Chapter 27
The story spreads faster than either of them expected.
Within days, screenshots of Arianne’s IG story flood multiple platforms — IG, X (Twitter), Facebook, fan forums, and even TikTok edits.
Some fans are convinced: “It’s Maeve’s hand! They’re soft-launching! Look at the skin tone!”
Others argue: “Guys… that’s not Maeve. Compare the fingers. I think it’s Celine. Remember that cooking segment from her interview? Her hands look exactly like this.”
Theories fly everywhere, making Arianne’s phone buzz with nonstop notifications.
But she’s smiling.
She’s reading the chaos with a small grin, her heart light.
Then the call from Mr. Kevin comes in: “Arianne. Conference room. Now.”
Arianne swallows hard.
In the conference room, Mr. Kevin’s tone is cold but controlled.
“You need to be more careful. Do you realize how many brands invest in your image? One slip, and you risk ruining not just your image but your members’ as well.”
Arianne bows her head. “I understand.”
Mr. Kevin sighs. “I don’t care who that hand belongs to. But next time? Think. You’re not just Arianne here — you’re part of Lumina.”
“Yes, sir.”
He dismisses her with a wave of his hand.
Arianne steps out into the silence of the empty hallway. She knows she should feel bad, guilty even. But…
She’s still smiling.
She doesn’t even know why.
Before she can think too much about it, she types out a message to Celine:
“Pinagalitan ako ni Mr. Kevin. 😅 Pero okay lang. Worth it.”
She even sends a heart emoji.
Just then, Sasha walks into the conference room where only Arianne remains, slumped on one of the chairs but still tapping on her phone with a soft grin.
Sasha closes the door and sits beside her.
“Sinermonan ka?”
Arianne nods.
But Sasha tilts her head. “Bakit ang saya mo pa rin?”
Arianne blinks at her, still smiling. “Hindi ko rin alam…”
Sasha chuckles lightly. “Tsk. Ikaw na talaga. Pero seryoso, bakit?”
Arianne leans back on the chair, letting out a soft breath. “Sasha…” she begins, her voice gentle but serious.
Sasha turns to her, sensing the shift in tone. Arianne smiles softly. “Make it secret for now, ha?”
Sasha’s eyes widen, and she suddenly straightens up. “Oh my god. Wait lang.” She clasps her hands together dramatically.
“Okay, spill! Seated!” she declares, plopping down into the chair beside Arianne as if it were a formal interview.
Arianne bursts into laughter, her head falling forward onto the table. Sasha leans in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Hoy, Ari! Spill na!”
Arianne lifts her head, still giggling. “Okay, okay… remember nung nahuli ako before? Training era?”
Sasha’s brow furrows for a second, then she gasps. “Oh my god — oo! Yung nauli kang gumamit ng phone and may kausap?!”
Arianne nods slowly. “Yup. After that night we lost connection and wala talagang proper breakup or closure. Totally. Akala ko, tapos na.” She sighs softly, eyes turning wistful.
“But this year… we reconnected.”
Sasha’s entire body jolts. “Ate ko, hoy!” she half-screams, clutching her chest. “Sino ‘yan?! Sino?! Spill or I’ll combust right here!” She makes a little jump in her seat, her excitement barely containable.
Arianne just laughs again, cheeks already flushing pink. She looks down, plays with the edge of her sleeve for a second, then looks up shyly.
“It’s… Celine.”
Sasha freezes.
Her mouth literally drops open. Her eyes blink once, twice, processing the words.
“CELINE?!” she practically screeches. “Ha? Pano? Ano? Kelan?! At… bakit siya?! As in, Celine Villamor? KA-LOVETEAM NI MAVIS?!”
Sasha throws her arms in the air, almost knocking over the water bottle on the table. “Girl, what?! How? Since when?!”
Arianne can’t help but laugh so hard her stomach hurts. She pulls out her phone, still giggling, and unlocks it.
She scrolls through their messages and shows Sasha a photo Celine sent just that morning — Celine in her commercial photoshoot outfit, playfully captioned with:
“Pipiliin mo pa ba sila kung may ganito ka na? 😏”
Sasha takes one look at the photo, then looks up at Arianne.
She is absolutely, 100% frozen… then —
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
The scream echoes through the conference room.
Sasha grabs Arianne’s wrist. “Wait lang… Celine?! Seryoso ka?!”
Arianne nods, biting her lip. Sasha starts pacing in circles, clutching her head.
“Hindi ako ready. Hindi ako ready sa plot twist na ‘to!” She turns to Arianne again. “Bestie… mahal niyo isa’t isa noon pa?! Before showbiz pa?! As in, before Lumina?!”
Arianne nods again, her smile softer now.
“Before pa. Pero nawala nawalan kami ng connection eh, tapos ngayon, nagbalik.”
Sasha sits back down, looking like she’s about to cry and laugh at the same time.
“Ate… grabe kayo. Ang wild. Di ko inexpect, tangina parang K-drama yung plot twist eh”
Arianne chuckles and gently bumps Sasha’s shoulder. “Secret lang muna, okay?”
Sasha holds up an imaginary zipper over her lips. “Promise. Pero Ari… I’m so happy for you.”
She smiles genuinely. “Kaya pala iba aura mo lately.”
Arianne smiles back. “Thanks, Sha.”
Sasha shakes her head, still overwhelmed. “Tangina… Celine Villamor. My god. The slow burn of the decade.”
They both laugh — loud and full — like two girls holding the biggest secret in the world.
Arianne just shakes her head, still smiling softly as she holds her phone in her hand.
Ping.
Her phone vibrates on the table. A new message from Celine.
Arianne immediately opens it.
Arianne quickly unlocked her phone and smiled when she saw the photo. It was Celine’s tumbler — the matching one she bought along with Arianne’s.
“Starting my day right 🐶✨”
And below that, another message popped in:
“Pa-hint ulit. Kung alam nila yung kahapon, dapat alam na nila ngayon. 😏”
Arianne couldn’t help but giggle.
Before she could even type a reply, Sasha leaned in and peeked at the screen.
And then — chaos.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Sasha grabbed Arianne’s arm, shook her, then let go only to scream into her hands. “OH MY GOD ARI! OH MY GOD!”
She clutched her chest like she was about to faint.
“TUMBLER LANG YAN NA MAY DOG EMOJI! AT ALAM NG FANS NA DOG EMOJI KA! BAKIT ANG TAAAAS NG KILIG KO?!”
Arianne couldn’t stop laughing, covering her mouth with both hands.
Sasha was pacing, practically jumping in place. “Tapos na ako! Tapos na ako! ARI, BAKIT GANITO?! Ang saya saya ko!”
She grabbed Arianne’s shoulders again, looking her straight in the eye. “Girl… gusto ko na sumigaw sa rooftop at sabihing CELINE AT ARIANNE IS REAL!”
Arianne leaned her head on Sasha’s shoulder, shaking with laughter. “Sha, promise… calm down ka muna.”
The two girls fell into a fit of giggles, heads leaning on each other, hearts light and warm.
Finally, Sasha sighed dreamily. “Ang ganda ng story niyo, Ari… kung pwede lang ipagsigawan, ginawa ko na.”
Arianne smiled softly. “One day, Sha… pero ngayon, tayo-tayo muna.”
Sasha grinned. “Promise… secret keeper mo ako. Pero p’wede ba akong number one fan din?”
Arianne nodded. “Number one ka na.”
Sasha squealed again, pulling Arianne into another tight hug. They both laughed until they were breathless, hearts full from the moment.
When Sasha finally settled down — still giggling quietly — Arianne looked down at her phone, her smile softening.
She opened her messages with Celine and began typing:
"One down, mahal. Nasabi ko na kay Sasha."
A few seconds passed before Celine’s reply popped up:
"Really? 😳 Kumusta reaction niya?"
Arianne chuckled quietly, glancing at Sasha who was still fanning herself dramatically.
She quickly typed back:
"Approved naman mahal, kilig na kilig!"
Celine’s reply came with a teasing tone she could almost hear:
"Deserved naman ni Sasha. Secret club member na siya. 😌"
Arianne held the phone to her chest for a second, heart fluttering.
A love story hidden in the shadows, but slowly — little by little — they were letting people in.
She glanced at Sasha, who caught her looking and grinned wide. And in that moment, Arianne realized: They weren’t alone in this anymore.
One down.
A few more to go.
But for now… her heart was content.
As Maeve and Mavis enter the room carrying food, the atmosphere shifts back to “idol mode.”
Maeve sets the paper bags on the table. “Guys, management said the MV will be uploaded this weekend.”
Arianne blinks, suddenly pulled from her daydreams of Celine. “This weekend na?”
Mavis grins, “Oo. And starting tomorrow… concept photoshoot. Kaya bawal mapuyat.”
Sasha immediately perks up, glancing at Arianne with teasing eyes, but Arianne keeps her composure.She simply nods, “Okay. Kaya natin ‘to.”
They all sit down, sharing food. But in the middle of the chatter, Arianne finds herself zoning out again — thinking about how her secret world with Celine and her public life as an idol are about to collide more and more.
She feels Sasha nudge her under the table.
Arianne glances at her, and Sasha mouths, “Focus.”
Arianne chuckles softly.
Maeve then says, “Medyo strict si sir Kevin bukas… all hands on deck. Kailangan perfect ang concept photoshoot.”
“Anong theme?” Mavis asks.
Maeve answers, “Elegant, high-fashion… strong but soft.”
Arianne swallows. Strong but soft… just like how I feel right now.
Sasha gave Arianne a subtle nudge with her elbow and a pointed look — as if saying, "Go. Tell them."
Arianne’s heart thumped hard. She swallowed.
She wasn’t sure how to start. She cleared her throat, sitting up straight. "Uh… guys, may sasabihin sana ako—"
But before she could finish, she instinctively reached for her tumbler and took a sip.
Mavis’ eyes locked onto it. She recognized that tumbler. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything.
Arianne placed the tumbler back down, finally gathering the courage to speak.
But before the words could leave her mouth, Mavis suddenly spoke, her voice casual but with a glint of something more.
“May date kami ni Celine, later,” Mavis started, glancing at everyone, then back at the paper bag beside her.
Arianne froze. Sasha’s eyes went wide. Maeve looked up from her phone, surprised.
Mavis continued, reaching into the bag. “Alam niyo naman, mahilig siya sa hoodie, ‘di ba? Lagi niyang suot kahit saan… so I thought… baka magustuhan niya ’to. What you guys think?”
She slowly pulled out a folded hoodie — a soft gray one with subtle embroidery of small clouds on the sleeves.
“I was planning to give it to her later.” Mavis gave a shy smile, her cheeks a little pink.
Arianne felt her stomach twist. She glanced at Sasha, who was already staring at her with wide eyes, trying not to laugh or scream.
Maeve looked between Mavis and Arianne, catching the tension but staying quiet.
Sasha leaned toward Arianne slightly, whispering under her breath, “Oh my god… tuloy mo na… bago mauna siya.”
Arianne’s throat went dry.
Mavis hugged the hoodie gently to her chest. “Last week yung huling kita namin after ng photoshoot… and right now I know busy siya… pero gusto ko siyang suportahan in my own way.”
The room went quiet for a moment.
Arianne looked at the hoodie. Then at her tumbler. Then at Mavis — who clearly didn’t know.
She exchanged another long glance with Sasha, who was practically vibrating with silent excitement and chaos.
Arianne pressed her lips together.
She opened her mouth to speak again — but then Mavis spoke once more, her voice softer this time.
“She’s someone special… I just hope she knows that.”
Arianne’s heart clenched. Oh… she really likes her.
But Celine was hers. And right now? She didn’t know whether to feel guilty… or protective.
Sasha gently tapped her hand under the table, mouthing, “Kaya mo yan.”
Arianne let out a quiet breath and looked down.
For now… she stayed silent. But her grip on her tumbler tightened just a little.
Arianne sat frozen in her seat.
Her heart — It was pounding. Hard. Loud. Fast.
She could barely hear the conversation continuing around her.
Hindi ko nasabi.
Her chest tightened. She felt her palms go cold, her fingers slightly trembling as they rested on her tumbler.
I was ready… I was ready to tell them…
But Mavis’ words echoed in her mind: "She’s someone special… I just hope she knows that."
Arianne bit her lower lip, eyes falling to the hoodie still in Mavis’ hands. Her stomach twisted in knots.
Jealousy. Guilt. Panic. All swirling inside her.
What if Mavis confesses first? What if Mavis keeps getting closer to Celine, and I’m just here… hiding?
Her heart ached.
She knew.
She knew from the start that Mavis liked Celine.
There were hints — the way Mavis brought her up during random conversations, the way her eyes softened at the mention of her name.
But hearing it… Hearing it out loud, Watching her prepare a gift…It hit differently.
Sasha subtly nudged her again under the table. A silent “Are you okay?”
Arianne forced herself to breathe. She nodded slightly, but her heart wouldn’t calm down.
What if I waited too long?
She clenched her fists on her lap, nails digging into her skin. She wanted to say it — right here, right now. Sasha knows. Celine knows. I know.
But Mavis didn’t.
And she…She couldn’t bring herself to crush that hope in Mavis’ eyes.
Her gaze dropped to her tumbler. The one Celine bought for her. Their little secret. Their connection.
A small, shaky breath left her lips.
Her heart was screaming:
"Si Celine… akin siya."
"Mahal ko siya. Mahal din niya ako."
"Pero bakit ang hirap sabihin?"
She pressed her tumbler close to her chest.
For now…All she could do was hold on.
She looked up, blinking back the tension in her chest as the team continued talking.
And in that moment… She smiled softly.
Because even if she couldn’t say it out loud yet…Celine was hers.And she was Celine’s.
Maeve suddenly spoke up, her curious eyes on Arianne. "Ano ulit sasabihin mo, Ari?"
Arianne looked at Maeve. Then… slowly, her gaze shifted to Mavis.
Mavis wasn’t speaking. She was staring down at the table, fidgeting with the paper bag beside her. And then… she looked up.
Their eyes met.
Arianne felt her chest clench painfully. Mavis’ gaze was soft — unsure, maybe hopeful. And that hope wasn’t for her. It was for someone else.
Celine…
Arianne swallowed the lump in her throat. The words she’d been preparing — the truth she’d wanted to finally say — all vanished like smoke.
She forced a tiny laugh, though it trembled at the edges. "Ahh… wala… nakalimutan ko na," she whispered, eyes dropping to her tumbler.
There was silence.
She could feel Sasha’s questioning glance from the side. But she didn’t look. She couldn’t.
Because in that moment, Arianne realized: The hardest part of loving someone in secret… was holding it in when every part of you wanted to shout it out loud.
But here? In front of Mavis? She just couldn’t.
Her heart ached so badly it almost made her dizzy.
Sorry, mahal… hindi ko pa kaya.
She bit her lip and sipped from her tumbler, trying to steady herself. Meanwhile, Maeve shrugged and turned the conversation back to the upcoming schedule. Mavis kept her eyes down.
And Arianne?
She sat there, silently breaking inside.