"One more! One more! One more!"
The backyard garden erupted into loud, chaotic cheers.
The Section E boys were hooting and slamming their hands on the tables because Keifer and David were locked in a fierce, head-to-head competition to see who could drink more.
One glass.
Two glasses.
Three glasses.
Four glasses.
Seven glasses!
"One more!
One more!
One more!" the boys roared, counting along.
"No... I'm out," David finally gasped, shaking his head and waving his hands in total defeat.
He was already feeling incredibly dizzy, his vision blurring as Calix and Mayo quickly caught him by his shoulders before he could face-plant onto the floor.
Keifer, on the other hand, casually slammed his eighth shot glass down onto the counter.
He didn't stumble, he didn't blink, and his posture was completely steady.
"Bro, do you have kidneys of gold too?"
Felix asked, his eyes wide with shock.
"You aren't even a little bit dizzy!"
Keifer just smirked, smoothly straightening his crisp black shirt.
After their grueling punishment in the main garden, all the boys had cleaned up, changed, and were looking incredibly charming again.
Keifer was looking uncontrollably handsome.
He wore a sharp black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his veins prominently popping out along his forearms.
Paired with fitted black pants and his hair perfectly messy, he completely owned the room.
"Man, it's so boring here right now," Felix complained, spinning an empty glass on the bar counter.
"Are they actually coming?"
"Yesss," Edrix answered, a rare grin spreading across his face as he checked a notification on his phone.
They have called all their friends and every bachelor they know."
"Which means... girls for the singles too!"
Drew Top chimed in happily, high-fiving Josh.
"But then, these mingled guys will basically become single tonight since their girls are way too busy having their own fun,"
Felix laughed loudly.
He immediately stopped when a wave of deadly glares hit him from Keifer, calix, and the rest of the mingled guys.
"Oops... sorry."
Aries ignored him, picking up a drink from the counter and taking a sip.
He winced.
"Man, it's not cold.
Where's the ice?"
"I'll help find it," Josh said, peering into a small cooler.
"Hey, there's no ice left here."
"Percy, go get some ice from the kitchen," Aries ordered.
Percy crossed his arms, whining instantly.
"Why me?!"
"Because you're handsome,"
Felix cracked a grin.
Percy immediately straightened his collar, a satisfied smile wiping away his annoyance.
"Then it's okay." With that, he confidently turned on his heel and marched off toward the kitchen.
He hurried toward the kitchen, humming a catchy tune to himself.
He couldn't resist pausing by a large glass panel to check his reflection, shifting his weight and smoothing his hair.
"Wow, very handsome!" he whispered, completely struck by his own reflection.
"Even ghosts will be jealous of my handsomeness. As all female ghost will fall for me."
He sauntered over to the large refrigerator and swung the door open.
Staring right into the ice dispenser, he placed a dramatic hand over his chest.
"Ah, handsome! Give me your number, otherwise I'll die," he joked, winking at himself.
He filled a bucket to the brim with ice cubes.
But the very second he spun around to head back to the yard-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
.
.
.
Outside in the backyard, the atmosphere was already lively.
A few of their early bachelor guests had arrived and were mingling when a frantic, high-pitched scream echoed from the corridors.
Percy came tearing out of the back doors, his eyes wide with absolute panic, panting so hard he could barely stand straight.
"What happened to you, man?"
Felix asked, dropping his cup in surprise.
"Gho... gh... ghoo..." Percy wheezed, clutching his knees as his breath hitched.
"Fall for... me... Ah... me..."
Aries slammed his glass down.
"What the hell, Percy?
Say it clearly!"
Percy took a mas
sive, deep inhale, puffed out his chest, and roared at the top of his lungs,
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Every single boy in the yard instantly slammed their hands over their ears, wincing from the volume.
"A ghost fell for me...
GHOSTTTTTTTTT!"
Percy screamed.
"What?!
A GHOSTTTTTTTTT?!"
Ci-N shrieked, instantly jumping off his feet and clinging tightly to David like a koala.
"Grandpa, save me!"
Keifer rubbed his temples, completely annoyed.
"What the hell are you talking about, Percy?"
"I'm telling the truth!
There's a ghost in there!"
Percy insisted, his hands trembling violently as he pointed back toward the dark kitchen hallway.
"Percy has officially gone mad,"
Drew Top said, shaking his head.
"I think he got rabies," Mayo muttered, taking a cautious step back from him.
"What's it with rabies?!"
Josh asked, looking confused.
"Who knows," Felix laughed, looking over at Keifer and Aries.
"I think he just dropped his mind in the pool earlier."
"Calix, Ci-N, go and bring the ice," Keifer ordered smoothly, not even looking up as he casually poured another drink into his glass.
"Umm... we?" they both asked in unison, exchanging a terrified, wide-eyed look.
"Yes," Keifer said, his voice dropping into a low, quiet threat. "Or..."
"Yes! Okay!
We are going!"
they tripped over themselves to answer, instantly running toward the kitchen hallway before Keifer could finish his sentence.
Meanwhile, inside the dark corridor, a phone screen glowed.
"Hey, hey, girls, listen!
Calix and Ci-N are coming!"
Sophia whispered excitedly to the group.
"This time me!
This time me!"
Rakki said, raising her hand eagerly in the dark.
"Me too!" Mica chimed in, a mischievous grin plastered on her face.
"Okay then, let's show them what real fear is," Jay whispered, rallying the squad.
All the girls were currently hiding right near the hallway behind a large corner wall, completely equipped with terrifying, haunting ghost masks and long, flowing white covers.
Out in the hallway, two trembling shadows crept forward.
"Oh God, please have mercy on us! Please save us from the ghost!"
Ci-N prayed out loud, his hands squeezed together tightly as they both walked tentatively toward the kitchen.
Calix instantly reached out and smacked the back of his head.
"Shut up, Ci-N! You're terrifying me even more!"
They practically lunged into the kitchen, quickly opened the large freezer, and frantically poured the ice cubes into their bucket.
"Yes! Everything is going smoothly!
Thank God!" Ci-N sighed in relief, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.
But before they could even take a single step toward the exit-
CLACK.
The electricity completely cut out, plunging the entire kitchen and hallway into pitch-black darkness.
"Calix..." Ci-N whimpered, his voice cracking as he half-cried into the dark.
"Ci-N..." Calix whispered back, his own voice sounding completely terrified.
"RUNNNNNNNN!" they both screamed at the top of their lungs.
But before they could even step a single foot out of the kitchen door...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The boys were waiting outside in the backyard, getting restless.
Suddenly, the kitchen doors burst open again.
This time, Ci-N and Calix came running out at full speed, panting heavily, their faces completely white.
They tried to speak, waving their hands frantically in the air, but they were wheezing so hard that no coherent words came out.
Aries rolled his eyes, leaning back against the bar counter.
"Don't say you saw the ghost too."
They desperately tried to catch their breath, nodding their heads wildly.
"Ye... yes... two big ghosts... white ghostttttttttttttttt!"
Ci-N finally squeaked out, hiding behind Calix.
Keifer stopped spinning his glass and exchanged a sharp look with Aries.
The rest of the boys exchanged confused looks as well.
"Something's wrong," Keifer said, his voice dropping into a serious, calculating tone.
"I think so too," Aries muttered, his playful demeanor completely vanishing.
Without wasting another second, the boys launched themselves toward the kitchen, rushing through the doors ready for a fight.
But when they kicked the door open, the room was completely empty.
There was nothing but a spilled bucket of ice on the floor.
"Boys! Divide!" Keifer commanded sharply.
"Yes, Boss!" they shouted in unison.
They immediately split up into pairs, heading in different directions to search the dark corridors of the mansion.
Keifer and Aries walked side by side into the main, dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing quietly against the walls.
"Aries, are you scared of ghosts?"
Keifer asked, a small, testing smirk playing on his lips as he glanced over.
"Of course not," Aries answered calmly, his expression completely unbothered.
"Then you go right, I go left,"
Keifer said, nodding toward the intersecting hallways.
"Ok," Aries replied smoothly, turning on his heel and heading down the right corridor without a single hint of hesitation.
Keifer walked slowly down the left corridor, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows.
He finally stopped near a large glass balcony door, looking out at the dimly lit terrace.
Behind a large pillar just a few meters away, Sophia and Jay were hiding.
"Jay, go!" Sophia whispered aggressively, pushing Jay's shoulder from behind the wall.
"No!
Please, you go!"
Jay hissed back, clutching her white ghost sheet.
"He's your fiancé!
Go and scare him!"
Sophia grinned mischievously.
"But-"
"No buts!"
With one final, heavy shove, Sophia pushed her out from behind the wall.
Jay stumbled forward into the open hallway.
Realizing she had no choice, she adjusted her haunting ghost mask, trying to calm her racing heart.
She took a few quiet, slow steps toward the balcony door where Keifer had been standing just a second ago.
But the spot was completely empty.
"Where did he go?" she muttered under her breath, looking around in confusion.
She turned completely toward the open balcony to check outside.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Jay let out a scream of pure, unadulterated terror.
A dark figure was literally hanging upside down from the top of the balcony door frame, staring straight at her face.
The sheer shock of the jump-scare was too much, and her knees instantly buckled. She collapsed right there on the floor, her eyes closing as she fainted.
"Jayyyy!" the hanging figure shouted, his voice laced with immediate panic.
It was Keifer.
He had heard her footsteps earlier and decided to turn the tables to scare her instead, but he never expected her to actually pass out.
He quickly unhooked his legs, jumping down from the door frame and landing gracefully on his feet.
He instantly knelt down beside her on the cold floor, his hands trembling violently.
"Jay! Jay!" he called out, his voice shaking with real fear as he gently tapped her cheeks.
He wrapped one strong arm firmly around her waist, pulling her up and letting her head rest securely against his chest.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Jay..."
Suddenly, a tiny, muffled laugh escaped from the "fainted" girl's mouth.
Within a split second, Jay burst into loud, unstoppable laughter right against his chest.
Keifer's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
He froze completely.
"Jay? Jay?!"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
she said between loud gasps of laughter, pulling off her ghost mask to show her flushed, grinning face.
"But you looked so cute while you were scared!"
Keifer raised a sharp eyebrow, a mix of shock and irritation washing over his handsome face.
"Huh?
You were just acting?"
Jay nodded her head wildly, still laughing at how perfectly she had fooled the ultimate leader of Section E.
Before Keifer could even open his mouth to reply to her prank, heavy footsteps came rushing down the hallway.
Ci-N and David burst around the corner, followed closely by the rest of the Section E boys and the girls who had all run toward the balcony because of Jay's loud scream.
"What happened?
What happened?"
Ci-N asked frantically, looking around with wide eyes because he had heard a terrifying scream echo through the corridor.
But before anyone could answer him, his eyes landed on Keifer kneeling on the floor, holding a figure wrapped in a white sheet.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
DAD IS HUGGING A GHOST!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ci-N screamed at the top of his lungs, instantly jumping and clinging onto David like his life depended on it.
Then, his eyes darted to his right, where the other girls were still standing in the shadows of the hallway wearing their white covers.
"AAAAAAAAAAAA! MORE GHOSTSSSSSSS!"
Ci-N screamed again, practically climbing on top of David, who was struggling to hold his weight.
Keifer rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Ci-N, go away. It's not a ghost. It's Jay and the other girls."
Ci-N froze, his eyes widening in pure horror as his brain processed the words completely wrong.
"Whatttttttttttt?!
RAKKI DIED?!
She didn't even tell me!
I hadn't even proposed to her yet!" he started screaming and wailing dramatically.
Every single person in the hallway simultaneously facepalmed at his dramatic reaction.
Seeing that the joke was over, the girls collectively groaned and removed their haunting ghost masks.
"RAKKKKIIIIIII!" Ci-N shrieked.
He immediately let go of David and jumped straight onto Rakki, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.
"U R ALIVEEEEEE!"
"Ah, Ci-N, go away! I was not dead!"
Rakki complained loudly, rolling her eyes as she tried to push his heavy, clinging hug off her.
While the chaos unfolded around them, Keifer and Jay finally stood up from the cold floor.
Jay brushed off her dress and looked up toward Keifer, a playful smile still lingering on her lips.
But Keifer didn't look back at her.
He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, his expression completely blank and unreadable.
Jay's smile slowly vanished as she watched his cold, quiet face.
A knot of worry formed in her stomach.
Did I hurt him? she thought to herself, suddenly feeling guilty for taking the joke too far.
**
The boys eventually headed back out to the backyard to officially start their bachelor party, and this time, the girls decided to join them.
The atmosphere was incredible.
The couples were happily dancing and sharing sweet, lovey-dovey moments under the glowing fairy lights, while the single guys were just as thrilled because a lot of new guests and friends had finally arrived to keep the party going.
But amidst all the fun, romance, and loud music, Keifer was completely giving Jay the cold shoulder.
He walked right past her, heading straight toward the outdoor bar counter.
"Keiferrr!" Jay called out, quickly following behind him.
He completely ignored her, not even slowing his steady strides.
"Keiferr!" she tried again, stepping a little faster.
Ignored.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, catching up to his side.
Ignored.
"I didn't mean that," she pleaded.
Ignored.
"I didn't think you would get so upset over this," she added, her voice dropping a little.
Ignored.
"You didn't even tell me how I look," she complained, jutting her bottom lip out into a cute pout.
"I got all dressed up and ready just for you, and you are here ignoring me?"
Keifer kept his face completely blank and continued to look straight ahead, ignoring her entirely.
But on the inside, he had to bite down hard on his inner cheek just to suppress the massive smile threatening to break across his face.
He reached the bar counter and casually sat down on one of the high stools.
Jay stepped right into his line of sight, refusing to give up.
"Keiferrr!"
Ignored.
"Hubby," she tried, stepping a little closer.
Ignored.
"Baby!" she whined softly.
Ignored.
This time, Keifer's heart completely skipped a beat.
Only he knew just how hard he was struggling to suppress his laughter and keep himself from completely losing his cool right then and there.
To stop himself from giving in to her cute tactics, he just turned his face completely away from her, staring off into the garden.
Jay let out a long, heavy exhale in total defeat.
Realizing he wasn't going to budge anytime soon, she leaned her back against the cool marble counter next to him and grabbed a glass of cold water to wash down her frustration.
Just as she took a sip, a sweet, high-pitched voice cut through the loud music.
"Hey, handsome!"
Jay instantly snapped her head forward to see who on earth was talking.
Her dark eyes immediately narrowed into dangerous slits as the scene came into full view.
A girl, wearing a very tight and highly revealing party dress, had walked up to the bar and was leaning seductively across the counter toward Keifer.
Keifer, staying entirely true to his current stubborn mood, was completely ignoring this new girl as well, keeping his face turned away and his gaze totally unreadable.
Jay felt a sharp tightness in her chest, a sudden and hot wave of jealousy washing over her as she stared at the scene.
"You look like you're single.
Want to have a drink with me?"
the girl asked, her voice dripping with fake honey.
Jay's eyes widened in disbelief.
Keifer completely ignored the girl, casually picking up a bottle and pouring a drink into his glass without giving her a single glance.
"Okay, I know you are the groom," the girl continued, her tone becoming incredibly flirty as she leaned in closer, ready to rest her hand right on his chest.
"But want to spend a night with me?
You won't get this opportunity again.
I promise you'll not regret this."
Before her fingers could even touch his shirt, Keifer stood up from his stool, completely cold and ready to walk away.
But before he could take a step, the girl reached out and caught him by the wrist.
Keifer froze and looked back at her, his eyes darkening.
But before he could utter a single word, a hand cut through the air, wrapping tightly around the girl's wrist and fiercely shoving it away from him.
It was Jay.
She immediately grabbed Keifer's wrist, pulling him slightly back as she stepped right in front of him like a protective shield, her eyes burning with pure fury.
Keifer stared down at her, completely shocked by her sudden fierceness.
"Ow! What the hell?"
the girl snapped, rubbing her wrist and glaring.
"Are you crazy?
Why are you coming in between when I'm talking to him?"
"Oh, wow! You're asking me?"
Jay asked, a dangerous edge to her voice as she pointed a finger right at the girl.
"He's my Husband!"
Hearing those exact words drop from her lips, a quiet, proud laugh escaped Keifer's throat.
He had to quickly press his lips together, trying his absolute best not to make a single sound.
The girl rolled her eyes, looking shamelessly past Jay and directly toward Keifer.
"Oh! So you are the girl, huh?
You're not even that good.
Also you are just engaged.
Why are you controlling him?
It's just about one night.
If he wants to spend it with a beautiful girl, just let him."
Keifer's unreadable expression instantly vanished, replaced by a deadly glare that practically threw daggers straight at the girl.
His hand wrapped firmly around Jay's waist, pulling her flush against his side.
But before he could even speak, Jay beat him to it.
"Yeah, yeah, very beautiful! Everyone falls for you, even I fall for you,"
she mocked, her grip tightening as she suddenly reached up, grabbing Keifer tightly by his collar.
"But... not him. He's mine."
With a sudden yank, Jay pulled Keifer down by his collar and pressed her lips firmly against the corner of his mouth.
When she pulled back a second later, she looked straight at the girl to see her reaction.
The girl was standing there in absolute awe, her jaw slack with shock.
Jay just smirked, her possessive side completely taking over.
Keifer's own smirk slowly spread across his handsome face as he felt the tight, burning jealousy radiating from his fiancée.
He tightened his hold around her
waist, pulling her even closer.
Finally, Keifer spoke up, his voice dripping with smooth, cold authority.
"Do you still want to know something, or can you please give us couples some private space?
I need to talk to my only beautiful and hot wife."
The girl's face flushed bright red in complete embarrassment.
She made a sour face, spun around on her heels, and practically ran away from the bar as fast as she could.
Keifer looked down at Jay, his dark eyes darkening with amusement as he bit his lower lip, a slow, deep smirk spreading across his face.
"Can I have a proper one now?"
he asked, his voice dropping into a low, playful tone full of mood.
"It was just a tiny peck on the corner."
He stepped closer, fully expecting her to lean into him, but Jay suddenly reached down, firmly shoved his hand away from her waist, and walked straight past him without a word.
Keifer froze in place, staring at his empty hand.
"Jay...?" he called out, his voice laced with absolute shock.
But this time, she completely ignored him.
She kept her head held high, her black floral dress swaying elegantly as she marched right back toward the dance floor.
"Jay? Jay!"
Ignored.
The tables had officially turned.
She was passing right near the crowded dance floor, her head held high as she completely ignored Keifer's footsteps trailing behind her.
But Keifer just smirked, a low rumble of amusement in his chest.
"Oh! Wifey is jealous?" he whispered to himself.
He accelerated his pace slightly.
"Sweetheart,"
he called out.
Her heart skipped a beat at the nickname, but she stubbornly kept her eyes forward and ignored him.
Before she could take another step, he smoothly caught her by the wrist and pulled her flush against his chest, wrapping his strong arm tightly around her waist.
Her hands instinctively landed on his chest to steady herself.
"Jay?" he murmured, looking down at her.
"Keifer, let me go," she muttered, trying to look angry.
"No. Why are you ignoring me?"
"You're asking that?
Like you weren't ignoring me just a few minutes ago and then flirting with that girl?"
"I didn't flirt," he defended easily, his eyes dancing.
"But she did, and that counts!"
"You're jealous."
"No," she snapped, crossing her arms over his chest to create some distance.
Keifer just tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her impossibly close.
He leaned down and pressed a firm kiss against her cheek, making her blush a furious shade of red.
"You're jealous."
"Ah!... No," only a breathless whisper could come out of her mouth.
"Oh, really?"
He leaned in and planted another soft kiss on her other cheek.
"Now?"
"No."
He kissed the tip of her nose.
"Now?"
"No," she said, a tiny smile already fighting its way onto her lips, though she tried her absolute best to hide it.
"If you just wanted kisses, you could have just asked," he said with a wicked smirk, leaning in closer.
"Why say no to your jealousy just for that?"
Jay's jaw dropped at his sheer shamelessness.
She smacked his chest playfully, which only made him let out a low, victorious chuckle.
"Okay, fine! I was jealous," she finally admitted, pouting cutely up at him.
His eyes immediately dropped to her pouty lips, his gaze darkening.
"Don't be jealous. I'm always yours,"
he whispered softly against her skin as he leaned down to finally taste those lips.
"Wow! So cute!"
A loud, excited voice suddenly cut right through their romance, making them instantly pull away from each other.
It was Ci-N.
Jay and Keifer blinked and looked around, only to realize that a huge crowd of guests and the rest of the Section E squad were completely surrounding them with warm, teasing smiles.
They had been so entirely lost in their own little world that they hadn't even noticed the entire party stopping to watch them.
Keifer turned back toward Jay, only to see her face burning bright red with shyness under the gaze of the entire crowd.
A soft, genuine smile spread across his lips.
Stepping back slightly, he elegantly offered her his hand.
"Jay, can I have a dance with you?"
Jay looked around at the teasing crowd, then looked up into his dark eyes, finding nothing but absolute warmth and safety.
Her shyness melted away as she smiled and gently placed her hand in his.
He pulled her gently toward the center of the dance floor while the entire Section E squad and the guests cheered and hooted loudly.
"Here goes the main couple!"
Ci-N yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Why are you shouting in my ear?!" Rakki snapped, rubbing her temple.
"Because I want to!" Ci-N grinned back.
"Cnnnnnnnnn!"
"Wohhhhhhhhhh!"
With the main couple taking the floor, the other couples quickly joined in to share the moment.
Even the singles managed to find pairs one way or another.
Josh hilariously grabbed Felix to drag him around, while Kit found Mayo to dance with.
Meanwhile, Aries smoothly stepped up and joined Sophia, and Percy-proudly showing off his handsome charm-joined Cheska on the floor.
The rest of the single guys either found girls from the party or happily became loud, chaotic third wheels to the couples around them.
In the center of it all, the loud party music seemed to fade into a soft, slow rhythm just for Jay and Keifer.
Keifer placed one large hand firmly on Jay's waist, while she rested her hand on his shoulder, their fingers intertwining perfectly.
They moved together with an effortless grace, their steps perfectly synchronized as if they had done this a thousand times before.
Keifer kept his gaze locked entirely on her, his eyes full of quiet devotion, while Jay rested her head lightly against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
As the glowing fairy lights reflected off the vibrant pattern of her dress, Keifer gently spun her around, pulling her right back into his arms without breaking rhythm.
For them, the cheering crowd completely vanished; it was just the two of them swaying under the stars, completely wrapped up in each other's warmth.
As the music continued to sway through the enchanted garden, the rhythm shifted, and the crowd began a classic partner-exchange dance.
Jay was gently spun from Keifer's arms, landing gracefully right in front of Ci-N.
"Hey, Mom!" Ci-N beamed instantly, his eyes crinkling with pure, childlike joy.
Jay couldn't help but chuckle softly at his endless energy.
"Hello, Ci-N."
He gave her a massive, proud grin before the music pulsed and spun her off to her next partner.
This time, she landed in front of Felix, who immediately straightened his posture and flashed a dazzling, theatrical smile.
"Oh, Jay! I'm Felix Collins," he said, grinning ear to ear as if introducing himself for the very first time.
Jay playfully raised a single eyebrow at his antics.
"I know, Felix."
Before he could pull off another dramatic line, she was swept away again, her hand landing in a firm, steady grip.
She looked up to find Aries looking down at her.
His usual sharp, serious demeanor had softened completely, replaced by a deep, brotherly warmth.
"You are looking like a princess tonight, Jay,"
Aries said softly, his voice full of protective affection.
"I hope Keifer will keep you like one."
The sheer sincerity in his words hit her heart, and Jay felt a sudden wave of emotion.
"Thank you, Aries," she said, offering him a beautiful, teary smile.
She was spun along the floor again, this time bumping right into a very confident Percy, who immediately checked his cuffs and winked.
"Hey, sistah!" Percy grinned, leaning in slightly.
"Am I looking handsome tonight or what?"
"Yes, Percy, very handsome,"
she chuckled, shaking her head at his unshakeable self-love.
Next, the dance seamlessly transitioned her over to David.
He greeted her with a warm, gentle demeanor that instantly felt grounding.
"You are looking absolutely beautiful, Jay," David said, his friendly smile entirely genuine and sweet.
She smiled back at him from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you, David."
The music carried the rhythm forward, seamlessly spinning Jay from David's arms into the next set of waiting hands.
She landed gracefully in front of Mayo, who looked slightly uncoordinated but gave her a sweet, earnest look.
"You know, Jay,"
he said, trying his best not to step on her dress,
"Keifer is a tough guy, but with you, he's just a lovesick puppy. Take good care of our boss."
Jay giggled warmly, squeezing his hand.
"I definitely will, Mayo."
With a quick turn, she was passed over to Kit, who was grinning brightly.
He didn't say much at first, but as he spun her, he looked at her with pure, loyal friendship.
"We're really glad you're a part of this crazy family now, Jay. If Keifer ever troubles you, just tell us.
The whole section has your back."
"Thank you, Kit. That means the world to me," she replied, her heart swelling.
Next, she found herself laughing out loud as Danzel smoothly caught her hand, pulling off an unexpectedly dramatic, sweeping ballroom dip.
"Don't let the others fool you, Jay," Danzel whispered conspiratorially as he pulled her back up with a grin.
"I'm clearly the best dancer in Section E. You look stunning tonight!"
"I'll keep your secret, Danzel,"
she laughed, thoroughly entertained.
She was then handed over to Edrix, who looked up from his usual cool, detached demeanor.
He gave her a rare, genuine smile, his nod full of profound respect.
"You're the peace to his chaos, Jay. Stay happy."
Finally, Drew Top caught her for a quick, energetic spin, lifting the mood even higher.
"Welcome to the wildest ride of your life, sister-in-law!"
he cheered, making her laugh one last time before the dance rotation finally came to a beautiful close.
Like a beautiful, swirling circle, the dance continued to rotate. Jay explored the floor with all the Section E boys one by one.
Moving from one partner to the next, it felt like a journey through a family she had chosen. Some of the boys made her deeply emotional with their protective words, some made her burst out into unstoppable laughter with their goofy dance moves, and others brought a quiet, serene smile to her face.
But as she was spun from hand to hand across the floor, one single feeling remained absolutely constant through every single exchange.
In every grip, every laugh, and every glance from the boys, she felt an overwhelming sense of warmth, safety, and unbreakable friendship.
She wasn't just marrying Keifer; she was officially a part of a brotherhood that would protect her forever.
At the very end of the rotation, the music softened to a gentle, lingering rhythm, and Jay spun gracefully right back into Keifer's waiting arms.
He caught her instantly, his grip firm yet incredibly tender.
Looking down at her, a low, teasing chuckle vibrated in his chest.
"Welcome back, my little ghost," Keifer murmured.
Jay bit her lower lip, looking down at his chest in slight embarrassment.
"Were you really upset because I did that prank?"
she asked softly, looking back up into his eyes.
He shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. "No."
"Then why were you ignoring me?"
"I wasn't upset," Keifer explained, his voice softening as he pulled her a little closer.
"I just got a bit scared when you fainted.
But later?
I was just messing with you. Also..."
He paused, biting his own lip as his dark eyes scanned her face.
"How could I be upset at a ghost who was looking incredibly beautiful and hot?"
Jay's face flushed a deep crimson, and she instantly smacked his chest.
"Keifer...!"
"Ow!" he chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement at her reaction.
The sharp, playful teasing completely melted away, his eyes softening as a serene, genuine smile took over.
Their eyes met, locking onto each other in the dim, romantic glow of the fairy lights.
He gripped her waist securely, slowly moving her to the slow pulse of the music.
"Jay..." he murmured, his deep voice sending a familiar flutter through her chest.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?" she asked softly.
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he leaned in, pressing a deep, lingering kiss against her forehead.
Before she could speak, he smoothly lifted her, spinning her right through the air in a breathtaking circle before capturing her tightly against his chest once again.
He slid his right palm up to cradle her flushed cheek, his thumb tracing her jawline, while his other hand remained securely anchored on her waist. He leaned down, and instinctively, Jay closed her eyes.
Instead of her lips, he gently pressed a soft, warm kiss onto her closed eyelid, making a beautiful, radiant smile break across her face.
When he pulled back just an inch, his gaze dropped down to her lips.
Jay opened her eyes, her gaze immediately landing on his.
The tension between them grew thick and magnetic.
His hand traveled slowly down from her waist to rest firmly on her hip, pulling her completely flush against him.
Realizing what was coming, Jay's hand traveled up to the back of his neck, her fingers tangling slightly in his messy black hair as she leaned in.
"WOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
But just as their lips were less than an inch apart, the music suddenly cut to a complete stop, and the entire Section E squad exploded into a deafening chorus of wild cheers, whistles, and loud clapping.
The sudden uproar made a thoroughly embarrassed, bright red Jay pull back instantly, hiding her burning face against Keifer's chest while the boys roared with laughter at their perfect timing.
And keifer was again left with a sigh 😔.
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Hey buddies! Today I'm not gonna ask if chapter was good or not because as per me, all moments were important.
Also doesn't matter if it's good or bad, u guys have to cop up with me till end. 😂
Ok buddies
Bye buddies
Love u buddies ❤️😘