Friday morning arrived like a storm.
The Fernandez house was chaos—the good kind. Bags were being packed and repacked. Tita Gema was forcing snacks into everyone's hands. Jasfer was giving "survival advice" that no one asked for. Serina was calmly making sure everyone had everything.
Jay's grandma sat in her rocking chair, watching the madness with approval. "REMINDS ME OF MY YOUNGER DAYS. WE USED TO HIKE MOUNTAINS WITH NOTHING BUT DETERMINATION AND BAD ATTITUDES."
Tita Gema: "Ma, you've never hiked a mountain in your life."
Jay's grandma: "I DID IN MY DREAMS. THAT COUNTS."
Percy was documenting everything, of course. Honey stood beside him, amused.
Percy: "This is gold. Pure gold. The pre-camp chaos is always the best part."
Honey: "You're not going?"
Percy: "And miss three days of documenting from home? Absolutely not. I'll live vicariously through Ci-n's updates."
Honey: "Ci-n sends updates?"
Percy: "Ci-n sends SEVENTY updates an hour. It's overwhelming and perfect."
Keigan and Keiren were bouncing with excitement.
Keigan: "Wish we could go!"
Keiren: "CAMP SOUNDS SO COOL!"
Keifer ruffled their hair. "Next time. When you're older."
Keiren: "BUT WE'RE OLD NOW!"
Keifer: "Eleven isn't old."
Keiren: "IT'S OLDER THAN LAST YEAR!"
Keigan: "He has a point."
Grazel Jay toddled over, clutching her bunny. "Tita Jay go camping?"
Jay knelt down. "Yeah, baby. For three days."
Grazel Jay: "I come?"
Jay: "Not this time. But I'll bring you back something special."
Grazel Jay: "FLOWERS?"
Jay: "Maybe."
Grazel Jay: "FLOWERS ARE BEST."
Denzel: "She's been practicing her flower throwing for your return."
Grace: "We're very proud."
Jay kissed Grazel Jay's forehead. "I'll be back before you know it."
Grazel Jay: "OKAY. I PRACTICE MORE FLOWERS."
The bus ride to Camp Malaya was exactly what you'd expect from Section E.
Chaos.
Ci-n had claimed the back row and was attempting to lead everyone in songs. It was going poorly. Rakki had her headphones on, pretending she couldn't hear him. Mica and Calix were sharing a seat, Calix's arm around her, both watching the chaos with fond exhaustion.
Freya had somehow gotten a window seat. Edrix was beside her. Rory was across the aisle, already on his laptop despite the lack of Wi-Fi.
Rory: "I downloaded offline maps. And survival guides. And a nature documentary."
Edrix: "You're prepared."
Rory: "I'm always prepared."
Freya: "You're both weird."
Edrix: "And yet here you are."
Freya: "Shut up."
But she didn't move away.
Drew was taking bets on how long until someone got carsick. David was already asleep, head against the window. Eren was confused about why the trees were moving. Josh sat silently, radiating calm.
Baster was humming a travel anthem.
And in the middle of it all—
Jay and Keifer.
They sat together, naturally. Her head on his shoulder. His arm around her. Both watching the scenery pass.
Aries and Ella were in the seat behind them.
Aries: "You two are disgustingly cute."
Jay: "Thank you."
Aries: "It wasn't a compliment."
Ella: "It was. He's just in denial."
Aries: "I'm not in denial."
Ella: "You literally said 'they're cute' last night when you thought I was asleep."
Aries: "I—that was—"
Ella: "Tss."
Aries: "Don't 'tss' me."
Ella: "Too late."
Keifer glanced back. "It's contagious."
Aries: "I'm starting to hate all of you."
Jay: "No, you're not."
Aries: "No, I'm not."
The camp came into view after two hours of driving.
Camp Malaya was beautiful—nestled in the mountains, surrounded by trees, with a clear river running nearby. Cabins circled a central lodge. A fire pit sat in the middle of everything.
The bus pulled to a stop.
Section E piled out, stretching and groaning.
Ci-n: "FRESH AIR! NATURE! ADVENTURE!"
Rakki: "Bugs. Dirt. No Wi-Fi."
Ci-n: "THAT'S THE ADVENTURE PART!"
Mica: "It's actually beautiful."
Calix: "Yeah. Nice view."
But he was looking at her, not the mountains.
Freya stepped off the bus, looked around, and made a face.
Freya: "There's so much… green."
Edrix: "That's kind of the point."
Freya: "I prefer buildings."
Edrix: "Buildings don't have sunsets like this."
Freya: "They have elevators."
Edrix: "Fair point."
Rory was already checking his offline maps. Drew was taking bets on who would complain about bugs first. David had somehow slept through the entire bus ride and was still asleep standing up. Eren was trying to identify a bird. Josh was breathing deeply, clearly at peace.
Baster was recording everything.
Sir Alvin appeared, clipboard in hand. "Welcome to Camp Malaya! Cabins are assigned by tent groups. You'll find your cabin assignments on the board." He pointed to a large wooden board near the lodge. "Get settled, then meet back here in an hour for orientation."
Everyone rushed to the board.
Ci-n: "WHERE ARE WE? WHERE'S OUR CABIN?"
Rakki: "Pressed against the board isn't helping."
Ci-n: "I NEED TO KNOW!"
Mica found theirs first. "Cabin 4! Me, Calix, Freya, Edrix!"
Freya: "We're with you?"
Mica: "Apparently."
Freya looked at Edrix. He looked at her.
Freya: "Fine."
Edrix: "Fine."
They both pretended they weren't happy about it.
Drew found his. "Cabin 6! Me, David, Eren, Josh!"
David: (still asleep)
Eren: "Wait, we're together? Cool. Do you know what birds those are?"
Josh pointed at a bird. Nodded. Eren nodded back.
Drew: "This is going to be interesting."
Ci-n finally found his. "CABIN 5! ME, RAKKI, RORY, BASTER!"
Rakki: "I'm with Ci-n for three days."
Rory: "And me."
Baster: "And me."
Rakki: "I need a vacation from my vacation."
Ci-n: "THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST CABIN EVER!"
Rakki: "That's what I'm afraid of."
That left Jay, Keifer, Aries, and Ella.
Jay found their cabin. "Cabin 3. Us."
Aries: "The leftovers cabin."
Ella: "The elite leftovers cabin."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Cabin 3 was simple but cozy.
Four bunk beds. A small table. A window overlooking the trees.
Jay claimed a bottom bunk. Keifer took the one above her—because of course he did.
Aries: "I'm taking this bottom." He pointed.
Ella: "I'll take the top above you."
Aries: "You're okay with climbing?"
Ella: "I'm okay with being above you."
Aries: "That's fair."
They unpacked in comfortable silence.
Jay sat on her bunk, watching Keifer organize his things on the top bunk.
Jay: "You know I can see you from here."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "You look good from this angle."
Keifer: "I look good from every angle."
Jay: "Modest."
Keifer: "Honest."
Aries: "Do you two ever stop?"
Jay: "No."
Keifer: "Never."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "You're picking up their habits."
Aries: "I'm not."
Ella: "You literally just 'tss'ed."
Aries: "That was—"
Ella: "Tss."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
An hour later, they gathered at the fire pit for orientation.
Sir Alvin stood at the front, Mam Cindy beside him. Other sections were there too—Section A, Section C, all mixed together.
Jay spotted Mica and Rakki immediately. Mica waved. Rakki nodded.
Freya stood with Edrix and Rory, looking uncomfortable with the crowd. Edrix stayed close.
Aries and Ella stood with Jay and Keifer, Aries scanning the crowd with a subtle protectiveness.
Jay noticed. "What?"
Aries: "Nothing."
Jay: "You're doing the big brother thing."
Aries: "I don't have a thing."
Jay: "You definitely have a thing."
Aries: "I'm just… aware."
Jay: "Of what?"
Aries: "Of everyone. Of everything. Of—" He glanced at Keifer. "—him being close to you."
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"
Aries: "No. Just—" He paused. "If anything happens—"
Keifer: "Nothing will happen."
Aries: "But if it does—"
Keifer: "I'll protect her with my life."
Aries searched his eyes. Then nodded. "Good."
Ella: "That was adorable."
Aries: "It wasn't."
Ella: "It absolutely was."
Jay squeezed Keifer's hand. "You don't have to prove anything to him."
Keifer: "I know. But I want to."
Jay: "Why?"
Keifer: "Because he's your brother. And your family matters."
Jay's heart melted.
Sir Alvin's voice cut through. "Welcome, everyone! We have three days of activities planned—team challenges, hiking, river activities, and of course, the bonfire each night."
Cheers from the crowd.
"But remember—this is also a competition. Points will be awarded for each activity. The team with the most points at the end gets the prize."
Ci-n: "NO EXAMS! WE'RE WINNING THIS!"
Rakki: "Ci-n, inside voice."
Ci-n: "THIS IS MY INSIDE VOICE!"
Rakki: "That's terrifying."
Sir Alvin continued. "Tonight, after dinner, we'll have our first challenge—a scavenger hunt. Teams will be given a list of items to find around the camp. First team back with all items wins."
Mica: "Scavenger hunt?"
Calix: "We've got this."
Freya: "I'm not running through the woods."
Edrix: "You won't have to. I'll find everything."
Freya: "Confident."
Edrix: "Competent."
Freya: "Same thing?"
Edrix: "Same thing."
Drew: "New bet! Who wins the scavenger hunt?"
David: "Us. 500."
Drew: "You're betting on us?"
David: "I'm betting on them." He pointed at Jay and Keifer.
Drew: "Fair."
Dinner was chaotic.
Long tables, family style, food appearing in massive quantities. Section E scattered across two tables, still loud, still chaotic.
Ci-n had somehow gotten food in his hair already. Rakki was pretending she didn't know him. Mica and Calix shared everything. Freya picked at her food while Edrix explained something about the constellations. Rory was taking notes. Baster was humming.
Drew was still taking bets. David was eating in his sleep somehow. Eren was asking everyone about their favorite animals. Josh ate silently, peacefully.
At the other table, Jay sat between Keifer and Aries.
Aries kept glancing around.
Jay: "Aries. Relax."
Aries: "I'm relaxed."
Jay: "You've looked at every person who's walked past."
Aries: "I'm observing."
Ella: "He's been like this since we arrived."
Keifer: "Protective big brother mode."
Aries: "I don't have a mode."
Ella: "You definitely have a mode."
Aries: "I hate all of you."
Jay: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
He glanced at a group of guys from Section C who were looking their way.
Aries: "Those guys keep staring."
Jay looked. "They're probably just looking at the view."
Aries: "The view is you."
Jay: "Aries."
Aries: "I'm just saying."
Keifer: "I've got it."
Aries: "I know. But I've got it too."
Keifer nodded. "Together?"
Aries: "Together."
They shared a look—brother-in-law solidarity.
Ella whispered to Jay: "They're bonding."
Jay: "I see that."
Ella: "It's cute."
Jay: "It's weird."
Ella: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Same thing."
After dinner, the scavenger hunt began.
Teams scattered across the camp, flashlights bobbing in the dark.
Jay, Keifer, Aries, and Ella moved together—a unit.
Aries: "We need a strategy."
Ella: "We need to find things."
Aries: "That's the same thing."
Ella: "It's really not."
Jay: "First item—a pine cone shaped like a heart."
Keifer: "Specific."
Jay: "Very."
They searched. Aries stayed close to Jay—not hovering, but present. Keifer noticed but didn't comment. He understood.
They found the pine cone (Keifer spotted it). Found a feather (Ella grabbed it). Found a rock that looked like a face (Aries argued it didn't, Ella overruled him).
Item by item, they collected.
Then—
A branch cracked nearby.
Aries tensed immediately. "Someone's coming."
Keifer moved closer to Jay. "I hear them."
Figures emerged from the darkness—the guys from Section C who'd been staring earlier.
One of them, tall with a smirk, looked at Jay. "Well, well. The celebrity herself."
Jay: "Can we help you?"
Smirk Guy: "Just admiring. You're even prettier in person."
Keifer stepped forward slightly. Jay touched his arm—stop.
Jay: "Thanks. We're busy."
Smirk Guy: "Don't you want to team up? Combine forces?"
Jay: "No."
Smirk Guy: "Come on—"
Aries was there in an instant. Not aggressive. Just… present. Solid. Protective.
Aries: "She said no."
Smirk Guy looked at Aries. Then at Keifer. Then back at Jay.
Smirk Guy: "Two bodyguards?"
Jay: "One brother. One future husband. Same thing."
Smirk Guy: "Future husband?"
Jay: "Keifer. You might have seen the interviews."
Smirk Guy's eyes widened slightly. "Oh. You're—the one from—"
Keifer: "I'm the one."
Smirk Guy looked between them. Then laughed nervously. "Right. Okay. We'll just—go."
They disappeared into the trees.
Aries relaxed slightly. Keifer stayed close.
Ella: "That was hot."
Aries: "What?"
Ella: "You. Being protective."
Aries: "I wasn't—"
Ella: "You definitely were."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "There it is again."
Aries: "I hate this family."
Jay laughed. "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
They continued the hunt.
An hour later, they returned to the lodge.
Third place. Not bad.
Ci-n's team had come in first (thanks to Rory's offline maps and Ci-n's chaotic energy). Mica's team was second.
Ci-n: "WE WON! WE ACTUALLY WON!"
Rakki: "I need to sit down."
Rory: "That was efficient."
Baster: "I've got material for three songs."
Mica: "We were so close!"
Calix: "Second place is good."
Mica: "Second place is first loser."
Calix: "That's harsh."
Freya: "We got fourth."
Edrix: "But we found a really cool stick."
Freya: "A stick?"
Edrix: "A REALLY cool stick."
Freya: "…Can I see it?"
Edrix handed it over.
Freya examined it. "Okay, that IS cool."
Edrix smiled.
Drew collected his winnings. David was already half-asleep by the fire. Eren was trying to roast a marshmallow. Josh was quietly toasting one perfectly.
Jay and Keifer sat by the fire, close.
Aries and Ella were nearby, Aries still occasionally scanning.
Jay: "You can stop now."
Aries: "Stop what?"
Jay: "Being protective. They're gone."
Aries: "I'm not being protective."
Ella: "You literally just scanned the trees."
Aries: "I'm enjoying the view."
Ella: "The view of darkness?"
Aries: "…Yes."
Jay laughed. Keifer smiled.
Jay leaned against him. "Today was good."
Keifer: "Today was chaotic."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
He kissed her forehead.
Aries watched. Then nodded slightly—approval.
Keifer caught it. Nodded back.
Brother-in-law solidarity.
Jay: "What was that?"
Keifer: "Nothing."
Jay: "That was definitely something."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "Never."
She kissed his cheek.
The fire crackled. The stars shone. Section E chaos continued around them.
And Jayfer?
Jayfer was exactly where they belonged.
Together.