Chapter 17
The energy inside the mall venue was electric. Fans screamed, flashing their lightsticks and banners as Celine and Mavis took center stage, promoting their upcoming movie. The chemistry they built on-screen translated well in real life—too well, in fact, that some fans had started shipping them.
The crowd chanted their names together, their excitement fueling the atmosphere. Celine tried to keep her expression neutral, but deep inside, she felt a little uneasy. She knew Arianne was somewhere backstage, and she could only imagine what she was thinking.
The host, a lively and charismatic personality, took center stage.
"Grabe! This movie is already breaking records, and it hasn't even premiered yet! But of course, we have to ask... Mavis and Celine, what do you think about fans calling you the next IT couple?"
Mavis chuckled, ever the smooth talker. "Naku, sobrang flattered kami sa support ng fans! Pero syempre, acting lang po 'yon. At the end of the day, it’s all about giving our best performance."
Celine, forcing a smile, nodded in agreement. "Yes, we really just wanted to bring the best chemistry on-screen para mas dama ng audience yung story."
The crowd still screamed, undeterred by their answer.
The host then brightened. "Of course, this movie is a big deal, but we can't forget another superstar group na palaging sumusuporta kay Mavis!"
The fans roared as the LED screen behind them displayed LUMINA's name, and one by one, the members walked onto the stage.
Arianne, Sasha, and Maeve walked out together, waving at the screaming crowd. They were always expected to be present at Mavis’ events, but for Celine, their presence— Arianne’s presence—felt different today.
As the crowd cheered, the host grinned. "So, Lumina, what can you say about the success of Mavis and Celine? Any thoughts on their chemistry?"
Maeve, always playful, grabbed the mic first. "Siyempre, super proud kami kay Mavis! Lahat ng hard work niya, ngayon na nakikita ng lahat. At syempre, si Celine din, napakahusay na actress."
Sasha nodded. "We’ve seen how much effort they put into this project, kaya sobrang deserve nila 'yung success na ‘to."
Then, the microphone was handed to Arianne. Celine’s grip on her microphone tightened.
Arianne took a deep breath. "For Mavis… proud ako sayo, you always give your best, and we all see that. You're not just an amazing performer, but an amazing friend too."
Mavis grinned, mouthing a small "thank you."
Then, Arianne’s gaze flickered towards Celine.
Her voice was steady but there was a slight hesitation before she spoke. "And for Celine…" she paused, then continued, "You’re a great actress, no doubt about that. I know how passionate you are with your work, and I admire that."
It was polite. Professional.
And Celine felt it.
The audience clapped and cheered, oblivious to the hidden tension between them.
The host, sensing that the moment had passed, moved on. "Okay! We have something exciting prepared! Since we have LUMINA and the leads of the movie here, we thought—why not have a fun little challenge?"
The crowd screamed in excitement.
"A dance challenge!" the host announced. "Pero! It's a DUO challenge! So… syempre, we have Mavis and Celine as one duo…"
The audience screamed.
"And from Lumina… let’s call in another pair!"
The host turned to the backstage. "We have a special guest to complete the set… Gale!"
The crowd exploded as Gale walked onto the stage, waving casually. The energy shifted immediately as fans started screaming at the top of their lungs.
The host chuckled. "Ay, parang ang lakas ng sigawan para sayo, Gale ah!"
Gale just smiled and took the mic. "I just came to support, pero ayan… mukhang may dance challenge na agad!"
The host playfully smirked. "Since andito na tayo, Gale, fans want to know—what’s the current score between you and Sasha?"
The crowd screamed louder, knowing exactly what the host was referring to.
Gale, ever the composed one, laughed softly and replied, "Basta… we’re having fun."
Sasha, beside her, rolled her eyes playfully.
The fans went wild at their teasing.
The atmosphere inside the mall had reached an all-time high. Fans were screaming, waving their banners and lightsticks, their voices blending into an overwhelming chorus of excitement. The dance challenge had officially begun, and the energy was infectious.
The host grinned, holding up the mic. "Alright! Para sa unang duo, let’s welcome… Gale and Sasha!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Gale and Sasha took their positions at the center of the stage.
🎶 Disco Surf Course starts playing 🎶
The moment the beat dropped, Gale and Sasha synced their movements perfectly, exuding both power and fun. Sasha, ever the performer, executed smooth yet sharp moves, her confidence radiating through every step. Gale, despite her cool and composed nature, matched her effortlessly, moving with a laid-back charm that only added to the performance.
The fans screamed louder with every groove, every transition, and especially whenever the two shared eye contact.
Somewhere near the front row, a group of fans waved a sign that read: "GALE & SASHA: JUST DATE ALREADY!"
As the song came to an end, the two struck their final pose—Gale smirking, Sasha flipping her hair dramatically.
The audience went wild.
The MC chuckled as they walked back to the center of the stage. "Grabe kayo! Ang lakas ng sigawan! Akala mo naman may kinikilig dito?"
Sasha, still catching her breath, raised a playful brow. Gale, still composed but amused, just shook her head with a chuckle.
The MC smirked, eyeing Gale. "Pero parang… iba ang tingin mo kay Sasha kanina. Ano yun, Gale? Gusto mong magpaliwanag?"
The audience screamed louder.
Gale laughed and shook her head. "Ah, wala! Sayaw lang ‘yon, promise."
Sasha turned to her with an exaggerated, teasing look. "Ahhh, so sayaw lang?"
Gale smirked and shrugged. "Sayaw lang... pero hindi ibig sabihin wala akong na-feel."
"WOOOOOOO!" The audience exploded in chaos.
Sasha just gave Gale a smug grin before walking back with the other Lumina members, while Gale gave a casual salute to the fans, her playful side peeking through.
The MC took the mic again. "Okay, okay! Humanda na tayo for our next pair… MAEVE & ARIANNE!"
As soon as their names were announced, the audience erupted again, but this time, the screams were different.
There were fans who shipped them.
Arianne took a deep breath as she and Maeve stepped forward. The music cue started playing.
🎶 Wiggle Wiggle starts playing 🎶
The moment the beat dropped, Maeve, ever the playful one, started with a smooth body roll, instantly making the fans lose their minds. Arianne followed suit, moving effortlessly with the rhythm, their movements in sync.
The screams grew even louder when Maeve suddenly stepped closer , playfully leaning toward Arianne, their faces dangerously close for just a second before they transitioned into the next move.
Arianne sighed internally.
She should’ve expected this from Maeve.
The teasing. The natural flirtatious energy.
And yet—the fans loved it.
The intensity of the crowd’s reaction almost made Arianne laugh. It wasn’t real, but it was amazing how invested people could be in things like this.
As the song ended, Maeve winked at the crowd before raising Arianne’s hand in the air, as if declaring victory.
The host, shaking their head with a smirk, walked back to center stage. "Okay, pero ano yun, Maeve?! Bakit may paganon?"
Maeve just shrugged innocently.
Arianne, still catching her breath, rolled her eyes, though a small smile formed on her lips.
The MC grinned. "Okay! Ang lakas ng sigawan sa unang dalawang performances, pero siyempre, we can't forget our leading stars. Let’s see if their fans will be just as loud—or louder!"
The fans erupted again, this time chanting:
"MACE! MACE! MACE!"
Celine clenched her jaw slightly at the sound.
She hated that name.
Still, she forced a smile and stepped forward with Mavis.
The music began.
🎶 Daleng Dale starts playing 🎶
From the very first beat, Celine and Mavis moved in perfect sync, their chemistry undeniable. Mavis was confident and charismatic , playing with the crowd as she danced, while Celine— despite not being a professional dancer—moved flawlessly, her presence captivating.
But what truly shook the venue was the moment when Mavis placed a hand on Celine’s waist as part of the choreography.
The audience lost their minds.
Fans screamed so loud that the mall itself felt like it was shaking.
Celine stayed professional, continuing the routine without faltering, but she felt the energy. She could feel the way fans were eating it up—the way Arianne might be watching right now.
And for some reason, that thought made her dance even better.
When the performance ended, the host clapped loudly. "Celine, ikaw ba talaga ‘yan?! Hindi ka lang umaarte, sumasayaw ka rin pala!"
Celine laughed breathlessly , wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead. "Baka sabihin nyo kasi, arte lang ako."
Mavis, still grinning, nudged her playfully."Sabi ko sayo, you’re good at this."
Celine just chuckled, but when her eyes scanned the side of the stage, they landed on Arianne.
She was watching.
And despite everything—despite the ship names, the fan reactions, the cheers—Celine only cared about what Arianne thought.
After the dance challenge ended, the MC invited everyone back to the stage for a final round of questions.
The energy in the mall was still electric, fans buzzing with excitement over what they had just witnessed. Some were still chanting their favorite ships, while others replayed clips of the performances on their phones.
Celine stayed composed , but deep inside, she was still feeling the weight of everything— the loud cheers for her and Mavis, the way Arianne had watched from the sidelines, and the subtle jealousy that still lingered from earlier.
The MC grinned. "Grabe, I think this is one of the loudest events we’ve had in a while! Para tayong nasa concert!"
The audience cheered in agreement.
The MC turned to Lumina first. "Siyempre, bago tayo magtapos, any final words from our special guests?"
Sasha grabbed the mic, her voice still breathless from all the dancing. "Thank you sa lahat ng nandito! We always feel the love and support, and we’re super happy to be part of today’s event."
Gale, still composed despite the chaos, gave a small smile. "Enjoy lang kayo, and keep supporting everyone here."
Then, the MC turned to Arianne.
Arianne took the mic, her voice steady despite the way her chest felt a little tight."Thank you for coming. We really appreciate the support… Lalo na sa Mavis and Celine fans, ang daming malakas sumigaw!"
The crowd screamed again, proving her point.
Arianne continued, "We’re all excited for the movie, and I know na magugustuhan niyo ‘yung kwento. Kaya panoorin niyo na habang showing pa"
Celine watched her closely.
Arianne looked so professional, so composed—but Celine knew her.
She saw the small shift in Arianne’s expression. The slight tension in her posture.
And she wondered… was it because of the dance? Was it because of the way the fans screamed for her and Mavis?
The thought made her chest tighten.
After a few more questions, the event finally ended. Fans cheered as the hosts wrapped things up, and the artists started heading toward the backstage area.
As soon as Celine stepped off the stage, she grabbed a bottle of water from a staff member, gulping it down to cool herself.
Mavis, still feeling the high from their performance, nudged her. "We killed it out there, right?"
Celine smirked. "Yeah. We did."
Mavis winked. "Told you, bagay ka sa ganito. Imagine if we had more dance scenes together?"
Celine chuckled but didn’t respond.
Instead, her eyes subtly searched the backstage area— for Arianne.
And she found her.
Arianne was standing in the corner , scrolling through her phone, acting too busy.
A few steps away, Maeve was standing close to Arianne, offering her a cold bottle of water.
Arianne, still catching her breath from the performance, smiled and took it.“Thanks.”
Maeve chuckled. “Grabe, ang lakas ng sigawan kanina. Hindi ka ba nabulag sa ilaw o nahilo sa lakas ng bass?”
Arianne laughed softly, twisting the cap open. “A little. Pero sanay na.”
Maeve tilted her head, watching her. “That was fun, though. Maybe we should dance together next time.”
Celine stiffened.
Her grip on her bottle tightened as she stared at them, her jaw clenching involuntarily.
She wasn’t even trying to eavesdrop, but the moment Maeve handed Arianne that bottle, something in her snapped.
Why did it bother her so much?
Why did it look so... natural between them?
Arianne barely even hesitated to take it. She didn’t even check if Celine was watching— like it didn’t even cross her mind.
Celine exhaled sharply.
Before she could even process what she was about to do, she was already moving.
“Arianne, sabay ka na sa’kin,” Maeve offered casually, her voice smooth and easy. “Hatid na kita.”
Celine’s grip on her clutch tightened.
Oh, hell no.
She took a deep breath, forcing her expression to stay neutral as she turned on her heels and walked toward them like she hadn’t heard anything at all.
With a practiced, easygoing smile, she stepped beside Arianne. “Arianne,” she said, loud enough to make both Arianne and Maeve look up.
Arianne blinked, slightly startled. “Celine—”
Celine turned to her, tilting her head like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Sa Timog ka, ‘di ba?” she asked, her voice sweet, casual. “Sabay ka na sa’kin.”
Arianne’s mouth opened slightly, caught off guard.
Maeve, clearly confused, raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
Celine met Maeve’s gaze and smiled again, this time a little too sweetly. “Malapit ako don,” she answered smoothly before glancing at Arianne. “Pwede siya sumabay sa’kin, right, Arianne?”
Arianne swallowed, suddenly nervous. She could feel Celine’s presence beside her, warm and steady—but there was an unmistakable tension beneath her calm tone.
“A-ahh, yeah…” Arianne nodded quickly, feeling trapped. “Of course.”
Maeve let out a small chuckle, shaking her head like she had figured something out. “Sige, sige. Enjoy the ride then,” she said, glancing between the two of them.
Then, as if the situation wasn’t already enough, another voice interrupted.
“Celine!”
Celine stiffened.
Mavis walked up to them with her usual confident stride. “Aalis ka na?” she asked Maeve before turning to Celine. “And you—Celine, you’re heading out too?”
Celine nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, ihahatid ko lang si Arianne.”
Mavis smirked slightly before stepping closer to Celine. “Good job tonight,” she murmured, then, before anyone could react, leaned in and pressed a quick, fleeting kiss on Celine’s cheek.
Celine froze.
Arianne did too.
The world seemed to pause for a split second.
Mavis, completely unaffected, simply smiled and waved. “Bye, guys,” she said, walking off like she hadn’t just left chaos in her wake.
Celine turned her head slightly, still processing what had just happened.
Arianne, on the other hand, was very much processing it. Her jaw tightened as she exhaled sharply, her arms crossing.
“Let’s go,” she muttered, turning toward the parking lot without waiting for Celine.
Celine snapped out of it, realizing that trouble was now looming on the horizon. “Ari—” she sighed before quickly following.
The moment they got inside Celine’s car, the air was thick with unspoken words. Arianne was looking straight ahead, her expression unreadable.
Celine, knowing better than to let the silence drag on, reached out and gently held Arianne’s hand.
Arianne didn’t pull away.
But she didn’t hold back either.
Celine sighed, her thumb brushing against Arianne’s knuckles. “Mahal…” she started, her voice soft. “Wala akong alam. Hindi ko alam na gagawin niya ‘yon.”
Arianne remained quiet.
Celine pouted a little, trying to get her attention. “Promise, kahit sumakit pa tiyan ko ngayon.”
That got a reaction.
Arianne turned to her, finally meeting her gaze, her lips twitching slightly like she was trying not to smile.
Celine saw it immediately. “Ayan, ayan!” she teased, squeezing her hand. “Alam kong natatawa ka.”
Arianne huffed, looking away. “Hindi ako natatawa.”
Celine grinned. “Sure ka? Ang ganda ng ngiti mo, oh.”
Arianne exhaled, her fingers tightening slightly around Celine’s. “Nakakainis ka.”
Celine chuckled, lifting their intertwined hands and pressing a soft kiss to the back of Arianne’s. “Pero mahal mo.”
Arianne sighed but didn’t argue.
Because, really, she did.
The drive was quiet at first, but not tense—just the kind of silence that stretched between them when neither of them felt the need to fill it with words. Arianne had leaned back in her seat, her fingers still loosely intertwined with Celine’s.
The city lights blurred past the windows as the car took a turn—one that Arianne quickly noticed.
Her brows furrowed. “Wait… this isn’t the way to my condo.”
Celine hummed nonchalantly, eyes focused on the road. “Hmm? Talaga?”
Arianne glanced at her suspiciously. “Celine.”
Celine bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.
Minutes later, as they pulled up in front of a very familiar house, Arianne’s mouth parted in realization.
“Wait, bakit tayo nandito?Bakit sa bahay mo?” she asked, sitting up. “Kala ko ba ihahatid mo ‘ko?”
Celine finally let out a small laugh, turning off the engine. She leaned on the steering wheel, giving Arianne a teasing look. “Hinatid nga kita.”
Arianne narrowed her eyes. “Celine—”
“At saka,” Celine continued, grinning. “Anong bahay ko? Bahay natin ‘to, sabi ni Lola.”
Arianne huffed, shaking her head in amusement. “Diyos ko…”
Celine laughed. “Uy, tama naman ako! Sinabi niya ‘yon, ‘di ba? ‘Ituring mo nang bahay mo ‘to, Arianne.’” She even tried to imitate her grandmother’s voice.
Arianne rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips. “Iba naman ‘yon.”
Celine reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind Arianne’s ear. “Hindi naman,” she said, softer this time.
Arianne looked at her, catching the hint of sincerity behind Celine’s playful tone.
She slipped off her shoes, stretching a little. “Wala si Lola?”
Celine locked the door behind them and nodded. “Nasa rest house. Magtatagal pa ‘yon don.”
Arianne raised an eyebrow. “So ibig sabihin, wala tayong bantay?”
Celine smirked. “Arianne, para namang may ginagawa tayong masama.”
Arianne crossed her arms. “Ikaw pa talaga may ganang magsabi niyan?”
Celine gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. “Wow, ikaw pa talaga ‘tong nag-aakusa?”
Arianne just gave her a look before walking toward the living room, dropping onto the couch with a tired sigh.
Celine followed, plopping down beside her, immediately draping herself over Arianne. “Pagod ka na?”
Arianne hummed. “Slight.”
Celine nuzzled against her shoulder. “Gusto mo ng massage?”
Arianne snorted. “Baka iba na namang klaseng massage iniisip mo.”
Celine pulled away, feigning innocence. “Ang dumi ng utak mo, Mahal. Seryoso ako.”
Arianne rolled her eyes, but she didn’t protest when Celine started rubbing gentle circles on her shoulder.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then, quietly, Celine murmured, “Buti na lang sumama ka.”
Arianne glanced at her. “Hmm?”
Celine met her gaze, smiling slightly. “Ewan. Gusto ko lang na andito ka.”
Arianne felt something warm spread in her chest.
She exhaled softly, leaning her head against Celine’s. “Gago ka.”
Celine chuckled, squeezing her hand. “Mahal mo.”
Arianne closed her eyes, letting herself relax. “Hmm. Oo na.”
Celine’s grin widened. “Ayan, progress.”
And just like that, the world outside faded, leaving only the quiet comfort of each other’s presence.
Celine’s hands moved gently over Arianne’s shoulders, her thumbs pressing into the tight knots of tension she found there. She felt Arianne sigh against her touch, her body slowly melting into the warmth of the massage.
But even as Celine focused on easing Arianne’s muscles, her mind wandered.
They had been like this —stealing moments in the quiet, meeting in secret, pretending to be nothing more than co-stars, colleagues, friends. She understood why, but at the same time, a question gnawed at her.
Why were they still hiding?
After the promotions, after all the times they had each other’s backs, after all the moments caught on camera that hinted at something more—why hadn’t they admitted it yet?
Celine swallowed the thoughts, letting her fingers move lower to Arianne’s shoulder blades. But the words built up in her throat until she couldn’t hold them in anymore.
“Arianne,” she murmured.
Arianne hummed sleepily in response.
Celine hesitated for only a second before exhaling. “Pagod na ‘ko.”
Arianne opened her eyes, her brows furrowing slightly. “Ha? Pagod saan?”
Celine’s hands stilled for a moment before she continued her massage, though this time, her touch was slower, more hesitant.
“Sa pagtatago,” Celine admitted, her voice quiet.
Arianne tensed under her touch.
Celine noticed. She sighed, pressing her thumbs into the spot where tension had returned. “I just— I just want to tell the world that you’re mine.”
Arianne felt her heart skip a beat, but then—almost immediately—the overthinking kicked in.
She sat up slightly, moving away from Celine’s hands. “Pero… paano kung hindi nila matanggap?”
Celine frowned. “Sino?”
Arianne bit her lip, her voice quieter now. “Fans mo. Fans ni Mavis.”
Celine scoffed. “Mahal, fans namin. ”
Arianne didn’t meet her eyes. “Paano kung… kung magalit sila? Kung i-bash ka nila?”
Celine let out a frustrated breath. “Arianne—”
“Paano kung pati management natin, hindi matanggap?” Arianne continued, her mind racing. “Paano kung…”
Celine had enough. She stopped massaging Arianne’s back and, without a word, wrapped her arms around her from behind.
Arianne froze when she felt Celine’s warmth envelop her in a backhug, her breath warm against the side of her neck.
“ Mahal ,” Celine whispered, her tone softer now, more patient. “Don’t overthink it.”
Arianne swallowed, her heart pounding. “Pero—”
Celine tightened her embrace slightly. “Alam kong marami kang iniisip. Pero hindi kita pipilitin.”
Arianne felt her chest ache at how understanding Celine was, even when she knew this was something they both wanted.
Celine leaned in, pressing a light kiss against the back of Arianne’s shoulder. “Pero sana, kahit hindi pa natin masabi sa mundo, alam mong sakin ka. At sayo lang ako.”
Arianne closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
Celine rested her chin on Arianne’s shoulder. “Ang mahalaga, pagkatapos ng lahat ng trabaho, ng lahat ng pagod… we have a moment like this.”
Arianne finally turned her head slightly, just enough to see Celine’s face from the corner of her eye. “Ano?”
Celine smiled softly, pressing her forehead against Arianne’s temple. “Yung tayo lang. Yung ganitong moments, na walang ibang iniisip kundi isa’t isa.”
Arianne sighed, finally allowing herself to lean into Celine’s embrace.
Celine smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Arianne’s face. “Goodnight, Mahal.”
And before Arianne could even respond, Celine leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against her lips.
It was warm. It was home.
Arianne sighed against Celine’s lips before pulling back slightly, eyes fluttering open.
“Goodnight, Mahal.”
With that, Celine wrapped an arm around Arianne’s waist, pulling her close as they both drifted into sleep—hearts beating in sync.