Pliant Like A Bamboo

(Witchita Series #1) On the evening of Santacruzan, I met Gideon, the consort of my life. Months later, we grew closer to each other, but then... he found out about the bet and we split up. Weeks after our breakup, he confronted and told me, “Panagutan mo ako... Buntis ako," and I was like, “Gago ka ba?” Days after my family revealed our biggest secrets, I made up my list. To do: 1. Get to know more about my family's identity, history, and special ability (especially in dealing with a pregnant male partner!) 2. Master my family's craft — witchcraft. 3. Attend to Deon's needs, assist, and take care of him. 4. Protect and keep him away from his pack for nine months (or else our child's gonna get killed because Deon's a son of an alpha b*tch!) 5. Plan about our child's financial support and our parental setup. 6. Make sure that the whole pregnancy experience will be tolerable for the first-time mommy (or pappy or whatsoever, I don't really know what to call him, geez...) 7. The child should stay with my family after Deon gave birth because he or she belongs to us, to the kind who needs to keep hiding. 8. And the most important thing to do, love my child with all my heart, mind, and Witchita soul. I am Angie Lou Pereira, a Witchita, and this is my guide to successful parenting.

Sa mata ng lahat, parating pinapagalitan ni David si Helena—his ever so "clumsy" secretary. Pero ang hindi nila alam, hindi naman talaga dahil sa trabaho kung bakit siya parating pinapatawag ni David sa opisina. They’re actually fuck buddies, and Helena doesn’t mind. Kasi kahit bawal, mahal niya si David. Pero isang araw, out of nowhere, sinabi ni David na tapos na sila. Just like that. Wala nang paliwanag, except sa isang bagay na nagpasakit lalo sa puso ni Helena. Ikakasal na siya. At parang hindi pa sapat ‘yon, nalaman ng mommy ni David ang tungkol sa kanila, at kinuha lahat ng meron si Helena. Ang bahay na bigay ni David? Wala na. Ang stability niya? Wala na rin. So wala siyang choice kundi lumayo at kalimutan ang lahat. Pero paano niya kakalimutan kung may iniwan sa kanya si David? She’s pregnant. Years later, nakabangon na rin siya, ready na to start fresh with a man na tanggap siya at ang anak niya. Pero ang plot twist? Ang fiancé niya… half-brother ni David! Anong gagawin niya ngayong muli silang pinagtagpo ng lalaking pilit niyang tinatakasan? Is this fate… or just another heartbreak waiting to happen?

“I never loved you. You were never meant to be in my life—you just showed up, uninvited, and ruined everything like a curse I never asked for.” Iyon ang pinakamasakit na katagang narinig ni Zenie sa kanyang asawa na si Aice Bustillos, ang CEO ng Nexora, isang leading car company sa Pilipinas. Isang magandang buhay ang tanging hinangad ni Zenie, kaya’t labis ang kanyang tuwa nang makilala niya si Aice. Ngunit sa loob ng walong taong pagiging mag-asawa nila ay walang ibang hinangad si Zenie kung ‘di ang maging maganda ang kanilang pagsasama, ngunit kabaliktaran iyon sa kanyang inaasam. Simula na maging mag-asawa sila ni Aice ay hindi niya naramdaman ang pagmamahal nito ni kahit isang beses, kung ‘di puro panunumbat dahil sa pagsira sa buhay nito at sa buhay ni Naiana, ang childhood sweetheart ni Aice. Kahit anong gawin niya para tanggapin ng pamilya ni Aice ay hindi siya nito magawang tanggapin, dahil ang gusto rin ng mga ito ay si Naiana para sa kanilang anak. With all the pain Zenie had endured, where will it lead her? Will she rise and reclaim her worth—or will it destroy her? Or will it ignite a fire in her to make every person who mocked her regret ever crossing her?

I never believed in second chances. Not after Cynthia. She was my confidant… until death tore her from me and left this mansion echoing with ghosts. Inilibing ko na rin ang puso ko kasabay ng pakamatay ni Cynthia . She was my wife. My peace. My mistake. Then her daughter moved in. Liza. The forbidden reminder of everything I shouldn’t want—young, alive, reckless in ways her mother never was. She looks at me like she sees through the monster I’ve become. Sa tuwing ngingiti siya,  the ache in my chest returns—violent, dangerous, hungry. Every brush of her skin ignites something I can’t bury anymore. I tell myself it’s guilt. I tell myself I’m just protecting her. Pero ang totoo? I want her. Hindi bilang stepdaughter. Not as Cynthia’s child. I want her as mine—completely, ruinously, irredeemably mine. They’ll call me a sinner. A man who crossed the line. Ngunit sa tuwing tinitingnan ako ni Liza, trembling, wanting... I knew I’d already crossed it. I tell myself I’m protecting her, but each night, the lie weakens. Because when she looks at me, it isn’t fear I see—it’s want. And God help me... I want her too. This isn’t love. It’s a beautiful disaster. And I’d burn the world just to feel her breathe my name again.

Van Dominic Loudd grew up without a family. He was young when he became an orphan and was raised by a family lawyer. He had always wanted to have a big, happy family. And he thought he would be able to achieve that when he met and fell in love with Demani Dominico. As opposed to Van, Demani was born in a big, close-knit family. Lumaki ito sa isang kilala at respetadong familia; believing that family should stick together through good and bad times. Just like all other couples out there, they met, fell in love, and planned for the future. Van eventually became part of the Dominico family. His life became complete. And so he thought... Dahil ang pamilya ni Demani rin pala ang dahilan kaya hindi naging maganda ang takbo ng pagsasama nila. They loved each other to destruction, but her family was pulling their relationship down. And Van got tired of it, and so, they started to fight a lot and lose respect for each other. They went through a bitter separation, and Demani thought she would never hear from him again. Until two years later, nakatanggap na lang ito ng sulat mula sa abogado ni Van, asking for her help. Van had an accident and he needed her assistance. She was skeptical at first, she didn't want to have any connections whatsoever with him; but she still found herself standing in front of their old house, waiting for him to open up the door. Will there be a second chance for them? **

SPG ALERT! WARNING: R-18 Aliyah Deguilda is 18 years old and wants to take revenge on the ruthless CEO of VICL. Palaging bukang bibig ng ina niya na ang lalakeng iyon ang may kasalanan, rason kaya iyon ang tumatak sa isip ni Aliyah, ito rin ang rason ng pagkakaroon niya ng plano na maghiganti at para magawa ang plano ay balak niyang pa-ibigin ang lalake, hahanap ito ng paraan para masira ang kompanya nito, pero sadyang mapaglaro ang kapalaran. Hindi niya napansin na ang galit na nararamdaman niya ay napalitan ng unti-unting pag-usbong ng pag-ibig niya sa lalake. Makakaya kaya ng pag-ibig na umusbong na pigilin ang masamang balak ni Aliyah? O mananatili siya sa balak na wasakin ang CEO ng VICL? Maddix Villaranza, A CEO of Villaranza Infinite Cruise Line (VICL). Maddix have a trust issue. Wala siyang ibang gustong pagkatiwalaan maliban sa pamilya niya, no more, no one. Magbabago ang lahat nang makilala niya si Aliyah Deguilda. Is it right for him to trust again for a long time? Or will his trust breach again just like before? Paano kung malaman ni Maddix na kunektado si Aliyah sa taong sumira sa tiwala niya noon? Anong gagawin ni Maddix kapag nalaman niya na ang taong unti-unting nilalaanan niya ng tiwala ay anak ng taong sumira at nagtaksil sa kanya?

"Not because men dumped you countless times, you'll gonna dumped me as part of your revenge. Tandaan mo kasal tayo, sa ayaw at sa gusto mo ako ang end game mo!" -Xavier- It was supposed to be a simple favor - pretend to be his lawful and loving wife until her twin sister gets back. But when Xavier Oxford - a drop-dead gorgeous billionaire with eight-pack abs enters her room and demands her duty in bed, she instantly forgets that she was just pretending to be his wife. ***** No one would even realize the difference between Avigail and Avery Alfonzo - the naughty twin sisters. All her life, Avigail "Avi" Alfonzo only wanted three things-- freedom to live her life to the fullest; success in her profession as an artist; and continue switching identities with her twin sister as a form of their escape. Not until her twin sister Avery left the country and ask her to pretend to be the wife of her husband -Xavier Oxford. He's known as the epitome of perfection, a snob, and a business tycoon at a young age. But Avi never liked her twin's husband. However, that changed when she had to pretend to be his wife. His touch can easily make her delirious. His kisses make her squirm in pleasure. And his stares, searing her very soul, could make her forget how to act without getting caught. Can Avigail fool him like how she fooled the others? Or would Xavier catch her off-guard, and see the woman behind her pretentious face?

Maria Odette knows how to get everyone’s attention effortlessly. She had a way of dealing with men that was both alluring and dangerous. Develrick is no exception. She was able to entice him despite the fact that he was never interested in women.   Their relationship started with a playful challenge. A dare that was meant for fun and nothing serious. A one-night-stand and a drunken night unexpectedly got them into a relationship.   The night they shared was pleasant enough for them to be crazy for each other. Develrick even considered having a serious relationship with her even though they only met for a night.   However, destiny was really whimsical. It turned out that Maria Odette is one of Develrick’s students at the university. Upon discovering the truth, he started to distance himself because he knew that having any kind of relationship with a student is strictly forbidden. He values his job more than anything, and he wouldn’t let his feelings for her destroy his career. He decided to set up a barrier so he wouldn’t fall for Odette ever again, no matter how much he wanted and desired her.   On the other hand, Odette feels the opposite. The rules always meant nothing to her. She wouldn’t let him forget that he belonged to her. She doesn’t care about anything as long as she could have him, just like how she was able to capture her that night. Odette knows that Develrick is a big challenge, and she is determined to win him over again.   Will Odette be able to break the strong barrier he built for himself?

Sa mismong araw ng kasal nila, nalaman ni Luna ang mapait na katotohanan—ginamit at pinakasalan lang siya ni Damon upang saktan ang babaeng dating karelasyon nito. Dala ng matinding sakit at pagkabigo, nagpasya siyang iwan si Damon sa araw ding iyon. Tahimik itong naglaho nang walang paalam. “Hanapin n’yo siya! I want every inch of this estate searched!” sigaw ni Damon habang galit na galit na naglalakad paikot sa marble flooring ng hall, ang mga palad niya'y nakasukbit sa kanyang buhok na tila ba hindi malaman kung ano ang uunahin—ang takot, ang galit, o ang pagkasira ng loob. “Sir Damon,” lapit ng isa sa mga security. “We’ve searched the entire estate… wala po talaga si Ma’am Luna. Even the guard at the back gate said walang nakitang dumaan.” “She can’t just run away with my child!” singhal niya, boses niya'y halos mapunit sa dami ng emosyong nagsasalubong sa dibdib. “Do whatever it takes—bring her back! Now!” Pagkalipas ng anim na taon magmula noong maglaho na parang bula si Luna... "Boss, we found your wife. She just landed at the international airport." "And she’s with three kids... who all look exactly like you." "But there’s another man with them—and one of the kids is calling him Dad."

Fantassia was so inlove with her bestfriend since they were just a kids, so inlove that she could give her precious gem, her virginity, to her only bestfriend once they grew up and when they turned in a legal age. Even they were just a kids she knew to herself that she really love him, she promised to herself that she would do everything for him. One day he told her to wait for him because he has something to say, she's waiting for him to their favorite place to play. She's ready to confess her feelings towards him and she knew he's feeling the same way, she's just waiting for him to confessed too. She's patiently waiting for him until dusk when her mother came out of nowhere telling to her that her bestfriend, Callan, and his family left the country. After that day she cried her heart out and she started to loathe and hate him, he made her feel stupid and she felt humiliated in front of everyone for waiting like a pathetic kid. Since then, she promised to herself again that she will forget him and her feelings for him. Years had been past Fantassia grew up into a fine and gorgeous lady that every men would do anything just to get her attention, but the old Fantassia who's sweet and caring to everyone was gone. The new Fantassia is a difficult person to deal with, she's so hard to please and a high-standard woman.