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.

Welcome to Raven University! Kung saan hindi pang akademikong asignatura ang iyong aaralin, kundi kung paano lumaban para mabuhay at... pumatay. This secret and hidden school is built where abducted persons train for combats and play a human dark game. Where fighting is the only thing to stay alive...and killing is the only way to escape. Beware! Your comrades can turn as your killer today. What will you choose to shed? Blood or Tears?

Now, I am finally evil. I cannot change anymore. I cannot turn back. Like what they predicted, I became a monster. The only difference? I am worse compared to them. I wanna live with their expectations and dream about me hunting them at night. *** "Nobody messes with me." that's Cross Nightmare, a high schooler's moto in life. When she learned about her best friend's death, she can only think of one thing; get revenge. Without a proper plan, she underestimated St. Death High, its students and disguised as a nerd. Of course--she was wrong. Zadreth, the living definition of Danger is the enemy. Killing him will be easy but... what if... something unexpected will happen? Detours. Cross will encounter a lot of them, guiding her to the wrong path where a simple revenge will lead to something bigger. A challenge to the Unground Society where she became an important chess piece of the game-- the Queen. The golden rule of Death. A/N: Photo not mine This story is written in Taglish

[MAOG Book 2] Do you think you've been toyed enough by the ride called life? Then, you're wrong. It doesn't end with a happy and perfect picture but it only signifies that death is just only the beginning of everything. Alexandria Cromello-Vantress, one of the most benevolent queens of the Mafia Vantress for almost seventeen years has been dead for almost three years and Spade decided to decline any suggestions for second marriage. He started to dedicate his remaining life to his children and to the empire that he and his queen have made. But what if the action is not yet done with the ten heads, the reapers, and the bitches? A grim reaper called Samara was being hunted for the chaos he or she is bringing to the underground society. No one knows if that person is a he or a she but what's certain is that he/she was ordered to do a mission given by the most frightening and highest council, the Onyx. The Onyx Council is known to be the official judges when it comes to large issues within the underground society. What is their reason for ordering Samara to bring chaos? What are they aiming for? Which side are they in? Who is the person behind the mask? What happened after 17 years? Will they be able to return to the times when they are still complete and fighting together? Or everything from the past has been turned into dust?

[BAD BOY 1] Gusto ko lang naman ng simpleng buhay; tahimik at malayo sa gulo. Kaso isang araw... nagbago ang lahat. Inspired by Boys Over Flowers.

DESPEDIDA GONE WRONG. What's supposed to be a memorable send-off party ends up in tragedy as the celebrant drops dead after making a toast. Of all the possibilities, murder seems to be most likely scenario. And the suspects? The four attendees who were present during that fateful evening. Did one of them kill the victim? Did two or three conspire? Did they all do it together? Or did someone else orchestrate the murder? Everyone in that party is a suspect-even the victim himself.

QED CLUB: the go-to place of students and teachers in Clark High whenever they have mind-boggling mysteries they want solved. For months, club president Loki Mendez has been managing it alone, but circumstances will force him to open its doors to new members: • A female transferee from Manila who's trying to cut off her past and start a new life • A theater actress with retentive memory who's willing to step out of the spotlight • A male transferee with deduction prowess on par with Loki and impressive hand-to-hand combat skills They are not heroes, but when the school is in trouble, the QED Club is always there to save the day. [TIMELINE-WISE, THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE QED CLUB SERIES.] Original cover design by Candido Jose Caleza, modified by akosiibarra Character illustrations by Chiire Dumo

SAME TREE, DIFFERENT BRANCHES. Life goes on in the annex branch of Café Moriartea. Maviel resumes her apprenticeship under Sigmund. Landice is still reading books at the barista's corner. Nikolai is still making sure that the shop is squeaky clean. Everything is going well . . . until the annex branch staff chances upon a case involving the staff of the main branch. A dormant rivalry heats up the same way a cold pasta is reheated in a microwave oven. Coffee isn't the only thing brewing between the two branches of Café Moriartea. * * * * This is the sequel to my 2017 story MORIARTEA. Read that story before reading this one.

["PLAY THE KING" IS ACT TWO OF THE "PLAY" SERIES. PLEASE READ "PLAY THE QUEEN" FIRST.] It's been four months since Priam Torres, the once unpopular president of the Elysian University Student Council, assumed office. Thanks to his chief-of-staff Castiel Seville's ingenuity and Fabienne Lucero's cooperation to play as his first lady, his approval ratings are up. Everything is looking good for him and the council, and reelection is now viable. However, Priam's presidency is at extreme risk as one of the college student council chairpersons will attempt to dethrone him and bring down his administration. It's now up to Castiel and Fabienne-along with their new ally-to prevent the worst case scenario from happening. Players will make moves and countermoves. Chess pieces will dance on the board. Kings will clash-and only one of them can wear the crown and sit in the coveted throne. The play resumes.