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?

Anjel Delo Santos, a Lasallian, craved affection from her parents. It wasn't easy getting it. She had to be brilliant because her parents were intellectual people who yearned for recognition in their own fields. College was her opportunity of being brilliant. As Anjel walked on the streets of Malate, she will see a disappointed-looking River Alexandre Abad. As a fan of River, who is a DLSU student, she couldn't help but be concerned with the basketball player's state. While they get to know each other, would their eyes appreciate the silver lining in the midst of the nimbus clouds around them?

Switching to a condo would be a huge shift in Eloise Danielle Madrigal's life, the Iska from UP Manila. From living in her aunt's home, she will independently live near her school. From growing up with so many hands to help her, she will face a new life alone. Since Eloise wasn't familiar with commuting from Padre Faura that well, the cousin of her block mate, Graham Anthony Laurel, will surely be of help. This walking GPS guy that was a first-year Thomasian had quite a temper as he taught Eloise. It seems as though one of them needed to teach the other beyond directions, would Graham find a calm and kind way to tell Eloise that her head was in the sand?

Dreams begin and end in school, that's what Diwata Yvon Mahalina, a student from UP Manila, thought. Because for her, after school, you must be aiming for stability. Nothing can compare to a safe life. However, Ignacio Trillano, a guy who lived in Blumentritt and studied at FEU, disagrees. A quiet life like Diwata's dream was not fulfilling and meaningful, Ignacio argues. Ignacio was a ComArts student who was loud as an airplane flying away. Would Ignacio's words and actions be enough to encourage Diwata to begin a life beyond her comfort?

Having to care for her mother since the end of grade school, Meadow Jil Carreal was no stranger to exhaustion. Being the bigger person physically, mentally, and emotionally was excruciating, but Meadow always was. When Meadow, a DLSU student, eats dinner outside her campus one day, she sees Kalon Mangundapat, the Isko who often eats near her school. Kalon liked the cheap food he consumed on Castro Street. What reasons would the two find to know why their existence in each others' lives suddenly jumped from the air?

Rugged Series #4 Kill Legrand has everything. Growing inside a prestigiously rich family, she can have whatever she wants in just a blink of her eye. But even with all those privileges, she doesn't know why she can't still be contented. Pakiramdam niya ay para siyang isang prinsesang ikinulong sa isang palasyo na kahit gaano man kalaki ay hindi kailanman magiging sentro ng mundo. Taking opportunity of an unfortunate event to cross the lines of her palace, she will move away from the comforts of her sheltered life to find what the outside world is like. Ngunit paano kung sa gitna ng bawat linyang kanyang malalampasan ay iba ang matagpuan niya? Pag-ibig. How can love cross in two worlds that are not supposed to meet? Will the Legrand Princess succeed in melting the ice that sheathed the heart of a very harsh man in form of Six Andrada?

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago pumasok ng kwarto. Ng magtama ang mga mata namin ay mabilis siyang tumayo at sinalubong ako ng yakap. "God, where have you been? Bakit mo ako iniwan kasama nila? Ayoko dito, umalis na tayo Therese." Mas lalo pang humigpit ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin at padampi damping hinahalikan ang leeg ko, tila walang pakealam sa mga taong nasa loob. Napabaling ang tingin ko sa mga magulang niya, naguguluhan ako sa nangyayari. "Drake let go off me." Mahina kong saad sa kanya. "No." At mas lalo niya pang isiniksik ang mukha niya sa leeg ko, he's shaking natatakot ba siya? "Anak I told you Therese is no longer your wife nagdivorce na kayo, di mo ba naaalala?." Di naalala, is he in amnesia? .... The images/pictures used in the story is NOT mine. Credits to the rightful owner of the pictures.

After getting pregnant at a young age, Calista Belmonte tries her best to keep her son hidden from his father, Lazarus Cavanaugh. But when their paths cross again, can the truths of the past finally bring them together, or will it only keep them further apart? *** Simple yet beautiful, Calista Belmonte can catch the attention of the people around her without even trying. With her parents living abroad, she must focus on her studies and be independent at a young age. However, an unexpected encounter with Lazarus Cavanaugh turns into a bigger mistake, leaving Calista pregnant with their son. As their paths cross again, Calista tries to keep her son hidden from Lazarus, only to end up on his side again. With their new connection and a possible second shot at love, can Calista and Lazarus embrace the hope of a fresh start and make everything right this time? Or will the truths of their past continue to hurt them and push them further apart? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Rayne Mariano

Started: February 10, 2021 Finished: August 13, 2021

Runaway Series 2