(Jay's POV)
I woke up expecting a normal day of Keifer being a grumpy billionaire-in-the-making, but instead, I found a garment bag and a literal manual on the bed.
"Wear this. Accessories are in the box. Driver is downstairs at 6:00 PM sharp. Don't be late or I'll add a 'profanity penalty' to your record," the note read in Keifer's aggressive handwriting.
Tss. Engot talaga, I thought, but I opened the bag anyway. It was a stunning, deep emerald dress that screamed "Section E Royalty."
What I didn't know was that while I was napping, Keifer had turned into a drill sergeant. He'd gathered everyone—and I mean everyone—at our new place.
The Secret Meeting (The Recap)
Later, Ci-N told me that Keifer actually stood in front of the Section E boys, Kuya Angelo, and my family like he was presenting a quarterly business report.
"Listen up," Keifer apparently told them, his eyes piercing through Ci-N's soul. "Jay-Jay and I have been living together, and I'm making it permanent. If any of you—specifically the Section E idiots—try to ruin the 'romantic atmosphere' with your loud eating or stupid jokes, I will personally fund your relocation to a deserted island."
Kuya Angelo, being the overprotective cousin he is, just crossed his arms. "And why should we agree to this, Watson?"
Keifer didn't even blink. "Because the 'Monster' is dead, my brothers are safe, and I've already bought out her favorite street food vendor for the next five years. Also, I love her more than I hate all of you combined."
Apparently, that was enough for Angelo. The Section E boys just cheered because they heard "free food."
The Big Night
The driver dropped me off at a private rooftop. As the doors opened, the smell hit me first. It wasn't expensive French perfume—it was isaw, kwek-kwek, and calamares.
The entire rooftop was decked out in fairy lights, but instead of fancy caviar, there was a buffet of every single street food I'd ever craved. There was even a fountain, but instead of chocolate, it looked suspiciously like manong's special spicy vinegar.
Keifer was standing there, looking like a model but holding a stick of fishballs.
"You're five minutes late," he grumbled, though his eyes were soft. He walked over and handed me a bouquet... made entirely of neatly wrapped bacon roses.
"Keifer, what is all this?" I asked, trying not to laugh.
"I gathered the idiots. I told your family. I even convinced Angelo not to punch me," he said, taking my hand. He led me to the edge of the roof where we could see the city. "I spent my life protecting people from shadows, Jay. Now I want to spend it just... eating isaw with you. Forever."
He dropped to one knee, pulling out a ring that sparkled like the "Mutya" he always called me.
"Jasper Jean Mariano, will you marry me? If you say no, I've already paid the driver to lock the doors, so choose wisely."
I laughed, tears hitting my cheeks. "Tss. Fine. But only if I get the first batch of calamares"
"Deal," he whispered, sliding the ring on my finger before pulling me into a kiss that definitely would have earned me a dozen 'profanity penalties' if I'd said anything else.
Suddenly, a loud POP echoed. We turned to see the Section E boys falling out from behind a giant decorative plant, covered in glitter and holding half-eaten sticks of isaw.
"CONGRATS, PREZ!" Ci-N screamed.
Keifer sighed, resting his forehead against mine. "I'm still sending them to that island tomorrow."
The rooftop was a beautiful disaster. The Section E boys were already fighting over the last stick of fishballs, while Lola was surprisingly teaching Keigan and Keiren how to properly dip kwek-kwek into the "vinegar fountain."
We all sat down at a long, makeshift table that Keifer had clearly ordered someone to decorate with "expensive but street-vibe" aesthetics. It was surreal. On one side, you had my chaotic family—Tita Gemma, Lola, Aries, Ella, Angelo and Ion. On the other, the Watson brothers looking like they had just been adopted into a circus.
"So," Aries started, leaning back and looking at Keifer with a smirk. "Now that you're officially stuck with her, Watson, do you have a plan for when she gets 'hungry' at 2 AM? Because last time, she almost ate my homework."
"I've already factored that into the budget," Keifer replied deadpan, not even looking up from his plate. "I'm installing a 24-hour convenience store inside our future house. And a soundproof room for when she starts nagging."
"Hoy, anong nagging!" I shouted, hitting his arm.
"See?" Keifer pointed at me, looking at Keiren. "Note this down. This is the 'Pre-Bite' phase. You must provide snacks immediately to avoid injury."
Keiren actually took out a notebook. "Got it, Kuya. Snacks = Survival."
Lola chuckled, patting Keifer's hand. "You're really going to need a lot of patience with my granddaughter, dear. But don't worry, she does know how to do laundry... though only for her own socks."
The table erupted in laughter, and for the first time, I saw Keifer actually crack a real, genuine smile. But then, Kuya Angelo stood up. The table went silent because when Angelo uses his "Barangay Captain" voice, even the Section E boys stop chewing.
"Since we're all here," Angelo started, looking at me and then at Keifer. "I have two announcements. First, for the 'Groom-to-be.'"
He looked at Keifer. "I know about the London offer, Keifer. I know you were planning to turn down your dream Master's degree because you didn't want to leave Jay-Jay behind or force her to wait."
Keifer stiffened. "I wasn't going to leave her, Angelo."
"I know," Angelo smiled. "That's why, behind your back, I helped fix her papers. I used my connections to expedite her visa application. Jay, you're not staying here. You're going to London with him. Consider it my wedding gift—so you can pester him in a different time zone."
My jaw dropped. "London?! With Keifer?"
Keifer looked at Angelo, stunned and actually speechless for once. "You... you did that?"
"Don't make it emotional, Watson, I still might punch you," Angelo joked, but then he looked at Ion, who was sitting next to him, glowing. "And the second thing... I wanted to wait for a special moment, and I guess a rooftop full of fishballs is it."
Angelo took Ion's hand. "Jay-Jay, you're going to be an Auntie. Ion is pregnant. We're having our first baby."
The silence lasted exactly one second before Tita Gemma screamed and Ella started jumping up and down.
"SHT! NINONG AKO!" Ci-N yelled from the other table, throwing a piece of calamares in the air.
I looked at Keifer, then at Ion's stomach, and then back to the visa papers Angelo was holding. My life was moving from Section E to London, and our family was growing.
"Wait," I said, blinking back tears. "Does this mean the baby will have Keifer's temper or my appetite?"
"God help us all," Aries muttered, "if it's both."
(Author's POV)
The moment hung in the air, heavier than the scent of the vinegar fountain. For someone who always had a backup plan for his backup plans, Keifer looked completely floored.
He looked at the visa papers in Angelo's hand, then at Jay-Jay, who was already vibrating with excitement. The typical "Ice King" exterior didn't just crack; it melted.
"You're coming?" Keifer asked, his voice lower than usual, ignoring the cheering Section E boys in the background. "To London? You're okay with leaving the street food behind for fish and chips?"
"Hoy, Watson! As long as you're the one paying for the chips, I'm there!" Jay-Jay teased, though her eyes were shimmering with tears.
Keifer turned back to Angelo. He didn't offer a corporate handshake. He actually stepped forward and gave the overprotective cousin a brief, firm nod of respect—which, in Keifer-speak, was the equivalent of a tearful ten-minute speech. "Thank you, Angelo. For both. The visa... and the niece or nephew."
"Don't get mushy on me, Watson," Angelo laughed, patting his shoulder. "Just make sure she doesn't get lost in the Underground. She has the directional sense of a goldfish."
The Celebration Chaos
"GROUP HUG!" Ci-N screamed, leading the charge. Before Keifer could protest about his "personal space," he was swallowed into a massive, messy hug by Aries, David, and the rest of the Section E boys.
"Ouch! My ribs! Get off, you idiots!" Keifer growled, though he didn't actually push them away.
Tita Gemma and Lola were already surrounding Ion, arguing over what the baby's first meal should be (Lola was insisting on lugaw), while Keigan and Keiren watched the madness with wide, happy eyes. For the first time, the Watson brothers weren't looking over their shoulders for a monster; they were looking at a future full of loud, annoying, wonderful family.
As the night wound down, Keifer leaned into Jay's ear. "London, huh? Just us... and probably these idiots visiting every month."
"Face it, Keifer," Jay-Jay laughed, holding up her ring hand while clutching a stick of isaw.
"You didn't just propose to me. You proposed to the whole Section E circus."
"Tss," Keifer smirked, pulling her closer. "Best investment I ever made."