Ever since the disaster at the mall show, i'd braced myself for career ruin.
But things didn't turn out the way i expected.
Because that night, the video of me admitting on stage that I couldn't smell went viral.
At first, the comments were brutal:
"How can you sell perfume when you don't even know what it smells like?"
"Fraud."
"What a joke."
But then something happened.
People started defending me.
Hard.
Someone clipped my trembling voice, saying: "i don't have sense of smell since birth… but I know it's beautiful because i see how it makes people feel."
It blew up.
"BRAVE!"
"Relatable!"
"Imagine still fighting for your dreams even with something you don't have."
"She's making it an advocacy to show you can be different and still succeed."
Influencers reposted it with captions about embracing your flaws.
Other people with anosmia commented that they felt seen for the first time.
Brands started DMing me wanting collabs about "authenticity."
It was… surreal.
But not everyone was convinced.
I'm Claudia Araneta, top actress, everything I do is scrutinized.
So i was extra careful now.
Every post, every smile, every interview.
I chose my words like they were landmines.
Except I couldn't control everything.
Especially not the paparazzi.
—
We decided to head to an amusement park, just the two of us.
Raphael said he wanted to cheer me up after everything, and i couldn't say no.
I wore my usual disguise: oversized hoodie, black facemask, and dark sunglasses.
Classic incognito Claudia.
Even so, i clung to Raphael's arm like i always had the right to.
"I feel like i'm smuggling a celebrity," he teased as we walked through the park entrance.
"You kind of are," I muttered under my breath. "Just trying not to trend for the wrong reasons again."
He leaned closer and whispered, "Too late. You trended for all the right ones, remember?"
Every now and then, I could feel people glancing our way. Maybe they recognized my walk, my posture, or maybe they just thought Raphael was too attractive to be a civilian.
I adjusted my cap lower. "Let's not stay too long," I said.
"We'll stay as long as you smile like that," he replied.
As we walked, I kept my head down, avoiding attention. But when we passed a kid selling cotton candy, he stopped.
"Wait here."
He came back with the biggest fluff of pink sugar i'd ever seen.
"What's this for?" I asked through my mask, half-laughing.
"We're here to be kids again, remember?"
He offered it to me, peeling down my facemask gently so I could take a bite.
My lips curved upward, heart warm. Even if i couldn't smell it, the sweetness was there.
And so was he.
Always.
We spent the rest of the afternoon just… us.
Walking side by side, hands brushing.
Raphael insisted on winning me a stuffed toy from one of those rigged carnival booths. He didn't stop until he got it, three tries, two curses under his breath, and one triumphant grin when he finally handed me a floppy brown bear.
"Keep it," he said, a little breathless. "Proof that I'm at least good for something."
I laughed behind my facemask. "You're ridiculous."
"Say thank you."
"Thank you," I drawled dramatically, clutching the bear to my chest.
He smirked, eyes softening as they found mine behind the sunglasses.
I forgot about the people around us.
I forgot about my name.
I forgot everything except how easy it felt with him.
What i didn't see?
Some fan with a long-range phone camera caught us.
Perfect angle.
My head on Raphael's shoulder while we waited in line for churros.
His arm around my waist, possessive and protective.
Me laughing—mask pulled down for a second to eat.
And him staring at me like I was the only thing in the world.
We didn't know.
We just kept wandering until the sun set, pink and gold streaking the sky.
"Ready to go home?" he asked, voice low.
I nodded.
"Let's go."
In the car, it was quiet. Comfortable.
I was playing with the stuffed bear in my lap.
He was driving with one hand, the other reaching over to hold mine every chance he got at a stoplight.
When we got home, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the couch.
Raphael was in the kitchen, pouring us both some water.
I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "That was nice."
He glanced over, eyebrow raised. "Nice?"
I grinned. "Fine. Really nice."
He smirked. "Better."
That was when my phone started ringing.
I frowned. It was my manager.
I picked up.
"Claudia," her voice was tight, annoyed but tired, too. "Yan na nga ba sinasabi ko sa'yo."
My heart dropped. "What?"
"Check Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Lahat. Trending ka na naman!"
I blinked. "What—why?"
"Anong why? May nakakuha ng picture niyo! Sa park! Holding hands, sweet na sweet! Diyos ko, Claudia! Ilang beses na kita pinapaalalahanan. You're an actress. May image ka! Boom pa loveteam nyo ni Dustin Wang ngayon! You have endorsements!"
My throat went dry.
"Dapat maingat ka! Hindi yung ganyan—"
I pulled the phone away, my ears ringing.
Raphael looked at me from the kitchen. "Hey. What's wrong?"
I didn't answer.
I just opened Facebook.
And there it was.
My face. His face.
Us.
Laughing.
Arms around each other.
Masks half-pulled down to eat.
#ClaudiaSpotted trended immediately.
My heart raced as i scrolled.
But then i read the comments.
"WAIT… this isn't Dustin?? WHO'S THE GUY???"
"omg he's so HANDSOME though wtf"
"is this her REAL boyfriend??? he looks like a MAN not a boyband."
"i'm sorry but i ship them so hard."
"ok pero ang gwapo nung jowa niya, sana all doctor ata yan??"
"I thought she was dating Dustin??? They look good though!"
"Lowkey, I think they're cute. Like, mature couple vibes."
"I'm a Dustin-Claudia fan pero respeto naman, real life yan. Support!"
I dropped my phone on the couch, mouth hanging open.
Raphael walked over, wiping his hands on a towel. "Well?"
I blinked at him, dumbfounded.
"They… like us," I whispered.
He frowned. "Who?"
"Everyone. Online. They, they're okay with it."
He looked confused. "Wasn't that the plan? To eventually be real about us?"
I laughed, a little hysterical. "Raphael, I thought they'd kill me. I thought they'd hate you. My fans love Dustin and me together onscreen. I thought… I thought I was going to get cancelled."
He snorted, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
"You worry too much."
I smacked his arm lightly. "Easy for you to say, Doctor I-Don't-Do-Press Conferences."
He only smirked. "Maybe they have taste."
My phone pinged again. My manager.
"Claudia. Call me. We have to talk about how to spin this."
I sighed.
But this time, I smiled.
Raphael reached for my hand, squeezing it.
"You okay?"
I nodded. "Better than okay. I think… this might work."
But my manager was not convinced.
When i finally called her back, she was practically pulling her hair out.
"Claudia, the comments are okay now. But the brands! The sponsors! They're gonna want statements. Clarifications. You can't just let it ride. You have to decide if you're admitting this or denying it."
I fell silent.
Raphael watched me carefully, his gaze unreadable.
My heart thudded in my chest.
Maybe it was time.
Maybe i should just tell them the truth.
I took a deep breath and spoke into the phone:
"Let's… admit it. I'm tired of hiding. Just… let's be honest."
There was a stunned silence on the other end.
"Claudia… are you sure?"
I glanced at Raphael.
He was watching me with that steady gaze, as if waiting to see if i'd run again.
I didn't.
I gave him a small smile.
"Yeah," I said firmly. "I'm sure."
Finally, I took a deep breath.
No more hiding.
No more pretending.
I let the words flow.
"He's not just my boyfriend. We've actually been married for months.
I'm sorry for keeping it from all of you for so long, especially to those who supported the love team so passionately.
I hope you understand that there are things in my life I wanted to keep private—not to lie, but to protect.
Thank you for those who still choose to support me, who respect our real story.
Love isn't always what you see on screen. Sometimes it's quieter, realer, and worth protecting."
I read it one last time.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
And I hit post.
Silence filled the living room.
I set my phone down on the coffee table and pressed my palms against my eyes.
I felt Raphael shift beside me. His hand landed on my knee, warm and grounding.
"Hey," he said softly. "You did it."
I exhaled shakily, letting my hands fall to my lap. "Yeah. I did."
He squeezed my knee.
"You okay?"
I turned to look at him. Those steady eyes.
That annoying, comforting, patient face.
A small, tired smile tugged at my lips.
"I think I am," I whispered.
My phone was already vibrating like crazy.
Notifications. Comments. Shares.
I didn't dare check them right away.
Instead, I leaned into Raphael's side. He automatically wrapped an arm around me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
We sat there for a while.
No words.
Just us.
Breathing.
Eventually, I gathered the courage to unlock my phone.
I braced myself for hate.
But what i saw surprised me.
"You guys are MARRIED??? OMG congrats???"
"I'm crying. You kept it so private but so real. I'm actually happy for you."
"Ok I shipped you with Dustin before but this is just… wow. I respect it."
"Doctor husband? Ma'am, you won."
"We stan a queen who chooses real love."
"It's giving grown woman energy. I'm here for it."
Not everyone was kind.
There were angry fans, disappointed shippers, a few who felt betrayed.
But there was also so much support.
So much understanding.
I felt my chest tighten.
I didn't realize how heavy the secret had become until I let it go.
Raphael watched me carefully as I scrolled.
"Better?" he asked.
I sniffed, blinking away tears."Yeah."
He pulled me tighter. "Good."
I turned in his arms, pressing my face to his chest.
He rested his chin on my head, just holding me.
Outside, the city was asleep.
But in our tiny living room, it felt like the world had finally quieted down.
We weren't actress and doctor.
We weren't public figures, or brand ambassadors, or gossip fodder.
We were just Claudia and Raphael.
Married.
Tired.
A little bruised.
But honest.
And together.
That was how we ended the night.
Wrapped around each other on the couch.
No cameras.
No pretenses.
Just us.
Exactly as we were.
Exactly as we wanted.