Chapter 53
We’re here now sa bedroom ni Celest. Ang tahimik ng paligid. Celestial is already asleep sa kabilang room, and it’s just us now—finally, after years of longing.
I’m inside the bathroom, freshly showered, pinapatuyo ko pa buhok ko while nakatapis lang ako kanina, pero now I’m just wearing a black sports bra and boxer shorts. Paglabas ko ng bathroom, andun si Celest, sitting on the bed with her knees pulled up, wearing a silky robe na barely closed.
Her eyes locked on me. Yung stare niya sobrang intense, and I swear, my heart skipped a beat.
I chuckled habang naglalakad papalapit sa kanya, slowly, like predator mode. “Ganon talaga pag heartbroken for years. I worked out para kalimutan ka,” I teased.
Huminto ako sa harap niya. Our faces just inches apart, I could feel her breath brushing against my lips. My eyes dropped to her slightly opened robe.
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. “Yes. Bakit?”
I smirked, my hands gently brushing against her thigh. “Because I will make you moan in mess right now, Celest.”
And with that, I pushed her gently to the bed.
She let out a soft gasp as she landed on the pillows, her robe loosening more.
I slowly climbed over her, eyes never leaving hers.
My hands slid down the soft fabric of her robe, removing it inch by inch.
I took my time—slow, worshipful. Pagkatapos ng robe, I unhooked her bra and slid down her underwear.
She was now fully bare beneath me. Vulnerable, beautiful, mine.
I kissed her gently on her neck, letting my lips explore her skin—up to her earlobe, then her collarbone. I could hear her breath hitching. I hovered above her, looking straight into her eyes.
She swallowed hard, her hands tracing my arms, down to my waist. Her eyes were already filled with longing.
I kissed her lips—deep, hungry. She responded with the same intensity, like she was starving too. Our bodies pressed together, hearts racing in sync. I positioned myself between her thighs, my hand guiding me as I slowly pushed in.
She gasped, tightening her grip on my arms. I leaned in, gently holding her hands, intertwining our fingers above her head.
Her breath hitched. “Oh god… Arushi…”
I started moving slowly. Smooth, gentle thrusts. She arched her back, moaning softly, her legs wrapping around me, pulling me deeper. I kissed her again, feeling her lips tremble against mine.
Each motion was intimate, deliberate. It wasn’t just lust—it was everything. All the years we lost, all the longing, all the pain. And now, finally… we were here. Together.
She moaned louder now. “Arushi… faster…”
My pace quickened. Each thrust deeper, harder. She started to tremble beneath me, her hands gripping my back, nails digging in, but I didn’t stop. I kissed her lips, her cheek, her neck, down to her chest.
Her moans filled the room, her hips moving in rhythm with mine. I looked at her face—flushed, eyes half-lidded, mouth slightly open. She was beautiful like this. No words could describe it.
Her words lit a fire inside me. I thrust harder now, her body shaking under mine, her hands gripping the sheets. Our moans mixed, breath syncing, hearts pounding like drums.
Her eyes rolled back, her lips trembling. “I’m… oh my god… Arushi… I’m close…”
And with one final thrust, we both shattered. Her body tightened around me, her moans spilling uncontrollably. I buried my face into her neck, biting softly as I reached my climax. We clung to each other like lifelines, lost in the wave of pure release.
We collapsed onto the bed, bodies trembling, sweaty, satisfied.
For minutes, we just laid there—her head on my chest, our legs tangled under the sheets. I was still catching my breath. My heart was beating fast but calm. Peaceful.
Celest looked up at me and smiled. “Ang wild mo pa rin.”
I laughed, brushing her hair back. “Ikaw naman may kasalanan niyan, you kept staring like you want me to ruin you.”
I pulled her closer. “You’re mine now. For real.”
She nodded, eyes softening. “And you’re mine too.”
I kissed her forehead.
“Let’s not waste another year, Celest. Let’s build something. Together. With Celestial.”
She smiled and placed her hand on my chest. “We will. This time, wala nang magic or curse na pipigil sa’tin.”
I wrapped my arms around her tightly. “I love you, Celest.”
And that night, we made love again—slower, sweeter. No longer out of desperation, but out of love. Pure, raw, overwhelming love.
This was no longer a dream.
This was our beginning.
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It’s morning.
Ang tahimik ng unit, yung klase ng katahimikan na hindi nakakabingi—yung peaceful. I’m sitting here sa couch, naka-joggers lang at oversized white tee habang nagkakape. Yung warm mug nasa kamay ko, and I’m just staring outside sa window, letting myself breathe.
Ang sarap ng ganito.
Then from the kitchen, I can hear faint clatters—si Celest, cooking something. The smell of eggs and garlic rice fills the air. I can’t help but smile. Who would’ve thought… na after all the pain, all the years, I’d end up here?
Then I heard small, adorable footsteps. Unti-unting palapit sa living room. Nang lumingon ako, I saw Celestial, bagong gising pa, rubbing her eyes. Her cheeks are chubby, ang gulo pa ng buhok niya, and she’s wearing a little panda pajama set.
She stared at me for a second—parang nag-assess muna siya if totoo ba ‘ko. Then she smiled so wide and said, “Good morning po! You still here! Omg! I have playmates now!”
My heart melted.
I smiled back and leaned forward, “Hmm, I think baby, pero go brush your teeth muna then take a bath ha? Mommy Celest is still cooking pa e.”
Celestial pouted. “But Mommy use to take me in the bath… I can’t bath with my own pa…”
Napahagalpak ako ng tawa. She was so serious with her little pout pa. I reached over and pinched her soft cheeks. “You’re so cute, sobra. Okay, okay na! I’ll take you to the bathroom and wash you, okay?”
Celestial clapped her hands, smiling cheerfully, then said, “Yeheyyy! Thank you po!”
So, ayun. I carried her bridal style papunta sa banyo. She kept giggling, talking about her toys, about the ducks in the bath, and some random butterfly na nakita daw niya sa park. She’s so talkative in the morning, parang si Citrine yes yung kakambal ko nagmana pa ata kay citrine tong anak ko.
I gently washed her hair, her tiny body, brushing bubbles off her nose when she sneezed from the shampoo. “Arayyy!” she said, laughing. “You put bubbles sa eyes kooo!”
After she was all fresh and dry, we dressed her up in a pink frilly dress she picked herself, with matching white bunny slippers. I carried her back to the dining area and sat her down on her baby chair. Celest was plating the food—fried rice, scrambled egg, tapa, and fruit slices.
She placed a tiny plate in front of Celestial, cut into mini bites. “Eat properly, Celestial!”
Celestial nodded while bouncing in her chair.
I sat across from them, quietly, watching.
Celest was busy setting my plate next, moving with her usual grace, pero something about the way she smiled now—mas warm, mas soft. My eyes were drawn to the two of them. Parang ang surreal pa rin.
In my head I thought, So this is my family…
Then I heard her voice. “Staring is rude, Arushi. Kumain ka na, stop being creepy.”
I laughed, “Sorry na, ang ganda niyo e. Ang sarap niyo panoorin—parang dream.”
Celestial turned to me and said, “You know what? Mommy is so cold and mataray! She’s so strict to me!”
I gasped, placing a hand on my chest. “Oh nooo! She's really mataray, right baby?!”
Celestial nodded, full of drama. “Yes pooo!”
Celest rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t encourage her, Arushi. I swear…”
I grinned, taking a spoonful of rice. “Too late na, love. Team Celestial na ‘ko.”
Celestial raised her fork triumphantly, “Yayy team Celestial!”
I shook my head laughing, then asked, “How old are you, Celestial?”
She held up three fingers, beaming. “I’m three years old po!”
Celest suddenly grew quiet. She put down her spoon gently, then turned to face Celestial. Her expression turned soft, serious.
Celestial paused, then slowly nodded. “Yung in my dreams po?”
Celest smiled. “Yes, baby. The woman here—siya yun. Siya si Arushi. She’s your other mommy.”
Celestial blinked, looked at me, then her whole face lit up.
She clapped her hands with joy and shouted, “DADA!!!”
Napaluha ako sa kakatawa. I almost choked on my juice. “Dada talaga?! Okay fine fine I'm your dada"
Celest laughed too, wiping her mouth with a tissue. “Well, may point naman siya. You’re… let’s just say, contributing energy was very masculine back then.”
Celestial just kept giggling while stabbing a banana with her fork. “I love Dada! Dada is strong and fun!”
I pretended to flex my arms. “Strong talaga? Ooh look at that, baby.”
Celest shook her head again, smiling fondly. “You two are gonna be chaotic together, I swear.”
I reached across the table to hold her hand. “And you love every second of it.”
She squeezed my fingers back. “I really do.”
It was such a simple morning—breakfast, laughter, a little chaos—but my heart felt so full. Yung feeling na parang, at last, this is home. No magic, no dreams. Just us.
Just real love.
After breakfast, I helped clean up habang si Celestial nag drawing sa coffee table. I was drying plates while watching Celest move around her kitchen—familiar, graceful, and mine.
She looked at me. “You’re staring again.”
I smirked. “Sorry, I just can’t believe… you’re here. We’re here.”
She walked over and hugged me from behind. “I promised, diba? I’ll come back. I kept that promise, Arushi.”
I turned around and hugged her tight, burying my nose sa leeg niya. “Thank you for finding your way back to me. To us.”
She whispered, “Thank you for not giving up.”
That morning, we didn’t need grand words. Wala nang kailangan i-prove. Just three people, in a cozy little home, building a life full of laughter, healing, and second chances.
This time… we were whole.
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