Tangled And Claimed

Chapter 1 Eliana Maxine Summer break had finally arrived, and for me, that meant one thing: absolute, uninterrupted laziness. No exams. No last-minute cramming. No back-to-back lab reports. Just me, my bed, and a long, glorious list of dramas and novels I’d been dying to binge since the semester started. Being a Human Physiology major was no joke, and after months of juggling lectures, practicals, and dense textbooks that read like ancient spells, this break felt like the breath of fresh air I desperately needed. Right now, I was sprawled across my bed, completely tangled in my blanket like a human burrito, the soft morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. It was already eight in the morning, but I had zero plans of moving anytime soon. I had my iPad in hand, fully immersed in the fantasy w******l on screen. The protagonist, a battle-hardened regressor, was knee-deep in a brutal fight against grotesque monsters, and I was living for it. The snarls and screeches practical

Chapter 3 Eliana Maxine I had just finished eating lunch and was back in my room, curled up in bed and finally diving back into the novel I’d been obsessing over. I barely made it through two pages when my phone vibrated on the nightstand beside me. I groaned softly. What now? Couldn’t I just have a moment of peace? What was it with today and all these interruptions? I considered ignoring it, hoping whoever it was would get the hint. But then— Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Another buzz. Persistent much? With an exaggerated sigh, I reached for my phone and squinted at the screen. 2 New Messages — Hot Bratz I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Did Cassie rename the group chat again? That girl had this chaotic habit of renaming our GC every other week depending on her mood, or her latest drama. I tapped the notification, already bracing myself for the nonsense. Micaela: Hey losers! Micaela: How have y’all been? Still alive? I barely had time to process Mica’s messages before my screen

Chapter 5 Eliana Maxine “So?” Cassie prompted, popping another strawberry into her mouth. “Are you gonna tell us where all this money came from, or do we have to torture it out of you?” Gladz nodded, her brows raised in curiosity. “Yeah, are we talking legal money, or are you making shady deals on the side?” Cassie leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Is it drugs? Did you finally start that underground empire we always joked about? Be honest.” Mica groaned, rolling her eyes. “You wish.” Cassie smirked. “A little.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Mica.” She sighed, grabbing another grape from the fruit tray and tossing it into her mouth like this was no big deal. “Fine. But if I tell you, you guys have to promise not to freak out.” Cassie gasped dramatically, clutching my arm. “Oh my God. It is a sugar daddy.” Mica didn’t even hesitate—she grabbed the nearest throw pillow and smacked Cassie with it. Cassie yelped, laughing. “Alright! Chill! Just spill already!” Mica sighe

Chapter 7 Eliana Maxine Psalm? Liking me? Now that was just ridiculous. I’ve known him since junior high—way before I met the girls. If there was anyone on this planet who truly knew him, it was me. And trust me, I definitely knew his type. Tall. Sexy. Bold. Outgoing. I’d seen him date one girl after another, and they all fit the same mold. Confident. Flirty. The kind of girls who could turn heads the moment they walked into a room. Me? I wasn’t that. I mean, I wasn’t exactly shy, but I wasn’t naturally magnetic either. I’d take a quiet night with a book over a wild party any day. Sure, I could flirt, and I could hold my own in playful banter, but I wasn’t some effortlessly charming social butterfly. Despite growing up in a liberated country, I wasn’t exactly outgoing. Not in the way those other girls were. I was a little reserved, mostly because Aunt George never missed a chance to remind me how a proper Filipina woman should behave. I never even had a boyfriend ye