Chapter 9: The Island of Ulupongs.
A/n: keifer and aries are on good terms.
The next morning started with chaos.
Not normal Section E chaos.
Keifer-level chaos.
I was halfway through fixing my hairs when my phone exploded with notifications.
Section E GC (127 messages)
Ci-N: EMERGENCY.
Felix: BRING EXTRA FOOD.
Felix: NO SERIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Aries: Jay, don't panic.
Aries: But also… maybe panic a little.
I blinked. That was never a good sign.
Then my phone rang.
Keifer.
"Good morning, wifey," his voice came through, way too cheerful for 6:45 AM.
"What did you do?" I asked immediately.
"I love how that's your first question."
"Because every time you sound happy, my life becomes dangerous."
He laughed. "Get ready. We're not going to school today."
I froze.
"…What?"
"I'm taking you somewhere," he said.
"Somewhere important."
"Keifer Watson, if this is another surprise in the middle of the ocean, I need emotional preparation."
There was a pause.
Then—
"…It is in the middle of the ocean."
I groaned.
Thirty minutes later, I was standing outside our gate with a backpack, a heart attack, and Kuya Angelo staring at Keifer like he was calculating burial costs.
"You're taking her where?" Kuya asked slowly.
"Ulupong Island, Boss," Keifer replied calmly.
Kuya blinked.
Aries choked behind him.
Ci-N, who had somehow appeared out of nowhere, whispered, "THE LEGENDARY ISLAND."
Kuya looked at me. "You know about this?"
I nodded slowly.
Of course I did.
Ulupong Island.
The unofficial territory of Section E.
The place where the worst fights, biggest celebrations, heartbreak, patch ups and most chaotic memories happened.
The place they called their kingdom.
Kuya sighed like a tired war general.
"Fine. But three conditions."
Keifer straightened like he was receiving military orders.
"1. Life jackets.
2. No cliff jumping.
3. If she comes home sunburned, I'm suing the ocean."
"Understood, Boss."
Kuya turned to me. "And you."
"Yes, Kuya?"
"Don't let Felix start a fire."
"…I'll try."
The boat ride was already a disaster.
Felix brought a speaker.
Ci-N brought three coolers.
Aries brought a first aid kit.
Denzal brought fireworks.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE FIREWORKS IN DAYLIGHT?" I yelled.
"PREPARATION!" he yelled back.
Keifer just stood behind me, arms around my waist, chin resting on my shoulder like this was the most peaceful day of his life.
"Happy?" I asked.
"I brought my whole kingdom," he murmured. "And my queen."
My face turned into lava.
"Gago," I whispered.
He kissed my temple.
"Profanity."
And then—
The island appeared.
Small. Private. Wild. Beautiful.
Clear water. White sand. Tall trees moving with the wind.
The moment the boat touched shore—
Felix jumped off.
"ULUPONG ISLAND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!"
Ci-N fell into the water.
Aries sat down immediately like he already regretted life.
And Keifer…
Keifer took my hand.
"Welcome home, Jay-Jay."
Something in my chest tightened.
Because he didn't say welcome to the island.
He said home.
The day turned into chaos immediately.
Volleyball.
Swimming.
Ci-N chasing crabs.
Felix almost setting the grill on fire twice.
At one point, I was laughing so hard I fell into the sand.
When I looked up, Keifer was watching me.
Not smiling.
Just… looking.
Like he was memorizing me.
"What?" I asked.
"You look happy," he said softly.
"I am."
He sat beside me, brushing sand off my arm.
"I like this version of your life," he murmured.
"The one where you're laughing. Not worrying about your Kuya. Not worrying about our families. Just… you."
I leaned my head on his shoulder.
"This is your world, Keifer."
He shook his head.
"No. This is ours now."
By sunset, the chaos calmed down.
The boys were eating.
Felix was singing badly.
Ci-N was asleep on a cooler.
Aries was staring at the horizon like a tired father of eight.
I was equally as tired as them but then keifer pulled me aside.
"What?" i asked softly.
"Let's go for a swim" he said removing his shirt.
We got in the water it was a bit warm because of the sun.
And suddenly-
Keifer pulled me into a hug so tight my feet almost left the water.
"I love you," he breathed into my hair.
"Until the end of the universe?"
"Until after that."
I laughed.
"Gago."
He pulled back, eyes dark.
"Profanity."
And then he kissed me.
Slow.
Warm.
The kind of kiss that felt like promises and sunsets and forever.
"THEY'RE KISSING!"
Felix's voice echoed across the island.
We jumped apart.
Ci-N stood up instantly. "I KNEW IT! ISLAND ROMANCE!"
Aries covered his face.
Keifer sighed.
"They're ruining my emotional moment."
I grinned.
"This is your kingdom, Your Majesty."
He smirked.
"Yeah."
His arm wrapped around my shoulders as we walked back toward the chaos, the firelight, the laughter.
"Next time," he whispered near my ear, "I'm bringing you here alone again."
My heart did a dangerous flip.
"…Kuya will kill you."
He shrugged.
"Worth it."
I looked at the island.
At Section E.
At the boy beside me.
And for the first time, Ulupong Island didn't feel like our territory.
It felt like the beginning of something bigger.
Chaotic.
Dangerous.
And very, very ours.
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Author's note.
Sorry sorry for the delay.
My exams are going on. I'll post a extra 1 or 2 chapters today.
Again sorry 😔.
Bye bye 🫶🏻🌷