The Arrogant Muse (FayeYoko)

9

Fabiana adjusted her sunglasses as she entered the upscale café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries wafting through the air. She spotted Evelina "Eve" Somerset and Celine Ashford already seated at a corner table, their faces lighting up when they saw her. They waved her over enthusiastically.

"Iana, over here!" Eve called out, her playful smile widening.

Fabiana grinned and walked over, exchanging hugs with both women. Eve, the newly appointed manager of Miss Grand International, had a mischievous glint in her eye, while Celine, an accomplished actress, exuded a calm and elegant demeanor.

"How are the lovebirds doing?" Fabiana teased as she took her seat.

Eve and Celine exchanged a fond glance. "We're doing great," Eve said, wrapping an arm around Celine. "How about you? How's everything with you, Iana?"

Fabiana sighed, her thoughts immediately drifting to Yunise. "Well, there's a lot going on. I've been meaning to tell you both something important."

Celine leaned in, her eyes full of curiosity. "Go on, we're all ears."

Fabiana hesitated for a moment, then decided to dive in. "Do you remember Yunise, the girl I saved six years ago?"

Eve's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean that adorable girl you couldn't stop talking about back then? The one you saved from that incident?"

Fabiana nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Yes, that Yunise. We reconnected recently, and... we're uum I don't know what's the status between us."

Eve's mouth dropped open in disbelief, but it quickly turned into a teasing grin. "Well, well, well, Iana, you dog! Have you two... you know, reached third base yet?"

Fabiana chuckled and nodded, causing Eve to burst into laughter. "You sly fox!"

Celine playfully smacked Eve's arm. "Eve, behave! This is serious."

Eve rolled her eyes but quieted down, still smirking. Celine turned to Fabiana, her expression growing serious. "Fabiana, you need to be careful. You're famous, and Yunise is much younger than you. She's only 22, and you're 38. The age gap is significant."

Fabiana sighed deeply. "I know, Celine. I think about it all the time. I'm worried about Yunise finding out about my past. If she does, she might leave me, and I can't bear the thought of losing her. I love her so much that I'm even considering quitting the industry and marrying her after she graduates."

Celine's eyes softened with empathy, but she shook her head. "Fabiana, Yunise is still very young. She has her whole future ahead of her, with many dreams and ambitions. You can't hold her back. You need to support her in finding her own path, even if it means she might be confused about her future right now."

Eve, ever the jokester, piped up with a sly grin. "And hey, in the meantime, just make sure you're really good at the love-making part. That'll keep her hooked."

Celine smacked Eve again, this time with a bit more force. "Eve, stop it! This is serious."

Fabiana couldn't help but laugh at their banter, but she knew Celine was right. She had to be careful, not just for her sake, but for Yunise's as well. The fear of Yunise discovering her dark past was always lurking in the back of her mind. She had kept it hidden from most people, and the thought of Yunise finding out and leaving her was unbearable.

"I just want Yunise to be mine forever," Fabiana admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Celine reached out and squeezed Fabiana's hand. "If you truly love Yunise, you have to let her grow and find her own way. Support her, but don't smother her dreams. And maybe, one day, when the time is right, you can tell her everything. If she truly loves you, she'll understand."