Good Short Stories

I rush into work this morning and accidentally send the car photos meant for the dealership into the medical intern group chat. The new intern snaps at me. "Dr. Tyson, why are you sending me pictures of my car? Are you jealous and trying to steal attention?" I stop short and ask if she has mixed things up, because the car is mine. She fires back with a whole stack of photos of herself driving a G-class with one hand, plus videos to prove the car in my picture belongs to her. She even tacks on a snide little jab. "You're a shameless, broke wannabe. You want any spotlight you can grab. You think a picture of a car is going to make you the lady of the Reed family?" I frown and turn to my husband, Jackson Reed. "Since when does the Reed family have a second lady of the house?"

I did three years in prison for my wife, Lilian Parson. The day I got out, she handed me an envelope for her company's grand opening. Inside was a single dollar bill. For a second, I thought it was a mistake. Then I saw her colleague, Nathan Ramsey, holding his envelope—his also contained a single dollar. Relieved, I pushed my doubts aside. I smiled, stood by Lilian's side through the entire ceremony, the picture of a proud, supportive husband. That night, scrolling through Instagram, I saw Nathan's latest post. A photo of a check. [Congratulations to Lilian Parson on the grand opening! So generous—100 million as a gift!] The comments section exploded with envy and blessings, congratulating him and "the boss" on finally becoming a couple. Lilian offered no explanation. Instead, she hurried to draw a line between us. "You just got out of prison," she said coolly. "It's not a good look to go public right now. Let's keep our marriage a secret. In front of others, just call me your boss." Then she turned around and liked Nathan's post. I wiped the tears from my eyes, picked up my phone, and dialed the number of her greatest rival. "From now on, I work for you," I said.

When my colleagues find out that I'm pretty good at cooking, they start organizing dinners at my place. Lucy Holt, one of the junior accountants, suggests that we split the groceries evenly between us. As a result, I don't think I can reject their request without being rude. On my last day of work, the group gathers at my place for one last meal. "You're such a good cook, Jess! We'll all be transferring you 500 dollars later. It's just a token of our appreciation," Lucy declares with a bright smile. But the very next day, she sends me a message. "Hey, Jess. You know it's illegal to operate an unlicensed catering business from your home, right? Your house will get sealed off for further investigation. More importantly, the value of goods has passed the threshold of 10,000 dollars, which means the fine you'll have to pay is probably going to be about 20 times that amount. "Since we worked together, we decided not to report you to the authorities. We'll just settle this matter privately. All you have to do is give us the fine you would've had to pay instead." This is how I realized that, combined with yesterday's meal, the total amount they've given me for groceries thus far is exactly 10,001 dollars.

My nanny, Lucci Eyre, liked to call herself an independent, modern woman. She used to tell me every day to be self-reliant, do my own laundry and cooking, take care of the kids by myself, and even suggested that I divorce my husband. Later on, I found out that she was actually a social media influencer. Without asking for my permission, she made a series of videos trying to make me look pathetic as a Stepford wife. She also stole my jewelry and clothes. After I fired her, she accused me in the live stream of being a rival female competitor and pandering to men. Then one of her crazy fans tricked her way into my home and poisoned me. When I woke up again, I was reborn to the day I discovered that her social media account had millions of followers. ‘Since you're so into live streaming and making short videos, why not show everyone who you really are and let them see the independent woman that you are?’

In my previous life, everything I do to care for myself somehow ends up benefiting my new housekeeper instead. I apply expensive skincare, yet dark spots and fine lines spread across my face, whereas the 45-year-old housekeeper's face becomes silkier. I jog every morning, yet my body only grows heavier and bulkier, while hers becomes slender and toned. When my husband notices the stretch marks on my abdomen, his face twists with disgust, and he never touches me again. "I genuinely can't bring myself to touch you. How can you look worse than Mirabelle when you take such good care of yourself?" My housekeeper looks at me with a sinister smile. A chill crawls up my spine, and the strange feeling makes me fire her on the spot. Yet, as soon as she leaves, I start aging at lightning speed, entering menopause 20 years early and developing diabetes and high blood pressure. I see every doctor I can, but after hanging on for a week, I die from a stroke. When I open my eyes again, I'm back on the day she first reports to work. This time, I push away the royal jelly she sets in front of me with a pleasant smile. "I've been avoiding certain foods lately. You can have it instead."

Madalas sabihin ng marami na ang mga anak ang nagsisilbing angkla ng buhay ng isang ina. Para kay Catriona Lavender Carias, tumimo sa puso ang paniniwalang iyon mula sa sandaling mapag-isipan niya ito—hanggang sa subukin ng panahon ang kanyang tibay at paninindigan. Dumating ang sandaling kinailangan niya ng malaking halaga ng pera para sa operasyon ng kanyang ina. Dahil sa matinding desperasyon, napilitan siyang pasukin ang mundong hindi niya kailanman inakalang kakapitan—ang Dream Fortress, isang lihim na bahay-aliwan kung saan ang mga lalaking may matataas na pangalan sa lipunan ay nagbabayad kapalit ng panandaliang aliw. Ngunit sa isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari, ang serbisyong minsan niyang ibinigay sa isang estrangherong naging nag-iisa niyang kliyente ay nagbunga ng isang alaala na hindi mabubura ng panahon—isang anak. Pagkalipas ng isang taon, muling pinagtagpo ng tadhana ang kanilang mga landas. Si Trever de Gracia, ang dating kliyente at ang tunay na ama ng kanyang anak, ay muling pumasok sa kanyang buhay—ngunit hindi siya nakilala nito. Sa halip, inalok siya ni Trever ng isang kakaibang trabaho: magpanggap bilang kanyang kasintahan, at ang kanyang anak bilang sariling dugo, upang pagselosan ang dating kasintahan nito. Ano ang mararamdaman ni Trever kapag nalaman niyang ang batang inaakala niyang bahagi lamang ng isang palabas ay tunay niyang anak? At paano niya haharapin ang katotohanang ang babaeng inupahan niya noon ay ang inang minahal at isinakripisyo ang lahat para sa kanilang anak?

When a stubborn, narcissistic, grandiose and spoiled brat heiress meets the charismatic, aloof and grumpy local ranchero. Matthieus Morris Monferrer is still struggling with grief since his fiancée passed away two years ago. Weeping in darkness and dealing with guilt has been his heaviest burden. Way to healing process is hard to find until his best friend left his annoying fiancée in their farm. Nahalinhinan ng yamot ang lungkot na dumadagan sa dibdib niya sa araw-araw na nasa paligid niya ang spoiled-brat na si Mary Ann Aperin. Sa isang iglap ay naging isang malaking tinik ito sa kanyang lalamunan dahil sa ugali nitong pakialamera at reckless. Her kind is one he loathed the most. The spoiled-brat woman is the total opposite of his deceased fiancée. But how would he admit to himself that by dealing with that troublesome brat everyday had been the magical way for him to heal? And then all at once, in a heartbeat, seems like all the love songs were about her already. Ngunit dumating lamang ito sa buhay n'ya para buuin ang kanyang puso at wasakin itong muli.

Once upon a time in a promiscuous beach resort which has a prude and nude side called Hydrus Haven, there was a fortress owned by a mysterious woman named Sheeva Mae Corporal. She's known for her old-fashioned black temple dress na mukha at kamay lamang niya ang nakikita. Her behavior and super conservative outfit were utterly out of place against the backdrop of the said haven for n*dists. The fortress and its owner alone had been a pain in the ass of the Turkish-Filipino owner of Hydrus Haven. Walang makapagsasabi kung ano ang tunay na misteryong bumabalot sa kakatwang tahanan na iyon ng dalaga. Fck whatever those goddamn mysteries na kinakanlung ng beach house na iyon! Basta ang natatanging layunin lamang ni Hydrus Horizon Hugo ay ang magiba ang bahay na iyon na sakop pa ng property na kanyang nabili. Subalit ang lagay ay dadanak daw muna ang dugo ng dalaga bago magtagumpay si Hydrus na maipagiba ang tahanan niya. Paano siya magtatagumpay na ipagiba ang bahay na iyon kung sa bawat impormasiyon na nakukuha niya tungkol sa misteryosong babae ay siya ring unti-unting paglambot ng puso niya? Would he be able to undesired the mysterious woman incessantly or would he forbid himself from adoring the exciting wonders his heart feels for her?

Marchioness Harriet Goldlane, a talented noblewoman, made a deal with Old Duke Almandine. To save her younger brother, she was willing to become a substitute for Liam's 'mate', the grandson of the Old Duke. Liam was an Alpha whose 'mate' died long ago. He was severely injured and had been living without a heart for a long time. He could only wake up from his sleep when there was a full moon. The Old Duke and Liam himself guessed that the man would die soon due to his worsening condition. Because of that, Old Duke wanted Harriet to give birth to an heir to the Almandine Family from Liam's seed so that their family would have a new leader. The Alpha's replacement bride would soon find that she was in love with the dying man and now they both wished for a miracle to save Liam's life. Could she fulfill her duty to bear the next Alpha for the Almandines? Would Liam survive to protect his bride and family?

On the eve of my wedding, my wife, Sharon Moonstone, drugged me and knocked me unconscious. She let her first love, Aaron Miller, take my place as the groom, standing beside her as they held the wedding that was supposed to belong to both of us. By the time I finally found them, they had already gone into the bridal suite and consummated their marriage. When I demanded answers, Sharon did not show a trace of guilt. "You live off me. You'd better behave. Make a scene, and we'll divorce." My heart went cold. I handed her the divorce papers, but she barely looked at them. "Looks like you've improved," she said lightly. "At least you know a performance should be convincing from start to finish."