Lewis Science Library

I, Gianna Johnston, am born into a family of prodigies. My dad, Henry Johnston, is a computer science professor from Hafford University. My mom, Naomi Liddell, is a medical professor at Starvard University. And my brother, George Johnston, is an international math olympiad champion. Meanwhile, I'm barely passing my math classes at school. George gets so mad at me that he immediately writes down three full sets of math exam questions and exclaims, "You're so dumb that you're nothing but an embarrassment to Mom and Dad and me! "Don't you even think about leaving the house and embarrassing us again without completing all these math questions!" Mom then forces a few pills straight down my throat. Those pills are one of her inventions, called "smart pills". However, she doesn't care that I'm choking so hard on them that my eyes roll to the back of my head. "Stop using excuses, saying that you're tired or sleepy. These pills will keep you up for 24 hours without sleep. That should be enough time for you to complete all those math problems!" Dad then turns on "Strict Mode" on the smart house system, Domi. He says to me, "And don't even think about escaping the house to look for help. I will lock the door and cut off every signal going in or coming out. If you don't finish your work in time, nobody will even care if you die here!" After that, the three of them leave me behind and head off for their vacation in Hervaii. While shutting the door behind them, however, the vase of flowers full of water suddenly crashed into Domi's control panel. I'm choking so hard on the pills that I feel asphyxiated. I keep banging my fists against the front door for help. However, Domi, who has now short-circuited, keeps repeating, "Please complete your math questions, Gianna. Study hard and be a good student. "Study hard and be a good student. "Study hard and be a good student." I grip the sheets of math problems in my hands in agony. Will Mom, Dad, and George finally be happy when they see that I'm giving up my life for this?

Sandro was Coreen's first love. Unang beses pa lang niyang nakita ang lalaki sa library ay na love at first sight na siya. Subalit kahit pareho lang dila ng eskwelahan ng lalaki ay hindi siya nagtangkang magpakilala rito ay aminin ang kanyang nararamdaman. Malinaw sa kanya na imposibleng magustuhan ng isang campus crush na si Sandro ang isang tulad niyang wallflower. Nanatili na lamang siyang lihim na humahanfa sa binata. Hanggang sa dalhin siya ng ama sa Greece ay hindi niya nagawang umamin sa binata. Eight years later, bumalik si Coreen sa Pilipinas. She was different from the girl she used to be eight years ago. Isa lang ang hindi nagbago sa kanya. She was madly in love with Sandro Madrigal, her first love. Two months na bakasyon lang ang pakay niya sa Pilipinas subalit nagbago ang lahat ng iyon nang malaman niyan mula sa pinsan ng bestfriend ntang si Miranda na naghahanap si Sandro ng bagong secretary. Itinapon niya ang planong pagbabakasyon sa ibat-ibang panig ng bansa at sa halip ay nag-apply bilang secretary ni Sandro. Itinago niya kay Sandro ang katauhan na anak siya ng isang Greek tycoon. Natanggap siya bilang secretary ni Sandro. Lubusan pa niyang nakilala ang binata at napalapit siya rito. Akala niya, kapag napalapit siya sa binata ay mawawala na ang 'obsession' niya rito. Subalit na iyon ang mangyari ay lalo lang siyang nahulog sa binata. Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na bigla siyang inalok ni Sandro. But his term was "temporary wife". Ayon kay Sandro, kailangan nito ng babaeng papakasalan upang makuha nito ang mana nito. Pumayag siya na maging temporary wife ni Sandro. Hindi niya alam na iyon na pala ang simula ng pagbabago ng buhay niya dahil matapos ang kasal nila ay naaksidente si Sandro at nawala ang ala-ala nito.

Le jour où j'ai décidé de donner mon corps à la science, ma famille s'est rassemblée autour de ma sœur adoptive, Chloé, pour fêter son admission dans un programme expérimental de pointe. Celle qui était censée avoir un cancer du cerveau, c'était moi. Mais Chloé avait profité de la position de mon mari, Zane, à l'hôpital pour échanger ses dossiers médicaux sains contre mon diagnostic en phase terminale. Elle m'a volé ainsi la seule chance que j'avais de survivre. Et le pire ? Tout le monde l'a applaudie. La douleur est devenue insupportable. J'ai lutté pour rester présente, jusqu'au moment où j'ai surpris les infirmières chuchotant : « Heureusement que le docteur Zane a obtenu cette place pour Chloé. Ils disaient qu'il ne lui restait que trois jours à vivre. » Alors, pendant les soixante-douze dernières heures de ma vie, j'ai tout lâché, en silence. Quand j'ai remis à Chloé les manuscrits originaux de mes romans, dans lesquels j'avais mis toute mon âme, mon père et mon frère m'ont adressé un sourire satisfait. Quand Zane a décidé d'exaucer le vœu soi-disant ultime de Chloé en l'épousant, il m'a tendu les papiers du divorce. J'ai signé sans la moindre hésitation. Il a soupiré et m'a félicitée d'être enfin raisonnable. Et quand c'est moi qui ai poussé notre fille, Olivia, à appeler Chloé « maman », Olivia s'est exclamée que sa nouvelle maman était la meilleure. « Ne t'inquiète pas, » m'a rassurée Zane. « C'est juste pour la protéger pour l'instant. Une fois qu'elle sera partie, tout reviendra vers toi. » J'ai tout donné à Chloé, exactement comme ils le voulaient. Alors pourquoi, quand ils ont découvert que tout cela n'était qu'un mensonge abject inventé par Chloé, sont-ils venus pleurer pour ça, en disant que c'est moi qu'ils avaient toujours voulu ?