Story Guide
A quick guide for the sequence and themes of my stories.…
Hiraeth (Opprimo Series # 1)
Farah only wishes for two things in life-to be acknowledged by her father and to be noticed by the guy she secretly likes. But when things go haywire in her supposedly perfect life, she finds herself in the middle of a mess she can't seem to get out from. Can Farah fight her way through it all? ***Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, Farah Demitri Sastre has always liked the simplest things in life. She wants to take over their family's ceramic and pottery business and finally be with Rhys, the guy she continuously and secretly likes for the past eight years. As she tries to win her father's trust and her friend's heart, Farah encounters one problem after the other... making her perfect world crumble down into pieces. But as she tries to pick the pieces up, she unexpectedly digs a secret past that's been trying to tear her family down. Can Farah be strong enough to face her fears and protect her loved ones no matter what it takes?Disclaimer: This story is written in Taglish.Cover Design by: Abilaine Isabelle…
Hardly Theirs
There is a thin line between love and hate, and Constantine Illaraza believes her feet have always been firm and steady on the other side of the ground. She hates him. Sincerely. But what can she do when she has to make everyone believe otherwise? Coco knew what she signed up for. Everything they had done was just for show. The hugs, kisses, and sweet nothings, all of which were hardly theirs. But somewhere between love and hate lies a thin line, a blurring of everything fair and reasonable. A line she tripped and a line he crossed. A great undoing of all things they pretended that were never theirs. Hardly Theirs - a novelOngoing (2024).Cover Art by: haiz & izzazazaie…
Never Mine
an epistolary…
Secretly Yours
Rosabella Nataline swore to keep off dating when she got her heart broken two years ago. She kept herself protected and bound by a rule she established. It was absolute and unbreakable. Until he came. Unannounced. Secretly loving her in a safe distance.Secretly Yours - an epistolary novelCompleted (2024).…
Love Lingers: Down the Line
It was simply a night of trying something new. Nothing more and nothing less. But Yohanna Chandria Hernandez couldn't figure out why he kept on lingering in her mind, and she couldn't figure out why she didn't ask for a name.Yuchi doesn't want to regret anything, but she kept on replaying that night and she kept on wondering what he did after she went home or if he thinks about her the way she does.It was mind numbing and Yuchi tried to push the questions away. She knew he was unlike any other, but there was no point on dwelling over someone she wouldn't meet again. Or so she thought.Love Lingers: Down the LineOn-going (2024).…
Love Lingers: Hearts Collide
After two years of getting married, Clarissa Martiana Imperial-de Leon was now ready to embrace motherhood. They say pregnancy is daunting and raising a child is a lot of work. But to her, it was different. She wasn't terrified despite their warnings. She was actually excited to try and build their family with her husband, and she had already prepared herself for it. But when a terrifying news suddenly came around, Marty had no other choice but to fly back home, leaving her husband behind for work and putting their plans to a pause. And perhaps it was the whirlwind or the sudden tilt, but Marty couldn't help herself from thinking too much, making her want to tap out.Love Lingers: Hearts Collide Completed (2023).…
Through the Nights
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 NightsCompleted (2023).…
Somehow Last Wednesday
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…
Malay Natin: Siguro Ngayon
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)…
Malay Natin: Siguro Tayo
It was a complete three-sixty. From the girl casually winding up at the bar who suddenly turned into someone's pretend girlfriend, Nastia Kahlila Quijano never saw it coming. She wasn't supposed to give into someone who were clear and upfront with their boundaries. There was no other choice but to treat him as an off-limit, like a whiskey bottle hanging at the top shelf-seemingly invisible to her eyes. After all, Nika was only returning a favor. Pretend relationships were bound to end anyway. But the thin line between their make-believe and their reality were beginning to blur. They couldn't draw out what's real and what's made up anymore. Then the boundaries began to solidify and the haze was gone. The line became clearer than before, reminding Nika why it existed in the first place. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe, they should leave it at that. After all, how could she lose something she never even had?This is an epistolary story written in taglish.Completed (2022).…
Malay Natin: Siguro Ako
Mihika Tahlia Ortiz just transferred to Manila for her first job. Living by herself in a crowded and busy city was daunting; she has never felt more alone. But with the help of a new friend, Mithi seems to have found her footing and everything fell into the right places.Or did it? Why is her heart suddenly skipping beats every time he's there? He was only a friend. Just a friend.Or not?This is an epistolary story written in taglish. Completed (2022).…
Memories Set on Replay (For the Record # 3)
She was oblivious. Leonora Isla Castillejo wasn't aware of her feelings until the last minute. She couldn't believe it was still there, sleeping, kept, and hidden away after so many years.They were good friends. Nothing more and nothing less. Until everything came apparent that afternoon when all of their memories came flashing at the back of her mind. She couldn't see herself spending all of her days with someone else but him. The sudden drop in her stomach made her realize something she should've seen before. Her epiphanies wouldn't allow her to move forward. The replays of how good they were throughout the years seemed like a montage in her mind. They were something else. They were perfect. But is she too late?…
Stuck on Pause (For the Record # 2)
Weddings. Vanya Nadine Joson dreaded weddings. Within her circle of friends, she was the only one remaining single and unmarried. Single, for as long as she could remember. She was slowly accepting the fact that she'll grow old alone, and she was already preparing for it. Her retirement plan was laid out, she already picked her senior home, she even began to draw out her last will on her mind. Until zooming out for the possibilities for the next forty years began to overwhelm her. Living alone wasn't so bad after all. But there was a time where she hoped for her wishful thinkings to come true. A time where she pictured an entire future with someone. Every night, in all of her prayers, he was there. In her mind, in her dreams, in her wishes. In the quiet. He was her secret she kept hidden in the dark. There wasn't a second passing by where she didn't regret how everything fell apart. They almost had it. If she could stop the clock and trace back every second, she would. Because the moment he left, everything came to a pause. The stillness made her numb as the years went by. Vanya remained unmoving. Stuck. And always wishing.Stuck on Pause (For the Record # 2)Completed (2023).…
If We Could Press Rewind (For the Record # 1)
Overwhelmed by academic pressure, Vina Nathalie Joson decided to drop everything that could be a source of distraction, even her three-year relationship. Filled with doubts and seemingly spiraling into the deep end, Vina was losing grip. Losing herself. That breathing alone was hard. And the only person that has been keeping her steady and hopeful was gone. But she couldn't allow herself to drag him with her into the deep end. It was cruel. She had to let him go even if it means she needed to hold her breath. Yet, there he was. Still staying by her side. With a love that's steady and unwavering. Silently wishing for everything to go back the way it used to be. Or maybe, that was just him being hopeful. And all he was holding on to was an idea and moments in time that are too precious to let go. If We Could Press Rewind (For the Record # 1)Completed (2022).…
Lie Again (Love in Paris # 8)
An epistolary…
Fool Again (Love in Paris # 7)
She swears she's over it. Clarissa Martiana Imperial has had enough. She already spent years wondering if he'll ever notice her and she doesn't want her feelings to drag out for one more second. This time, it's final. Enough is enough.But why did he seem glad seeing her again after two years of being away? Especially when he's already happy and contented with someone else? She's probably seeing it wrong. Marty knows it's nearly impossible for him to even take a glance her way. And maybe, it's foolish to hold on to the slightest chance there is. But she just found herself back to square one. Fool Again (Love in Paris # 7)Completed (2023).…
Breathe Again (Love in Paris # 6)
An epistolary…
You Again (Love in Paris # 5)
An epistolary…
Begin Again (Love in Paris # 4)
Liking a person wasn't supposed to feel so encapsulating, but Una Madia Grajales freezes up whenever he's near. The knots and butterflies in her stomach makes her buckle and shut down and all she could do was gush about him to her best friend who was nothing but supportive.He cheered her on, gave her some pointers, he even made some adjustments just for her to spend some time with her crush. But down the line, Una realized she never cared for the butterflies. She didn't like freezing up neither the churning in her stomach. She wanted clear skies, warm blankets, fuzzy socks, and wistfully, the one who gave her a turtle plushie in the middle of the night-just because. And perhaps, she was too late to recognize that what she needed has always been there all along when he's already a thousand miles away. The chances were probably thin, but maybe it was exactly what they needed to begin again.Begin Again (Love in Paris # 4)Completed (2021).…