She's rushing.If she could just teleport or make her car fly,she'd definitely do it without a doubt.

Horn after horn after horn.

F*cking traffic.

Inhale.Exhale.

Urgh!It's not helping at all.

Celine Del Hera,get ahold of yourself!
She said to herself trying not to lose her mind.The whole fvcking thing is testing her temper.

After an hour and a half...

Finally!

She got out of her car,running.

"Excuse me!" She hurriedly say.

"Yes?" Replied the girl while looking at her -fixing her stuff,clearly about to close the shop.

"Are you still accepting orders?"

Hope grimace her face.

The girl was hesitant to answer so...

"Please? I'll pay you double." She pleads.

"Uhm..on what occasion ma'am?" Asked the girl.

" For my mom's death anniversary. "

A moment of silence.The girl was taken a back at first.Sure,she has received orders like this countless times already,but seeing a person almost begging you for that reason?

"Sure ma'am"

She wholeheartedly agree and made her sit while she was arranging the flowers which are compose of white carnations,white roses,and dark crimson rose in the middle.

Celine was relieved,it's past 8 in the evening and all the shops are closed.She has to pay a visit to her mom's death anniversary and there's no way she'll missed it.Her mom was the only person who made her feel that she's worth loving;who taught her what love is,and when her mom passed away,she changed,her life changed too.Oh how much she misses her mom,how much she misses her old self.

She looks at the girl who's swaying her hips gracefully,vibing on James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" that's playing on a small speaker placed on top of the counter.

She seems to love her work.She couldn't get a clear look at the girl since she's facing against the light.But she has a good body figure.
Petite.Probably around 5'3.And she looks familiar.

"Here it is ma'am." Said the girl with a smile on her face - snapping her out of her reverie.

She gently took it and smiled back.

" How much? "

" Two thousand pesos ma'am."

She opened her wallet and hand her payment,
double like what she said awhile ago.The girl accept it but give the half of the amount back to her,and before Celine can even speak...

"You don't have to double the price ma'am.I'm happy to know that this flower will serve as an instrument for you to show your love to your mom." She genuinely explained.

"But I-"

"I'm happy to serve you ma'am."

The girl showed her sweetest smile which made Celine concede.

"Thank you!" She said before leaving.

She enter the car and drive off,taking a glance at the girl who is now putting her helmet before hopping on her motorcycle.She can still see her through the car's rearview mirror.
They were on the same road for about one kilometer.

Beep!

Beep!

They exchange horns as a mean of recognition before she turned left while the girl turned right.

She's on her way to mom's private cemetery.
The girl on the other hand is hoping to arrive in their house on time because she promised her mom and two siblings that they'll have dinner together.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadness,longing and an inevitable pain are like daggers that's torturing her chest as she placed the flowers beside the tombstone.Celine Del Hera or Ced,as what her mother calls her,
wiped the tears that escaped her eyes.She slowly run her fingers onto the name engraved before she forces a smile.

"Hi mom..." She trailed off,her voice a little shaky.

She took a deep breath,collect herself before she tried to speak again.

"It has been a year,mom.I wonder how are you up there...hope you're okay,mom.I hope you're no longer hurting."

She paused.

She hates to remember everything that has happened,everything she tried to leave behind,and yet there goes the memories - flashing back,tormenting her already shattered heart.

Feeling weak,she sobbed.

"I wish you're still here.I wish you never left.I wish it was him instead of you."

Bitterness was evident in her tone.Just talking about him makes her want to gag.She couldn't describe how much she despised him.The father she once loved and cherished,now became the worst person in the world in her eyes.

"Now I understand why you always taught me how to be responsible,to be strong,to be a fighter,because you'll leave me and no one will take care of myself but me."

She dropped on her knees as she runs her hand on her hair still sobbing.

"I'm doing my best mom,are you proud of me?" She tried to smile but it faded right away just as she opens her mouth.

"But how long can I fake it?How long does it takes to fix myself?I know I gotta continue living,but how am I supposed to live my life now?"

She didn't see it coming.She wasn't expecting her emotions to overflow,she couldn't stop herself from voicing out what she's feeling,the feeling she thought she already buried.When she was in the plane heading back here,she didn't feel anything,how come everything feels so heavy now?

"Can you please help me,mom?I missed you so much."

She sounded helpless,with no one coming to save her.She become silent,calming herself,she let the tears fall until its very last drop.Feeling a little better,she laid on the floor,she imagine her mom hugging her trying to console her like she used to do,one of the things she missed.

She didn't knew she has taken a nap until she heard her phone rings.Without looking,she reached for her bag to get her phone inside it.

She made sure her voice was stable before she spoke.

"Belle."

By far,that's the best she can act,hoping her best friend won't recognize her energy in her tone.

On the other line,her best friend knows,of course she does,but she didn't bother asking,and Ced is grateful.

"Bet you haven't had dinner.Meet me at the address I sent you.Hurry up cause I'm hungry."

"Alright,see ya."

"I'll be waiting."

After dropping the call,she fixes her coat and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Mom,I have to go now.I swear to visit you again.I love you,mom."

One last touch on the tombstone,she got up holding her mini bag.One more look and a genuine smile,she left the place.

She heave a huge sigh before turning on the engine of her car going to the place where she will meet her best friend.

Not long enough when she arrived.She headed straight to their table with the waiter escorting her.It was a fancy and semi-private restaurant.
Their hair is blowing from the wind blows since it's an open area,the beauty of the fountain near them adds to the calmess of the place,creating a refreshing ambiance.

You can still see the occupied tables and the people who are focus on their own thing,the distance of each are far enough to have some good privacy and rest assured that no one can hear your conversations unless you speak loudly.

"I know I look worn out,stop looking at me like that." It was Ced.

"Your words,not mine."

She softly chuckles and they continued eating silently.Ced took a sip of the wine and look at Belle.

"How are you?" She asked.

"My work is fine,nothing really changed,it's still the old me.Single,stressed,kinda bored...what else?...Uhm...yeah,there's nothing more."

"Well,I'm here now,you no longer have to do all the work."

She said reassuring her,Belle nodded and smiled.

"How about you?How are you,Ced?"

Belle was staring at her like she's trying to read her soul,and there's no way she'll be able to lie.
So she took another sip of wine,thinking of how she must put it out.

"I'm...good." She shortly respond.

But she knows she has to tell her more,
otherwise Belle will think she's lying.

Is she?

"No,I'm good,really.I know I still have a lot of things to work on and I may not able to do it while I was away like I said I would,completely,
but I'm still on progress,perhaps,a year isn't just enough to make it all right." She truthfully said.

"I'm glad,I want to see the old Celine again."

The old Celine means the jolly,outgoing,loud,
funny and a happy-go-lucky girl that brightens everyone's day.She sets up the mood and make no rooms for negativity under her watch.

Everybody adored her for that.

"But don't pressure yourself." She added.

The last thing she wants is to make her best friend feel bad about something she did not wanted.

She didn't chose this,if she could just go back in time and change a part of her life?She would have done it with no doubt.

Belle,of all people is aware of that.

"Just know that I'm with you,okay?I'll never leave."

Her statement brought joy to Ced,she went to her and gave her a quick hug from behind since Belle was sitting and wasn't aware of what Ced was about to do.

"Thank you!" Was Ced said before going back to her seat.

The dinner and their nonstop conversation went on until midnight came and they decided to leave.Ced was the one who's driving since Belle didn't bring her car.

She stopped when she reached Belle's house.

"Are you early tomorrow?" Belle asked as she unbuckles the seatbelt.

"I have to check something first,I think,but I'll contact you."

"Okay,if you want to rest,then rest,I'll take care of everything."

"Wasn't I resting for a year now?" She asked.

A smile curved her lips when she saw Belle rolling her eyes at her.

"What you did there was never close to be called resting."

She knew.She told her.After all,she's her best friend.

"It's late,you have to sleep so go inside now,Belle."

Ced said avoiding the topic even before Belle can bring it up.Indeed,prevention is better than cure.

"Whatever.Drive safe and take a rest."

"I will."

"Goodnight,promiscuous bitch." Belle said as she leave the car,earning a bewildered look from Ced.

She just shook her head and watch as Belle enter the gate.

"Goodnight!"

When she presumed that her best friend was already inside the house,she maneuvered her car until she arrived at their gate that was opened by the two guards who greeted her arrival.

She went inside and didn't bother to turn the lights on and instead,went straight her room and clean herself before finally lying on the bed.

Her eyes roamed the room,she's beyond thankful to Rosalinda - her nanny whom she treated like her grandma - for making sure that her room is clean and for taking care of the house,along with the guards and the people she trusted while she was away.

They didn't failed her.She gave the credits to her mom who did a good choice for picking them.

She checked the time,her digital clock displays 1:30 A.M,feeling drowsy,she covered herself with blanket.She decided to play a music so she can sleep faster.

It worked.She barely finished the first song she played when she fall into a deep slumber.

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