Chapter 33 Chapter 33
Chapter 33
“I never knew I could do that. My legs were shaking but I couldn’t give up,” Celine said, sitting on the couch, her voice still carrying excitement from the memory.
“That’s just the beginning, Celine,” Ariana replied, adjusting the picture frames on the shelf. Her hands paused on one photo. She looked at it for a few seconds before speaking. “He was all I had,” she said softly. “I really miss him.”
Celine looked at her quietly. “I know it’s hard for you, Ariana,” she said.
Ariana smiled weakly. “I’m glad I found you, Celine. At least now the house doesn’t feel so empty anymore.”
“Glad I found you too,” Celine said with a small smile.
For a while, they just sat there, talking about work, about how things had been lately. Celine told her how everyone at the office had been kind to her, except her boss, who still scared her sometimes.
“I don’t even know how someone can look that cold all the time,” Celine said, trying not to laugh.
Ariana smiled. “That’s how rich men behave, dear. They like to hide their emotions.”
Celine nodded. “Maybe. But I still don’t understand how people like him can go through life without showing a bit of care.”
Ariana turned around and smiled at her again. “You talk like someone who already cares.”
Celine’s face turned serious. “No, I just meant he’s my boss, that’s all. Nothing else.”
“I know,” Ariana said, still smiling. “I was just teasing.”
Celine sighed. “You’re unbelievable sometimes.”
Ariana laughed. “And you’re too serious for your age.”
“I’m not serious, I’m just… me,” Celine said, trying not to smile.
The laughter slowly faded, and silence filled the room for a moment. Then Celine spoke again, her voice quieter this time. “Do you know how old I am?”
Ariana turned and looked at her. “No, Celine, but you should be around your early twenties.”
Celine ran her hand across her face slowly. “My brain is plain. I’d love to know what my past life looked like,” she said.
Ariana put the picture frame back on the shelf and sat down beside her. “Whatever it was, I believe it must have been beautiful.”
Celine gave a faint smile. “I hope so.”
There was a pause.
“Did someone push me off the cliff that night, or what really happened?” she asked quietly.
Ariana moved closer and held her hand. “No, Celine dear. I don’t know what really happened that night, but I’m glad you’re alive. That’s all that matters now.”
Celine looked down. “I just wish I could remember something someday. Anything.”
“You will,” Ariana said softly. “Memories have a way of finding us when we least expect.”
They sat like that for a while. The quiet in the room didn’t feel awkward — it felt like two souls who understood each other without needing to talk.
Ariana finally stood up. “Tomorrow is another day at work. You should sleep early.”
Celine smiled faintly. “You sound like a mother.”
“Maybe I am to you,” Ariana said with a small laugh.
Celine laughed too. “You act like one, always worrying about me.”
“I can’t help it,” Ariana replied. “You remind me of myself when I was younger.”
Celine tilted her head. “You must have been quite the troublemaker then.”
“Not really,” Ariana said, smiling as she sat again. “I was just a woman trying to make it through life. You’re doing well, Celine. I’m proud of you.”
Celine smiled, touched. “Thank you, Ariana. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t meet you.”
“Maybe life would have taken you somewhere else. But fate has a way of bringing people together,” Ariana said.
Celine nodded. “Yeah… I believe that too.”
Ariana stretched her hands a little. “So, are you ready for tomorrow? Don’t go making another dramatic entrance like the last time.”
Celine laughed. “I’ll try not to. I set an alarm already.”
“You better,” Ariana teased. “I don’t want to hear another story about you running through hallways again.”
Celine giggled. “You should have seen their faces, everyone just kept staring at me like I was lost.”
“And your boss?” Ariana asked curiously.
Celine sighed, her smile fading slightly. “He just stared, like always. No expression. I can’t tell when he’s mad or not.”
Ariana raised a brow. “Maybe he admires you secretly.”
Celine looked up quickly. “No way. He doesn’t even like me. I’m sure I annoy him sometimes.”
Ariana chuckled. “Men like him are hard to read. Don’t think too much about it.”
Celine nodded slowly. “Yeah, I won’t.”
She stood up. “I should get ready for bed now. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
“Go ahead, dear. I’ll clean up here,” Ariana said.
Celine started walking toward her room, then stopped halfway. “Ariana?”
“Yes, dear?”
“I’m really grateful. For everything.”
Ariana smiled warmly. “You don’t have to thank me, Celine. Just promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t ever stop believing that your life can still be beautiful, no matter how unclear the past is.”
Celine smiled. “I’ll try.”
“Good girl,” Ariana said, nodding.
“Goodnight, Ariana.”
“Goodnight, dear.”
Celine entered her room and placed her bag on the small wooden chair by the window. The room was simple but peaceful. She sat on the bed and took a deep breath.
Her mind drifted for a moment, not to the past but to the life she had now — the job, Ariana’s kindness, the little peace she’d found. Maybe that was enough for now.
She lay do
wn and pulled the blanket over herself. “Tomorrow’s another day,” she whispered.
Ariana stood by her own doorway for a while, looking toward Celine’s room. She smiled softly. “You’ll be okay,” she whispered to herself before turning off the light.