Chubby Cheeks

Dinala ni Naomi Mendoza ang kanyang anak sa ospital para sa isang consultation. Ngunit tila pinaglalaruan siya ng tadhana dhil ang attending physician ay ang ex boyfriend niya. Sa loob ng pitong taon, binago na ni Naomi ang kanyang pangalan, tinakasan niya ang nakaraan, at mula sa pagiging chubby na babae ay isa na siyang sexy at charming. Hindi siya nakilala ng lalaki at lalong hindi nito alam na nagkaroon sila ng anak. Hinawakan ng kanyang anak ang kamay niya at mahinang nagtanong, “Mommy, bakit ka umiiyak?” Hindi nakasagot si Naomi. Ang tanging gusto niya ay tumalikod at tumakbo palayo. Pitong taon na ang nakararaan, si Naomi ang naging tampulan ng tukso sa St. Aurelius University nang lihim siyang maging girlfriend ng school heartthrob na si Cormac Lagdameo. Inakala niyang tunay ang pagmamahal nito sa kaniya hanggang sa winasak ng malamig na tinig nito ang kanyang puso. “It’s just for fun. I’m going abroad soon.” Naomi ended that bitter love. Ngayon, muling pinagtagpo sila ng tadhana. Pilit na lumalayo si Naomi, ngunit hindi siya pinakawalan ni Cormac. Ginamit nito ang kapangyarihan, at kayamanan upang muling itali siya sa mundo ng lalaki. "Dr. Lagdameo, may asawa na ako." Sa loob ng marangyang Maybach, mahigpit na hinawakan ng lalaki ang kanyang baywang bago siya mariing hinalikan. “Naomi, let me be your lover. I’m richer, younger, and I’ll give you a better experience than him.” Seven years ago, she was his secret girlfriend. Now, he’s begging to be her lover.

I was staring at Leion. He was kneeling in front of me, begging like he would lose half of his life when I left him. "This is what you want, from the very beginning, right?" I said, while smiling from ear to ear, before I sipped on my red wine. I didn't know that red wine taste so sweet, when I feel the victory, I know I will win this one, because loathe makes me stronger, I will feel nothing, if not anger, resentment and pain. I am numb, and the day Leion hurt my feelings, over and over again. But now, look at him, acting like he loves me and he cares for me, that if his feelings are true, why couldn't he do it then? "Aubrey, I am begging you, please—" "Do you remember the day I begged you to stay, because I am weak and tired from all of your bullshits, I gave you patience and all the understanding, and now, do you think all of the so called kindness that you show me lately is enough to forgive all the things you've done to me?" "Why are you so heartless?" Leion said while his tears running down to his cheeks, a crocodile tears, I will never be taken away again. "My love, you're the reason, now deal with it."

Walang ibang gusto si Becky kundi ang makarating ng ibang bansa lalong lalo na sa Amerika. Simula ng bata pa siya at makabasa siya ng tungkol sa mga Pilipinong nag a-abroad at gumanda ang buhay kaya siya nag umpisang mangarap. Kaya naman ng magkaroon siya ng chatmate na Kano na nagpapahiwatig sa kanyang gusto siya nito ay dun siya nabuhayan ng dugo na mangarap ulit. Lalo na ng magsabi itong handa daw itong puntahan siya sa Pilipinas para makipagkilala at personal siyang ligawan. Maayos na sana ang lahat maliban lamang sa isang problema: buong akala ng Kano ay seksi siya. Kung noong bata pa siya ay chubby na siya ay mas dumoble pa ata ang pagtaba niya ngayong nagdalaga na siya. Isa ito sa dahilan kung bakit lagi siyang inaasar na mataba ng kapitbahay niya mula pagkabatang si Brix; na siya namang nag-alok sa kanya na tutulungan daw siyang magpapayat kapalit ng pagiging modelo ng gym na pag-aari niya. Galit man siya dito ay pumayag na rin siya alang alang sa pangarap niyang makarating sa Amerika. Kasabay ng pagpapapayat niya ay ang unti-unting pagkawala ng galit niya kay Brix. Ang puso niyang dati'y nababalutan ng kolesterol ay nagsisimula ng tumibok para sa binatang wala ng ibang ginawa noon kundi asarin siya. Mababago kaya nito ang matagal na pangarap niyang makapunta ng ibang bansa?

After she laid unconscious on Zach's cold body, she unpredictably once had this strange dream. A man who sends her a message that is not legible, but surely giving clue about Zach. The context that's not written in the alphabet made her even more confused. As the words started to fly around her head; full of questions with lack of answers. She began to be curious not just about what the letter says but also about herself. It feels strange, but not. It feels like she just lost someone who's exceptional to her. She's grieving and finding the love of a father, the care of a brother, and the unending worry of a mother. Her true identity begun to hunt her, a true identity that she didn't know it's existing. With emptiness and the feeling of melancholy in her heart, one day, she woke up in a different room surrounded by white walls, quiet hallways, chemical scented places, life monitors, ventilators, and people who are shouting and yelling for help to save and revive their love ones. Knees bent down on the floor, tears falling to their cheeks while both hands are clasps, begging for help. What will happen to her after losing the man she loves? What will happen after knowing the truth? Will she still be able to accept it, or throw it away? Will she still be able to forgive who betrayed her, for the second time, or will she picks to understand again its reason?

Si Lishana Lizvaha ay isang masayahin at chubby na babae na mahilig gumuhit ng makukulay na librong pambata. Isang araw, sapilitan siyang dinala ng kanyang mga kaibigan sa isang marangyang club. Ngunit imbes na sumayaw, nahulog ang atensyon ni Lishana o Lisha sa isang crossword puzzle sa dyaryo na nakita lamang niya sa isang sulok, na hindi naman sa kanya at hindi niya dapat kunin, hawakan o pakialamanan. Ang maliit na desisyong iyon ang naging daan para makilala niya si Trego, a gravely handsome mafia and classic toy collector. At first, everything went smoothly. The man was charming, despite his intimidating aura. But Lishana should’ve listened to her instincts that night. Because a few days later, Lishana Lizvaha vanished like smoke from a blazing fire; 'kidnapped' by the irresistible stranger named, Trego Gregory Braganza.

Once upon a time, may chubby girl na naniwala sa fairytales. Spoiler alert: ako ‘yon. At guess what? Hindi prince charming ang nakuha ko—kundi certified manloloko. Ginamit lang niya ako for his grades, kinuntsaba pa ang Queen Bitch ng school naming matagal ko ng mortal enemy. Akala nila tapos na ako? Nope. After one hot summer, I’m back—new look, new mindset, new mission. Operation: Prom Queen starts now. And this time, I’m not just after the crown… I’m after revenge.