The Beating Heart of First Love

The Story of Cyrus and Thea

Some people become our forever.

Others become our favorite memory.

Cyrus never expected that a quiet girl with bangs would change his life forever.

What began as a simple childhood friendship grew into something deeper as the years passed. From sharing lunches in elementary school and riding bicycles under golden sunsets to late-night conversations, first handholds, and unspoken feelings, Cyrus and Thea built a bond that neither time nor distance could erase.

But as they grew older, life became more complicated.

Opportunities were missed.

Words were left unsaid.

And fear often spoke louder than love.

As their paths slowly drift apart, Cyrus finds himself trapped between holding on and letting go, wondering if the greatest love of his life is destined to remain only a beautiful memory.

Heartwarming, nostalgic, and deeply emotional, The Beating Heart of First Love is a story about friendship, growing up, missed chances, and the unforgettable people who leave permanent marks on our hearts.

For anyone who has ever experienced a first love, carried a secret affection, or wondered "What if?", this story will remind you that some people never truly leave us.

Because first love may not always become forever...

But it stays with us forever.

Cyrus was only a young boy when he met Thea—the quiet girl with bangs who would unknowingly become the most important person in his life.

Through childhood adventures, shared laughter, bicycle rides, school memories, and years of growing up together, their friendship slowly blossoms into something deeper. But while their hearts move closer, fear and unspoken words keep them apart.

As life leads them down different paths, Cyrus must face the painful reality that love is not always lost because it isn't real—sometimes it is lost because it is never spoken.

A heartfelt and nostalgic coming-of-age romance about first love, friendship, missed opportunities, and the unforgettable question that lingers in every heart:

What if?

SOLOMON: Son of Trials

Poverty Delayed Him. Faith Carried Him.

What if your greatest struggles were preparing you for your greatest purpose?

After losing his father at a young age, Solomon's life changed forever. Raised by a widowed mother who worked tirelessly in a public market to support her children, he learned the meaning of sacrifice, perseverance, and faith long before he understood success.

While other children enjoyed carefree days, Solomon helped provide for his family. As a college student, he endured hunger, survived on bubble gum and ice water, and worked multiple jobs while pursuing his education. Despite overwhelming obstacles, financial hardship, and moments of doubt, he refused to surrender.

Driven by a dream of creating a better future, Solomon's journey would eventually take him from poverty and hardship in the Philippines to international opportunities as an overseas worker and seafarer, rising through dedication, discipline, and faith to become a respected Chief Cook aboard cruise ships traveling the world.

But this is more than a story about success.

It is a story about a mother's sacrifice.

A son's determination.

A family's resilience.

And the faith that carries ordinary people through extraordinary challenges.

Filled with powerful life lessons, heartfelt moments, and inspiring reflections, SOLOMON: Son of Trials is a moving memoir for anyone who has ever struggled, doubted themselves, faced impossible odds, or wondered if their dreams were worth fighting for.

If you enjoy inspirational true stories, faith-based memoirs, personal growth books, stories of perseverance, and uplifting journeys of overcoming adversity, this book will remind you of one powerful truth:

Your beginning does not determine your ending.

No matter how difficult life becomes, your story is not over.

Sometimes the greatest victories belong to those who simply refuse to quit.

Poverty delayed him. Faith carried him.

A SPECIAL DEDICATION

To the LGBTQ+ community,

Thank you for continuously reminding the world that love, identity, and self-expression are never things to be hidden or ashamed of. Your courage to live authentically, even in spaces that seek to silence, judge, or misunderstand you, inspires stories like this to be written and shared.

This novel was created with deep respect for the beauty, resilience, struggles, triumphs, and humanity that exist within your experiences.

To every trans woman who chooses to stand proudly despite criticism, discrimination, misunderstanding, and cruelty—this book honors your strength. It honors your softness, your laughter, your vulnerability, your dreams, and your heart.

Behind every label and stereotype society creates is a real human being longing for the same things we all seek: acceptance, dignity, understanding, and love.

While Tala's story is a work of fiction, the emotions she carries—the fears, hopes, heartbreaks, and courage—reflect realities that many people continue to face every day.

To the friends, supporters, and loved ones who encouraged me throughout the writing of this book, thank you for your patience, inspiration, ideas, and belief in my storytelling. What began as simple conversations and shared laughter unexpectedly grew into a story about love, healing, acceptance, and human connection.

And to you, the reader,

Thank you for opening your heart to these characters and allowing their journey to become part of yours. Thank you for believing that every person deserves to love and be loved, regardless of gender, identity, or circumstance.

If this story made you feel seen, understood, comforted, hopeful, or less alone—even for a moment—then every word was worth writing.

May this novel remind us all that love can be messy, painful, complicated, and imperfect, yet it remains one of the most beautiful and profoundly human experiences we will ever know.

With gratitude and love,

— Darwin Manalo

Forever Was You: Till They Take My Heart Away

A Heartfelt Contemporary Romance

Some love stories begin with fireworks.

Others begin with a simple lunch invitation.

Joey never had the luxury of a normal childhood. After losing his father at a young age, he became the man of the house long before he was ready, sacrificing his own dreams to provide for his family.

Rose was the complete opposite—quiet, reserved, and content living a simple life. She wasn't looking for love.

Then fate placed them at the same lunch table.

What begins as an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into a love story filled with laughter, first kisses, marriage, parenthood, and dreams for the future. Together, they build a life centered on faith, family, and unwavering devotion.

But love is never without challenges.

When tragedy nearly takes Rose's life during childbirth, and years later a mistake threatens to destroy the trust they spent decades building, Joey and Rose must decide if their love is strong enough to survive life's most difficult storms.

Forever Was You: Till They Take My Heart Away is an emotional journey about sacrifice, forgiveness, second chances, and the kind of love that chooses the same person over and over again—even when life makes it difficult.

"Every light casts a shadow.

Every shadow remembers the light.

And every destiny begins with a choice."

When darkness threatens to consume the magical kingdom of Azmaria, a young princess discovers that she carries a destiny capable of saving or destroying the world.

Separated from her family and hunted by ancient forces, Mially embarks on a dangerous journey through cursed lands, forgotten kingdoms, and magical realms alongside her loyal Moon Guardian, Orion.

As powerful secrets about her bloodline begin to emerge, Mially must choose between fear and courage, despair and hope, darkness and light.

An epic fantasy adventure filled with magic, mystery, friendship, sacrifice, and destiny.

The legend of the Mystic Princess begins here..

There's something happening with how people read right now.

Attention spans are shorter, sure. But that's not the whole story. People aren't reading less — they're reading differently. They want complete experiences they can finish in one sitting. A story they can start on their commute and carry with them all day.

That's what short fiction does better than any other form. A novel asks for weeks of your time. A short story asks for thirty minutes and gives you a world.

I've been writing stories for years — the kind you read once and think about for months. Tales about people at turning points, quiet moments that crack open into something bigger, endings that don't tie everything up in a neat bow because life doesn't work that way.

If you're the kind of reader who gets more from one perfect short story than a 400-page novel you'll never finish — Forever Stories is for you.

New stories every month. Read them anywhere.