Published under Summit - Pop! Fiction. Dirham series #2

Merong iba't-ibang paraan ang mga tao para makatakas sa reyalidad. Yung iba nagbabasa ng libro, nanonood ng mga drama sa tv, nakikinig ng music. Meron namang nagsusulat, nag d-drawing, nag p-paint, at nag co-compose ng kanta. Pero si Angelique, ang paraan niya ng pagtakas sa reyalidad ay tuwing nananaginip siya. Dahil meron siyang ibang kakayahan. Ang kakayahan na kontrolin at i-manipulate ang sarili niyang panaginip.

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.

When Saru finds out about her twin sister's mysterious suicide, she assumes her sister's identity to uncover the truth. ***** Saru Sumiyaya lived a tough life, dropping out of college to work to support her alcoholic father. When her mother calls to inform her that her twin sister, Sari, has taken her own life, she races back to her hometown in disbelief. While in her sister's room grappling with her death, Saru comes across a blue journal containing an ancient word she had taught Sari a long time ago, "Kahimanawari" meaning "kahit man lang kung maaari" or "hoping to happen." Saru realizes the journal contains Sari's wishes. While in Manila to inform Sari's university about her death, Saru encounters Taisei, a friend of Sari's who is convinced that Sari is the victim of the Suicide Virus, a case Sari had been working on before she died. Saru assumes Sari's identity, vowing to solve the case, while also fulfilling the wishes written in the blue journal. DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A FILIPINO LANGUAGE STORY

The Conspirations of the Universe is a story about Luke Monasterio, a book hugger and a fan boy, who had recently had his heart broken by his girlfriend. He thought that the Universe hated him and so he took refuge to his all-time favorite book, A Starless Night. One night, he dreamt about the book's protagonist and when he woke up, he finds himself at his bed with a beautiful stranger who she claims to be Eureka Cortez, the protagonist of A Starless Night. Follow Luke's endeavor of unraveling the mystery of the paradox of the complicated girl that came out from his very book! And let's see his choices that would change him forever.

Anong gagawin mo kapag natuklasan mong hindi ikaw, ikaw? Malabo di' ba? Okay lang. Kahit si Milo nalalabuan din. Mula sa normal at nakakabagot nyang buhay kung saan ang pinoproblema nya lamang ay ang buod nya sa Noli, ang gurong gawa sa biceps na si Taguro, isang mabahong siga, ang ultimate crush nyang si Makie, isang paulit-ulit na panaginip, at tutchang na naghe-hello world, sa isang kurap natuklasan nya ang sarili nyang nasa gitna ng isang digmaan ng mga sinaunang pwersa sa modernong panahon. Kung saan isa siya sa pangunahing piyesa na magiging susi ng kaligtasan o kapahamakan ng buong mundo. Nakakapressure ba? Wala pa yan. Nalaman din nyang isa siya sa bagong henerasyon ng mga Napili na tinutugis ng isang organisasyon dahil sa kakayahan nilang gamitin ang mga bertud na may kakaibang kapangyarihang kapag nahinang ay kayang pamunuan ng isa ang buong mundo. Samahan pa ng pakikialam ng mga nilalang ng sinaunang Pilipinas na inaakala lang natin sa lumang konteksto lang matatagpuan, pati narin mga importanteng tao ng kasasayang akala natin matagal nang patay. Magulo? Oo, pati nga ako nalilito eh. Mula sa korning panulat ng malikhain (at maruming) utak ni John Policarpio, samahan natin sila Milo, ang henyong si Tifa, misteryosang si Makie at ang bantay na si Jazz (o kahit sila na lang, wag na tayong idamay) sa isang epikong paglalakbay sa moderno nating mundong puno ng misteryo, pakikibaka, mahiwagang armamento, diyos at diyosa, diwata, bayani, mababahong kampon ng karimlan, mga patay na buhay, engkanto't lamang lupa at iba pa. Para sa pagtuklas ng mga sikreto ng ating kasaysayan, at tunay na katauhan ng mga Napili, habang nakikipagtungalian sa mga nilalang na nais kumitil sa kanila. And to promote world peace nga pala. Rakenrol!

May urban legend na kumakalat online. May sumpa raw sa Shibuya na tuwing sasakay ka sa last train ride ng 23:57PM ay magsisimulang magbago ang buhay mo... Story and Art: Raykosen FB, IG and Twitter: @raykosen Note: ~ A paranormal story na isinulat ko habang nasa train station ako ng Shibuya (Tokyo). ~ Check out the ALAGAD story for extension of this story. It talks about Rio Sakurada's point of view and story. ~ Thank you for making 23:57 number 1 in the Paranormal genre ranking on its first to final chapters! ~ 23:58, a 23:57 sequel debuted in March 2020.