Nothing more, nothing less

After the fall

A week had passed since Alicia walked out, and the silence in Celestiana's life was deafening. No more late-night conversations. No more stolen kisses. It was as if Alicia had vanished from her world completely, leaving only memories behind to haunt her. The office felt colder, the days longer, and no amount of work could distract her from the aching emptiness that gnawed at her heart.

Her father, sensing the shift, had begun softening his tone in their conversations, trying to rebuild the bridge he feared had been burned. But every attempt he made only deepened the growing chasm between them.

"Celestiana, alam kong mahirap ang sitwasyon ngayon. Pero maybe it's time to move on. Alicia was... a distraction. You need to focus on what's important," her father said during one of their tense meetings.

Celestiana clenched her fists under the table, forcing herself to remain calm. She had heard these words a hundred times over the past week, but each time they cut deeper. To him, Alicia was a distraction. To her, Alicia was everything.

"I know you're concerned about the company, Dad," she replied, keeping her voice steady, "but what I feel for Alicia isn't just something I can ignore. Hindi siya distraction para sa akin."

Her father's face hardened, his eyes narrowing in disapproval. "Then you need to ask yourself what you're willing to lose, Celestiana. Because you can't have both."

The weight of those words crushed her. Every time her father reminded her of the price of love, it felt like the walls around her heart were closing in, suffocating her under the pressure of expectation.

After the meeting, Celestiana found herself wandering aimlessly through the city. She needed to clear her head, to think without the noise of her father's demands, the crushing weight of the business. She needed clarity, but more than that, she needed Alicia.

But Alicia had been silent.

Celestiana had called, texted—no response. It was like Alicia had made the decision for both of them, and that thought was tearing Celestiana apart.

As the sun began to set, casting a soft orange glow over the city, Celestiana found herself standing outside Alicia's apartment building. Her heart raced, her palms sweaty, but she couldn't walk away. Not again.

She buzzed the intercom, her breath catching in her throat as she waited.

After a few moments, there was a click, and Alicia's voice, cold and distant, crackled through the speaker. "What do you want, Cel?"

Celestiana swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I... I need to talk to you. Please, Alicia."

There was a long pause, and for a moment, Celestiana thought she might not let her in. But then the door buzzed open, and she stepped inside.

As Celestiana made her way up to Alicia's apartment, her heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't sure what she was going to say—only that she couldn't keep going without trying to make things right.

Alicia opened the door, her expression unreadable as she stepped aside to let Celestiana in. The air between them was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them both.

"What do you want, Cel?" Alicia repeated, her voice flat, devoid of the warmth that had once filled it.

Celestiana stood in the middle of the room, feeling more exposed than ever. "I made a mistake," she admitted, her voice shaking slightly. "I let my fear control me, and I pushed you away. But I can't do this without you, Alicia."

Alicia crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Do you even know what you want, Cel? Or are you just here because it feels like the right thing to do?"

Celestiana flinched at the harshness in Alicia's tone, but she knew she deserved it. She had hurt Alicia, and now she had to face the consequences.

"I'm here because I love you," Celestiana said quietly, her voice filled with raw emotion. "I don't care about the business, about what our fathers want. None of it matters if I don't have you."

Alicia's expression softened, but there was still a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "And what happens when your father threatens the business again? What happens when they force you to choose between me and your family?"

Celestiana stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "I've already made my choice, Alicia. I choose you. Every time."

Alicia searched her eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation. When she found none, she finally let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Do you mean that?"

Celestiana nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I do. I'm done letting them control my life. I'm done being afraid."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, Alicia stepped closer, her hand reaching out to gently brush Celestiana's cheek. "You really hurt me, Cel," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't go through that again."

"I know" Celestiana whispered, her voice trembling as she reached out to hold Alicia's hand. "I know I hurt you, and I'll spend every day proving that I won't let that happen again. I don't want to lose you, Ali. I need you in my life, not just as someone I love, but as my partner in everything."

Alicia's hand trembled slightly in Celestiana's grasp, the tension between them slowly giving way to the deep emotions they both tried to suppress. "You say that now, but what if things get worse? What if our families fight harder? What if this isn't just about the business anymore, but about us?"

"I don't care what happens," Celestiana replied firmly, her eyes locking with Alicia's. "Let them fight. Let them say whatever they want. What matters is us, and I'm not running anymore. I'm ready to face whatever comes, as long as you're by my side."

Alicia studied Celestiana's face, trying to find cracks in her resolve, but all she saw was determination. Slowly, Alicia's guard started to fall, and she took a deep breath. "I want to believe you, Cel. I really do. But if we're going to do this, we need to be strong. Together."

"We will be," Celestiana promised, her grip tightening slightly. "I'm not going anywhere."

After what felt like an eternity, Alicia sighed and pulled Celestiana into a tight embrace, burying her face in the crook of Celestiana's neck. "I missed you," she whispered softly, her voice breaking with emotion.

Celestiana held her close, her heart pounding with relief. "I missed you too, Ali. More than you know."

For the first time in weeks, the weight on their shoulders felt lighter. The road ahead was still uncertain, but they were no longer walking it alone. Together, they would face whatever challenges came their way.

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