Picnic With a Side of Butterflies
The moment Jay opened the text thread titled "đź’Ť Engagement Coordination Squad đź’Ť" from her mother, she knew something was up.
"Just a little bonding moment, sweetheart! Bring Keifer. Bring sunscreen. Dress cute."
Jay groaned.
When she walked out of her room that morning in a sundress and sneakers, Keifer was already waiting in the kitchen — holding a paper bag and looking offensively good in a plain white shirt and cargo pants.
He held up two sandwiches. "You ready to suffer through this together?"
Jay smirked. "You mean suffer through the nosy parents and Percy's TikTok commentary?"
"I packed snacks," he said. "And by snacks, I mean a small stash of chocolate to bribe Percy into silence."
She took his hand as they left the house.
They didn't talk about it.
But neither of them let go.
The picnic was... very on brand.
There were woven baskets, checkered blankets, fresh fruit, and an entire buffet table set up under the trees like a magazine shoot. Their parents pretended it was casual.
But Jay caught them peeking more than once.
"Where's Keifer?" her mom asked.
Jay shrugged.
He returned seconds later — holding a flower.
"I saw you glaring at that bee," he said casually, holding the little daisy out to her. "So I risked my life to get you this."
Jay blinked. "You picked a flower for me?"
"I've changed," he deadpanned. "I'm a reformed man."
She rolled her eyes but took it anyway.
"Okay, wait—" Aries said from across the field. "Don't move."
Jay looked up.
Percy already had his phone out. "Just one pic, please? The way he's looking at you right now is making me want to believe in love."
Keifer didn't even flinch.
He wrapped an arm around Jay's waist. "Get my good side."
Jay smacked his chest. "You don't have a good side."
But she leaned into him anyway.
And let Percy take the photo.
A Little Later – Public Moment
They were walking near the edge of the park when a classmate spotted them.
"Yo! Watson! Cruz!"
Jay tensed.
"Didn't think the engagement thing was actually real," the guy said, sipping a Coke. "But you two look kinda cute today."
Keifer reached for her hand again.
Jay let him.
Then he pulled her in.
Soft. Slow.
Kissed her forehead — right in front of the stranger. Right in the middle of the park.
No hesitation.
No nerves.
Just... real.
Jay blinked up at him, stunned.
Keifer smirked. "That real enough for you?"
Her heart sprinted.
She didn't answer.
Just curled her fingers tighter around his and whispered, "You're the worst."
But she didn't stop smiling.