Chapter 18
Another Day, Another Interview, Another Promotion
The studio was buzzing with energy. The cameras were rolling, the production crew was making last-minute adjustments, and the host was flashing their brightest smile as Mavis and Celine took their seats.
Another day, another press event, another round of questions they had already expected.
Celine sat back comfortably in her chair, her usual air of confidence surrounding her, while Mavis was her usual charming self—poised, professional, but undeniably playful. Arianne was sitting backstage, watching everything unfold through a monitor, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face.
The host, a well-known entertainment personality, started light.
Host:“First of all, congratulations! Your project has been receiving so much love. Fans are crazy over your on-screen chemistry!”
Celine smiled effortlessly. “Thank you! We had a lot of fun working on it.”
Mavis nodded. “Yes, and we’re really grateful for the support.”
Then, the host leaned in slightly, the mischievous glint in their eyes making it clear that they were about to get into the juicy details.
Host:“So, Mavis… We’ve heard that you had to adjust quite a bit while working with Celine.”
Mavis blinked, then chuckled. “I mean, of course! Celine is… paano ba ‘to sabihin?” She turned to Celine, as if searching for the right words. “She’s too good. Ang hirap sabayan minsan.”
Celine laughed at that, tilting her head.
The host smirked, picking up on the teasing tone.
Host:“No, but really, Mavis—Celine is known for her sharp acting skills. People say she rarely needs more than one take. How did you adjust?”
Mavis exhaled, shaking her head. “Sa totoo lang? Nahirapan ako. Kasi si Celine, kahit rehearsal pa lang, binibigay na niya lahat. E ako, nagwa-warm-up pa lang!”
Celine smirked.
Mavis just rolled her eyes playfully. “Yun nga, nung mga unang takes namin, may times na ako yung paulit-ulit, hindi siya. Nakakahiya nga minsan.”
Celine nudged her. “Uy, hindi naman nakakahiya yun. Mas importante na maging natural ang eksena.”
The audience laughed again, and the host leaned in excitedly. “Speaking of working together, let’s talk about that scene.”
Celine and Mavis exchanged knowing glances.
“The kissing scene!” the host announced, making the audience erupt in cheers.
Mavis covered her face with her hands, laughing nervously. “Oh my god. I knew this was coming.”
Celine smirked
The host laughed. “So tell us, how was it? I heard some interesting stories.”
Mavis groaned again before finally admitting, “Okay, fine. That scene… took way more takes than expected.”
Celine burst into laughter.
The host’s eyes widened. “Really? But you two had such natural chemistry! What happened?”
Mavis sighed dramatically. “Honestly? Kinabahan ako. Celine was so relaxed, pero ako? My brain just stopped working! I’d get too conscious, then I’d forget my lines or pull away too early.”
Celine nodded knowingly. “She’d get super shy, tapos may times na natawa nalang kami pareho.”
The host laughed. “So, sino ang dahilan kung bakit nagka-multiple takes?”
Mavis pointed at herself. “Guilty.”
Celine smirked. “I knew it.”
The audience laughed, and the host shook her head playfully. “So, Mavis, how did you finally get through it?”
Mavis exhaled. “I had to remind myself that this is part of my job. Plus, Celine was really reassuring. She told me to just stay in the moment, to trust the scene, and eventually, we got it right.”
Celine added, “And it turned out great, di ba?”
The host nodded. “It really did! The emotions, the intensity—it looked so real!”
Mavis looked at Celine. “Well, that’s what happens when you work with the best.”
Celine pretended to flip her hair. “Siyempre.”
The audience cheered again, and the host beamed. “Well, that just makes us even more excited for this movie! Thank you, Mavis and Celine, for sharing these behind-the-scenes stories. Any final message for your fans?”
Mavis smiled warmly. “To everyone supporting us, maraming salamat! This movie is for you.”
Celine nodded. “Hope you enjoy every moment.”
The host clapped. “There you have it, everyone! Don’t miss this movie—it’s going to be unforgettable!”
The cameras cut, and the crowd erupted into applause.
Celine and Mavis stepped off the interview set, the laughter from the studio still ringing in their ears. The atmosphere behind the scenes was more relaxed, with staff members milling about, discussing the segment. Their managers approached, nodding in approval.
"Good job, both of you," Mavis' manager praised. "That interview went viral within minutes. Fans are loving the chemistry."
Celine gave a small smile, wiping a stray strand of hair from her face. "Well, that’s the job, right?"
Her own manager nodded. "Exactly. And we need to keep that momentum. Hanggang sa matapos ang showing, we need you two to continue bonding publicly—attend events together, go out, let people see you. The more they believe in your dynamic, the more invested they’ll be in the film."
Mavis grinned, bouncing on her heels. "Ooh, so we get to hang out even more? I like that." She turned to Celine, nudging her playfully. "Sounds fun, right?"
Celine, ever the professional, simply nodded. "Yeah, sure."
But inside, she felt the weight of it. More bonding. More public appearances. More pretending.
It wasn’t that she didn’t get along with Mavis—she did. But this constant performance, the unspoken lines they had to play even when the cameras weren’t rolling, made her chest feel tight.
Mavis, oblivious to Celine’s inner thoughts, clasped her hands together. "Since we have some free time, why don’t we go for a walk? Fans will love it if they see us together. We can grab coffee or something."
Celine hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Sure."
Her fingers itched to grab her phone.
As Mavis excitedly talked to their managers about where they should go, Celine discreetly pulled out her phone and typed a quick message:
Celine:Mahal, pupunta kami ni Mavis sa labas. PR stuff. Update kita later.
She stared at the screen for a moment before adding:
Celine:Miss you.
She hit send before she could second-guess herself.
Mavis turned to her, a teasing smirk on her lips. "Texting someone special?"
Celine slid her phone back into her pocket, keeping her face neutral. "Just updating someone."
Mavis hummed, amused. "Must be important."
Celine didn’t answer. Instead, she adjusted her cap and sunglasses, mentally preparing herself for what was about to come.
Another day, another act.
Celine and Mavis stepped out of the studio, flanked by their managers and a few staff members.
They didn’t even need to alert anyone about their whereabouts—fans were always watching. The moment they exited, a few people nearby recognized them, and soon, cameras were flashing, and excited murmurs filled the air.
Mavis, clearly enjoying the attention, lowered her sunglasses and flashed a charming smile. "Oh wow, that was fast. Word spreads like wildfire."
Celine simply nodded, pulling her cap lower. She had done this countless times before—being seen, being observed, being talked about. She had mastered the art of appearing nonchalant, but today, she felt more restless than usual.
They strolled down a busy street near the studio, where trendy cafés and boutiques lined the sidewalks. Fans cautiously followed at a distance, some whispering excitedly, others too shy to approach.
Mavis took the lead, tugging Celine’s wrist lightly. "Let’s get coffee. Make it look like a casual hangout."
Celine sighed but allowed herself to be pulled along. They entered a popular café, where the scent of roasted beans filled the air. As expected, heads turned as soon as they walked in.
The cashier, wide-eyed, almost dropped her pen. "Oh my God. Mam Celine, Mam Mavis!"
Mavis grinned. "That’s us."
Celine gave a small nod, already scanning the menu. She took out her phone, discreetly checking for Arianne’s reply. Nothing yet.
Mavis noticed and nudged her. "Checking if your ‘someone special’ replied?"
Celine didn’t react. "Deciding on my order."
Mavis chuckled. "Right."
Mavis watched Celine’s small smile as she looked at her phone, but instead of prying, she just let it go.
She leaned back in her chair, stirring her iced coffee absentmindedly. A teasing remark was on the tip of her tongue, but for some reason, she held it back.
She liked Celine.
Maybe a little more than she should.
But she wasn’t stupid. She knew that someone like Celine wasn’t easy to get close to. And if she wanted to win her over—if she even had a chance—she had to play the long game.
So instead of questioning the unreadable expression on Celine’s face, she just chuckled. "You’re always so serious. Parang lagi kang may iniisip."
Celine glanced up, eyes calm but guarded. "I just don’t waste energy talking about things that don’t matter."
Mavis smirked. "And what matters to you, Celine?"
Celine stirred her coffee, taking a slow sip before answering, "Things worth keeping."
Mavis tilted her head, intrigued. "And am I one of those things?"
Celine met her gaze, unreadable. "We’ll see."
Mavis laughed lightly, choosing to take it as a challenge rather than rejection.
The moment was interrupted when one of their staff approached. "We should head out soon. There are more people outside now."
Mavis glanced at the window—more fans had gathered, some holding their phones up, recording.
"Showtime?" she murmured, standing up and fixing her hair.
Celine sighed but stood as well. "Looks like it."
As they stepped outside, a wave of excited voices greeted them. Fans waved, cameras flashed, and for a moment, the energy of the crowd was overwhelming.
Mavis, ever the performer, flashed her signature grin and waved. Celine, meanwhile, kept it cool—a small nod, a polite smile.
Mavis leaned in slightly as they walked. "We should do this more often."
Celine, her hands tucked in her pockets, simply hummed
After walking around and entertaining their fans for a while, Mavis and Celine found themselves near another quiet café.
Mavis, still full of energy, turned to Celine with a playful grin. "We should grab something to eat. Parang gusto ko ng cake."
Celine checked her phone discreetly, reading a short message from Arianne before slipping it back into her pocket. "You just had coffee," she pointed out.
Mavis pouted. "And? Coffee and cake go together."
Celine sighed but nodded. "Fine. Let’s eat before we head back."
They entered the café, and the moment they stepped inside, a few customers took notice. Some whispered, some hesitated to approach, and others quietly took videos.
Mavis, unbothered, ordered a slice of chocolate cake and an iced caramel latte, while Celine just got another coffee. They sat at a corner table, slightly hidden but still visible to the public.
As they waited for their orders, Mavis leaned on the table, resting her chin on her hand. "So, tell me, Celine… off the record, are you enjoying all of this?"
Celine raised an eyebrow. "All of what?"
Mavis gestured vaguely. "This. The interviews, the promotions, the ‘bonding’ everyone keeps pushing us to do."
Celine stirred her coffee, choosing her words carefully. "It’s part of the job."
Mavis smirked. "That’s not an answer."
Celine finally met her gaze. "Does it matter?"
Mavis let out a soft laugh. "You’re really hard to read, you know that?"
Celine took a sip of her coffee. "Good."
Their food arrived, and as they started eating, Mavis spoke again, this time more casually. "We should hang out sometime. Just us. No cameras, no managers, no fans."
Celine paused mid-sip. "Just us?"
Mavis shrugged. "Yeah. Why not?"
Celine studied her for a moment before leaning back in her seat. "You really like pushing boundaries, huh?"
Mavis grinned. "It keeps things interesting."
Celine didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took another sip of her coffee, her mind wandering.
Mavis noticed but didn’t press. She simply smiled to herself, as if she had already planted a seed.
For now, she would wait.
As they left the café, Mavis looped her arm through Celine’s without hesitation. The motion was so natural, so casual, as if she had done it a thousand times before. Celine glanced down at their linked arms, her expression unreadable, but she didn’t pull away.
The crowd outside noticed instantly. Murmurs rippled through the fans, phones were raised, and cameras started clicking.
Mavis, fully aware of the attention, turned to Celine with a teasing smile. "Tingin mo? bagay tayo, diba?" she said loud enough for the cameras to catch.
Celine rolled her eyes. "Mavis—"
"Fan service lang," Mavis cut in smoothly, leaning her head lightly against Celine’s shoulder for a second before pulling back. "Relax ka lang, Celine. I’m just making the fans happy."
Celine exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "You really enjoy this, don’t you?"
Mavis grinned. "Of course. The fans love it. And admit it, you don’t mind either."
Celine didn’t answer, but the corner of her lips twitched, almost like she was holding back a smirk.
Mavis took that as a win and clung to her even more, making sure to put on a show. She’d playfully brush imaginary dust off Celine’s jacket, fix a stray strand of hair, and even lean in close as if whispering a secret.
The fans, of course, ate it up.
The hashtags were already trending.
#CelVis/Mace
#MavisXCeline
#PowerCouple
One particularly bold fan shouted, "Date na ba ‘to?!"
Mavis, ever the entertainer, gasped dramatically and turned to Celine. "Uy, Celine, date nga ba ‘to?" she asked, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Celine, used to her antics by now, simply smirked and played along.
The fans screamed.
Celine just shook her head, but deep down, she knew Mavis was enjoying this a little too much.
Arianne sat cross-legged on the couch, mindlessly scrolling through her phone while lazily running her fingers through Niko’s fur. The golden retriever rested his head on her lap, occasionally letting out a soft sigh as if he could sense the shift in her mood.
Her thumb hovered over the trending topics.
She exhaled through her nose, tapping on one of the posts. The screen filled with pictures and videos—Celine and Mavis walking side by side, Mavis clinging to Celine’s arm, the way they laughed together.
One particular clip caught her attention.
A fan had recorded the moment Mavis leaned in, whispering something to Celine, making it look way more intimate than it probably was. The camera zoomed in on Celine’s smirk, the effortless way she played along.
Arianne scoffed, tossing her phone onto the couch.
Niko’s ears perked up at the sudden movement, and he nudged her arm with his nose.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," she muttered, scratching behind his ear. "I shouldn’t get worked up over something like this."
But it was easier said than done.
She wasn’t new to this. She understood the industry, the need for fan service, the importance of keeping up appearances.
Still…
Her jaw tightened as she picked up her phone again.
It wasn’t even jealousy, she told herself. It was frustration.
Frustration that she had to sit here, watching from the sidelines, pretending that none of this bothered her.
Frustration that while Mavis got to openly act affectionate toward Celine, she had to keep their relationship in the dark.
A notification popped up at the top of her screen.
Celine:Mahal, are you home?
Arianne stared at the message for a moment, debating how to respond.
A second later, another message followed.
Celine:Bakit ang tahimik mo? Nakita mo na naman yung mga post noh?
Arianne chewed on her lower lip, torn between being honest or brushing it off.
Before she could decide, her phone started vibrating in her hand.
Celine was calling.
She sighed, shifting Niko off her lap before answering. "What?"
"Mahal," Celine’s voice was soft but knowing. "Ang bigat ng ‘what’ mo ah."
Arianne leaned back into the couch, closing her eyes. "Hindi naman."
"Hmm. Sure ka?"
She didn’t answer right away.
Celine let out a chuckle on the other end. "I knew it."
Arianne heard some background noise—probably Celine in the car. The sound of the city faintly buzzed through the speaker.
"You’re overthinking again," Celine said, her tone lighter now, teasing even.
Arianne opened her eyes, staring up at the ceiling. "I’m not."
"Right. And I’m not insanely attractive."
Arianne rolled her eyes. "Ang kapal."
Celine laughed. "Totoo naman, diba?"
Arianne exhaled, unable to hold back the small smile forming on her lips.
Celine, always knowing how to break her walls down, continued. "Mahal, you know fan service is just part of the job. Alam mo ‘yan."
"I know."
"Then bakit ka nagtatampo?"
Arianne stayed quiet, her fingers playing with the hem of her sweater.
Celine sighed on the other end. "If it bothers you, sabihin mo. Alam mo namang hindi kita kayang tiisin."
Arianne bit her lip, conflicted. She didn’t want to sound unreasonable. She didn’t want to be the jealous girlfriend.
But she also didn’t like seeing someone else being so close to Celine in public.
She hated that she had to hide.
After a long pause, she finally admitted in a small voice, "Hindi ko lang gusto na siya ang kasama mo sa public, tapos ako… ako hindi ko man lang magawa ‘yon."
Celine was quiet for a second, then her voice softened. "Mahal…"
Arianne swallowed hard. "I know it’s necessary. I know I’m being unfair. Pero hindi ko lang mapigilan. Ang hirap lang."
Celine sighed again, this time more thoughtful. "Mahal… I get it. And I won’t tell you na ‘wag mo maramdaman ‘yan kasi valid ‘yung nararamdaman mo."
Arianne pressed her lips together.
Celine’s voice was warmer now. "Pero gusto kong malaman mo… kahit ilang beses pang ipilit ni Mavis ‘yang fan service na ‘yan… ikaw lang ‘yung gusto kong iuwi."
Arianne’s heart skipped a beat.
Celine continued, "Kahit ilang beses pa ‘kong tanungin kung bagay ba kami, kahit ano pang sabihin ng fans… ikaw lang naman ‘yung gusto kong makasama pag wala nang camera."
Arianne closed her eyes, letting those words sink in.
For a moment, the tension in her chest eased.
"Okay ka na?" Celine asked after a few seconds.
Arianne let out a small chuckle. "Ewan ko."
Celine laughed. "Punta na lang ako diyan para sure."
Arianne’s eyes snapped open. "Ha? Hindi, pagod ka na."
"Kaya nga gusto kitang makita," Celine countered. "Gusto kong mayayakap ‘yung girlfriend kong nagtatampo."
Arianne shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Siraulo ka talaga."
Celine grinned. "Pero mahal mo?"
Arianne sighed dramatically. "Sa malas ko, oo."
Celine chuckled. "I’ll take that."
And somehow, just like that, Arianne felt a little better.
Arianne was still curled up on the couch with Niko when she heard the doorbell ring. She glanced at the clock—Celine shouldn’t be here. She had just come from an interview and was probably exhausted.
But then again, when had Celine ever listened?
With a sigh, she pushed herself off the couch, ruffling Niko’s fur before walking toward the door. When she opened it, she was met with the sight of Celine standing there with a small smirk, holding up a plastic bag with a familiar logo.
"Ice cream date," Celine announced with a grin.
Arianne blinked, caught off guard. "H-ha?"
Celine lifted the bag slightly. "Diba sabi ko, kapag may time tayo, mag-a-ice cream date tayo? Well, ito na ‘yon. Sinusulit ko ‘yung libreng oras ko bago pa ako ipilit ni Mavis na gumala ulit bukas."
Arianne stared at her, her heart squeezing in a way she didn’t expect.
Celine remembered.
Even when she was busy, even when she had the whole world looking at her, she still remembered something as simple as an ice cream date.
Arianne sighed, shaking her head. "Pagod ka na, diba? Pumunta ka pa rin talaga"
Celine stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Pagod, oo. Pero gusto kita makita, kaya sulit na ‘yon."
Arianne crossed her arms, pretending to be unimpressed. "Sobrang cheesy mo ngayon."
Celine chuckled, setting the ice cream down on the kitchen counter. "Ganito naman ako palagi. Ikaw lang ‘yung ayaw umamin na kinikilig ka."
Arianne scoffed. "Ang kapal mo talaga."
Celine laughed before pulling out the ice cream containers. "O, bilis. Baka matunaw ‘to. Pinili ko ‘yung flavors na gusto mo."
Arianne’s heart softened even more when she saw her favorite flavors—cookies and cream, and dark chocolate.
"At syempre," Celine continued, wagging her eyebrows. "Kinuha ko rin ‘yung akin. Alam mo na, para hindi unfair."
Arianne peered into the bag, spotting Celine’s usual pick—mango graham.
She shook her head in amusement. "Hindi ka talaga nagsasawa sa mango graham, no?"
Celine grinned. "Ikaw nga, hindi ko pinagsasawaan. ‘Yan pa kaya?"
Arianne rolled her eyes.But despite her playful complaints, she grabbed two spoons from the drawer and sat across from Celine at the kitchen counter.
They dug into their ice cream in comfortable silence, the tension from earlier melting away with each bite.
After a few minutes, Celine spoke up, her voice softer this time.
"Alam kong mahirap ‘to para sa’yo."
Arianne glanced at her. "Ano?"
"‘Yung sitwasyon natin," Celine said, swirling her spoon in her cup absentmindedly. "Na hindi kita pwedeng ipakita sa mundo the way I want to. Na kailangan mong manood lang sa malayo habang ginagampanan ko ‘tong fan service na ‘to."
Arianne looked down at her ice cream, her chest tightening.
"Pero gusto kong malaman mo," Celine continued, reaching out to gently squeeze Arianne’s hand,”ikaw pa rin ‘yung gusto kong makasama sa dulo ng araw."
Arianne swallowed hard, her fingers instinctively curling around Celine’s.
Celine gave her a small smile. "Ikaw pa rin ‘yung gusto kong kasama sa simpleng ganito. Sa ice cream dates na hindi natin kailangang itago."
Arianne inhaled deeply, trying to push away the lingering insecurities.
It wasn’t easy, but Celine always had a way of making things feel lighter.
"Alam ko naman," she murmured, giving Celine’s hand a small squeeze back.
Celine grinned. "Good. Kasi ikaw lang naman ‘yung gusto kong kiligin sa mga banat ko."
Arianne chuckled, shaking her head. "Wala ka talagang off switch, no?"
"Para sa’yo? Wala."
Arianne sighed, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "Siraulo ka talaga."
Celine beamed, taking another spoonful of ice cream before leaning in slightly. "At least sure ako na hindi mo ipagpapalit ‘tong ice cream date natin kay Niko."
Arianne raised an eyebrow. "Si Niko ang constant sa buhay ko. Ikaw, pwedeng mawala."
Celine gasped, clutching her chest. "Ang sakit n’un, mahal!"
Arianne laughed, shaking her head. "Loko lang. Pero seryoso, thankyou mahal."
Celine’s expression softened again. "Anong thank you?"
Arianne looked down at their intertwined fingers. "Sa pagpunta rito. To make sure na okay ako.."
Celine’s thumb brushed lightly over Arianne’s knuckles. "Wala ‘yun. Alam mo namang ikaw lang ang gusto kong alagaan."
Arianne exhaled, warmth spreading through her chest.
For now, this was enough.
Even if they had to keep things hidden, even if they couldn’t have the kind of love that the world could see—at least, in moments like this, they had each other.
And that was more than enough.
After finishing their ice cream, Arianne leaned back against the couch, feeling a comfortable warmth settle in her chest. Niko had jumped up beside her, curling into a ball while Celine stretched her arms above her head with a satisfied sigh.
"Solid ‘to, mahal," Celine murmured, tapping her stomach. "Sulit ‘yung pagdaan ko para lang dalhan ka ng ice cream."
Arianne smirked. "Malas mo lang kasi wala kang kasamang maglakad-lakad para ma-digest ‘yan."
Celine pouted playfully, leaning her head against Arianne’s shoulder. "Pwede namang ikaw ‘yung maglakad-lakad kasama ko."
Arianne raised an eyebrow. "Anong oras na? Gusto mo lumabas pa tayo?"
Celine chuckled, shaking her head. "Hindi. Gusto ko lang kunin ang atensyon mo."
Arianne rolled her eyes but didn’t move away. Instead, she let Celine rest against her for a moment, their hands naturally finding each other again.
Silence settled between them—not the awkward kind, but the peaceful kind. The kind that felt like home.
After a while, Celine sighed, sitting up and checking the time on her phone. "Alis na ako. Alam kong gusto mo nang matulog."
Arianne frowned slightly, not wanting to admit that she wished Celine could stay longer. But she knew they both had schedules tomorrow, and Celine had already pushed her limits by sneaking in this little moment between them.
Standing up, Arianne walked with her toward the door. Celine grabbed her jacket and slipped it on, but before she could reach for the door handle, Arianne tugged at her wrist, stopping her.
Celine turned back, a curious expression on her face. "Hmm?"
Arianne hesitated for just a second before stepping closer, reaching up to fix a strand of Celine’s hair that had fallen over her eyes. "Ingat ka."
Celine’s lips curled into a soft smile. "Palagi naman mahal."
Arianne exhaled, shaking her head. "Hindi ko lang sinasabi para sa’yo. Sinasabi ko kasi gusto kong marinig mo."
Celine stared at her for a moment, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then, with a quiet chuckle, she tilted her head. "Alam mo bang ang cute mo ‘pag ganyan?"
Arianne scoffed, but before she could respond, Celine leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead.
Her lips stayed there for a second longer than necessary, warm and soft against Arianne’s skin.
When she pulled back, Celine gave her a teasing smile. "Gusto ko sanang sabihin na ‘goodnight’ lang, pero parang gusto kong dagdagan."
Arianne raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Dagdagan mo, tapos wala ka nang uuwian."
Celine laughed, shaking her head. "Baka ‘yun naman talaga gusto mo."
Arianne rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Celine leaned down again—this time pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
When they pulled apart, Celine grinned, tapping Arianne’s nose lightly. "Goodnight, mahal."
Arianne sighed, pretending to be unaffected. "Hmm. Goodnight na nga. Umalis ka na."
Celine chuckled, giving her one last look before stepping out the door.
As soon as she was gone, Arianne leaned against the door, touching her lips absentmindedly.
She let out a deep breath, shaking her head at herself.
Celine talaga.
With a small smile, she turned around, heading back to the couch. Niko was still curled up, watching her with sleepy eyes.
"Ang landi ng mama mo, Niko," Arianne mumbled, scratching the dog’s head.
But even as she complained, she couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through her chest.
Because tonight, Celine had reminded her—no matter what happened in public, no matter how much she had to watch from the sidelines…
In the end, she was still the one Celine came home to.