The proposal rumors had faded.
Weeks passed. Life returned to normal.
College. Business. Family chaos.
But something felt different.
Jay noticed it first.
Keifer was... off.
Not in a bad way. Just... thoughtful. Distracted. Like he was planning something.
Jay: "You okay?"
Keifer: "Fine."
Jay: "You've been staring at me."
Keifer: "You're worth staring at."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead. But his eyes lingered.
Jay knew.
Something was coming.
That night. Fernandez house.
Everyone was gathered. Dinner. Laughter. Chaos.
Tita Gema: "EAT! THERE'S ENOUGH FOR AN ARMY!"
Jasfer: "I'm eating for an army."
Tita Gema: "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
Serina: "Let him eat. He's happy."
Jasfer: "I'm always happy around food."
Jay's grandma: "I REMEMBER FOOD! GOOD TIMES!"
Keigan: "Lola, you're eating right now."
Jay's grandma: "I REMEMBER THIS FOOD! FROM FIVE MINUTES AGO!"
Keiren: "That's... actually impressive?"
Grazel Jay ran around throwing flowers. "DINNER FLOWERS! FOR EVERYONE!"
Denzel: "She's been at it all day."
Grace: "The garden is empty."
Grazel Jay: "WORTH IT!"
Section E was there too.
Ci-n: "I'M SO FULL!"
Rakki: "You ate three plates."
Ci-n: "AND I REGRET NOTHING!"
Percy was on video call. "SHOW ME THE FOOD! I'M STARVING HERE!"
Honey: "You just ate."
Percy: "EMOTIONAL HUNGER!"
Mica and Calix shared dessert. Mica: "This is perfect."
Calix: "You're perfect."
Mica: "Smooth."
Calix: "Honest."
Freya and Edrix sat close. Freya: "This family is loud."
Edrix: "This family is home."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've calculated the optimal dessert consumption rate."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on who falls asleep first."
David: "Me. 500."
Drew: "You're betting on yourself?"
David: "I know my limits."
Eren had a new bird friend. "This is Kevin Jr. He's here for dinner."
Josh nodded. Offered the bird a crumb.
Baster hummed a dinner melody.
Aries and Ella watched the chaos.
Aries: "This is normal now."
Ella: "This is family."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
After dinner.
Jay and Keifer on the patio.
Stars above. Quiet around.
Jay: "Today was good."
Keifer: "Today was perfect."
Jay: "You keep saying that."
Keifer: "Because it keeps being true."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Longer than usual. Deeper.
Jay pulled back. "Keifer?"
Keifer: "Yeah?"
Jay: "What's going on?"
Keifer: "Nothing."
Jay: "Liar."
Keifer: "Maybe."
Jay: "Talk to me."
Keifer: "Tomorrow."
Jay: "Tomorrow?"
Keifer: "Tomorrow. I'll talk tomorrow."
Jay: "Promise?"
Keifer: "Promise."
Jay searched his eyes.
Found nothing but love.
Jay: "Okay."
Keifer: "I love you."
Jay: "I love you too."
Keifer: "More than anything."
Jay: "Same."
They sat there. Held each other.
The stars watched.
Inside, Percy was on the phone with Ci-n.
Percy: "SOMETHING'S HAPPENING TOMORROW. I CAN FEEL IT."
Ci-n: "I FEEL IT TOO!"
Percy: "MY SPIDER SENSE IS TINGLING!"
Rakki: "You don't have spider sense."
Percy: "I HAVE JAYFER SENSE!"
Mica: "That's not a thing."
Percy: "IT IS TODAY!"
Calix: "Let them believe."
Freya: "It's harmless."
Edrix: "Mostly."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Jay couldn't sleep.
She lay in bed. Staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow.
Something was happening tomorrow.
She didn't know what. But she felt it.
Her phone buzzed.
Keifer: You awake?
Jay: Yes.
Keifer: Me too.
Jay: Can't sleep?
Keifer: Thinking about you.
Jay: Smooth.
Keifer: Honest.
Jay: Tss.
Keifer: Stop.
Jay: No.
Keifer: I love you.
Jay: I love you too.
Keifer: Tomorrow.
Jay: Tomorrow.
She smiled. Closed her eyes.
Tomorrow.