Whisper in the Ashes of Us

Celestine's POV ⏰ Beep, beep, beep! “Ughhh,” I groaned as I slammed my hand on the alarm clock. Bigla akong nagising mula sa masamang panaginip. My heart was racing, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead. What was that dream about? I thought to myself. There was a man Azrael, was it? He seemed so familiar, yet I’ve never met him before. In my dream, we were close too close. I saw myself falling for him, only for my heart to shatter when I saw him kissing another woman. My chest felt heavy just remembering it. (Dream based on introduction) “Okay lang panaginip lang naman yun,” I whispered, trying to calm myself. “Siguro sa sobrang pagod lang ‘to at stress. Hindi naman siguro mangyayari ‘to sa totoong buhay.” But a small voice seemed to whisper in my ear. You’ll know soon, dear. “Ano ba! Tinatakot ko lang sarili ko,” I said out loud to myself. Bumangon ako at dumiretso sa banyo para maligo. Today was a big day—I had a photoshoot for Vogue Magazine. As I was drying my hair, my phone rang. Mom Calling... “Hello, Mom? Kamusta po?” I answered, trying to sound cheerful despite the strange start to my morning. “Hello, my dear Celestine! How are you? Busy ka ba ngayon, anak?” Mom’s warm voice greeted me. “I’m okay naman, Mom. Medyo busy lang sa work, but manageable. How about you and Dad? Kamusta kayo diyan?” “We’re doing well, sweetheart. Pero, anak, I have a big favor to ask,” Mom said, her tone turning serious. “Sure, Mom. Ano po ‘yun?” I replied, curious. “Can you come home to the Philippines? Your dad and I are starting a new business—a makeup brand. We want you to be the face of the product, and we also need your help managing it. Can you do this for us, my dear?” Wait, what?! Bigla akong kinabahan. This conversation felt eerily familiar. It was just like in my dream! Deja vu ba ‘to? “O-Okay, Mom,” I managed to say, my voice trembling slightly. “I’ll book a flight for tomorrow. But Mom, please don’t forget my favorite ulam, ha?” Mom laughed. “Of course, anak. Pork Adobo and Chicken Kare, tama?” “Yes! I’ll finish my photoshoot today and prepare for my flight. See you tomorrow, Mom. Love you!” “Love you too, Celestine. Ingat ka.” I hung up the call, still shaken by how closely my dream and reality aligned. What’s happening? I wondered as I headed to the studio. The photoshoot went smoothly, as expected. The photographer, a lively Frenchman named Pierre, kept giving me instructions. “Celestine, give me the flirt look! The one that will make the boys fall in love with you,” Pierre said, clicking his camera rapidly. I smirked and struck a pose. “Like this?” “Oui! Perfect! You nailed it, ma chérie!” he said, clapping his hands. After hours of shooting, Pierre finally declared, “Pack up! We’re done! Congratulations, Ms. Devereux. You are a goddess! Your beauty will make this issue of Vogue unforgettable.” “Merci, Pierre. It was a pleasure working with you,” I replied with a polite smile. Pag-uwi ko, nagpadeliver ako ng pagkain. I was too exhausted to cook. “Finally,” I sighed as I ate my dinner. Once I was done, I packed my bags and chose my best outfit for tomorrow. Bye Paris 🗼See you soon, Philippines 🇵🇭, I thought as I drifted off to sleep. This is the beginning of a journey that will change Celestine’s life forever. The dreams, the whispers, the mysterious man—it’s all connected, and the answers are waiting for her, just around the corner. Azrael’s POV The city lights of Manila stretched before me as I sat in my office, staring out of the window. The glass of whiskey in my hand remained untouched. My desk was cluttered with documents and contracts, but I couldn’t bring myself to focus. Too many things were running through my mind. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, hoping to quiet my thoughts. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep. In my dream, I was at a charity event, surrounded by children. I was reading them a story when a woman approached me. She was stunning—her blonde hair cascaded in soft waves, and her grey eyes sparkled like silver. “Hi, I’m Celestine,” she said, extending her hand. “And you are?” “Azrael,” I replied, shaking her hand. Her touch was warm, almost electric. The scene shifted. Suddenly, we were closer—laughing, talking, and spending time together. I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. But then, it all fell apart. I saw myself with Zariana, my first love. My lips met hers, and when I turned around, Celestine was there, tears streaming down her face. The pain in her eyes cut through me like a knife. “Celestine, wait!” I called out, but she was already walking away. I tried to follow her, but my legs felt heavy. Guilt and regret weighed me down until I couldn’t move. Secretary: "Good morning po, Sir. Pasensya po, ginising ko po kayo kasi may meeting po kayo ngayon with Mr. Price." I stared at her, my mind still tangled in the dream. Azrael: "What kind of dream was that? Who is this girl named Celestine? Why did it feel so real?" Secretary (confused): “Uh, sir, you’re meeting Mr. Price today.” Azrael (distracted): “No, I asked... I’ll meet her soon?” Secretary: "Huh? No sir, I didn’t say that. You’re meeting Mr. Price today.” What did I just say? I must be stressed and overworked. Azrael (to secretary): “Cancel all my meetings today. I need some rest.” I went to the bathroom to shower. I tried to forget the dream. It’s just a dream, nothing more. After showering, I called my boys. Azrael: “Hey guys, we’re taking a vacation today. Bring your girls, let's go.” Ah, right. Diane... today’s her expiration. Time for a new girl. I texted Thalia. Azrael: “Hey babe, can you pack your things? We’re going to Siargao for vacation. Bring your best outfit for me 😉” In Siargao, we arrived at my uncle’s hotel, excited to relax and party. Hotel Employee: "Welcome Mr. Ziferano! We’re glad to meet you. Your staycation will be lit. Here’s your room key." Azrael: "Prepare expensive drinks for us and food too. Let's go babe." At the hotel, we partied all night—foam party, drinks, dancing with the girls. Thalia was a good kisser, but I had no plans with her. I just wanted to have fun, flirt with girls, and forget everything. As the night went on, we played a game of truth or dare. The bottle pointed on Thalia. Raia (friend): “Thalia, truth or dare?” Thalia (confidently): “Dare.” Raia poured a drink on my chest. Raia: "Now, Thalia, lick it off." The room erupted with laughter, teasing, and shouting. Thalia did the dare, and it made my manhood stand. Ahhh... ugh s**t lick and eat more babe I said and my friends tease me more I needed a break from all this. Azrael (to Thalia): “I’m going to rest. Stay here and enjoy the game.”I kiss her on forehead I went to my room, still haunted by that damn dream. Why can’t I forget it? I had a blast tonight, but something kept bothering me. I fell asleep, and the last thing I remembered was an email from my secretary. Secretary’s Email: “Good evening, sir. Just clarifying if we’re canceling the meetings tomorrow. You’ll meet Mr. and Mrs. Devereux.” I replied, "No. Don't cancel anything. I’ll be there in the morning." As I closed my eyes, I felt dizzy. I fell asleep again, hoping for peace... but that dream was still with me.