Novel-novel oleh Pseudo_Drained

IT WAS SATURDAY AFTERNOON, and the library—a place he usually cherished for its solitude—was now a crucible of social stress.He sat across from Acy, who was oblivious to the internal chaos she caused, her attention completely absorbed by the book she held: A Thousand Steps to the Star.Halatang luma na ang libro at madalas basahin dahil sa hindi na magandang kundisyon ng cover."Okay, so this is the part I was telling you about," Acy said, her voice dropping slightly, making Rajiv lean in instinctively. She tapped the page of the dog-eared paperback. "When the main character, Roger, is forced to choose between helping his family's rebellion and protecting the city he actually loves? That's the real moral conflict! It’s not just about who he kisses. Kung ako siguro, mahihirapan din ako. Parang betrayal pa rin kahit anong piliin."Rajiv, leaning forward with his elbows propped on the table, nodded intently. His eyes were wide, taking in the scene.He wasn't really seeing the book, tho

​The fluorescent lights of the hallway on the third floor of the school building hummed, a monotonous choir to the low roar of a hundred student conversations. It was the frantic, condensed chaos of the 7:36 A.M. bell—the last chance to cram before the first period at 7:45. I'm almost late due to heavy road traffic. Can't believe na ganito rin ang ganap sa school.I chin tucked slightly, was navigating the morning traffic flow—a slow-moving tide of backpacks, hastily eaten breakfast pastries, and the usual pre-class anxiety that was 90% academic and 10% social. I clutched the copy of Calculus: A Complete Course, a tome heavier and far less engaging than my favorite science.And yet I care on neither of the two. I am pretty good at studying and don't really care about social interactions.My goal was simple: reach Room 301 for Honors Pre-Calculus without tripping, spilling my lukewarm coffee, or accidentally making eye contact with the girl who sat in the third row of his English class—

IT'S PEACEFUL. The air hummed with the lazy warmth of late afternoon, thick with the scent of grilling pork, damp grass, and the faint, exhilarating tang of summer mischief. Ten-year-old Rajiv sat cross-legged under the shade of a sprawling mango tree, a thick, dog-eared book on quantum mechanics resting open on his knees. Around him, the Alarcon family's annual summer picnic unfolded in a symphony of shouts, laughter, and the relentless thwack of a volleyball. He was oblivious to most of it, lost in the intricate dance of subatomic particles. The world, he believed, was a wonderfully complex machine, and understanding its gears and cogs was the most satisfying puzzle of all. He traced a diagram of electron shells with a thoughtful finger, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Rajiv! Are you still reading that alien stuff?" The voice belonged to Jay, his oldest cousin, a boisterous thirteen-year-old with a perpetually scraped knee and a grin that promised trouble. Jay was flan

JOHN'S POV. "SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?" I just looked at Tim. honestly don't know too. I am overwhelmed and I admit I still cannot think clearly after everything. I've expected some things already but most of them still shook my senses. "Hopefully, nothing bad will happen again." He smirked at me and I saw his eyes twinkled as if he remembered something really interesting. "By the way, have you read the book we just bought yesterday? I just read it last night and I can say that "Quantum Universe" is really interesting!" "I haven't." I looked at mom and dad sitting on the blanket near us. They look so happy and they are talking about something with smile on their faces. "I am still reading the mathematics book we also bought." "Oh, you are also interested in that mathematics book? I haven't read my copy yet because I am hooked on the Quantum Universe. I would love it if we discussed math on our next play date." I quickly agreed with a nod and smile. "i love discussing sci

"LAST YEAR, I HAD THE URGE TO WRITE A BOOK." Napatingala si Tim nang marinig ang biglaang pahayag ni John. Binitawan niya ang binabasang Math book at inilapag sa gilid. Naroon silang dalawa sa verandah ng kwarto ni John, magkatapat silang nakaupo at pinagmamasdan ang tahimik na gabi. Ang binabasa ni John na libro ay isang Science book, at ang akala niya, gaya ng mga nakaraan, focus na focus ito sa ginagawa kaya nagulat siya nang bahagya sa sinabi nito. Hindi niya inasahan ang ganitong usapan mula sa kaibigan. "What kind of book then?" He gave his full attention to him, leaning forward slightly. Well, whatever he's saying, he's making sure to always listen intently. Just like how John always listens to him as well, validating his thoughts and feelings. "Is it a biography? A compilation of essays? A fantasy adventure—" "I wanna write a love story, a romance maybe with a bit of a thrill, psychological horror... something like that," John admitted, his eyes sparkling with a new ide

ACY' POV >FLASHBACK...

Her Deadly Love"ATE TRINA, I WON'T TELL IT TO MOM." Napahinto ako nang makitang lumabas mula sa pader ang nakababata kong kapatid. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita nang makita ang ngisi nya. Alam ko na naman to. "What do you need, Arden?" Hindi ako nagpahalatang kinabahan, malamang sa malamang ay nalaman n'ya na ngayon na pineke ko ang sakit ko para makaligtas sa pinaka-hate kong subject, ang Practical research.Actually, naiinis ako sa lahat ng subject dahil karamihan sa itinuturo ay alam ko na lahat. Lalo na kapag science. Hate ko lang talaga ang practical research dahil madalas ko nang gawin ang pagreresearch mula noon, hanggang dito ba naman? Isa pa, hindi ko trip ang magsalita sa harap ng mga tao, gusto pa naman nila ay magde-defense kaming lahat. Mommy and dad knew that I am advance but dad still enrolled me in a regular school at hindi sa para sa mga tulad kong gifted. Gusto ko naman iyon dahil dito ko nakilala si Ivan. Sa school, minamali ko madalas ang mga sagot ko sa

"BABY, LET'S DATE, HUH?" Inirapan ko si Adam na kung makapaglambing e parang hindi namin kasama si Trina sa kotse. "Dad! Sasama ako." Tila pinal na desisyon nito. Umiling-iling si Adam at tumingin na tila nagpapasaklolo saakin.Grabe talaga, it's been months nang maging mag-asawa kami at halos matawa pa rin ako palagi sa pagpapa-cute n'ya. Pero ang totoo, cute namang talaga."No, we can't date outside. Merong dinner sa bahay.""Darating sila mama?" Kaagad niyang tanong kasi sa pagkakaalam n'ya ay nagpunta sila mama sa Japan last month para magbakasyon at para na rin samahan si Jester doon dahil ipinadala s'ya ng kumpanya nila roon dahil meron syang kailangang asikasuhin."Yes." Also, I have a surprise for him kaya hindi talaga kami pwedeng

"BALITA KO BABALIK NA RAW SI MR. CEO." "Hindi ko la nakikita yon dahil si Sir Bernard ang naabutan ko." "Ako rin tapos naghanap ako ng pictures non kahit sa business magazines man or internet kasi sabi ng mga matagal nang empleyado e gwapo raw. Ang nakakapagtaka, wala akong makitang kahit isa." "Sinasabi ko sainyo, isang naaaaa-pakalaking bangungot non si Mr. CEO." "True! Alam na alam namin, danas na danas. Sobrang gwapo pa naman at daig pa ang artista, pero 'wag ka, walang gustong kausapin, walang kasundo at higit sa lahat, tinatanggal ang empleyado makita lang ngumiti!" "Naku ha, ang OA na ng kwento n'yo! Natatakot na tuloy ako wala pa man. Tsaka paano yon bawas sa inspiration kapag nawala si Sir Bernard." "Seryoso kami!" Busy at patuloy nag-uusap ang mga empleyado n

I AM BUSY TYPING ON THE LAPTOP in front of me when I suddenly remember what happened. I just kissed her. Pinipilit kong libangin ang sarili ko sa mga trabahong nakatambak sa harap ko ngayon. Binasa ko ang folders na nakapatong sa mesa pero walang ibang pumapasok sa isip ko kung hindi ang ginawa ko kanina at ang reaksyon n'ya. I wanted to kiss her since the day I found her after 2 years of searching. But I didn't imagine that I'll really do that. Siguro ay nagtataka na s'ya ngayon sa mga sinasabi at ginagawa ko lalo na ang halik na ginawa ko kanina. Pero hindi naman siguro ako nananaginip lang at sigurado akong tumugon s'ya sa halik ko na siyang ikinagulat ko kaya naman napalayo ako nang bahagya sakanya kanina. Tiningnan ko ang office n'ya na nasa harap ko lang din. Mukhang nakalimutan

After 5 months... "SIR, PORMANG-PORMA KAYO AH?" Nginitian ko si Mang Ben. "Ngayon nga ho pala iyong balik nila, ano?" "Yeah." Hindi n'ya na ulit ako muli pang kinausap, ngumiti palang s'ya na parang nahahawa sa kung gaano ako mukang kasaya ngayong araw. "Dad!" Irit ni Trina at paglingon ko ay nakaayos din s'ya. "Where do you think you're going without me?" Umirap s'ya sa hangin. "If not because of tito Bernard, I wouldn't know you're going somewhere." Napapikit ako. Si Bernard talaga. Kaya nga tinawagan ko s'ya at pinapunta sa bahay ay dahil na rin para libangin su Trina dahil may lakad ako. Bandang huli, si

SHIVERING, I STILL TRIED TO GET UP.Masama ang pakiramdam ko pero kailangan kong bumangon dahil may pasok pa ako ngayon. She's new to business that's why many greed people are trying to turn her down.Napansin ko ang maliit na kamay na nakayakap saakin. Nilingon ko si Trina. She's sleeping peacefully like an angel in the morning. Well, she's really my angel. Sa mga taon na dilim ang nararamdaman ko ay nandyan s'ya. Aaminin ko na medyo masungit s'ya pero mabait, hindi ko rin alam pero ang pagsusungit siguro ay natutunan n'ya kay Bernard. That man, kung anu-ano ang tinuturo sa anak ko.Tinanggal ko ang kamay nya para makatayo na ako pero humigpit ang yakap n'ya saka nagmulat ng mata. Nagtama ang berde naming mga mata, kaagad kaming ngumiti sa isa't-isa."Goodmorning, beautiful!""Morn