The faint hum of mall chatter echoed through the jewelry store as Celeste stood inside, her eyes quietly scanning the glass displays. Beside her, Lyka leaned forward excitedly at the rings section.
"This one's pretty!" Lyka gasped, pointing at a silver ring shaped like vines wrapping around a tiny blue gem.
"Oh yeah, that one's fire," Liam said, grinning beside her. "Kinda looks like something from a fantasy game."
Why was Liam with them?
—Flashback—
Lyka and Celeste were walking outside their classroom after class.
"Hey, Lyka…"
"Mmm?" Lyka barely looked up, scrolling on her phone.
"Can you come with me to the mall?" Celeste asked casually.
Lyka stopped scrolling and turned to her, curious. "Mm, why?"
"Well… tomorrow is Ash's birthday, so…"
"Ahhh, I get it!" Lyka grinned. "You're planning to buy him a gift?"
Celeste nodded, smiling.
"I'm in! I love shopping." Her eyes sparkled as she instantly latched onto Celeste's wrist. "Let's go right now!"
But before they could step off, someone popped up beside them, an arm slung easily over both their shoulders.
"Hey, seniorsss," Liam greeted with a big smile.
Both girls blinked at him.
—End of Flashback—
They ended up inviting Liam along. Lyka figured it was a good chance to let the three of them bond as friends.
"This one's cool," Liam said now, eyes shining as he pointed at a bracelet shaped like a coiled snake.
"Damn, that looks badass," Lyka replied.
Celeste walked over to see what they were looking at, leaning slightly between them.
"Oh, yuhh, it's cool," she agreed, her voice casual.
Liam blushed the moment her shoulder brushed his.
"Y-yuh…" he stammered.
Lyka smirked as she caught his reaction.
"Ohooo~ someone's blushing." She nudged him with her elbow.
"H-Huh?! Am not!" Liam quickly pulled a straight face, hands defensively up. "It's just—hot in here!"
Celeste side-eyed Lyka, unamused. "Relax, Lyka."
Lyka paused for a moment, reading the situation—and her friend's tone.
Then, with a light smile, she reached out and gently grabbed Liam's arm.
"C'mon, Romeo. Help me find something shiny enough to blind my ex if I ever see him again."
"Wha—huh?" Liam blinked, but let her lead him away.
She glanced back at Celeste just once, a subtle knowing glint in her eyes. No teasing this time—just understanding.
"What about this? Do I give 'mysterious heiress' or 'shameless magpie' with this one?" Lyka asked as they looked through dangling earrings.
"Uhh… magpie. But like… high-fashion magpie?" Liam chuckled nervously, grateful for the shift in attention.
Back at the necklace section, Celeste had her peace again. Her eyes landed on something different—a minimalist silver chain with a small, deep-blue stone embedded in the pendant. There were no copies of it on display. It was simple. Clean. Beautiful. Like Ash.
As she reached toward it, a saleslady quietly approached.
"Oh, that one's a limited edition, Ma'am," she said with a polite smile.
"Is it?" Celeste asked, intrigued.
"Yes. Only a few in the country. And you can even have something engraved on the back of the pendant."
Before Celeste could respond, Lyka and Liam returned.
"Woahhh, is this the one you're getting?" Lyka asked, her tone gentle now as she peeked over Celeste's shoulder.
"I'm still thinking," Celeste replied.
Liam tilted his head.
"Mm? Are you buying this for yourself? It suits you."
"No," Celeste said plainly, still focused on the necklace. "I'm giving it to someone."
Lyka's lips curved into a knowing smile, but she said nothing.
"Oh." Liam went quiet.
The saleslady smiled.
"It's a wonderful choice, Ma'am. Unique, understated, and meaningful. A gift like this says a lot—without saying too much."
Celeste stared at the necklace for a beat longer, then nodded.
"I guess I'll take this one."
"Yuhhh, that's a great pick," Lyka agreed.
"Agree," Liam said with a small nod.
"Wonderful," the saleslady said, clapping her hands once before retrieving a pen and form. "And what would you like engraved, Ma'am?"
Celeste took the pen, hesitated just a moment, and then began to write.
Once she handed it back, the lady beamed.
"Alright, it'll be done in about 5 to 10 minutes." She took the necklace and disappeared behind a curtain.
•
•
•
They stopped outside the entrance of Celeste's apartment building; the sky is already dark.
"Byeeee!" Lyka shouted from inside Liam's car, waving from the front passenger seat.
Celeste pointed two fingers from her eyes to Lyka, then pointed back at her. A silent message: keep your mouth shut.
Lyka laughed and made a zipping motion across her lips.
"See you at school!" Liam added, giving Celeste a small wave.
"Yuh. Drive safe," she replied with a soft smile.
Then Liam's car slowly rolled away, fading into the afternoon traffic.
Celeste turned, holding the little jewelry box close to her chest, thinking quietly.
•
•
•
Celeste unlocked the door and stepped into the soft hush of Ash's apartment.
The lights were dim, only the soft glow from the kitchen casting a gentle warmth across the space. She slipped her shoes off and turned the corner—only to find Ash already fast asleep on the couch.
Still in his office uniform.
His necktie was loosened, and his eyeglasses had slipped halfway down his nose. One of his arms was resting limply on the couch's armrest, while the other loosely clutched the edge of a cushion like he was mid-thought before surrendering to sleep. His office bag sat beside him, untouched.
Celeste exhaled a small laugh through her nose.
"Seriously, you couldn't even take off your shoes?" she whispered fondly.
Then her attention landed on the paper bag sitting neatly on the table in front of him. Curiosity tugged at her.
She walked over, heels silent against the floor, and peeked inside the bag.
"We still have stock in the fridge. Oh—maybe this is for tomorrow's celebration or something…"
But the moment her eyes registered what was inside, her hand froze.
"…Huh?"
She slowly reached in and pulled out one of the boxes—then another.
Four in total.
Her brows rose higher and higher.
"…These aren't snacks," she muttered under her breath.
It's a boxes of protection.
Her lips parted, then curved into a slow, amused smile as she glanced at the sleeping man—her man on the couch again.
"Ash… you beast…" she whispered with a small snort.
"I thought I was the only one who liked this kind of stuff."
She didn't know whether to be flattered or flustered. Probably both.
Leaning down carefully, she brushed a few strands of Ash's bangs from his forehead, then pressed a soft kiss there.
"Happy almost birthday, sleepyhead."
He stirred just slightly but didn't wake. His mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
Celeste smiled again, more tender this time.
"Geez… you really fell asleep like this?" she mumbled, crouching down.
With careful hands, she reached out and gently slid his eyeglasses off. Ash didn't stir. She folded them neatly and placed them on the table nearby. And she slipped off his shoes one at a time, setting them neatly beside the couch.
She padded toward the bedroom and returned with a soft pillow and a folded blanket. She laid the pillow beneath his head, fluffed it gently, then draped the blanket over him with care.
Afterward, she grabbed the paper bag with the four boxes of protection and tiptoed back into the bedroom. She tucked the bag into Ash's cabinet with a faint smirk, then began packing her things.
Once she was done, she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Ash was still sleeping soundly, and she didn't have the heart to wake him.
Quietly, she slipped out of the apartment, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Back to their apartment. Just one floor below.
The night was still, and her footsteps echoed faintly in the hallway.
•
•
•
As Celeste returned to their apartment, she quietly unlocked the door and stepped inside.
With a soft click, she flicked the lights on. A warm glow filled the space—still and quiet, just like she'd left it.
She made her way to her bedroom, dropped her bag beside the door, and let out a breath as she stretched her arms over her head.
"Haaays…"
She reached into the side pocket of her bag and pulled out the small wrapped box—her gift for Ash.
With a gentle smile, she placed it on her desk, adjusting it neatly in the center.
Then she grabbed her phone and plopped down on the edge of her bed.
Her thumbs flew across the screen.
Celeste:
Sorry I didn't wake you up. I already packed my things—Rowan will probably be here early tomorrow.
And also… I put the 4 boxes of condoms in your cabinet.
Didn't expect you wanted to pounce on me that badly. Ekekeke 🐯💥
You really bought four ><
She giggled to herself and tossed the phone onto the bed.
Then she stood, stretched her arms out with a little yawn, and headed toward the bathroom.
"I feel sticky from all that walking…"
She grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom for a quick half-bath, wanting to freshen up before calling it a night.
Tomorrow was Ash's birthday.
And Rowan was coming home.
And the secret she and Ash had been keeping?
It might not stay secret for much longer.
But tonight… was still hers.
___________