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.

THE LOSERS' CLUB SERIES #4 How does it feel to live with tons of what ifs and should-have-beens? Knowing that under different parameters, you could have worked it out. Knowing that if you only weathered the storm together, you could have built a home in each other's arms. Napakaraming sana--ganiyan ang naging takbo ng buhay ni Ysabelle Katana Montecer. Sana mayaman siya. Sana mas maganda. At sana may kapangyarihan siyang ibalik ang oras. If only she had listened to the little voice in her head, she could have been in a relationship with the only man who ever caught her attention--River Mattias Fuentabella. But it was too late for her. She was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. A heartbeat away from silence. Kahit ayaw niya, kailangan niyang tanggapin ang hatol ng tadhana. River would always be out of her reach. He was close, but not too close enough for her to hold. They could have happened. They could have been together. But sadly, they never were.

Mikazuki convinces Bullet to meet his birth parents after being taken away by the former leader of the most powerful mafia group, Black Organization, for twenty-five years. But what if she later learns that their real families are in fact mortal enemies? Will Mikazuki dare to fight for their blossoming love--or will she choose to seek revenge? *** After staying in Japan for several years, Mikazuki finally convinces Bullet, her adopted brother, to go back to the Philippines and meet his birth parents after being taken away from them twenty-five years ago by Terrence Von Knight, the former leader of the most powerful mafia group, Black Organization. Things start to get more complicated as untold stories and secrets concerning their real parents unfold, and they discover Mikazuki's true connection with Terrence Von Knight. A battle between their hearts and priorities erupts. What will be Mikazuki's ultimate choice? DISCLAIMER: This is a story written in Taglish. COVER DESIGNER: April Alforque

Marriage is normally one's happily ever after in the movies, but for Aemie Ferrer-Roswell, it's just the start of a seemingly unending adventure. Can this sweet Barbie-loving airhead continue to survive the life of being wife to a Mafia boss? *** Many things changed after Aemie Ferrer became Ezekiel Roswell's wife. With the might of Yaji and Roswells combined, things should have become smooth sailing for Baby Ae and her Dong--or at least, that's what everyone thought. But with lies, secrets and betrayals constantly plaguing the two, no one knows who to trust. This time, the silly and ditzy Aemie must step up to protect everyone and everything she cherishes--including the man she loves. Will they win and overcome this battle again? Or is it the perfect time for them to accept that Mafia stories have no happy endings? DISCLAIMER: This story is in Taglish COVER DESIGNER: Rayne Mariano

Bar Series #6 For as long as Avey Hermoza could remember, River Eustaquio simply wasn't into her. He had always made it clear that he would never love her; friendship was the only thing he could offer. Fully aware that a man like River would never break his rules, Avey tried to pretend he meant nothing to her. She even asked him to introduce her to his friends, hoping it would help her forget him. She never succeeded-at least, not until she married Gael Toledo. Her marriage was supposed to be perfect. She loved Gael, and he loved her. However, everything shattered when Gael discovered Avey's betrayal. Desperate to save her marriage, Avey instead found herself drawn into a complicated, tangled rendezvous with River that eventually led to bloodshed. Now, River has finally realized that he cannot lose Avey a second time. With the gun in his hand, a choice must be made: will it save Avey's life, or will it seal their tragic love until the end of time?

Bar Series #5 Hidden messages. Ignored calls. Stealing glances. Secret rendezvous. Those were the things Zaña Fabiaña never imagined experiencing. She simply desired a normal life in which she could walk through a crowd holding the hands of the man she loved without fear of being discovered. But what can she do? She fell in love with her sister's husband. Aero Lopez has been in love with Zaña ever since he laid eyes on the woman. However, destiny seems not to have agreed when his family forced him to marry the woman's sister. Years later, they met again and found themselves in a tangled relationship. Trying their best to create distance for the sake of their families, they soon found each other lying in one bed and sharing their dreams. But what happens when someone learns of their secret rendezvous? Will they continue to see the silhouette at dusk, or will they stop staring at the same sky? [Photo not mine]

Bar Series #4 Ceej Del Forje is a medical student pressured to become successful after choosing medicine over law. Fuck buddy is her definition of relieving stress. She moves from one to the next with no intention of committing or having her own family. After meeting Sai Villatoro, both agreed to become fuck buddies within a certain period of time. No strings attached. Certainly, no asking or spilling about personal lives. Just fuck. However, an accident happened, making Ceej slowly realize how much she cares for the man. Let's see if the strings are enough to put glitter in their own sky. Book Cover - Starry Tan

Bar Series #3 For Eve Ryn Sotto, time is the most powerful and important thing in the world. Ayaw na ayaw niya na nasasayang ang oras niya sa mga walang kwentang bagay kaya't sinisiguro niya na lahat ng gagawin niya ay naka-plano. She already planned everything in her life. However, Jhules came unexpectedly. It was so sudden that she didn't even foresee it. What is she going to do now? Isasama ba niya ang binata sa mga plano niya o hahayaan na lang niya ang tadhana na mag-desisyon? Will she let Jhules be the hands of her clock, or will she let time ruin both of them? WARNING: This story contains disturbing details that might not be suitable for you such as murder, illegal drugs, and abuse. Please read another story of mine if you are triggered with these kinds of topic. Thank you! Book Cover - Starry Tan

Bar Series #2 Love for brewed coffee. That is one thing that Asha Montemayor and Skater Mejia have in common. Unang nakita ni Asha si Skater sa event ng company ng binata kung saan siya ang barista sa coffee booth. Asha is deeply aware that it wasn't love at first sight. In fact, it was hate at first sight. Possible ba 'yon? You just hate the person kahit na wala naman itong ginagawa sa 'yo. You just hate the mere fact that he is standing next to you. Or maybe it wasn't what Asha hated; it was the fact that Skater was paying attention to her. Asha just hates it when people care for her because she grew up not needing that care. Being dependent on someone else is the last thing she wants. Skater showing care means the man can see through her facade. She's not strong; that is why she wanted to become a lawyer-to be strong enough to fight for her rights. Love for brewed coffee. That's what they thought they had in common. Little did they know that the past they had left behind connects their future. One is trying to build a home; the other one is trying to find a home. Sa piling ba ng isa't isa sila uuwi? TRIGGER WARNING!!!!

Forced to enter law school, Artellia Mercaveles wants to prove to her ex-boyfriend and her mother that she can finish her degree despite her passion for the arts. But when she meets Fierro and her newfound friends, she soon realizes that life is more than living up to someone else's expectations. *** Art is the heartbeat of Artellia Mercaveles' soul. But when her boyfriend admits he cheated with someone from law school, she vows to prove him wrong and show the world she can be a lawyer despite her passion for the arts. Living under the shadow of her mother, a celebrated bar topnotcher, the pressure to succeed weighs heavily on her shoulders. Law school becomes her battlefield, and crossing paths with Fierro Oeuvre Fortaverde is the twist she never saw coming. Yet as destiny unfolds, Artellia realizes that chasing everyone's expectations is an endless void. She must now fight to define herself, not how others demand, but as the masterpiece she was always meant to become. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. ILLUSTRATED BY: ArtbyMakade COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano