Chapter 2
The bright studio lights illuminated the stage, reflecting off the sleek glass table where four members of LUMINA sat, poised yet relaxed. The crowd outside the studio was filled with excited fans holding up neon signs and banners with their names, screaming their hearts out.
At the center of it all, Arianne sat with a composed smile, hands resting on her lap. She was used to this—the cameras, the lights, the endless questions. But today felt different. Maybe it was because of how big they had become. Or maybe it was the question that was about to be asked.
The host, a seasoned entertainment journalist known for her engaging interviews, beamed at them.
"LUMINA! Wow, you girls are on fire these days! Congratulations on your international success! Anong pakiramdam na nare-recognize na kayo hindi lang sa Pilipinas, but all over the world?"
Mavis, the most energetic among them, was the first to grab the mic. "Sobrang surreal po! Parang panaginip lang. Dati nangangarap lang kami, ngayon, andito na kami!"
The audience erupted in cheers.
Sasha, the playful one, chimed in, "Minsan nga po, nagugulat kami. Like, when we went to Japan, ang daming fans! Tapos sa airport sa Thailand, may nag-aabang din sa amin. Parang… wow. Totoo ba 'to?!"
Arianne smiled at their enthusiasm but remained quiet, nodding along.
The host chuckled. "Of course, it's real! You girls are super talented! And now that you've achieved so much in music, I have to ask—have any of you thought about trying acting?If yes, sino gusto niyo maging On-screen partner?"
The question made the members exchange glances. The audience buzzed with excitement, knowing that many idols eventually dabbled in acting.
The host turned to Arianne first. "Arianne, what about you?"
Arianne tilted her head slightly, flashing her signature calm smile. "Kahit sino po, okay lang." Her voice was light, controlled—careful.
The crowd cheered, but some seemed disappointed she didn’t mention anyone specific.
The host chuckled. "Oh, I see! No specific actor in mind?"
Arianne shook her head, still smiling. "As long as it's a good project, game po ako."
Next was Sasha, who dramatically clutched her chest. "Ako po, si Gale! OMG, sobrang cute niya!"
The audience burst into laughter, and the other members teased her.
"Crush niya 'yun!" Maeve teased, nudging Sasha playfully.
The host laughed. "Ay, mukhang may special preference tayo dito!"
Sasha grinned. "Wala namang masama kung magka-crush, ‘di ba?"
The energy in the studio was light, fun—until Maeve’s turn came.
The host smiled at her. "Ikaw, Maeve? May specific kang gustong makatrabaho?"
Maeve gave a knowing look to the audience before casually saying, "Same with Arianne, kahit sino po okay lang."
The studio erupted in screams.
Fans in the crowd were going wild—Maeve and Arianne were a well-loved duo, constantly shipped by fans because of their natural chemistry on stage. The banners of MaeRianne were held high, neon lights flashing their combined names.
Arianne just smiled, but something flickered in her eyes—too brief for the cameras to catch, but Jamie, who was watching from backstage, noticed.
And then, the final answer.
The host turned to Mavis, the calm and reserved member of the group. "Mavis, how about you?"
Mavis didn’t hesitate. "Celine."
Silence.
Then—a wave of deafening screams.
The energy shifted instantly. The reaction was different from Maeve and Arianne’s teasing ship moment. This was something unexpected.
Arianne’s smile faltered—so fast that only someone who truly knew her would notice. She turned slightly, looking at Mavis from the corner of her eye.
The host looked intrigued. "Oh? Celine? You mean Celine Villamor, the top rising actress?"
Mavis nodded, smiling. "Yes, po! She's amazing. Very talented. I think it would be an honor to work with her."
The audience buzzed with excitement—Celine Villamor was huge in the acting industry. Pairing her with a LUMINA member? That would be legendary.
Arianne sat still, her heart pounding in her chest. No one—no one—knew about her past with Celine.
The host laughed. "Well, we’ll have to see if that happens! Celine, if you're watching, Mavis wants to work with you!"
The interview continued, but for Arianne, everything became a blur.
Celine.
She hadn't heard that name in a long time. She hadn't allowed herself to think about it.
But now, it was right there. In front of cameras. On live television.
And for the first time in years, Arianne felt something she had buried deep inside—something she thought she had already let go of.
The interview was finally over.
Arianne sighed the moment she stepped inside her condo, kicking off her heels near the door. The bright lights, the never-ending camera flashes, and the screaming fans—it was exhilarating, yes, but also exhausting. She had been doing this for years now, but some days, the pressure felt heavier than usual.
And today was one of those days.
She peeled off her fitted outfit, exchanging it for a loose hoodie and shorts before stepping into the shower. The warm water ran down her back, easing some of the tension in her body.
Mavis wants to act with Celine.
The words echoed in her mind, over and over.
Arianne never expected to hear Celine's name in an interview. She was good at keeping the past where it belonged—behind her. But now, with just one statement, everything came rushing back.
She shut her eyes, willing the thoughts away. It doesn’t matter anymore.
After drying herself off, she walked toward her bed, where a small white dog wagged its tail excitedly.
“Niko, I’m home.” A soft smile broke through her exhaustion as she lifted the fluffy Pomeranian into her arms.
The tiny dog barked in response, licking her cheek, making her chuckle.
“Ikaw lang ‘yung laging masaya akong makita, no?” she murmured, rubbing behind his ears.
Niko wiggled happily before she set him down on the bed. She lay beside him, staring at the ceiling for a few moments before eventually sitting up and reaching for her phone.
A sigh escaped her lips as she absentmindedly opened Instagram.
Big mistake.
Her notifications were flooded.
Trending: #MavisCeline #MaeRianne
Her brows furrowed as she clicked on one of the trending topics. The first thing she saw was a video edit of Mavis and Celine.
Arianne blinked.
It was ridiculous. The two had never even been in the same room before, but fans had already created tons of video edits, taking clips of Mavis and mixing them with scenes from Celine’s dramas.
“Mavis x Celine?? OMG, the chemistry!!”
“They would look SO GOOD together, I’m manifesting this!!”
“LUMINA_Mavis x Celine Villamor??? I NEED THIS TO HAPPEN.”
“SEATED!”
Arianne scrolled further.
There were photoshopped pictures of Celine and Mavis side by side, as if they were in an interview together. Some fans even edited clips of Mavis “reacting” to Celine’s acting scenes.
Her stomach twisted.
The comment section was exploding.
— "Mavis and Celine in one drama? OMG, PLEASE!"
— "I feel like they’d have insane chemistry. Mavis’s charm + Celine’s acting skills? AHHHHH"
— "Mavis is already in love HAHAHA look at her face when she said Celine!"
— "Idk why but I feel like Arianne is kinda quiet after Mavis said that 🤔"
— "I actually think Arianne and Celine would be a good pair too."
Arianne froze.
That last comment.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She knew she shouldn’t, but she tapped the replies.
— "Omg, Arianne and Celine used to be classmates before, right?!"
— "Yes! They went to the same school pero parang di sila close?"
— "Imagine Arianne and Celine in a drama together 😭 The visuals would be insane."Her grip on her phone tightened.
Arianne locked her phone and tossed it onto the sofa, exhaling sharply.
This was bad.
She had spent years making sure that no one would ever connect her and Celine again. Now, with just one comment from Mavis, people were already digging.
And she had a terrible feeling that this was only the beginning.
Arianne sat on the edge of her bed, the soft glow of her bedside lamp barely illuminating the dim room. The weight in her chest felt heavier than usual.
She had tried to ignore it. She had spent years pushing it down, convincing herself that it was better this way. But after seeing Celine’s name everywhere tonight, the guilt she had buried came crashing back.
She took a deep breath, her hands slightly trembling as she reached for her drawer.
Her fingers brushed against the old, dusty phone buried beneath stacks of unused notebooks and old lyric sheets. She hesitated for a moment, but then, she pulled it out.
It felt foreign in her hands—this small device that once connected her to Celine.
She turned it on. It took a few seconds, but when the screen finally lit up, the notifications flooded in.
Unseen messages. Unread words. Unanswered love.
Her thumb hovered over the message icon before she tapped it.
And there they were.
Celine’s messages.
Some were from years ago, some were newer, but all of them carried the same longing—the same pain.
*flashback*
Arianne sat on the cold floor of the trainee dormitory, her back pressed against the bed frame. It was late—way past curfew.
But she didn’t care.
She had stolen a few minutes alone, sneaking out her old phone just to see if Celine had messaged her.
And of course—she had.
Her heart pounded as she scrolled through them.
"Good morning, mahal! Ilang months ka nang walang paramdam, miss na kita sobra :("
"Hi mahaaal, graduate na ko! Cum laude tong partner mo!"
"Hello mahal, congrats! Kasali ka sa magde-debut! GALINGAN MOOO"
"Hindi ka pa rin ba magpaparamdam, mahal? Mag-iisang taon na oh…"
Arianne bit her lip, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wanted to reply.
She wanted to tell Celine that she missed her too, that she was proud of her, that she wasn’t ignoring her on purpose.
But what could she say? That the management confiscated their phones? That she was practically monitored 24/7? That she had no choice but to disappear?
She started typing anyway, desperation making her reckless.
"Mahal, I’m sorry. Hindi ko ginusto ‘to. Hindi kita nakalimutan—"
Before she could press send—
"Arianne."
Her blood ran cold.
She snapped her head up, heart hammering in her chest as she saw one of the managers standing in the doorway.
She had been caught.
The woman walked toward her and snatched the phone from her hands.
"Ano ‘to?" The manager’s voice was sharp, eyes narrowing as she read the screen.
Arianne wanted to beg. She wanted to explain.
But she already knew—it was over.
"Sinabi na namin, di ba?" The manager’s tone was laced with warning. "Walang cellphone. Walang distractions. Walang relasyon."
Arianne clenched her fists. She wanted to fight back, but she knew better.
The next day, her phone was gone.
She never got it back.
And Celine never got her reply.
*end of flashback*
Arianne’s vision blurred as she stared at the screen.
The messages continued.
"Hi Arianne, congrats sa new song niyo. You already reached your dreams. Sobrang proud ako sayo."
"Nanalo ulit kayo, grabe ang galing niyo."
Even after she had disappeared, Celine had still supported her.
And then—
The last message.
"I’m not mad… I’m hurt. Sobrang sakit, Arianne, but still, hindi ko kayang magalit, kasi pangarap mo yan eh, gusto mo yan."
"Pahinga na ko ha? Papahinga ko na puso ko, Arianne. Ang tagal kong naghintay, ang tagal kong naghintay sa mga sagot mo, sa mga paliwanag mo… pero it’s been three years. Wala pa rin akong natanggap na kahit ano."
"Good luck sa career mo ha? Goodbye. I love you."
A tear slipped down Arianne’s cheek.
Then another.
Until she was silently sobbing into her hands, gripping the old phone like it was the only thing tethering her to the past.
Because the truth was—she still loved Celine.
She just never got the chance to tell her.
###
A week had passed, but the buzz surrounding Celine and Mavis hadn’t died down. If anything, it had intensified.
Everywhere she looked—social media, entertainment news, fan edits—there they were.
Celine scrolled through her phone absentmindedly in the dressing room, skimming through the countless posts about her and Mavis.
🔹 “Mavis x Celine supremacy! Imagine them in a drama together?!”
🔹 “Mavis manifesting a project with Celine is my new religion.”
🔹 “We need a MOVIE. WE NEED A DRAMA. WE NEED THEM TO BREATHE THE SAME AIR MORE OFTEN.”
Celine sighed. She wasn’t even doing anything, yet people were already pairing her up with Mavis. That’s how the industry works.
She locked her phone just as her manager walked in, carrying a tablet and wearing a knowing smirk.
“Celine,” the manager started, tapping the screen. “Have you seen these?”
Celine shot her a look. “Do I even need to?”
The manager chuckled. “You and Mavis have been trending for a week straight. The public loves the idea of you two working together.”
Celine exhaled, rubbing her temples. “And? Anong gusto mong gawin ko?”
Her manager leaned forward, crossing her arms. “LUMINA has a guesting today. And guess what? You’re in the same building.”
Celine’s eyebrows furrowed. “Okay…?”
The manager grinned. “Let’s make the fans go wild. Lumabas ka sa stage.”
Celine froze.
“Direk,” she said, voice firm. “Kailangan ba talaga ‘to?”
Her manager raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have to. But imagine how viral it’ll be.”
Celine was about to refuse—but then she heard it.
Her name.
“…at dahil diyan, nandito si Celine!”
It was a joke.
A passing remark from the host.
But the audience screamed anyway, the entire studio erupting into cheers.
Celine sighed deeply. She clenched her jaw, straightened her back, and changed her features into a calm, effortless smile.
Showbiz mode: activated.
And just like that—she walked toward the stage.
The moment Celine appeared, the crowd exploded.
Screams filled the air, fans jumping from their seats, waving their banners in pure hysteria.
Mavis, who had been laughing at the host’s joke, suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened as she turned toward the backstage—only to see Celine actually walking toward them.
“…Holy shit,” Mavis muttered under her breath, covering her mouth as she laughed in disbelief.
Maeve nudged her. “Gaga, ginawa mong manifesting session ‘to.”
Sasha, being the most dramatic, grabbed Arianne’s arm. “DID WE JUST SUMMON CELINE?!”
Arianne?
She didn’t react much. She simply smiled—but her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
She had not expected to see Celine here today.
Not like this.
But she was in front of the cameras, live on television. So she did what she was best at.
She acted professional.
Host: “Celine! This is unexpected! Akala namin joke lang ‘to, pero nandito ka talaga!”
Celine laughed lightly, stepping beside them. “Napadaan lang.”
The crowd screamed.
Mavis, still recovering, shook her head and dramatically held her chest.
The host chuckled, looking at Mavis. “Speaking of… last time you were here, you said gusto mong makatrabaho si Celine. Now that she’s here, anong masasabi mo?”
The mic was passed to Mavis, who dramatically fanned herself. “Oh my God. Pangarap na ‘to!”
Laughter erupted from the audience, but everyone was eagerly waiting for Celine’s reaction.
The host turned to her, offering her the mic. “And you, Celine? What do you think about Mavis wanting to work with you?”
Celine paused.
She tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a small, unreadable smile.
Then—
She took the mic and simply said—
“Game.”
The audience went insane.
Sasha and Maeve nearly fell off their chairs from laughing, Mavis dramatically fell back against the couch, clutching her chest as if she had been shot.
Even Arianne—who had remained composed—felt her lips twitch upward in amusement.
Because this was so Celine.
Effortless. Smooth. Unbothered.
The host grinned. “Well, you heard it here first! Celine is game!”
The crowd roared.
Mavis, still recovering from the chaos, turned to Celine with a playful smirk. “Totoo ‘yan, ha?”
Celine raised an eyebrow, her lips still carrying that small, mysterious smile. “Tingnan natin.”
The moment the segment ended, the lights dimmed slightly, and the energy shifted.
Celine exhaled as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.
LUMINA’s guesting was over, and the members were already preparing to leave for their next schedule. The energy backstage was still buzzing—staff members were moving in different directions, fans outside were screaming their names, and the cameras were still lingering, catching every possible interaction.
Celine remained standing near the entrance of the hallway, watching as the group gathered their things. Her manager was busy talking with one of the producers, giving her just enough time to linger.
She wasn’t sure why she stayed.
Maybe it was out of politeness.
Maybe it was curiosity.
Or maybe, just maybe—it was something else entirely.
Mavis, who was still giddy from the unexpected interaction, turned to Celine first. “Well… this was a surprise,” she said with a grin, adjusting the mic pack still attached to her outfit. “Didn’t think I’d actually meet you today.”
Celine smirked slightly. “Didn’t think I’d actually show up.”
Mavis laughed, shaking her head. “Manifestation is real.”
She extended a hand toward Celine. “Anyway, nice meeting you.”
Celine took her hand and gave it a firm shake. “You too.”
One by one, the other members followed suit. Maeve, Sasha, and the rest of the group all shook hands with her, exchanging polite smiles and simple goodbyes.
It was normal.
Just a casual farewell between two artists who happened to cross paths today.
But then—
It was Arianne’s turn.
Celine’s eyes flickered to her, and for the first time in years, they were face-to-face.
The noise in the background didn’t fade, but it suddenly felt muted.
Cameras from various angles turned toward them—staff members and entertainment reporters subtly capturing the moment. This was big.
For years, they had never been in the same frame.
For years, they had never interacted.
But now—they had to.
Celine extended her hand, her features carefully schooled into a neutral expression. She was good at this. At pretending.
“…Nice meeting you,” she said, her voice even, steady.
Arianne?
She hesitated.
It was brief, almost imperceptible, but Celine caught it.
Arianne’s fingers curled slightly at her side, and for a split second, her mask slipped. But just as quickly, she pulled herself together—her lips curving into a polite, practiced smile.
A smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She reached out and took Celine’s hand.
It was cold.
Unlike the others, who gave firm shakes, Arianne’s grip was light, fleeting.
Distant.
“…Nice meeting you too,” Arianne finally said.
Celine didn’t react.
Didn’t flinch.
Didn’t let anything slip.
She just nodded and gently pulled her hand away.
But the moment was captured.
The way their hands barely lingered.
The way Arianne’s smile didn’t quite match her eyes.
The way Celine’s gaze held something unreadable.
It was subtle. Too subtle for the untrained eye.
But for those who knew—it spoke volumes.
The cameras flashed. The murmurs in the background grew. The tension was palpable.
Maeve, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, quickly clapped her hands together. “Alright, we gotta go before we’re late for our next schedule.”
Sasha, always the dramatic one, sighed. “Whew, what a day.”
Mavis grinned. “I feel like I just entered an alternate universe.”
Arianne said nothing.
She simply turned away.
And just like that—LUMINA was gone.
Leaving Celine standing there.
With something heavier than before sitting on her chest.
The moment the episode aired, the internet broke.
🚨 TRENDING #1: MAVIS AND CELINE? FUTURE PROJECT COMING?! 🚨
🚨 TRENDING #2: MAVIS MANIFESTED IT—SHE FINALLY MET CELINE! 🚨
🚨 TRENDING #3: CELINE SAID ‘GAME’ AND THE CROWD WENT WILD! 🚨
Fan reactions flooded social media:
💬 “CELINE AND MAVIS FINALLY MEETING??? THIS FEELS LIKE A COLLISION OF TWO WORLDS!!”
💬 “‘Game.’ Just one word, and the internet EXPLODED.”
💬 “Celine walking in unbothered and Mavis losing it on stage is my new favorite moment.”
💬 “We better get a project together because my heart is NOT READY for this chemistry!”
Clips of Celine’s unexpected entrance went viral. Edits were everywhere.
🎥 Video Title: MAVIS GETTING HER MANIFESTATION MOMENT WITH CELINE
🎥 Video Title: CELINE & MAVIS—THE DUO WE NEVER KNEW WE NEEDED
🎥 Video Title: THAT CONFIDENT ‘GAME’… I’M OBSESSED
GIFs of Celine’s smirk, Mavis’ shocked reaction, and the moment the two shook hands were all over timelines.
🖼️ A viral photo: Celine’s calm expression as Mavis laughed excitedly, their hands clasped in a firm shake.
📌 "This photo alone has more chemistry than some entire movies. GET THEM IN A PROJECT ASAP."
While the main hype was around Celine and Mavis, some eagle-eyed fans caught something else.
💬 “Okay, okay. I know Mavis and Celine are trending, BUT… DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THAT CELINE-ARIANNE HANDSHAKE?!”
💬 “The way Arianne hesitated… idk guys… it felt kinda personal?”
💬 “It was a fraction of a second, but Celine’s expression changed for a split moment. WHO IS ANALYZING THIS WITH ME?”
💬 “I SWEAR, there’s something there. But they’re both way too good at acting like strangers.”
The discussion was smaller but persistent. Some fans even compared past clips, trying to dig into their history.
🖼️ A side-by-side image went viral:
Left—Celine and Mavis shaking hands, both grinning.
Right—Celine and Arianne shaking hands, both looking too neutral.
📌 "WHY DOES THE SECOND ONE FEEL LIKE A TENSE DRAMA SCENE?!??!"
For now, though, the industry was focused on Mavis and Celine.
But for those who knew how to read between the lines…
The real tension was elsewhere.
Celine sat on the couch, scrolling through the endless stream of notifications.
Her face was everywhere.
Her and Mavis. The handshake. The way she casually said "game." The memes. The edits.
She wasn’t surprised.
Her manager chuckled beside her. “Congratulations, you and Mavis are officially the internet’s new obsession.”
Celine rolled her eyes, tossing her phone on the table. “I said one word.”
“And that’s all it took,” her manager smirked. “You really have that effect.”
Celine exhaled, leaning back against the couch. This was fine. She could handle this.
But then, her manager added, “Oh, and there’s a tiny group of people freaking out about your handshake with Arianne.”
Celine didn’t move. Didn’t react.
“…Really?” she said, casual. Too casual.
The manager nodded. “Yeah. Nothing big, though. Just some fans digging into things. Honestly, as long as you don’t feed into it, it’ll pass.”
Celine hummed in response, reaching for her water bottle. She didn’t need to feed into it.
Because if there was one thing she knew about the internet…
It never forgets.
And neither did she.