Andres had always been cautious with his heart.
It wasn't that he didn't believe in love — he just hadn't seen much of it that felt… real. Growing up under the spotlight, he learned early that not everyone who smiled at you meant it. Girls had chased him, sure. Not for his awkward charm or the quiet poetry behind his eyes, but for the way he looked on screen — polished, perfect, untouchable.
That's why he kept his circle small. Family — like his twin sister Atasha and his parents, Charlene and Aga — came first. Work kept him busy. And relationships? He didn't really believe in forcing anything. He once told an interviewer, "I'll only date someone who makes me laugh. Someone who makes me feel like I can be myself."
Then, one day, she walked in.
Her name was Ashtine.
She wasn't loud. She wasn't flashy. She didn't try to get his attention like so many others had. In fact, she barely looked his way when they were first introduced on set.
But the moment she smiled — genuinely, without pretense — he felt something shift.
She had this energy about her. Warmth that wrapped around everyone in the room. Her laugh was musical. Her eyes, endlessly curious. As the eldest of four siblings — three sisters and one younger brother — she was used to being a protector, a nurturer, a gentle leader. She didn't seek validation. She already knew who she was.
They began working on a creative project together, assigned as co-leads in a campaign that required long hours, shared rehearsals, and close interaction. At first, it was professional — cordial even. Andres kept things light. But Ashtine saw through it. She noticed the quiet glances, the way he fidgeted when too many people were around, how he sometimes retreated into himself like a shell.
One late night after filming, as they waited for the car to pick them up, she broke the silence.
"You hate all the attention, don't you?" she asked softly, eyes on the stars.
He blinked. "A little."
She smiled, knowingly. "Same."
That night, they talked more than they had in weeks. About childhood. About fame. About fear. She told him about taking care of her siblings, how her youngest sister still sneaks into her bed at night. He shared stories about Atasha — how being twins sometimes meant being each other's safe place.
From that night on, something unspoken began to grow.
They started looking for each other in rooms. Sitting closer during breaks. Sharing playlists. Trading favorite snacks. The crew teased them playfully, and their fans — oh, their fans — picked up on everything. Edits of their shared smiles and glances went viral. But to Andres and Ashtine, it was still just… them.
He trusted her. More than he'd trusted anyone in years.
One evening, she brought him coffee without asking. "You looked tired," she said simply.
Andres stared at the cup, then at her. "You remembered my order."
"I remember things," she said with a shrug. But her eyes were soft. Knowing.
Days later, he posted a picture of her. No caption. Just her laughing in the sunlight, hair wild from the wind. The internet went wild.
She was the first woman he'd ever posted who wasn't family. Not even fans missed the message: she's different.
But for Andres, it wasn't about drama or declarations. It was about truth.
And this girl — this warm, wise, strong girl — was starting to feel like the most honest thing in his life.
He hadn't planned to fall. But sometimes, love doesn't wait for permission.
It just… happens.n