Grow with the Flow
SIS (Social Issue Series) #1: Objectifying WomenOver protectiveness of boyfriends are often romanticized as cute and caring nowadays. To the point that some ladies fail to live their lives to the fullest just to satisfy their men's insecurities and the likes. Pero kung ikaw si Nayeli Reese P. Eusebio, you'll probably say that you've had enough of those kinds of bullshit. Nari had been deprived of a normal life for her 17 years of existence. She never had a chance to step out of the four corners of their house and experience what common people usually do due to unfortunate circumstances that involves her personal family issues. So when she had the opportunity to finally get out from that nightmare, she promised herself, and her brother that wishes her nothing but happiness, that she will bring out the best in her as she strives to achieve her goals.But when Colton Jace R. Octavio gets into the picture, Nari felt things that she never felt before. Unexplainable feelings that are enough to confuse and distract her from her goals. Colton's dream was just to grow old with her while Nari's was for them to grow individually together. When love gets in the way of your dreams, is it possible to grow with the flow?
Ongoing
Money Makes a Man's Regret
A burglar breaks into our home, taking my mother-in-law and me captive.
He stabs my mother-in-law's eyes, blinding her. Then, he slices her tongue and strips her, even putting on a live stream to air the whole thing. He claims that he'll auction my mother-in-law's organs if we can't pay the ransom of ten million dollars.
The live stream infuriates the Internet, and everyone starts searching for my husband, the city's wealthiest man.
No one knows he's on a luxury cruise ship, holding an engagement ceremony with his childhood friend.
He snarls, "What a dumb excuse to trick me out of my money! I'll burn the money for them when they're dead!"
Murdered By Love
For seven years, I love Cody Rummish, clinging to his promise—once his sister-in-law, Luna Briche, conceives, our ordeal ends, and we finally begin our married life.
But reality betrays me. Just months after moving into his home, Cody slips into Luna's bedroom 88 times—starting with once a month, now nearly one or two visits daily.
Every night, I sit in the downstairs living room, counting the minutes, clutching a flicker of unrealistic hope.
As the sole heir after his twin brother's fatal plane crash, Cody inherits not just power and wealth but also, seamlessly, his brother's widow, Luna.
After the 88th visit, Luna announces her pregnancy. But instead of Cody honoring his promise, a public declaration shatters me—he will formally marry Luna.
I unravel, demanding answers.
Silent, Cody locks me in the bedroom's walk-in closet. "Luna was trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes! She nearly died because of you! Stay here for five days. Feel her fear!"
Only on the sixth morning does Cody casually open the door with a chuckle. "Alright, lesson learned. Time to apologize, right?"
He finds only the stench of blood and my cold, lifeless body. He's killed the fiancée who's loved him for seven years.
In the Arms of Another
It had been five years since I started dating Ross Jenner. His family invited my mother and me to their family home in Fellaton to discuss our wedding plans and to spend Valentine's Day together.
It was past 10:00 PM when my mother and I landed, but Ross wasn't there to pick us up because his college junior, Laurel Elledge, had just arrived in Fellaton.
He told me to figure out a way to get a cab to the house myself.
In a strange place, unfamiliar with the area, it wasn't long before we found ourselves in danger. Just over ten minutes outside the airport, we were robbed.
My mother was injured while trying to protect me, and she collapsed, bleeding heavily.
Desperate, I held onto her, frantically trying to call Ross.
Each call was abruptly cut off, and when I finally reached him, he sounded irritated.
"Jennifer, you're an adult, so stop acting like a child. You couldn't even hail a cab on the street? Laurel just got to Fellaton and isn't feeling well. I need to take care of her."
Without waiting for a response, he hung up.
I tried calling again, only to find that I had been blocked.
In the end, my mother's injuries were too severe, and she bled out before the doctors could save her.
As I stared at her lifeless body, tears flowed uncontrollably.
When I finally checked my phone again, the first thing I saw was a picture Ross had posted on Twitter.
In the photo, he was kissing Laurel and holding a bouquet of roses.
[Spending Valentine's Day with the one I love most.]
I quietly threw the gifts I had brought from home into the trash.
Then, I left a comment, which said, [Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.]
My Dad Locked Me in the Storage Closet to Starve
My father's adopted daughter was only locked in the cramped storage closet for around fifteen minutes, yet he punished me by tying me up and throwing me inside. He even sealed off the ventilation with towels.
"As Wendy's older sister, if you can't take care of her, then you should also experience how scared she was," he declared coldly.
He knew I was claustrophobic, but my desperate pleas for mercy, my terror, were met with nothing but heartless reprimands.
"Let this be a lesson on how to be a good sister."
As the last sliver of light disappeared, swallowed by the oppressive darkness, I struggled helplessly.
A week passed before my father finally remembered my existence and decided it was time to end my punishment.
"Let's hope this week served as a good lesson for you, Jennifer. If this happens again, you will no longer be allowed in this house."
He would never know that I had already taken my last breath in that suffocating room. My body had begun to rot in the darkness.
The Live Verdict
My parents take me to court to get my heart and save my adoptive sister.
The judge uses advanced technology to extract our memories. A jury of 100 people decides the verdict. If my parents win the case, my organs will go to them.
They think I won't dare to show up for the trial because they think I'm evil.
However, everyone is overcome by tears when they see my memories and the truth of what happened!
Ashes of the Mate Bond
Jaroch, my mate, had a twin brother, Torma, who was the Gamma of the Shadow Grove Pack. Torma was born with exceptional combat abilities.
After Torma died, my mother-in-law, Neradia, feared losing influence in the pack. She forced Jaroch to assume Torma's identity and take over as Gamma.
To keep the lie from unraveling, she ordered Jaroch to sleep nightly with his widowed sister-in-law, Lezah, hoping they'd produce a pup.
I was furious and protested against it. Neradia slapped me hard across the face.
"As long as Lezah doesn't remarry, your husband will continue to be the Gamma. You'll enjoy endless wealth and glory too," she said.
I thought Jaroch would refuse, but he had no problem tossing morality aside and getting into bed with Lezah.
The worst part was that they flaunted their love right in front of me.
When Lezah got pregnant, I decided I'd had enough. I wanted to leave with my daughter, Sylvia Cardin.
Instead, Jaroch locked me in a room and went on a family vacation with everyone else but me.
That was when a pack of rogues broke into our home. They robbed us, set fire to the house, and were about to kill everyone.
I called Jaroch in a panic and begged for help, but he replied in an irritated voice, "Bityah, stop making a scene. Just behave!
"Lezah agreed to get along with you. You should learn from her and be more considerate.
"From now on, I'll spend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with you. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are hers."
He then hung up.
The house burned to the ground, and I died in the fire.
He had already severed our mate bond. He didn't even sense that I was gone.
Only Sylvia cried out in the flames.
"Mommy! Mommy, please don't leave me!"
Too Late for a Second Choice
It's my husband, Niall Luther's birthday. I take my son to the hospital to visit Niall since he's working late; I want to surprise him.
However, we get into an accident on the way there. When I rush to the hospital with my bloodied son in my arms, I see Niall holding his first love's daughter. He coos at her and says, "This might be a small wound, but there's a risk of infection if it isn't handled well!"
His first love, Chelsea Blanc, gives him a chiding look. "You treat Lulu so well that I'm getting jealous."
Niall wraps an arm around her. "It's only because I love you. You're the one I love the most."
I pull out my phone and call him. He keeps his arm around Lulu White and rejects my call. So, I text him, telling him our son is injured and has been taken to the hospital where he works. I tell him he needs to attend to our son.
However, he berates me for lying. I have no choice but to take my son elsewhere for treatment.
Before leaving, I see Niall kiss Chelsea tenderly and tell her he wants to take her to an amusement park.
That's when I know he and I are over.
Goodbye Scumbag, I’m Getting Married
To cheer up his pretty assistant, my boyfriend brought her to attend a party.
I had to bail him out after he was arrested by the police. The charge? Public indecency after consuming illegal substances.
When I arrived at the police station to pick him up, he was still trying to comfort his assistant, paying no heed to the possibility that I might have seen the lipstick marks on his neck.
After seeing that I wasn’t saying anything, my boyfriend assumed I was upset and explained impatiently, “Winnie was in a terrible mood that day, and I was just there to keep her company. We didn’t take part in any public indecency! It was the other guests who were messing about!”
What a terrible excuse.
If it was any other day, I wouldn’t be this calm.
This time was different. I will no longer press him for answers like a mad woman.
As I walked past the police station entrance, an officer looked at my boyfriend and his assistant, who were still all over each other.
With eyes full of sympathy, he asked me, “Your partner?”
I glanced at my boyfriend, whose focus was entirely fixated on Winnie, and shook my head.
“No, just an acquaintance.”
At that moment, Winnie was leaning against him, seeking his comfort. I pulled out my phone and texted my dad silently.
“I agree to marry President Lee. I’ll leave the wedding preparation to you guys.”
“I’ll be back in five days.”
Valentine Disappointment
After I became pregnant, my figure changed, and my face grew puffy. My fiancé began to treat me with a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of disdain.
When the baby was five months along, it happened to be Valentine's Day. That day, he finally agreed to take our wedding photos, something I'd been hoping for.
But just as we arrived at the bridal studio, his phone rang.
"Mike, I just got back to the country. My friends are hosting a gathering, and everyone's bringing their boyfriends. Could you come and pretend to be mine?"
It was a few short sentences, yet it completely altered the expression on his face. He turned abruptly, stepping out of the studio with a look of urgency.
"Lucy's back. I have to go see her," he said.
Hearing those words, a fire of rage ignited inside me, one I couldn't suppress.
"For her? You're going to leave me here alone?" I demanded. "Do you even know how long I've been looking forward to today? It's Valentine's Day, and instead of staying with me, you're going to be with her?"
His impatience flared visibly as I stood my ground. Without a word, his hand pushed me aside, and he strode out of the shop.
"We can take wedding photos any day. I'm the only one Lucy has in this country. I have to go see her," he said.
Then, gripping my wrist with alarming force, he shoved me, sending me sprawling to the floor. Without a backward glance, he got into his car and drove off.
I felt a sudden, wet heat flowing from my lower abdomen. Pain surged through my stomach, sharp and unbearable, as my consciousness started to fade.
A wave of despair and terror consumed me.
Someone. Anyone. Please save my baby.
Never See You Again
My CEO husband bribed the doctor to take the heart that was meant for our daughter and give it to his childhood sweetheart’s daughter instead.
That same day, my daughter suffered a heart attack and died in my arms.
Meanwhile, his sweetheart’s daughter’s surgery was a success. My husband was so overjoyed that he gave bonuses to the entire company.
My rage and grief were too much—I coughed up blood on the spot. The doctor later confirmed my worst fear: I was already in the late stages of leukemia. I didn’t have much time left.
Holding my daughter’s urn, I wandered home in a daze.
My husband? He took his childhood sweetheart and her daughter on a trip around the world to celebrate a new life.
Husband of Lies, Son of None
At sixty-five, I got served divorce papers.
The same day, my husband Sebastian — decked out in his wedding suit, of all things — popped a handful of sleeping pills in a suicide attempt.
For years, we were the perfect couple. The kind of pair neighbors whispered about with envy.
I couldn't wrap my head around it. The divorce. The pills. None of it made sense.
Not until I found the photo and letter in his pocket.
The Alpha's Broken Oath
My mate, Charalambos, was the heir to the Nightshade Pack. To take over as Alpha, he was sent to Noctis City, the capital city, for special training.
When he left, my stepsister, Francesca, insisted on going with him.
He refused at first, but she forced his hand, threatening a hunger strike until he gave in. Eventually, he allowed her to accompany him as his assistant. This went on for three years.
Throughout those three years, our mate bond stayed strong. I never felt the slightest hint of betrayal.
He constantly reassured me through our mind-link.
"You're the only one for me."
At some point, I started receiving photos anonymously. Francesca kissed him in the face, but he never refused.
Once, Charalambos and I were on a video call in the dark, and I could hear Francesca’s breathless voice clearly while she whispered his name in the heat of it.
Three years later, the day he returned to the pack, I saw her walking behind him. She had been with pup for five months, and there was a smug, victorious smile on her face.
He looked at me apologetically. Guilt was written all over his face.
"I'm sorry. I’ve only ever loved you. Once the pup comes, you can raise it."
I was done.
I had waited for three years.
I made up my mind to reject him.
The Wife He Let Go
The night my husband, William Costello, was assassinated by his enemies was supposed to be a celebration—our wedding anniversary. I was dressed in his favorite red dress, waiting for him, when the phone rang.
"Mr. Costello was shot at the harbor. The bullet went through the back of his head. He died on the spot."
I collapsed to the floor. I clung to his belongings, mourning for a week straight. We even lost our unborn child during this time.
Everyone said William and I were true love. Even the Don himself came to the funeral, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder with a sigh. He said, "All of Blackhaven knows you were the only woman he ever loved."
Grief nearly destroyed me. I stood at the river's edge, ready to follow William into the afterlife. However, I overheard my sister-in-law, Emily Hawkins, leaning into my brother-in-law, Jones Costello, her voice dripping with a twisted affection.
She purred, "William, I love you so much. Between Nina and me, who do you think is sexier?"
"Of course it's you, babe!" came the husky reply.
I stood frozen, my eyes wide and my body trembling. Why was Emily calling my brother-in-law by my husband's name?
Never to Be a Father
My husband has azoospermia. After trying all the options available, I finally conceived.
However, my husband is worried my child will hurt his first love's feelings—she had a miscarriage.
He tricks me into going for a prenatal checkup. In truth, he conspires with a doctor to induce labor when I'm only five months along.
He says, "You must be the one with the problem. Why else is it so hard for us to have children? The baby won't be healthy even if it's born! We can have more children when you're healthier. Julie has just had a miscarriage; I don't want to aggravate her."
He doesn't know he has azoospermia. I only managed to conceive this child after trying out IVF countless times and taking countless folk remedies.
He will never have a child of his own in this lifetime, and I discover his true colors.
I ask for a divorce, and that's when he loses his mind.
The Witch's Last Embrace
Because I saved my husband during a car accident, I lost my eyesight.
He wept, promising to treat me well for the rest of our lives to repay my sacrifice.
I cooperated with the treatment wholeheartedly, hoping for a full recovery. But on the day I finally regained my sight, I stumbled upon something that shattered my world.
In our marital home, his first love lay beneath him, her flushed face betraying the passion of the moment. Their bodies intertwined, and the air around them thick with stifled moans—a vivid tableau of infidelity.
"She's just a blind woman. Why haven't you divorced her yet?" the woman murmured impatiently, her voice laced with disdain as she moved against him.
My husband, immersed in pleasure, still mumbled an excuse. "My love, just a little longer. Soon, we'll be together openly…"
I turned and left without a word, pretending I had seen nothing.
As I walked away, I remembered the witch's sacrificial ritual in the misty forest—only a few days away.
My husband's betrayal cut deep, carving wounds I couldn't ignore. I made up my mind to return to the forest, to embrace my identity as a witch once more, and to sever all ties with him.
Yet, after I disappeared, word reached me that he was searching for me everywhere like a madman. Rumor had it he had completely lost his mind.
Not Your Luna Anymore
Every week, mt mate Alpha Bruce dragged a new side-chick into our bed.
Right in front of me.
They clawed at each other like I didn't exist.
Each time felt like silver shredding through my chest, my wolf howling from the inside out.
He did it to hurt me. On purpose. Over and over. Using their bodies to spit on what we used to be.
Then came our ten-year anniversary banquet. He waltzed in with his side-piece—Moye. Five years he'd been screwing her.
She wore my heels. My custom gown. Even the mate ring and necklace I once thought meant forever.
Bruce stood there, smirking in front of the whole pack.
"Don't like what she's wearing? Strip yours and hand it over. And don't bother coming to my bed tonight—she's a hundred times better."
The room howled with laughter.
I was the punchline.
But I stood up, met his eyes, and said, "I want to break the bond."
He snorted. "You've said that, what, a hundred times? I'm over it. You begged me to mark you, remember? Gave up your pride for that Luna crown."
More laughter.
But what none of them saw coming?
This time, I was done.
Done with him. Done with the Luna title. Done chasing something dead.
I was ready to sever the mate bond—for real.
8 Years In An Estranged Marriage
Against the Flow
I'd been married to my lawyer husband for eight years. In all that time, he never once acknowledged me as his wife in public. He wouldn't even let our daughter call him "Dad."
Again and again, he missed out on her childhood because of his childhood sweetheart. Even when she hurt our daughter, he still forgave her.
I was worn out and empty. So I decided to leave. I took our daughter and vanished from his world.
But he refused the divorce. He started searching for us like a madman, turning the whole world upside down.
Only this time, neither my daughter nor I will be looking back.
Ikinulong Ako ng Aking Ama Hanggang Mamatay
Against the Flow
Ang ampon ng aking ama ay ikinulong lamang sa masikip na storage closet nang halos labinlimang minuto, ngunit tinalian niya ako at itinapon sa loob bilang parusa. Tinakpan pa niya ang ventilation gamit ang mga tuwalya.
"Bilang nakatatandang kapatid ni Wendy, kung hindi mo siya kayang alagaan, marapat lamang na maranasan mo rin ang takot na naramdaman niya,” seryoso niyang sabi.
Alam niyang may claustrophobia ako, ngunit ang aking mga desperadong pakiusap, ang aking matinding takot, ay sinagot lang ng malupit na sermon.
"Magsilbi sana itong aral sayo para maging mabuting kapatid."
Nang tuluyang lamunin ng kadiliman ang huling hibla ng liwanag, nakakaawa akong nagpumiglas.
Isang linggo ang lumipas bago muling naalala ng aking ama na may anak pa siyang nakakulong at nagpasya siyang tapusin na ang aking parusa.
"Sana'y naging magandang aral sa iyo ang isang linggong ito, Jennifer. Kung mangyayari pa ito muli, hindi ka na pwedeng manatili sa bahay na ito."
Ngunit kailanman ay hindi niya malalaman na matagal ko nang nalanghap ang aking huling hininga sa nakakasulasok na silid na iyon. Sa kadiliman, unti-unti nang nabubulok ang aking katawan.
Ang Live Na Hatol
Against the Flow
Ang mga magulang ko ay dinala ako sa korte para makuha ang puso ko at maligtas ang ampon na kapatid kong babae.
Ang judge ay gumamit ng advanced technology upang ma-extract ang aming mga alaala. Ang jury ng 100-katao ang magdedesisyon ng hatol. Kung ang mga magulang ko ang mananalo sa kaso, ang mga laman-loob ko ay mapupunta sa kanila.
Sa tingin nila ay hindi ako magpapakita sa trial dahil sa tingin nila ay masamang tao ako.
Gayunpaman, ang lahat ay napuno ng luha nang makita nila ang mga alala at ang katotohanan ng nangyari!