(Jay's POV)
I love my brother Angelo, but this man lives for drama. One minute he's "working abroad," and the next he's calling to say, "Surprise! My engagement to Ion is now a wedding. It starts in three hours. Don't be late!"
I looked at , Keifer, who was currently polishing his shoes for the third time today.
"Keifer, move!" I yelled, grabbing my purse. "We have ninety minutes to find outfits or I'm attending demon's wedding in my pajamas only !"
We hit the mall like a whirlwind. I was sweating, my hair was a bird's nest, and I was throwing dresses over the fitting room door like a manic pitcher.
"How's this?" I screamed, popping out in a dress that had so many ruffles I looked like a giant loofah.
Keifer stayed perfectly calm. He was holding my half-eaten pretzel and three shopping bags. "It's lovely, Jay. If the theme is 'Under the Sea' and you're playing the part of the coral reef."
"Ugh! Next!"
I finally found a sleek, champagne-colored dress. The only problem? The zipper was stuck halfway up my back.
"Keifer! Get in here! I'm trapped!"
He squeezed into the tiny fitting room. It was a tight fit. He was so close I could smell his cologne—that woody scent that always makes my brain go mushy. His hands were warm as he fiddled with the zipper.
Why is he so hot? So damn husband personality!!
"Relax, Jay," he whispered, his voice vibrating right near my ear. "You're shaking."
"Because I'm stressed!" I turned around, and he was looking at me with that soft, 'you're-the-only-girl-in-the-world' look.
"You're beautiful," he said, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. "Angelo is going to be so happy to see you. And if he isn't, I'll remind him that I'm the one who had to survive this shopping trip with you."
I laughed, the panic finally melting away. "You're a saint, Keifer."
"I know," he smirked, giving me a quick, sweet kiss. "Now, let's go. I still need to find a tie that suites my handsome face"
Look now who's acting like Percy????
We made it to the ceremony just as the music started. As Demonic Angelo and Ion stood at the altar, Keifer leaned over and whispered, "Next time your brother gets married, can he give us at least twenty-four hours? My heart can't take the cardio."
I squeezed his hand, leaning my head on his shoulder. "Deal. But only if you promise to keep being the best dressed guy in the room."
"Done," he whispered back and smirked heavily.
As we skidded into the back pew, Angelo turned around, sweating through his tuxedo. When his eyes landed on us, his jaw literally dropped. He mouthed, "You're alive?" while Ion, looking like an actual goddess, gave me a subtle thumbs-up and a wink that said, "Nice dress, glad you made it."
Keifer, being the peak gentleman he is, didn't even look winded. He just gave Angelo a dignified nod and a "thumbs-up" so smooth it looked rehearsed.
"See?" Keifer whispered, leaning in so close I could feel his breath. "They didn't even start the oaths without us. Probably because Angelo was too busy checking the door for your pyjamas and night shirt."
"Shut up," I giggled, poking him in the ribs.
I'm serious," he murmured, taking my hand and interlacing our fingers.
"But next time we do a 'sudden wedding,' let's make sure it's ours so we can actually choose the snacks."
My heart did a little somersault. "Is that a proposal or a hint that you're hungry?"
"Both," he grinned, kissing my knuckles just as the priest told Angelo he could finally kiss the bride.
The reception was basically a beautiful mess. Angelo was vibrating with nervous energy, and Ion was busy being the world's most glamorous hostess. Meanwhile, I was just eyeing the buffet like it was a long-lost friend.
Suddenly, I saw it: the "Cake Incident."
The venue staff had placed the five-tier masterpiece on a table that apparently had one leg shorter than the others. As a group of kids started a high-speed chase nearby, the table began to do a slow, terrifying lean.
"Keifer!" I hissed, pointing. "The cake is going down!"
In a move that was 10% James Bond and 90% "Jay really want a slice of that," Keifer lunged. He didn't just walk; he glided across the dance floor, sliding onto one knee right next to the table.
With the grace of a Victorian butler, he stuck his expensive leather dress shoe right under the short table leg to stabilize it.
"Jay," he called out, his face strained but his voice perfectly calm. "I am currently the foundation of this wedding. Please find a coaster. Or a very thick napkin."
I scrambled over, grabbed a stack of heavy cardstock programs, and shoved them under the leg just as Keifer slid his foot out. He stood up, dusted off his trousers, and adjusted his cuffs like he hadn't just saved the entire party from a vanilla-bean tragedy.
Look everyone! This is my hubby!!!
Angelo rushed over, clutching his chest. "Keifer! You saved the cake! So I really believe that i have trained you nice!"
Ion said," I will name our first born after you " a clear sarcasm.
"Please don't," Keifer smiled, patening Angelo on the back. "The world only needs one Keifer. Just make sure Jay gets the corner piece with the extra frosting."
He walked back to me, looking completely unbothered."You're a hero," I said, wiping a smudge of dust off his shoulder. "And you have a very strong foot."
"It's a gift," he whispered, pulling me onto the dance floor. "But if the champagne tower starts leaning, we're leaving. I only have two feet, Jay."
The ceremony was beautiful, but let's be real: I was mostly just relieved that I wasn't currently stuck in a dressing room zipper. As the music slowed down to a romantic hum, Keifer pulled me onto the dance floor.
He didn't just "dance"—he held me like I was made of glass, one hand firm on my waist and the other keeping mine tucked against his chest.
"You know," he murmured, spinning me slowly while I tried not to trip over my own feet. "For a day that started with a major wardrobe emergency, this turned out pretty well."
"That's because you're a superhero and my hubby ," I said literally blushing!! He then teased me and said," Make sure that you don't loose control jay, because once you do, then don't blame me!"
Huh!! Literally Audacity!
We were literally centre of attention!
Behind us, I heard Angelo yell, "Hey! Stop stealing my spotlight!" but I didn't care. I had my gentleman, my champagne-colored dress, and—most importantly—a very large slice of saved wedding cake waiting for me at the table.
At the reception table, the food was disappearing faster than the sanity of anyone who'd gone shopping with me earlier. My horoscopic brother, Aries, was shoveling lechon onto his plate like it was a competitive sport, while Canvas Ella, tried to politely hide his mountain of rice with a napkin.
"So," Aries said, mid-chew, looking at me and Keifer. "Now that Angelo is officially Ion's problem, when are we doing this again? I need to know how much time I have to save up for a suit that doesn't pinch my armpits."
Basically he doesn't talks about his marriage and stuff but I think today he is high on champagne!!
We just survived today, Aries," I laughed, leaning back. "Let us breathe!"
Tita Gemma reached over, squeezing my cheeks so hard I thought my face might rearrange. "Oh, Jay!! You and Keifer look so beautiful. I already have the guest list for your wedding in my purse. It's only three hundred people!"
Lola, sitting regally at the head of the table, nodded solemnly. "Three hundred and fifty, Gemma. Don't forget the elders . Jay needs a big blessing because she's so stubborn."
Keifer, the ever-perfect gentleman, just smiled and kissed Lola's hand. "She isn't stubborn, Lola. She just knows exactly what she wants. Usually, it's tacos, but sometimes it's me."
Aww.. my hubby! This man is perfect , just perfect!!!
Ion, leaning against Angelo and looking mischievous, decided it was time to stir the pot. She looked at Keifer's protective posture—he was currently cutting my steak for me like I was a princess—and smirked.
"You know, Jay," Ion teased, loud enough for the whole table to hear. "Based on how Keifer treats you—the door opening, the hand-holding, the constant 'gentleman' energy—I give it three months after the wedding. You're going to be pregnant immediately. He's the type to have the nursery painted before you even take the test."
I choked on my water, coughing so hard Aries had to thud me on the back. "Ion! Shut up! My sister is not anyone's wife!"
Keifer replied," Well too late! She's mine "
Everyone where then making comments and
Beside me, Keifer didn't say a word. He just kept that calm, charming smile on his face. But under the table, away from Tita Gemma and Lola's watchful eyes, his hand found my thigh. He didn't just hold it; he slowly roamed his hand upward in a lingering, possessive stroke that made my entire face turn the color of a ripe tomato.
I turned into , coughing even harder and staring straight at my plate.
"You okay, Jay?" Aries asked, oblivious. "You look like you're having an allergic reaction to the salad. When does a total foodie start to have allergy from food??"
This horoscope!!!
"She's fine," Keifer said smoothly, his hand still doing very un-gentlemanly things under the tablecloth. "She's just... excited about the future."
Lola might be nearly eighty, but her eyesight is like a hawk's when it comes to "funny business." She squinted at my bright red face and then shifted her gaze to Keifer, who was looking a little too innocent.
"Keifer," Lola said, her voice cutting through the noise of Aries and Angelo arguing over who got the last piece of crispy skin. "Why is my granddaughter turning the color of a hibiscus flower? Are you pinching her?"
Keifer froze. His hand—which had been a little too busy under the table—instantly retreated to his own lap. "No, Lola. I was just... checking if she was still feeling lightheaded from the shopping trip."
"Hmm," Lola hummed, leaning forward until her nose was inches from his.
Tita Gemma gasped, clutching her pearls. "Lola! Let them be! They are in love!"
"Good," Lola nodded, finally returning to her pancit. "And keep your hands on top of the table. I wasn't born yesterday."
Lola's aura ♾️♾️
Then she suddenly laughed and said," You got scared?" And then added," You all don't even understand sarcasm and blame me for being old!"
Now I understand that I have totally inherited her genes!
And suddenly everyone remember that I am not the only one in the house who can be teased! So the conversation shifts officially to Horoscope Aries!!!
Aries argued," Why talking about my marriage when you already have Jay on your plate?"
Tita Gemma dismissed this with a wave of her hand. "Nonsense! Aries, you are the firstborn. You are the pillar! You will stand there like a statue. A very handsome, silent statue. Lola and I have already picked out your Barong. It has so much embroidery you won't even be able to bend your arms—that way, you can't fidget!"
Aries looked at me with pure desperation. "Jay, help me. They're talking about a three-hour choir service. I'll pass out from hunger before the rings even come out."
"Sorry, bro," I laughed, feeling zero pity. "You're the eldest. You're the sacrificial lamb for the rest of us. If you survive the velvet capes and the trumpets, maybe they'll go easier on me and Keifer."
Lola tapped her cane for attention. "Jay is right. Aries must show the way. A man's wedding is the moment he proves he can handle the pressure. If he can survive Gemma's guest list, he can survive anything life throws at him."
Ion leaned over, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked at Keifer. "See, Keifer? You're lucky. Aries is the shield. While Tita and Lola are busy arguing over whether the centerpieces should be lilies or roses for Aries, you and Jay can basically elope."
Keifer chuckled, his hand doing that slow, rhythmic roaming on my thigh again that made it very hard for me to focus on the conversation.
I looked over. Aries was slumped in his chair, eyes glazed over as Tita Gemma showed him a picture of a "unity candle" the size of a fire hydrant.
"I think he's just entered a trance to cope," I muttered.
The wedding finally wrapped up after six hours of Tita Gemma's non-stop singing and Lola making everyone dance the tinikling. We all headed back to the Royal Hotel, but while Aries was probably being lectured by the elders in the lobby, Keifer managed to slip away with me to our room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the silence felt heavy and sweet. The fancy hotel room was dim, lit only by the city lights peeking through the curtains.
"Finally," Keifer breathed. He didn't wait. He pulled me into his arms, his suit jacket already discarded on a chair.
He was back to being the perfect gentleman, but with a hungry edge. He started unzipping my dress—slowly, carefully—his warm fingers grazing my skin and sending shivers straight to my toes. "You have no idea how hard it was to sit at that table and not just take you away," he whispered against my neck.
He turned me around, his expression soft and full of affection. He gathered me into a close embrace, and we moved toward the large, comfortable bed. We sank into the pillows together, the quiet of the room a stark contrast to the loud celebration from earlier.
(Author's POV)
"Keifer," Jay breathed, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"I've got you," he murmured. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Jay's forehead before pulling the soft duvet over both of them. They stayed like that for a long time, just holding each other and enjoying the stillness. Keifer wrapped his arms tightly around Jay, creating a sense of warmth and safety.
After a while, the exhaustion of the long day began to set in. Jay rested a head on Keifer's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
He tucked the blanket around Jay's shoulders and whispered, "No more loud music, no more relatives asking questions. Just this."
Jay snuggled closer, eyes fluttering shut. "This is exactly what I needed."
(Jay's POV)
I excused myself to go to washroom and when I came out, keifer was standing right in front of me!
He asked," Ready jay?" And I bit my lips.
Next I know is that he didn't wait for an answer. His hands slid down to my waist, lifting me up so my legs wrapped around him. He carried me to the king-sized bed, never breaking the kiss. As we hit the soft mattress, he moved over me, his weight a warm, welcome pressure.
The air in the room felt electric, heavy with the tension that had been building between us for hours. Every touch was deliberate, a silent conversation between two people who were finally alone. He looked at me with an intensity that made everything else fall away—the noise of the wedding, the expectations of the family, the chaos of the day.
Keifer started kissing my neck, and his hands moved slowly over my body. It felt amazing. We didn't care about anything else. He took off his shirt, showing his strong chest, and I pulled him closer. Our breath was heavy as we kissed each other. It was hot, sweet and beautiful moment. After a long time, we lay there, cuddling into each other, just holding each other. He whispered that he loved me, and I fell asleep with my head on his chest, feeling totally safe and loved.
One successful wedding came to an end!