Learn The Hard Way

Living alone was hard for Kestrel being a working student. Kailangan niya ng pera upang masustentuhan ang sariling mga pangangailangan. Kahit mahirap at nahihirapan siya. He wants to live independently. He wants to stand alone by his own feet. Ayaw na niyang umasa sa magulang dahil may mga kanya-kanyang pamilya ang mga ito. Ayaw niyang umasa sa mga ito dahil kung ano-ano ang naririnig niya sa mga anak ng magulang niya. Kestrel was a fruit of a forbidden love kaya ganon na lamang siya kamuhian ng dapat ay pamilya niya. That's why he decided to live alone even if it's hard. One night, after his shift, Kestrel decided to walk his way home pero may mga lalaking nakaitim ang humarang at dinakip siya. Sinubukan niyang magpumiglas at humingi ng tulong sa paraan ng pagsigaw ngunit pinatulog lamang siya ng mga ito at ipinasok sa van. Nagising na lamang siya sa isang hindi pamilyar na lugar at suot ang bagong damit. He's in a lady’s gown and heels. Ang hanggang balikat niyang buhok ay nakalugay na. At ang mga paa't kamay na nakagapos at bibig na may tela. Kaba, takot at gutom ang nararamdaman ni Kest. Nang lumiwanag ang paligid, doon niya nalamang nasa isang auction house siya at pinakilala na siya bilang isang rare item hanggang sa nagsimula ang bidding. Habang pataas ng pataas ang bid ay siyang pagtaas ng kanyang kaba at takot. Napalinga-linga siya at biglang tumama ang paningin niya sa lalaking may gintong maskara na nakaupo sa isang sulok. Nagmamakaawa niya itong tiningnan. Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya ginawa iyon. He's so desperate to get away from that house. Will that guy wearing golden mask help him? Makakaalis kaya siya sa auction? Mababalik pa kaya ang tahimik niyang buhay? Sino ang lalaking may gintong maskara?

Marizell Socorro Acevedo found refuge in bed with Teo, her fuckbuddy. Being with Teo between the sheets was a way for Marizell to cope with her father’s death. Naniniwala siya na hindi aksidente and pagkamatay ng kan’yang ama ngunit wala siyang ebidensiya na mapatunayan ‘yon. Kahit na dumaan ang dalawang taon kakahanap ng ebidensiya, wala siyang napapala. In the morning, she would tire herself looking for leads and at night, she would get comfortable with Teo. But despite the kiss and touches she’d exchange with Teo, she didn’t feel anything. Marizell already lost hope until they finally found a strong lead. Desperate for her father’s justice, she had let go of her relationship with Teo. It was just the sex she’s after so it wasn’t hard for her to let go. Handa na si Marizell para makamit ang hustisiya pero nang malaman na isang makapangyarihang pamilya ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay ng kan’yang ama, imposibleng makakamit niya ang hustisiya. The powerful and vicious Valleros were behind her father’s death. She knew too well that it’s impossible, they’d kill her before she could even file a case. But she doesn’t lose her hope, if she can’t get justice, then she has to get her revenge. She’s thirsty for justice but she never imagines she could be thirsty for revenge too. Everything was in alignment with her plan when she received a proposal from the Valleros. An arranged marriage with one of their heirs. In a blink, Marizell knew what she needs to do. Keeping her enemies closer would be easier for her to destroy them. She was ready until she met Teo again. But this time, he wasn’t her fuck buddy anymore. He’s Mateo Vallero, the ruthless of them all. And the worst, he’s her fiancé’s brother. Now, she’s confused and dumbfounded. Her plans crumbled every time she’d feel his touch. Now, she doesn’t know what she wants. Would it be revenge or him despite committing sin after sin with him?

Thyme Xenon Sandoval become woman hater after break up. He's a billionaire who want to own everything he wanted. One thing he want to be his own is the Ranch of his father but it's a lot of condition to make it his own. Is he take all the conditions of his father just to get his want? Or he make his own way to get that Ranch in his own way? Zanevy Frealiza Acosta a daughter of his father best friend he need to marry on purpose. He use her at first, not until he feels different. But, do he need to protect his girl if he discovered the secret behind her simple life? Do he can continue what she’d started if he's the one who fall in love with the beautiful lady? “I thought, using you is the way to wash away the pain I felt before, but fuck! Using you is the biggest mistake I ever had. I can't imagine that the girl I kept is the daughter of my mortal enemy. Yeah! I love the daughter of the Mafia Queen!” —Thyme Sandoval.

Allison Madie Bartolome was really hard on herself. She always give a second chance to her ex but the second chances that she gave weren't enough. Those second chances always give her heartaches but looked at her she sacrificed her true happiness just because of a man she truly loved who doesn't see her worth and appreciate her as a woman and as a partner. Then one day, she realized that giving a second chance to a person you love wasn't enough to make you feel happy. She realized that second chances are not just given to someone, they are thought through carefully giving it. Second chances must be given to the person who deserves to be given it.

Timothy Ruiz, the cold-hearted billionaire has a mission. He has to take Idalia Flo Costaños to the heir of their secret organization as part of his mission. What could go wrong? He'd been through storms of bullets. He already once escaped death. Kidnapping a girl would be a piece of cake to him. Iyon ang akala niya. Timothy did not expect Idalia to be such a temptress. He did not expect her to be so good in seducing him and making him painstakingly hard by just glancing at her. Hindi niya inakalang maaakit siya sa mapupulang labi nito at nangungusap na mga mata. Above all, he did not expect that Idalia could unleash the monster he hid inside of him, the monster he thought was not existing, making him feral whenever a man touches her. Making him completely lose his mind whenever he sees her talking with someone else. Even though Timothy tried so hard and all means to escape from Idalia's enchantment, his efforts were useless. He could not resist her charms. He knows it within himself that he lost it but he refuse to let it show. He refuse to let any man know about the feelings he is harboring for the girl who is meant to be with someone else. Now, he's caught in a battle between his raging desire for her and his commitment to the mission. He's caught in a battle between himself for wanting to take her as his. When words could destroy a heart like a bullet, would Timothy let himself break her heart along with his own? Would he let the world they built crumble down into pieces? Or would he let his heart decide and completely own her despite knowing it would mean going through flames?

EL JEFE #1: MY COLD-HEARTED BOSS [LACHLAN VILLAFLORES] Cyra Clementine Madrigal is an independent woman. Even at a young age, she worked hard to educate herself. However, after she graduated, she faced a devastating blow. She was desperate to find a job as her sibling was still studying, and her mother was ill. Despite her heartless employer's mistreatment, she persevered. Like everyone else, she is not a robot; she gets tired and hurt too. How will Lachlan Harick Villaflores make amends with the secretary he desired, especially now that she has finally broken free from him? How can he do it now that she has realized the extent of his actions?

Shailene Kendra Aquino is a daughter and heiress of rich and famous businessman in the Philippines. Her parents forced her to marry the son of their family friend named Clark Alonzo Gonzales. As their parents forced them to marry each other. It’s been hard for them to live in the same house. Clark will try to ignore his wife while Shailene will try everything to make her husband to fall in love to her as her parents’ wants. They planned to end their relationship after six months even though Shailene really want to follow what her parents’ wants. How can they teach their heart to love each other without force of anyone? How can they face every challenges in their forced marriage?

SHE NEEDED help, and Ivan's father help her in times of need. But, there's a condition, that completely changes her life, no — their lives. Ivan doesn't want to marry her in the first place, and so he did everything to make her life miserable as his life. But, did he succeed? Or, he made it worst case for him, too? Can love make everything fall for it's place? Or, it will just make it hard for them? "You can't decide for my life, Ivan. Never again." "I can't? Oh, but, I already did. You can never change that, Celine. You are once mine. And will be mine again. By hook, or by crook. Always remember that, Love.

Choosing to live independently in a highly urbanized city is a decision Latisha Thaviya Fallarco made at such a young age. Despite her parents prohibitions, she still managed to convince them by performing well in academics. She wanted to attend parties, get drunk and dance in the club, go shopping, and explore neighboring cities. She wanted to live her life to the fullest in the place she considered the best. Yet, she never saw the coming of an incident that would end that kind of lifestyle. She was forced to leave and be with her family. Latisha thought that living in a province would be hard for her, but she was wrong. In a particular town in Iloilo Province, she found her true home. Ps. This story is written in Filipino and English.

In a world full of hardships and challenges. Solace Rhian Garcia, a woman who grew up without any supervision from her parents, seeks a job in a huge city. A single father, Alistair Eiron Hawthorne, who is a known billionaire in the country, seeks a reliable babysitter to take care of his triplets, Tatum, Teagan, and Timothy. The two of them will cross paths in their own needs, seeking comfort in life as they tackle the everyday scenarios. Solace may find handling a child hard, but what if three children are what she’ll handle all at once? Will Eiron find himself loving another woman? Or he’ll just focus on his children. Two different worlds will collide, apart from chaos, there is a peace.