Loraes

From strangers to friends. From friends to close friends. From close friends to lovers. When Joey met Psalm, she didn't think that they'd ever be together. Paano ba naman, ex niya ang best friend nito! Psalm had seen her at her lowest, and she didn't think that there's a possibility of them being together... Pero habang tumatagal, mas lalong napapalapit ang loob niya dito. But how could they be together if he couldn't trust her? Trust... parang isang maliit na bagay lang, pero kapag wala sa isang relasyon, hindi mo alam kung hanggang kailan magtatagal.

Genesis thought she already found the love of her life. Bakit naman kasi hindi? They've been together for so long that she couldn't remember a time when she didn't know him. Akala niya sila na talaga. Malaki ang tiwala niya. She even put her life and dreams on pause para sa kanya... innocently believing that for him, she's the end game, too. Mali pala siya. But then she met Parker... who's probably the most broken soul she's ever met. Against better judgment, she fell for him. She was hoping that he'd fall for her too. She did everything right... or at least she thought she did. Pero mali na naman pala siya. Kailan ba siya sasaya? Just this once... sana naman.

When her longtime boyfriend proposes to her, Nari does not seem happy. She rejects him, hoping he would understand. But two years, seven days, three hours, five minutes, and thirty seconds later, Nari enters a church and watches him get married to someone else. *** At 21, Nari Miranda graduates from college wanting to complete her bucket list-being independent, visiting the US, traveling Europe, and adopting a dog-so when Benny, her longtime boyfriend proposes and surprises her with a house-their own house--she doesn't feel right. Until she follows the first thing she thinks of that moment: she rejects him. Nari hopes that everything will still be okay between them, but seeing Benny with another girl becomes too much for her. Feeling broken, she goes to a bar to drink her pain away and meets Preston, the man she always coincidentally crosses paths with, not knowing her life will take a whole new different turn. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish COVER DESIGNED BY: Louise De Ramos

All her life, Mary Imogen Suarez was led to believe that she should end up with Parker Adrian Palma. Na dapat, kay Parker lang siya. Na si Imogen ay para lang kay Parker. But the problem was, Parker never looked her way, at least, not the way she wanted him to. For him, she's just the best friend-and a reminder of something he badly wanted to forget. For years, she lived with the knowledge that Parker would never like her back. Akala ni Imo, hindi na siya makakaahon sa naraaramdaman niya para kay Parker-until she met Saint Iverson Gomez de Lianño. Saint was a breath of fresh air. He's attentive, and he made Imo feel loved and appreciated-something she never felt during all the years she loved Parker. But when things started to fall in their right places, Parker decided to finally look her way. What would Imogen do? Would she brave the storm to be with Saint? Or would she tread the strings that connect her with Parker?

SIS (Social Issue Series) #4: Bullying They say that beauty is a luxury. That good looks is the only privilege that matters. That the world is only in favor of those who were born pretty. Sa panahon nga raw ngayon, parang kasalanan na ang pagiging less attractive. You're unappealing? Emotionally weak? Naive? How pathetic. Now you gotta deal with the consequences, loser. Sounds like bullshit? Yup. The truth may be harsh but it is what it is. Once you failed to reach the very high standards set by the society, you're doomed. Yara Isabelle got the deadliest combination of being unattractive, soft-hearted and innocent. But she used to get by and survive the bullying just fine. Because she got her knight-in-shining armor. Her childhood sweetheart. Not until he stopped saving her. Not until he stopped caring. Not until he got fed up of everything. Sky Edison used to be full of compassion. But that was before something terrible happened within their family. His perception had changed. He now finds it ridiculous that people let themselves get treated badly. However, the downside is that for some significant circumstances, these two have to share a condo as they enter senior high school. What could possibly happen given their situation? How would it feel like living under the same roof not with your bully but your former superhero who's now just a witness of your despair? How would it feel like going home to a place with a person who gets to see you getting bullied everyday at school? Wattys 2020 Winner under Young Adult Category

SIS (Social Issue Series) #1: Objectifying Women Over protectiveness of boyfriends are often romanticized as cute and caring nowadays. To the point that some ladies fail to live their lives to the fullest just to satisfy their men's insecurities and the likes. Pero kung ikaw si Nayeli Reese P. Eusebio, you'll probably say that you've had enough of those kinds of bullshit. Nari had been deprived of a normal life for her 17 years of existence. She never had a chance to step out of the four corners of their house and experience what common people usually do due to unfortunate circumstances that involves her personal family issues. So when she had the opportunity to finally get out from that nightmare, she promised herself, and her brother that wishes her nothing but happiness, that she will bring out the best in her as she strives to achieve her goals. But when Colton Jace R. Octavio gets into the picture, Nari felt things that she never felt before. Unexplainable feelings that are enough to confuse and distract her from her goals. Colton's dream was just to grow old with her while Nari's was for them to grow individually together. When love gets in the way of your dreams, is it possible to grow with the flow? Started: April 3, 2020 Completed: April 14, 2020

SIS (Social Issue Series) #3: Gender Inequality Men and women in the 21st Century still aren't able to totally get free from the socially defined roles. They are expected to act in certain ways just because they are male and female. Lalake ka raw kaya hindi ka pwede sa ganito. Babae ka raw kaya hanggang dito ka lang. Ellie Madeline have always dreamed of becoming a pilot. She believes that she was born to fly. Despite the disapproval of the people around her, she was able to take one step closer to her goal. Little did she know that her entrance in the best Aviation Academy in town is just the beginning of her struggle against discrimination. Spencer Donovan is her number one rival. He wants to be the best in this field just as much as she wants. As they pit against each other, Ellie found herself falling for Spencer's unforeseen charms. But her bold advances to win his heart just backfires all the time. That's when Zaiden Pierce decided to join the picture and offer her some help. Who is he? Well, he's just nothing more than Spencer's bestfriend. Or... could there actually be more to that? Started: May 1, 2020 Completed: May 18, 2020

SIS (Social Issue Series) #2: Stereotyping Piercing, Tattoo, Dyed Hair. Usual indications of a badass. Kapag babae ka at meron ka nito ay malamang fuck girl, adik, slut, o wala ka raw patutunguhan sa buhay. Lia Kennedy grew up doing whatever she likes. Wala siyang nakitang rason para pigilan ang sarili sa kung ano man ang mga nakapagpapasaya sa kaniya. Ngunit nang mamulat ay nagising siya sa mapait na katotohanang hindi mo magagawa lahat ng gusto mo sa mundo. Madali para sa iba ang manghusga base lang sa kung ano ang nakikita nila sayo. Ridge Terrence is no exception. A serious guy who had things plan ahead for his life. He's one of those who believe that what you see is what you get. He gives no time for bullshits. As Lia gets stuck between being herself and changing to be accepted, she faced several conflicts in her teenage years that brought their fate together. Will it be a good thing? Or a bad thing? Started: April 15, 2020 Completed: April 26, 2020