Zyline had liked Nick for a long time. There were six of them in their group of friends, including Nick. Everyone knew about her feelings for him-except, it seemed, Nick himself. She couldn't tell if he was just insensitive or if he simply didn't have any feelings for her. Brent was her closest best friend among all of them, and even though she was too shy to tell him about her feelings for Nick, he knew anyway. What if, one night, Brent kissed her and said they should give it a try? She couldn't deny the spark she felt when he kissed her. She agreed to what he wanted-they would try to be together but in secret. Now, she was utterly confused. When Brent thought that she still had feelings for Nick, he suddenly left and disappeared without a word. That's when Nick finally pursued her for real. But why, instead of being happy-finally noticed by Nick as a woman-did her heart keep longing for Brent? Brent, who hadn't reached out to her since the night when something almost happened between them.
Katrina and Eunice approached her with smiles, seemingly giddy on her behalf.
"Your 'my loves' is on the way," Eunice whispered, because Brent was nearby, engrossed in his comics.
The four of them were gathered under a large tree in the vacant lot, their usual meeting spot as a group of friends. The six of them were childhood friends who lived close to each other. They were just waiting for the last two, Nick and Joe.
Three of them were girls and two were boys-yes, only two boys, because Joe was gay and the loudest among them.
She quickly grabbed her comb and mirror, fixing her hair, which wasn't even messy to begin with. They were all high school students attending the same school. Only she and Brent were classmates; the others were in different sections.
She placed the comb and mirror back into her small shoulder bag and waited for Joe and Nick to arrive. The girls were seated on a large fallen tree trunk while Brent was perched up in the tree, still absorbed in his comics.
They soon spotted their two friends approaching on bicycles. The three girls exchanged glances and smiles, but hers faded as the bikes drew nearer-Nick had a girl riding with him.
Nick and Joe quickly reached them, parking their bikes. Nick put his arm around the girl who had been with him.
"Have you been here long, girls?" Joe teased loudly, looking up at Brent in the tree.
Brent jumped down to join them. Nobody spoke as they all stared at the girl Nick had his arm around.
"Oh, this is Fay, my girlfriend," Nick said with a smile, introducing the girl.
Her young heart suddenly ached. She wanted to cry but held it in. She observed the girl Nick introduced. She was pretty, but just from her looks, she could tell she was flirtatious.
"Hi!" the girl greeted cheerfully.
"Hi, I'm Brent," Brent introduced himself when none of the girls responded.
Brent extended his hand toward Nick's girlfriend. Fay gazed at him with dreamy eyes. She didn't know why, but she felt the girl's smile was flirtatious.
Actually, Brent was more handsome than Nick, but Nick had a way with words that won him girlfriends. Brent, on the other hand, could be moody and reserved, and she was the only one who understood his quirks because they were the closest in the group.
Her brows furrowed as she noticed Fay trying to act cute around Brent, even with her boyfriend beside her. She also saw the disapproval on her other friends Katrina and Eunice's faces.
"Ola! These are our lovely besties-Katrina, Eunice, and, of course, the most beautiful of them all, Zyline!" Their gay friend Joe's loud voice startled them all.
They reluctantly shook hands with Nick's new girlfriend. She was probably the fifth girlfriend Nick had introduced to them.
"Oh, girls, help me spread out this mat over there so we can have a picnic vibe. We brought food too," Joe said suddenly, heading toward the tree.
Eunice and Katrina immediately followed. She, however, remained rooted in place. She was about to excuse herself and claim a headache-especially seeing how sweet Nick and his girlfriend were being-but Brent spoke first.
"Joe, can I borrow your bike? Zy and I are just going for a ride," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her toward Joe's bike.
She couldn't say a word and simply followed.
"Hey, you two! Is there something going on that you're not telling us?" Joe teased, pausing in his task.
Nick and his girlfriend looked in their direction.
"Yeah, come on, spill it! Let's all be happy-happy!" Nick chimed in.
Her face twisted at their teasing remarks.
"You guys are nuts!" Brent laughed, motioning for her to get on the bike.
Their two female friends didn't say a word because they already knew who she truly liked.
She got on the bike, sitting in front of Brent. Still, she remained silent. Brent started pedaling. She didn't know where they were going, but she didn't care. She'd go anywhere as long as she wasn't there, risking an emotional breakdown.
"You okay?" Brent asked suddenly.
"Yep," she replied briefly.
She closed her eyes, feeling the wind on her face as they rode around the subdivision.
Even without her saying it, she knew Brent understood her deep feelings for Nick. She suspected he had taken her on this bike ride because he saw she was on the verge of tears earlier.
Though she hadn't told him, Brent knew everything she felt.
She looked up at her friend's face, focused on the road ahead.
Why couldn't she just like Brent instead? He was so handsome. Sure, Nick was fair-skinned, but he wasn't that good-looking. Brent, on the other hand, had mestizo features, thanks to his foreign father, who now lived abroad with his new family.
Brent's parents had never married and had separated long ago. His father married someone, while his mother worked overseas. Brent had been left in the care of his aunt, who had her own family.
"Done yet?" he asked, still looking at the road.
"Huh?" she asked, confused, still gazing up at his face.
"Done admiring my good looks?" he teased, lowering his gaze toward her with playful eyes.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Conceited," she muttered softly.
He just laughed, turning his focus back to the road. Soon, he started singing softly-Bituin Escalante's Kung Ako Na Lang Sana.
She smiled and joined in. They sang other songs too, laughing because both were out of tune.
By the time they returned to their hangout, she was smiling again. They approached their friends hand in hand, drawing everyone's attention. Fay raised an eyebrow at them.
"Well, well! I've long suspected these two!" Joe clapped enthusiastically.
She noticed Nick staring intently at their joined hands. She and Brent glanced at each other before bursting into laughter. They sat down together, sharing the food Brent had gotten for them.
Everyone else just watched as Brent fed her a bite of food. Smiling, she opened her mouth and ate it, and they laughed together once more.
Isang librong may anim na kwento ng kababalaghan na tiyak na magpapatindig ng inyong mga balahibo. UNANG KWENTO: Boarder IKALAWANG KWENTO: Ang Kwintas ni Lola IKATLONG KWENTO: Obra Maestra IKAAPAT NA KWENTO: The Cursed Tattoo IKALIMANG KWENTO: Diet HULING KWENTO: Ang Bangungot na Dreamboy
Because of the strong desire to give the best treatment for her mother after her stroke, Samantha was forced to accept the offer to dance for a client, Mr. MC. She is a private sexy dancer of a wealthy man. She hasn't seen his face not even once because he always wears a masquerade mask when she dances in front of him. She needs to give him a good show to warm his night just by dancing. Just watch, no-touch, that's it! When she got to know his personality, she gradually fell in love with the man. Will she be able to fight how she feels with the person who pays her just because of her body? What if the agreement ends when the woman he was supposed to marry returns?
Matagal nang may gusto si Zyline kay Nick. Anim silang magkakabarkada kasali si Nick. Alam na ng lahat ang pagtatangi niya sa kaibigan maliban na lang yata rito. Hindi niya alam kung manhid lang ito or talagang wala lang gusto sa kanya. Si Brent ang pinaka-bestfriend niya sa lahat ng mga kaibigan niya at kahit hindi niya sinasabi rito ang nararamdaman kay Nick dahil sa hiya ay may pakiramdam siyang alam din iyon ni Brent. Paano kung isang gabi ay hinalikan siya ni Brent at sinabing subukan nila? Hindi niya maikakaila ang kuryenteng naramdaman nang halikan siya ng kaibigan. Pinagbigyan niya ito sa gusto nitong mangyari. Susubukan nilang maging sila pero palihim. Ngayon ay litong-lito na siya. Sa pag-aakala ni Brent na si Nick pa rin ang gusto niya ay bigla itong umalis at hindi na nagpakita. Saka naman siya niligawan na nang tuluyan ni Nick. Pero bakit sa halip na maging masaya at sa wakas ay napansin na rin siya ni Nick bilang babae ay si Brent na ang hinahanap ng puso niya? Si Brent na hindi na nagparamdam sa kanya mula nung gabing muntik nang may mangyari sa kanila.
Dahil sa kagustuhang maipagamot ang ina pagkatapos nitong ma-stroke ay napilitan siyang tanggapin ang offer na sumayaw sa isang kliyente na si Mr. MC. Isa siyang private sexy dancer ng lalaking hindi man lang niya nasisilayan ang mukha. Kailangan niyang painitin ang gabi nito sa pamamagitan lang ng sayaw. Just watch, no touch, kumbaga. Nang makilala na niya ang katauhan nito ay unti-unti na ring nahuhulog ang loob niya sa lalaki. Makakaya mo bang ipaglaban ang nararamdaman mo sa taong binabayaran ka lang dahil sa katawan mo? Paano kung ang kasunduan ninyo ay magtatapos kapag bumalik na ang babaeng pakakasalan sana nito?
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
Cathryn, an orphan with no family ties to Grayson, regarded him only as family. He, however, valued her as a precious jewel. From their very first encounter, Cathryn's destiny was intertwined with his. Once lonely and desiring affection, she was ensnared by his love, unable to break free. Eventually, she managed to escape his emotional clutches. Shockingly, she had fallen for someone else. Grayson confronted her sharply. "How could you feel for another?" Unable to meet his eyes, she whispered, "You're family. I can't..." Looking down, he pressed further. "You can't, or you wouldn’t dare?"
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.