"Are you sure this is the place?" Celestia asked Lala as they knocked on the door again, with no one answering.
"What do you think, I'm leading you somewhere else? You've lost your mind. I'm not some evil person who'd do that. And don't you trust your gorgeous best friend?" Lala teased.
"I do trust you, but... the gorgeous part? Not so sure about that," Celestia joked.
"Tsk! You just don't wanna admit I'm pretty. Hold on, let me knock again."
Celestia just nodded and listened as Lala knocked louder this time. After several tries, they finally heard a woman's voice from inside the house.
In that moment, Celestia's heart pounded louder. She wondered—Is this JC's mom?
"Who are you and why do you keep knocking like that!?" the woman opened the door angrily.
"Uh, good evening, ma'am. Is JC home?" Lala asked politely.
"Oh! Hello, dear. Good evening too." The woman smiled at Lala. "JC is in his room. Come in, both of you." She stepped aside and invited them in.
Lala helped Celestia inside and they sat down, likely in the living room.
"What's your relationship with my son? Are you his girlfriend?" the woman asked.
"Oh no, you're mistaken. This here is his girlfriend — Celestia," Lala answered respectfully.
"Good evening, Tita," Celestia greeted politely.
"Ah, I see," the woman replied, her tone shifting. Celestia could feel the disappointment. She had been so warm with Lala, but now sounded distant. "Hold on, I'll call JC," she said seriously.
Celestia grew even more nervous. Something about the woman's voice told her this wasn't going to end well.
Minutes passed. As footsteps approached, so did the weight of truth.
"What are you two doing here?" a male voice asked. She knew instantly—it was JC, her boyfriend.
"JC... I just really missed you. You haven't come to see me or even talked to me lately."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Lala and his mom.
"What's wrong with you, huh? Don't you get it? I'm busy! And now you show up at my house like this? You've got some nerve, Celestia," he hissed.
"Please don't be mad... I just wanted to see you, even for just an hour, babe. And... isn't it a good thing you can finally introduce me to your mom?"
"For your information, I never planned to introduce you. She doesn't accept you. You know what she said? She asked me why I'd date a girl like you—someone who has no future!"
"Don't say things like that... you're just angry. I'm sorry for showing up unannounced," she said, holding back tears.
"Enough. Let's just break up. I can't deal with this anymore. I'm dating a blind girl for crying out loud! I don't even know what came over me agreeing to that stupid dare!"
He slipped. And continued speaking like he didn't even realize it.
"What did you just say, JC?" Celestia's tone turned cold. She didn't know what to feel — pain, betrayal, or rage.
"I said we're breaking up!" he shouted and left her standing there, stunned.
Once she could no longer sense him nearby, she broke down. She cried uncontrollably, the pain crashing down on her. She couldn't believe he had only been playing with her. What had she done to deserve this?
POV: HER BEST FRIEND — LALA
"Why couldn't my son end up with you instead, dear? You're such a beautiful girl," JC's mom said to me.
I was about to reply when I saw JC signaling me from the garden.
"Excuse me for a moment," I said politely. She nodded and gave me a wide smile.
I stood and followed JC. I found him holding a beer near the garden.
"Where's Celestia? Where did you leave her?" I asked quickly.
He walked up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Can it be about me first, just for now? Let her be for a while," he grinned.
"JC, I can't keep doing this. This is wrong. I'm feeling so guilty... Celestia loves you so much. She's my best friend. We need to stop this."
He moved behind me and whispered into my ear.
"Do you even hear what you're saying, Lala? I know you can't do it. You can't let this go."
I felt the excitement rush back — it had been a while since we last saw each other, trying to avoid suspicion.
"But JC..." I couldn't even finish. He kissed me, and I kissed him back without thinking.
AHHHHHHHHH!?
I froze. Celestia's scream jolted me back to my senses. I pulled away from him and ran toward the sound.
When I got to the living room, JC's mom was staring out the window, frozen in shock.
"Your friend..." she said in a trembling voice.
I followed her gaze — and it felt like my heart shattered.
Celestia was lying in the street, bleeding.
"She tripped over the hump. I didn't think much of it until I heard a taxi honk... then she screamed, and... and when I looked..." JC's mom explained, shaking.
I glared at her with disgust. "You're heartless!" I snapped and ran outside.
I dropped to my knees the moment I reached Celestia, her blood staining the pavement. I hated myself for not being there for her.
"Celestia!! Wake up! Don't give up!" I cried out.
"Lala... help me..." she whispered weakly.
"Thank you... please, don't sleep. I'll help you. Please, Celestia. I love you. You're all I have left..." I sobbed.
When the ambulance finally arrived, I kept crying. I had not only failed her... I had betrayed her too.
Celestia... please hold on. I still need to ask for your forgiveness...