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.

Tadhana (Self-published)

aowkdj

wxwc

The wound is the point at which the light enters you. After years of separation, Aldrine is determined to get Miya back in his life. Forget about the past heartaches and the intense longing. As long as she's now within reach, he finds another hope for living. Here's a blessing: They have a child. But, here's a tragedy: Aldrine didn't know about her. The most difficult situation Miya had to overcome was telling Aldrine about Chi. Or perhaps, it's being able to accept that Aldrine has always made love less terrifying. That love is what she's made of, even though the world tells her otherwise; it's blooming, freeing, and everything in between. | Santimera Siblings #4 | an epistolary novel | 2023 © reyincarnation Started: February 15, 2023 Finished: March 9, 2024

There are some things that aren't worth keeping. Nastia Kahlila Quijano has been convincing herself that walking away was the right thing she did. Even if it's already been three long years ever since she left. But with every passing second and every in-between of those years, she couldn't seem to getaway with the feelings still lingering in her system. She was haunted by the ideas of him, what might have been, and their memories together. Each day, each night; it was a choice she didn't want to regret. She was determined to move forward. But the biggest relapse struck her unexpectedly. All of her effort and hard work went down the drain. She couldn't seem to pull herself back from the memories reeling her in. From the phantom lurking in the form of her next door neighbor seemingly pulling her back to his arms. Maybe she should run away. Far enough where they wouldn't meet ever again. Far from his reach. Maybe she should treat him indifferently until he finally gives up. But Nika couldn't seem to handle the thought of him walking away and ending up with someone else. She couldn't have that either. Maybe, it was time for her to let things happen like clockwork. Maybe fighting it was futile. Maybe the right thing to do was run back to him. In his arms wide open. A place in the world that's only meant for her. Maybe, this time, they were meant to be. Book cover by: goldenaraw (on twitter)

She was laser-focused with the top priority on her list. Adrianna Venaventura only wanted to pass the bar. But how could a night out suddenly change her course? It wasn't in her plans to meet anyone, wasn't in her plans to entertain, and most definitely, it wasn't in her plans to engage to a certain relationship-for whatever they call it. Something must have transpired for them to finally meet, someone must have trampled and messed with the strings and she knew it wasn't supposed to turn out the way it did. But Andy wasn't above resisting the call. She doesn't know why, which, or who, but somehow, that Wednesday night, something outside her list must have turned up again beyond her control, keeping her off track. It was a free fall when the strings were suddenly becoming undone. And if there's one thing she's good at, it's working hard beyond any circumstance to pursue what she wants head on, straight on. Book cover by: namisketches

The filming for their upcoming movie was finally done. Francesca Ingrid Loreto has never been more thrilled and excited for her vacation after months of working on different projects. She was already prepared for her solo trip to Calayan Island when the sleepless nights and one slice of bread diets suddenly took a toll. Francine just found herself rushing to the nearest hospital. Shifting her weeklong itinerary from the beach to the operating room. Through the Nights Completed (2023).

Can you live with your brother's bestfriend? con-amore-2015