Three days into the honeymoon.
Paradise. Privacy. Perfection.
Then—
Jay's phone rang.
Video call.
Mica calling...
Jay: "Should I answer?"
Keifer: "They'll keep calling until you do."
Jay: "True."
She answered.
Mica's face filled the screen. Then Rakki. Then Freya. Then Ella.
Mica: "JAY! FINALLY!"
Rakki: "We've been waiting!"
Freya: "Three days is too long."
Ella: "We need updates."
Jay: "We're on HONEYMOON."
Mica: "We KNOW. That's why we need updates."
Jay: "There's nothing to update."
Freya: "Liar."
Jay: "We've been relaxing."
Rakki: "Relaxing?"
Jay: "Yes."
Ella: "That's all?"
Jay: "That's all."
Mica squinted at the screen.
Mica: "Jay."
Jay: "What?"
Mica: "Tilt your head."
Jay: "Why?"
Mica: "Just do it."
Jay tilted her head.
The girls SCREAMED.
Mica: "IS THAT A HICKEY?!"
Rakki: "ON YOUR NECK?!"
Freya: "MULTIPLE HICKEYS?!"
Ella: "JAY MARIANO!"
Jay's hand flew to her neck. "It's NOT—"
Freya: "It definitely IS!"
Mica: "KEIFER WATSON LEFT MARKS!"
Keifer walked into frame. Calm. Amused.
Keifer: "Something wrong?"
Mica: "YOU!"
Rakki: "You left marks!"
Freya: "On her neck!"
Ella: "Multiple marks!"
Keifer: "Did I?"
Jay: "KEIFER."
Keifer: "I don't remember."
Freya: "LIAR!"
Keifer: "Maybe."
The phone was passed around.
Mica: "SHOW US THE VILLA!"
Rakki: "SHOW US THE BEACH!"
Freya: "SHOW US EVERYTHING!"
Jay turned the camera. Walked through the villa.
Open walls. Flowing curtains. Ocean view.
Mica: "THIS IS INSANE!"
Rakki: "THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!"
Freya: "THIS IS EXPENSIVE!"
Ella: "This is goals."
Then—
Percy's face appeared. He'd joined the call.
Percy: "JAYFER HONEYMOON! LET ME SEE!"
Jay: "Percy."
Percy: "I NEED TO DOCUMENT THE VILLA! THE BEACH! THE ROMANCE!"
Keifer: "No."
Percy: "KEIFER!"
Keifer: "Percy."
Percy: "YOU CAN'T DENY HISTORY!"
Keifer: "Watch me."
Percy: "I'M WATCHING! THAT'S THE POINT!"
Ci-n joined.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY! BROTHER KEIFER! I MISS YOU!"
Rakki: "You saw them three days ago."
Ci-n: "THREE DAYS IS FOREVER!"
Jay: "We miss you too, Ci-n."
Ci-n: "SHOW ME THE OCEAN!"
Jay turned the camera to the ocean.
Ci-n: "IT'S BEAUTIFUL! I'M CRYING!"
Rakki: "Again?"
Ci-n: "ALWAYS!"
Aries and Ella appeared.
Aries: "You two alive?"
Jay: "We're alive."
Aries: "Good."
Ella: "He's been worried."
Aries: "I haven't."
Ella: "You have."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "Did you just—"
Aries: "No."
Ella: "You definitely did."
Aries: "Shut up."
Yuri and Liana waved in the background.
Yuri: "Happy honeymoon."
Liana: "Enjoy!"
Jay: "Thanks!"
Yuri's grandma appeared. "LET ME SEE THE BEACH!"
Jay's grandma appeared beside her. "LET ME SEE MY GRANDDAUGHTER!"
Yuri's grandma: "I WAS HERE FIRST!"
Jay's grandma: "YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE!"
Yuri's grandma: "I'M EVERYWHERE!"
They went back to arguing.
Everyone smiled. Normal.
Grazel Jay grabbed the phone.
Grazel Jay: "AUNTIE JAY! UNCLE KEIFER!"
Jay: "Hi, baby!"
Grazel Jay: "DID YOU FIND MORE FLOWERS THERE?"
Keifer: "Lots of flowers."
Grazel Jay: "GOOD! THROW THEM FOR ME!"
Jay: "We will."
Grazel Jay: "PROMISE?"
Keifer: "Promise."
Grazel Jay: "OKAY! BYE!"
She ran off.
Denzel: "She's been practicing flower throwing for your return."
Grace: "The garden is still recovering."
Tita Gema took the phone.
Tita Gema: "ARE YOU EATING?!"
Jay: "Yes, Tita."
Tita Gema: "GOOD! DON'T STARVE!"
Keifer: "We won't."
Tita Gema: "AND DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO!"
Jay's grandma: "THAT LIST IS SHORT!"
Yuri's grandma: "VERY SHORT!"
They high-fived.
Jasfer appeared. Eyes wet.
Jasfer: "My babies. Married. Honeymoon."
Serina: "Don't cry."
Jasfer: "I'M NOT CRYING!"
Serina: "You're crying."
Jasfer: "HAPPY CRYING!"
Serina: "Same thing?"
Jasfer: "SAME THING!"
Serina smiled. "Take care of each other."
Jay: "We will, Mom."
Keifer: "Always."
Rory: "I've calculated optimal call duration. 47 minutes remaining."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on who cries first when they come home."
David: "Everyone. Again. 500."
Drew: "Safe bet."
Eren appeared with Kevin the Thirteenth. "Kevin says hi."
Josh waved.
Baster hummed a "welcome back" melody.
Freya: "Before you go—"
Mica: "Show us the hickey again!"
Jay: "NO."
Rakki: "Come ON!"
Ella: "We need proof!"
Keifer: "Proof of what?"
Freya: "That you two are actually on honeymoon!"
Keifer pulled Jay close. Kissed her neck. Right where the marks were.
Jay: "KEIFER!"
Keifer: "Proof enough?"
The girls SCREAMED.
Percy: "DOCUMENTED! FROM THE CALL!"
Ci-n: "I SCREENSHOT!"
Rakki: "Those two!"
Mica: "Forever!"
Freya: "Disgusting!"
Edrix: (off-screen) "Perfect."
Freya: "Shut up!"
Edrix: "Never!"
The call ended.
Laughter. Love. Chaos.
Jay and Keifer sat together. Phone down. Ocean sounds.
Jay: "They're insane."
Keifer: "They're family."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "OUR thing."
Jay: "OUR thing."
He kissed her.
The sun set.
Perfect.