Manila Stories

Selene and Warren Kung sa kadiliman kita mahahagkan, hayaan mo akong mangapa sa dagat ng walang kasiguraduhan. Selene is a Political Science student and iskolar ng bayan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Known for being kikay and overly girly, many people underestimate her. Selene believes deeply in love, so deeply that she dreams of one day being loved unconditionally. Like the moon, she believes she can still shine even in the darkest nights. Warren is a Civil Engineering student and iskolar ng bayan from the same university. Charming and effortlessly magnetic, he easily catches people's attention. But commitment terrifies him. To him, he is like the moon, beautiful, but destined to be alone. Their world cross on a random midnight when Selene impulsively kisses Warren just to provoke a reaction from her ex-boyfriend who replaced her so easily. She thought it would end there, just one reckless moment in the dark. But a photo of them kissing had reached Selene's father. And their night became even longer. At the end of the night, what do you want to be?

Sometimes, life feels too heavy to understand. Maybe every eldest daughter knows this pain - the silent weight of responsibilities, chores, and expectations that never seem to end. We grow up too fast, forced to be strong when all we ever wanted was to rest. At the end of the day, all we truly crave is peace - to be loved, to be seen, to be taken care of. Because for as long as we can remember, we've been holding everyone together while quietly falling apart. When will it be my time? Will I ever find peace amidst the chaos?

Around Manila Series 3 Ysa and Jaxiel Growing up, Ysa never felt beautiful. Allysa "Ysa" Elara Victoria is a Psychology student and iskolar ng bayan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She loves fairytales and once dreamed of being beautiful like the princesses in their stories. But, she grew up believing that intelligence was the only thing she could rely on. Kailan magaling siya. Kailangan, kayanin niya. Jaxiel "Jax" Justine Jose Jinera, a biology student and iskolar ng bayan from the University of the Philippines, is effortlessly brilliant and seen as the future of medicine. He doesn't believe in fairytales, finding them too unrealistic. Behind his flawless image, however, lies a dream he hides from the world, he wants to become a designer and makeup artist. Former schoolmates in high school, Ysa and Jax meet again in college and reconnect in unexpected ways. When Jax asks Ysa to be the model for his secret creations. They see sides of each other that no one ever sees behind their perfect images. But as Jax struggles with a mysterious stalker watching his every move, their fragile connection is put at risk. They write pages they never knew existed and share unhappy moments together. And so, will they find their happily ever afters after all the unhappiness they've endured? Can they still find their own version of a happy ending or is this just another story meant to remain unfinished?

NOTE: Chapters are short in terms of word count, that explains the chapters available. Faye, is an iskolar ng bayan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is on the verge of losing the one thing she fought for the first time--her life in Manila, away from a home where every move is dictated by her family. That is her chaos. Kreil, a communication student at the University of Santo Tomas, has everything--privilege and a secured future already carved into his palm. However, even having almost everything, he wants nothing. That is his chaos. Their worlds first collided when Kreil made a bold move and suddenly decided to pretend to be couple with Faye to claim a couple's bracelet they both wanted for its design, despite being complete strangers. What should have been a one-time interaction becomes the thread that pulls their life closer to each other, until Kreil makes her an offer in exchange for his protection from the family she's desperate to escape, she has to live with him and be his personal cook. Is this a summer-like run away or another chaos that would only lead them deeper into the storm? In a fast-paced city, will they be able to find calmness amid the chaos on every road in Manila?

SeventhOrchid-the brains behind the RomCom of the century. Her debut took the literary world by storm, earning her a movie adaptation deal and a devoted fanbase. But behind the viral pen name is Ceae-a woman buried beneath the weight of her past and a looming deadline for a final script she can't bring herself to finish. Desperate to clear her mind, Ceae trades the chaos of Manila for the quiet pull of her hometown, Cagayan de Oro City. What was meant to be a three month-long escape turns into an unraveling of past and present-because waiting in the silence is Mattheo, her once-inseparable childhood friend and the boy who vanished into thin air. Mattheo, now an aspiring musician still searching for his own spotlight, finds himself entangled once again in Ceae's rhythm-and she in his melody. As the lines blur between memory and possibility, Ceae is forced to face the truth: some stories don't end when the chapter closes. In a city that shaped them, as old wounds resurface and new verses begin, they must ask the hardest question of all- When the music changes, can their love find The Write Rhythm again?

Main Description (English): "Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it-in the rain, on a rooftop, or in the quiet corners of a university library." Alexa Marie "Lexi" Santos never believed in love at first sight-until she literally fell into the arms of Joshua Miguel "Josh" Dela Cruz on a rainy morning at UST. He was mysterious, quiet, and completely different from anyone she'd ever met. She was warm, caring, and exactly what he didn't know he needed. From chance encounters to rooftop confessions, from devastating breakups to tearful reunions, Lexi and Josh's love story is anything but ordinary. But when Josh gets his dream job in Singapore and Lexi stays in Manila to build her career, will their love survive the distance? Can they overcome jealousy, temptation, and the challenges that come with growing up apart? Two seasons. One epic love story. A journey from España Boulevard to forever. "Ikaw lang ang aking mundo" - You are my only world. "Kahit saan ka magpunta, ikaw pa rin ang uuwian ko."

Two college freshmen who meet each other as classmates in a University in Intramuros. Despite of being in the same field, They have different passion which separates their mindsets with dealing life and love. Helping each other to survive the struggle of college life as well as with their respective life issues. HI GUYS! Please VOTE and feel free to COMMENT! ALSO, PLEASE SHARE THIS TO ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS! USE the hashtag #LetsMakeItRight ! Hope y'all like it 🥺 LOVE FOR ALL! 🤟🏼

As I painted your ribbon red, your eyes blazed with the fire of royalty.

Sera has a system for everything - her thesis, her mornings, her feelings. Neat categories, correct conclusions. It has worked perfectly for twenty-two years. Then she meets Professor Elena Reyes. Elena is brilliant, composed, and exactly the kind of person Sera should not find herself thinking about at two in the morning. She is also religious, careful, and very good at performing a life she has almost convinced herself she wants. They are a graduating student and her thesis adviser at a university in Manila. They are nothing. They should remain nothing. But Sera, who has never had trouble naming things, finds she cannot name this - and Elena, who prays every night for clarity, finds that her prayers keep going quiet before she reaches the part about Sera. In the Silence Between is a story about two women in a country where some things are still spoken only in silence. About faith that costs something. About a choice that neither of them can quite bring themselves to make - and the question, at the end, that only one of them is brave enough to ask.

They say the sea is the best place to find peace- it's calm, beautiful, and consistent. For Aya, life was exactly that: a simple cycle of studying to be an architect, playing volleyball, and making sure no one got too close to her. Having witnessed her mother's heartbreak, Aya promised herself one thing: she would never let love destroy her. She lives by a strict plan, believing that staying alone is the only way to stay safe. While others dream of romance, Aya has long since stopped believing in happy endings. To her, love is just a temporary feeling that always ends in pain. But what happens when someone from a completely different world finally breaks through her defenses? When the walls she built for years start to crumble, is she ready for the weight of her choices? If she finally takes a chance on love, can she handle the consequences- or will she end up proving herself right all along? Cover not mine, CTTRO.

A brilliant but reclusive Filipino software engineer wakes up in an abandoned hospital with a voice in her head and no memory of how she got there. As she races to uncover the truth, she discovers she was part of a secret government experiment involving AI implants-and someone is hunting her down to keep it buried. Cover by: Alyssa Pantil

Under Yellow Lights is the continuation of When We Were Seventeen. Carson Miranda leaves his small town behind and steps into Manila - into brighter lights, louder spaces, and a version of himself that refuses to shrink. He learns that growth doesn't stop after the first act of bravery. It deepens. It tests you. It asks you who you are when no one is watching - and when everyone is. Under yellow lights, love looks different. So does courage. This is Carson's next era.

Around Manila Series 2 Missy and Anton Sometimes, letting go means less wounds than holding on. Missy, a Broadcasting student and iskolar ng bayan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is known for her social skills. She blends in anywhere, whether it's a hairstyle, an outfit, or new people. With her personality, she effortlessly connects with others. Missy believes that every connection is like a string, some loosely tied, others knotted tightly. She spent her life gripping them tightly, even when they burned and hurt her hands. Because to her, that's what love looked like. But how long can she keep tying knots with people who only want to untangle themselves? How much of herself must she give up just to stop them from turning their backs? Antonio Gabriel Simon, her ex-fling, a Political Science graduate and alumni from PUP, comes back into her life. Antonio has always believed that if someone doesn't like you, just let them go. Their strings cross paths again when they both receive a surprise message from Beebeads: they've been chosen from thousands of past buyers of couple bracelet for a chance to win ₱500,000, if they can prove they're the most heart-fluttering couple. Will they allow their strings to be tied once more? Can they tighten the knots again, despite the thousand reasons to loosen them?

Jullian, a Filipino born and raised in the United States, returns to the land of his heritage to pursue a law degree at the prestigious University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in España, Manila. With his charming looks, American accent, and magnetic personality, he becomes the campus heartthrob overnight. But despite the attention, Jullian feels something missing - a sense of genuine connection. Enter Alliah: sharp-minded, introverted, and laser-focused on her dream of becoming a top lawyer. She keeps to herself, avoids campus drama, and has no time for flings or fairytales. Her cold shoulder intrigues Jullian, and what begins as curiosity turns into something deeper as he slowly breaks through the walls Alliah built to protect her heart. As they navigate late-night study sessions, moot court battles, and the pressure of Philippine legal education, Jullian and Alliah begin to learn that love - like the law - is about interpretation, persistence, and sometimes... surrender. A slow-burn academic romance set against the rich cultural backdrop of Manila, this is a story of love, law, and the little things that change everything. ⸻ 👥 Main Characters: • Jullian Mateo Umali • Age: 23 • Background: Filipino-American from San Diego, California • Traits: Charming, confident, funny, sincere beneath the cool exterior • Role: The heartthrob law student who finds himself drawn to someone unlike anyone he's met • Alliah Reyes • Age: 22 • Background: Filipino, born and raised in Quezon City • Traits: Intelligent, focused, introverted, independent, emotionally guarded • Role: The studious girl who becomes the object of Jullian's quiet fascination • Marco Dizon • Jullian's best friend in law school; funny, supportive, and often gives questionable advice • Clara Tan • Alliah's closest friend in law school; extroverted, flirty, and always trying to set her up

How love arise between two people that has different opinions about each other? Cloud Nathaniel Conception, thinks Astrid Lavender Ortega is a bad influence to his sister. Meanwhile, Astrid thinks that Cloud is too strict for her best friend. Mananatili bang ganito ang tingin nila sa isa't isa?

Jean Santiago hates Citizen's Army Training (CAT) as the most useless of all useless things. The fact that her former childhood friend turned non-friend, RM Felipe, is the corps commander and gets to tell her what to do once a week isn't helping. Except they keep running into each other after CAT at her secret spot, where they keep talking about the past, and why they stopped being friends. There's something about him that makes her want to keep talking...and maybe do more than talk? *** This is a YA 90's high school in Manila throwback and part two of the Our Lady of Sorrows high school trilogy. Please enjoy! Reading order: The Charmer Four Fridays and a Saturday Mushrooms & Sunshine

"How about we make a story of another us?"Calum says "Sounds good"Luke says "feels good"Michael adds "Hey that's our 2nd album title!" Ashton yell I got a long term plan with short term fixes And a wasted heart to cast eclipses And I push my luck and trust the dust enough That's the story of another us One last ditch and new beginnings So take this heart, put yourself in it

Rosalie Evans is a talented make up artist in town. Some of her works have been showcased in different fashion magazines, shows and events. Indeed, she can make every woman feel happy on her special day….. except on weddings. Rosie doesn’t like attending to brides and doesn’t accept and entertain clients when it comes to weddings, no matter how big the offer is. All because of what happened a couple of years ago with the current café owner, Nathan Silvers. However, the approval of her friend (who is also the co owner of her business), Tessa, to be in charge in a wedding without Rosie’s approval relives the feeling which Rosie has been trying to forget. Will she finally lose her fear in weddings and go on the search for her true love? Or will she finally say yes to the man who had asked her before?

Manila is turmoil as corrupt politicians are dying one by one. The people demands blood and justice. The Vigilante is coming

SALVATORE COUSINS #1. Lianna Claudine Cerveza is the best daughter among her sisters in her parents' point of view. Kahit gusto niyang nitong mamuhay bilang normal na babae ay hindi ito possible dahil sa mahigpit niyang mga magulang. On her 18th birthday, she was told to marry Shaun Theodore Salvatore, the heir of some of the most biggest hotels in Manila. Also a heartless man who doesn't love. Start: August 2, 2020 End: (cover picture not mine)