Next time Ethan talks me into something like this, I’m punching him too. As I stepped out onto the busy sidewalk, I felt the cool breeze hit my face, but it didn’t ease the storm inside me. I fumbled with my phone, ready to send another frustrated message to Ethan, but before I could type a word, someone stepped in front of me. I stopped dead in my tracks. It was one of Liam’s frat buddies. The one with the smug face from earlier. He didn’t have to say anything; I already knew what was coming. I could see it in his eyes—the look of someone who couldn’t care less about how I was feeling. My chest tightened, and I resisted the urge to shove him aside. “Well, well, well,” he said, a smirk spreading across his face. “Looks like the lady’s upset. Was that your first taste of how Liam operates?” I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool, but the sight of this guy just made my blood boil even more. Liam—that bastard—had me waiting all this time, thinking he’d show up, bakit pa niya ako pinasundo sundo sa mga kumag niyang kasama kung hindi rin lang sisipot, and now here is one of his lackeys showing up, probably to tell me some lame excuse. Before I could stop myself, I snapped. “Don’t give me that smug look! Where is he?” I snapped, my voice cold and sharp. The guy raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk only widening. “Hindi siya makakarating.” My heart skipped a beat, but before I could process the words, he went on. “Liam’s... well, let’s just say he got caught up with something else. He won’t make it.” I stared at him, my brain struggling to understand what he was saying. “What the hell are you talking about? He didn’t make it because he couldn’t bother to show up? Are you kidding me? After all that time I spent here, waiting for him like a fool? Pinagloloko niyo ba ako ha?” I wasn’t sure if it was the frustration or pure disbelief that was making my voice shake, but I didn’t care anymore. The anger had completely taken over. "Tell him this from me," I spat, storming closer to the guy, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Gago siya!." Pinakadiin diinan ko pa ang salitang iyon para marinig niya kung gaano ako kagalit ngayon. The guy’s smirk faltered for a moment, but it quickly returned as he nodded, clearly not intimidated in the slightest. "Fine. I’ll tell him. But good luck with your little... emotional outburst." I sneered at him, not even wanting to waste another second in his presence. "Walang modo, he doesn’t deserve my apology anyway.’" I turned on my heel, marching away with my heart pounding. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from this, whether it was closure or just some relief from the overwhelming anger that had built up. But all I knew was, pinaglaruan ako ng mga walang modong frat, lalong lalo na ang Liam na iyon!. He even used my bestfriend to convince me para sa date na ito. It’s not a date, damn it! The sound of my own footsteps on the pavement was the only thing that echoed in my mind as I walked away. I couldn’t believe I let myself fall for this. I couldn’t believe that I’d allowed myself to hope—just for a moment—that maybe he was different. That he’s the Liam in my novel—what I found out is, he is quite the opposite. But it didn’t matter now. It didn’t matter because I wasn’t going to let Liam or anyone else walk all over me anymore. Never akong magpapaloko ulit sa mga walang kwentang tao!

Isabela’s world shatters when she sees her father being arrested on live television for the murder of Congressman—a crime she knows he didn’t commit. Desperate, she rushes to the police station, only to find herself trapped in a frenzy of flashing cameras and reporters hungry for a scandal. Before she can reach her father, Governor Richard Montevista, the congressman’s only son and the most powerful man in their province, arrives. With his cold, calculating eyes locked on her, Richard does the unthinkable—he exposes her identity to the media, branding her as the "criminal’s daughter." In an instant, Isabella's life crumbles. She becomes a public pariah, losing her job, her friends, and any hope of a normal life. Worse, her father’s case is rigged, leaving her powerless to prove his innocence. Isabella has no choice but to accept the governor’s cruel bargain—to live in his shadow as his bed warmer, a prisoner—a woman bound to a man she despises. Richard treats her with indifference, his sharp words cutting deeper than any blade. To the world, he is a respected and just leader, but to her, he is heartless and merciless, reminding her every day that she is paying for her father’s crime. Can Isabella get the justice for his father's wrong verdict and get out from the shadow of the governor or will she be trapped into him forever?

Of all people, I am stuck with this wayward and annoying friend of my cousin Dhea dito sa renewal ng vows ng kanyang in-laws. It's their golden wedding anniversary. Ate Dhea's in-laws are my parents' business partners lalo na sa mga businessess nila outside the country, that's why, close ako sa family nito. At eto na nga, wala akong nagawa nang sabihin sa akin ng pinsan ko na itong si...ano bang pangalan nito? Hindi ko na matandaan dahil sa inis ko kaninang ipinapakilala kami dahilan sa hindi pa nagsasalita, nakangisi na ito sa akin na animo'y pinagtatawanan ako habang mariin na nakatitig sa akin na parang may nakakatawa sa akin. Basta ang natandaan ko, doktor siya! At hindi nga ako nagkamali ng magsimula itong makipagkwentuhan sa mga kasama namin sa table, he sounds annoying! Akala mo lahat na lang kalokohan. Ewan ko ba kung paano naging doktor ito, samantalang parang lahat ng sinasabi niya ay mahirap paniwalaan dahil lagi nalang nakangiti at kapag tumingin sa akin, nakangisi. Kung magiging pasyente siguro ako, never sa doktor na ito ako magpapa check up! "Alessandra, do you mind if you will be paired up with Eduard during the dance?" narinig kong sabi ni Kuya Clayvin at nang lingunin ko ito, alanganin itong nakangiti sa akin. Kahit labag sa loob ko, matamis akong ngumiti sa kanya at tumango. I don't have a choice, ewan ko ba kung ano itong drama ng reception ng kasal ng kanyang parents, bakit may sayaw sayaw pa pero ang mga kasali dito ay mga malalapit sa kanila na young couples. Ngunit dahil sa wala pang asawa itong doktor na ito na kaharap ko ay ako ang kinuha nilang partner niya. Nang mag angat ako ng aking tingin, nakita kong nakatitig na naman siya sa akin with his annoying twisted lips. "Eduard, behave ok, she agreed" pinandilatan nito ang kaibigan pero tumawa lang ito ng medyo kalakasan at tumingin ulit sa akin. "It's an honor, mia cara" nakakalokong sabi nito sa akin. Tinaasan ko lang ito ng kilay bilang sagot ngunit nakita kong ngumiti ito na labas sa ilong. Tumayo ito, akala ko aalis, iyon pala para magtransfer lang ng upuan sa tabi ko. Napapikit ako dahil alam ko na ang susunod na mangyayari. "So, what's your story mia cara?" bulong nito sa akin. Mia Cara?! Kunot noo akong napatingin dito, ugh! eto na naman ang nakakasar nitong ngiti. Inirapan ko ito. "It's Alessandra" maikling sagot ko at iniiwas ang tingin ko dito. Ayaw ko iyang pagtawag tawag niya sa akin na mia cara, sino ba siya para tawagin ako ng ganyan. Tsk! "Why? Does anyone special calling you mia cara already hmmm?" Jusko, gusto kong kilabutan sa tono ng boses ng doktor na ito, akala mo nakikipaglandian lang sa kung sinong babae. Ganito kaya ito sa mga pasyente niya??! "None of your business." seryosong sagot ko. Napamulagat ako ng bigla na lang inilapit ang kanyang mukha sa akin--langhap ko na ang mabangong hininga nito. Napakurap ako ng ngumiti sa akin ng matamis bago nagsalita. "Answer me, Alessandra" bigla itong naging seryoso na mariing tumitig sa akin. Naasiwa ako sa pinaggagawa nito kahit may mga kasama kami sa table. Mas lalo akong napatda ng hawakan niya ang mukha ko at idampi ang kanyang hintuturo sa labi ko na nakaawang. "Get your hands off me" mahina pero mariing sabi ko. Bumalik ang ngisi nito sa kanyang mukha. "I want answer mia cara, I'll taste this if you're not going to answer me now" bulong nito sa akin. "What the heck---- "I'm counting...1.. "You're impossible!" "2....3--" "Wala!" marahas kong sabi at ngiting panalo ang gago! Binitiwan niya ang mukha ko at ngingiti ngiting tumango tango. "From now on, girlfriend na kita!" anito na hinawakan ulit ang baba ko. "What??!"

Nang umalis si Mirabella sa buhay na dati ay mayroon siya, kasabay na din niyang kinalimutan ang isang salita na kailanman ayaw na niyang hanapin o wala sa plano niyang matagpuan. Para sa kanya, sapat na ang kanyang sarili para maging masaya, sapat na kung ano ang kaya niyang ibigay para sa kanyang sarili upang mamuhay siya ng tahimik. Hindi niya hahayaang may magtangkang pumasok pa sa kanyang buhay, dahil lahat--iniiwan lang siya. lahat ay hinuhusgahan lamang siya at hindi exemption doon si Miguel Mijares- isang mayamang single parent na minsan naging parte siya ng kanyang kabataan, at nagbigay sa kanya noon ng positibong imahinasyon na lahat nagtatapos sa masayang kuwento.

"Buong pagkatao ko namatay nang mawala ka at kasabay ng paglaho mo sa buhay ko, tinangay mo ang pangarap ko, tinalikuran ako ng lahat ng taong akala ko dadamayan ako, at higit sa lahat, dahil sa iyong paglayo, napagtanto ko, ikaw na pinangarap ko, ikaw na kasama kong bumuo ng pangarap ko ang siya palang sisira at papatay sa tulad ko" Ito ang mga katagang lumabas sa bibig ni Lianne ng magkrus ulit ng landas nila ni Ethan Fernandez, ang High School romance niya. Pero hindi gaya ng dati na masaya si Lianne sa pagkikitang iyon dahil para sa kanya isang masalimuot na pagkakataon na naman sa buhay ang susuungin niya dahil sa paglitaw ni Ethan--hindi bilang estudyante o ano pa man kundi bilang isang ganap ng doktor na gustong damayan siya na pagalingin ang sugat na dulot ng kahapon na mayroon sila. Kaya bang gamutin ni Ethan ang sakit ng kahapon kung ang ngayon na mayroon sila ni Lianne ay nababalutan ng mga katanungang ayaw nilang bigyan pa ng kasagutan?