Celeste's phone buzzed on her hand, while Lyka was holding up two identical earrings in front of her face like she was choosing weapons.
She looked down.
[Ash → Celeste]: Are you still out?
Her brows lifted.
A slow smile curved on her lips as she typed back:
[Celeste → Ash]: So you really miss me?😚
She could already imagine him frowning at that.
A beat later, her phone vibrated again.
[Ash → Celeste]: I was asking because you didn't say anything before you left.
[Celeste → Ash]: Aww. That's cute. You noticed.
Ash stared at the screen, sitting cross-legged on the floor of his new apartment. A neatly folded towel was clenched in his hand like a lifeline.
He adjusted his glasses.
Breathed.
And typed.
[Ash → Celeste]: Rowan told me. I wasn't spying.
Celeste nearly laughed out loud.
"Cel?" Lyka waved a pair of earrings in front of her. "Which one says 'heartbreak recovery'—rose gold or violent red?"
Celeste looked up.
"Violent red. Make your ex regret his eyesight."
Liam leaned on the cart, looking impressed.
"Bold choice."
Lyka rolled her eyes.
"You're just scared of girls with sharp accessories."
"Facts," Liam muttered.
Celeste's phone buzzed again.
[Ash → Celeste]: What are you even doing right now?
[Celeste → Ash]: Helping Lyka recover from being dumped. So naturally, I'm shopping, eating, and having filthy thoughts about you
Ash blinked.
Then very, very slowly, set the towel down and rubbed his temples.
[Ash → Celeste]: Celeste.
[Celeste → Ash]: Yes, that's me. The woman who carried your boxes and your shame last night. 🥰
He groaned aloud.
Back in the mall, Celeste was all sunshine and chaos. She snapped a quick photo of Lyka holding up a discount tiara with dead eyes.
Sent it to Ash.
[Celeste → Ash]: Queen of pain 👑
He didn't reply.
So naturally, she struck again.
[Celeste → Ash]: Be honest. Did you imagine me in a tiara?
Ash tossed his phone face-down on the couch.
And promptly picked it up again.
[Ash → Celeste]: You're impossible.
[Celeste → Ash]: And yet you're still replying. I must be your type.
They moved on toward the photobooth at the corner.
"Oh we HAVE to take one," Lyka said, pulling both of them inside. "Come on, pretend we're a wholesome trio."
Inside the cramped booth, Lyka posed dramatically. Liam pretended to cry. Celeste sat between them, raising a peace sign like a smug referee.
*Flash.
"OH MY GOD LOOK AT MY NOSE IN THIS ONE—LIAM WHY'D YOU BUMP ME—"
"THAT WAS YOUR FACE'S FAULT."
"YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE CRYING LAUGHING—"
While they bickered, Celeste checked her phone again.
No reply from Ash.
So she struck again.
[Celeste → Ash]: Are you busy or just pretending I don't exist so your ears can cool down?
This time, his response was slower.
[Ash → Celeste]: You're distracting.
Celeste raised a brow.
[Celeste → Ash]: Is that a compliment?
[Ash → Celeste]: It's a problem.
Celeste bit her lip, grinning like a cat.
Then typed:
[Celeste → Ash]: By the way… is darling dora still at your place? 👀
A pause. Then:
[Ash → Celeste]: If you mean Isadora, no. She left with Rowan. Why?
[Celeste → Ash]: Just checking if I can safely send you another indecent thought without being judged by a third party.
Ash's soul briefly left his body.
[Ash → Celeste]: Please don't.
[Celeste → Ash]: Too late. I already imagined what you'd sound like. 💋
Ash dropped the book he was holding.
Stared at his phone in horror.
"I need holy water," he muttered.
Ash stared hard at the screen.
Then came the next message.
[Celeste → Ash]: Right now I'm eating hot churros and pretending it's your fingers. 😇
Ash choked on nothing.
He turned crimson.
Lyka and Liam were now bickering over lip tints while Celeste casually walked behind them, eyes glued to her phone with the most pleased smirk.
Liam turned.
"What's got you smiling like a demon?"
"Spiritual enlightenment," Celeste said without looking up.
[Ash → Celeste]: Celeste.
[Celeste → Ash]: That's my name. You can say it louder. 😉
[Ash → Celeste]: You need to stop.
[Celeste → Ash]: Why? You're not even blushing.
Ash, very much blushing, shoved his face into a throw pillow.
[Ash → Celeste]: This is highly inappropriate.
[Celeste → Ash]: You didn't say it's unwanted. 👀
He paused.
[Ash → Celeste]: Are you still with Lyka right now?
[Celeste → Ash]: Yep. Liam's here too, the guy who brought me home. But guess what? Even surrounded by chaos I'm still thinking about your neck.
Ash dropped the phone onto the table like it was radioactive.
Then picked it up again and typed:
[Ash → Celeste]: Please focus.
[Celeste → Ash]: I am focused. Focused on how good your arms looked when you lifted that heavy box? I almost barked.
[Ash → Celeste]: Barked??
[Celeste → Ash]: Like a Victorian woman fainting, but modernized. It's a compliment. Take it.
Ash let out a long breath. He looked like someone who just ran a marathon.
And then the final straw came.
[Celeste → Ash]: You know what the worst part is? While Lyka's crying over her ex, all I can think about… is how good you'd sound saying my name.
[Ash → Celeste]: …
[Celeste → Ash]: And not like "Celeste, stop" More like "Celeste… don't stop" Hihihi
Ash nearly yeeted his phone across the room.
He didn't reply.
Which, of course, encouraged her more.
_______
Meanwhile, the three of them were now sitting at a booth in a dessert café. Celeste sipped her coffee with zero shame, her cheeks faintly flushed—but not from embarrassment.
"Which picture do we post?" Lyka asked, scrolling through the photobooth prints.
Liam leaned over, grinning. "The one where you looked like a raccoon with war paint."
Lyka gasped. "You're so rude!"
Celeste chuckled at their antics, a playful glint in her eye.
While they bickered, Celeste quietly texted.
[Celeste → Ash]: Are you alive? Or did I just sin you into a coma?
A minute passed.
Then came Ash's reply.
[Ash → Celeste]: You are dangerously persistent.
[Celeste → Ash]: And you are deliciously resistant. Makes the chase more fun. 😘
She waited.
No reply.
Then…
[Ash → Celeste]: You're going to give me a heart attack.
[Celeste → Ash]: I'll kiss you better. 😌
[Ash → Celeste]: You're ridiculous.
[Celeste → Ash]: And yet, you still text back. 💋
Later, when Lyka wasn't looking and Liam was off refilling napkins, Celeste finally let herself smile—soft and to herself.
______
The sky had darkened by the time they all reached their respective homes.
Shoes kicked off. Beds creaked as they collapsed into them—sore feet, tired smiles, and quiet hearts finally at rest.
Not even fifteen minutes after settling down, Celeste's phone vibrated with a notification.
[Group Chat: ✨ Broken But Make It Fabulous ✨]
Lyka added you and Liam to the group
Lyka:
Thanks again for today 🥲
I needed that more than I thought
Lyka:
For real. You guys are the best.
Liam:
Obvi 😎
We are the healing dream team.
Celeste:
Speak for yourself, I only came for the cinnamon roll.
Healing you was just a side quest.
Lyka:
STFU YOU PAID FOR MY COFFEE 😭
And made me laugh while I was ugly crying, so shut up and take the credit.
Liam:
Lowkey felt like we were in a breakup romcom.
Except I was the comic relief.
Celeste:
You still are.
Lyka:
LMAOO
Celeste grinned at the screen, the glow from her phone casting a soft light across her face as she lay sprawled on her bed in pajama shorts and a hoodie.
It felt nice.
Simple.
Like their lives could stay like this forever—just warm, chaotic, and unspokenly supportive.
Then… her screen lit up again.
But this time—not from the group chat.
A new message.
From him.
[Ash → Celeste]: You home yet?
Celeste stared at it for a second.
Then she smiled.
Typed back.
[Celeste → Ash]:
I am 😌
Wanna guess what I'm wearing? 😇
She bit her lip after sending it, watching the screen like it might light up with his flustered reaction.
He didn't reply immediately.
But she could feel him blushing from wherever he was—probably upstairs, one floor away, pacing and debating whether to mute her or marry her.
And that thought alone?
Was better than sleep.
_________