I wrote The Most Painful Battle on Wattpad yeaaaaars ago. If I remember correctly it was around 2013. It was also the year where “gangster” stories were a hit on Wattpad. I have already written Eros’ (She Died) character who was sort of a gangster in his ways, but I wanted to write an ‘actual’ gangster story. So, I thought I will write a story called “The Most Painful Battle” and it will be about a gangster who will fall in love with a very innocent and kind girl.

As I was about to start the story, nag-swerve ako. I thought I don’t want a gangster story anymore, but I want a gangster-gangster-an story. Pumasok sa isip ko ‘yong mga jejemon na feeling gangster na tambay sa kanto. Ewan ko ba, minsan weird din ako e. HAHAHAHA!

Pero I don’t regret changing directions dahil mas na-feel ko isulat sina Pierce and his gang in their own quirky ways.

Noong balikan ko ulit ‘yong kwento nila para i-edit for the book version, I have a different perspective na. Siyempre nandoon ‘yong cringe moments ko while reading a story written by my 18-19yr old self. There were scenes and lines in the Wattpad version that I thought was inappropriate but my teen self thought it was cool back then. So, I did some tweaking in the book while making sure I retain the scenes and lines that readers loved back then.

I wrote the book with the intention of writing the meaning of love in different ways: love that changes your perspective in life, love in friendship, family love, and love for your own passion and growth. I know it’s not 100% perfect, but I would say I did what my best could at this moment of my life and I am happy with the result.

I will be answering some questions from the readers. That means, spoilers ahead!

Q: Pinlano mong bigyan ng pangalan sila A, B, C since nang isulat mo siya or nang ipublish na siya as book ay saka mo po binigyan sila ng names?

HAHAHAHA! Okay, to be honest, I really didn’t plan to give them names. Gusto ko talaga may friends si Pierce kasi nga para mabuo ‘yong ‘gang’ niya kaso I just couldn’t think of good names for this story. Si Pierce Useda lang talaga ang nabuo kong pangalan sa kwentong ito and the others are just spur-of-the-moment. Hindi pa ba obvious? HAHAHA! Pero nang maisipan kong gawan ng published book ang TMPB, naisip ko na it’s time na mapangalanan na sina A, B at C para naman hindi sila forever unknown. At siyempre bukod sa pangalan, I wanted to give them a little back story at kung paano sila naging parte ng buhay ni bhoxz Pierce.

Q: Bakit mo po ginawa tragic story yun TMPB? Kasama talaga sa plot ung mamatay si Pierce at maging tragic ang ending or naisip nyo na lang sya basta while writing the story?

I really started writing TMPB for fun at wala pa akong exact plan noon kung paano ko siya i-e-end. Noong una, siyempre, gusto ko silang magkatuluyan ni Leaf. Kaso naisip ko, this started as a love story but I don’t want it to end like the usual love-hate relationship and then they fall deeply and madly in love with each other. I wanted Leaf to be someone very, very special to Pierce, but in a different way. At ang karugtong nito ay ang sagot ko sa sunod na tanong sa akin ng isa pang reader . . .

Q: If nabuhay ba si Pierce magiging mag bf-gf ba sila ni Leaf or hanggang friends lang?

I did say wala akong plan sa ending ng TMPB when I started writing it, but I also did not have plans na magkatuluyan sina Leaf at Pierce from the very start. As I said, I wanted Leaf to be someone very, very special to Pierce. I just want them to be friends. Leaf was definitely feeling something towards Pierce sa bandang ending ng TMPB, but her love for Owen is stronger dahil he is her first love and that’s hard to beat. If Pierce actually survived and lived longer, Leaf will just be that supportive friend who will help him find the right person to love. Leaf will be that friend who will keep on pushing him to be the best version of himself. Leaf will always reject Pierce, but Pierce will eventually fall in love again. When that time comes, he’s already a grown man and the next girl he falls in love with will be very lucky. Pero ayun nga, nang-iwan si Pierce. Bawi na lang next life si Pierce sa ibang bersyon. 😉

Q: Hindi mo po ba naisip kahit minsan na gawan ng sariling book si Bana & Oranggu?

HAHAHA! Bana and Oranggu were a fun couple to write. Dahil wala akong plano na magkatuluyan sina Leaf at Pierce, I wanted to give a happy ending to a different couple sa kwento at ayun nga ay ang BanaTan love team. Pero sa ngayon ay wala akong balak na gawan sila ng sariling book o kwento. Maybe in the future, kapag nagka-time ako, may balak akong sundan ng kwento sina Pierce at Leaf version 2.0 which is ‘yong mga anak na nila. At doon ay magkakaroon siguro ng kaunting pasilip sa grown up version love story nina Oranggu at Bana (bilang parents na). I’m glad na kahit side story silang dalawa ay nagustuhan niyo pa rin ang kwento nina Oranggu at Bana.

Ayun, sana nasagot ko ang mga tanong ninyo. HAHAHA!

To sum up my experience writing and publishing TMPB, I would say it was a great journey for me as a writer. I really enjoyed the process. I am also forever grateful sa mga sumuporta simula noon hanggang ngayon.

I wish I would be able to write more stories (much, much better ones!) for you in the future. I will try my best and squeeze it in whatever free time I have to spare to deliver more content for you to read and enjoy!

Thank you for an awesome year, Dennysaurs! Stay safe and may we all have the best year to come!

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