Chapter 8
Arianne stirred awake, her body still heavy with exhaustion. The soft scent of warm milk lingered in the air, something so familiar it tugged at her chest. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. As her vision cleared, she saw Celine’s grandmother sitting beside her, a warm smile on her face as she carefully handed Arianne a mug of warm milk.
“Apo, uminom ka muna,” Celine’s grandmother said gently, just like she used to years ago.
Arianne sat up slowly, taking the mug with slightly shaky hands. The warmth seeped into her palms, grounding her in the moment. She took a sip, and the taste was exactly as she remembered—comforting, nostalgic, painfully familiar.
But before she could say anything, Celine’s grandmother reached forward and pulled her into a hug.
“Bakit hindi mo sinabi na nandito ka pala, Arianne?” her voice was soft, affectionate, but there was something else there—regret, maybe even sadness.
Arianne froze. Her breath hitched. She felt her entire body tense.
Across the room, Celine, who had just stepped inside, stopped in her tracks. Her lips parted slightly in shock, watching as her grandmother cradled Arianne like she was family.
“Lola…” Celine whispered, almost as if afraid to break the moment.
Arianne hesitated before slowly lifting her head. Her eyes searched the older woman’s face, looking for signs of confusion, but there was none. Just warmth. Just familiarity.
“Naalala niyo po ako, Lola?” Arianne’s voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
Celine’s grandmother stroked Arianne’s hair gently, just like she used to whenever Arianne stayed over when they were younger.
“Oo naman, apo. Hindi kita nakalimutan. Ewan ko nga dito kay celine bakit ayaw ka niya papuntahin dito”
Arianne bit her lip, trying to hold back the sting of tears, but it was impossible. Her grip on the mug tightened, and she let out a shaky breath. Yesterday, Celine’s grandmother didn’t recognize her. She had thought it was just one of those days where memories slipped away, where faces blurred and names were forgotten. But now… she remembered.
Celine swallowed hard. She wasn’t used to this—this kind of raw, unfiltered emotion in her house.
And because vulnerability made her uncomfortable, she did what she did best.
She smirked.
“Hindi po si Arianne ‘yan, La,” Celine said with a teasing lilt, arms crossed over her chest. “Yung nasa TV ‘yan. Baka iniisip niyo lang na kamukha niya.”
Arianne, still overwhelmed by the moment, turned to glare at her.
“Celine, hayop ka—” she grumbled before grabbing a pillow and weakly tossing it in Celine’s direction.
Celine dodged it effortlessly, her smirk deepening. “Uy, may lakas ka pang manghampas, ah.”
Arianne rolled her eyes, wiping at her tears quickly before they could spill further.
Celine’s grandmother chuckled softly. “Hay naku, Celine. ‘Wag mong asarin ang bisita natin.”
Celine shrugged but didn’t say anything else. Instead, she walked over to Arianne’s bedside table, grabbing the medicine and water she had placed there earlier. Without a word, she handed them to Arianne, her actions quiet yet full of intent.
Arianne stared at the medicine for a moment before reaching out to take it. Her fingers brushed against Celine’s, and for a split second, she felt that same old warmth—like nothing had changed, like they were still the same two people who once dreamed together.
The silence stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, but loaded with unsaid words.
Arianne hesitated before finally speaking. “Salamat, Celine.”
Celine, uncharacteristically soft, just nodded.
As Arianne swallowed the medicine, she let her gaze linger on Celine, watching the way she casually leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Something inside Arianne stirred.
Arianne sat quietly on the bed, still feeling a bit weak, but there was warmth in her chest after everything that just happened. Celine’s grandmother had invited her to lunch, and she simply nodded, feeling an unexplainable comfort in this home she hadn’t stepped into for years.
Celine stood by the door, stretching her arms before making her way outside. But before she could leave, Arianne called out.
"Celine."
Celine glanced back. "Hmm?"
Arianne hesitated for a second before gesturing toward herself. "Pwede pahiram shirt?"
Celine raised an eyebrow but then shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure. Kuha ka lang sa closet."
With that, she walked off, disappearing into the hallway.
Arianne exhaled, rubbing her forehead. She was still slightly dizzy, but she managed to push herself up and walk toward Celine’s closet. As soon as she opened it, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Celine was still the same.
Black hoodies, oversized shirts, sleeveless tops, and an endless collection of dark-colored clothes. It was amusing how predictable Celine’s wardrobe was, and yet… it was also comforting.
"Hindi ka pa rin nagbago, Celine," Arianne murmured to herself, shaking her head with a small chuckle.
She reached for a simple black shirt, but as she pulled it out, something thin and light slid off the shelf, hitting the floor with a soft thud.
A notebook.
Frowning, Arianne bent down and picked it up. The cover was slightly worn out, the corners bent from age and use.
Curiosity gnawed at her.
She hesitated—should she?
But her fingers had already moved on their own, flipping the cover open.
The moment she saw the first page, her breath caught in her throat.
It was a picture.
Not just any picture.
It was Celine.
A candid shot of her sitting in a café, staring blankly out the window with a coffee cup in her hand.
Underneath it, a short, handwritten note:
“Another morning alone. Sana nandito ka.”
Arianne’s fingers trembled as she turned the page.
More pictures. More moments.
Celine at a dance studio, drenched in sweat, lying on the floor, exhausted.
“Puyat na naman. Pero kailangan magpakatatag.”
Celine at a late-night shoot, her face half-hidden behind a script.
“Ang hirap minsan. Pero kaya ko ‘to.”
Celine walking home under the rain, hood up, hands stuffed in her pockets.
“Sabi nila, hindi ako mag-isa. Pero bakit ganito yung pakiramdam?”
The pages continued—each one holding a piece of Celine’s life, her struggles, her loneliness, her victories.
It was like Celine had been documenting everything… as if she had wanted someone to see.
As if she had wanted her to see.
Arianne’s vision blurred as she flipped to the last page.
There, written in bold letters—
“Basahin mo ‘to pag debut mo, ha?”
“I love you, mahal ko.”
Her chest ached.
All this time… Celine had been holding onto her in a way Arianne never realized.
Celine had wanted to share everything, even when they were apart.
She clutched the notebook tightly, shutting her eyes as a tear slipped down her cheek.
And in the quiet of Celine’s empty room, Arianne whispered—
"Mahal kita sobra, Celine."
Celine pushed open the door, a casual smirk on her lips. "Arianne, kain na raw sabi ni Lo—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her breath hitched.
Arianne was standing there, in the middle of the room, clutching something tightly against her chest.
Her notebook.
The same one Celine had hidden away for years.
The one she never intended for Arianne to see—not like this.
Their eyes met.
Celine's heart pounded, a mix of panic, vulnerability, and something else she wasn’t ready to name. "Arianne—"
Before she could say anything else, Arianne moved.
Fast.
Without thinking.
She ran to Celine and threw her arms around her, pulling her into a tight, desperate embrace.
Celine stiffened for a split second, caught off guard by the sudden warmth pressing against her. Then, slowly, her body relaxed.
Arianne let out a broken sob.
Her hands clutched at the fabric of Celine’s shirt, knuckles turning white from how tightly she held on. She buried her face against Celine’s shoulder, her entire body trembling.
Celine stood still for a moment, caught in the rawness of it all. The way Arianne's warmth pressed against her, the way her tears dampened Celine’s skin—it was overwhelming, yet painfully familiar.
Arianne wasn't just crying.
She was breaking.
Celine felt it in the way her body shook, in the way her breaths came out ragged, in the way she clung to her like she was afraid to let go.
Celine didn’t say anything. She didn’t tease this time.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around Arianne, pulling her in—tight. Secure.
She let Arianne sob into her shoulder, let her release every emotion that had been buried over the years.
Minutes passed.
Celine felt Arianne’s grip tighten even more, like she was trying to fuse herself into her, as if she wanted to stay in this moment forever.
Arianne hiccupped softly, her voice muffled against Celine’s skin. "Celine..."
Celine hummed, gently rubbing Arianne’s back.
Arianne inhaled shakily, then whispered, "Mahal mo pa rin ako, ‘no?"
Celine shut her eyes, pressing her cheek against Arianne’s hair.
Her lips parted, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Because the truth was—
She never stopped.
Arianne let out another trembling breath before tightening her grip on Celine. "Alam ko ‘yon... ramdam ko ‘yon." Her voice was quiet but sure, like she wasn’t just saying it—she knew it.
She pulled back just enough to look at Celine, her eyes still glassy with unshed tears. "Kasi ako? Mahal pa rin kita, Celine."
Celine's breath hitched.
Arianne was looking at her with so much raw honesty, so much certainty, that Celine felt her heart clench painfully.
She wanted to say something. Anything.
But her throat felt tight, her chest too full.
So instead—she just pulled Arianne back into her arms, holding her even closer, hoping Arianne could feel everything she couldn’t say yet.
And Arianne did.
Because her sobs softened into deep, shuddering breaths.
Because she held onto Celine like she never wanted to let go.
Because, in a long time—
They were exactly where they belonged.
Arianne’s breath hitched at Celine’s silence, waiting—hoping for an answer.
Then, finally, Celine exhaled, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, I still love you."
Arianne’s heart clenched. It was the confirmation she already knew deep down, but hearing it from Celine’s lips made her eyes sting with fresh tears.
But before she could say anything, Celine continued, her tone shifting—firm, yet laced with so much pain.
"Pero hindi kita kayang tanggapin ngayon, Ari."
Arianne stiffened, her stomach twisting. "Why?"
Celine swallowed hard. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look Arianne in the eyes. Her gaze was filled with something unreadable—love, hurt, hesitation, everything at once.
"Because if I accept you now…" Celine’s voice cracked, but she forced herself to continue, "para ko na ring yinakap yung mga gabing hindi ako makatulog sa kaiisip sa’yo."
Arianne’s hands trembled against Celine’s back.
"Para ko na ring yinakap yung sakit na dinaramdam ko noon, habang iniisip kung naalala mo pa ba ako."
Silence.
Arianne felt like she couldn’t breathe. She could see it now—the depth of Celine’s pain, the wounds that never fully healed.
And she understood.
She understood why Celine couldn’t just let her back in so easily.
But that didn’t mean she was giving up.
Arianne’s grip on Celine tightened. Then, with quiet determination, she whispered:
"Naiintindihan ko, celine”
She pulled back just enough to look into Celine’s eyes, a small, sad smile on her lips. "Pero kahit na ayaw mo pa ngayon… kahit natatakot ka pang bumalik sa’kin… I won’t stop, Celine."
Celine’s breath hitched.
"I’ll prove to you that I’m worth loving again."
Celine let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. "Ari, hindi naman kita tinigilan mahalin."
Arianne’s heart skipped a beat, but before she could say anything, Celine gently stepped away, putting space between them.
"But not now."
Arianne exhaled deeply, nodding slowly. She wiped her tears and let out a small, determined chuckle. "Then I’ll wait. I’ll make you believe in us again."
Celine just stared at her, conflicted—but deep down, she knew.
Arianne wasn’t going anywhere.
Celine let out a contented sigh, enjoying the rare warmth of a home-cooked meal. Her grandmother kept piling food onto Arianne’s plate, while Arianne—despite being sick—smiled and ate everything with gratitude.
For a moment, it almost felt like nothing had changed.
Until—
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Celine’s phone vibrated against the table.
Then Arianne’s.
Then Celine’s again.
Then Arianne’s.
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
The two exchanged glances before finally checking their screens.
Arianne’s brows furrowed when she saw the caller ID—Manager Kevin (LUMINA).
Meanwhile, Celine groaned as Jamie’s name flashed across her screen.
"Shit." Arianne muttered under her breath.
"Yeah, no. This can’t be good." Celine sighed, already knowing what was coming.
Before they could react further, Arianne’s phone lit up again with another call. The same manager.
She sighed. "I have to take this."
Celine waved her off, answering Jamie’s call at the same time.
Arianne's Call – LUMINA’s Manager
Arianne walked away from the dining table and pressed her phone to her ear. "Hello—"
"Arianne! What the hell is going on?!" Kevin’s voice boomed through the speaker, frustration dripping from every word.
Arianne winced. "Sir—"
"You and Celine are all over social media! The pictures from last night are going viral! Do you have any idea how much of a mess this is?"
Arianne bit her lip, trying to stay calm. "I—"
"Mavis and Celine were supposed to be the focus! But now, suddenly, you’re thrown into the mix? Fans are going crazy, theories are spreading, and now we have to do damage control!"
Arianne clenched her jaw. "Sir, I wasn’t expecting this to happen. We didn’t do anything—"
"Didn’t do anything? Then explain why the internet is currently debating whether you're back together with Celine?! Explain why people are saying there’s some sort of hidden love triangle between you, Celine, and Mavis!"
Arianne pinched the bridge of her nose. "That’s just the internet making things up."
"That doesn’t matter!" Kevin snapped. "You know how this works, Arianne. We have a carefully crafted image for you. And right now, you and Celine are hijacking the spotlight!"
Arianne remained silent.
"You need to lay low. Now."
Her fingers tightened around her phone. "I understand, sir."
"Good. I expect you to act accordingly. We’ll discuss this further at the agency. Don’t do anything reckless."
The call ended before she could even respond.
Arianne sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Celine's Call – Jamie
Meanwhile, Celine sat back in her chair, phone to her ear as Jamie’s voice exploded from the speaker.
"Celine, what the actual fuck?!"
Celine rolled her eyes. "Damn, Jamie. Hindi mo kailangang sumigaw."
"ANONG HINDI?! Do you even see what’s happening online right now?!"
Celine glanced at Arianne, who was still on the phone with her manager, looking stressed.
"Yeah, yeah. We’re trending. What’s new?"
"What’s new?!" Jamie groaned. "You and Arianne are trending for the wrong reasons! Celine, people are making up theories! Some think you two have been secretly seeing each other for years. Others are saying Mavis is just a cover-up for you and Arianne. Some are mad, some are already shipping you again. It’s a whole circus!"
Celine snorted. "Damn. That was fast."
"IT’S NOT FUNNY, CELINE!"
Celine sighed. "Look, what do you want me to do? People are gonna talk no matter what. I can’t exactly erase the photos from the internet."
Jamie groaned again. "At least be careful with what you do next. If this gets worse, your agency might get involved too. And trust me, they won’t be as nice as Kevin."
Celine hummed. "Duly noted."
Jamie sighed in frustration. "You’re impossible. Just… please don’t make things worse?"
"No promises." Celine smirked before hanging up.
She placed her phone down and finally looked at Arianne, who was now staring at her with tired eyes.
Arianne sighed as she returned to her seat.
Celine raised an eyebrow. "Kevin ripped you a new one, tama?"
Arianne groaned. "You have no idea."
Celine smirked. "Si Jamie rin. They’re pissed."
Arianne let out a dry laugh. "At least some people are happy." She turned her phone screen to show Celine.
It was filled with tweets and posts shipping them together.
"OH MY GOD?! CELINE & ARIANNE??”
"Wait, what about Mavis? This is messy as hell."
"Nah, this looks sus. Why do they look so damn natural together?!"
"Celine’s hand was on Arianne’s waist. The way she held her like she never let go?!"
"LUMINA’s manager is probably losing it right now."
Celine raised an eyebrow. "Invested."
Arianne smirked, scrolling through the endless tweets. "They always were."
Celine barely reacted, already used to the chaos. She took another bite of her food, not even looking up as her phone continued to buzz.
"I know. MaevIanne."
Arianne almost choked on her drink. "Seriously?"