatag at pursigido. She was invincible because of that, but will she still feel invincible with a beast around? Lalo na pag napaibig na siya nito? Mahina ba talaga ang mga babae pag dating sa pag ibig? Because she was sure as hell beginning to lose all her strength. Ano nga ba ang gagawin Sunny kung ang magiging hadlang sa kanyang maabot ang lahat ng gusto ay ang siyang magpapaibig rin sa kanya ng husto? Worst. May magagawa talaga kaya siya?

Elevators. Airplanes. Palaman ng Sandwich. Yung feeling na papunta ka pa lang at excited ka pa lang sa pupuntahan mo. Yung feeling na palapit pa lang yung birthday mo. Yung feeling na palapit pa ang isa pang espesyal na araw. Yung feeling na ilang oras na lang ay pasko na. Yung feeling na tatlong araw na lang simula na ulit ng pasukan. Yung feeling na nasa gitna ka pa lang at di ka pa nakakarating. Yung feeling na malapit na pero hindi pa. Yun ang laging gusto ko. Yung nasa gitna pa lang. Yung nasa gitna ka ng dalawang bagay. Gitna ng isang building. Gitna ng langit at lupa. Gitna ng dalawang matatabang tinapay. Gitna ng byahe papuntang disneyland. Mas gusto ko yung feeling tuwing nagbabyahe kesa doon sa nakarating ka na. Mas gusto ko yung feeling na may inaantay ka kesa doon sa nandyan na. I always like the things in between. "You only like things in between, Coreen. You only like the chase... You only want me chasing after you. You don't want to decide... Pero pakiusap naman, magdesisyon ka na, kasi tao rin naman ako, nasasaktan. And you? I don't think nararamdaman mo yung sakit na nararamdaman ko... You are just too heartless."

You only hinder yourself by concealing those feelings under a concrete mask. But remember, concrete cracks and I see your unmarred skin that's not tasted the flavour of living. You hide like a guilty thief. You steal away the experience so open your eyes, your mind, your heart to the landscape known as Emotion. *** (30/6/22) Maturity is when you look back at your creation with, not disgust, but pride. You marvel at your growth, rather than shame yourself for the lack of knowledge in the past. Amongst the embarrassment, commend your budding talent, and strive to make better for yourself. 2020 anthology. 2nd place in The Bridge Society Poetry Awards. Beautiful cover by @Lane2London.

A GIRL dreams about a Bad boy who is gentle only to her. A BOY dreams about a Girl who is naughty only to him. ****** He was her neighbor. He was her childhood sweetheart. He was her first love. Ten years later... He was everything she abhorred. He was dangerous. She hated what he'd become, yet, her heart still yearned for him. He possessed her body, mind, heart and soul. And she was scared ... scared of what will happen to her if she fell deeply in love again with this Dangerous Gentleman. WARNING: SPG/R-18

"Do you want to be his favorite obsession?" DAHIL sa isang trahedya, ikinubli ni Virgo ang kagandahang taglay. Itinago niya iyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsusuot ng mga pang-manang na damit. Ayaw niyang maulit ang trahedya na kumitil sa buhay ng mga magulang niya. Halos magta-tatlong taon na rin siyang ganoon, hanggang sa maubos ang pera na iniwan ng mga magulang sa kanya at kinailangan niyang magtrabaho. Hindi naman siya nahirapan humanap ng trabaho dahil tinulungan siya ng kaniyang tiyo na makapasok sa Kallean Financial Firm, kung saan ang tiyo niya ang CEO. Things were normal. Kahit papaano, masaya siya sa trabaho niya. Until one day, her uncle just disappeared into thin air and he was replaced by Lucien Kallean, the owner of Kallean Financial Firm. At dahil sa sekretarya siya ng kaniyang tiyo, nangangamba siyang baka matanggal siya sa trabaho dahil wala na roon ang tiyuhin niya. Ngunit laking gulat niya ng hindi siya nito sinisante. The insolent man even kissed her and offered her to be his lover! What the hell was happening? Why on earth would a handsome man like Lucien Kallean would kiss an old maid looking woman like her? And really, his lover? Was the world coming to an end? Hindi ba nito nakikita na mukha siyang manang? CECELIB | C.C. MATURE CONTENT COMPLETED COVER: ASTRID JAYDEE