Between Friends Novel

“Don't love me. I'm just your husband on paper agreement.” —X Alcantara Cheska Montalban is a college student who is struggling to pay her tuition fees, and her step-mother forced to work for a long hours just to support her family's needs. One night, she crosses paths and having a one-night stand with the ultimate fighting championship—Xavier Alcantara. When Cheska discovers she's sleeping with a billionaire, Xavier Alcantara, eager to secure his secrets to his family. Xavier bring Cheska to luxurious world to ensure a safe and peaceful life. Cheska agreed to marry him, but Xavier wants to keep his marriage  life to his family and friends. And Cheska agreed that she didn't interfere in Xavier's private life, and that's what Cheska wanted too—not to interfere in her private life. However, as the two of them got married, Cheska started to doubt Xavier's identity and found out that the man she married was also an Multi-Talented Engineer and Board of Director of his own company.

Czarina Melody Ocampo believed her biggest mistake was crossing paths with the powerful zillionaire Damion Marquez. On their wedding night, she gathered her courage to speak. “Mr. Marquez, a forced marriage isn’t sweet. Hindi tayo bagay sa isa’t isa.” But Damion only leaned back with a cold smirk, his words sealing her fate. “Sweet or not—you’re already mine.” She thought their marriage would stay a loveless arrangement… until he started entering her room, claiming her bed, her nights—and slowly, her heart. That’s when she realized: escape was never an option. Can Czarina resist a man who refuses to let go? Or will she be forever trapped in the zillionaire’s dangerous yet sweet obsession?

Paano kung sa pang-aasar ay mahulog ka sa isang kakaibang damdamin na tila nag-aapoy sa kakaibang nasa? Mangyari bang matutunan ng pusong mahalin ang mapanudyong damdamin?

21+ Abinaya Sutedja. Hobinya foya-foya. Cucu semata wayang pengusaha ternama bernama Tomi Sutedja. Tidak mau dijodohkan dengan lelaki pilihan kakeknya, membuat Naya mengikuti saran gila dari temannya. Kakeknya butuh cicit untuk meneruskan perusahaan dan Naya tidak mau terikat hubungan pernikahan. Maka hanya satu solusinya. Mencari lelaki tampan yang mau menghamilinya.

Adalyn is a graduating student who has been longing for his father. Her mother does not support her idea of looking for his father, so she decided to do it on her own. Before leaving her nest, she was precised about her goal: and that is to find her father and introduce herself to him. Upon her journey, she met new people who will question her goals and plans. Meeting them will lead to confusion and uncertainties. But do they really have a point? Paano nga ba mababago ng ibang tao ang matagal mo nang plano? Gaano naiintindihan ng ibang tao ang pinagdaraanan mo para masabi na mali o tama ang daan na gusto mong tahakin? Do other people really fit to judge your decisions without being on your shoe?

Is it possible for a single mother, who has got her heart broken twice, to fall in love again, that too with a woman? Alizeh Brown is whipped by a sudden new feeling that blooms in her heart. She has crossed the marriage age in the blink of an eye. Living with a conservative family, she was bound to fulfill their all expectations and follow the girl being a good girl. But as they say, rules can’t tie up the rulers. Alizeh has not only broken their expectations and promise of being a good girl but also has messed with the stereotypes, bringing disappointment to her family. She has looked at everything as a challenge to conquer. As her family starts putting pressure on her to get married, Alizeh has accepted this challenge as well. She has gone far beyond love already but there’s someone who has been able to plant the seed of love in her life again. No matter how many men crossed her path, she realized what she truly yearns for in her life. Every time she has met HER, a fountain of seven shades of colors drenched her in unconditional love. Now she has to accept her newfound self as well as tackle rigid expectations of her family. Will she be able to stand on her choices made upon her sexuality and choose a life she wants?

Isang maling hakbang. Isang maling gabi. Isang maling desisyon… o baka tamang tao sa maling pagkakataon? Elara has always played it safe—until she crashes into a stranger in the most awkward way possible. Akala niya, worst moment na ‘yon ng buhay niya—hindi pa pala. Because that stranger? Theo. The new hire sa office nila. Mas malala? Anak siya ng boss. Mula sa asaran hanggang sa hindi matapos-tapos na bangayan, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. But one unexpected night changes everything. Kinabukasan, they wake up—walang maalala at walang idea kung ano’ng nangyari. Months later, Elara finds out she’s pregnant. The problem? She doesn’t know who the father is. At nang malaman ng isang importanteng tao ang sitwasyon niya, isang desisyon ang kailangang gawin—one that will tie her and Theo together in a way they never saw coming. Now, they’re stuck in something they don’t understand. But what if the truth has been right in front of them all along? Or will they stay… Cluelessly Yours?

Astrid Guevarra, isang 3rd Year college student na gusto lamang makapagtapos. Ngunit ang kanyang ina ay mukang may ibang plano para sa kanya. Sa hindi malaman na rason, siya ay ipinakasal (ibinenta) ng kanyang ina sa isang kilalang at mayaman na anak ng pamilyang ito. "Nay naman! Nag aaral pa po ako! 3rd year nako, malapit na ako grumaduate! Hindi ba kayang maaantay yun?!" "Hindi." Sa loob ng isang araw na yun, hindi na alam ni Astrid ang kanyang gagawin. Lahat ng pagod, galit, gulat at pagkabalisa naramdaman niya, ngunit wala naman siyang ibang magawa kundi tanggapin na lamang. Eh ano pa nga bang magagawa niya? Pumayag na ang kanyang nanay? Hindi rin naman ito makikinig sa kanya. Ngunit ng paggising niya galing sa kanyang mahimbing na tulog, ay kaharap na niya ang tatay ng kanyang papakasalan. "Are you okay Miss Astria?” "I'm Timothy Miller. Ang tatay ng iyong mapapangasawa na si Tristan Miller, ang aking anak.” At teka sino si Astria?! Ito na ba ang sinasabi ng kanyang nanay? Ngunit bakit wala siya rito?! Natulog lamang siya, at pag gising ibang tao na siya?! Anong ibig sabihin non? Siya ba ay namatay? Sa buhay din na ito, siya ay papakasalan sa hindi niya na naman kakilala, at nakamaskara ito?!

Isang pirma. Isang apelyido. Isang kasunduang tuluyang babago sa buhay ni Celestine Ramirez. Walang kaalam-alam sa galaw ng mga makapangyarihang tao, napilitang pumayag si Celestine sa isang kasal na hindi niya ginusto—isang papel na dapat sanang gampanan ng kapatid niyang tumakas sa responsibilidad. Ang lalaking pinakasalan niya? Si Lucas Arguelles Sevllia. CEO ng Arguelles Holdings. Kilalang malamig, walang puso, at kayang pabagsakin ang sinumang hindi sumunod sa kanya. Akala ni Celestine, tatlong buwan lang ang lahat—hanggang makansela ang kontrata. Pero paano kung ang lalaking walang pakialam ay unti-unting nagiging protektibo, mapagmasid, at... mapagmahal? At paano kung sa likod ng tahimik nitong pagkilos, ay ang matagal nang lihim—na hindi aksidente ang pagkakapili sa kanya? "Hangga’t dala mo ang apelyido ko, akin ka," bulong ni Locas sa kanyang tainga. "At hindi ko hayaan na maagaw ka ninuman." Pero sa mundong puno ng lihim, kasinungalingan, at makakalaya pa ba siya sa isang pangalang hindi niya pinili… ngunit minahal na niya?

Yazmin Paige Kortez is known for her intelligence and beauty, but she carries a certain coldness. Ever since her mother passed away, her life has been under tight control. After she graduated from college, her father arranged a marriage for her with someone she barely knew. Despite her protests, she was forced to marry a complete Dummy Stranger, a man she had never even met. In the end, she had no choice but to marry the dummy stranger. ● Yazmin Paige & Evron Montemayor ●