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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

It's hard to prove yourself when everyone thinks that everything's being given to you on a silver platter. And in Siobhan Margarette's case, she'll do everything to make everyone see that she's worth it. But what will she do if someone unexpected sees her worth? Will she stay and accept? Or will she continue pretending that she doesn't feel a thing... too?

Beneath a broken mask lies the truth behind the façade, and while masks can conceal pain, they cannot mend wounds. In the end, no mask was worth the torture. However, to Midnight Velasquez, who was forced to wear a mask since he was young, the mask hiding his true face was a façade he was ready to keep for a lifetime. However, what occurs when the mask begins to break, revealing the dreadful things concealed beneath it? Would he have the courage to confront his true self reflected in the mirror, or would the remnants of his broken mask consume him and drag him into the depths of despair? With a broken mask, a battered body and a weary soul, Midnight couldn't help pondering... is this life worth living for? CECELIB | C.C. UPDATE SCHEDULE: No specific date as of now COVER: Astrid Jaydee

Iris Gonzaga-Racini had made peace with her unusual life. Married, but miserable and lonely, Iris vowed to live life to the fullest. When she is invited to an island where even the most depraved desire can become reality, she can't say no. ****** Many would consider Iris Gonzaga-Racini a fortunate woman to be Niccolo Racini's wife, but Iris could not be more miserable or lonely. Despite being married to Niccolo for the past eight years, Iris has never met him. Until one day, when she receives a black invitation from her husband, summoning her to Temptation Island. A paradise where one's kinkiest and most depraved desires can become reality. "You are invited to Temptation Island."

The possessive men are back to share some of their unforgettable and cherished moments. One chapter after the other, one may discover that some things never really change. *** In The Possessive Series Anthology: Nostalgia, twenty-six possessive men share snippets of their lives with their friends and loved ones. As each character shows different kinds of love, one thing remains-their possessiveness. From being a husband to a father, these men and their friendship will never change anytime soon. With diverse scenarios and characters, The Possessive Series Anthology: Nostalgia offers readers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to peek into the possessive men's family lives and see how long they can go for the sake of love. Disclaimer: This story is written in Taglish, a combination of Tagalog & English. Cover Design by Regina Dionela