Tackle Hugs

Is it possible for a single mother, who has got her heart broken twice, to fall in love again, that too with a woman? Alizeh Brown is whipped by a sudden new feeling that blooms in her heart. She has crossed the marriage age in the blink of an eye. Living with a conservative family, she was bound to fulfill their all expectations and follow the girl being a good girl. But as they say, rules can’t tie up the rulers. Alizeh has not only broken their expectations and promise of being a good girl but also has messed with the stereotypes, bringing disappointment to her family. She has looked at everything as a challenge to conquer. As her family starts putting pressure on her to get married, Alizeh has accepted this challenge as well. She has gone far beyond love already but there’s someone who has been able to plant the seed of love in her life again. No matter how many men crossed her path, she realized what she truly yearns for in her life. Every time she has met HER, a fountain of seven shades of colors drenched her in unconditional love. Now she has to accept her newfound self as well as tackle rigid expectations of her family. Will she be able to stand on her choices made upon her sexuality and choose a life she wants?

Recovering from a rough relationship and a week of ice cream, Leslie King has new priorities in place for herself. Being a publicist for the billionaire entrepreneur Garret Harrison, she figures she has more important things to worry about than a man clouding her thoughts. That is until Sebastian comes along. Arrogant, selfish and unbelievably gorgeous, Sebastian has his mind set on partying until the day is gone and sleeping with as many women he pleases. After all, being the son of Garret Harrison and the heir to the Harrison empire, who could blame him? But what if it is time for a new era to begin for Sebastian? An era of responsibility and morality, the two things he despises the most? To both of their misfortune, their opposite lives soon intertwine as Leslie is given the task to turn the tabloid plastered playboy into a man fit enough to take over an internationally successful company, and Garret figures three months at Sebastian's mother's manor in Tennessee will assist in the process. Leslie has everything planned out and is ready to tackle the task. However, there are more to the Harrison's than she sees in Forbes and hears from her boss, and staying with the Harrison's for such a long period of time will bring everything to light.

After my girlfriend's father hit someone with a car, he took his own life because he didn't want to get arrested. But in doing so, he left behind a huge debt he had racked up. In order to help my girlfriend pay off the compensation, I work around the clock as a food deliveryman. Every day, I sleep less than four hours just to squeeze in more work. But when I finish delivering a new order, I notice a man clad in a bathrobe standing in front of me at a hotel suite's doorway. He's completely covered in hickeys. A young woman dressed in a sexy nightgown hugs him from behind. "I'm absolutely famished right now because of how long you've been tormenting me in bed earlier, darling! Hurry up and grab the takeout!" I can only stare at the woman, completely shell-shocked. That's when the bag of takeout slips off my fingers and crashes onto the floor. The woman takes a step backward. Her brows drawn into a frown, she exclaims, "How are my boyfriend and I supposed to enjoy the food now that it's all dirty?" After that, she kicks the takeout at me right away, spilling grease all over my clothes. I remain rooted to the spot, still stunned. This woman… is Irene Swensen, my girlfriend who's about to get engaged to me.

Every being go through a rough phase in life. It was the same for Gianna. She was looked down upon amongst her pack because of her being a lower rank half human, half omega with a mismatched eyes which earned her nothing but misery and torture. She was adopted by Alberet, Gamma of the Mega pack who found Gianna in a pit of hole abandoned by her parents. He brought her into the pack and raise her up to an adult age. Gianna patiently awaits the day she'd find her mate and be freed from the taunting only to receive the news that she'd be transferred to another pack. Fort Stone pack. It has reached the stage Alberet could no longer protect her in the Mega pack. Valen, the prince of wolf, cold and dangerous Alpha of Fort Stone pack who was exiled to Mont Givana after a curse has been tied on him due to his parents recklessness. That he won't be able to find his Luna. Rules were set in the pack house. No one dares to mention his name. For, only his name is a calamity to the pack. And no one dares to cross the Mont Givana bridge. However, rules are meant to be broken. It was unknown to Gianna. Little did she know by crossing the bridge, the curse has been incited on her too. How will Gianna tackle the mystery when she is close to finding her mate and on the other hand, she is the only person that will save Valen, the prince of wolf from the deadly curse.

Sometimes, love isn't just about a feeling. It's not just hugs and kisses. It's not just I love you's and I miss you's. There's more to love if we choose to see what's beyond it. There's sacrifices. Yeah, a sacrifice is truly one of the truest forms of love. Kasi naman, hindi ka naman magsasakripisyo kung hindi mo mahal, diba? You choose to sacrifice because there's more at stake than your feelings alone. Kaya kahit mahirap at masakit, you will always end up choosing the right thing to do. Iyon ang nasa isip ni Hope. Kapag magmamahal siya, she will be more than willing to sacrifice for that person. Dala-dala niya ang thought na 'yon everyday. What she didn't know is that it is easier to say it than do it. Kasi naman, she was never in love before. Hindi niya alam na ganoon pala kahirap kapag nasa sitwasyon ka na. Then there goes Sir Troy who came to her life one day. Bigla-bigla. Walang sign. Walang babala. Iyon na sana, kaso reality has its own way of slapping her. He's an instructor. She's his student. It's forbidden. Now, she's stuck between fighting for that love and letting go. Alin ba ang dapat gawin?

On my 16th birthday, I treat myself to the most delicious cake I can find. On that day, before I can even take a bite, my parents, who are always at odds with each other, sign their divorce papers right in front of me. So, on my wedding day, I tell my wife, Keira Jarrett, "If you ever want a divorce, just get me a birthday cake." She hugs me tightly and promises me."Don't worry. 'Birthday' won't even be a word in our home anymore." Seven years later, on Keira's birthday, her assistant, Jackson Price, throws her a surprise party. She slaps him across his handsome, gentle face and kicks him out of Jarrett Group. That day, I am convinced I have chosen the right woman for life. But three months later, on my birthday, I find out the supposedly fired Jackson has been promoted to Keira's personal secretary. He personally delivers a custom-made birthday cake to me. I call Keira to demand an explanation, but her voice on the other end is cold and distant. "Jack meant well. Don't be a spoilsport." I freeze for a moment, then hang up. It turns out my parents are right all along. The only way a birthday cake tastes right is when it's served with divorce papers.

In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

If you are a fan of BL stories, then this book is for you. A love story between two opposite worlds. The son of a Mafia Lord and a lone ghost. After his death, Earth becomes a lonely ghost. Until he meets a kid who can see him. Years later, they became best friends but... What would happen when Earth falls in love with his friend?. Excerpt* "I know we are different... i am different but what do you expect me to do with my heart. It hurts me every single time when i see you with that girl...I was told a ghost shouldn't abhor any feelings but this ghost here abhors one for you...Can you do anything about it?" He stood up from the shade of a oak tree and his eyes wandered off to the pouring rain. He disappeared, then appeared again and that continuously repeated. Tears was seen in his eyes. FULL SYNOPSIS. Can you see me? is a story about an abandoned soul who thinks his existence was a mistake until the appearance of a distinct unexpected someone. After his death, Earth becomes a lonely ghost. After travelling the whole world listlessly, he returns to his grave in Thailand. Earth died over 25 years ago with no one ever looking after his grave. Until one day, a boy named Pete, together with his friends, visits the cemetery. He comes across Earth's untended grave and decides to offer some food. That happened every year and it brought light into the dull Earth's life. But one day, Pete suddenly came to the grave alone in tears. He sees Earth and hugs him. Their own unexpected love story began from that one hug.

"Now the most important rule," he paused to gain her full attention and when he was sure she was listening carefully, he added, "we do not touch, or let others touch our body except for shaking hands and friendly hugs, no matter what the case." Bella looked at him and blinked, "but you touched my ass, Lucifer." She accused him again, making him dumbfounded. Lucifer coughed, embarrassed, remembering how he was enjoying touching her and even commented that it was firm and perky. "I was asleep, Bella, I did not know." He was telling the truth. But Bella added, "but you said, in any case, Lucifer." His reason left him speechless once again. Now what should he do? If he said this was an exception, she would ask him to make a list of exceptions. He sighed, "okay, it was a mistake, Bella, I apologise." He replied sincerely, that he should not take advantage of her childlike innocence. It's alright, let me touch your ass, and we will be equal. ****** Lucifer was broke. He didn't have enough money to pay his sister's fees and buy her something for Christmas. He wanted to do something special for her this Christmas, so he took the advice of his best friend and gave his room on rent. But due to the Christmas holidays, he didn't get any applications from men to take the room. In desperation, he accepted the girl who had asked many times for the room. What he doesn't know is that the girl is a demon who ran away from the group that came to destroy the happiness of the festivities.

After the real son, Asher Vale, was brought back, everything in our house became tied to drawing lots. The chef of the day, who would have to cook a particular person's preferred dishes, had to be decided by drawing lots. Even our parents' kisses and hugs were chosen the same way. I always drew the short stick. The long stick, by default, belonged to Asher. He never had to do anything to receive our parents' love. Whenever I felt it was unfair and wanted to cry, Mom would scold me sharply, "I bought the lot-drawing box because I was afraid you'd feel hurt. I wanted to be fair to both of you. If you want something, decide it yourselves. Your father and I won't interfere. If you can't draw the long stick, you can only blame your bad luck." So I began practicing every day, shaking the box diligently, over and over, in hopes that one day, it would help me earn my parents' love. Unfortunately, for ten years, I never once drew the long stick. Until my birthday. Asher wanted to go to the amusement park, and Mom once again told us to decide by drawing lots. I secretly glued the two short sticks together and handed them to Mom, hoping to keep her with me. She slapped me hard across the face, screaming that I was cheating and disobedient. Then she stormed out of the house with Asher. When I fell to the ground, the short stick stabbed deep into my neck. 'I'm sorry, Mom. Next time, I'll work harder. Next time, I'll definitely draw the long stick.'