Down in the grand hall, Keifer stood near the entrance, calmly welcoming and greeting the arriving guests.
They had only invited the most important people for this ceremony, so the venue felt sophisticated and exclusive rather than overwhelmingly crowded.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the bridal suite, Jay was sitting back in her vanity chair, completing the rest of her makeup while the girls huddled around her, keeping their voices low.
They were locked in a serious strategic discussion on how the girls could help her find the ring without the boys noticing.
"Listen, don't you worry at all, Jay," Sophia whispered, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"We're going to be right behind you the entire time."
"Yes! We'll be dropping hints and helping you find it without them ever knowing," Cheska agreed, nodding aggressively.
"Just keep checking your phone in case we text you a clue."
Despite their encouraging words, Jay sat there nervously biting her lower lip.
She had confidently accepted the challenge a few minutes ago, but now, thanks to her naturally quiet and reserved nature, a deep shyness was starting to creep in.
It wasn't even the challenge itself that made her stomach flutter-it was the thought of all those high-society guests watching her,
and more importantly, the memory of Keifer's teasing, arrogant smirk.
Back downstairs, Keifer was standing near the grand staircase.
He had just finished talking with a group of new business investors when Rory came running up to him, looking completely out of breath.
"Did you do it?" Keifer asked, his voice low as he glanced around the hall.
"Yes, it's done," Rory nodded with a grin.
Keifer adjusted his cuffs, his expression softening slightly.
"Make sure you didn't hide it where she'll face too much difficulty finding it. Don't make it impossible for her."
"Wow, Dad is already being so caring about Mom!"
Ci-N chimed in, walking up to them alongside David.
Following a strict dress code for the event, all the boys had decided to wear matching crisp white shirts with sharp black pants.
The simple yet classic look made every single one of them look incredibly handsome, and it didn't take long for almost every young lady in the hall to start daydreaming and doting over them.
Whispery giggles and admiring stares followed the boys wherever they walked.
Looking down at his own outfit, Ci-N suddenly sighed dramatically and pouted.
"Honestly, I wish I was a girl."
"Why?"
Felix asked, looking at him like he had grown a second head.
"Because if I were a girl, I'd get to wear completely different, colorful dresses for all these different parties!"
Ci-N complained, gesturing wildly to his own clothes.
"Instead, I'm stuck wearing a black suit and a plain white shirt every single time, thanks to all of you having zero fashion creativity!"
"Don't worry, Ci-N," Aries snorted, slapping him on the back.
"With the way you whine and do your hair, you are basically still a girl to us anyway."
"Hey! I am a manly man!" Ci-N yelled, his face turning red as the boys burst into snickers.
To prove his point, Ci-N quickly combed his hair back with his fingers, trying to look suave as a group of girls walked past.
"Did you hear that?
One of them just said,
'That slim one is so cute.' They definitely mean me."
Eman immediately struck a dramatic pose like a movie star, leaning casually against a marble pillar.
"Oh yeah? Well, I just heard another one say,
'I like that handsome one, I've heard he cooks too and owns a restaurant.'
My charm is completely irresistible."
"They probably think you're the catering staff, Eman," Percy chimed in dryly, fixing his watch.
"Don't get your hopes up."
Suddenly, a group of wealthy young ladies walked past the beverage station, and one of them sighed loudly, whispering to her friend,
"Honestly, I just want to eat him up... that wise, responsible-looking gentleman over there."
Hearing her comment, David instantly choked on his glass of water, coughing violently as his face turned bright red.
The rest of the boys completely lost it, bursting into loud, mocking laughter at his expense.
"Ooh, David! Looks like you've got a fan!
Go over there and show her your wise, responsible smile!" Felix cackled, shoving David's shoulder.
"Shut up, Felix!" David wheezed, wiping his mouth with a napkin, completely embarrassed.
Mayo patted David on the back before turning his gaze to Ci-N, looking him up and down with genuine surprise.
"Wow, Ci-N. In that outfit, you actually don't look like a total kid today," Mayo exclaimed.
Ci-N immediately puffed out his chest, crossing his arms with a loud, offended pout.
"Huh! What do you mean 'today'? I was always a grown-up!"
"Sure you are,"
The boys were still bickering back and forth when Sophia's loud, echoing voice cut right through their laughter from the top of the grand staircase.
"Make space everyone, the bride is here!"
Sophia announced, grinning from ear to ear as she stepped aside.
Every single head in the grand hall instantly turned toward the staircase.
The playful arguments died out in an instant, and Keifer's eyes snapped upward toward the landing.
Suddenly, from behind Sophia, Jay came into view.
She was looking down, biting her lower lip slightly as she carefully stepped forward, managing the long, elegant train of her vibrant red mermaid gown.
The moment Keifer's eyes landed on her, everything changed.
His heart seemed to skip a beat entirely, and the breath hitched sharply in his throat.
The loud cheering of Section E, the low chatter of the guests, the ambient music-the entire noise of the room instantly faded into a dull, distant hum.
The whole world completely stopped.
His eyes refused to move.
They were completely glued to her, slowly scanning her from her breathtakingly beautiful face down to the way the intricate red lace wrapped flawlessly around her figure.
It was like a bright, singular spotlight was shining only on her, making everyone and everything else in the room look completely blurred.
To him, it felt like time had dropped into absolute slow motion.
He noticed every single tiny detail-from how delicately her fingers held onto the fabric of her dress, to the soft flutter of her eyelashes as she looked down at her steps.
She looked so stunningly beautiful it actually hurt.
Suddenly, as she reached the middle of the staircase, Jay looked up.
Her eyes searched the crowd and immediately met his.
"This is the end of me,"
a raw, breathless whisper crossed Keifer's throat, the words escaping his lips before he even realized he was speaking out loud.
Seeing him looking at her, a small, private smile crept onto Jay's lips, her eyes softening as she locked gaze with him.
Keifer didn't even realize what he was doing when his hand slowly traveled upward, pressing his palm firmly against his chest, trying to force his racing heart to calm down.
But it was completely useless.
His future wife had completely stolen his breath away.
As Jay made her way down the remaining stairs and was just two steps from the bottom, Keifer's feet moved on their own.
He unconsciously stepped forward to meet her, extending his hand toward her with a look of pure, unadulterated adoration.
The sudden gesture made a beautiful pink blush rush to Jay's cheeks.
He was still wearing that raw, completely dazed expression, completely unable to turn his eyes anywhere else.
Jay smiled and began to extend her delicate hand to take his, but before their fingers could even touch-
Thwack!
Sophia suddenly stepped right between them and swatted Keifer's hand away with a victorious grin.
"You stay right there with your friends and your stupid challenge," Sophia said mockingly, crossing her arms.
"Let us handle the bride."
"But-" Keifer started, his brow furrowing as he tried to protest.
Before he could argue, his mother stepped up beside Sophia, narrowing her eyes and playfully raising a single eyebrow at him.
Realizing he was completely outnumbered and had no other option, Keifer let out a defeated sigh and reluctantly stepped back into the crowd of boys.
"Now I'm really regretting this," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Jay looked over at him, watching his uncharacteristic pout.
Even though he was frustrated by the interruption, the moment his eyes met hers again, a soft, helpless smile broke across his face.
He lifted his hand, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at his stunning future wife, completely captivated.
**
The ring hunt officially started, and the grand hall turned into a giant game of hide-and-seek.
Jay quickly began searching for the rings, trying her best to look casual so the guests wouldn't notice.
She checked inside the large flower pots near the entrance, peeked behind the heavy velvet curtains, and even casually looked under the decorative plates on the display tables.
The girls were also trying their absolute best to find it, using their own secret strategies.
Sophia walked onto the main stage, carefully checking around the podium and under the carpet while pretending to just admire the floral decorations.
Over in the dining hall, Freya and Mica were systematically checking the buffet tables and behind the ice sculptures, completely pretending to just enjoy their drinks.
Meanwhile, Rakki and Grace were scanning the seating area, subtly looking under chairs, table edges, and couch cushions while putting on a big smile to meet and greet the guests.
But after a while, all their efforts seemed like a total waste.
Jay wasn't able to find the rings anywhere.
On top of that, she was getting distracted every single minute because guests kept coming up to congratulate her.
The girls were doing everything they could, but the boys were always one step ahead.
The Section E boys were following the girls around the hall like eager puppies, completely blocking them from dropping any hints or helping Jay.
Every time Sophia got close to a good hiding spot, Aries would suddenly appear to ask her about the flowers.
Not finding the ring anywhere and getting genuinely frustrated, Jay walked out into the quieter hallway.
She started checking inside the decorative ceramic vases and behind the massive marble pillars, sighing to herself.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone caught her wrist and firmly pulled her into a nearby empty room, closing the door behind them.
Jay gasped, getting scared for a second, but then her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light.
"Soph?"
(Yes soph!, it's not kiefer everytime!)
Sophia and Rakki were both standing there, leaning against the door.
"What are you guys doing?" Jay asked, letting out a breath of relief.
"Ugh, Jay, I really don't think we can find the rings this way," Rakki said, crossing her arms in frustration.
"We've been trying for more than half an hour, but these jerks are so clever.
They're watching our every move," Sophia said, gritting her teeth with a competitive fire in her eyes.
"Then what can we do?" Jay asked, looking between the two of them.
Sophia and Rakki looked at each other, and a slow, mischievous smirk simultaneously spread across both of their faces.
Rakki stepped forward, leaning directly toward Jay's ear, and whispered something
**
Keifer was in the middle of a conversation with Mr. Watson about an upcoming business venture when a waiter quietly approached his side.
"Sir?"
"Yes?" Keifer replied, turning his attention to the waiter for a brief second.
"Actually, someone is calling you over there," the waiter said, nodding subtly toward the outer edge of the hall.
"Where?" Keifer asked, his eyes following the waiter's gaze.
"Over there, by the hallway side, sir."
"There?" Keifer muttered, a bit confused.
He excused himself from Mr. Watson with a nod and walked toward the designated area.
Reaching the hallway, he looked to his right and then to his left, but the corridor seemed completely empty.
There wasn't a single guest or staff member in sight.
Thinking the waiter might have made a mistake or that whoever wanted him had already left, he decided to turn around and retreat back to the party.
He was just about to take a step back toward the main hall when he noticed a figure sitting quietly on a wooden stool near the wall, tucked away in the shadows of a quiet corner.
Curiosity catching him, he walked over toward the person slowly.
As he got closer, the dim lighting of the hallway finally revealed her face.
"Jay?" he whispered, his eyes widening slightly.
Jay looked up, her expression a picture of pure innocence as she met his gaze.
"Jay, what happened? Why are you sitting here all by yourself?"
Keifer asked, his voice instantly dropping to a gentler tone.
Instead of answering right away, Jay reached out, softly holding his hand as she stood up from the stool.
She took a slow, deliberate step forward, completely entering his personal space.
Looking down shyly, she spoke in a soft, incredibly quiet voice.
"Actually... I was just getting really tired."
The pure vulnerability in her tone made Keifer's defenses instantly melt away.
"Do you want to go upstairs and rest?"
he asked, his brow furrowing with genuine concern.
But Jay slowly looked up, giving him the softest, most tender look she could muster, locking her eyes tightly with his.
"No, I can't.
I have to find the ring... It's just, this dress is really heavy too.
But it's okay, I'll keep looking."
As she spoke, her hand gently traveled up to his chest.
The light touch sent a jolt straight through him, making his heart beat frantically against his ribs.
"Jay..." Keifer tried to say something, his voice a little strained, but she looked straight into his eyes with a perfect, pleading puppy-dog expression that completely shut him up right then and there.
Her other hand slowly traveled to the very first button of his crisp white shirt.
Her fingers began to lightly tap and toy with it, occasionally brushing against his bare skin just beneath the collar, sending a sharp shiver straight down his spine.
"Am I looking beautiful today?"
she asked, her lower lip turning out into a slight, captivating pout.
Before he could even gather enough air to answer, she began sliding one hand up from his chest, her fingers tracing a slow path toward the back of his neck, while her other hand continued to playfully twist his shirt button.
"I thought I'd look good for our engagement, but..." She paused, her gaze dropping to his lips before rising back to meet his eyes.
Her voice dipped, turning a bit husky and quiet.
"...I think I'm just going to waste the whole day searching for a ring."
Keifer honestly felt like he was going to faint.
The intoxicating scent of her perfume was hitting his nose, and the sensation of her fingers softly crawling up the back of his neck was completely short-circuiting his brain.
His cool, composed demeanor was entirely gone.
"Can't you even give me a tiny hint?"
she whispered.
With a gentle tug from the hand behind his neck, she softly pulled him down, bringing him into her space until their noses were almost touching, her warm breath fanning across his skin.
Jay looked past Keifer's shoulder for a split second, her eyes locking onto the far end of the hallway where Sophia and Rakki were hiding, both of them enthusiastically showing her double thumbs-up.
Only Jay knew how she was managing to pull this off without completely fainting right then and there.
Her own heart was hammering so wildly against her ribs she was terrified he would hear it.
She absolutely loved being this close to him, but she hated it at the same time because it was all just a desperate part of the plan to win the bet.
Keifer finally lost every single ounce of his resolve.
Completely intoxicated by her closeness, his gaze dropped back to her lips.
He was completely defeated, ready to spill the secret.
"Jay... it's..." he began, his voice deep and completely breathless.
But just as the words were about to leave his mouth, his eyes accidentally flickered to the glass door directly behind her.
There, clear as day, he caught the subtle reflection of Sophia and Rakki peeking around the corner, waiting with bated breath.
A sharp brow snapped up in his mind, and a slow, dangerously amused smirk crept onto his face.
So it's a trap, he realized, instantly seeing through the girls' little operation.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the two reflections suddenly panic and disappear back into the shadows.
The second they were gone, Keifer acted.
Before Jay could even register the shift in his energy, his hand shot up and firmly gripped her wrist—the one that had been playfully clutching his collar.
At the exact same time, his other hand flew down to her waist.
With one swift, smooth movement, he spun her around and pressed her back gently but firmly against the nearest wall, trapping her completely within his frame.
Jay let out a sharp, breathless gasp, her eyes widening in total shock as she looked up at him.
"K-Keifer..."
He pressed her hand-the one he was holding tightly against his heart-and pulled her even closer into his chest.
A slow, genuine smile broke through his signature smirk as he leaned in, whispering softly, his nose almost brushing against her ear.
"You are looking very beautiful to be real."
Jay turned completely red in an instant.
A wave of intense heat crawled straight up her face, and her other hand automatically curled into the fabric of his shirt near his waist, trying to anchor herself.
"You are looking like... Jay... my Jay," he said softly.
Before she could even process the words, he pressed a soft, lingering kiss right near her ear, making her breath hitch sharply in her throat as her eyes fluttered shut.
A confident smirk immediately appeared on Keifer's face as he realized exactly how much impact he still had on her, even after all these months of being together.
"K... Keifer, someone will see us," she stuttered, keeping her eyes downcast, her face fully flushed from the proximity.
"No on-"
Before he could even complete his sentence, a waiter casually passed by the entrance of the hallway.
The sudden movement made them instantly pull apart to act casual.
Seizing the golden opportunity, Jay tried to quickly walk away and escape the intense bubble, but she wasn't fast enough.
Keifer easily caught her by the wrist, pulling her back and pinning her gently against the wall once again.
"Keifer... let g... go..." she murmured, her heart hammering wildly.
He just smirked, leaning over her frame.
"At least let me answer your questions."
Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss right at the corner of her lips, making her stomach do absolute backflips.
Then, he rested his forehead against hers, locking his dark eyes onto her wide ones.
"You were asking for hints earlier,"
he murmured, his hand traveling up to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"You know what?
You don't need to trick me for that."
That single word made Jay's eyes widen to the size of tennis balls.
"Trick...?" she squeaked out, quickly looking away and nervously biting her lower lip.
"There's no trick."
Keifer's smirk widened.
"Oh, really?
I was actually ready to tell you about the place earlier without any trick, but..."
The sudden pause instantly caught her attention.
She looked back up at him.
"But...?"
"I like you this way," he said, leaning in to press a soft, tender kiss against her temple.
"But don't worry," he murmured, his expression softening as he pressed his warm palm against her flushed cheek.
"You'll find it, wifey."
As he said the last word, he leaned down and pressed his cheek firmly against hers, the intimate warmth of the gesture totally ruining every single ounce of her remaining strength.
She felt completely weak in the knees.
Satisfied with her breathless reaction, Keifer finally pulled back, smirked one last time, and turned on his heel-walking away back toward the grand hall with his usual arrogant attitude and effortless stride.
(Ok I know it's 101 chapter and I'm still including slow burns, but I just...I just love writing them)
Jay stood frozen against the wall for a few seconds.
Finally, she let out a long, heavy breath that she felt like she'd been holding forever, slowly opening her eyes.
"Keifer... why do you still have this much impact on me?"
she groaned out loud to herself, turning around and lightly pressing her forehead against the cool marble wall, trying to get her racing heart under control.
**
Jay was, for real this time, completely exhausted.
Her feet were aching in her heels, her breathing was heavy, and the sheer frustration of searching every nook and cranny of the grand hall was finally catching up to her.
The girls were equally wiped out, leaning against a side pillar and fanning themselves with their hands, looking thoroughly defeated.
Despite all their tactical planning and secret-agent routines, the rings were still nowhere to be found.
Feeling a gaze on her, Jay looked across the crowded hall. Right on cue, her eyes met Keifer's.
He was leaning casually against the mocktail bar, raising a brow, a slow, incredibly smug smirk playing on his lips as if to say, 'Told you so, wifey.'
Jay rolled her eyes at him with pure irritation, which only served to make his arrogant grin grow even wider.
Frustrated, she snapped her gaze away and looked toward the grand entrance of the main hall, trying to clear her head.
That was when her eyes suddenly landed on the massive decoration framing the main doors.
A beautiful, large cluster of helium balloons was floating gracefully in the air, securely tied down with elegant silk ropes.
Jay blinked, her eyes narrowing as she focused on one specific translucent balloon near the center.
It was floating noticeably lower than the others, looking significantly heavier.
A sharp brow rose in her mind.
Trying to look as casual as possible, Jay began walking toward the main entrance, putting on a sweet, polite smile for the guests she passed along the way.
Her heart started beating a little faster with anticipation.
The moment she finally reached the balloon cluster and stepped underneath it, her eyes instantly lit up.
There, clearly visible through the translucent latex, was the unmistakable shape of the rings.
A massive, triumphant grin finally broke across her face.
Found you.
Without wasting a single second, Jay reached up and eagerly began to untie the silk rope from the heavy decorative base.
Her fingers worked quickly, the knot loosening in a matter of seconds.
But just as the rope slipped free into her hand, a sudden, heavy gust of wind slammed against the venue.
The main doors creaked open with a sharp, unexpected whoosh, and a powerful draft rushed straight into the hallway.
The sudden force of the wind yanked the silk rope right out of Jay's grip.
"Oh god!" Jay panicked, her eyes widening in horror.
The balloon broke away from the cluster and flew directly out through the open doors, escaping into the night.
Without a single second thought, Jay bolted right after it.
She couldn't even believe herself-just a minute ago, simply walking in this heavy, fitted red mermaid gown was feeling incredibly tiring.
But right now, driven by pure, unadulterated competitive adrenaline, she was practically sprinting.
She burst out into the cool air of the sprawling garden, her eyes frantically scanning the dark horizon.
"Where the hell did it go?" she muttered breathlessly, looking left and right.
Then, she spotted it.
A flash of translucent latex and ribbon was trapped right in the upper branches of a large, tall tree in the middle of the garden.
Her eyes lit up with renewed determination.
She quickly ran over, stopping at the base of the massive trunk. She tilted her head back, looking up into the dark leaves.
The tree was incredibly tall, and the branches looked intimidatingly high.
But her adrenaline was through the roof.
The memory of Keifer's teasing smirk and the exhaustion of the past hour flashed through her mind.
"I am winning this bet,"
she whispered fiercely to herself.
"After this much exhaustion, there is no way I'm losing to those jerks."
Forgetting the price of her dress, her styled hair, and her heels, Jay kicked off her shoes, grabbed the lowest sturdy branch, and resolutely started climbing up into the tree.
(Ok don't ask me how she managed but yeah she did somehow as per my imagination)
Inside the grand hall, Keifer finally finished speaking to the last group of guests.
He casually turned around, his eyes immediately scanning the room back and forth for Jay, but he couldn't spot that vibrant red gown anywhere.
"Where did wifey go now?"
he muttered under his breath, his fingers lightly tapping against the marble bar counter.
He let out a slow sigh, looking down at his glass.
"Now I'm really regretting not giving her those hints."
But as the minutes ticked by, his playful restlessness slowly began to convert into genuine concern.
He walked around the perimeter of the hall, checking the seating areas and the dining section, but she was completely gone.
His heart gave a sudden, nervous thud.
Out of nowhere, his eyes traveled to the massive balloon decoration near the entrance.
He froze.
One specific balloon-the heavy one-was completely missing from the cluster.
"Where's that balloon?" he panicked, his voice dropping into a low, tense whisper.
His eyes darted right below the empty space, landing straight on the open main door right next to it.
Without a single thought, he broke into a run, rushing past the startled guests and bursting out into the cool night air of the garden.
He stopped on the gravel path, his eyes frantically whipping around the dark landscape.
Then, he found it.
A massive oak tree stood in the center of the lawn, and someone in a bright red dress was actively scaling the trunk.
"Jayyyyy!"
Keifer sprinted across the grass, his heart leaping straight into his throat.
He reached the base of the tree, looking up in absolute horror.
"Jayyy! What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
She was already halfway up the tree.
Hearing his booming voice, she stopped for a split second and looked down through the leaves, her grip tight on the bark.
"Keifer, don't distract me!" she shouted back, her voice filled with stubborn determination.
"Stay down there!"
"You might fall! I'm coming up!"
he yelled, kicking off his polished leather shoes right on the grass.
"Don't follow me! This tree's branches are really weak!"
she screamed down, trying to warn him.
But Keifer couldn't hear a single word she was saying because of the loud, howling wind rustling the thick canopy.
Terrified for her safety, he grabbed the nearest branch and started climbing up after her without a second thought, his sharp suit completely forgotten.
Jay didn't look back again.
She completely focused all her attention on the translucent balloon, which was stuck at the farthest, thinnest corner of a high branch.
She carefully stepped onto a long bough, holding onto another thick branch hovering right over her head to keep her balance.
She took a deep breath, inhaling sharply.
I have to win this.
First step.
Second step.
Third step.
She extended her arm as far as it could go, stretching her fingers out.
"Ugh! It's still too far!"
she muttered, her teeth gritting.
She took another small, shuffling step.
Then one more.
She extended her arm again, her fingertips brushing the silk ribbon.
Her eyes instantly lit up in the dark.
"Yesss!"
she whisper-yelled, a massive smile breaking across her face.
She quickly looped the silk rope tightly around her finger, securing her prize.
She was just about to gently pull the balloon toward her chest when a loud, violent rustling sound of leaves and snapping twigs echoed from right behind her.
She turned her head to look, and her chest tightened in pure panic.
Keifer was almost all the way up, his face pale with worry, and he was just about to step his entire weight onto the exact same branch she was standing on.
Jay's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
She was dammm sure-absolutely positive-that if he stepped on this specific, strained bough, it would break for sure.
"Kieferrrr...!"
she shouted at the top of her lungs, waving her free hand to make him stop.
But it was already too late.
His foot landed heavily on the wood.
CRACKKK!
"Aaaaaaaaaa!"
___________________________________
Hey buddies! Happy cliffhanger 😂.
Ok I didn't mean to but again it just happened.
Also don't forget to tell me how's the chapter.
And I'm going
Bye bye
Love u ❤️