Chapter 33
Days passed.
The world had seen it all — the grand kiss on stage, the confessions, the tears, and the laughter.
It wasn’t long before #AriCeline trended worldwide.
Clips of that kiss were everywhere — on social media, in reaction videos, and even on news outlets.
Some fans were surprised.
Most were screaming.
And all of them — whether shocked or not — agreed on one thing:
It was real. It was love.
And then… the inevitable happened.
Arianne and Celine sat side by side in the company’s meeting room.
The manager’s face was red.
Fingers tapping aggressively on the table.
"I told you!" the manager snapped, pointing at Arianne.
"You dropped the mic! On stage! In front of thousands!"
Arianne lowered her head a little, biting her lip.
Celine wanted to laugh — but wisely stayed quiet.
The manager continued ranting,
"Do you know how many meetings we’ve had to attend because of that? How many sponsors we had to reassure?"
Arianne opened her mouth to speak — but before she could, the door opened.
In came the rest of Lumina.
Maeve.
Sasha.
Mavis.
All three of them walked in confidently.
The manager blinked.
"And you three? What are you doing here?"
Sasha stepped forward first.
She placed both her hands on the table and spoke firmly:
"We’re here to stand with Arianne."
Maeve nodded.
"We knew about their story. And we support her."
Mavis smiled softly.
"And if you’re going to scold her… then scold all of us, too. Because we were there. We watched it happen. And we cheered."
The manager’s eyes widened.
"You cheered?!"
Maeve shrugged, grinning.
"Well… she chose love. Who wouldn’t cheer for that?"
The manager slumped back in his chair, exhaling loudly.
"You girls are going to be the death of me."
Sasha chuckled.
“Pero Sir Kevin.., if I may?"
The manager looked at her wearily.
"What now?"
Sasha’s expression turned serious.
"I understand the rules. I understand the weight of being idols. But love isn’t a distraction — unless we let it be."
She straightened up.
"And we won’t. We’ll prove that love can make us stronger… not weaker."
The manager looked at them one by one — Maeve’s determined gaze, Sasha’s unwavering confidence, Mavis’s gentle smile, and Arianne’s quiet sincerity.
Finally, he sighed in defeat.
He pointed at Arianne.
"But if you miss a single rehearsal because of this…"
"I won’t," Arianne said immediately.
She looked at Celine beside her.
"And neither will she."
Celine smiled, giving Arianne’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Sasha spoke again.
"And… Gale and I are together."
The manager’s mouth dropped open.
"Seriously?!"
Sasha nodded.
"And I’m telling you now — I won’t let that affect my focus either. In fact, I’ll fight harder. For Gale. For Lumina."
The manager buried his face in his hands, groaning.
The room filled with laughter.
But deep down — the manager knew.
These girls…
They weren’t just idols.
They were fighters.
And their promise that day — to never let love become a distraction — was something he actually believed.
Because for the first time, he saw it:
Love didn’t break them.
It made them stronger.
And they would shine brighter than ever.
###
The night had finally settled, quiet and calm — a rare peace after the whirlwind of emotions and chaos.
Celine and Arianne sat side by side on Celine’s bed, their legs tucked under them, soft laughter and comfortable silence filling the room.
In Celine’s hands was a wooden photo frame.
The picture inside was fresh — just printed earlier that day.
It was from the night everything changed.
The night Arianne chose to fight for her.
The night she dropped the mic, confessed in front of the world, and kissed her without hesitation.
The image was blurry at the edges, the lights from the stage flaring softly behind them.
But right in the center — there they were.
Arianne holding Celine’s face, their lips pressed together, their eyes closed, the world fading behind them.
Celine gently placed the frame on her nightstand.
She reached for the second frame.
This one was old.
Worn around the edges from being moved too many times.
The two girls in the photo were younger — college girls, sitting on the grass in their old university.
Arianne was grinning wide, holding up a peace sign.
Celine was leaning on Arianne’s shoulder, laughing like there was no weight on her heart.
"Look at us," Celine whispered.
"Back then… we had no idea where life would take us."
Arianne smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the glass.
"I did," she whispered.
Celine looked at her, surprised.
"You did?"
Arianne nodded, still staring at their younger selves.
"I didn’t know how… or when… but I knew I wanted to end up with you."
Celine’s chest tightened.
They sat there, quietly, looking at the two frames side by side.
Past and present.
Arianne finally spoke, her voice soft but steady.
"You know what’s funny?"
"Hmm?" Celine hummed, eyes closed, still resting on her.
"You were always choosing me… and I was always too scared to choose you back."
Celine sat up and looked at her, her expression gentle. "But you’re here now."
Arianne turned to her, eyes glistening. "I’m here."
Arianne smiled. "And I’m not going anywhere."
Celine took a deep breath. "Me neither."
Arianne reached out and placed the two frames side by side on the nightstand.
Then, she took Celine’s hand and intertwined their fingers.
"Past us and present us," she whispered. "And I can’t wait to frame the future us too."
Celine chuckled through her tears.
"Ang cheesy mo."
Arianne grinned, squeezing her hand. "Eh, mahal kita eh."
Celine leaned in, resting her forehead against Arianne’s. "I love you too."
They stayed like that, in the warmth of each other’s presence, the framed photos watching over them.
Proof of where they started.
Proof of how far they’ve come.
And a reminder that this time… they would choose each other every single day.
Love…
Love is rarely simple.
It’s never just two people finding each other at the perfect time, in perfect circumstances, with perfect words.
It’s messy. It’s complicated.
Sometimes, it shows up too soon. Sometimes, it arrives too late.
Other times, it’s been standing right in front of us the whole time, and we’re too afraid — or too blind — to reach for it.
But the truth about love?
It waits.
It endures.
It bends, but doesn’t break.
It hides behind arguments, miscommunications, silence, and mistakes.
But it’s still there — waiting for the right moment to be chosen again.
Celine and Arianne’s story was never easy.
It began with laughter in their college years — with dreams too big for their young hearts to carry.
They shared promises under star-filled skies, whispered wishes between library bookshelves, and plans drawn out in coffee shops.
But life?
Life often pulls us apart before it brings us back together.
Celine got accepted first — but chose to wait.
Celine stayed behind, chasing a different dream, never knowing someone else’s dream was standing still, waiting for her.
Years passed. Paths diverged.
Arianne became an idol — beloved, bright, unreachable.
Celine became an actress — graceful, admired, hiding behind smiles on screen.
They both moved forward… but their hearts stayed stuck in that same moment years ago — when they didn’t choose each other out loud.
And yet… love found a way.
Even through misunderstandings.
Even through heartbreak.
Even when fear, pride, and timing got in the way.
Love waited.
Until finally, on that stage — with lights blinding and thousands of voices screaming — Arianne chose her out loud.
Without fear. Without hiding.
And Celine… Celine ran. Through traffic. Through crowds. Through doubt.
Because love, in its truest form, makes us run — not away, but toward the one person who makes us feel whole.
And when they found each other again, under those bright stage lights… it was no longer about the world watching.
It was about them.
Two souls who’d been circling each other for so long… finally colliding.
And together, they reminded everyone that love is not a distraction — it’s a reason to become stronger.
It’s not something that takes away from dreams… it’s what makes those dreams worth chasing.
In the end… love is not the grand gestures alone.
It’s in the quiet moments.
It’s in watching someone sleep and knowing you’re safe.
It’s in placing old photographs side by side with new ones, reminding you that you’ve grown, stumbled, and found your way.
It’s in late-night conversations, and early-morning breakfasts, and holding someone’s hand not because you’re afraid… but because you want to share every sunrise and sunset together.
Love is patient.
Love is imperfect.
Love is messy.
But love… is worth every fall, every tear, every wait.
Celine and Arianne’s story taught that even when life gets in the way, the heart remembers.
Sasha and Gale’s story showed that love might come quietly — but once it’s there, it will fight for its place.
And maybe… that’s what love really is.
Choosing someone. Again and again.
Not just in public, not just when the cameras are rolling, not just when the world is watching…
But in the quiet moments, when only you and that person are there — and you still look at them and say:
"It’s you.
It’s always been you.
And it will always be you."
Because love… love doesn’t end on stage.
Love is the story that continues — after the curtains fall, after the lights dim, and the crowd goes home.
It’s waking up beside the person you chose, holding them close, and knowing you’ll choose them again tomorrow.
And the day after that.
And all the days that follow.
Forever.
Until the very last page.