Adulting Stories

May diploma. May talento. May pangarap. Isang writer na halos hindi kumikita. Isang anak na hindi makaalis sa bahay. Isang taong pagod nang habulin ang hustisyang matagal nang ipinagkait sa kanya. A story about ambition, survival, betrayal, and finding peace in a world that never played fair.

Maraiah Jecelle spent most of her life searching for a place she could truly call home. After losing her parents, she learned to survive by holding tightly to the people she loved, especially Kael Dela Vega-the boy who had been beside her since childhood. Her best friend. Her safe place. The one person she believed would never leave. What she never knew was that Kael had been carrying a secret of his own. For years, he stayed by her side, loving her quietly while watching her give her heart to someone else. He never asked for more, never crossed the line, and never expected his feelings to be returned. Being there for her was enough. Until it wasn't. As betrayal, grief, and long-buried family secrets begin to resurface, Maraiah is forced to confront the truth about her past, her identity, and the people she thought she knew. Meanwhile, Kael struggles to protect the person he loves while fighting the growing distance between them. But some truths come with a price. Some wounds heal. Some scars fade. But some stains remain no matter how hard you try to wash them away. And sometimes, the deepest stains are left not by hatred or loss-but by the people who once felt like home.

[POETRY #2] A collection of poems about growing up before feeling ready. twenty-something explores the realities of adulthood, the exhaustion hidden behind independence, the loneliness of becoming, and the pressure to keep moving even when life feels uncertain. Through soft and reflective poetry, this collection captures the in-between phase of navigating dreams, responsibilities, changing relationships, and the version of yourself you are still learning to become. For anyone who has ever felt lost, left behind, or overwhelmed by the weight of growing up: this book is a reminder that you are not navigating life alone. twenty-something written by: syrynah © All Rights Reserved

They won't stop talking to me. Penny Pearson keeps playing the same character and can't level up: herself. She's 25, unemployed, broke, and one bad decision away from making rum and video games her entire personality. Then, strangers start confessing things to her. Not normal things, either: "Someone who looks exactly like me is ruining my life." "I think my therapist is a vampire." "There's something in the lake." "I see ghosts all over campus. And they're angry." Penny doesn't know why people keep supernatural trauma dumping on her. She didn't ask for the stories. But once people start telling them, she can't help but listen. Then Alex appears - British, bossy, and annoyingly attractive - and tells her that she's a Listener. It sounds simple but Listening has side effects. Energy drains, nightmares, and voices whispering to her in the darkness. And some of the storytellers are dangerous. So Penny does the only reasonable thing - she starts a podcast. Her name. Her voice. Their monsters. It's supposed to be a record of what happened. A way to understand and proof that she wasn't insane - proof that she was here. But stories have power. Listener voices have more. And Penny has no idea who - or what - her voice has awakened.

Aude has a plan. Sort of. Survive business school, be more mature, keep things casual with the boy she's definitely not in love with, and absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for the arrogant finance guy she interned with in Greece. Easy. Except her year in Nantes has other ideas: There are too many parties she doesn't remember agreeing to, suspiciously flirty chats, and way too many moments that feel like coupledom, but aren't. Not officially. As friendships shift and feelings get messy, Aude finds herself growing up in ways she never planned, and realizing that the people who change us the most aren't always the ones who stay. Sharp, funny, and quietly devastating, this is a story about love, timing, and the chaos of becoming who you are, one awkward text at a time. - - - - - - - - Cover found on Pinterest TWS : Talks about mental health Songs and lyrics go to their rightful owners

May the words written here bring comfort and joy you long for in life. wuways (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)

Some people are easy to forget. But some linger... In habits you never changed, in songs you have stopped listening to, in promises you were never meant to break. Time moves on and lives change. People learn how to live without what they once thought they needed...Or at least try too. So when Kim Sunoo walks into a reunion he almost didn't attend, he thinks it will be just another evening. Only thing is...It isn't.

Aastha's first job lands her in Ahmedabad - smack in the middle of adulting chaos. Dry chapatis for lunch, rushed mornings, and somehow still late to work despite waking up on time. All she wants? To survive the grind of office hours, burnt dinners, and crushing expectations. Karjun Shah runs Shah Enterprises like clockwork - sleeves rolled up, silver wristwatch gleaming, and not a hair out of place. Stern, composed, the perfect CEO... until he's home. There, he's just Kaju -the steady heart of a noisy, loving Gujarati household that refuses to let him be anything but human. Neither planned this. But Aastha keeps catching glimpses of his silhouette and falling a little harder each time. Karjun can't ignore the new drafter with too many things in her tote and an uncanny way of softening his world. Love doesn't always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes, it tiptoes in - slow, steady, and unstoppable. All images/pictures belong to their rightful owners. I do not own any. Thank you. Have fun reading! Started: 30/05/2025 Word count: 90,000

Lason ang pag-ibig sa tulad kong dukha. Walang karapatang magmahal dahil alam kong hindi sapat ang nararamdaman kong 'to upang maging busog ako sa isang araw. Hindi sapat ang pagliyag ko upang bayaran ang tumambak na bayarin. Sa mundong bawat sentimo ay kailangang paghirapan, ang pangarap ay luho at ang pag-ibig ay pribilehiyong hindi ko kayang angkinin. Kaya paano ako matututong umibig kung araw-araw, ang tanging iniisip ko ay kung paano mabubuhay? Paano ko hahawakan ang puso ng iba kung sariling buhay ko'y halos hindi ko na maiahon?

This book isn't just a story. It's my manifestation. A reflection of the kind of love I dream of-raw, respectful, unshakable. The love that grows quietly, yet fiercely. One that protects in silence and worships without needing to be loud. This is for every soul craving a timeless connection. The one where eyes speak louder than words, where arms are the safest home, and where two people become a universe no storm can break. If you've ever imagined your person walking in just when you were about to give up- This story is your gentle reminder: the universe never forgets what you whispered to it. This book is not perfect, but it's personal. It's not a fairy tale, but it's full of faith. Thank you for reading a piece of my heart. With all my warmth, - C "To the love I haven't met yet... I already wrote us down." Disclaimer:- This story was born from my thoughts, my emotions, and the little worlds I carry within me. Every character and every feeling is deeply mine. Along the way, I took a little indirect assistance from AI to refine certain scenes and shape the narrative-but the soul of this story has always been, and will always be, mine.

Daniel Merrell was just about the most competent man you'd ever meet. He was sharp, strategic, and always on top of everything. He worked efficiently and knew exactly what to say and do to complete a project ahead of its deadline. He counted everything-steps, coffee cups, and even the number of times he said "strategic alignment" in meetings (well, actually, Mallory does that for him. She's been keeping a tally: forty-seven and counting, apparently). But he was terrified of everything. Mondays, coffee machines that judge him, elevators with other people in them, the very idea of anyone knowing he exists... even office succulents on the brink of death that definitely have opinions about his life choices. (Don't ask him how he knows that. He just does.) But most of all, he's terrified of Ava Thomas. Not because she's intimidating. Because she's kind. She sees through his corporate jargon and anxiety, yet she still smiles at him across the office. She greets him in the mornings and engages in small talk, simply because she doesn't want the new guy to feel lonely. She even offers to help him out, despite him giving her no reason to do so. He had never met anyone quite like her before. And now... he's doomed. Now, he has to decide: stay safe and alone, or do the terrifying work of becoming someone not only worthy of a second chance at love after facing devastating heartbreak, but someone actually capable of receiving it. This is a story about anxiety, growth, and learning that being brave isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing love anyway.

Si Mayumi Kate Del Mundo ay isang bread winner ng pamilya, kinailangan niyang buhayin magisa ang kanyang mga kapatid simula ng iwan sila ng kanilang ina at sumama sa bago nitong asawa, ni ang kanyang ama ay hindi niya manlang nakilala dahil simula pagkabata ay iniwan lang din sila nito. Dahil sa kahirapan ay napilitan siyang pumasok sa trabaho na hindi niya aakalaing magiging dahilan ng pagtatagpo nilang dalawa ni Steven Martin Cervantes, nagiisang anak at taga pagmana ng mayamang pamilya ng mga Cervantes. Mababago kaya ni Steven ang buhay ni Yumi o si Yumi ang makakapag pabago sa buhay ni Steven? paano mangyayari yon kung nakatakdang ikasal si Steven sa babaeng hindi naman niya Mahal, anong relasyon ang kanilang mabubuo?

Aadhya did everything right-studied, tried, waited. But two years later, she's still stuck. Not because she has no choices... But because every choice feels too heavy to make. While everyone else moves forward, she's left questioning herself, her path, and her pace. This isn't a story about having it all figured out. It's about feeling lost, overthinking everything... and learning to move forward anyway. Sometimes, you're not behind. You're just still becoming.

Ava Kingston didn't move to Seoul to be anyone's prize-she came to build a life in her own silhouette. On day one, two very different boys notice: Seo Jihoon, a composed model‑actor with a smile that quiets rooms, and Park Minjae, an idol rapper whose baritone can set a stage on fire. What starts in school hallways refuses to fade; it grows up with them through late‑night rehearsals, movie sets, fashion runways, and the messy, beautiful ordinary moments that make a life. Hearts tangle. Ambition tests loyalty. And desire keeps asking for one more chance. A slow‑burn AMBW/KMBW Korean romance about timing, boundaries, found family, and choosing yourself while your heart is choosing too. ©️ _RelleLebby_// R. L.

A mature man navigating loneliness, friendship, and the quiet absurdity of ordinary Sundays. Because adulthood turns out to be less dramatic than expected. Or does it?

Alupheli can't seem to agree on anything with her boyfriend of four years, whether it be marriage or kids. Lihle is trying to move on from her good-for-nothing baby daddy. Khanyisa is sleeping with a married man. And Zama just found out about her husband's infidelity. Who said growing up was fun? Join Khanyisa, Alupheli, Lihle and Zama as they face the challenges of 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Two people. Two secrets. One silence that held them together - until it didn't. Cliff knows the price of everything. Numbers, margins, the exact figure that makes a client trust you. What he never learned to measure was the weight of what he took - slowly, precisely, the way only a careful man can steal. Ellen has a name that isn't hers. A life built on the right amount of truth and the right amount of nothing. She doesn't lie. She architects. When they found each other, they didn't ask too many questions. That was the deal. That was also the problem. Two Stains is a quiet, devastating story about two flawed people who recognized each other in the worst parts of themselves - and called that love. About the things we carry in silence. About what it costs to finally say: this one is mine. I made it. About learning to walk after.

Reality & metaphysical collides... Mysteries and connection of souls...

There is a photograph of a little girl standing in a grocery store. The problem is that she feels like a stranger. And that's impossible. I've shared every heartbeat she's ever had. Every birthday. Every bad haircut. Every embarrassing crush. Every dream she was too afraid to say out loud. So why does she feel like someone I've never met? Nobody Was Missing begins with a simple question and spirals into something much stranger. Through childhood memories, teenage mistakes, astrology charts, first loves, heartbreaks, concerts, insomnia, big-city dreams, stray cats, and the quiet loneliness of becoming an adult, one woman attempts to investigate a disappearance she cannot quite explain. Along the way, she discovers that memory behaves more like storytelling than history, that some heartbreaks are actually misunderstandings, and that growing up may be far more mysterious than anyone admits. Part memoir, part philosophy, part psychological exploration, Nobody Was Missing is a book about the people we used to be, the people we're still becoming, and the unsettling possibility that time changes less than we think. For anyone who has ever looked at an old photograph and wondered, "What happened to that person?" this book is an invitation to ask a different question. One that might change everything.

Have you ever felt like everyone else knows where they're going while you're still trying to figure things out? You wake up, go to work, fulfill responsibilities, and keep moving forward-but deep inside, there's a quiet question that keeps returning: "Ano bang ginagawa ko sa buhay ko?" This book is for those moments. Written in a warm and relatable Taglish style, Hindi Ka Nawawala-Nalilito Ka Lang is a gentle guide for adults who feel lost, overwhelmed, pressured by timelines, or uncertain about their next chapter. Instead of pushing you to make drastic life changes, this book helps you slow down, reduce mental noise, understand what you're feeling, and reconnect with yourself one small step at a time. Inside, you'll discover: Why feeling lost doesn't mean you're failing How comparison and timelines create unnecessary pressure Ways to quiet overthinking and mental clutter Simple exercises to rebuild self-trust Gentle steps toward clarity without rushing yourself This isn't a book about having all the answers. It's about learning that you don't need all the answers right now. Because sometimes, you're not lost. You're simply finding your way. You don't need to figure out your entire life today. A little clarity. A little self-trust. A little movement. Sometimes, that's enough to begin. - Anon_Luna