Ang pag-ibig ay parang nagsusugal. Pag sigurado kang mahal mo ang tao, ibibigay mo ang lahat. Ang problema dito ay di mo alam kung may maibabalik paba sayo o wala. Maswerte ang nakakakuha ng higit pa sa inaasahan, pero luhaan ang mga sumugal at natalo. Pero ganun paman, tulad ng sugal, kahit walang kasiguraduhan, marami paring umiibig, marami paring sumusugal. Dahil... Baka Sakali... Baka Sakali... Pero hanggang saan ang pagbabaka sakali mo?

OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #2 Being the niece of the volleyball team's coach, Alia is hired to design the uniforms of the players. Seven, who has had a crush on her since the first time he saw her on the campus, feels shy and awkward whenever her presence is there. What more if one summer, the whole team will have to train in the coach's province near the ocean, where Alia is also having her vacation? Every night, since Alia cannot go to the house where the team is staying, the two would just write silly letters to each other and put them in a bottle, then hang the bottle in its usual spot.

OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #3 "Winning is everything. If you don't win, you are a failure." Ice is living by those words. After her mom fails to participate in the figure skating championship because of a tragedy, she is expecting four of her daughters to pursue the same goal. Ice feels all the pressure when her sister wins during her time but pursues a different field upon winning. For Ice, the only important thing is figure skating. Nothing else matters. She is only allowed to feel something when she wins or loses a competition. Until she meets Lyonelle in the sports center during summer training, the swimmer who has already won every swimming competition he participates in. Unlike Ice, Lai has it easy. He can have fun, flirt, and be playful and still win. He is not pressured, because he doesn't think winning is the only thing that matters in a competition. He thinks enjoying what you do matters more. "And a smile from you matters too," Lyonelle teases Ice, but the latter just looks at him with no emotion on her face. "Ah, I failed... but it's okay. We still have sixty-four days of summer to spend together."

OLD SUMMER TRILOGY #1 Estella and Yori have always been rivals ever since high school because of debate competitions. They would always switch places for years until Yori transferred to Estella's school and both of them became members of the debate team. They may not be competing against each other in the debate anymore, but they are now competing for the honors and the top student spot. From enemies and academic rivals, they find themselves falling in love in a series of summers.

Krista has always been the master of her life, especially her feelings. Destiny? Kismet? Fate? No such thing. But the universe seemingly mocks her as unexpected events happen to her vacation in Italy, leaving her beliefs shaken. Is she really in control of her heart or is it the other way around? *** After quitting her job, former "best girl player" in town Krista packs up and goes to Verona, Italy to rest for a bit, and find herself. But what awaits her there is beyond expectations--visiting an old library, reading a bitter letter penned years ago, having a mysterious stranger as an old school penpal, and meeting a free-spirited guy from the past. Nothing has gone as planned! All her life, she has always believed that she is in control. Fate, feelings, even a kiss on the lips? Every move is her choice, and not even destiny or any guy can interfere with her decisions. Or maybe . . . a particular guy can? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish with a little bit of Italian. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano

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.

Started: 04/27/2021 Ended: 08/24/2021 Ang hirap palang tumanda. Ang hirap magbayad ng bills. Ang hirap suportahan ng pamilyang akala ay isang milyon ang suweldo mo. Ang hirap ngumiti sa nanay na mataas ang tingin sa'yo pero hindi ka kayang ipagtanggol. Ang hirap tabihan sa hapagkainan ng tatay na pinag-uubusan mo ng pera pero hindi ka maalala. Ang hirap mag-abot ng tulong sa kapatid na baon sa utang. Ang hirap intindihin ng hipag na nakakapagpa-rebond pa kahit kapos na kapos na. Ang hirap pakisamahan ng bunsong halos ilahad ang mga palad tuwing makikita ka. Ang hirap ngitian ng mga taong tanong nang tanong kung bakit hindi ka pa nakakapag-asawa. Ang hirap humarap sa mundong isasampal sa'yo na mag-isa ka. Tulong, bigay, utang. Isang iling mo lang, madamot ka na. Kasama mo sila kapag may maibibigay ka, pero hindi mo sila mahahanap kapag wala na. Ikaw ang kakayod, sila ang tutuka. Ikaw ang iiyak sa pagod, sila ang magtatamasa. Iyon ang summary ng buhay ko. Sobra-sobra ang naririnig na paghingi, kulang na kulang ang naririnig na pasasalamat. Sobra-sobra ang pagpapasensya, kulang na kulang ang natatanggap na pagpapahalaga. Sobra-sobra ang binabayaran, kulang na kulang sa kasiyahan. Kaya nang dumating sa buhay ko ang nag-iisang lalaking hindi ako nakita bilang naglalakad na alkansya, ang nag-iisang lalaking nakinig sa mahabang listahan ko ng problema, ang nag-iisang lalaking nagbigay sa akin ng kakaibang saya, ipinangako ko sa sarili na sa gitna ng hirap ng pagtanda, magtitiis ako basta't siya ang kasama. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay pagtalikod sa minahal na pamilya. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay paglaban sa mundong pinatatakbo ng kapangyarihan at pera. Kahit pa ang kapalit noon ay ang pagdurusa't pag-iisa. Siya ang ginhawa, pahinga, at kasiyahan ko. Dumating man ang araw na tanaw ko na ang dulo. Dumating man ang araw na wala na kaming sagot sa lahat ng bakit at paano. Dumating man ang araw na pareho na kaming talo.

#TryNotToCryChallenge

(#4) Mahirap magmahal sa taong hindi ka naman kayang bigyan ng halaga pero anong magagawa mo? Maging ang puso mo ay hindi mo na magawang labanan dahil sa sobrang pagmamahal sa lalaking wala nang ginawa kundi ang ipagtabuyan ka, na ipamukha sa 'yo na wala kang pag-asa sa kanya. Ipagpapatuloy mo pa rin ba ang nararamdaman mo sa taong 'yon kahit na nasasaktan ka na? Hanggang kailan mo titiisin ang sakit na nararamdaman mo para lang sa taong 'yon? Let the story begin... Cover is not mine. Credits to the rightful owner.