Social Introvert

I sat at the table, watching the food grow cold, much like my heart. Today was my birthday. It was also Leslie Buck's birthday—Katherine White's childhood sweetheart. I unlocked my phone and opened Leslie's social media page. As expected, a new post awaited me. "Grateful to have you by my side for every birthday. Let's keep our promise to celebrate every one of them together in the future!" The photo showed two hands forming a heart in front of a cake. One of them was Katherine's. I could tell from the bracelet she wore. It was the one I had given her. I gave the post a like, then set my phone aside. Without hesitation, I dumped the dishes Katherine liked into the trash and went out to a restaurant to order the food I liked, celebrating my birthday alone. From now on, I would make sure to enjoy every birthday of mine.

Born with congenital insensitivity to pain, I was the secret mistress and security guard of the wealthiest man, Julian Sterling, for eight years. Everyone within the same upper social class knew that Julian never got himself close to any women. I was the only exception. At some point, his first love, Chloe Smith, angered a gang leader, Vinnie Anderson. She had to sacrifice a body part in exchange for his mercy. Without a hint of hesitation, Julian made me the sacrifice. I was whipped 99 times. Three of my fingers were cut off on behalf of Chloe. “You can’t feel pain, anyway. This won’t make a difference to you. But Chloe is delicate and frail. She won’t be able to withstand this torture.” I finally realized that I was just a useful tool to Julian. Hence, when I was scouted, I kept him in the dark. Instead, I accepted the offer made by his opponent.

Dua keluarga bangsawan, Kartika Kusuma dan Ratih Wiratmadja, menjalin kesepakatan yang akan mengubah takdir dua anak muda yang memiliki karakter berkebalikan: Renata Dian Kusuma dan Elang Pradipta Wiratmadja. Kedua anak muda tersebut sama-sama tidak tertarik pada ide pernikahan, namun terpaksa harus bersatu dalam ikatan yang dijodohkan oleh kedua ibu mereka. Renata, seorang gadis yang introvert dan pendiam, harus bersedia menikahi Elang, pria ekstrovert tapi juga memiliki sisi misterius dengan aura bad boynya. Renata harus bersedia menerima perjodohan itu demi menyelamatkan perusahaan jamu yang didirikan oleh mendiang neneknya. Sementara itu, Elang, yang juga harus bersedia untuk mendapatkan seluruh harta kekayaan keluarganya, memilih menerima tantangan ini, bahkan jika itu berarti harus menikahi gadis yang tidak pernah dia kenal sebelumnya. Di tengah ketidaksetujuan dan kebingungan, Renata dan Elang memilih untuk mengikat pernikahan kontrak tanpa sepengetahuan keluarga masing-masing. Keduanya harus menemukan jalan dalam menjalani hidup bersama, meskipun awalnya mereka sama-sama tidak percaya pada cinta dan pernikahan yang diatur oleh orang tua. Dalam dunia yang penuh dengan tipu daya, reputasi, dan tekanan keluarga, mereka harus bersatu untuk melawan segala rintangan dan menemukan makna sesungguhnya dari pernikahan mereka. Apakah Renata dan Elang akan berhasil mengatasi ketidaksetujuan dan menemukan cinta sejati di antara pernikahan yang dijodohkan ini? Ataukah mereka hanya akan menjadi pion dalam permainan kepentingan keluarga yang lebih besar? Simak kisah romansa ringan antara Elang dan Renata berikut.

Mae's family faces the threat of losing their home and business, leading her to seek help from the only man that can help: the cold-hearted billionaire to whom her family owes a debt. But when she is face to face with the billionaire, she recognizes him as the stranger she had a brief, sizzling encounter with, a night of fun that left her with a bittertaste of rejection, after he had dismissed her as nothing more than a one night stand. Ethan Crowe has had his full of charlatans and social climbers. When he finds Mae in his office, he remembers her as one of them but her appearance presents an opportunity to fulfill his own agenda. With his grandfather's ultimatum of marriage looming, Ethan strikes a deal with Mae. Despite their mutual animosity, they agree to a marriage of convenience to meet their respective needs. As they navigate the charade of love, can they fool the world and Ethan's grandfather, while adhering to the terms of their arrangement?

I transmigrated into the role of a gorgeous villainess, tasked with tormenting my childhood buddies. I forced Maddox, Mr. Tough Guy, into putting on a sexy dress, essentially killing his chances of a social life. I grabbed the bottom of the ever-aloof Zane and made him red in the face. I kicked Damian, the crybaby, into the ground, and all he could do was glare at me through his tearful eyes. My aggressive antics only fueled their resentment. “One of these days, I’ll get you.” I winked at them without a care. “I’ll be waiting.” The day they crossed paths with the female lead would be the day I left this world. Their revenge didn’t scare me one bit. Little did I know, the time would come when I would be proven wrong. While I scrambled to get away in tears, he said softly, “Save your strength. The night is still young.”

After four years of marriage, James Lawson, who had never posted anything on social media, unexpectedly updated his status: "What an adorable little foodie!" The attached photo showed a young woman wearing pink cat ears, eating at a Korean BBQ restaurant. Her cheeks were flushed red from the spicy food as she stuck out her tongue. It was Sophie Jones, a new content creator at his company. Within a minute, our mutual friend commented: "Dude, you forgot to switch accounts!" Just like that, James's new post disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, only to show up moments later on Sophie's feed. Then James's name lit up my phone screen. In the past, I would have already taken screenshots and called him first to confront him. It would have inevitably ended in a heated argument. But this time, I calmly watched his call go to voicemail without answering.

My sister abruptly returns to the country on the day of my wedding. My parents, brother, and fiancé abandon me to pick her up at the airport. She shares a photo of them on her social media, bragging about how she's so loved. Meanwhile, all the calls I make are rejected. My fiancé is the only one who answers, but all he tells me is not to kick up a fuss. We can always have our wedding some other day. They turn me into a laughingstock on the day I've looked forward to all my life. Everyone points at me and laughs in my face. I calmly deal with everything before writing a new number in my journal—99. This is their 99th time disappointing me; I won't wish for them to love me anymore. I fill in a request to study abroad and pack my luggage. They think I've learned to be obedient, but I'm actually about to leave forever.

Johnson's family is one of the richest leading personalities, in the entire country. Terrence, an heir of more than twenty companies in the said family, is popular in the entertainment industry. His luxurious life attracts everyone, that men felt jealousy over him. No one knows his inner attitudes regardless of fans' expectations, until then, assistant Jirah comes along in his way. Jirah, who came from a middle-class race, also adores him deeply, changes the man's perceptions and lifestyles as well. They become partners in many aspects, a dog-cat relationship. Likewise, there are few instances that the two hated each other because of misunderstandings. Conflict happens when a video controversy spreads throughout social media that the celebrity's reputation is suddenly ruined. Jirah has a lot of insultments and rejections received from the guy but who knows, after all, Will Terrence's dumbness turns him to realize his admiration for Jirah? Do they have a happy ending? Destiny will decide for them all.

Ash Parker is a rare scholar at elite Saint Blaise's Academy (SBA). She's a good kid, just trying to get by in school, despite being a social outcast among her affluent peers. Just before her 18th birthday, a sudden transformation turns her life upside-down. Her werewolf blood is awakened and she gains the ability to shapeshift into a terrible beast. Hunter Guzman is a handsome boy who's popular at the Academy. As the sole heir of a rich and powerful clan, he's got everything going for him: killer looks, athleticism, charisma, and influence. He's also secretly a werewolf, descended from a strong, noble line of Lycidae. The two accidentally encounter each other on a hunt and form a fast bond. Ash thinks that being with Hunter will help her understand and control her newfound abilities. On the other hand, Hunter thinks that he and Ash are the One True Pairing that will save the Lycans from extinction. Is there a middle ground for two wolf kids trying to navigate love and transformation?

22 year old Dalia came to New York City to escape a traumatic past and start a new life. She met Alexander with whom she had a one night stand the weekend before she started her work as a personal assistant in one of the largest firms in the city. Her one night stand turned out to be her cold and strict boss whom she had to work closely with. 27 year old Alexander is one of New York's hottest billionaires. He went off the social media radar after an incident that left a dent in his life. He came back after 3 years and had a one night stand with someone that turned out to be his new personal assistant. Will they be able to move past their traumatic past and give in to the chemistry between them? What will happen when both of their pasts come back into their lives and they have to face them again? Will they be able to navigate the waters of deception and betrayal and find their happy ever after?