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.

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down 🎶 Photo reference from Pinterest.

UNIVERSITY SERIES #6 Past experiences. Broken hearts. Present tragedy. Those are the things Kierra Ynares from UST Architecture and Shan Lopez from DLSU Psychology have in common. No matter how wretched their similarities are, they still found ways to escape... to look forward to tomorrow, and keep everything that happened yesterday behind.

After getting hurt by the people around her, aspiring chef Dacia Holgado builds up her walls to protect her heart... until band bassist Eris Arriaga comes along and tears them apart. *** Graduating culinary arts student Dacia Holgado gets the biggest twist of her life when she crosses paths with Epicenter's bassist Eris Arriaga. She hates his guts and vices while he hates how pampered and perfect she is. They are complete opposites, but Dacia's version of an ideal man unexpectedly changes the more she gets to know Eris. As Epicenter slowly reaches their dream and gets a shot at stardom, Dacia and Eris' relationship is suddenly put to a test. Is their young and passionate love enough to help them survive? Or will they realize that what they have is really just a phase and is meant to end? Disclaimer: This story is written in Taglish. Cover Design by Regina Dionela

deceret (n.) latin word for "body to body" Czarina wants to commit suicide. Death is ready for her, she could feel it. Czarina, with her best friend, Sorcha, agreed that they would jump off a building together to end their shitty lives. Just when she was about to jump she felt a pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to safety. But her best friend really jumped. She died. And Czarina is still alive. What the fuck is life when your betrayal costed your best friend her life? And she discovers that the guy who saved her is more dangerous than death per se.

deceret (n.) latin word for "body to body" When Philodemus Elton Treveron's parents were slayed, the only thing that brings him closer to finding the killer is the gold crucifix chain around his neck. Fueled with vengeance, Elton swore to himself that he will find the killer and make him pay. 10 years later, Elton found the very same necklace rested on the slim neck of the shy Stormie Iona Roman-the governor's invisible daughter. Vengeance served hot on the plate garnished with love and a romance that shouldn't have started in the first place gave birth to chaos. In the name of love and revenge, Elton found his lips on her neck...

Miguel Imperial-Cordova's whole life revolves around perfection. He has the perfect family, the perfect career, a perfect fiancee. Perfection is a part of his regular routine. Every single thing has to be flawless. If it isn't flawless, it's no good. Til one day, Saskia, a woman full of flaws and imperfections, comes into life and shatters his polished little world. What will happen when the shimmering mirage of perfection he has worked so hard to create and uphold begins to crumble?

UNIVERSITY SERIES #5. Ever since they were kids, Avianna Diaz from UST Architecture and Larkin Sanchez from UP Film were inseparable, not until Larkin's fame grew over time, and they suddenly found themselves taking different roads at the same time.

Berry Lacsamana had given up on life. But when she one day wakes up in a strange bed with someone calling her his wife, her life begins to take a different path. ****** When Berry Lacsamana wakes up in a room she doesn't recognize, hooked up to medical machines, confusion and anxiety consume her. Deepening Berry's fear is the presence of Cadmus Valcarcel who treats her coldly and and looks at her with resentment. "Finally," he said with coldness in his voice that made her shiver, frightening her. "My infamous wife is awake." Berry isn't anyone's wife, lest she is married to Cadmus. However, when she sees a photo of Cherry, a woman who looks like her from every angle, Berry begins to have some suspicions. She knew she was Berry, not Cherry... wasn't she? DISCLAIMER: This is a Filipino language story. WORD COUNT: 194,647 COVER: ASTRID JAYDEE WARNING: DON'T READ THIS STORY IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE DEPRESSING SCENES, SENSITIVE TOPICS OR MATURE CONTENT.