Fleeting Times

"Ava, now!" Virin's voice sliced through the suffocating darkness, sharp and urgent. My body moved before my mind could catch up, legs burning as I sprinted toward the van where Kyra and Priti waited, their faces pale with terror. "Run! Faster, Ava!" Priti's frantic scream tore through the night, her fists slamming the steering wheel as if sheer willpower could propel me forward. My lungs screamed for air, my legs trembled with exhaustion, but I couldn't stop-not when freedom was just ten steps away. Ten. Nine. Eight- "Ava!" His voice cut through the chaos, low and venomous, freezing me mid-stride. It wasn't a command. It was a threat-a promise of destruction. "If you don't stop right now, I'll kill everyone who dares to stand between us!" The weight of his words coiled around me like chains, choking the air from my lungs. I knew he didn't bluff. I knew what he was capable of. "Not now, Ava! Run!" Virin's desperate voice shattered my paralysis as his grip yanked me forward, dragging me the final agonizing steps to the van. We tumbled inside, slamming the doors shut. For a fleeting moment, I dared to look back. There he stood, his figure looming in the distance, chest heaving with fury. His dark eyes burned with a rage that made my stomach twist. Slowly, he raised a finger, pointing at me. "You are mine," he growled, stabbing the same finger into his chest. Over my dead body. ***** Ava's life once seemed perfect-best friends, a family she adored, and a love that felt like destiny. But perfection shatters. Caught between two men-one who sparks a fire she can't extinguish, and another who offers solace laced with shadows- Ava is thrust into a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous temptations.

The novel is mainly about the forgotten British poet/writer named C. J Richards who lived in Burma/Myanmar in colonial times and he believed himself as a Burmophile. He served as I.C.S (Indian Civil Servant) and when he retired from I.C.S service, he was a D.C (District Commissioner) and he left for England a year before Burma gained its independence in 1948. He came to Burma in 1920 to work in civil service after passing the hardest I.C.S examination. He wrote several books on Burma and contributed many monthly articles to Guardian Magazine published in Burma from 1953 to 1974 or 1975. Though he wrote several books which had much literary merit to both communities, Britain and Burma (Myanmar), people failed to recognize him. The story has two parts: one part is set in the contemporary Yangon (then called Rangoon) in 2016 context and a young literary enthusiast named “Lin” found out unexpectedly the forgotten writer’s poetry book and there is surely a good deal of time gap that led him into a quest to know more about the author’s life. The setting is quite different comparing to colonial Burma and independence Myanmar (Burma), early twentieth century and 2016 which is a transitional period in Myanmar. The writer’s life is fictionalized in the novel and most of the facts are taken from his personal stories and other reference books. It is a kind of historical novel with a twist and it has comparatively constructed the two different periods in Myanmar history to convince readers, locally and abroad more about history, authorship, humanity, colonialism, and transitional development in Myanmar today.

Sierah Garcia met a lot of men already, experienced a lot of heartaches, and even experienced the worst part of a relationship. What if a man came up and plotted to break her heart? Will she be able to accept and move on? I sighed, staring at him. "Is this yours?" he cluelessly asked. He was about to hand me my handkerchief, when I stepped back. "Yes. Thank you." Kinuha ko 'yon sa kamay niya tsaka ko siya mabilisang tinalikuran. "Sie.." I stopped when he called my name, I blinked a lot of times before glancing at him. By just calling out the nickname he gave me, it brings back a lot of memories, such as pain. "Y-Yes?" I responded. He licked his lips, he looked so serious. "When will I see you again?" I unbelievably stared at him because of his question, I closed my fist. "Never again,” I whispered and walked away real fast.

Revenge that was supposed to be sweet turned into something else when Ava dumped her ex for cheating on her with her stepsister. She swore she’d never cry over trash again and decided to get her revenge by offering a marriage deal to someone untouchable, handsome and ten times better like the dangerously magnetic billionaire Kylan Kingsley. But payback turns twisted when she learns the man she chose isn’t just rich and ruthless… he’s also her new professor. Desire ignites, rules shatter and a forbidden romance turns addictive. Life is fun, everything is perfect and passion is burning hot until secrets that could ruin them both resurface. And when passion collides with secrets, nothing will ever be the same.

Selene Davies was heartbroken when Sunny Dale humiliated and dumped her on her 20th birthday. She felt that she had done everything right in their relationship, and couldn’t tell where things went wrong. After all, she was raised by her mother to be a lady; prim and proper. That night, she gave in to her wildest desires and threw herself into the warm arms of Declan Grayson, the personification of wealth and power. Selene reckoned that there was nothing wrong with letting herself loose and having a great night. However, what if her fling wasn't just a decade older than her but also turned out to be her step-uncle? Well, he was nothing but a fling, no strings attached, or so she thought. Regret was an understatement when she learned that Declan didn't only take her first, but also publicized their affair. He portrayed her as a slut who gave sexual favors for a measly screen time. Now, she has the black market drug, ecstasy in her system, and when it’s effects kick in at random times, she either gets laid quickly or kicks the bucket. Who, or better still, what would be her medicine, when she has no man in her life? *** "Oh my God! Why does my head hurt so much? And my whole body also hurts like crazy. Ouch!!! Selene suddenly spotted a full-grown man lying beside her, “Hey, who the fu*k are you? And why are you in my bed?” Declan only smiled beautifully, a coy smirk lacing his lips. "Take a look around, sweetheart. You. Are. In. My. Bed!” His deep baritone voice sounded in her ear, stirring emotions she swore never to entertain again, or just maybe she never really felt that way before...

The day my husband left the country on a business trip with his assistant, I learned—by sheer accident—that his archenemy was plotting revenge overseas. Without a second thought, I raced to the airport and stopped him from boarding the plane. But his assistant went ahead, alone. And over there, she was killed brutally. Not a trace of her remains was ever found. When my husband received the news, he fell apart. Wracked with guilt, eaten alive by remorse, he spiraled into a relentless, violent mania. In the past three years, I'd been in and out of hospitals more times than I could count because of him. And this time, he pushed me so far—I lost our child. Then I overheard a conversation between him and his secretary. "Sir, Casey is still alive. Why keep pretending you're sick? Aren't you afraid your wife will find out and leave you?" "Leave me? What right does she have to be angry?" He laughed coldly. "If she hadn't stopped me from going abroad, Casey would've never been lured away by that bastard. Everything Linda's suffering now—she brought it on herself."

Before my mother passed away, the person she most wanted to see was her beloved son-in-law, Anthony Brosnan. She supported Anthony financially for five years, and the latter started his own business after graduating. At that time, I accidentally walked into his office and instantly fell in love with him at first sight. However, Anthony changed after three years of marriage and fell in love with his secretary. I called him over a dozen times, and it was the secretary who picked up the phone. "Anthony is cooking right now. Do you need something?" Just as I was about to speak, my mother overheard the voice. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she passed away filled with resentment. Anthony, since I had lost my mother, you meant nothing to me anymore.

It's unrequited love, Aurora is aware of it kahit pa sa simula pa lamang. Maximilian didn't love her as a woman but just a sister, yes she was adopted by his father Maximus after her parents died. She loves Max so much na kahit nakikita niya kung gaano parin nito kamahal ang nawawala nitong girlfriend na si Angel, she stays with him through his hard times nagbabakasali na masuklian ni Max ang nararamdaman niya. Even gives him her chastity just to prove to him that she really loves him ay bigo parin siya, dahil nang malaman niya na nagdadalang tao siya, ay sakto dumating ang balita na nagpaguho nang mundo niya. Angel was alive! And of course Max left her alone after everything she did for him. But what can she do? She couldn't even confess her love to him because it's already late, at isa pa he's already with the woman he loves. So she decided to leave for good nangako na kakalimutan na niya si Max,she burned her car down and pretended that she has amnesia, change her name just to live normally. But after a year while working at a restaurant someone grabbed her wrist and to her shock it was him. She lied na may amnesia siya para lang umalis na ito. Tinaboy niya ito dahil pakiramdam niya ay naka moved on na siya, but Max returned carrying her three years old son na si Matthias and claiming that he was her fiance and Matthias is their son.! And telling her that he misses her and he loves her so much! "I already moved on Max!" Naninindigan niyang sabi but when Max kisses her pakiramdam niya ay nabuhay ulit ang nakaraan. '.. marupok?.. ' Kailangan niya paring manindigan!

Juliette...! You can fall for anyone...but him. I repeated it a hundred times in my mind. No...! Not that way...! Don't look at him...! Suppressing my untamable desires to see him, I had been struggling hard. Why is life so complicated? Why out of all it has to be him? *** Juliette Stanford, a university student, had a crush on her new, handsome and charming professor for not long but that crush became a tangled love when he turned out to be her brother-in-law-to-be. It was a one sided love and she tried hard not to get deeper in her fantasies as there was nothing mutual and he was the one in the forbidden sides for her to fall in love. But...! Nothing goes as the will...! She thought it was only her who was struggling until the day of her sister's engagement when he suddenly grabbed Juliette in his arms and announced that he loves her...!! Wait...! What happened...!!

Without my knowledge, Aileen—the daughter of Carlson Green’s first love—secretly lured my five-year-old daughter, Lena, deep into the Wolfsbane Forest. She told Lena there was treasure hidden in the forest. When a distress signal came from the forest, I rushed there with Carlson and the rescue team. The wolfsbane's poison spread silently, making it harder for Lena to breathe. She lay weak in the grass, her face pale, her heartbeat slowing down. Aileen, meanwhile, was sprawled on the path beside the wolfsbane. She only had a few scratches on her knees, but she was crying loudly. "Help me! It hurts so much!" I thought Carlson, the Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack and Lena’s father, would run into the forest to check on his own daughter. But he didn’t. Instead, he bent down, scooped Aileen into his arms, comforting her with care. His eyes were full of worry. "It’s okay now, Daddy’s here." I ran forward, my voice shaking. "Carlson! Lena is still in the wolfsbane grass! I can feel her breathing fading! Come with me to find her!" He only said calmly, "Lena is wearing my Moonstone Crystal. It protects her from wolfsbane. She will be fine. Aileen needs care and treatment more." The rescue vehicle left, taking Aileen and Carlson with it. I ran into the wolfsbane field and found Lena. She weakly tugged my hand. "Mom, don’t cry. It doesn’t hurt at all." "Daddy will come save me after he saves Aileen." Then she closed her eyes. And never breathed again. Even on the day of her funeral, Lena never got to see her father come to save her. Carlson Green, a life for a life. You, Aileen, and her mother will pay back everything you did to Lena—I’ll make you repay it a thousand times over.