Threads of Starlight

The gala was an elaborate affair. The chandeliers casting a warm glow over silk-draped tables, a string quartet weaving music through the air, and a sea of impeccably dressed guests engaged in careful, curated conversations. The room was buzzing with laughter and soft murmurs, but for Selene, it all felt distant.

She had been to countless events like this, yet tonight, there was an odd, unshakable sense of anticipation curling at the edges of her thoughts. She couldn’t name why. Or maybe, she didn’t want to.

She swirled the wine in her glass absently, watching the red liquid catch the light. The familiar sound of laughter and the murmur of conversation blended together in a kind of background hum, but it didn’t ease the restlessness inside her.

And then...

“Tell me, Selene,” Maia Navarro purred, appearing at her side like she always did, almost as if she’d materialized from the shadows. Her floor-length black gown flowed effortlessly, the fabric shifting like liquid darkness. Her presence, as always, was both commanding and calm.

Selene barely had time to turn before Maia’s voice cut through her thoughts. “What are the odds that you’d be here, of all places, at the same time as a certain farm girl?”

Selene’s brow arched in cool disinterest. “Are you about to make this about fate?”

Maia didn’t flinch, taking a slow sip of her drink, her golden rings glinting under the soft chandelier light. There was something about her that was always so serene, like she was always a step ahead, always seeing things through a different lens.

“Of course,” Maia said with a nonchalant smile, her eyes gleaming in the soft light. “I checked the stars earlier. They’ve been restless all week.”

Selene let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. She knew where this was going. The last thing she needed was another lecture about fate and the cosmos from Maia.

Before she could roll her eyes, Stellaire Laurent appeared on her other side, her shimmering silver dress catching every flicker of light as if the gown itself were alive. Stellaire, with her loud laugh and even louder presence, leaned in close to Selene, her eyes sparkling with mischievous energy.

“Restless,” Stellaire echoed, her tone teasing, before adding, “Or inevitable?”

Selene couldn’t suppress the small chuckle that escaped her lips. “Inevitable, huh? You’re both really sticking with this cosmic destiny thing?”

“Oh, come on,” Stellaire grinned, twirling the stem of her champagne flute between her fingers. “The universe has a way of making things happen.”

Maia raised an eyebrow at Selene, her gaze becoming sharp, perceptive as always. “It’s true. The stars don’t just throw people together for no reason, you know.”

Selene rolled her eyes at the two of them. “Is this what you two do in your free time? Analyze my life and make it sound like some kind of celestial drama?”

“I prefer to think of it as a cosmic love story,” Maia said with a grin.

Stellaire elbowed Selene playfully, the laugh lines on her face deepening. “Exactly. And speaking of people thrown together—”

Selene barely had time to react before Maia subtly nudged her elbow, directing her gaze across the ballroom.

The sight of her hit Selene unexpectedly.

Aster Calla Dela Cruz.

She stood near the bar, holding a drink in one hand, the soft golden lights casting a gentle glow over her midnight blue gown. The gown itself was understated yet elegant, with no frills or attention-grabbing embellishments. The black blazer draped over her shoulders, however, gave her an air of quiet defiance, like someone who hadn’t quite let herself blend into this world of glittering masks and hollow smiles.

Aster’s gaze wandered over the crowd, her expression thoughtful, her body language calm but distant like she wasn’t quite sure she belonged. Selene couldn’t help but notice the ease with which she carried herself despite the contrast of her surroundings. She was different. There was no denying it.

“She’s...” Selene trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.

“Difficult to ignore?” Maia offered with a sly smile.

“Unmistakable,” Selene murmured, more to herself than to Maia.

Stellaire laughed softly, her voice a little more serious now. “Looks like the stars have spoken. I’d say it’s destiny.”

“I think you're both really into this idea of fate,” Selene shot back, trying to brush off the odd sensation blooming in her chest.

But Maia was already watching Aster with an intensity that made Selene uncomfortable. “Sometimes, Selene, it’s not about trying to make sense of things. It’s about letting the universe do its thing.”

“I’m sure the universe has better things to do,” Selene replied dryly, though her gaze lingered on Aster for just a moment too long.

Stellaire, grinning, leaned in close again. “I think she’s already caught your attention.”

Selene’s eyes snapped to her. “What are you—?”

But Stellaire was already moving toward the bar, nudging Maia along. “Don’t worry,” Maia called back over her shoulder. “We’re just getting started.”

Selene stood frozen for a moment, her pulse inexplicably quickening. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but something in the air tonight felt different. It wasn’t just Maia and Stellaire’s teasing or even the pressure of the gala itself. It was... Aster. The pull she couldn’t quite explain.

Selene hated to admit it, but she noticed the details, the structured cut of Aster’s blazer against the fluidity of her midnight blue dress, the way it balanced elegance with something raw, untamed. It was a strange contrast, yet it fit perfectly.

And when Aster’s gaze lifted and meeting hers across the room, it was like something shifted.

Selene froze. There was no logical explanation for the jolt of electricity that shot through her, the sudden flutter in her chest that made her forget to breathe. It wasn’t like anything she’d felt before—something so familiar, yet entirely new, like a song she’d heard in another life, or a dream she couldn’t quite recall.

For a heartbeat, they just stared at each other. Then Aster smirked slightly, one of those half-knowing, half-challenging smirks and looked away as if she hadn’t noticed the weight of the moment.

Selene exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the feeling that had settled deep in her chest, the one she couldn’t quite name and certainly couldn’t explain. It was like something inside her was waking up, something she wasn’t ready to face.

A small voice in the back of her mind tried to brush it off as nothing. But it lingered.

Maia and Stellaire had already moved toward the bar, leaving Selene standing near the edge of the room. She was grateful for the space, though their absence only made her acutely aware of how alone she felt at that moment. The noise of the crowd buzzed around her, but her attention kept drifting back to Aster, across the room, that inexplicable pull drawing her gaze again and again.

As if on cue, Maia's voice floated back over her shoulder, but it was muffled by the hum of chatter. “Fascinating, isn’t it?”

Selene stiffened, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead, not daring to look at them. "Stop," she muttered to herself, the words barely audible, even to her.

“Don’t worry,” Maia had added, her tone too soft, too amused. “We’re just letting it unfold, Selene.”

“I’m sure you are,” Selene muttered under her breath, still trying to focus on anything other than the way her heart was picking up pace again, as Aster’s presence seemed to fill the space between them, even from across the room.

Her eyes were drawn to Aster once more, catching the movement of her across the floor. Selene could barely hear anything over the thundering pulse in her ears, but one thing was certain: she was caught in something she didn’t understand. It didn’t help that Aster wasn’t the kind of woman who played by the rules which Selene knew that instinctively.

And then, without warning, the room seemed to shift.

Someone brushed past her, and her gown caught on the edge of a chair. The soft sound of fabric tearing echoed too loudly in her mind, and she immediately looked down to see a small tear near the hem.

Of course.

Before she could even react, though, Aster was there. In an instant, she was standing in front of Selene, her presence steady and warm. Her hand gently steadied Selene’s waist, the other catching the torn fabric, keeping it from ripping further.

“Careful,” Aster murmured in that low, steady voice, too close to be anything but intimate.

Selene’s breath hitched, her pulse racing. Her heart seemed to stutter in her chest, but for the first time all night, she couldn’t find her words. The space between them felt too small, too electric, and she couldn’t pull away, not even when every ounce of her rational mind screamed at her to do so.

For a brief, perfect moment, there was just Aster and Selene. The noise of the room melted away, and all that mattered was the warmth of Aster’s touch, the way her fingers brushed against Selene’s silk gown.

Selene’s fingers clenched slightly at the fabric of her dress. Her chest tightened, but this time it wasn’t discomfort, it was something else. Something unfamiliar.

Aster glanced at the tear, then back up at her. “It’s fixable,” she said, voice calm, like it was no big deal. Like it was natural for her to step in, to offer help, to be here.

Selene blinked, feeling her heartbeat thrum in her chest. She wasn’t sure why, but there was something about the way Aster said it, so simple, so sure of herself. It made her... unsure in a way that was entirely new.

“I’ll have it fixed,” Selene said, regaining her composure. “It’s just a small tear.”

Aster smiled, but it wasn’t just a smile, it was something else. Something knowing. “I have a sewing kit in my bag,” she added casually, as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

Selene stared at her. “You carry a sewing kit?”

Aster shrugged lightly, lifting a shoulder with an air of ease. “Habit.”

A pause, then Aster’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if considering something. “Or do you not trust my work, Miss Valdez?”

Selene felt a flicker of amusement tug at her lips despite herself. “You’re bold,” she muttered, shaking her head in mock disapproval.

But even as she said it, she knew something had shifted between them.

Maia’s voice, low and measured, floated back to her ears from the bar: “The stars have already begun their work,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

Selene ignored the flutter in her chest, forcing herself to look away from Aster and back toward Maia. "Can you two just let things unfold somewhere else?" she shot back, her voice laced with a hint of playful annoyance.

Stellaire, ever the instigator, grinned. “Oh, you know, Selene,” she drawled, “If it were anyone else, you’d never let them touch that gown. But Aster gets a free pass.”

Selene shot her a flat look. “You’re overthinking it.”

Stellaire’s grin widened. “Or maybe I’m thinking just the right amount?”

Aster chuckled softly under her breath, stepping back and letting go of Selene’s gown. The warmth of her touch lingered in the air for a moment before fading away.

Selene exhaled, suddenly feeling the space between them in a way she hadn’t before. “Do what you want,” she said, trying to regain some composure. She glanced at Aster just to make sure she didn’t sound too shaken. “But just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean anything.”

Aster’s lips quirked, her eyes glinting with something Selene couldn’t place. “Of course not.”

And Selene could’ve sworn she saw Maia and Stellaire exchange one of their too-knowing glances, as if the universe had already set something into motion.

And Aster and Selene?

They were already caught in it.

Aster was still kneeling, carefully working on the tear in Selene’s gown, her fingers moving with practiced precision. The low hum of conversation surrounded them and the clink of champagne glasses, laughter rippling through the elegantly dressed crowd but in this small moment, it all seemed to fade.

Selene stood still, her back straight as she let Aster focus on the task at hand. The warmth of Aster’s hands brushing against the delicate fabric of her gown sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine, and it took a great deal of self control to keep from shifting under the intensity of her presence.

“I didn’t expect you to be good at this,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly, her voice barely rising above the ambient noise.

Aster huffed a soft laugh, not looking up. “Sewing is a useful skill. Comes with the territory.”

“Right. Farming and tailoring go hand in hand, obviously,” Selene teased, the playful tone easing some of the tension she hadn’t even realized had built up.

Aster glanced up, her brow arching. “I mend things when they break. Be it fences, fabric, or—” She hesitated, as if she’d almost said something else, then simply finished with, “It helps.”

Before Selene could dwell on that, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“You know, normally, people just take their gown to an actual tailor.”

Selene exhaled a sigh before even turning. “Stellaire.”

Stellaire grinned as she appeared at Selene’s side, effortlessly leaning in, her presence familiar and teasing. Maia, ever the elegant shadow, followed a step behind. “Not that I’m complaining,” Stellaire continued, her grin wide, “but this is the most interesting thing happening at this gala.”

Maia moved with grace beside her, her eyes twinkling with mystery. “Fascinating how the universe works, isn’t it?” she mused, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “One moment, your gown is in need of saving, and suddenly—” She gestured toward Aster, “—the perfect person appears.”

Selene shot her a dry look but didn’t bother to hide the slightest twitch of a smile. “Do you always talk like you’re narrating a prophecy?”

Maia tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting with mischief. “Only when it’s warranted.”

Aster, now finished with her stitching, gave the thread a final light tug before standing to her full height. She dusted off her gown and turned toward Selene. “It wasn’t that dramatic,” she said with a small laugh, her tone light.

“Oh, it was absolutely that dramatic,” Stellaire countered, her grin widening, clearly enjoying the tension between the two women. She turned to Selene, leaning in with a teasing glint in her eye. “First the farm, now here? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say fate is playing matchmaker.”

Selene rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Or it’s just a coincidence.”

Maia hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin. “Maybe. Or maybe not.”

Before Selene could argue, Stellaire elbowed her lightly in the ribs, her grin widening as she glanced between Aster and Selene. “You should’ve seen yourself just now,” she whispered. “Standing there all frozen while Aster did her thing. Kilig na kilig ka, no?”

Selene’s eyes narrowed, and she shot her a glare. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Stellaire quipped, clearly enjoying the teasing more than Selene did.

Aster chuckled softly beside them, shaking her head. “I have no idea what’s happening, but I feel like I should be concerned.”

“You should be,” Selene muttered, glaring at Stellaire, who only cackled in response.

Maia, however, watched them closely, her gaze lingering on the space between Aster and Selene, a space that seemed smaller than it should have been. She asked, far too casually, “Tell me, Aster… do you believe in destiny?”

Selene’s sharp look was enough to silence Maia for a moment. “Maia.”

“What? It’s a simple question.”

Aster blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Uh… I think… people make their own choices.”

Maia smiled, slow and knowing, her eyes flicking between Aster and Selene. “Interesting answer.”

Selene could have sworn she saw Stellaire stifle a laugh, and for some reason, that annoyed her more than the cryptic conversation itself. She rubbed her temples in frustration. “You two are insufferable.”

“We try,” Stellaire replied cheerfully.

Aster, who had been standing next to Selene, chuckled softly, the sound warm and easy. And just like that, Selene realized she hadn’t moved away from Aster since the moment her gown tear. Worse, she didn’t really want to.

Maia and Stellaire were clearly enjoying themselves. One subtly weaving cryptic remarks like thread into a tapestry, the other outright throwing her to the wolves with relentless teasing. Meanwhile, Aster remained completely unaware of the underlying tension, standing there with that soft, patient expression as if she didn’t just cause Selene’s entire night to derail.

She needed an out.

Before Maia could launch into another philosophical discussion about fate and the alignment of the stars or whatever nonsense she was about to say, Selene cleared her throat and turned to Aster.

“You should go back to your table. Your friends might be looking for you.”

Aster blinked at the sudden shift in conversation, her brow furrowing slightly as if unsure whether she had misread the situation. “Yeah, probably.” She glanced at Maia and Stellaire, then back at Selene. “You’ll be fine?”

Selene had to actively stop herself from reacting to that small, completely unnecessary, concerned question.

She lifted her chin, offering her most composed smile. “Obviously.”

Aster huffed a quiet laugh. “Right. Well, enjoy the rest of your night.”

Selene expected her to leave immediately, but instead, Aster lingered for a second longer, just enough to seem reluctant before finally turning away.

She watched her retreat, catching the way the deep midnight blue of Aster’s gown shimmered under the soft golden glow of the chandeliers. The color suited her. Understated but striking. Like her.

As Aster moved through the crowd, a flicker of something unfamiliar tugged at her, an odd sense of… anticipation. Her thoughts circled back to the brief exchange with Selene. There was something in the way she’d held herself, the way the air between them had shifted, just enough to make everything else feel distant.

The moment passed, and Aster found herself at her table, where Janus and Mirael were waiting. Their eyes immediately locked on her, and she couldn’t help but notice the knowing glint in Janus’s gaze.

“About time,” Janus said casually, leaning back in her chair, her tone relaxed but not without a hint of amusement.

Mirael, on the other hand, watched her with a more guarded expression, her lips pressed tight. “Something happen?” she asked, her voice softer, like she was reading between the lines of something Aster hadn’t yet fully realized.

Aster hesitated. “No? Why?”

Janus’s smirk didn’t quite reach her eyes as she tipped her glass and studied Aster from over the rim. “You sure about that?”

Mirael’s gaze sharpened, but she said nothing. She simply tapped her fingers lightly on the table, a small gesture that somehow felt heavy.

Aster glanced from one to the other, picking up on the undercurrent of something unspoken between them. “I really don’t know what you two are getting at, but it’s creeping me out.”

Janus laughed softly, an easy sound, but it didn’t quite reach the edges of her sharp gaze. “Nothing to be creeped out about. Just—” she paused, watching Mirael briefly before continuing, “—we were just wondering how things are going.”

Mirael’s lips twitched, a barely perceptible sign of frustration. “They’re... interesting,” she replied, her tone distant.

Aster frowned, trying to decipher the mood between them. "What’s with the cryptic vibes?”

Janus’s shrug was nonchalant, but there was something deliberate in her next words. “Let’s just say… some things don’t happen by accident.” She took a slow sip of her wine, eyes flickering to Mirael. “And some things… are better left to happen when they’re ready.”

Mirael, clearly not amused, shot Janus a glance. “I think some things should just happen. Timing can’t always be controlled.”

There was a long silence, one filled with a quiet tension that felt too familiar and too weighty for Aster to ignore. She didn’t know what they were talking about, didn’t understand the game they were playing but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this conversation wasn’t really about her. It was about something bigger.

Aster sighed, deciding to leave it for now. “I’m not asking,” she muttered, taking her seat. “Just—can we talk about something that makes sense?”

Janus chuckled. “We’re just waiting for the fireworks. No rush.” She winked at Mirael, who didn’t look particularly amused but chose to let it go.

Mirael, however, wasn’t quite done. “You’ll see,” she said softly, her voice carrying a weight that Aster couldn’t quite place. “Soon enough.”

And with that, the conversation moved on, but Aster’s thoughts remained fixed elsewhere. On the strange look in Mirael’s eyes, the quiet tension that didn’t sit right, and, most of all, on a certain ivory gown and the woman wearing it.

Later that night, the noise of the ballroom felt like a distant hum as Selene stepped out onto the terrace, the cool air pressing against her skin like a quiet invitation. The warmth, the chatter and the clinking of glasses, they all stayed inside. Out here, it was just her, the stars, and a soft breeze that whispered through the trees.

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her shoulders loosening with the space and stillness. Her fingers traced the fabric of her gown, lost in the rhythmic motion, until, without thought, they wandered up her arm, brushing lightly against her skin.

A strange sensation tugged at her as her fingers traced invisible lines. They weren't random. No, they were familiar in a way she couldn’t quite explain. Lines. Dots. A shape.

A sudden realization hit her like the faintest spark in the quiet of her mind.

She looked up.

The stars stretched across the sky in patterns that should have been ordinary. But there was something about them tonight, something in the way they shimmered and pulsed that made her fingers burn with a memory she couldn’t place.

No, it didn’t feel like something was off—it felt… right.

Her breath caught, her heart quickening as the weightless sensation in her chest deepened. Something was shifting inside her, something familiar. Something that had been there all along, just waiting to be noticed.

"Selene!"

She turned, the pull on her chest still lingering, but the moment was broken by the sound of her name. Maia and Stellaire stepped onto the terrace, their presence cutting through the silence.

Stellaire was grinning, holding up a flute of champagne. "We thought you’d disappeared into another dimension or something."

Selene managed a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Just needed some air."

Maia, however, didn’t return the smile. Her gaze dropped to Selene’s hand, where the faintest trace of her own touch remained against her skin. The realization hung in the air that she had left a mark. A constellation.

Maia's eyes flickered back up to meet Selene’s, her expression serious. "It’s starting."

Selene opened her mouth to ask what she meant, but no words came out. The sensation in her chest had intensified, now a full, undeniable pull. It was like an answer she hadn’t known she was waiting for was on the edge of her consciousness, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.

The strange feeling, the weightless tension, told her one thing for sure: whatever this was, she was about to find out.

As Maia and Stellaire stood there, the air around them thick with unspoken things, Selene felt the weight of the night bearing down on her. She glanced at Maia, always the one with a knowing look, and Stellaire, grinning like she was watching an unfolding play but her thoughts were still back on the terrace, with the stars that felt too close, too familiar.

Maia’s cryptic words echoed in her mind. “It’s starting.”

"What is?" Selene finally asked, her voice tight, but her gaze steady.

Stellaire raised an eyebrow, still far too amused. "We’ll see, won’t we?"

Maia gave her a sidelong glance, but it was Stellaire who responded, her tone dropping slightly. "If you think tonight’s strange, just wait. The fun’s just begun."

Before Selene could respond, the silence between them grew, pressing in like something too heavy to ignore. The weight in her chest, the pull, was stronger now. Stronger than she cared to admit.

Selene’s eyes drifted once more to the sky, to the stars still twinkling, waiting, just out of reach. Her heart beat faster, but this time, it wasn’t just from confusion, it was a deep, familiar stirring.

"Come on," Maia said, her voice cutting through the tension. "Let’s get back inside before the night gets even more ridiculous."

But Selene didn’t move, not at first. She stood there, staring up at the stars, as if waiting for something to answer her unspoken questions.

Something—someone—was waiting for her.

She felt it, deep in her bones.

As Selene turned to rejoin the others, the door to the terrace softly clicked shut behind her. The laughter and chatter from the ballroom welcomed her back, but the strange, magnetic feeling remained. She couldn't shake the sense that the night had changed, that something was starting to pull her into something bigger than she could understand.