The curtain slid open—and for a moment, time just stopped.
Jay stepped out in a red dress that made the whole section go silent. It wasn't the backless one Freya had first handed her—it was the alternate Keifer had found.
Sleek, confident, and bold, yet completely her. It had a medium neckline, a slit just enough for movement, and fabric that shimmered subtly under the mall lights.
Felix dropped his ice cream spoon. "Holy… wow."
Rory blinked. "Did we just witness a glow-up or a movie entrance?"
Eman: "Jay, are you sure you're not auditioning for a goddess role?"
Jay awkwardly adjusted her sleeve. "Stop staring. You're making it weird."
Aries, who had just returned from the tie section, looked like he was about to pass out. "No. Nope. Go back inside. Change. You're not wearing that—"
Ella tugged his arm. "Baby, let her wear what she wants. She's grown up."
Aries: "She's too grown up!"
Freya giggled, "That's the point."
Keifer didn't say a word.
He just looked at her — his expression soft but intense, like she was the only thing that existed in the room.
The love in his eyes wasn't loud; it was steady, deep, and absolutely clear. If anyone looked closely, they could tell — Jay wasn't just someone to him. She was everything.
Jay, pretending to ignore him, mumbled, "Well? Say something, Watson."
Keifer smiled faintly. "Already did. Just not out loud."
Jay blinked, confused. "Huh?"
Keifer: "I said 'mine,' in my head."
Rory practically fell off the couch laughing. "OH MY GOD, HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!"
Felix: "He totally did! Bro's down bad!"
Jay threw a tissue box at both of them. "Shut up, clowns!"
Yuri, sitting quietly in the corner, couldn't look away either. His eyes weren't loud like Keifer's—but full of the kind of quiet ache that came from knowing he once had a chance, and lost it. His grip tightened on his phone again, his old wallpaper flashing in his mind.
David noticed but said nothing. He simply looked at Jay too — proud, soft, almost like watching his little sister shine.
The group slowly got back to normal chaos when Freya clapped her hands.
Freya: "Okay! Tie colors! Everyone needs to match their partner's outfit."
Ella: "Aries is going for navy blue!"
Mica: "Calix and I picked lavender!"
Freya: "I'm going silver!"
Rakki: "white. Because my queen said so."
Cin: "Your queen? Bro, that's Jay!"
Jay rolled her eyes. "No one's queen, Cin. Just the boss."
Keifer came up behind her, putting his cap on her head. "Correction. My queen."
Jay: "Watson…"
Keifer: "What? The AC's cold, and you're shivering."
Jay: "I'm fine—"
Keifer: "No, you're not." He took off his OG brown leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders before she could argue. "Now you are."
Felix groaned. "You two are like a romance movie and a fever dream combined."
Rory: "And somehow, we're the background characters."
Jay smiled slightly, tugging at the sleeves of his jacket. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"Keifer smirked. "You keep saying that like it's an insult."
A few minutes later, chaos part two began — the hammer game.
Rory spotted it first. "Guys! Let's test strength!"
Felix: "Oh no, here we go again."
The machine blinked "TEST YOUR POWER" in neon red.
Boys lined up, hyped like little kids at a carnival.
First up — Keifer.He swung the hammer effortlessly — BANG! The machine hit max. The light blinked: "CHAMPION."
Eman: "WHAT THE—! Bro, you broke physics!"
Rory: "Watson just declared war on gravity!"
Aries stepped forward, cracking his neck. "Move. Let's see if big brother still got it."He swung — BANG! The same score.Yuri silently stepped next and matched it too. The lights blinked "TIE."
Felix: "Okay, they're all monsters. Next."
Percy strutted up, dramatic as ever. "Watch and learn."His hit barely reached second place.
Honey smirked. "Wow, big talk, small result."
Percy: " don't roast me in public."Honey: "Then swing harder."
David went next and landed fourth place, proud but panting.Then came Cin—overacting before even trying.
Cin: "I was born ready!"
He swung… the hammer slipped. The light blinked: "PLEASE TRY AGAIN."Everyone lost it.
Jay, giggling, stepped forward.
Felix: "Oh no, she's gonna break it."
Jay: "You underestimate me."
She lifted the hammer, women's round. The boys cheered anyway. BANG! The entire machine flashed bright red: "NEW ALL-TIME RECORD."
Rory: "WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!"
Felix: "She beat Keifer's score!"
Eman: "Our leader has spoken!"
Cin: "Queen energy!"
Keifer just smirked proudly. "That's my girl."
Jay, panting slightly, turned to him. "Told you not to underestimate me."
Keifer grinned. "Remind me never to arm wrestle you again."
Honey came second, then Freya third — both laughing and hyped.
But before they could go for another round, a man in a suit walked up hurriedly.
"Ma'am!" he called. "Sorry to interrupt, but we've finalized the reports from the upper level. Sales are up fifteen percent this week."
Everyone turned.
Jay: "Thanks, just email the summary to me."
Manager: "Of course, Miss Fernandes."
The boys stared.Rory: "Wait. Miss Fernandes?"
Felix: "You own this mall?!"
Jay blinked innocently. "Didn't I mention that?"
Cin: "NO, YOU DIDN'T!"
Eman dramatically fell to his knees. "We've been hanging out with a billionaire this whole time?!"
Keifer chuckled, wrapping his arm around Jay's shoulders. "Correction. My billionaire."
Jay playfully elbowed him. "You mean, your boss."Keifer: "Same thing."
Jay walked to the counter and paid for everything — all dresses, suits, accessories, snacks.
Everyone gasped.
Felix: "Jay, that's like a whole month's worth of—"Jay: "League fund. Chill."
Rory: "You spoil us too much."
Jay: "No, I just don't like debts."
Keifer: "Then I owe you something."
Jay: "What?"
Keifer smiled softly. "A dance at prom."
Jay smirked. "You already asked that."
Keifer: "Then I'm repeating it till you say yes."
Jay rolled her eyes but smiled, pulling his cap lower over her face. "Fine, Watson. One dance."Keifer: "Only one?"
Jay: "Don't push your luck."
Rory from behind: "Too late, he already did."
Everyone burst out laughing again as Keifer and Jay walked ahead — his jacket on her shoulders, her cap on his head, both grinning like idiots while the rest of Sec E followed behind, still in disbelief that their chaotic leader owned the mall they just tore apart.
Everyone was finally exhausted after the long shopping spree. Bags full of dresses, suits, and snacks were piled up as they headed toward the parking lot. One by one, the cars started leaving the mall's bright lights behind.
Jay walked toward her sleek white Nissan GTR, keys spinning in her hand. She smiled seeing the reflection of the group in the glass doors — chaotic, loud, but hers.
Percy revved up his car first, his flashy black sports car almost growling.
"Okay, my passengers of chaos—Felix, Calix, Mica, and Honey—buckle up!"
Felix groaned. "If you crash again—"
Percy: "That was one time!"
Honey: "One time too many."
Everyone laughed as Percy zoomed off.
Yuri started his blue car silently. His expression was unreadable, but his knuckles were white on the steering wheel. That same photo of Jay flashed again on his phone screen when he plugged it in — the one in her wedding dress. He turned the screen face down, sighed, and drove off.
David waved at everyone before driving away with Drew eman mayo and kit and Blaster, his usual calm smile on his face.
Aries' car followed next — he had Ella, Freya, and Edrix with him. He looked like he'd rather teleport home than deal with their teasing about how jealous he looked earlier.
Jay started her car too, but the moment she turned the key, she heard a loud hiss. She frowned, got out, and checked. "Great. A puncture."
Rory peeked from Keifer's car. "Need help, boss?"
Jay sighed. "No, I'll just call a mechanic. You go ahead."
Keifer leaned on his car door, watching her. "You sure?"
Jay nodded. "Yeah. They'll fix it and drop it off at the mansion."
When the mechanic arrived, she handed over the keys, gave quick instructions, and then looked at Keifer.
Jay: "Guess I'll ride with you."
Keifer smirked, unlocking the passenger door. "The seat's been waiting for you."Jay rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "You're unbelievable."
Once they hit the road, the night lights shimmered through the car windows. Jay leaned her head against the seat, the cool air from the AC brushing her hair gently. Her eyes began to flutter closed, exhaustion catching up to her.
Keifer glanced at her for a second — and then again, and again. She had fallen asleep, her face calm and peaceful.
He smiled softly, one hand still on the steering wheel, the other gently adjusting her seatbelt so she could rest better.
Keifer (whispering): "You never change… still overworking yourself."
Rory, sitting behind him, noticed and smirked. "Awww, look at him. The scary Watson turned soft."
Edrix chuckled quietly. "He's looking at her like she's made of glass."
Freya whispered, "It's kinda cute though."
Keifer gave them a side-eye through the mirror. "Say one more word and I'll drop you all off here."
The car filled with muffled laughter as they drove through the soft night air. One by one, Keifer dropped them off — Edrix first, then Rory, and lastly Freya. Each time, Jay didn't even stir, her head resting slightly toward his shoulder.
When everyone else was gone, Keifer drove toward the Fernandes mansion. The road was quiet now, the hum of the engine and the faint music from the radio the only sounds left. He stole one more glance at her — her hair slightly messy, one strand over her face.
He smiled, brushing it away carefully. "Even asleep, you look like trouble," he whispered fondly.
When they reached the mansion, he called Angelo.
Keifer: "Hey, she's asleep. Can she stay at Watson mansion tonight?"
Angelo: "No way. She's staying here. We've got security in place."Keifer sighed. "Fine."
He then called Aries, who was already inside.
Keifer: "Don't open the gates yet. She's asleep."
Aries: "Then wake her up, piggy can walk."
Keifer: "Aries."
Aries: "What?"
Keifer, whispering: "She's tired. Don't wake her."
Aries rolled his eyes but smiled a little. "You're so "
Keifer: "And proud of it."
He parked the car, turned off the engine, and stepped out quietly. Then, without hesitation, he walked around, opened her door gently, and lifted her in his arms — bridal style.
Jay murmured softly but didn't wake. Her head rested on his chest as he carried her toward the mansion doors.
Aries crossed his arms, whispering teasingly, "You could've just—"
Keifer gave him a sharp look and hushed him instantly. "Don't. She's sleeping."
Aries grinned but stayed quiet, watching his sister's peaceful face.
Keifer adjusted his hold, careful not to disturb her. "She's tired. I'll take her to her room."
Angelo, waiting by the stairs, nodded approvingly. "You've gotten soft, Watson."
Keifer smirked faintly. "Only for her."
And with that, he walked upstairs slowly, carrying Jay like she was the most precious thing in the world.