Next To Never

"Get up, I'm hungry. Cook for me NOW!" The authoritative tone jolted me awake, not giving me a moment to freshen up or even change. We don't sleep side by side; he stays in the master bedroom while I occupy the guest room. He can't stand being near me. It hurts deeply when those words come from him, but it's a recurring pattern. I hurriedly made my way downstairs, still tying the robe around me. In the kitchen, I began preparing his breakfast. You see, I'm his secret wife. No one knows except our parents and a few friends. Since we got married, not a day goes by without him reminding me that he doesn't love me. Not a day goes by without him hurting me. But that's alright because, as I've mentioned, I love him so much that I'm willing to do anything just to earn his love in return. A single tear escaped and fell onto the clove of garlic I was chopping. I quickly wiped it away. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Manang watching me. I took a deep breath to regain my composure before turning to her with a forced smile. "I'm sorry; I got emotional over garlic." I lied.

"I reject you," Bruno repeated, his voice carrying across the hushed clearing. "We are no longer mates. We can never be mates." The warmth that had always softened his green eyes whenever he looked at her was gone, replaced by a glacial indifference that chilled her to the bone. "No. No." Lyra shook her head vigorously, her carefully arranged hair coming loose, dark strands falling across her tear-stained face. She reached for him, clutching at the ceremonial jacket he wore. "This can't happen. You promised to protect me, to be by my side, to love me." Her voice rose with each word, desperation clawing at her throat. "Please, don't do this to me. You can't."

“MATE!” Marion screamed excitedly. “Oh my gosh, Jimmy is our mate!” I was excited; happy even that this was the grande present the moon goddess had in store for me. This out- of- a- fairytale concept that was about to turn my life around for good but--- “I Jimmy Flicher of the Night gazer pack hereby reject you, Anna Jenson as my mate” My dream, my hopes were all shattered in that moment there and then. The moment of shock only lasted for just a short while before I felt a great and unbearable. Clenching to my chest as I slowly fell to the ground, I watched as jimmy turned away from me without unfeeling, leaving me alone by the doorstep. I gasped as I struggled to make my way back to father but it was to no avail. I’d given up all will to struggle back to my feet and remain on the ground but a loud sound; like a Vaseline crashing to the ground behind me jolted me up. On getting to my feet and looking back, I saw father on the floor. Adding two and two together, I knew he must have seen Jimmy reject me and that had caused him to pass out. I’d immediately rushed over to his side, shaking him fervently, imagining the worst. “Father! Father, wake up!” But he didn’t budge and with that, I was left with no choice than to call the ambulance which brings me to how I got to this hospital. Today was my birthday, the day Jimmy rejected me, the day father passed out from shock, the day I would never forget in my life.

When Alina Diaz, pride of her parents and village sweetheart is awarded a scholarship to study in America, everything seems perfect. Not only is she making history in her town but also setting the path for her younger ones to follow. Her life takes a tragic turn when she gets pregnant abroad and is forced to forfeit her scholarship. Now with her hope of a better life for herself and her family crushed, what happens from here? Instead of going back to Colombia in shame she chooses to stay back and fight for her survival. When her charming new billionaire boss falls for her and goes undercover to capture her heart, will Alina fall for his charms or has she had her fill of love?

Jax I called out quickly rushed over to him. Jax, are you okay?. I brushed his hair away from his face. His beautiful eyes were deep red and he was covered in sweat. A...Aurora.He called my name in a whisper " You're here?. He said, fear evident in his voice. Of course I am. What the hell happened to you? Did you get into a fight? Are you hurt?. I questioned. My blood boiled at the thought of someone hurting him. If there was then I would snap all bones out of the culprit’s body. He shook his head. It's none of those things. He grabbed my waist, burying his face in my stomach. Then what was it?.

When I was finally able to snap out of my fear, I diverted my gaze to my father's head on the ground as my anger began to burn deeper within me. As tears slid down my cheeks, I raised up my head to meet Castro's gaze. His sword was still aimed at my neck unflinchingly. My gaze moved between Jasmine, my cousin and him one more time before I questioned. "What do you think you are doing, Castro?" "What does it look like, Katherine?" "A coup?" Castro smirked. "You're right!" "But why?"

"We will never come back here next summer. We won't." Kuya Dusk's voice sounded with finality. I heard my brothers sighed heavily. They both kissed me in my forehead, and the next thing I knew, my vision were blocked by darkness. I am to reckless for giving trust. I am a foolish when I gave love. It's all absurd, but I did all that. For him, for the man I thought of never gonna hurt me. I want to forget you. I hope I could wake up tomorrow with no worries, tomorrow that I will no longer remember you, Trevor. I wish I could forget how I gave my whole stupid heart to you.

When a one-sided love turns the other way around. "I could never see you as a lover. I could not even imagine kissing you." - Jonathan Reed ~~~~ Laura has spent her whole life loving Jonathan Reed, the boy next door who became her best friend. But as they grew older, Jonathan turned into the heartthrob who dated anyone that caught his eye-everyone except her. When she finally confesses her feelings, Jonathan, being the promiscuous man he is, takes advantage of her vulnerability. Something happens between them, but the next day, he acts like it never occurred, treating her as the same "ordinary" friend she's always been. Crushed, Laura is left feeling used and broken. That night, staring at the night sky, she wishes she could stop loving him. A shooting star passes, but Laura bitterly laughs, believing wishes never come true. Or so she thought...

In order to avenge her brother's death, Aysel, a doctor-turned-royal-beta aims to become the luna queen by marrying the next-in-line alpha prince, Azriel but in a world where alphas never choose betas as their mates, her target is next to impossible.

Cinderella Margaux Velasquez loathes Alessandro Maven Villantura, the first interactive activity they had way back in kindergarten. She never liked being next to him in the class seating arrangement, especially during recognition programs—her as the salutatorian and Aven as the irreplaceable valedictorian of their batch. At the beginning of their senior year, Cindy was relieved knowing that Aven didn't take the same strand she took but unfortunately she was never lucky. ABM and STEM students of their batch have to share in one classroom for the reason that both strands have the least number of students. Admins decided to save the spacious classroom for the other strands that need it more than them so yes, she still has to spend her senior years next to Aven as usual. Cindy's hatred towards Aven grows as time flies but then that stupid senior ball happened.