Chapter 23
Before, it was always Arianne waiting for Celine. Now, the roles have reversed.
*flashback*
Late Night Practice
Celine leaned against the wall outside Lumina’s practice room , her cap pulled low over her eyes. She glanced at the time— 11:43 PM. Their dance rehearsal should have ended thirty minutes ago, but she could still hear the music blasting from inside.
She sighed, twirling the bottle of Gatorade in her hands. She had bought it earlier, already knowing Arianne would be too focused to remember to stay hydrated.
The door suddenly opened, and Sasha stepped out, nearly jumping in surprise. “Celine?? What the hell—anong ginagawa mo dito?”
Celine grinned lazily. “Ahh wala, napadaan lang”
Sasha gave her a knowing smirk. “Pwede mo ka naman pumasok at panoorin si Mavis”
Celine clicked her tongue. “Baliw”
Before Sasha could tease her more, the practice room door opened wider, and Arianne stepped out. She looked exhausted—her hair was tied messily, and sweat dripped down her temple.
Celine quickly hid the Gatorade behind her back.
Arianne only gave her a brief glance before walking past her. She didn’t even greet Celine.
Celine frowned, looking at Sasha. “...Did I do something?”
Sasha shrugged. “Pagod lang ‘yan.”
After a few seconds, Celine discreetly placed the Gatorade on the bench near Arianne’s bag before leaving without a word.
—---------
Waiting in the Parking Lot
Celine sat in her car, watching the entrance of Lumina’s building. The clock read 1:26 AM.
She had planned to drive Arianne home, but Arianne had told her not to wait.
"Matutulog ka na. Huwag mo akong hintayin," Arianne had said on the phone earlier.
Yeah, as if Celine would actually listen.
She leaned back on her seat, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. Her phone buzzed.
— Jamie: Still waiting?
— Celine: Hm.
— Jamie: Bakit di mo na lang sunduin?
— Celine: Ayaw niya eh.
She sighed. A few minutes later, she saw Arianne finally step outside with Sasha and Maeve.
Celine sat up, ready to roll down her window—but Arianne got into Maeve’s car instead.
Celine’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t say anything. She just watched as the car drove away.
—-----
The MV Shoot – Another Day of Waiting
Lumina was shooting their comeback MV today. Celine had wrapped up her own schedule early, so she decided to drop by the set.
She stayed hidden behind some crew members , watching from afar. Arianne looked stunning on camera, her movements sharp, her expressions intense. Celine was completely mesmerized.
Hours passed, but Celine stayed in the shadows, waiting.
Finally, the director called, “Cut! Take a break!”
Celine straightened up, ready to approach—but then Maeve immediately walked over to Arianne, handing her a towel.
Celine froze.
She watched as Arianne took the towel, smiling faintly at Maeve.
… She should be the one doing that.
Instead of stepping forward, Celine turned away and left.
—----
Scrolling Through Comments
Celine lay on her couch, her phone in hand. She had been scrolling through Twitter (X) for the past hour, looking at what fans were saying about her.
One post caught her eye:
— “Mavis and Celine’s chemistry is insane. I SWEAR they look so good together!!!”
Attached was a photo of her and Mavis laughing together at an event.
Celine raised an eyebrow. She kept scrolling.
— “Guys, be real. Celine and Mavis have always had something. They’re so natural together.”
— “Lowkey, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re actually dating.”
— “Look at this edit! Their visuals together???”
Celine stared at the pictures. Well… maybe people had a point.
They did look good together. Their interactions were smooth, their chemistry undeniable.
But then, she scoffed and tossed her phone aside.
She shook her head, muttering to herself, “Pero hindi siya si Arianne. So, no no no no no.”
She grabbed a pillow and smushed it against her face. “Damn it.”
*end of flashback*
Celine unlocked the door to Arianne’s condo, stepping inside with a bag of groceries in one hand. She glanced around—yep, just as she expected.
The place was a mess.
Arianne’s packed schedule meant she barely had time to eat properly, let alone clean up. There were unopened meal containers on the counter, a pile of laundry in the corner, and her bag dumped carelessly on the floor.
Celine sighed. "Arianne talaga, walang nagbago."
She set the groceries down and got to work. First, she cleaned up the kitchen—throwing out expired food, washing the dishes, and wiping the counters. Then, she moved to the living room, folding the stray jackets and organizing the scattered papers on the table.
Finally, she entered Arianne’s room.
The bed was unmade, clothes were strewn across the chair, and there was a half-drunk iced coffee on the bedside table.
Celine chuckled. "Sabi ko na nga ba, hahayaan mo na lang ‘tong kalat mo."
She grabbed the laundry and tossed it into the washing machine before heading to the kitchen to cook.
An hour later, the condo smelled of home-cooked food.
Celine had prepared a simple meal—garlic butter shrimp, stir-fried vegetables, and Arianne’s favorite kimchi fried rice.
After setting the table, she plopped down on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through social media.
The first thing that caught her eye? A flood of MaevIanne posts.
She clicked on one. It was a clip from Lumina’s latest event—Maeve had casually draped an arm around Arianne’s shoulder, pulling her close.
Celine watched as Arianne barely reacted , only laughing at whatever Maeve was saying. The fans, however, were going feral in the comments.
— “The chemistry is INSANE. MaevIanne is real!!”
— “Look at how Arianne leans into Maeve! This is not just friendship, y’all.”
— “Maeve is so effortlessly cool. They look so good together.”
— “They give off drama main couple energy. It’s THEM.”
Celine stared at the screen, unimpressed. Maeve was cool, sure. She was tall, confident, undeniably good-looking.
Celine glanced at herself in the mirror.
She tilted her head.
"Cute naman ako ha?" she muttered, inspecting her reflection.
She grabbed her glasses, put them on, and struck a pose in front of the mirror.
"Pogi, tangina."
She snapped a photo and chuckled to herself. "Kawawa naman ako kung ako pa di mag-appreciate sa sarili ko."
Satisfied, she returned to the couch and resumed scrolling.
Celine’s attention was drawn to another post—this time, it was a photo of her and Arianne.
It was taken the last time they ate out with Gale, Skylar, and Jamie. The angle was perfect— Celine’s sharp side profile contrasted with Arianne’s relaxed posture beside her.
She clicked on the comments.
— “THE VISUALS. Celine and Arianne in one frame?? Literal perfection.”
— “They look so natural together… I swear, they have that ‘meant to be’ vibe.”
— “CeRianne supremacy! We won’t be silenced!!!
Celine grinned.
"OF COURSE, KAMI NA TO EH."
But the comment section wasn’t all positive.
Another thread had formed—a heated argument between different fandoms.
- CeRianne fans insisting that Celine and Arianne have the strongest chemistry.
- MaevIanne fans calling them ‘delusional’ because Mavis and Celine were the official loveteam.
- CeVis fans arguing that shipping Celine with Mavis made the most sense because they actually worked together.
— “CeRianne is all Delulu. Be serious, y’all.”
— “CeVis is literally the biggest ship. No competition. Kaya manahimik kayo dyan”
— “They can still ship Celine with someone else since she and Mavis never confirmed anything. Kayo ata ang delulu”
— “CeRianne fans are just coping at this point. Maeve and Arianne are IT.”
Celine stared at the chaos unfolding on her screen.
She sighed and patted her own head.
She wasn’t sure why she even bothered reading the comments. She knew how the fandom worked—shipping wars never ended.
But tonight?
She felt a little sting.
Because at the end of the day, she wasn’t the one standing beside Arianne right now.
And that thought?
Didn’t sit well with her.
She glanced at the time. 1:02 AM.
Arianne still wasn’t home.
Celine sighed, tossing her phone aside. She laid back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
She had spent the whole night cooking, cleaning, and making sure Arianne would come home to a comfortable space.
She wasn’t expecting a thank you.
But deep down, she hoped Arianne would notice.
Because waiting wasn’t something she was used to.
But for Arianne?
She’d do it again tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.
Arianne unlocked the door to her condo and stepped inside as quietly as possible. She exhaled, feeling the weight of the day press down on her shoulders. Dance rehearsals, vocal training, filming for their comeback—it felt endless.
Her whole body ached. Her legs felt like lead, her arms sore from hours of precise choreography. But more than the exhaustion, what hit her first was the comforting scent of home— garlic, butter, and something undeniably warm.
She looked up.
And that’s when she saw Celine.
Fast asleep on the couch.
Arianne blinked, adjusting to the dim glow of the nightlight. The condo was spotless.
She glanced around—the dishes were clean, the laundry no longer in a pile, and her dining table had a neatly arranged meal with a small note beside it.
She stepped closer, picking up the note.
"Eat before you pass out. Or else. – Celine"
A small chuckle escaped her lips. Of course, Celine would leave a threat disguised as care.
Her gaze drifted back to the couch. Celine was curled up under a thin blanket, her chest rising and falling steadily. She looked completely at peace, her glasses tucked away on the table, her lips slightly parted in sleep.
Arianne’s heart softened.
She stepped forward, crouching down.
Celine always said she wasn’t the type to wait. She was always the one who made people wait for her—always moving, always doing something, never stopping for anyone.
But here she was.
Waiting for her. Again.
Arianne reached out and gently adjusted the pillow under Celine’s head, trying to make her more comfortable.
As soon as she did, Celine stirred.
She mumbled something incoherent, shifting slightly.
Then, her eyes fluttered open.
At first, she seemed disoriented—her gaze unfocused, her lips parting slightly as if trying to figure out where she was.
But then she saw Arianne.
And without hesitation, in that soft, groggy voice—
"Mahal..."
Arianne froze.
Her heart skipped.
For a moment, she just stared.
Then, before she could stop it, a small smile tugged at her lips.
she murmured, amused.Celine blinked slowly, still half-asleep.
"Mm," she hummed in response, eyes barely open. "Nandito kana pala..."
"Kanina pa," Arianne whispered. "You should sleep."
But Celine only shifted, rubbing her cheek against the pillow like a stubborn cat.
"Kanina ka pa naghihintay?" Arianne asked softly.
Celine, now a little more awake, sighed. "Hindi naman matagal."
Arianne gave her a look. "Celine."
Celine cracked one eye open, catching the time on Arianne’s phone screen.
2:46 AM.
Celine looked away, scratching her head. She wasn’t about to say it out loud.
That she worried. That she knew Arianne too well—knew she wouldn’t eat, knew she’d come home exhausted, knew she wouldn’t take care of herself.
So, instead, she shrugged.
Arianne’s lips twitched.
"Hmm."
She didn’t push.
Instead, she reached for the blanket that had slipped off Celine and pulled it back over her.
"Thankyou," she murmured.
Celine smiled.
For a moment, they just looked at each other.
And despite the exhaustion, despite the late hour—Arianne felt lighter.
Because no matter how tiring her days got, no matter how much the world demanded from her, she knew one thing would always be true.
Celine was waiting for her.
And somehow, that made everything feel a little less heavy.
Arianne let out a long sigh as she collapsed onto the bed. Her body ached everywhere—her shoulders tense, her legs sore, her arms heavy.
The exhaustion clung to her bones.
She had just finished showering, the scent of lavender still lingering on her skin. Celine had already settled in, lying comfortably on the bed, scrolling through her phone.
But as soon as Arianne’s body hit the mattress, Celine turned her head.
"Tired?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Arianne simply nodded, closing her eyes for a moment.
Celine smirked. "Kawawa naman tong baby ko," she cooed, grabbing Arianne’s foot and gently placing it on her lap.
Before Arianne could protest, Celine started massaging it.
And God, did that feel good.
A soft groan slipped past Arianne’s lips as she melted into the bed.
Celine chuckled. "Sabi ko na nga ba, pagod na pagod ka na naman”
Arianne peeked at her with a lazy glare. "Ikaw kaya sumubok mag-practice ng walong oras straight."
Celine whistled. "Hard pass. Hindi ko kaya."
Arianne let out a breathy laugh. "Exactly."
Celine grinned, pressing her thumb into the arch of Arianne’s foot. "Masaya ka naman?"
Arianne sighed in contentment, nodding.
"Mm. Kahit pagod, worth it naman."
Celine smirked. "Good. Pero kung ako masusunod, I want you to rest."
Arianne hummed but didn’t argue.
Celine continued her massage, her fingers expertly kneading the sore muscles of Arianne’s calves.
Then suddenly—
Arianne reached for Celine’s phone.
Celine barely noticed at first, still focused on taking care of her. It wasn’t until she heard Arianne giggle that she snapped out of her concentration.
"Mahal, ang cute mo."
Celine blinked. "Huh?"
Then she followed Arianne’s gaze.
On the screen was a photo of herself—glasses on, slightly tousled hair, a confident smirk as she posed in front of the mirror earlier.
Celine’s eyes widened. "Hoy! Bakit mo tinitingnan ‘yan?!"
Arianne just laughed, holding the phone away. "Eh kasi naman! Ang pogi kaya!”
Celine rolled her eyes. "Duh. Ako ‘yon, siyempre pogi!"
Arianne chuckled, still admiring the picture.
Then Celine, feeling playful, tilted her head and smirked. "So... sino mas cute? Ako o si Maeve?"
Arianne immediately raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Mahal, of course ikaw."
She didn’t even hesitate.
Celine grinned. "Good. I was ready to fight for my position."
Arianne just laughed again, shaking her head.
But as she continued scrolling, her laughter faded.
Celine didn’t need to look to know.
She could feel it—the shift in the air, the way Arianne’s shoulders tensed, the way her fingers stopped moving on the screen.
She sighed.
Quietly, she placed Arianne’s other leg on her lap, continuing to massage it.
"Reading comments again?" Celine murmured, her voice softer now.
Arianne didn’t answer at first.
Instead, she just kept staring at the screen.
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated.
Then finally, a small whisper—
"They’re still fighting."
Celine exhaled through her nose. She already knew what Arianne was talking about.
The never-ending fan wars.
MaevIanne shippers against CeRianne fans. One side pushing Arianne and Maeve together, the other insisting on Celine and Arianne.
And the worst part?
The hate.
Not just towards them—but towards the fans, towards their friends, towards anyone who didn’t agree with a certain ‘ship.’
Arianne let out a deep sigh, placing Celine’s phone on the nightstand.
"We’re hiding, pero nag-aaway pa rin sila. Paano pa kaya kung malaman nilang... tayo talaga?"** she whispered.**
Celine finally stopped massaging her.
Instead, she shifted, lying down beside Arianne.
She reached out, gently taking Arianne’s hand and intertwining their fingers.
"Tingin ka sa’kin."
Arianne hesitated for a second before finally meeting Celine’s gaze.
Celine’s expression was serious now—soft, but firm.
"You’re scared."
Arianne swallowed. "Aren’t you?"
Celine sighed, running her free hand through her hair.
"Honestly?" she said, voice barely above a whisper.
Then, she turned to Arianne with a small, tired smile.
"Oo. Pero mas takot akong iwan ka kesa malaman ng tao."
Arianne’s breath hitched.
For a moment, she just stared at Celine, her fingers slightly tightening around hers.
"Celine..."
Celine lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss against Arianne’s knuckles.
"They can say whatever they want. They can fight, they can argue, they can push you to someone else."** She met Arianne’s eyes.**
"Pero at the end of the day, ako pa rin ang pipiliin mo, ‘di ba?"
Arianne’s throat tightened.
Because yes.
A million times, yes.
She just nodded.
Celine smiled.
She reached up, brushing a few strands of hair away from Arianne’s face. "Then let them talk."
Arianne sighed, resting her head on Celine’s shoulder. "But I just... I don’t want you to get hurt."
Celine scoffed. "Mahal, mas matibay ako kaysa sa iniisip mo."
Arianne chuckled softly.
Celine kissed the top of her head. "Sleep na. You need it."
Arianne hummed, her eyes growing heavy.
Celine wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
And for the first time that day, Arianne felt like she could finally breathe.
Because as long as Celine was here—waiting, choosing her—
She would be okay.
They would be okay.
Celine stayed still, waiting.
Not for sleep to claim her—but for Arianne to fully rest.
She needed to be sure. Sure that Arianne wouldn’t cry herself to sleep. Sure that she wouldn’t overthink until the morning.
Arianne’s head remained on Celine’s arm, her breathing soft and steady.
Celine adjusted her position, lying down more comfortably, but she didn’t move her arm away.
She wouldn’t.
Not when Arianne felt so warm against her.
Not when this woman—this stubborn, hardworking, beautiful woman—was the only person she had ever loved like this.
She let her gaze linger.
The soft glow from the bedside lamp illuminated Arianne’s face—her delicate features, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the slight parting of her lips.
Celine swallowed.
"Gahd… I really love this woman."
The thought hit her so hard that she felt it in her chest.
And then, another thought crept in.
If the world fought against them, she would fight back.
If it came down to choosing between the industry and Arianne—she wouldn’t even hesitate.
She would leave. Walk away from all of it.
She could give up the cameras, the scripts, the endorsements—everything.
As long as she had Arianne.
Celine’s throat tightened.
She blinked, feeling a wet trail on her cheek.
Tears.
She quickly wiped them away.
A quiet, shaky breath left her lips as she looked at Arianne again.
She smiled, though no one could see it.
She would wait.
Until Arianne was ready.
Until Arianne would fight for them too.
And even if it took a while, even if it felt impossible at times—Celine would wait.
Because for Arianne, she would wait forever.