Nothing more, nothing less

A new beginning

In the weeks that followed, Celestiana and Alicia focused on rebuilding their lives. The fallout from Celestiana's decision to leave her family's business had been swift and brutal, but they faced it together.

Celestiana had started looking into her own business ventures, determined to build something that was hers and hers alone. And Alicia, ever supportive, stood by her side through every challenge.

The road ahead wasn't easy. They had lost friends, faced criticism, and battled their own doubts. But in the quiet moments, when they lay together at night, holding each other close, they knew they had made the right choice.

One evening, as they sat on the balcony of their shared apartment, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance, Alicia turned to Celestiana with a soft smile. "Do you ever regret it? Leaving everything behind for this?"

Celestiana shook her head, her eyes filled with love and certainty. "Not for a second."

Alicia leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Celestiana's lips. "Good. Because I don't either."

As they sat together, wrapped in the warmth of their love, they knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together—stronger than ever.

Their love was resilient, forged in the fire of opposition and doubt, but tempered by their unshakable commitment to one another. They had learned, through trials and tribulations, that nothing could come between them if they stood united. And now, more than ever, they were ready to face whatever the world had to throw at them.

Celestiana gently traced the curve of Alicia's jaw, her heart swelling with an emotion that was almost too much to contain. "I never imagined we would come this far," she whispered, her voice thick with awe.

Alicia chuckled softly, resting her forehead against Celestiana's. "Neither did I. But now that we're here, I can't imagine my life any other way."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the past few months settling behind them. The city buzzed below them, oblivious to the quiet revolution that had taken place in their lives. But for Celestiana and Alicia, the future was wide open, and for the first time, it felt like theirs to shape.

"Where do we go from here?" Alicia asked after a while, her voice soft but curious. "Now that we've made it this far, what comes next?"

Celestiana smiled, turning to face Alicia fully. "We build, Ali. We build a life together. We face whatever comes our way. Whether it's starting a business, traveling the world, or just figuring things out day by day, as long as we're together, we can handle anything."

Alicia nodded, her heart full of warmth. "You're right. We've already survived the hardest part."

They kissed again, and this time, it wasn't filled with the desperation of stolen moments or the fear of being caught. It was a kiss that spoke of promises fulfilled, of love that had survived the test of time, of a future that was truly theirs.

---

As the weeks turned into months, Celestiana and Alicia began building a new routine together, one that was free from the shadows of disapproval and the weight of expectation. Celestiana had started laying the groundwork for her own business, something small but uniquely hers. She was finally pursuing her dreams, separate from her family's legacy, and Alicia couldn't have been prouder.

Alicia, too, found new opportunities opening up as she ventured into creative projects that aligned with her passions. They had grown as individuals, but even more importantly, they had grown as partners. Their relationship had become the cornerstone of everything they did, and their bond only deepened with time.

One evening, after a long day of work, Celestiana came home to find Alicia setting up a romantic dinner on the balcony. Candles flickered in the soft evening breeze, casting a golden glow over the table, and the scent of freshly cooked pasta filled the air.

"What's all this?" Celestiana asked, a smile tugging at her lips as she dropped her bag by the door and walked over to Alicia.

Alicia grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just thought we should celebrate a little. We've both been working so hard lately, and I wanted to remind you how much I love you."

Celestiana's heart fluttered as she pulled Alicia into a tight embrace. "I love you too, Ali. More than words can say."

They sat down to eat, their hands intertwined across the table as they talked and laughed about everything and nothing. It was moments like these—simple, quiet, and full of love—that made all the hardships worth it.

As they finished dinner, Alicia leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "You know, there's something I've been thinking about lately," she said softly, her fingers playing with the edge of the tablecloth.

"What's that?" Celestiana asked, curious.

Alicia hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Celestiana with a soft but serious expression. "I've been thinking about the future. About us. And I was wondering... what if we took the next step?"

Celestiana's heart skipped a beat as she met Alicia's gaze. "What kind of next step?"

Alicia smiled nervously, her eyes glistening in the candlelight. "I mean... what if we made this official? Moved in together, got a place that's ours—no more renting, no more temporary solutions. Something permanent."

Celestiana's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing with excitement. "Are you saying you want us to buy a place together?"

Alicia nodded, her smile growing. "Yeah. I do. I want to build a home with you, Cel. Something that's ours, where we can start the rest of our lives together."

Celestiana felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she reached across the table to take Alicia's hand. "I'd love that, Ali. More than anything."

And just like that, another chapter of their story began. They started looking for their dream home, a place where they could truly begin their lives together. It wasn't easy—there were challenges and compromises along the way—but every step brought them closer to their shared future.

---

**