Chapter Text
INT. NAIA TERMINAL 3, PARKING AREA – NIGHT
The sticky Manila air engulfed Naya as she stepped out of the arrival gates of NAIA Terminal 3. She can hear the chatter of reunited families, the rapid shuffle of luggage wheels, and the occasional bark of announcements over the intercom.
Finally, she's back.
Naya adjusted the strap of her bag, her steps steady despite the exhaustion of long flights and endless work meetings. Her calm smile masked the fatigue etched into her features, but her eyes sparkled at the sight of the familiar chaos of home.
“Ms. Naya!”
Lorraine’s voice pierced through the noise, bright and unmistakable. Naya looked up to see her colleague waving enthusiastically from the crowd.
The sight made her lips curve into a tired but genuine smile. As she walked toward Lorraine, Ellie emerged beside her, moving quietly through the throng of people. A paper cup of coffee in hand, Ellie extended it toward Naya without a word.
“Welcome home, Naya,” Ellie said simply, her voice warm and even.
“Thank you, Ellie, Lorraine.” Naya replied, taking the coffee with a grateful nod.
Ellie and Lorraine were more than just colleagues; they were her anchors at IllumiNaya Foundation . Together, they had built the nonprofit into providing sustainable housing and community development for marginalized and disaster-prone areas.
Their bond had grown from shared dedication into something deeper: a chosen family.
“Gutom ka na, ma’am?” Lorraine asked as they began walking toward the exit. “May sinigang po kaming pinadala sa bahay niyo. Nagluto si Manang Cely.”
Naya chuckled. “I missed real food. Isang buwan akong puro walang matinong kain sa States. Hindi ko na kaya.”
Lorraine grinned. “Walang sinigang sa Chicago?”
“Binabarda mo nanaman siya, Lor,” Ellie interjected, her tone calm but teasing.
“Eh na-miss ko rin siya.”
“Naya, baka pwedeng ‘wag mong ibigay yung pasalubong niya?”
“Ellie!” Lorraine protested, scandalized, and the three burst into laughter.
Their steps synced as they navigated the throng of travelers, their conversation flowing easily, picking up as though Naya had never left.
But their lighthearted reunion was interrupted as they approached the sliding doors leading to the airport’s parking area. The flashes of cameras and a growing murmur of voices met them head-on.
“Ms. Guevarra!” someone shouted, and a sea of reporters surged forward.
“Ms. Guevarra! How do you feel about the collaboration with Echelon Industries now under the new leadership?”
“Is it true the foundation is expanding into more provinces next year?”
“Ms. Guevarra, can you comment on the challenges of working with corporate donors?”
Naya paused mid-step, her smile slipping into a neutral expression. The press had a way of twisting stories, and she wasn’t about to give them ammunition.
“Ms. Guevarra, one statement lang po!”
Ellie stepped in front of her subtly, her calm demeanor shielding Naya from the growing frenzy. “Pasensya na po. Ms. Guevarra has just arrived and won’t be answering questions tonight. Thank you for your understanding.”
Lorraine, less subtle, gestured dramatically. “Guys, give her space, please!”
Naya kept her composure as she raised a hand in a brief wave. “I appreciate your interest, but I’m here to rest tonight. We can talk about the foundation’s plans sa presscon soon.”
The cameras continued to click, but Ellie and Lorraine flanked her as they moved through the crowd, shielding her from the relentless press.
Their van arrived and Naya and Lorraine quickly settled into the backseat, while Ellie had shotgun.
As they drive off, Naya let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Buwis-buhay naman ang arrival niyo, ma’am,” Lorraine muttered, her playful tone back.
“Part of the job,” Naya replied, though her shoulders still carried the weight of the attention.
INT. ECHELON INDUSTRIES – CEO’S OFFICE
The flat-screen TV mounted on the wall of Celine Alonzo’s office in Echelon flickered with the same scene: Naya emerging from the airport, her composed smile masking her exhaustion as reporters swarmed her.
Celine watched in silence, her hand resting on the remote. The sound of Naya’s voice filled the room.
"After years of international work, Naya Guevarra is back in Manila, championing local initiatives through her foundation, IllumiNaya," the anchor’s voice narrated.
Naya’s smile was the same. Calm. Radiant. It was the kind of smile that disarmed even the sharpest cynic, the kind that used to unravel Celine’s carefully constructed walls.
The screen cut to footage of Naya speaking at a housing project ribbon-cutting event weeks earlier, “This project is for the people, not for profit. It is a social responsibility na maibigay sa mga nangangailangan ang karapatan nilang magkaroon ng bahay na matutuluyan, na makapagbubuo ng isang pamilya, dahil karapatan nila ‘yon. Karapatan natin ito.”
Celine’s jaw clenched. Of course, she’d say that.
The camera zoomed in on Naya, her features softer than Celine remembered, as though time had rounded the edges of her idealism. But the fire was still there, burning behind her eyes. That fire used to inspire her. Now, it felt like a threat.
She leaned back in her chair, the faint leather creak the only sound in the cavernous office. The stark white walls bore no personal touches, and the sleek desk was devoid of clutter, except for a small photo frame face down at the far corner.
Celine’s assistant, Monica, popped her head into the room without knocking, her bright voice a stark contrast to the silence. “Ma’am, reminder lang po: Board meeting in thirty minutes, and may memo din from legal—”
“Leave it on my desk,” Celine cut her off, not even looking away from the screen.
Monica hesitated. “Okay… Need anything else?”
“Just go.”
There was no edge to her tone, but the finality in it left no room for argument. Monica nodded as she closed the door behind her.
The segment on the TV shifted to the moment Naya had smiled at the camera.
Celine’s hand drifted unconsciously to the chain around her neck, hidden beneath her tailored blazer. She traced the broken edges of the locket, an old keepsake she had no business holding onto. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her grip tightening.
Ruthless.
That’s what the world called her now.
Nakakatakot.
She’d heard whispers of it in the halls, in business meetings, and on news panels. And maybe they were right. She’d built herself into a force to be reckoned with, the woman who could cut down opposition without blinking.
But Naya wouldn’t recognize this version of her. Hell, sometimes Celine barely recognized herself.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she finally turned off the TV. Her office plunged into silence, broken only by the muffled hum of Manila’s chaos beyond the glass walls.
Her hands trembled as she straightened the already perfect papers on her desk. It didn’t matter if the Celine Alonzo Naya Guevarra had known was gone. That woman couldn’t save her.
This one could.
INT. NAYA’S VAN – NIGHT
As the car crawled forward, Ellie and Lorraine took turns filling Naya in on what she’d missed on ground.
“At 8AM, we’ll start with a full-team briefing. May updates si Engr. Vera sa ongoing housing project sa Tacloban. You’ll need to decide on some final budget approvals.”
“Stakeholder check-in at 10AM. Zoom call na lang with LGU para i-discuss yung mga permit sa housing expansion project. There’s a bit of red tape to… untangle.”
Naya rolled her eyes. “Not surprising.”
Lorraine chuckled. “After that, working lunch po sa The Coffee Beanie Café. Meeting lang natin about sa mga volunteers sa mga current projects natin.”
“4PM… another meeting regarding the visit on the Manila housing site for next week. May kailangan lang i-finalize.”
Lorraine set the clipboard down and smirked. “Ano, ma’am, kaya pa?”
Naya shook her head with a smile. “Paki-remind nga ‘ko ulit why I missed this?”
“You didn’t. Kami talaga ang na-miss mo.”
“Oh, and this Friday night na yung charity gala,” Ellie said, scrolling through her phone. “We have sponsors pero major sponsor si Echelon Industries. The theme is art deco po.”
The company had been everywhere in recent years, on billboards, news articles, and whispered conversations. “Alright. Kamusta ang preparations? I believe ikaw ang bahala do’n, Ellie?” Naya said as she typed on her phone, her voice carefully neutral.
“Well, Ms. Alonzo’s assistant called yesterday. They want to handle everything na raw po sa event. Ang requirement lang nila is umattend po ang foundation,” Lorraine said, glancing at Naya from the corner of her eye.
“Requirement? We signed a deal with them para sa housing project, but that doesn’t mean they’ll have full control of everything. That’s not how it works,” Naya’s fingers tightened around the coffee cup. “At sino si Ms. Alonzo? Si Mr. Salazar ang CEO ng Echelon.”
“Si Ms. Celine Alonzo na po ang pumalit sa kanya. She’s from Mallari Real Estate Group.”
Naya was shocked, “Akala ko si Mr. Ocampo ang papalit sa kanya.”
Ellie interjected, “He was supposed to, but apparently he recommended Ms. Alonzo, which is kind of unexpected…”
“Why did no one inform me of this agad-agad? Ano, Ellie?”
The two looked at each other before looking at Naya apologetically.
Lorraine shifted in her seat. “Actually, tahimik ang transition. Wala masyadong press release. Parang sinadyang hindi i-announce agad.”
Naya’s brows furrowed. “Bakit?”
Ellie, who had been quiet, finally spoke. “Considering Echelon’s history, siguro ayaw nilang mag-create ng ingay. Another leadership change? Hindi ‘yon maganda sa tingin ng mga investors.”
Naya had a sinking feeling that wasn’t the full story.
“At kailan nila balak sabihin? Pag tapos na ang project?” Naya scoffed. Coming from a 19-hour flight, she’s too tired to fight off her eyes from closing, let alone scold her colleagues.
“Anyway,” Naya said, her tone cautious but firm. “How is she professionally? I don’t know anything about her. I still prefer to negotiate with Mr. Salazar and Mr. Ocampo. Sila ang kausap natin, not that woman.”
“Let’s just say she’s a bit…strict,” Ellie answered, leaning back in her seat. “Nakakatakot in a way, pero grabe rin yung respeto sa kanya.”
Naya was silent as the van pulled in front of a modest bungalow house.
“Thank you sa pagsundo. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Magpahinga na kayo.”
The low hum of the van faded as Naya stepped onto the driveway of her modest bungalow. She clutched her carry-on bag in one hand and her luggage in the other.
INT. NAYA’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Naya unlocked the door, her house was exactly as she’d left it.
A safe space. A refuge. Yet tonight, it felt anything but.
Setting her bag down by the door, she moved to the small sofa in the living room. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at the blank television screen as if it might offer her some clarity.
Her colleagues’ words from earlier replayed in her mind, each one striking a nerve.
“Let’s just say she’s a bit…strict,” Ellie answered, leaning back in her seat. “Nakakatakot in a way, pero grabe rin yung respeto sa kanya. Sikat siya sa corporate world.”
She sat down, the coffee Ellie gave her made her tremble slightly as her hands betrayed her composed exterior. She closed her eyes, trying to summon the strength to keep her emotions in check, but the truth clawed its way to the surface.
“At sino si Ms. Alonzo? Si Mr. Salazar ang CEO ng Echelon.”
“Si Ms. Celine Alonzo na po ang pumalit sa kanya.”
Naya had lied when she said she didn’t know Celine Alonzo. The name alone had sent a jolt through her, and she’d barely managed to keep her voice steady in front of Ellie and Lorraine.
“I don’t know anything about her. I still prefer to negotiate with Mr. Salazar and Mr. Ocampo. Sila ang kausap natin, not that woman.”
Lie.
Her lips tightened into a thin line as the memory of her lie replayed. It wasn’t like her to be dishonest, but the truth had felt too dangerous to reveal. Not yet. Not to them.
Her thoughts drifted back, unbidden, to university days when life had felt infinitely more hopeful and less complicated.
Celine was ambitious, yes, but in a way that inspired everyone around her. Fiery passion as Naya had called it.
She had seen that fire up close. Too close.
And now the woman is coming back into her life.
After years of not showing up.
She remembered study sessions that turned into midnight debates about dreams and justice, and their arguments softened by laughter.
She remembered Celine’s laugh, warm, lighting up the dingy café where they spent most of their evenings.
“Naya, kung may chance kang baguhin ang mundo, gagawin mo, ‘di ba?”
Celine’s eyes had shone with conviction, her hands gesturing animatedly. Naya had smiled at her then, captivated by her intensity.
“Of course. Pero ikaw, Cel. Kaya mo bang baguhin ang mundo nang mag-isa?”
Celine had laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Siyempre hindi. Kaya nandito ka, ‘di ba?”
The memory hit her like a sharp gust of wind. What happened to that Celine? The one who dreamed bigger than taking over any corporate entity, who cared passionately, who...
Naya shook her head, banishing the thought before it could go further. “Stop it,” she told herself. That was a lifetime ago.
She had spent years trying to bury the emotions tied to her friend, convincing herself that chapter of her life was closed.
To be honest, she remembered fragments of Celine, but does not remember much of her memories with her.
Some weird glitch in her brain.
And her emotions.
Yet she knew they had a deep connection.
And now, fate, or some cruel twist of it, had brought them back to the same path.
These didn’t align with the woman Naya had known. The Celine she remembered was long gone. Or maybe... she had never truly known her.
INT. NAYA’S OFFICE – DAWN
The office was quiet as the staff wrapped up for the day and rushed to prepare for tonight’s charity gala. Naya sat at her desk, absently staring at the invitation to the their gala
Well, it’s Echelon’s gala now.
The glossy print glared back at her, as though mocking her hesitation.
Her thoughts were a storm of emotions. Seeing a friend’s name attached to Echelon had been a gut punch. She couldn’t reconcile the ambitious but kind-hearted girl she’d known with the CEO reputation that came with the name Celine Alonzo.
Minutes passed when Ellie appeared in the doorway, dressed in an amber sequined gown. “Naya,” Ellie began, her tone careful, “ready na yung car. Let’s go, naghihintay na rin si Lorraine sa labas.”
Naya nodded, but she didn’t move.
Ellie lingered, studying her. “We were surprised too, you know.”
Naya looked up, her brow furrowed.
“Nung nalaman namin ang tungkol sa kanya,” Ellie clarified. “Si Celine. We didn’t expect her to be… well, her.”
“I didn’t expect it either,” Naya muttered. “How much do you know?”
Ellie tilted her head thoughtfully. “Alam namin na magkasama kayo nung college. We figured magkaibigan kayo since magka-org kayo. There were photos and some articles on the internet. I remember one article, Student organizations rally as two Cordillera IP rights activists go missing. Nasa frontlines kayo.”
“You talked about her once, back when we were starting the foundation,” Ellie continued. “Pero ‘yun na ‘yon. I just assumed…”
“Assumed what?” Naya prompted, her voice sharper than intended.
“That you grew apart,” Ellie finished. “Life happens.”
Naya leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting toward the window. “Life didn’t just happen, Ellie. Something happened and I don’t even know what it was.”
INT. CAR – ON THE WAY TO THE GALA
As the car weaved through Manila’s evening traffic, Lorraine, seated in the passenger seat, was scrolling through her phone while Ellie sat beside Naya in the backseat, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
“Ang sosyal ng event na ‘to,” Lorraine remarked, breaking the silence. “Sa tingin niyo magseserve ba sila ng real food or yung mga ka-emehan na maliliit yung serving?”
“Focus, Lorraine,” Ellie said with a small smile.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang,” Lorraine replied with a shrug. “Kung a-awra tayo, sana man lang mabusog tayo, ‘no?”
Naya didn’t respond. She was staring out the window, her mind far from Lorraine’s chatter.
“Iniisip mo nanaman siya,” Ellie spoke.
“Huh?”
“Si Celine,” Ellie’s eyes flickered toward Naya, watching her reaction carefully. “It was obvious she was important to you. You can’t lie to me, Naya. I double-checked before telling you. We didn’t want to overwhelm you, ‘cause it’s clear she left an impact on you.”
Naya’s chest tightened, her hands clenching in her lap.
Ellie tilted her head. “She’s not the same person, is she?”
“Yeah,” Naya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “Baka hindi ko nga talaga siya kilala.”
The car fell silent.
INT. OKADA MANILA – LOBBY
Naya, Ellie, Lorraine and some members of IllumiNaya stepped inside the gala venue. Guests in tailored suits and couture gowns floated through the space, their conversations punctuated by the occasional flash of cameras.
They were instantly greeted by press, making sure Naya doesn’t avoid questions this time.
Naya adjusted the hem of her black gown, her fingers brushing the smooth fabric nervously. She felt Ellie’s steady gaze on her and Lorraine’s reassuring smile.
“Para sa beneficiaries, Naya,” Ellie reminded her gently.
“Para sa beneficiaries,” Naya echoed, squaring her shoulders.
Tonight felt… heavy. Fragments of Naya’s university days flashed: the laughter over late-night coffee with a woman, a smile that softened the sharpest edges, the way their hands fit together when no one was looking.
Now, that woman hosting this event was a stranger.
Before she could move, a familiar voice sliced through the noise, smooth and deliberate.
“Ms. Guevarra.”
Her breath caught as she turned slowly, already knowing who it was.
Celine Alonzo stood a few feet away, the image of power in a tailored white suit that fit her like armor. Her sharp features seemed almost sculpted, but it was her eyes, calm and calculated, that struck Naya the hardest.
“Celine,” Naya said, her voice steady, though her fingers gripped her glass a little tighter.
Celine’s lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no warmth in it. “It’s been a while.”
“It has,” Naya replied carefully, her mind scrambling to piece together how this encounter was supposed to feel. Familiar? Nostalgic? Comfortable? Instead, it felt like staring at a ghost who didn’t know they were supposed to haunt you.
“You look like you’re overwhelmed by what my company prepared,” Celine continued, stepping closer. Her tone was polite, but there was something in the way she tilted her head, like she was already dissecting Naya’s presence. “This doesn’t seem like your crowd.”
“Yes,” Naya countered, her words sharper than she intended. “Pero nandito ako para sa housing project. After all, this is supposed to be our event. Para sa kanila.”
“Of course,” Celine replied smoothly, her faint smile widening. “It’s always about them, isn’t it?”
Naya bristled. “And what about you? Where’s Mr. Ocampo? Siya ang kausap namin, hindi ikaw.”
Celine’s expression didn’t falter, but her voice dropped just enough to signal the shift. “Well, Mr. Salazar figured na hindi fit si Mr. Ocampo sa company. He’s too emotional, magsusuffer ang kompanya sa kanya.”
“And you’re here? Yung Celine na kilala ko, hindi ko makikita rito. She will not put on a show for everyone.”
“Not everything I do is for show, Naya. You, of all people, should know that.”
“I thought I did,” Naya said quietly, her words almost lost beneath the murmur of the crowd.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The space between them felt charged, as though the air itself was holding its breath.
“Still idealistic, I see,” Celine finally said, her tone neutral but her words pointed. “Hindi ka pa rin nagbago.”
“And some things change too much,” Naya shot back, her gaze steady.
Celine hesitated, her smile faltering just slightly before it returned. “People evolve. It’s inevitable.”
“‘Yan ba ang tawag mo?” Naya asked, her voice soft but cutting. “For all of… this?”
Frantically finding her boss, Monica finally saw Celine with Naya, the tension evidently heavy. Sensing that nearby guests began to glance in their direction, she calls on Celine.
“Ma’am, it’s almost time for your speech.”
Celine nodded curtly, her eyes lingering on Naya for one last moment. “Enjoy the evening,” she said, her voice neutral, before walking away.
Naya stood rooted to the spot as she watched her go. The Celine she remembered, the one she’d loved, trusted, and laughed with, felt like a distant memory. It was like meeting a stranger wearing an old friend’s face.
ON STAGE – LATER
The lights dimmed slightly when the emcee introduced the night’s speakers. Celine was the first to take the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” her voice rang out, calm and composed, “welcome to IllumiNaya Foundation and Echelon Industries’ charity gala. Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate our shared successes but to reaffirm our commitment to giving back. Our partnership with IllumiNaya is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal.”
She spoke with practiced ease, her words carefully crafted to strike the perfect balance between inspiration and professionalism. But as Naya watched from her seat, she couldn’t shake the feeling that every word was calculated, polished, and detached.
When it was her turn to speak, Naya felt the weight of the room shift as all eyes turned to her.
“Good evening,” she began, her voice steady despite the tension she carried. “On behalf of IllumiNaya Foundation, I want to thank Echelon Industries for supporting our mission to provide sustainable housing for marginalized communities. Tonight isn’t just about charity, it’s about accountability. It’s about creating solutions that truly serve the people who need them most. Para sa bayan.”
Her words were softer, but they carried an authenticity that resonated. When she stepped down from the stage, a quiet buzz followed her, conversations sparked by the stark contrast between her speech and Celine’s.
As Naya returned to her seat, she caught a glimpse of Celine at the far end of the room before the woman turned back, walking out of the venue.
INT. CELINE’S PENTHOUSE
Celine shrugged off her blazer as she entered her penthouse, draping it over the back of a chair.
She moved to the sideboard where a bottle of scotch sat waiting, along with a single glass. She poured herself a generous amount and sank onto the leather couch, her fingers tightening around the glass as she stared at the city lights below.
The gala was behind her now, but Naya’s voice lingered in her mind. The sharp edge of her words. The way her gaze cut through Celine’s carefully constructed armor.
“Still idealistic, I see,” Celine finally said, her tone neutral but her words pointed. “Hindi ka pa rin nagbago.”
“And some things change too much,” Naya shot back, her gaze steady.
She let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in the silence. She has no idea.
Reaching for the small drawer built into the side table, she pulled out an old photo. The edges were slightly worn, and the colors had faded with time. In it, two younger versions of themselves sat side by side on the steps of a university library. Naya was mid-laugh, her head tilted toward Celine, who was grinning as though the world had handed her everything she could ever want.
The image blurred as Celine’s grip on the glass tightened. It had been one of those rare days when their schedules aligned, allowing them to escape the pressures of coursework for a few stolen hours.
Celine and Naya had spent the afternoon at a local café near the bus terminal, their books spread haphazardly across the small table. Rain pattered against the windows and the air was warm inside.
“Kung hindi lang baliktad ang Pomodoro method mo, matatapos mo na ‘tong thesis mag-isa,” Naya teased, a pencil twirling between her fingers.
“Siguro,” Celine shot back, smirking. “Pero mas gusto ko kasing mahaba yung breaks ko para na-e-enjoy ko yung presence mo. Makes me feel lighter. And productive.”
Naya rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips. “Una, anong sinasabi mong productive? 70% ng oras mo puro doodle. Pangalawa, flattery won’t finish your bibliography, Alonzo.”
“Doesn’t mean na mali ako though,” Celine quipped, leaning back in her chair. Her eyes lingered on Naya, taking in the way her brows furrowed in concentration as she flipped through a book.
The rain intensified outside, drowning out the usual noise of jeepneys and taxis. When they finally packed up their things, the storm showed no signs of letting up.
“Great,” Naya muttered, glancing at the downpour from the café doorway. She hugged her bag close, already regretting not bringing an umbrella.
Celine stood beside her, her expression unreadable as she watched the rain. “Ulan lang ‘yan,” she said after a moment. “Tara.”
Before Naya could protest, Celine grabbed her hand and tugged her into the storm.
The rain was sharp against their skin as they ran down the street. Laughter spilled from Naya’s lips, unrestrained and bright, and Celine found herself laughing too.
“Sira!” Naya shouted, her voice barely audible over the rain.
“Sira na kung sira! Wooh!” Celine shouted back, grinning as they darted beneath a small awning to catch their breath.
As they reached the side of a nearby convenience store, they were already soaked, their clothes clinging to their skin, hair plastered to their faces. Naya was still laughing, leaning against the wall as she tried to wring water from her bag. Celine watched her, the rest of the world fading into the background.
“Bakit mo ‘ko tinitingnan nang ganyan?” Naya asked, her laughter softening as she caught Celine’s gaze.
Celine hesitated, the words forming in her mind but catching in her throat. Instead of answering, she stepped closer, her hands trembling slightly as they brushed against Naya’s.
“Uhm kasi… Naya, pwede bang—” Celine’s voice faltered, her usual confidence nowhere to be found.
Naya’s eyes softened, her smile fading into something gentler, quieter. “What?”
“I’m sorry,” Celine whispered, the rain still roaring around them.
Naya was confused. “Huh, ba’t ka nagsosorry? Hmph–”
Celine had kissed her.
The kiss was tentative at first, the kind of kiss that hovered between hesitation and longing. But when Naya didn’t pull away, when she leaned in and kissed her back, it deepened, the cold rain forgotten as warmth bloomed between them.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them breathless, Naya laughed softly. “Pinapatawad na kita.”
Celine grinned, the world bright despite the gray storm.
The memory faded, and Celine was back in her apartment, the photograph still clutched in her hand. She stared at it for a long moment before setting it down gently on the table.
Her fingers brushed against the locket around her neck, hidden beneath her shirt. The edges were worn now, but she remembered the day she’d put it there. A day when she’d sworn she would do whatever it took to protect Naya, even if it meant becoming someone Naya couldn’t love anymore.
Celine whispered to herself. “Patawarin mo ako ulit, Naya.”
Outside, the rain began to fall.
END OF CHAPTER 1