Chapter 31
The aftermath came like a storm.
The trending photo of Arianne and Celine — blurry but undeniable — exploded across social media. Fan pages, gossip accounts, entertainment news outlets… it was everywhere.
The management scrambled for damage control.
The Lumina comeback, originally scheduled for last week, was officially postponed.
Then came the second blow:
An official announcement.
"Due to recent controversies, Arianne will be temporarily suspended from all group activities until further notice."
The backlash was instant.
Fans flooded the company’s social media accounts with furious comments:
“Bring Arianne back!”
“Lumina is nothing without her!”
“Management, this is YOUR failure!”
“WE STAND WITH ARIANNE!”
Outside the company building, fans gathered, screaming her name.
Placards. Banners. Chants echoing:
"ARIANNE! ARIANNE! BRING HER BACK!"
The pressure was suffocating.
Management caved.
A call came through to Arianne just days later.
The suspension was lifted.
They needed her back — now.
And so, they found themselves preparing once again for the comeback performance.
But inside the practice room, tension hung so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Arianne arrived silently, her expression unreadable.
Mavis kept her head down, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.
Maeve stood to the side — not angry, but visibly disappointed. She exchanged short glances with Mavis but said nothing.
Sasha sat in the corner, her water bottle untouched, still in shock. She hadn’t spoken a word since the announcement.
No one wanted to talk about it.
But they had to move forward.
The choreographer clapped his hands.
“Okay, girls. Positions.”
The music played.
They danced.
But every movement felt heavier than usual.
They were Lumina.
They had to shine.
But for the first time… they all felt dim.
After hours of intense training, the choreographer finally clapped his hands.
"Water break!"
Everyone moved sluggishly toward their bottles.
Mavis grabbed hers, her hands trembling slightly. She sat down at the far corner of the room, trying to steady her breathing.
But her mind wouldn’t let her rest.
The memory slammed into her again — vivid and raw.
*flashback*
Mavis sat on the floor, her breath uneven, tears still streaming down her face. The weight of guilt crushed her chest.
Then — Ding dong.
She froze.
Ding dong. Ding dong.
The doorbell kept ringing. Fast. Urgent.
Her heart pounded.
She wiped her face with trembling hands and forced herself to stand. Slowly, with legs feeling like lead, she walked toward the door.
Ding ding ding ding ding!
She opened it.
And there stood Maeve.
Her fists clenched tight at her sides. Her breathing was heavy. Her eyes were cold — colder than Mavis had ever seen.
"You did this…" Maeve’s voice was low, trembling with anger.
She took one threatening step forward.
"Didn’t you?"
Mavis’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her lips trembled.
Maeve’s nostrils flared. "I told you not to, Mavis."
And when Mavis still stayed silent, Maeve snapped.
She grabbed Mavis by the shoulders and shook her.
"Tell me!" Maeve’s voice cracked, a mix of frustration and heartbreak.
"Tell me the truth!"
Mavis’s tears started to fall, her whole body trembling.
"I… I didn’t mean to…" her voice broke into sobs.
"I-I deleted it… I swear, Maeve… I deleted it!"
Maeve released her roughly, taking a step back, her chest heaving.
"But it was too late, Mavis! People already got it! It’s everywhere!"
Mavis collapsed to her knees, covering her face, the weight of regret crushing her.
"I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to ruin everything… I just— I didn’t know what to do!"
Maeve crouched in front of her, grabbing her chin gently but firmly, forcing Mavis to meet her eyes.
"You love her?"
Mavis sobbed, nodding helplessly.
"Then fix this," Maeve whispered sharply.
She let go and stood up, her expression hardening.
"Because if you don’t… you’ll lose everything."
Maeve turned and walked away, the door slamming shut behind her.
Mavis sat there, broken, drowning in guilt — knowing Maeve was right.
*end of flashback*
Back in the practice room, Mavis blinked away her tears, clutching her water bottle so tightly it crumpled in her hands.
She wanted to scream.
But all she could do… was swallow it down.
The choreographer’s voice echoed again.
"Back to positions!"
But Mavis didn’t move right away.
Her gaze slowly drifted to Arianne.
Arianne sat at the side, quietly scrolling through her tumbler — the one Celine had given her. Her expression was blank, but Mavis could see it… the weight behind those tired eyes. The distance.
Celine and Arianne still weren’t okay.
Mavis exhaled shakily and brushed her face with her hand, trying to stop her tears from pooling again.
Her mind replayed that night — the night she gathered the courage to say sorry.
*flashback*
Arianne stood in front of her, arms crossed, fury and betrayal clear in her eyes.
"I’m sorry, Arianne," Mavis choked out, her voice breaking. "I… I made a mistake. I didn’t mean for it to go that far… I just… I loved her. I didn’t know how to stop."
Arianne’s hand twitched — she raised it, almost about to slap her.
Mavis closed her eyes, waiting for the sting.
But it never came.
Arianne’s hand fell to her side.
Her voice cracked instead.
"Why? Why, Mavis? Why?"
Mavis couldn’t answer.
*End of flashback.*
She had also confessed to Celine.
Celine was furious — her words sharp, her eyes cold. But after that moment of anger, all she said was:
"It already happened. There’s nothing left to fix."
Because Arianne had made her choice.
She chose Lumina.
And what happened…
Had already passed.
Mavis bit her lip and stood, her legs heavy.
She had to keep dancing — even if every movement reminded her of all the damage she couldn’t undo.
After hours of practice, the studio slowly emptied. The girls were packing their things, their bodies tired but their minds still heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Mavis wiped the sweat from her forehead, gathering her things in silence. She could feel Maeve and Sasha glancing at her occasionally — not with anger, but with quiet concern.
Arianne was the first to sling her bag over her shoulder and head for the door.
Mavis’s heart pounded.
This was her chance.
She swallowed hard and hurried forward, reaching out to gently tug Arianne’s wrist.
"Arianne… wait."
Arianne stopped but didn’t turn around right away.
Her body stiffened, like she wasn’t sure if she could face Mavis without reopening old wounds.
Slowly, she turned, her expression guarded.
"I… I’m sorry," Mavis whispered, her voice shaking. "I know I already said it… but I need to say it again. I’m sorry for everything. For what I did… for letting my feelings get the best of me."
Arianne exhaled through her nose, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Mavis… I still can’t believe you did that."
Mavis nodded, biting her lip to keep herself from crying again.
"I know. I can’t believe it either."
Arianne closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath.
"But… I get it."
She looked up, her eyes softer now, though still pained.
"People do stupid things… when they’re in love."
Mavis let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Yeah. We become idiots."
A moment of silence stretched between them — heavy, but not suffocating.
Then Mavis spoke again, her tone quieter.
"Can I tell you something?"
Arianne gave a small nod.
Mavis sat on the edge of the practice platform, staring at the floor as she spoke.
"Celine told me a story once… it was after one of our fan service stuff. She wasn’t drunk, but she was tired — the kind of tired where your guard’s down, and you start talking about things you don’t usually share."
Arianne furrowed her brow, listening.
"She told me," Mavis continued slowly, "back when she was a freshman in college… she already got accepted into the showbiz industry. They offered her a spot — right there. She had it in the palm of her hand."
Arianne’s breath caught.
She hadn’t heard this before.
"Pero…" Mavis smiled faintly, sadness lacing her features.
"Hindi niya inaccept yon"
Arianne blinked, confused. "Why?"
Mavis looked up at her now, eyes glassy. "Ang sabi niya, she was waiting for someone."
Arianne’s heart stopped.
Mavis continued softly. "I think… she was waiting for you."
Arianne’s brows furrowed. "She never told me."
Mavis didn’t answer immediately.
And in that silence…
Arianne’s own memory began to resurface.
— The real event —
She remembered that day.
They both auditioned.
She came out, forcing a smile, telling Celine, "I didn’t get in. Maybe next time."
Celine smiled, her hands behind her back.
What Arianne didn’t see was the acceptance letter in Celine’s hand — hidden behind her, crumpled, as if it didn’t matter.
Celine had hugged her tightly, whispering, "Okay lang… we’ll chase dreams together."
Arianne’s chest tightened.
She never knew.
—
Mavis’s voice gently pulled her back.
"I think… she was waiting for you, Arianne. She chose you, more than once."
Arianne’s lips parted in shock.
Mavis turned to her, eyes sincere.
"And now… maybe it’s your turn to choose her."
Arianne blinked away tears threatening to fall.
Mavis smiled softly, standing up.
"It’s not too late, Arianne. You still have time."
Arianne sat frozen, heart pounding, a thousand emotions swirling in her chest.
And for the first time, she let herself wonder…
what if Celine had always been waiting?
Arianne didn’t move.
The sound of footsteps leaving the practice room echoed faintly in her ears, but all she could hear was her own heartbeat, loud and uneven.
She closed her eyes, clutching her bag tightly against her chest as if that would steady her breathing — but it didn’t.
Celine had always been waiting.
Arianne’s breath caught in her throat.
All this time… she waited for me?
She pressed the heel of her palm against her chest, trying to ease the ache that was growing.
How many moments had she missed?
How many chances had Celine given her without saying a word?
How many times had Celine looked at her with eyes that were asking, Are you ready? Will you choose me, too? — but she never answered.
Arianne remembered every time Celine had supported her unconditionally.
When she had breakdowns, Celine was there.
When she doubted herself, Celine was there.
Every audition, every rehearsal, every failure — Celine never left.
She thought it was friendship.
She thought it was loyalty.
But now…
She realized it was love.
A quiet love that waited and waited… until it couldn’t anymore.
Arianne bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
And she?
She was too blind.
Too caught up in chasing her own dreams, too caught up in fear, pride, uncertainty.
She didn’t see that Celine was her safe place.
She didn’t see that the person she needed… was standing beside her all along.
Her vision blurred with tears.
Arianne’s fingers trembled as she wiped her face.
All this time, she thought she was the one left behind — that Celine moved on without her.
But it wasn’t true.
Celine only moved forward when I let go of her hand.
Her chest constricted painfully.
And now she’s hurting.
Because of me.
She thought of the photo.
She thought of the scandal.
She thought of Celine, standing in the eye of the storm, bearing everything — again.
Alone.
Because of her.
And here she was, still frozen in fear.
A sob escaped her lips, sharp and broken.
"Ang tanga ko…" she whispered to herself.
"Ang tanga ko…"
She curled forward, hugging herself tightly, her entire body shaking.
For the first time, Arianne admitted it to herself.
She loved Celine.
She always had.
But she kept denying it.
She thought she had time.
She thought she could push it away.
She thought… Celine would always wait.
But how long can you ask someone to wait for love they never felt allowed to receive?
Arianne buried her face in her hands.
"I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Celine…"
The weight of her regret was suffocating.
She thought of what Mavis said.
She chose you twice.
Maybe it’s time you choose her.
Arianne sat there, breathing ragged, her heart and mind in chaos.
She whispered to herself, over and over, like a prayer:
"Not too late… not too late… not too late…"
She didn’t know how to fix everything.
She didn’t know where to start.
But one thing was clear now.
She couldn’t stay still anymore.
Arianne wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and stood.
She finally understood.
This wasn’t just about the group.
It wasn’t about image, career, or fear.
This was about Celine.
The person who had loved quietly.
The person who had waited.
And the person who deserved to finally be chosen.
It’s my turn, she thought.
This time… ako naman.
Not far from where Arianne sat, hidden behind the doorframe of the practice room, Maeve and Sasha quietly watched.
They hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.
But when they saw Mavis approach Arianne, neither of them could leave.
They stood silently, listening — watching — hearts pounding along with every word spoken.
When Mavis finally walked away, leaving Arianne alone in the room, both Maeve and Sasha stayed where they were, their breaths held.
They watched as Arianne broke down, curling into herself, whispering apologies to someone who wasn’t there to hear them.
They saw the tears, the trembling shoulders, the regret in every motion.
Maeve swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat.
Sasha quietly brushed the corner of her eye, trying not to cry.
They looked at each other — no words exchanged — just one small, knowing smile between them.
"Maybe this is it," Maeve whispered, her voice soft but full of hope.
Sasha nodded slowly. "Maybe Mavis’ words finally reached her."
They turned their gaze back to Arianne, who was slowly standing up — wiping her tears, breathing in deeply, trying to collect herself.
Maeve gently nudged Sasha’s arm.
"You see that?"
Sasha nodded again, smiling wider this time.
"She’s going to fight."
Maeve took a deep breath, her heart swelling.
"It’s about time."
The two of them stayed there for a few more seconds, just watching — watching Arianne pull herself together, straighten her back, and lift her chin, determination slowly replacing hesitation in her eyes.
And in that quiet moment, Maeve and Sasha smiled at each other once more.
Because maybe — just maybe — this was finally the beginning of Arianne choosing Celine.
And this time… she would fight for it.