The Pilates studio smelled of eucalyptus and freshly cleaned mats. Soft, zen-like music played overhead but it did nothing to calm the storm that was Celeste Concepción.

  She wasn’t a fan of working out. The stretching? Fine. The toned body? A necessity. But the effort? Absolutely miserable. Yet, here she was— on time, weirdly energetic and smiling through her suffering like a madwoman.

  Dina noticed.

  From the opposite yoga mat, she raised a brow as CeCe casually, too casually, lifted her phone, angled it just right and snapped a selfie. Then another. Before Dina could even roll her eyes, CeCe turned, locking onto her with terrifying intensity.

  “Take my picture.”

  Dina: "....

  “Quick! Before my hair gets ruined.”

  Dina obeyed with the patience of a saint. Click. Click. Click. CeCe scrolled through the photos, critiquing each one like her life depended on it. Then after an agonizing minute, she stilled.

  Dina watched as a small, satisfied smirk curled on CeCe’s lips. Then with the air of someone sending an utterly casual, not-at-all-calculated message, she tapped on her phone.

  Dina squinted. “Okay... so who’s the lucky man?”

  CeCe barely glanced up. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been weirdly into working out lately. Either you have a brand deal with this studio or you’re trying to impress someone.”

  CeCe gasped, clutching her chest in mock betrayal. “Dina, please. I have always loved Pilates!”

  Dina’s face was blank.

  CeCe handed her the phone. “Now take another one.”

  Dina took the shot and handed the phone back to her.

  “Thanks, girl.” CeCe stretched her leg out, pointedly ignoring her phone like a cat pretending not to care about the treat right in front of it. Dina, however, saw right through her.

  Then the notification popped up.

  CeCe scrambled.

  Dina barely held in a laugh as CeCe unlocked her screen with record speed, eyes bright and expectant. But the brightness dimmed instantly.

  CeCe pouted so hard it was almost comical. With an exaggerated sigh she tossed her phone aside and flopping onto her yoga mat with newfound fury.

  Dina let out a bark of laughter. “No way. Is this about the guy you’ve been chasing lately? Your wannabe beau?”

  CeCe, still pouting, grumbled into her mat. “He just gives me a thumbs-up.”

  Dina had to physically restrain herself. “You mean, after all that effort, he responds to you like a customer service agent?”

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  CeCe shot her a glare but she looked too cute to be threatening. “Go ahead, laugh it up.”

  Dina did exactly that.

  As Dina wiped away a fake tear, her gaze flicked toward a tall, ridiculously ripped guy in the weight section. “Alright, listen. You wanna get your mystery man's attention? Easy fix. Pick a guy, pose dramatically then accidentally send him the picture. Make him jealous!”

  She nudged CeCe’s chin toward the gym bro in question. “How about him? He’s handsome, strong and definitely into himself. Perfect for your schemes.”

  CeCe glanced at the guy. Held her gaze for a second.

  Then, without hesitation, she shook her head. “No.”

  Dina mimicked her. “No?”

  CeCe sighed, stretching her arms overhead. “No.”

  Dina gave her a look, surprised at her seriousness but CeCe didn’t elaborate.

  It wasn’t that she had some pure, undying love for Philip. She knew what this was. She had no illusions about herself or him. But if she was going to do this, if she was going to chase him, then she’d do it with everything she had.

  All or nothing. That was CeCe.

  And right now?

  She was giving it her all.

  Still stretching on her yoga mat, CeCe hears her phone vibrate again. Expecting another lukewarm reaction from Philip, she huffs dramatically before glancing at the screen.

  Her pout disappears instantly.

  The group chat of The Last Clues’ crew is blowing up.

  [Assistant Director]: “Mr. Cruz wraps up today! We’re celebrating at élan at 8 PM!”

  [Script Supervisor]: “French cuisine? Count me in!”

  [Production Manager]: “I’ll book a table for 12. Confirm if you’re coming!”

  CeCe sits up so fast Dina nearly drops her water bottle.

  Dina, raising a brow: “What’s with you?”

  CeCe doesn’t answer. Instead, she grabs her phone and dials a number.

  “Wait... Who are you calling?”

  CeCe just smirks, pressing the phone to her ear. “The man of the hour.”

  The dial tone hums once, twice—

  On the third, a familiar voice answers.

  “Celeste?”

  CeCe launches straight in, her voice syrupy sweet.“I’ll ask you for a meal.”

  “...Care to repeat that?”

  CeCe twirls her hair, all nonchalant. “I’m asking you out for dinner.”

  Philip lets the silence stretch then replies smoothly with quite amusement. “How generous.”

  CeCe, dramatic as ever: “Of course. I’m in a giving mood today!”

  Philip hums. A deep, considering sound.“And where exactly are you planning to take me?”

  CeCe grins, ready to spring the trap. “At élan.”

  “A French restaurant.”

  CeCe nods enthusiastically, even though he can’t see her. “Correct! Three stars, great ambiance, very romantic—”

  Philip cuts in, slowly: “Celeste.”

  CeCe, grinning: “—and most importantly... it’s free.”

  Silence.

  Philip, too stunned to process. “...You’re taking me to a free meal?”

  CeCe laughs. “That’s where our crew’s celebrating Mr. Cruz’s last day. I figured, why not maximize resources?”

  Philip doesn’t respond right away. But she swears she could hear a soft exhale— almost a chuckle.

  “So your idea of asking me out... is inviting me to a crew dinner?”

  CeCe flashes a victorious grin. “Yeah! It’s free!”

  Dina, who had been listening in with growing horror, slaps a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.

  Philip, on the other end of the call, is completely silent.

  CeCe presses on, unfazed. “So? Are you coming?”

  Philip, finally speaking. “I have a dinner reception tonight.”

  CeCe blinks. “Oh.”

  Philip doesn’t elaborate. He doesn’t offer an excuse. He doesn’t make it sound like a rejection. Just a simple statement of fact.

  CeCe, instead of being discouraged, just perks up.

  “That’s fine!” She says breezily. “élan’s right around West district. If your event ends early, drop by!”

  Philip doesn’t respond right away.

  CeCe swears she hears another soft exhale, like an amused sigh.

  Finally, he says. “Enjoy your dinner, Celeste.”

  CeCe, grinning: “I will. You too, handsome~"

  Philip hangs up without entertaining her antics.

  CeCe tosses her phone down with a satisfied sigh.

  Dina, who had been holding back laughter this entire time, finally bursts out. “Did you seriously just try to scam a man into a free meal?”

  CeCe scoffs. “Excuse me? That was an invitation.”

  Dina, still laughing: “And he rejected you!”

  CeCe waves a hand, unfazed. “He was busy. Not a rejection.”

  Dina stares at her, absolutely flabbergasted. But there’s no disrespect in her expression just pure admiration for CeCe’s sheer audacity.

  CeCe smirks, stretching lazily. “Anyway, I got him on the phone. That’s already a win.”

  Dina shakes her head in disbelief. “You are something else.”