C16 Stories

In the quiet corners of the University of Santo Tomas, where dreams are sketched in blueprints and ambitions tower like ancient cathedrals, Aqel Ardani moves through her days cloaked in subtle longing. To everyone else, she's just another architecture student, quietly weaving her future one line at a time. But behind her strong personality lies a secret. A quiet interest for her best friend, Cassie Carballo, the dazzling star of the UST Women's Volleyball Team, whose radiance off the court often outshines her athletic prowess. Their friendship, rooted deep since their high school days in Silay City, has always been effortless and genuine, yet Aqel's feelings remain tucked away, hidden behind the veil of everyday life. As Cassie's star continues to rise, unaware of the silent devotion she inspires, Aqel finds herself caught between admiration and fear, wondering if the truth she's kept buried will ever find its voice. Beneath the surface of their friendship, something fragile and true begins to stir, challenging the boundaries of loyalty, love, and the unspoken truths that lie beneath the veil of a setter.

Valeen Rae Enriquez, a dedicated AB Journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas, navigates the bustling streets of Manila with quiet determination. Her life is a delicate balance of academic pursuits, late-night study sessions, and fleeting moments of hope that her dreams of becoming a respected journalist will someday come true. Yet beneath her composed exterior, her mind is a storm of chaos-haunted by memories of her past friendship with Cassie Carballo, once her closest confidante. Four years ago, their bond shattered, and Valeen has since gone to great lengths to avoid crossing paths with Cassie, fearing the flood of unresolved feelings and regrets that might resurface. Cassandra Rae Carballo, now a celebrated UAAP superstar, stands at the pinnacle of her athletic career, her name echoing in the halls of sports arenas and news headlines. Unaware of Valeen's silent struggles, Cassie embodies success and confidence, yet beneath her triumphant exterior lies a lingering shadow of the past. Their worlds seem destined to collide repeatedly, despite Valeen's desperate attempts to stay hidden from her former friend. In the midst of the city's noise, two lives-one seeking truth, the other chasing victory-stand on the precipice of an inevitable collision, each unaware of how deeply their lives are destined to entwine once again.

Daniela Renee Perez daughter of driver Checo Perez, is back home at Monaco trying to be supportive of her father's career while navigating her own path, she rekindles a childhood friendship with certain Monegasque driver.

❝Falling for him wasn't falling at all. It was walking into a house and suddenly knowing you're home.❞ Alexandra Heroux has spent her life chasing the spotlight, but nothing has quite prepared her for her return to the world of Formula 1. After years in Hollywood, she's cast in a role that could launch her career to new heights-a biographical film about the sport that defined her childhood. But as the cameras roll and the world watches, everything she's worked for begins to crumble around her. Enter Charles Leclerc: Ferrari's golden boy, the embodiment of warmth, kindness, and raw talent. To Alexandra, he's the sun-a force of purity in a world that often feels dark and cold. But as they draw closer, she begins to realize that his light might be the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Beneath the glitz and glamour of her career lies a family history shrouded in scandal, and secrets that have always lingered just out of reach. A sinister gossip blog is poised to tear apart everything Alexandra holds dear, and her connection to key figures within the F1 world feels more like a curse than fate. With every moment of happiness slipping through her fingers, Alexandra wonders how much longer she can withstand the pressure of the spotlight-and whether Charles's warmth will be enough to save her from the storm that's closing in. In a world of fame, fortune, and fierce competition, sometimes the greatest victory is simply surviving. Because in the end, she's just as human as anyone else.