Iam That Iam

On our anniversary, Nina Reid took our daughter—and her assistant, Ray Chapman—out for another "family day." Without me. That was it. I filed for divorce. Right after signing the papers and boxing up my stuff, I heard a buzz from the corner. Old phone. Twelve years old. Buried in a drawer. The screen lit up with a number I almost recognized. Hand shaking, I picked up. A voice I hadn't heard in years. Young. Way too familiar. "Hey, Liam. I need to talk to you."

When the fire broke out, I called my husband, Hector. He didn't answer. Instead, he ran straight into the flames—to save my sister, Emma. They held each other, clinging to life, while I was trapped in the basement, watching my calls go ignored until all hope burned out. Afterward, Emma played innocent, twisting everything. She told him, "Hector, don't blame Sienna. She didn't leave me on purpose... she was just scared." Her lie made me the villain, and everyone bought it. Fueled by hatred, Hector spat, "She's so vicious—why didn't that fire just take her?" Three months later, the police found my body.

Oluchi never thought love would find her this late. She has spent her life following rules, hiding pieces of herself, and convincing the world she was fine. Then comes Amina the soft-spoken lesson teacher with a fire in her eyes, the one who makes Oluchi’s world feel both terrifying and alive. What begins as stolen glances soon becomes a dangerous longing. Desire. Fear. Hope. Everything Oluchi was told to bury begins to rise. But in a world that punishes women for wanting more, for loving differently… Can Oluchi risk it all for love? Or will survival demand her silence once again? The Love That Changed Everything is a tender, messy, and unforgettable story about late-found love, queer longing, and the price of choosing yourself.

Today was like the day I met him: Me, riding a bicycle and him, walking down the pavement. I grab the handle of the bicycle and watch him as he make his way towards me. I do not know why I feel nervous. A trickle of sweat drip on the side of my face, my heart beat fast and I could hardly breathe. He was meters away, until it grow shorter to a foot and then bam, he bumped into me and we fall down, him on top of me. This felt like a deja vù, like it was our very first encounter. We scurried to get up but ended up bumping our heads together. I glared at him as he got up, He didn't even offer me a hand. He didn’t even give me a second glance. He just passed by me. Not noticing me. Not even looking at me. I let go of the bicycle and turn to face him. I remove the helmet that I was wearing and grip it tightly before screaming, “YAH! My hands curled into a fist and before I know it, the helmet I was holding was already flying towards him.I raise my hand as if to save him but it collided on his head right before I could even react. It sounded a hollow thump and a pronounced groan. His hands made his way to the back of his head as he turn and face me. With those eyes that seem like it was murdering me, he chase me off and I hastily took my bicycle and ran. I couldn’t help but feel happy instead of guilty as he ran after me. This was like before. This was like that summer, that summer I met him.

“Hubby, pwede ba akong makahiram ng pera?” ang malambing kong tanong sa aking asawa na ngayon ay pagkasama-sama ng tingin sa akin. Paano ba namang hindi eh feeling close ako sa kanya. “Why would I give you? Sa tingin mo ba ay dahil pumayag akong makasal sayo ay makukuha mo na, at ibibigay ko sayo ang mga kailangan mo ng ganun ganun lang?” galit na galit at parang gustong manakit na sabi ni Jared. Ewan ko ba kung bakit sinubukan ko pang lumapit sa isang ito kahit na alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hinding hindi niya ako pagbibigyan.

I was in San Aria Bay with my mom, enjoying a quiet, sunlit getaway, when my phone suddenly lit up with a string of messages from my husband's ever-arrogant secretary. She sent a photo. The woman in it had been stripped naked, her body covered in blood, the sight almost unbearable. A voice message followed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Jeannie, do people like you always take advantage of others like this? "Mr. Smith just bought this house, and you already had your mother move in for free? As his chief secretary, it's my responsibility to remove anyone living off him."

Una pa lamang ay magustuhan na ni Helomina Ang binatang si Miguel na Ngayon lang niya nakilala. Ngunit ayaw niyang aminin sa kanyang sarili na gusto niya Ang binata. Dahil sa takot itong sumubok sa isang relasyon. Natatakot Kasi itong masaktan. Kaya minabuti na lamang niya itong irito sa kanyang matalik na kaibigan. Ngunit nalaman niya na may gusto Rin Pala Ang binata sa dalagang si Helomina. At inamin niya ito na siya Ang gusto niya at Hindi Ang kaibigan. Sa una ay nag-alinlangan Ang dalaga sa pagmamahal Ng binata ngunit hindi naglaun ay inamin din Ng dalaga na gusto niya Ang binata. Nagtagal Ang relasyon nila kahit malayo Ang binata sa dalaga. Pero dahil sa malayo at Hindi palaging nagkikita Ang dalawa ay nag-alinlangan Ang binata sa pagmamahal Ng dalaga. Kahit alam Naman niya Ang tunay na nararamdaman Ng dalaga para sa kanya. Kahit pa malayo sila sa isa't Isa naging tapat Naman Ang dalaga sa pagmamahal niya sa dalaga. Pero Hindi naglaon kahit mahal Ng binata Ang dalaga ay Hindi siya naging tapat dito. Dahil na rin sa hindi ito kapilinging Ang dalaga. Pero patuloy Rin ang pagmamahal Ng dalaga sa binata kahit na Kung minsan ay Hindi na ito nagpaparamdam sa dalaga. Kalaonan ay Ang binata na mismo Ang bumitiw sa relasyon Ng dalawa. Kahit masakit sa dalaga Ang katotohan na iniwan siya Ng kanyang minahal dahil Hindi niya ito kayang panindigan at ipaglaban. Nagdusa Ang dalaga dahil doon. Pero sa Oras na iyon ay may dumating sa kanyang buhay na isang lalaking na handa siya mahalin at ipaglaban. Kaya siyang panindingan at pasayahin sa abot Ng kanyang makakaya. Hindi Naman nabigo ang lalaki. Pero paano Kung may gustong bumalik sa buhay niya nagustong ipaglaban Ang pagmamahal niya pero huli na Ang lahat.

My contract with the company is about to come to an end, and I'm already planning to renew it. But a few days before that, my boss, Dustin Kline, requested that I lower the percentage of my bonus in the project. The reason he gave is that I'm still young. Even if I were to take over other projects, I'd also do a good job. Dustin even made empty promises to me just so he could get me to give the projects I'm in charge of to Sandy Richmond, the new department manager in the company. When I refused to do so, he threatened to not give me my salary in order to get me to comply. The next day, the company is reduced to a laughing stock at the product launch event. Our client thinks the company's technological skills are too weak to back up the big talk, so they refuse to pay the remainder of the contracted sum. When Dustin begs me for help, I just look at him in amusement. "I refuse to get manipulated by anyone in this workplace. You're more than capable of dealing with your own problems. I believe in you, Mr. Kline."

My husband, Tyler Stone, has been dead for seven years. One day, he suddenly comes back to life. Not only does he bring another woman home with him, but he even wants me to give up my position as his wife. "Ruth almost lost her eyes saving me, and I've promised to marry her. Sign the divorce agreement, and I won't kick you out of the house." I'm briefly silent before saying, "I've actually married someone else." He rolls his eyes. "As if. Everyone knows you're desperately in love with me!"

On my 22nd birthday, my uncle Scott discovered my diary. After he found out about my secret love for him, he sent me overseas. He then spent hundreds of thousands, marrying the love of his life.