Chapter 12: When Love Returns
December 18th was like any other day—or so Celine thought.
She'd woken up with a quiet heart, grateful but not expecting much. After all, she had insisted on no big birthday celebrations this year. A small gathering, some cake, a few photos—simple. That was all she wanted.
Or so she told herself.
But deep inside, a quiet wish lingered.
She missed Nathan.
They had stayed in touch faithfully since his move abroad, sending each other regular messages and checking in every week. But it wasn't the same. Her heart had a space in it that only he filled—and on her birthday, that space ached just a little more.
What she didn't know was that her friends had been plotting behind her back.
Sandra and two others had known for weeks that Nathan was flying in—he had planned it with them in secret. The cake. The photos. Even the outfit she was wearing—all timed perfectly for what was coming. After graduation she stayed back in school for her final clearance.
The hostel common room was filled with music and laughter. Celine had just taken a few group pictures in her birthday dress—an elegant sky blue gown with soft curls framing her face. She looked radiant, but her smile had that distant tint—the one that said, "I'm grateful… but someone's missing."
Then came a knock.
The room fell quiet for a moment.
"I'll get it," Sandra said, trying to stifle her grin.
When the door opened, Celine's breath caught.
Standing there, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black jeans, was Nathan—taller, broader, more handsome than ever, holding a single red rose and smiling at her like he'd just found his whole world in one glance.
For a moment, time slowed.
Celine blinked, then gasped.
"Nathan?!"
And before he could say another word, she screamed joyfully and jumped into his arms, wrapping herself around him like a missing piece clicking into place.
The room erupted into cheers, laughter, and clapping.
"You all knew?" Celine asked, laughing through her happy tears as she turned to her friends.
Sandra giggled. "Guilty. We've been hiding it for weeks!"
Nathan still held her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, her head buried in his neck. But then, gently and playfully, he whispered, "Celine, you might want to come down now…"
She looked confused. "Why?"
He slowly set her on her feet, then stepped back a little.
The room went quiet again.
Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Celine's eyes widened as he knelt down before her.
Everyone gasped.
Tears filled her eyes instantly. "Nathan… what are you doing?"
"I came back for you," he said softly, locking eyes with her.
"I didn't just come for friendship. I didn't just come to say happy birthday."
He opened the box.
Inside was a delicate, sparkling ring that caught the light like a star.
"I came because I want to spend forever with you.
You're the one I've prayed for, the one who taught me that love should be gentle, patient, and real.
Celine, will you marry me?"
She stood frozen, hand over her mouth, tears now spilling freely.
Then she let out a laugh-cry and nodded rapidly, falling to her knees in front of him.
"Yes!" she sobbed. "Yes, Nathan! A thousand times yes!"
He slid the ring onto her finger, hands trembling slightly, and before he could get up, she pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss—right there on the floor, surrounded by applause, happy screams, and the flash of phone cameras.
It was perfect.
A love that had waited… had finally arrived.
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Later, after the excitement calmed and her friends stepped out to give them a moment alone, Celine sat beside him, wiping tears from her eyes.
"I still can't believe you're here," she whispered.
"I told you I'd come back. I just didn't tell you how or when," he smiled. "And now I'm not leaving—not without you."
She looked at the ring on her finger, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"It feels like everything has come full circle."
He reached for her hand. "We've built something real, Celine. I want us to honor that. I want to do this right."
And so, they made a decision—to visit each other's parents.
Not just out of tradition, but out of respect for where they came from and what they were building together.
"I want our families to know what this is," Nathan said. "I want them to know that we're not rushing into love… we've grown into it."
Celine leaned her head on his shoulder, her voice barely a whisper.
"Thank you for coming back."
And Nathan whispered back, "Thank you for still being here."
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