Chapter 34
Years have passed. The stage lights, the cameras, the constant noise — they’re all still there, but life feels warmer now. Calmer. The storm of hiding, running, and questioning is long gone.
Celine and Arianne got married two years ago in a private ceremony by the beach, far from the city lights. No paparazzi, no red carpets — just close friends, Lumina members, and family. Gale cried the loudest, Sasha teased her for weeks, Maeve gave the speech that made everyone laugh and cry, and the only person missing was Mavis… who, in the end, chose her own quiet life somewhere unknown. But sometimes, on quiet nights, they all still think of her and hope she’s happy.
Life isn't perfect. There are arguments, misunderstandings, and busy schedules. But Celine and Arianne always, always find their way back — over shared breakfasts, whispered apologies, and holding hands while falling asleep. The love they fought for is now the love they protect every day.
Celine’s career has soared higher than anyone ever expected. Tonight marks her 82nd acting award — a number she never dreamed of. But no matter how many trophies stand on the shelf, her eyes always search for one person in the crowd. And Arianne? She’s always there. Whether holding flowers, standing backstage, or blowing a kiss from afar.
Lumina, too, had its time. The girls completed their contract and parted ways with pride in their hearts. Maeve runs a successful production company now — she builds dreams for others the way she once built her own. Sasha and Gale? Jamie and Skylar? Married, settled, and still as playful and in love as ever. Sometimes, Celine and Arianne would visit them on weekends, and they'd talk about the crazy days of their youth like old legends.
And tonight, standing on stage, Celine holds the microphone with trembling hands — not from nerves, but from overwhelming gratitude. The crowd is roaring her name, but her heart whispers only one: Arianne.
“I want to thank everyone who believed in me… even when I couldn’t believe in myself,” she begins, voice steady but eyes glistening. “To the fans who stayed, who supported every choice, every mistake, every comeback — thank you. You are the reason I’m standing here tonight.”
She pauses and smiles softly. “And to the person who’s always been my beginning and my end... Arianne, mahal... thank you for waiting, for choosing me, for fighting with me and for me. This life isn’t perfect. We’re not perfect. But together, we are more than enough.”
Arianne, from the VIP seat, wipes her tears but smiles the brightest smile in the room.
The crowd claps, cheers, and screams. But in that moment, it’s just the two of them — still choosing each other, until the very end.
The awarding ceremony finally wrapped up, flashes from cameras still blinding, fans and reporters crowding the exit. Celine had grown used to this — the cameras, the microphones, the endless requests for photos. She kept smiling, posing with grace and elegance, answering a few polite questions, and giving soft, practiced waves.
One by one, people approached her. Fans, staff members, other actors — some shyly asking for selfies, others wanting just a quick handshake. Celine, ever the professional, obliged with her signature smile, her charm never fading. She laughed, posed, and even did a playful peace sign for a group of young fans who squealed with joy.
But when the crowd started thinning, and she finally caught sight of her favorite person standing just by the side of the stage — wearing a simple white dress, hair tucked behind her ears, looking both proud and sulky — her heart softened.
She made her way to Arianne, weaving through the remaining crowd. Without a word, Celine wrapped her arms around her and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Arianne’s forehead. The cameras flashed once more, but this time, Celine didn’t care.
Arianne let out a small pout, crossing her arms.
“Ang ayos ng ngiti mo, ha,” she teased, her voice playful but with a hint of jealousy.
Celine laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Mahal, I’m a celebrity. Natural lang na may magpa-picture.”
Arianne pouted deeper, looking away with a huff. “Hmm. Ewan ko sa’yo.”
Celine cupped Arianne’s cheeks gently, turning her to face her again. “Ikaw lang naman mahal ko, eh. Kanina ko pa nga gustong umalis sa photo-photo na ‘yan para lang makasama ka.”
Arianne shook her head, but her smile betrayed her.
“Hay nako… my giant baby,” Celine muttered, tugging Arianne’s hand as they walked toward the exit together.
Celine chuckled and look at Arianne “Pang ilan naba tong trophy ko? Sana last na to”
Arianne laughed this time, finally letting go of her pout. “Ang yabang mo talaga!”
“Yabang lang ang puhunan ko nung niligawan kita, ‘di ba?” Celine teased, bumping her shoulder lightly against Arianne’s.
Arianne rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but beam. “Sana forever kang mayabang. Para forever kang sa akin.”
Celine stopped walking, pulling Arianne close again.
“Forever ko lang kayang ibigay sa’yo,” she whispered, kissing her on the cheeks.
And just a few meters away, they heard Sasha’s teasing voice calling out:
“Ay nako! PDA nanaman kayo!”
Gale laughed beside her, and Maeve — holding a glass of champagne — simply smiled and shook her head.
But none of that mattered.
In that moment, it was just Celine and Arianne.
The celebrity and the girl who had always been her beginning, her chaos, her calm, and her home.
And as they walked out into the night — hands tightly intertwined — the world could only watch and envy a love that not only survived fame, distance, and pain… but conquered it.
As they made their way to the parking lot, Celine never missed a beat. Like every time after an event, she went ahead, opened the car door for Arianne, and gently guided her inside with a hand on her back. It had become second nature — not out of routine, but out of love. No matter how big the stage or how loud the applause, Celine never forgot who she was going home to.
Arianne slid into the seat, still wearing that small pout, but Celine just smiled tenderly at her. She leaned down, fixed the seatbelt on her wife, and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead before closing the door.
As Celine was about to get into the driver’s seat, one of her co-stars, playful and teasing, quickly snapped a candid photo of her — still glowing from the awarding ceremony, in her glamorous dress, with her bright smile directed toward Arianne. The co-star posted it on their private group chat with the caption: "Our superstar and her forever queen. 🫶"
Arianne, sitting inside the car, saw the co-star laughing and taking that photo. Her pout returned in full force.
When Celine finally got into the car and started the engine, she immediately noticed. She glanced at her sulking wife and chuckled softly.
“Oh? Ano na naman minamaktol ng giant baby ko na ‘yan?” she teased, reaching over to squeeze Arianne’s hand.
Arianne just looked out the window, not saying anything, her lips pressed into a line.
Celine couldn’t help but laugh, her heart full.
“Mahal, kasal na tayo,” she said, slowing her voice and turning serious but gentle. “And you’re two months pregnant na. Sa tingin mo ba nagma-matter pa sakin yung mga nagpapapicture?”
Arianne finally turned to look at her with wide eyes, but still… “Kahit na…” she murmured, her voice soft and childlike.
Celine bit back a grin, parked the car for a moment, unbuckled her seatbelt, and shifted sideways to face Arianne completely. Slowly, she leaned down, resting her head on Arianne’s belly, gently wrapping her arms around her.
“Baby…” she cooed softly against Arianne’s tummy. “Paglabas mo… wag mo mamanahin yung ugali ni mommy Arianne ha? Wag kang maging selosa na giant baby.”
Arianne gasped, “CELINE!” and pinched her ear, making Celine yelp.
“Aww! Aray! Mahal! Sensitive part yan!” Celine whined dramatically, pulling away, rubbing her ear.
Arianne couldn’t help but laugh through her pout, shaking her head. “Ikaw talaga.”
Celine lifted her head, looking up at her with the softest, most sincere smile. “Ikaw lang naman ang gusto ko mahalin… ikaw lang ang gusto kong kunan ng picture araw-araw… ikaw lang ang pangarap ko, simula pa noon.”
Arianne’s heart melted.
She gently cupped Celine’s cheek.
“Alam ko… at kahit minsan ang kulit mo… hindi ako titigil sa pagmamahal sa’yo.”
Celine leaned in, kissing her softly.
“Promise, mahal, kahit ilang trophies pa… kahit ilang red carpets pa… ikaw at ang magiging baby natin lang ang mundo ko.”
Arianne wiped a tear from her eye and smiled.
“Sapat na sakin yun.”
Celine grinned again, started the car, and as they drove home, their fingers intertwined — two hearts that had been through distance, silence, misunderstandings… but still found each other in the end.
And now, they were heading home, not just as lovers or partners…
But as a family.
As they stepped inside their home, the soft click of the door behind them was met with the quiet, warm glow of their living room lights. And the first thing anyone would see — hanging proudly on the biggest wall — was their wedding photo.
It was large, framed with care, and perfectly captured that unforgettable moment:
Arianne in her elegant, flowing gown, her eyes shining with tears and joy…
Celine in her cream-white suit, looking at Arianne like she was the only person in the world.
They were holding hands, foreheads pressed together, eyes closed — two souls whispering silent promises, even without words.
Celine’s heart softened at the sight of it. But first, her priority: she turned to her wife, whose tired feet were now aching after hours of standing and smiling.
She gently guided Arianne to their room.
“Up, up… dahan-dahan, mahal,” she said softly, her hand on Arianne’s back.
Arianne sat on the bed, letting out a little sigh of relief. Celine knelt down in front of her, carefully removing her wife’s heels like she always did, massaging Arianne’s feet with gentle thumbs.
“You’re spoiling me too much,” Arianne whispered, watching her.
Celine looked up, eyes soft.
“Hindi spoil yan… asawa kita. Gusto ko lang alagaan ka.”
Once Arianne was tucked comfortably with pillows, Celine left for the kitchen to get water. But halfway there, her eyes landed on that large wedding photo again.
She stopped in her tracks.
Her throat tightened. Her heart remembered.
—Wedding flashback—
The sun was slowly setting over the garden where their wedding was held — soft gold spilling over white roses and light drapes that danced in the wind. Everyone was standing as Celine stood by the altar, her hands trembling slightly. She was trying to keep her tears in, but the moment the music started, and she saw Arianne walking down the aisle…
She broke.
Arianne was glowing — radiant, nervous, beautiful. Her hand clutched the bouquet tightly, but her eyes never left Celine’s.
As they finally met at the altar, Celine whispered with a breathless laugh,
“Ang ganda mo.”
Arianne chuckled through her tears.
“Ang ganda mo rin.”
They held hands, fingers entwined like they were made to fit.
The officiant’s words faded into the background — for them, it was only heartbeats and quiet promises.
When asked for their vows, Celine took a deep breath and said:
“Simula pa lang… ikaw na ang pangarap ko. Maraming beses akong muntik sumuko, pero ikaw ang palaging nagbalik sa akin sa tamang daan. Arianne, pinipili kita. Sa bawat araw, sa bawat laban, sa bawat bukas. Hindi lang ngayon, kundi habang buhay.”
Arianne was already crying softly, but she smiled.
“Celine… sa dinami-dami ng pwedeng mahalin, ikaw ang pinili ko. Hindi naging madali, pero salamat… kasi hindi ka bumitaw. Pinapangako ko… na sa lahat ng magiging pagsubok, kakapit ako sa’yo. Hanggang sa dulo, ikaw at ako.”
When they kissed for the first time as wives, the world blurred. All they knew was each other — lips trembling, hearts racing, breaths stolen. And when they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested together.
Celine whispered, “Sa wakas, akin ka na.”
Arianne whispered back, “Akin ka rin.”
The crowd erupted in applause. Lumina members cried. Gale and Sasha hugged. Maeve wiped her tears. Mavis, though from a distance, smiled softly.
—End of flashback—
Celine blinked away the tears from the memory and smiled softly to herself.
She picked up the water, then went back to the room.
Arianne was already half-asleep, but when she felt Celine crawl into bed beside her, she opened her eyes.
“You were gone for a while…” Arianne whispered.
Celine kissed her forehead.
“Naalala ko lang… araw na pinakasalan kita.”
Arianne smiled, eyes fluttering closed again.
Celine wrapped her arms around her wife and placed a hand on her belly.
“Sa bawat bukas, sa bawat gising… ikaw pa rin.”
They lay there in peaceful silence — a quiet ending to a loud world.
As Celine lay there, her hand resting on Arianne’s small baby bump, another memory crept in — one she would never forget.
—Flashback—
It was an ordinary afternoon on set.
Celine had been filming for hours, exhaustion tugging at her shoulders. But her mind kept drifting to home… to Arianne. They had just gone through their last IVF procedure a couple of weeks ago. Celine didn’t want to get her hopes up too high — they had already been through disappointments, each one heavier than the last. But still… she prayed quietly in between takes.
Then her phone vibrated in her coat pocket.
She didn’t think much of it until she pulled it out. One message.
“CELINE.”
Just her name. All caps. No punctuation, no explanation.
Her heart stopped.
She didn’t care if they were in the middle of a take. Didn’t care about the cameras or crew.
“Cut! Celine, are you okay?” her director asked.
But Celine was already grabbing her bag.
“Sorry po… emergency.”
She ran out of the set, ignoring the worried voices calling after her.
Inside her car, her hands trembled as she clutched the steering wheel. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Was Arianne hurt? Was she in pain? Was she crying alone at home?
Traffic or not, Celine drove faster than she ever had in her life.
When she arrived at their house, she barely remembered parking.
She rushed inside, breathless.
“Arianne?!” she called out, her voice cracking.
No answer.
Her heart pounded harder.
She sprinted toward their bedroom.
And there — she froze at the door.
Arianne was sitting on the bed, clutching something in her hands. Her eyes were red from crying.
Celine’s knees nearly gave out.
She rushed forward.
“Mahal, mahal… ano nangyari? Bakit? May masakit ba? Tell me…” Her hands shook as she cupped Arianne’s face.
But Arianne just shook her head, tears streaming down.
She handed Celine a small white stick.
Celine’s hands trembled as she took it. She stared down — two clear lines.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
“Mahal…” her voice cracked.
“Totoo ba ‘to?”
Arianne nodded through a sob, laughing and crying at the same time.
Celine’s breath left her body in one sharp gasp.
She dropped the test stick on the bed, her hands flying up to her face as she burst into tears when she sees PT- Positive.
And then — she fell onto her knees in front of Arianne, hugging her waist tightly, burying her face in her wife’s lap.
She cried. She laughed. She couldn’t stop shaking.
“Akin na…” she sobbed. “Mahal… akin na talaga…”
Arianne ran her fingers through Celine’s hair.
“Akala ko… hindi na mangyayari. Pero andito na siya…”
Celine looked up, still crying, and placed her hands on Arianne’s flat stomach.
“Baby… baby, nandiyan ka na…”
They stayed like that for a long while — tangled in each other’s arms, both crying, both laughing, both unable to believe it was real.
And that night, Celine didn’t sleep.
She just watched her wife… her miracle… and whispered over and over,
“Thank You… thank You… thank You…”
—End of flashback—
Celine wiped her eyes as she came back to the present, still holding Arianne in her arms.
She pressed a soft kiss to her wife’s forehead and whispered,
As the night grew quieter, Celine gently rubbed Arianne’s tummy, both of them curled up under soft blankets. The house was still, warm, and peaceful — a stark contrast to the wild, chaotic years they had fought through together.
Celine pressed a soft kiss to Arianne’s forehead and whispered,
“Mahal… naisip mo na ba? Kung ano gusto mong ipangalan sa baby natin?”
Arianne slowly opened her eyes, looking at Celine with a soft, sleepy smile.
“Hindi pa masyado… ikaw ba, may naisip ka na?”
Celine’s eyes sparkled.
“Hmm… kung boy, gusto ko ‘Caleb.’”
Arianne blinked and smiled.
“Caleb? Bakit Caleb?”
Celine ran her fingers gently over Arianne’s hand and said softly,
“Caleb… it means ‘faithful’ or ‘devotion.’ Kagaya natin, mahal. Ilang taon tayong sinubok… ilang beses tayong nagkahiwalay, nasaktan… pero tapat ka pa rin sa puso ko. Sa bawat laban, sa bawat iyak, nanatili kang nandiyan.”
Arianne’s eyes softened. Her throat tightened, but she smiled, brushing away the sudden tears.
“Kung girl naman…” Celine continued, “…gusto ko ‘Asher.’”
“Asher?” Arianne asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
Celine nodded, squeezing Arianne’s hand.
“Asher… it means ‘happy’ or ‘blessed.’ Kasi sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap, lahat ng luha, sa dulo… masaya tayo. Blessed ako na ikaw ang kasama ko. Blessed ako na may baby tayo ngayon.”
Arianne couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her wife softly on the cheek.
Celine chuckled and rested her forehead against Arianne’s.
“Ikaw mahal… ikaw, anong gusto mong pangalan?”
Arianne looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then closed her eyes with a peaceful smile.
“Alam mo… kahit boy o girl… gusto ko ‘Caden.’”
Celine blinked.
“Caden?”
Arianne nodded.
“Alam mo ba ang meaning ng Caden? ‘Fighter.’ Or ‘spirit of battle.’”
Celine’s heart clenched. She knew where this was going.
Arianne continued in a soft, emotional voice,
“Dahil tayo, mahal… lumaban tayo. Laban na akala ko minsan wala nang katapusan. Pero nagpatuloy pa rin tayo. Hindi lang basta laban… kundi ‘yung laban na alam mong kahit sugatan ka na, kahit pagod ka na, tatayo ka pa rin… kasi alam mong may pagmamahal kang nilalaban.”
Celine couldn’t speak for a moment — her eyes filled with tears.
Arianne gently cupped her face.
“Ang baby natin… magiging fighter din. Hindi dahil kailangan niyang makipaglaban sa mundo… pero dahil gusto kong maramdaman niya na pinaglaban siya. Pinaglaban nating dalawa.”
Celine wiped her tears and kissed Arianne’s palms.
“Caden… gusto ko yan.”
Arianne smiled.
“Kung gusto mo, mahal… kahit si Caleb, si Asher, o si Caden pa yan… basta anak natin, ipaparamdam natin sa kanya na bawat pangalan na yan… kwento nating dalawa.”
Celine nodded.
They both fell silent, holding each other tight, with one hand resting on Arianne’s growing belly — feeling life, hope, and all the battles they had fought for coming full circle.