[Politico 1] All eyes are on Serena. Molded into politics since she was young, there was no room for disappointment. She only has one way to go on and nothing to back out. Living for her is a routine and a duty. There's no other way to turn things around and disrupt the smooth cycle of her dull life. So when she crossed paths with the mysterious Chaos, she wasn't prepared for the storm in her heart and mind that sent her questioning all the things she thought she knew before.

[Politico 2] For Alunsina, life is a one-time shot. It's a one-time risk and a one-time drown into the open. She gives it her all and would never settle for second best as long as her chance is still on the loose. So when given that one opportunity to prove herself, she threw all her cards down the table. It was all or nothing. No matter the consequences, she must win by hook or by crook. However, getting along with the quiet and gentle Sergio is hard. But she knew that falling in love with this person by chance, which was not part of the deal, was even harder.

[Politico 3] When and how will 24 hours be enough? Grappling with the harsh realities of life, Owie vowed to always set her goals straight-graduate with a decent degree, work in a comfortable firm, retire in her 50s, and wither alone. It was dull and perfect all at once. The walls around her are pretty high up. No one can penetrate them. But Asio was persistent. He broke down walls, tore down skyscrapers, and messed up time--something that she held so dear above anything else. The hours on the clock always fell short. The glass is always half empty. Every one step forward is ten steps backward. And in an attempt to save the last bits of the love she thought she knew, she found herself asking for the impossible: for time to run slower, for the clock to give just one more second.

(Game Series # 9) Mauro Eugenio dela Rama's life revolved around school and work. At times, he felt like drowning pero hindi siya pwedeng magreklamo kasi pinili niya naman 'yon. For him, he'd rather be exhausted with his 9 to 5 and 5 to 9 kaysa humingi ng pambayad ng tuition sa tatay niya. He was doing fine kahit nahihirapan siya. Akala niya hindi niya kailangan ng tulong... Then he met Atty. Achilles V. Marroquin. Mauro thought that he was just being nice to him dahil abogado na 'to ay siya ay 'di hamak na struggling law student lamang. Kahit nahihiya siya, humingi siya ng tulong dito. Kakapalan niya na ang mukha niya kaysa bumagsak siya sa subjects niya. He thought he was just being regular nice to him... hanggang isang araw ay napapatanong na lang siya sa sarili niya kung normal pa ba 'to o nilalandi ba siya ng abogadong 'to?

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?

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?

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?

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?

Slendio Maurik "Slen" Rigal, a confident gay man, has always been at odds with Elianna Reveles, a fiery and ambitious Volleyball Captain. Paano kung ang pinakamalaking kalaban niya sa buhay, siya pa palang magpapabago ng lahat? Paano kung ang hindi niya inaasahang nararamdaman ay magtulak sa kanya na tanungin ang kanyang sarili? Paano niya tatanggapin sa sarili ang nararamdaman niyang pag-ibig para sa isang babae, at sa babae pang tinuturing niyang kaaway? Second Book of Vexed Men Series. Dual Point of View. Started: FEB - 15 - 2025 Ended: MAR - 22 - 2025