Christmas arrived quietly—but not without warmth.
For the first time in weeks, Ash and Celeste would be spending time apart. Celeste traveled back to the quiet province with Rowan, where the nights were starry and the food never stopped coming. and Ash to his childhood city, surrounded by noisy nieces, teasing big sisters, and the comfort of familiar snow.
Snow blanketed the streets like powdered sugar.
Ash was back in his hometown—a quiet city surrounded by pine trees and sleepy roads. His old room was still the same: faded posters, neatly stacked books, and the creaky bed he'd outgrown years ago. But the warmth of home? That never changed.
The smell of garlic rice wafted from the kitchen.
He had barely stepped through the door when the chaos began.
"ASHHHH!"
Three children—two boys, the oldest and the youngest, and one girl, the middle child—came flying down the hallway like missiles.
Ash laughed as he dropped his bag, catching one while two others clung to his legs.
"Hey! I'm not Santa, calm down—!"
"Don't kill your uncle the minute he arrives! Gods, they've been screaming since 6AM waiting for you!"
From behind them, May, his second sister—married and the mother of those kids, tepped out with flour on her cheeks and a wooden spoon in her hand.
"And call him UNCLE, kiddos." she added.
Behind her, Rina, the eldest—no husbad and no kids, leaned against the doorframe, sipping her coffee with a smug smile, immediately pinched his cheeks.
"Still no girlfriend, Ash?" she asked loudly. "Or is it boyfriend now? Hmm? Either is fine, you know, just give us a sign!"
Ash's ears turned red.
"I—what—Rina, can you not—?!"
From the living room, Lana, the youngest sister—married and has no kids, sitting at the couch watching on TV
"Coming from you? Please. You haven't had a single boyfriend since birth!"
Rina gasped dramatically.
"Rude."
Lana smirked.
"I'm just saying. Let our baby brother breathe."
"Aaaash!" Their Mom appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Her face softened as she took him in.
"You look tired… and thinner." She hugged him tightly. "Have you been eating? Sleeping? Don't lie."
Ash mumbled,
"I'm fine." and smile sweetly.
_______
"Celeste, set the table!"
"I did!"
"Then help your aunt with the pancit!"
Celeste darted between relatives, grabbing plates, avoiding flying dishcloths, and dodging nosy questions about school and boys.
Rowan was already seated by the couch, peeling boiled eggs like he was being paid.
And yet…
Both of them?
Phones in hand.
Sneaking glances every chance they got.
Celeste leaned against the kitchen counter, smirking, thumbs flying.
Celeste:
Your hoodie would've been perfect right now.
I'm freezing. Let me borrow your body.
A second later, her phone buzzed.
Ash:
You're in a house full of sweaters. Stop flirting.
Celeste:
Never.
She giggled.
Across the room, Rowan chuckled to himself while texting, a lazy smile on his face.
Celeste paused.
Wait.
Why was he smiling like that?
He quickly locked his phone when he saw her glance, but she caught it.
"Who's that?" she asked, casually nosy.
"None of your business," Rowan said, looking a little too pleased with himself.
Celeste raised a brow, filing it away for later.
________
Ash sat cross-legged on the floor with his sisters, wrapping gifts and being bullied into wearing antlers.
His phone buzzed again.
Celeste:
I wish I could kiss you under a mistletoe.
…or just kiss you anywhere, really.
Ash nearly dropped the ribbon he was holding.
He quickly typed back.
Ash:
Focus on your family.
Stop making me look suspicious.
Celeste:
Too late. I'm suspicious by nature hihi.
Ash smiled helplessly at the screen, heart fluttering, cheeks pink.
________
[Group Chat: ✨ Broken But Make It Fabulous ✨]
Lyka :
Merry Christmas, guys ✨🎄💀
Liam:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Celeste:
Merry Christmas, guys!💨😈
Liam :
My lola just said I looked paler than usual and offered to light a candle for my soul.
I said thank you.
Lyka :
HAHAHAHAHHA LOL
Lyka:
OMGGG merry crisis 😭
I just slipped on my cousin's RC car and landed on a bowl of spaghetti
my dress smells like sadness and tomato sauce
Liam:
LOLLL YOU'RE JUST CLUMSY AS EVER.
Lyka:
Naurrr😡😡
Celeste:
Hahahaha I wanna hear all your holiday trauma in person.
_________
The night air was crisp, but warm lights from the houses flickered like stars on the ground. The scent of grilled meat, sweet pastries, and simmering holiday dishes wrapped the streets in a comforting hug only Christmas could bring.
Inside both homes—Celeste's and Ash's—laughter overflowed like mulled wine poured too quickly.
Celeste sat at the table with her family, cheeks flushed from laughing too hard at one of her mother's outrageous stories. Her mom, ever the bold one, was animatedly mimicking a neighborhood woman's shopping meltdown, making the entire room shake with laughter. Rowan nearly choked on his drink. Their dad, amused but trying to stay focused, called Rowan over for help with the last batch of grilled barbecue.
The siblings rolled their eyes but obeyed, with Rowan sneaking glances at his phone whenever his dad turned around. He smiled—soft, secretive—the kind of smile you only give to someone who made your day better just by texting back.
His dad noticed eventually and nudged him with a knowing look.
"You grilling the meat, or texting it happy holidays?"
Rowan just grinned and muttered,
"Multitasking."
Celeste, meanwhile, quietly texted Ash under the table, her thumb flying over the keyboard even as she laughed at her mom's next scandalous story. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight, warm and mischievous.
________
Ash sat on the couch with his sisters, wrapped in cozy blankets. Rina was nagging him lovingly about his "forever single" status, while May's three chaotic kids raced around the living room with toy swords. Lana, as always, just smiled and watched them all from the sidelines, one eyebrow raised as Ash blushed for the fifth time checking his phone.
"Someone's cheeks are suspiciously red," she whispered.
"I- I'm not," Ash whispered back, but he couldn't help smiling as he read another message from Celeste.
His mom called everyone to the table, her warm voice carrying the heart of the home. The chairs scraped gently against the wooden floor as everyone gathered for the Christmas feast.
There were clinks of glasses, cheerful toasts, and stories from the past year. Laughter spilled like music. Ash found himself leaning back, listening to his family with quiet gratitude. Across the miles, Celeste was doing the same.
And even though they weren't physically together this Christmas Eve, they were in each other's hearts—texting under the table, exchanging smiles through glowing screens, and falling in love even more with every word typed.
Under the hum of fairy lights and the scent of pine and cinnamon, it was a Christmas Eve of warmth, love, and secrets gently shared with glowing cheeks and racing hearts.
And somewhere between the grilled barbecue, noisy children, and flirty emojis…
Christmas felt perfect.
__________
Celeste is lying on her bed back in the province, legs playfully kicking behind her, phone glowing in the dark. A lazy smirk is on her lips as she types:
Celeste:
I miss your body 💋
Your smile ☀️
Your hoodie 😤
Your scent 🛏️
Your... 🍆 hihi
She giggles softly, not even bothering to hide it.
Meanwhile…
Ash is sitting in his childhood bedroom, curled up in bed wearing a thick sweater, scrolling through his messages when—
*Buzz
He sees her name.
Then the string of messages.
Then the eggplant emoji.
He freezes.
His ears go red. His whole body stiffens.
He sets the phone down for a second, stares at the ceiling, then picks it back up.
He starts typing.
Then deletes.
Types again.
Deletes again.
Sighs.
He doesn't know what to say. Every possible reply feels like a trap.
Celeste sees the little 'typing…' bubble.
Then it disappears.
Then it comes back.
Then disappears again.
She cackles softly and sends another message:
Celeste:
Ohhh~ you can't reply because your face is red right now, isn't it? 😚
You're probably hiding under your blanket, aren't you?
Tell me you're not hugging your pillow while blushing.
Ash stares at her messages like they're physically attacking him.
His cheeks are burning.
His hoodie suddenly feels too warm.
He's definitely hugging his pillow.
He grits his teeth, determined to respond.
He types one word.
And after a few seconds of hesitation…
Ash:
Ye.
Short. Simple.
But his face?
Bright red. Ear to ear.
Celeste saw it instantly and replied within seconds.
Celeste:
Figures.
My blushing little angel~
Can't wait to see that face again soon.
Also… your hoodie still smells like you. I'm sleeping in it. No take-backs. 😴
Ash stared at the message, heart pounding.
He didn't even try to hide his smile anymore.
Underneath the blanket, his fingers hovered over the keyboard again… this time more softly.
__________
Lana peeks in his room and sees him smiling like a fool while looking on the screen of his phone.
"You're in love, aren't you?"
Ash didn't speak; he just blushes harder.
"Mm-hmm. Don't worry. I won't tell them." and leave.
Ash hides under the blanket.
And his phone buzzed again.
Celeste:
I'm dreaming about you tonight.
And in my dream… you're shirtless. Just saying.
Ash buried his face deeper into the pillow.
Celeste:
I want to travel my hands on your body.
Bruhh I seriously miss touching you and…
wrecking you under me 😏 hihi
Ash choked on air.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, trying to think of something—anything—to respond with that wasn't a full-body flustered mess.
Ash:
Stop.
Behave.
Sleep.
He pressed send with trembling thumbs.
But even as the message was sent, his thoughts betrayed him:
If only you knew how badly I miss you too… not just your touch… but your voice, your scent, your warmth. I miss the way you look at me. I miss the way you smile after you steal a kiss.
I miss you more than you could ever imagine.
But he didn't send that. He couldn't.
Instead, he watched the three little dots appear again on screen.
Celeste:
Hihi.
Goodnight, Ash.
Dream of me.
Or else I'll sneak into your dreams and sit on your chest. Literally. 😘
Ash:
You're insane.
Goodnight.
Celeste:
Hihi
.
.
.
.
Underneath the blanket, his fingers hovered over the keyboard again… this time more softly.
Ash:
I miss you.
Then he sent it.
No deletion. No hesitation.
Just the truth.
Across the province, beneath fairy lights and the quiet hum of Christmas music, Celeste's phone lit up beside her on the bed.
She looked at the message and smiled.
Then, she whispered softly:
"I miss you more."
And hit send.
__________