Chapter 3
Celine entered the private lounge where Jamie, Skylar, and Gale were already sprawled out on the couch. The room was dimly lit, with an open box of pizza on the table and drinks scattered around.
"Took you long enough," Jamie said, tossing a pillow at Celine as she sat down beside her.
"I had a meeting," Celine replied, catching the pillow effortlessly before tossing it back.
Skylar raised a brow. "Let me guess—about you and Mavis?"
Celine sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yup. Management wants me to go with it."
Gale gasped dramatically. "Oh my god. Are we witnessing the birth of ‘Cavis’ in real time?"
Skylar snorted. "Nah, I like ‘Mavine’ better."
Jamie, already scrolling through her phone, started laughing. "You guys, there’s already an edit of Celine and Mavis. And guess what? Nasa 1.3 million like na agad"
She turned the screen around, showing a fan-made video with dramatic background music, slow-motion clips of Celine and Mavis from separate interviews, and even a fake wedding edit at the end.
"No way," Celine groaned, leaning over to watch. "They really made a whole love story out of two handshakes and a smile?"
"Oh, absolutely," Skylar said, amused. "Fans can build an entire romance out of a side glance. You’re stuck with this now, babe."
"So," Gale leaned in with a teasing grin. "What do you think of Mavis? She’s obviously into you."
Celine shrugged, unfazed. "She’s nice. We’re not close, though."
Jamie nudged her side. "But if management says na have to work with her, you will?"
"Oo naman," Celine answered without hesitation. "That’s how this industry works."
Jamie studied her for a moment before shaking her head with a knowing smile. "Classic Celine. Always the professional."
Skylar laughed. "Right? I swear, she could have chemistry with a rock if she wanted to. Isang intense na tingin lang, and boom—instant love story."
"I bet she could make a romantic scene with a lamp look believable," Gale added.
"Or a plant," Jamie chimed in.
Celine rolled her eyes but laughed along with them. "Mga adik amp"
Jamie threw an arm around Celine’s shoulders. "But seriously, don’t overthink it. The industry will pair you up with so many people. Just do your thing and let the fans have their fun."
Celine leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling for a moment. "I know. It’s just funny how quickly things spread."
"That’s showbiz, baby," Skylar said, raising her drink in a mock toast.
They spent the rest of the night talking about their schedules, upcoming projects, and the never-ending pressure of the industry. Jamie and Skylar playfully bickered about who had the harder job—acting or modeling—while Gale tried (and failed) to mediate.
As the night stretched on, they shifted to lighter topics—random gossip, inside jokes, and reminiscing about their early days in the industry. It was moments like these that made everything feel a little less overwhelming.
Jamie took a sip of her drink before smirking. "Anyway, enough about Celine. Let’s talk about our dear Gale."
Skylar instantly perked up. "Ohhh, yes. Napanood niyo rin naman yung sagot ni sasha no?"
Gale sighed. "Here we go."
Jamie grinned, pulling up the clip. "‘Si Gale po, OMG, so cute!’" she mimicked Sasha’s excited voice, making everyone burst into laughter.
Gale leaned back, smirking slightly. "Why would I be? She’s been messaging me before."
Celine raised a brow. "Wait, what?"
Jamie’s jaw dropped. "At hindi mo man lang sinabi samin?! Gale, what the hell!"
Gale chuckled, stretching her arms. "Hindi naman big deal. Just casual talks. She’s nice."
Skylar shook her head dramatically. "Unbelievable. You had a whole idol crushing on you, and you didn’t even mention it?"
"I’m just waiting for the right moment," Gale teased.
Jamie crossed her arms. "Well, the right moment is now. Spill the details."
The conversation shifted to teasing Gale about Sasha, with everyone throwing in exaggerated scenarios of their potential “love story.”
Celine leaned back, laughing along with them. It was nice—moments like these, where they could just be themselves, away from the cameras and expectations.
And even if the industry kept pushing her in different directions, she knew one thing for sure—she could always come back to this.
After minutes of relentless teasing, Gale finally gave up, throwing a pillow at Skylar.
"Okay, okay! You guys are worse than fans," Gale groaned. "It’s not like I’m dating Sasha. She’s just… enthusiastic."
"Enthusiastic?!" Jamie burst into laughter. "She literally said you were so cute on live television. Hindi yon enthusiasm, that’s a full-on crush!"
"I never said I was ignoring it," Gale smirked.
Celine, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "So, are you going to do something about it?"
Gale shrugged. "I mean, she’s cute. If she asks me out, I might consider it."
Jamie gasped dramatically. "You might consider it? The audacity."
Celine chuckled, shaking her head as the conversation spiraled into another round of teasing.
Just then, Skylar’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen before groaning. "Ugh, work update."
Jamie peeked over her shoulder. "Oh, the magazine shoot?"
"Yeah. They just sent the schedule. And guess what?" Skylar sighed before looking at Celine. "Kasama ka at si Mavis"
Celine blinked. "Ano?"
Jamie snatched Skylar’s phone and read the message. "Well, well, well. Looks like the universe is really pushing this ship, huh?"
Celine exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Great. Just great."
"Hey, at least it’s just a photoshoot," Gale reasoned. "Could be worse."
Jamie smirked. "Yeah, like a drama series together."
Celine groaned, throwing her head back. "Don’t even joke about that."
Skylar grinned. "Knowing your luck? It might actually happen."
They all laughed, the mood lighthearted despite Celine’s internal suffering.
As the night deepened, they continued talking—about work, future projects, and industry drama. And for Celine, it was a nice reminder that no matter how complicated things got, she still had this—her people, her safe space.
###
Celine stepped inside her grandmother’s dimly lit room, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. The familiar scent of menthol and freshly laundered sheets filled the air. Her grandmother was already asleep, her breathing slow and steady.
Quietly, Celine walked over and adjusted the blanket, tucking it gently around the older woman. As she did, her eyes drifted to the small wooden shelf beside the bed, where a delicate handcrafted ornament sat.
Her fingers brushed against it. It was an old dreamcatcher, carefully woven with red and gold threads, small beads dangling from the edges. She remembered this. She remembered watching as her grandmother patiently guided Arianne’s hands, teaching her how to weave, while Celine sat beside them, teasing Arianne for struggling with the knots.
She smiled. But it was a smile laced with something heavier.
She quietly left the room and walked toward her own. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she let out a deep sigh and sat on the edge of her bed. She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
She had already forgiven Arianne.
Maybe she had forgiven her the moment she left. Maybe she had forgiven her the first time she cried herself to sleep, waiting for a reply that never came. Maybe she had forgiven her because she knew, deep down, that no matter what Arianne’s reason was, she would understand.
She always would.
Celine laid back on her bed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her pillow. Then, like an old wound reopening, the memories surfaced again.
*flashback*
"Dapat sabay tayo, ha?"
Arianne’s voice was full of conviction as she rested her chin on Celine’s shoulder. They were sitting on the rooftop of Celine’s house, watching the city lights flicker in the distance.
Celine chuckled. "Paano kung ako pala yung maging PPOP idol?" she teased, nudging Arianne’s side.
Arianne gasped dramatically, sitting up. "No! Ako dapat yun! Tapos ikaw…" She paused, thinking. "Dapat actress! Para idol x actor tayo, ‘di ba?"
Celine laughed at how determined Arianne looked. "Okay po, mahal," she said playfully, pinching Arianne’s cheeks.
Arianne giggled but quickly turned serious, cupping Celine’s face between her hands. "Pero dapat sabay tayo ha? Walang maiiwan, walang mauna. Dapat sabay tayo."
Celine saw the sincerity in Arianne’s eyes, the unshakable belief that they would make it together. That no matter what happened, they would chase their dreams side by side.
"Opo, mahal ko," Celine whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Arianne’s forehead before pulling her into a tight hug.
At that moment, their dreams felt so real. So possible.
*end of flashback*
Celine blinked back to the present, her vision blurring for a second.
They were supposed to do this together. But in the end, Arianne had left first.
No explanations. No goodbyes. No closure.
Just silence.
Celine exhaled sharply, pressing a hand against her chest as if trying to ease the familiar ache. She turned to her side, staring at her bedside table where her old phone rested.
For years, she had sent messages with no response. For years, she had waited.
And now?
Now, she was just tired.
Celine had just closed her eyes, trying to push the overwhelming emotions aside, when her phone vibrated on the bedside table. The sudden noise broke the silence, making her sigh before reaching for the device.
A message from her manager popped up.
Manager:Celine, clear your schedule for tomorrow afternoon. You have a photoshoot with Mavis.
Celine furrowed her brows, reading the message twice. A photoshoot? She had expected the whole trending issue to calm down eventually, not escalate this quickly.
She typed back.
Celine:Ang bilis naman?
Her manager's response was immediate.
Manager:That’s exactly why we’re doing it. You and Mavis are trending non-stop. People love the idea of you two together. We need to take advantage of this while the hype is still strong.
Celine groaned softly, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. She wasn’t new to these strategies—pairing artists up, creating narratives, feeding the audience what they wanted to see. But still, it felt too soon.
She hesitated before replying.
Celine:Wala naman akong problema, pero… ito ba talaga yung direction na gusto mong itake, direk?
Her manager, knowing Celine too well, didn’t waste time on pleasantries.
Manager:Celine, I know this isn’t ideal for you. Pero ito ang industriya natin. If the audience wants something, we give it to them. Look at the numbers—people are obsessed with you and Mavis. You saw the edits, right? The videos? The trending hashtags? This is what fans are asking for.
Of course, she had seen them. It was impossible to avoid.
Her social media had been flooded with clips, edits, and even fake behind-the-scenes moments of her and Mavis. People were already forming theories about their “chemistry,” despite them barely knowing each other.
Celine inhaled deeply before replying.
Celine:Okay, fine. I’ll be there.
Her manager sent a thumbs-up emoji.
Manager:Good. Just show up, do what you do best, and let the cameras work their magic.
Celine locked her phone and placed it on her chest, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She knew she had no reason to refuse. This was part of the industry. This was how things worked.
But as much as she wanted to be indifferent, a small part of her felt uneasy.
Because for the first time in years, her name was being linked to someone else. And it wasn’t Arianne.
###
Photoshoot:
Celine arrived at the studio, wearing a casual oversized hoodie and cap, her usual off-duty look. As she stepped inside, she noticed Mavis already getting her makeup done, casually scrolling on her phone. The moment Mavis saw her, she grinned.
"Well, well, look who finally showed up," Mavis teased, setting her phone aside.
Celine rolled her eyes but smirked. "I’m literally on time."
Their stylists called them over, showing them the concept for today’s shoot—moody, high-fashion, with an intimate, almost cinematic feel. The shoot would have them in matching outfits, sitting closely together, exchanging deep glances, as if telling a story.
Mavis, ever the playful one, leaned in and whispered, "So… are we making our shippers happy today or may iba kang idea?"
Celine exhaled, shaking her head, but she played along. "I’m a professional. As long as you don’t mess up."
The photographer instructed them on their poses. The first few shots were simple—standing side by side, looking directly at the camera. Then, the real challenge began.
"Alright, now I want some tension between you two," the photographer said. "Mavis, lean in slightly, like you’re about to say something to Celine. Celine, look at her but with a mix of curiosity and mystery."
Mavis smirked as she leaned in, their faces inches apart. "Do I make you nervous?" she murmured low enough for only Celine to hear.
Celine held her expression, refusing to react. "Not even a little," she answered coolly.
Click. Click. Click. The camera captured every second of it.
The next set of shots had them seated on a couch, Mavis resting her arm behind Celine, as if she was casually draping it around her. The tension was subtle, but undeniable.
Between takes, the staff whispered about their undeniable chemistry. The director even commented, "Wow, you two look like you’ve known each other for years. This is working better than expected."
Mavis chuckled, shooting Celine a look. "See? We’re naturals."
Celine just sighed. If only they knew how different it felt compared to before—when she had moments like this with someone else.
Just as Celine and Mavis were about to continue their shoot, a sudden wave of voices filled the studio.
“Go, Ate Mavis!” Sasha’s energetic cheer rang across the room.
Maeve, standing beside her, simply lifted a thumbs-up, a small but proud smile on her face. The rest of LUMINA had arrived, making it clear they were here to support their member’s first solo activity.
Mavis chuckled, shaking her head. “You guys are embarrassing me.”
“Of course! Yan dahilan kaya kami nandito,” Sasha teased, winking before glancing toward Celine. “And wow, Ate Celine, grabe, ang lakas ng chemistry niyo ha.”
Celine simply smiled at them, but when she shifted her gaze slightly, she finally noticed Arianne.
She was standing quietly at the back, her arms crossed, not saying anything. She wasn’t like the others, who were openly teasing or making comments—Arianne was just… watching.
And for some reason, that made something stir inside Celine.
But instead of acknowledging Arianne, Celine made a move—not for Arianne, but for Mavis.
Without hesitation, Celine moved closer to Mavis, too close.
She could feel the slight stiffening of Mavis’s shoulders as their bodies aligned perfectly for the next shot. The photographer, noticing the subtle yet intense change in energy, immediately reacted.
“Ay, YES! Celine, ganyan nga! Huwag kang matakot lumapit!”
Celine tilted her face toward Mavis, their noses nearly touching, as if she were about to steal a kiss.
The room’s energy shifted. The playful atmosphere among the staff became charged with tension.
Even Mavis, who was usually unfazed, felt her breath hitch. She swallowed hard, her confidence slipping just for a second. “Okay, now I’m the one getting nervous,” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Celine to hear.
Celine, still maintaining the intense eye contact, smirked slightly. “Relax. Professional tayo, ‘di ba?”
Click. Click. Click.
The photographer was in awe. “MY GOD, Celine! Ano pang talent ang hindi mo kaya? This is perfect. This is the chemistry I need.”
Celine barely reacted. She wasn’t doing this to impress the photographer. She was doing this because she knew someone was watching.
And that someone… was struggling.
Arianne… saw everything.
She knew she should have looked away earlier, but for some reason, she couldn’t.
Her throat felt tight. Her chest felt heavier. And her breathing? It was hard.
She clenched her fists slightly, forcing herself to remain neutral.
This is fine. This is nothing.
But deep inside, it didn’t feel like nothing.
As soon as the shoot wrapped up, Celine stepped off the set, rolling her shoulders to ease the slight tension in her body. The moment she removed her mic pack, her manager approached her with a proud smile.
“Celine,” her manager called out, crossing her arms with a knowing look. “Ikaw talaga. Hindi ka pa rin nag-fail sa expectations ko. The moment I asked you to audition years ago, I knew it—hindi ako nagkamali.”
Celine chuckled, shaking her head. “Grabe naman ‘yung expectations, Direk. Kinakabahan tuloy ako.”
But her manager wasn’t joking. “Celine, you’re one of the best actresses in the country now. Lahat ng eksena mo? One take. Walang sayang. Alam mo ba kung anong sinasabi ng ibang managers at fans mo?”
Celine raised a brow. “Ano naman?”
“They say you’ll accept any role. That you’ll do anything. Kasi you love what you do. Kasi mahal mo rin ang fans mo.”
Celine smiled, but deep down… she knew there was another reason.
Everything she worked for, everything she achieved—it wasn’t just for herself.
Because the truth was, all of this… everything she had now… was because of Arianne.
But she shook the thought away before it could linger.
Her manager suddenly clapped her hands together. “Anyway! Come with me. May pupuntahan tayo.”
Celine frowned slightly. “Ha? Saan?”
“Basta, sumunod ka na lang.”
With a sigh, Celine followed her manager out of the set, still clueless about where they were heading. It wasn’t until they entered a private conference room that she froze for a second.
Inside the room… LUMINA was there.
Mavis. Sasha. Maeve. And most of all… Arianne.
Celine’s eyes flickered toward Arianne for only a second before she quickly looked away.
Her manager, however, was unfazed.
She walked toward another person in the room—LUMINA’s manager.
The two managers shook hands firmly, exchanging polite smiles.
“Finally, we meet,” Celine’s manager said. “Mukhang good timing din, no?”
LUMINA’s manager nodded. “Definitely. With all the buzz surrounding Mavis and Celine, we figured this would be the perfect time.”
Celine’s brow furrowed. “Buzz?”
Mavis, sitting beside Sasha, chuckled. “You and I, Celine. Trending na naman tayo.”
“What?!” Celine’s eyes widened slightly. “Kakashoot lang natin, ah!”
Sasha snorted. “Ate, ang tagal mong di nagka-love team, tapos first time mong mag-partner ulit, biglaan. Tapos ganyan pa ka-intense ang chemistry? Eh ‘di siyempre, nagwawala mga tao.”
Maeve nodded in agreement. “And let’s be real, Mavis has been saying for months na gusto niyang mag-acting, tapos ikaw agad ang first project niya? People are eating it up.”
Celine blinked, slowly absorbing the situation. “Wait, so… anong gagawin natin?”
That was when her manager finally revealed the reason they were here.
“We’re planning to put you two in a series. Or maybe even a movie.”
Mavis lit up instantly. “Oh my god, seryoso?”
LUMINA’s members clapped in excitement.
Sasha grinned. “Ate Mavis, ito na talaga! Idol x Actress tandem, let’s go!”
Maeve gave her an approving nod. “You’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this. Congrats, Ate.”
Mavis, still reeling from the news, turned to Celine. “Ano, game ka?”
Celine, on the other hand, was still processing. She had no idea this was coming.
But… if this was what the management wanted, and if this was something that would make the fans happy…
She exhaled lightly before offering Mavis a small smirk.
“Game.”
The room erupted in cheers.
Even LUMINA’s manager clapped his hands together. “That settles it, then! We’ll arrange the schedules and finalize the project.”
As everyone talked excitedly, Celine felt someone’s gaze on her.
She glanced sideways.
Arianne was watching her.
Unlike the others, Arianne wasn’t clapping. She wasn’t cheering.
She was just… watching.
Celine held her gaze for only a moment before looking away, pretending it didn’t affect her.
Arianne sat quietly, hands resting on her lap, as the room buzzed with excitement around her. Mavis was beaming, Sasha and Maeve were hyping her up, and even the managers looked satisfied with how things were unfolding.
But Arianne?
She felt like she was suffocating.
Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her pants, nails pressing into her skin as she fought to keep her face neutral.
Idol x Actor.
It was supposed to be her and Celine. That was their dream.
She still remembered it so clearly—how they used to whisper about it late at night, lying side by side, dreaming about the future they would share. How they promised each other they would debut together, rise together, achieve their dreams together.
But now?
Celine had already reached it.
And Arianne?
She was just watching from the sidelines.
She deserved this.
She knew that.
She knew she was the one who let go first. She was the one who made the choice that tore them apart. She was the one who signed that contract, the one who left without an explanation, the one who had no right to be hurting like this.
But… it still hurt.
She told herself she had accepted this already. That she had made peace with the consequences of her decisions.
But seeing Celine now—up close, standing beside someone else, sharing their dream with someone else… it was unbearable.
She inhaled sharply, trying to keep her breathing steady.
She had to act normal.
She had to pretend.
So, when Celine briefly glanced at her, Arianne made sure to keep her face blank.
She didn’t smile.
She didn’t frown either.
She just held her gaze, making sure that whatever pain she was feeling wouldn’t show.
Because at the end of the day, no matter how much it hurt, she had no right to be selfish.
This was Celine’s moment.
And Arianne?
She was just a part of the past.
The night air was heavy, thick with something unspoken. The parking lot was quiet except for the occasional sound of distant traffic and the faint echo of voices inside the building. Most of the staff and crew had already left, leaving behind only a few cars under the dim yellow lights.
Celine was heading to her car when she saw her.
Arianne.
Standing there, unlocking her own car, looking completely composed. Like nothing happened.
Like Celine didn’t just stand on stage pretending none of this affected her.
Like Arianne hadn’t once been the most important person in her life.
Her grip on her car keys tightened. She had no reason to stop. She could have walked past, gotten in her car, and left. But her feet wouldn’t move. Her chest felt too tight, her mind too loud.
She couldn’t.
She couldn’t just let this moment pass.
Celine swallowed hard before taking a step forward. Then another. Until the distance between them became too small to ignore.
"Wala ka bang sasabihin?"
Her voice was low, steady—but there was a sharpness to it, an edge barely held back.
Arianne’s fingers froze on the car door handle. For a second, she didn’t move. Didn’t even breathe.
Then, slowly, she turned around.
Their eyes met.
Celine felt something in her chest twist.
Arianne still had the same eyes—those deep, dark eyes that once looked at her like she was the only person in the world. But now? There was something else there. Guilt. Distance. A wall too high to climb.
"What?" Arianne finally spoke, voice flat, unreadable.
Celine took another step closer. Too close.
Arianne tensed.
Celine saw it—the way her throat moved as she swallowed, the way her shoulders stiffened. She wasn’t unaffected. She wasn’t as composed as she wanted to be.
Good.
Because Celine sure as hell wasn’t okay.
Her heart was pounding. She wanted to scream, to let out all the anger, all the confusion, all the pain that had built up inside her for years.
But at the same time…
She missed her.
So. Damn. Badly.
"Three years." Celine’s voice wavered, just for a second. But she steadied herself, forcing her expression into something unreadable. "Three years, Arianne. Not even a single word."
Arianne exhaled sharply, looking away. "Celine—"
"Don’t." Celine let out a bitter laugh. "Don’t even try to make excuses. I don’t need them."
Silence.
The wind was the only thing between them now.
Celine’s fingers twitched at her side. She didn’t know what she wanted more—to push Arianne away or pull her closer.
"I waited, Arianne." Her voice was softer now, almost a whisper. "I waited for you."
Arianne’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. "I know."
Celine clenched her jaw. "That’s it?"
Arianne inhaled sharply, tilting her head up, as if trying to keep herself together. She looked like she wanted to say something.
For a second—just a second—Celine let herself hope.
But then Arianne’s face hardened.
"Goodnight, Celine."
And just like that, she turned away.
Celine felt something inside her shatter.
She let out a breathless laugh, filled with disbelief. "Wow. Okay."
She should let her go. She knew that.
But…
"Tumingin ka naman sakin."
Arianne stopped in her tracks.
Celine’s voice was raw now. Bare. Honest.
"Tumingin ka naman, Arianne."
Slowly—hesitantly—Arianne turned back.
Their eyes met again.
And this time, Celine saw it.
Pain. Regret.
Love—buried under layers of guilt and silence.
Arianne opened her mouth. But no words came out.
Celine let out a shaky breath and smiled—a small, sad smile.
"I see," she whispered.
Then, without another word, she walked away.
Leaving Arianne standing there—still, silent, and completely alone with her regrets.