The Long Goodbye

Five years ago, my junior made a mistake in the experiment, resulting in an explosion in the lab. In an effort to save my childhood friend, Andrew, I suffered severe burns to one side of my face and was falsely accused as the culprit. Just like that, I became the target of everyone's anger. Only Andrew stood by me, promising, "I love you for who you are, not your appearance. I'll always be there to protect you." But on our wedding day, he vanished without a trace. My mother, suffering from heart disease and barely clinging to life, wanted to see Andrew. When I asked him to come, he replied impatiently, "Are you using such a lame excuse to meet me? Don't you have any shame? Every time I look at your face, I feel disgusting." I pleaded desperately, but he calmly hung up. "Do you think I'm your servant? You can't just summon me whenever you want. Just because you saved me once doesn't mean you can blackmail me for life." My mother died without peace. The junior who slandered me back then later posted a photo on social media, showing a man lifting her effortlessly. Their poses were intimate, highlighting the underlying affection. Her captions read: [It's all his fault for tiring me out during the day. I almost missed out on this beautiful ocean. When you're in love, all is clear to see. I mentioned wanting to go to Belmar Island, and he flew me around the world for it.] I was utterly heartbroken, so I texted him: [Let's break up…]

Nova Jane found love at a young age, but as those things sometimes go, they took different directions in life. Nova married Rob and has been living a life she can't seem to escape. One where every decision feels like a minefield of Robs' moods, and anything can set him off. She fantasizes about her first love to get through the abuse until she can save enough money to get out. It was then that she was happy and carefree. It helps to daydream about it, but it also hurts that it's forever beyond her reach.

My mother is hospitalized due to a terminal illness. She's in urgent need of a kidney transplant to save her life. I'm the only one who can perform the surgery, but I give the kidney to a stranger. My father and husband get on their knees before me on the day of the surgery. They beg me to save my mother. However, I shrug and say, "I can't do anything about this. A life is a life, regardless of who the person is. This is what she gets for coming late—death is waiting for her."

I had been in a relationship with Harry Chalamet for ten years. He stood up for me and even ended up in the hospital after a fight. He financially supported me in my education by laboring on construction sites. Even my friends could tell that he was madly in love with me, and I believed it too. Just when we were about to get married, I noticed he often secretly stared blankly at a photo. But the person in that photo wasn’t me…

My wife made me get a vasectomy. Not once, but ninety-nine times. Right before the hundredth operation, the doctor looked at me with pity in his eyes as the anesthesia failed to fully kick in. "Ms. Gibson really knows how to destroy a man," he murmured. "She's put him through ninety-nine vasectomies, then had them reversed—again and again. However, his body's long since broken. There's no chance of children now." "It's probably for her ex. Word is, it's his own brother. The scandals in these wealthy families—unbelievable." Because of a hospital mix-up at birth, my and Jeff Cunningham's fates were exchanged. He grew up with the Cunningham family, while I lived a poor life. Years later, my parents found the truth, taking me in and sending Jeff away. To make things worse, I became Wynnie Gibson's new fiancé. I once asked her, barely able to speak through the pain, why she would marry someone she did not love. She looked at me calmly. "To get revenge," she said. "You came home and stole Jeff's place. He was the one I love. He drank himself to death after you returned." Even my biological parents knew she was poisoning me. However, they turned a blind eye. They did nothing to stop her. They knew Wynnie had got pregnant with Jeff's child through IVF—planning to raise the child and let him inherit the family fortune. I coughed up blood and threw myself into the sea. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I was first reunited with them. This time, when I saw the sorrow in their eyes—sorrow not for me, but for the son they lost— I chose to let them go.

Married to Jasper Brook for six years, I found out that he was keeping a mistress under his wing. She was stunning but timid, shrinking back at the slightest raised voice. Because of this, Jasper never lost his temper around her. He indulged her fragility and treated her preciously. However, the mistress wasn’t as obedient as she appeared. When she stirred up trouble with me, Jasper’s patience snapped, and he unleashed his fury on her. The next day, she sent me a photo of her neck covered in hickeys. “Selena, Mr. Brook is so scary. I’m terrified.”

Before Andrew and I formed our mate bond, I overheard him and his Wolven Clan brothers mocking me: "My Luna must serve my family and dedicate herself to the Blood Moon Pack." "Lina is obedient and devoted—she loves me with all her heart, keeps the pack running smoothly, and takes care of my mother. She works tirelessly, giving her all to my family." "However, Louise? She cherishes her dreams and craves freedom. She's a carefree spirit, meant for the vast open plains, not to be tied down and become a dull housewife." I did not argue or shed tears. Instead, I left the Blood Moon Pack without a word. Andrew assumed I was just sulking nearby, unaware that I had traveled far to the Northland. In the Northland, I not only rekindled my dreams but also found my true mate—the one who truly loves me. Now, I am his Luna Queen.

"Apa yang akan kamu coba, Ra?" Ayra memulai aksi nekatnya dengan perasaan gugup. Dia melepaskan kaitan baju sekolahnya satu-persatu di depan Rendra. "Ayra, kamu jangan nekat!" Lelaki itu panik sendiri dan menoleh ke sana kemari, ke penjuru kelas. Takut jika tiba-tiba ada siswa lain yang masuk. "Aku tahu ini bukan dirimu, Ra!" "Kamu suka cewek yang kayak gini 'kan, Ren?" "Iya! Aku emang suka! Tapi bukan kamu, Ra! Bukan kamu yang harus kayak gini!" Sebelum Ayra membuka kaitan bajunya yang ke-tiga, Rendra menutup bagian depan tubuh Ayra menggunakan jaket yang baru saja dia lepas. Kemudian merengkuh gadis itu dengan erat. *** Ayra merupakan gadis SMA semester akhir. Dia menjadi frustrasi saat tiba-tiba diputuskan oleh Rendra—kekasih yang sangat dia cintai. Alasannya adalah karena Rendra lebih menyukai gadis berpenampilan dewasa. Ayra berusaha sekeras mungkin menjadi apa yang Rendra inginkan meskipun sebenarnya tubuhnya menolak. Rendra sendiri juga tidak menginginkan perubahan itu terjadi pada gadis tersebut. Sementara Attar—lelaki dewasa yang satu rumah dengan Ayra karena mendadak harus bertanggung jawab dengan seluruh kehidupan Ayra pun turut mengekang perubahan gadis itu. Dia sangat menjaga Ayra hingga lebih baik Ayra dia ajak menikah saja daripada melakukan hal berbahaya di luar sana. Akankah Ayra balikan dengan Rendra? Atau justru memilih untuk menikah dengan Attar? ***

Katie Megan Romero, a talented young theatre actress who fell in love with a talent producer. But what are they going to do if their relationship is being messed up with the bashers? Will they still fight or just leave each other behind?

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT "How long will I love you?" "Until my dying breath." From the moment they set their eyes on each other, Ian and Kimberly have been head over heels in love. Their intense love for each other fills their lives with colors and their bellies with butterflies but their happiness is cut short when Kimberly is diagnosed with a life threatening sickness. A sudden death forces the love birds to say goodbye to each other but Ian soon discovers that everything they were made to believe was a lie. How far would he go, to be with the love of his life?