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?

Karaminah Viel Trajano has always been told that she's... peculiar. She just doesn't like the things that girls her age are expected to like. But she loves writing... that's probably the only normal thing about her. Problem is, her parents do not support her 'career' of choice. For them, it's nothing more than a hobby. It's either she follows their steps and become a lawyer or become a lawyer. She chose neither. Now, she's forced to work to make a living. But she's not really made for work. Given the choice, she'd spend the day daydreaming about her scripts and characters. Fortunately, someone offered her a job... Madali lang naman daw ito. Magiging 'manager' daw siya ng basketball team. She agreed... After all, how hard could it be to manage a bunch of boys who spend their days running back and forth on a wooden ground... right?

A business student from De La Salle University attends a film screening at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, featuring short films created by the School of New Media. When the film she watches ends, she realizes that she was the inspiration for the main character, as she recalls the story actually happening to her in the past. Apparently, she's already met the director and scriptwriter before. As they meet again, will the attraction only be alive forever through film or will it blossom to something more?

PUBLISHED UNDER LIB Note: If you're not into flawed characters who make wrong decisions, don't read this. Save yourself from stress. Started: 09/09/2020 Ended: 10/07/2020 Solene Clemente was a typical Civil Engineering student who struggled to put up with her studies. Kung pwede ngang i-bake na lang ang napakaraming itlog sa test papers niya, ginawa niya na. At a young age, she experienced the harsh reality of life-poverty, abuse, and a broken family. But, as someone who could see the bright side of everything, she knew she could make it with only her mother and best friend, Duke Laurence Sanders, whom she secretly loved. Kahit pa naghihirap, basta kasama niya ang ina, kaya niya. Kahit pa madalas niyang hindi maintindihan ang lessons, ayos lang kasi may Duke naman na tuturuan siya. Na kahit gaano kalupit ang tadhana, patuloy siyang lumalaban sa buhay dahil may dalawang taong sumusuporta at nagmamahal sa kanya. She became too dependent on the love they could offer. But little did she know, like the sun she adored, she was destined to be alone.

Sandejas Legacy #3: Chaining Lockets Sandejas Legacy continues... "He's still chained like a locket, not to me...but in someone else's neck." Crest Veronica Sandejas is the high-maintenance fashionista heiress of Atty. Iñigo Sandejas. The ultimate kikay of the century, she loves shopping, glittery things, booze, and parties. She believes in living her life to the fullest because she can only have it once. She loves spending money; she loves hanging out with friends and partying all night that her father could already imagine white strands of hair on his head. She's a happy-go-lucky woman, but behind those smiles lies the loneliest woman you'll ever meet. Crest was living the life until she met that man with seductive gray eyes and a strict, cold face, Lt. Lorcan Keith Dmitrov, the man who would turn her life upside down. She thought it was the start of her own happy ending, but soon realized she was not in a fairytale with rainbows and butterflies. Instead, they're in a dark fantasy, scary and twisted. When the secrets from their past start unraveling and monsters start chasing them, what if the ends of the links locking them met? Will they be able to free themselves from the chains tied to them?

It's the day of visitors. But the visitors to Sin-si are unwelcomed, vengeful beom. Unforgotten animosity fills the air and rage collides, soaking the ground with blood. Seven boys take up their weapons to end this fight, once and for all. 7FATES: CHAKHO with BTS ***** Content advisory: this story contains some violence Original story: HYBE Co-planning: HYBE / NAVER WEBTOON

Riverfield, a beautiful town by the ocean, is home to the prestigious Decelis Academy. It's also home to seven boys with a secret: they may simply seem like players of the famous sport, Nightball, but they're actually vampires. To escape from their dark past, they try to lead normal lives as students - other than the occasional hitch since their rival Nightball team happens to be made up of werewolves. But in the end, these seven friends always find strength in each other. Until one day, a new transfer student with curious strength causes the boys' forgotten past to slowly unravel. DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR with ENHYPEN ***** Original story: HYBE Co-planning: HYBE / NAVER WEBTOON

The age of magic. A world where magic idols prevail. In these extraordinary times, Star One is one of the last non-magic idol groups left standing. When they feel as though they've reached their limit, miraculous magic emerges. And with it appears an unforeseen enemy, the Dragon Slayer Clan. Suddenly, Star One must face these challenges to discover the truth. Can they change their predestined fate? THE STAR SEEKERS with TOMORROW X TOGETHER ***** Original story: HYBE Co-planning: HYBE / NAVER WEBTOON

Gianna Collins A. Smith