Sick Birthday

100 years ago, amidst WW3's nuclear bombing, a deadly virus was released in the atmosphere and nearly wiping out the humanity. It lives inside the human brain thriving on the empathy receptors, leading to irrational behaviour and ultimately brain death. To slow the damage, scientists created L.O.V.E, short for Living Off Vital Emotions, a nanovaccine that numbs the virus and switches off all strong emotions. As a last resort and with a dying planet, the Supreme Government created the City, a place to contain the infected survivors suitable for the experiment. Those in the first stages of illness became ideal candidates to receive the neuroinhibitor. Having their feelings restrained and their memory altered, those who come of age are designated a life partner through a selection process, thus preserving the humankind. A few decades after the trial had started, scientists had a major breakthrough. The nanites, which are highly chemically reactive organisms, are changing their bio-engineered purpose when dopamine levels are high. With a new generation of nanoids, stronger and smarter to fight the battle, the virus doesn't have a chance. Many attempts were made to create a man-made version of synthetic dopamine and each time the outcome was a disaster. Their goal is to create new generations, immune to the virus. These are called Purebloods, the offsprings of those who find pure love, the only cure to save them from a violent death. Running out of time, the Experiment entered in its final stages. To minimize the threats, the Colonies have sent their best soldiers to oversee the trial and protect its key subjects. If only things were going according to plan, or better... stay hidden. With Iron Guard, the resistance outside the walls, hunting the Purebloods too, will the trial save human race before it's too late?

Stephanie has had the life that many girls have dreamt of. The money, the popularity, the looks, the boyfriend…you name it. Growing up with a silver spoon in her mouth has made her to be a very snobby and egotistical person which was perfect for the football star of a boyfriend she carries around with her on her arms; that is until, one day, Stephanie and her boyfriend has a huge argument which makes her rethink their entire relationship. It is then she has an epiphany that her once adored relationship is not genuine at all. This made her realize that maybe she does not know much about love as she once thought. That is, until she met a geeky student by the name of Luca Hawthorne. You have heard about the nerdy girl softening the bad boy’s heart before, but would the story be more interesting if it were to be the geeky boy teaching the cheerleader how to love? And it is so…The two immediately strike a deal so that they can both benefit from the unlikely relationship. Luca will teach Stephanie how to love and Stephanie will pretend to date Luca so that he can get his crush’s attention. I mean, this plan is not bound to crash and burn…right?

(21+) Di usianya yang telah menginjak 28 tahun, hidup Biola terlihat begitu sempurna dari luar, semua berjalan melebihi harapannya. Selain baru saja mendapatkan promosi sebagai manager di toko buku tempat dia bekerja, Dion, kekasih tampan yang sudah tiga tahun menemaninya pun berniat akan segera meminangnya. Semua terlihat begitu mulus baginya! Namun Biola tak pernah menduga, bahwa kehadiran karyawan baru yang lima tahun lebih muda darinya akan langsung menjungkir-balikkan seluruh mimpi indah yang baru saja dia rajut bersama Dion. Marko, pemuda 23 tahun yang baru saja dipindah-tugaskan ke toko buku tempat Biola bekerja, pemuda iseng yang secara tiba-tiba hadir mengusik hari-hari Biola dengan tingkah usilnya yang kekanakan. Waktu yang mereka habiskan bersama secara ajaib pula menciptakan benih-benih ketertarikan di hati Marko. Meski demikian, sekuat apapun dia mencoba, di mata Biola, dia tidaklah lebih dari seorang anak-anak, bocah ingusan. Namun, jika betul Biola tidak punya rasa dengan Marko, mengapa pula dia harus cemburu tiap kali melihat Marko bersama kekasihnya? Terlebih setelah satu malam gila yang mereka habiskan bersama! Semua menjadi lebih pelik dari dugaannya ketika Biola mengetahui bahwa dirinya tengah mengandung! Lantas, anak siapa yang ada di rahimnya? Bagaimana caranya untuk menghadapi rentetan masalah yang kini menjeratnya? Bagaimana akhir dari kisah cinta mereka yang kompleks? Pada siapakah pada akhirnya hati Biola tertaut?

The little boy I had saved when we were kids grew up to be a possessive, obsessive CEO. For ten years, he kept me by his side, using my grandmother's illness as a bargaining chip to force me into marrying him. He tried everything to win my heart, pulling every trick in the book, but no matter what he did, he could never make me love him. In a fit of rage, he found a woman who looked almost exactly like me to take my place. They flaunted their relationship for everyone to see, and people whispered that the CEO had finally found his true love. But that day, the woman, riding on his affection, barged into the villa with her entourage. She broke my fingers one by one, slashed my face with a utility knife, and removed my clothes to humiliate me. "Even though you had surgery to look like me, I'll let that slide. But you even learned to paint like me, too? You really did your homework. Let's see how you try to seduce men now!" Just as I was bleeding out and on the verge of death, the obsessive CEO finally showed up. The stand-in grabbed my hair and dragged me in front of him, smugly reporting, "Honey, this wench was hiding in the villa trying to seduce you. I've made sure she can't succeed!"

"คุณ! ข่มขืนฉัน!" "ฉันไปทำเธอตอนไหน?" "ตอนไหนเหรอ ก็เมื่อคืนไงไอ้คนทุเรศ!" "เมื่อคืนฉันเมาเละ อย่ามาใช้มุกตื้น ๆ จับฉันมันไม่สำเร็จ" "จับบ้าอะไรฮะ ฉันโดนข่มขืนฉันเสียหายนะไอ้ชั่ว" "ก็บอกว่าไม่ได้ทำไงวะ" "เมาเหมือนหมาแล้วจำไม่ได้ว่าข่มขืนผู้หญิงเหรอ!" "ก็บอกว่าไม่ได้ทำไงวะ!" "ก็บอกว่าทำไงวะ!!"

This is a story of two close friends (Courtney and Judy) and the odds that meet them as soon as Courtney turns 18. They hope for a bright future together but have no clue on things that are yet to unfold in their lives.

After twenty-five years of trying to win over Gus Harding, I failed and died by his hand. But he didn't know that. He kept threatening, demanding I show myself immediately. The real heiress slapped him hard. "Genevieve is dead, and you didn't even care enough to see her one last time." Gus scoffed, claiming it was just another one of my tricks. Only when he saw my cold, lifeless body did he finally understand. I was gone for good. And this time, it drove him mad.

By our sixth year of marriage, Derrick hadn't touched me in three months. Said he was swamped at work. Always tired. After everything, I still believed him. Then on my birthday, I caught his friend talking in Garmenian—a language Derrick didn't think I understood. "You cut off the side piece yet? You were with her nonstop. Surprised you didn't drop dead. Your wife cool with that?" Derrick let out a smoke ring. "Haven't touched Audrey in months. Sabrina's insane in bed—I'm not over her yet. Sucks she got pregnant. Audrey doesn't want kids, so I gave Sabrina some cash. She'll have the baby overseas." My hands curled into fists. Silent tears streamed down my face. He glanced over, nervous. "What's wrong?" I smiled. "The cake you made is amazing. I'm really touched." It was sweet—but when you understand Garmenian, all you taste is betrayal.

On my birthday, the dining table was loaded with all my favorites. My mom had been cooking and baking the entire afternoon, insisting everything be perfect for when Mike got home from work so we could celebrate together. But then, he called and said his first love had been drugged at a bar, and he had to go help her. I stopped him and begged him not to go. Mike snapped at me. "Jesus, Em, don’t pull this jealous wife crap. She’s alone, defenseless, and unconscious—I can't let some random dude take advantage of her!" My mother heard those words and was so enraged that she had a heart attack. She died on the spot. Just like that, my mom died on my birthday. I called Mike, asking him to attend my mom's funeral. But before he could reply, I saw Cathy Miller's latest Instagram post, captioned: [Mikey… after all these years, it was always you.] Mike had liked it. My thumb moved before my brain caught up, typing out the only words that mattered: [A homewrecker and a lying bastard. Hope you rot together.]

Pangarap ni Mavie na makatanggap ng birthday cake, buong-buo at walang bawas ang icing. Mahirap ang kanilang pamilya ngunit nagagawa ng kanilang magulang, kapwa magsasaka, ang patapusin sila sa pag-aaral. Matalik na magkaibigan mula pagkabata sina Hugo at Mavie sa kabila ng magkaiba ang estado ng kanilang buhay. Nag-aaral ng political science si Hugo sa bayan at nangangarap magtrabaho sa gobyerno. Samantala, nag-aaral naman ng engineering si Mavie sa kanilang baryo na nangangarap na maipa-renovate ang kanilang kubo. Isang kalihim ng samahang ARC (Arts with Responsibilities Creatives) si Mavie. Sa tulong ng kanyang kaibigang si Salome, namulat siya sa paglilingkod sa kolehiyo. Ang mga dokumento ng samahan na maingat niyang hinahawakan ang magiging susi ng pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata sa totoong takbo ng kolehiyo, maging ang iba pang organisasyong humaharap sa mala-butas ng karayom sa pagre-request ng budget ng mga gaganaping programa para sa mga kapwa estudyante. Samantala, ang pangarap na birthday cake ni Mavie para sa kanyang sarili ang magiging pinto ng kanyang tadhana upang hanapin ng kanyang puso ang lubos na sinisinta. Ito ay sa kabila ng mga kinakaharap ng mga pagsubok sa gitna ng tagumpay.