(Jay's POV)
(Few days later, on Jay's Birthday)
It was finally my 18th birthday—the big 1-8. In the chaotic world of Section E, I expected to wake up to a bucket of water or a chorus of "ulupong" noises, but instead, I woke up to my family actually being... civil?
Kuya Angelo was already downstairs, looking far too serious for a Saturday morning. He was hovering over the table like a bodyguard, while Horoscopic Aries was suspiciously quiet, probably planning which of my birthday gifts he could "borrow" later.
"Happy birthday, Jay," Kuya Angelo said, giving me that protective older-cousin look that said 'If Keifer breathes wrong today, he's dead.' Ion standing next to Kuya gave me warm hug and wished me," Happy birthday to Keifer's melody!!"
"Happy birthday, Panget," Aries added, though he actually handed me a decent breakfast plate for once.
Even Lola was there, smiling her gentle "I know all your secrets" smile, while Tita Gemma was busy fussing over the decorations, making sure every ribbon was perfect.
"Our Jay-jay is finally a lady," Tita Gemma teared up, though we all knew I'd probably be back to wrestling with Section E by Monday.
Then there was Keifer. He didn't come in with some loud, flashy billionaire display of cash. Instead, he was the literal definition of a gentleman. He showed up at the house, greeted Lola with the utmost respect, and even managed to survive a five-minute silent stare-down with Kuya Angelo without breaking a sweat.
The party he planned wasn't about the price tag; it was about the details. He knew I'd be overwhelmed by anything too big, so he organized a beautiful, attentive gathering where the only thing louder than the music was the Section E boys arguing over who got the first slice of cake.
As we sat together away from the noise of the boys (who were currently trying to see if they could fit five marshmallows in their mouths at once), I looked at Keifer. He was watching me with that soft, attentive gaze that made me forget he was technically the most powerful heir in the room.
"You're awfully quiet," he whispered. "Is it the party? I can kick the boys out if you want."
I laughed. "No, it's perfect. I was just thinking about your birthday."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The one in London?"
"Exactly," I grinned, leaning closer. "Remember what I said to you over the phone?"
Keifer sighed, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "I have a feeling you're about to remind me."
"Nyaapi Bday!" I chirped, loud enough that a few Section E boys turned around to laugh.
Keifer closed his eyes for a second, looking like he was praying for patience. "Jay, I'm a CEO of Watson Enterprises . I have a reputation. And you're out here calling me 'Nyaapi' in front of my peers."
" So let me wish you in your style only", he said and smirked heavily.
"Nyaapi Birthday My queen!!", he whispered in my ear and a sudden flashback ran into my mind that how I had wished him birthday thinking that Gagobaliw guy was someone else instead of him. I then laughed and said," Getting my habits already" and he smirked like a proud husband.
He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear, his expression turning serious in that gentle way only he can do. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy birthday, My Mutya."
I felt my heart skip. Between my overprotective family and my billionaire gentleman, 18 was looking pretty good—even if I did have to spend the rest of the night making sure Aries didn't eat my entire cake.
As the night went on, the party became a delicate balancing act. On one side was Keifer, behaving like the perfect, attentive gentleman, and on the other was the sheer chaos of Section E.
Kuya Angelo was still watching Keifer like a hawk, ready to strike if he so much as held my hand too long. Aries, meanwhile, was busy making sure the food didn't stand a chance, though he kept a protective eye on me whenever Felix or the others got too rowdy.
Lola and Tita Gemma were nearby, beaming at me, but I could see Tita Gemma's eyes darting to my wrist every few minutes, probably checking if Keifer had already given me another "sentimental" piece of jewelry.
Just when things seemed under control, the Section E boys marched toward us in a formation that usually meant trouble.
"Mutya!" Felix shouted, holding a suspiciously large, lumpy box wrapped in newspaper. "From the whole squad. We spent a lot of time... finding this."
I looked at Keifer, who just gave me a 'good luck' smirk. I cautiously opened the box. Inside was a neon-pink, battery-operated megaphone with 'SECTION E PROPERTY' bedazzled on the side, and—for some reason—a giant jar of pickled mangoes.
"For when you need to yell at Keifer from the other side of his mansion," Ci-N chirped.
"And the mangoes are for... well, just in case," David added with a wink.
Before I could even process the gift, Kuya Angelo swooped in like a commando. He snatched the megaphone and the jar before I could even touch them.
"Absolutely not," Kuya Angelo declared, holding the megaphone away from me. "I am not letting her have a device that can amplify her voice when she's already this loud. And these mangoes? They look expired. I'm confiscating this for 'safety reasons.'"
"Hey! That's my birthday gift!" I protested, though deep down I was kind of relieved.
"It's a security hazard, Jay-jay," Kuya Angelo insisted, already walking away to hide them in the trunk of his car.
Aries laughed, leaning against the wall. "Don't worry, Panget. I'll help you steal it back later. For a price."
I will also shout Horoscope if he doesn't stops calling me Panget.
Keifer leaned down, whispering in my ear so the others wouldn't hear. "I have a better gift for you later anyway. One that doesn't involve neon plastic or questionable fruit."
I smiled, remembering the 'Nyaapi Bday' I told him back when he was in London. He might be a billionaire and a gentleman, but in this house, under the watchful eyes of my family and the insanity of Section E, he was just Keifer. And that was exactly how I wanted it.
The party was winding down, and the Section E boys were busy trying to convince Aries that they could fit the megaphone in the fridge. This was the moment. Keifer straightened his suit, looked more serious than he does at a board meeting, and walked straight up to Kuya Angelo.
I held my breath. Tita Gemma and Lola went quiet, sensed the tension, and even Aries stopped mid-bite of a sandwich.
"Angelo," Keifer started, his voice steady but respectful. The "billionaire" air was gone—he was just a guy talking to his girlfriend's overprotective guardian. "Jay is 18 now. We've been through a lot, from the London distance to the chaos of Section E."
Kuya Angelo crossed his arms, looking like a stone wall. "I'm listening."
"I want her with me," Keifer said firmly. "I'm asking for your permission for Jay to move in with me. I want to take care of her properly, and I want her by my side every day."
The silence was so heavy you could hear a pin drop. Aries looked at me, then at Keifer, then back to the sandwich.
Kuya Angelo stared at Keifer for a long, agonizing minute. Then, he let out a long sigh and looked at me. "You're 18, Jay. You're officially an adult, even if you still act like a kid half the time." He turned back to Keifer. "You've proven you're a gentleman And honestly... if she stays here, she'll just keep stressing me out. At least with you, I know she's safe."
He stepped forward and actually patted Keifer's shoulder. "Just remember: if she cries, I don't care how many billions you have—I'm coming for you."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Keifer promised, a look of genuine relief washing over his face.
I couldn't help it. I jumped up and hugged Kuya Angelo, then ran to Keifer. "So... does this mean I can bring the megaphone to your house?"
Keifer laughed, pulling me close. "Let's not push our luck, Jay."
"Fine," I whispered, grinning up at him. "But you're still getting a 'Nyaapi Bday' every single year for the rest of our lives."
"I've accepted my fate," he smiled, kissing my forehead.
(Next Morning)
The next morning, the "moving out" process was less of a romantic montage and more of a tactical military operation—except the soldiers were all idiots.
Section E had arrived in full force to "help" me pack. By "help," I mean Felix was currently trying on my hoodies to see which ones he could sneak out, and Ci-N was busy labeling my boxes with things like "Nuclear Waste" and "Jay-jay's Secret Stash of Shame."
"Are you sure you want to take her?" Aries asked Keifer, holding a half-empty bag of my favorite chips he'd definitely stolen from my drawer. "You can still back out. No refunds, no exchanges."
Aww.. such a horoscopic behaviour!!!
Keifer, being the ultimate gentleman, just leaned against the doorframe with a patient smile. He had already carried my heaviest suitcases to the car himself, refusing to let me lift a finger. "I think I can handle the chaos, Aries. I've had practice."
Kuya Angelo was standing in the corner, arms crossed, watching Ci-n and the others try to fit my giant stuffed bear into a box that was clearly too small. "Just make sure she eats on time," Angelo grumbled, his voice softening. "And Keifer? Change the locks if the rest of Section E shows up uninvited."
"Hey! We heard that!" the boys shouted in unison.
I walked over to Lola and Tita Gemma, who were waiting by the stairs. Tita Gemma was already dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "Our little Mutya is leaving the nest," she sobbed. "Make sure you visit, Jay! And don't forget to send us photos of the house!"
"I will, Tita," I laughed, giving them both a tight squeeze. Lola patted my cheek, her eyes twinkling. She knew Keifer would treat me like a queen.
As I walked out the door for the last time as a resident, Keifer took my hand. We walked past the car where the Section E boys were currently cheering and cat-calling us like we were in a parade.
"Ready to go?" Keifer asked, looking at me with that attentive, focused gaze that always made my heart do a flip.
"Ready," I said. Then, leaning in close so only he could hear, I whispered, "You know, now that we're living together, I can say it to you in person every morning."
Keifer groaned playfully, already knowing what was coming. "Jay, please."
"Nyaapi morning! Nyaapi lunch! Nyaapi everything!"
"I've made a huge mistake," Keifer joked, but he pulled me into the passenger seat and kissed my hand, looking like the happiest billionaire in the world.
As we drove off, I looked back to see Aries waving a bag of my snacks and Kuya Angelo finally cracking a small, proud smile. The London days were over; the "Live-In" era of the Mutya and her Gentleman had officially begun.