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.

ELYU SERIES #1 In the sleepy town of San Juan, La Union, the waves are unrelenting. Sereia Montanez leads a quiet life with no desire to rule the waves until a boy from Manila arrived and changed everything... This is a story about a girl, a boy, and an ocean between them.

To earn the freedom to write her headlines in the newspaper, Fiorisce has to expose the rot buried deep beneath Dr. Xalvien's pristine reputation. *** Fiorisce Lavandula is a rising journalist with one dream: to make it to the front page. Her assignment? Uncover the truth behind Xalvien Vouganville, the beloved psychiatrist with a reputation too spotless to be true. The search for scandal becomes a journey through Xalvien's damaged mind. Xalvenge, the volatile, haunted, and mysterious attorney, is hidden behind Xalvien's calm façade--the secret locked away by years of trauma from a shadowed asylum stay. As they solve mysteries, Fiorisce's ambition is tested by forces bigger than fame. When secrets threaten Xalvien's reputation, she must decide whether to expose the story or protect the person who trusted her enough to let her in. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish.

(Magnates Series #3) Azriella Dominique Laurel lost her family to a tragic explosion in a cruise ship. It turned her life upside down, with her believing that the incident was intentional and was easily dismissed by the media to hide the truth. Basta't may kapangyarihan, madaling makagawa ng paraan para hindi madungisan ang pangalan, iyon ang pinaniwalaan niya. Filled with anger and thirst for revenge, she planned to chase after the most cold-hearted and the youngest heir of the Velarde's, Draisen Jonvick Velarde who leads Navis Steel, a shipbuilding company that owns the ship involved in that tragedy. A relationship full of lies and pretensions, would she be successful in discovering the truth? But what if the truth would change her life forever?

When a private night unexpectedly becomes public due to a scandal, Mirrow Crown does his best to remove the videos and track down the girl he was with. However, when they finally meet again, misunderstandings arise, straining Mirrow's relationship with her, his family, and his friends. *** After meeting in a bar and spending a steamy night together, Mirrow Crown believes that he has finally found the girl for him. She is innocent and captivating, completely capturing his interest. However, when their encounter unexpectedly turns into a public scandal, Mirrow is frustrated to the core. With Silence disappearing and their reputations at stake, he does everything he can to erase any evidence of that video, even traveling around the world just to find her. When they finally meet again, misunderstandings come between them, leaving Mirrow angry and confused. Despite the undeniable connection they share, will Mirrow choose to let go for the sake of his friendship with Luc? Or will he fight for his love for Silence and break all the rules? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano

Still haunted by her traumatic past, Kalisz Roman finds it hard to trust the people around her. But when her heart starts to beat for someone she just met, can she finally overcome her fears and start anew? *** Running away from her traumatic past, Kalisz Roman tries her best to live normally by working as an editor. She often secludes herself and dresses up like a grandma to take away others' attention. But when the need to leave the place she's staying in arises, Kalisz contacts her friend, who offers her a place to live. There, she meets Kronack Crown, the guy who suddenly makes her heart beat fast. Kalisz knows she's not supposed to fall for him, let alone trust him, but she keeps finding herself drawn to him. When she thinks she's finally living happily, her past suddenly crawls back, scaring her to the core. Afraid to trust again, can Kalisz finally choose to face her fears and fight the demons clouding her thoughts? Or will she leave everything behind again and hide, even if it means breaking her heart? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano

Meeting again after a nasty breakup, Pyrmont Crown is determined to get even with his ex-girlfriend, Dessert Arenas, no matter what it takes. But with the numerous connections between them, can Dessert and Pyr finally resolve their misunderstandings and have a second shot at love? *** Believing that his ex-girlfriend, Dessert Arenas, cheated on him, Pyrmont Crown vows to get even when they meet again after five years. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make her feel his wrath, even if it means throwing her off Crown Island along with her son. However, when Pyrmont discovers unexpected connections with Dessert, he becomes uncertain of what to do. As they live together again, old misunderstandings about their past resurface, prompting them to reevaluate their relationship. Now, given a second chance, can Dessert and Pyrmont finally resolve everything once and for all? Or will new secrets emerge, driving them apart even more? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano

Decided to help get justice for his twin brother's wife, falling for an accomplice is the last thing on Ruckus Crown's mind. But with the unexplainable interest he feels for her, Ruckus unexpectedly breaks all his rules-even if it means hurting the people around him, too. *** For Ruckus Crown, people in their underground prison do not deserve care and attention. They are prisoners who have committed hideous crimes, making them unfit for a decent life. However, Ruckus finds himself drawn to Sunset, a mafia boss' accomplice in the case of his twin brother's wife. He knows he should keep his distance from Sunset, but he just finds himself wanting to be near her, eager to know her more. With a chance for freedom, Sunset agrees to deal with Ruckus' parents behind his back. Little does she know that her choices will eventually lead her back to him. With her doubts about men and commitments and him possibly breaking the rules, can Ruckus and Sunset find a happy ending to their love story? Or will their doubts and the surrounding threats ultimately tear them apart?

[Smith Twins Series #2] Atty. Sam Spencer Smith is a sharp, composed lawyer with an undefeated courtroom record-and a heart quietly trapped in the past. Everything begins to shift the night Portia Deanna Martin storms into his life like a chaotic whirlwind. Fearless and unapologetically bold, Portia is a journalist with fire in her soul and pain buried beneath her wit. What starts as shameless flirtation in a crowded bar grows into a slow, soul-deep connection Sam never wanted. Still, he finds himself lured to a woman who defies every expectation. With old wounds, tangled friendships, and high stakes between them, love becomes the one case Sam never planned to take-but can't afford to lose. *** Missflorendo 2020

The devil was once an angel. _______________________________ Genre: General Fiction Started: March 19, 2021 Finished: March 19, 2021