Jay–Jay (POV)
Kiefer had already left for work before I woke up.
Again.
This jerk… I don't even get to see his face these days.
It's been a week.
A whole week since I actually saw him.
Not like he disappeared—
he still calls me every day, asks about everything, makes sure I've eaten…
But he comes when I'm already asleep,
and leaves before I wake up.
I don't see him anymore.
Not really.
Just his traces.
And every morning—
There's a note.
Today's said:
"Good morning, wife."
I don't know why he's been this busy lately.
I mean… he's always busy.
But this?
This feels different.
And today—
I missed him more.
Maybe it's the pregnancy.
Or maybe…
I just wanted him close.
But at least—
I'm not alone.
Ever since they found out I'm pregnant…
someone shows up every single day.
Like it's a schedule I didn't agree to.
Section E.
Of course.
Rory and Edrix drop by randomly.
C-in got dragged here by Rakki once—apparently, he skipped his hospital residency just to visit me.
Eman comes and takes over the kitchen like it's his house.
Kit and Mayo show up just to annoy me—
especially Mayo.
I almost kicked them out last time.
And somehow—
All of them are convinced I'm having a boy.
No idea why.
They just decided it.
Like it's already confirmed.
When I asked why they keep coming—
They said it's "responsibility."
Because they're going to be the baby's future Tito.
Idiots.
Still…
It gets quiet when they leave and i will alone in bedroom.
I leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"…Who's coming today?" I muttered to myself.
Right on cue—
The door opened.
"Ate… want to watch a movie?"
Kiegen's voice.
I turned my head toward him, a small smile forming on my lips.
"Yeah," I said.
We walked downstairs together.
Kiran was already there, scrolling through movies like his life depended on it.
Kiegen came behind us, carrying popcorn.
"So," I asked, dropping onto the couch, "what did you decide to watch?"
"Any genre you want," Kiegen said softly.
I glanced at him.
He's gotten softer lately.
Quieter.
And… I didn't hate it.
I reached out and ruffled his hair just to mess with him.
"You're cute," I said casually.
His ears turned red instantly.
I smiled.
All the Watson brothers are the same.
"I'm okay with anything," I added, leaning back, "just not ghost movies."
Kiegen raised an eyebrow. "Are you scared?"
"No," I said quickly. "I'm pregnant. The baby will be scared."
Both of them tried to hide their laughter.
Didn't work.
I saw it.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay," I said.
A pause.
Then I smirked.
"Put on a horror movie."
Silence.
Both of them froze.
Then slowly—
Kiran turned his head toward me.
Kiegen blinked.
"…You just said no ghost movies," Kiran said.
"I changed my mind," I replied, crossing my arms. "Problem?"
Kiegen studied me for a second.
Like he was trying to figure out if this was a trap.
(It was.)
"…Don't cry later," he muttered, grabbing the remote.
"Play it," I said confidently.
The lights dimmed.
The screen flickered to life.
And within five minutes—
regret.
Immediate regret.
Why is it so quiet?
Why is no one talking?
Why is the background music like that—
A sudden scream blasted from the TV.
I flinched.
Hard.
Both of them went still.
"I'm fine," I said immediately.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
Kiran snorted.
Kiegen didn't say anything—
But I could feel his eyes on me.
"I said I'm fine," I repeated, glaring at the screen like it personally offended me.
Then—
A hand touched my shoulder.
I froze.
There were only three of us in the house.
Slowly—
I turned.
A light flashed under someone's chin.
Shadows twisted across his face.
"Jay…"
"AHHHH!" I screamed.
Popcorn flew everywhere.
All over the couch.
"Lights!" Kiegen snapped.
The room lit up instantly.
"Ate—are you okay?" Kiran asked, already half-standing.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
C-in.
David.
Yuri.
Standing there—
trying not to laugh.
"Jay, you're scared," C-in said, already holding his stomach.
I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it straight at his face.
"You gago! Why would you do that?!" I shouted.
He dodged it easily, still laughing.
"Relax—we just came in quietly. Your reactions are too good."
"Too good?" I stood up, pointing at him. "I almost died!"
"I'll tell Kiefer you're using profanity," C-in shot back.
"Tell him," I snapped. "At least I get to see his face."
The room went silent.
Just for a second.
"…Let's clean first," I said, turning away.
"But you made the mess. Why should I clean?" C-in said.
I turned back slowly.
"Gago… who scared me?" I said.
Before he could reply—
David walked in, already picking up the popcorn from the floor.
Same as always.
Calm. Reliable.
"Let's just clean," Yuri said, joining him.
The rest of us followed.
Well—
Everyone except C-in.
He sat there, playing with the remote like nothing happened.
I grabbed another pillow and hit him again.
"Why are you even here?" I asked.
He grinned. "Entertainment."
"Annoying," I muttered.
I looked around.
"Why are all of you here together? This is such a weird combo."
They glanced at each other.
Then—
almost at the same time—
"Because we missed you."
I paused.
Just for a second.
"…Let's cook," I said quickly, turning away. "I'm hungry."
"No!"
Everyone shouted at once.
"We want peace, not disaster," Rory said, walking in—
followed by Edrix.
I glared at them.
"Why? Did you all forget I can cook pancakes?"
"You burn half of them," C-in said instantly.
"I'm going to kill you."
I looked around for something to throw.
Nothing.
He had already moved the pillows.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
If looks could kill—
He'd be dead.
"We'll cook," David said calmly.
Everyone nodded.
Yuri took over the kitchen like a professional.
David helped.
Kiran and Kiegen joined in.
Even C-in—reluctantly.
And me?
I sat at the dining table.
Watching.
…Am I really that bad at cooking?
"Jay."
I looked up.
C-in.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said quickly.
A pause.
Then—
"C-in… did you talk to Kiefer lately?" I asked.
"Why is he so busy?"
He hesitated for a second.
Then shrugged.
"Important project. That's all."
"That's it?" I asked.
He smirked slightly.
"What? You think he's having an affair?"
"No," I said immediately.
Because I knew.
Kiefer would never.
…Right?
Maybe I've been watching too many dramas.
"Jay," Yuri called from the kitchen.
"What do you want to eat?"
I leaned back in my chair.
"…Anything edible," I said.
They laughed.
And I smiled a little.
But somewhere—
beneath all the noise—
That small, quiet thought stayed.
Why does it feel like something's off?
"Jay… do you want juice?" Edrix asked.
I nodded.
"Jay, I brought ice cream. Eat it if you're hungry," David said.
My eyes lit up.
Finally—something for me.
I opened it—
and froze.
Empty.
I slowly turned my head.
"C-IN!" I shouted.
"What happened, Jay?" he asked innocently—
holding the half-finished ice cream in his hand.
I stood up.
"Asshole. That's mine."
"You want?" he said, casually offering the spoon.
"Don't eat it," I snapped, walking past him into the kitchen.
Inside—
It looked like a battlefield.
Yuri and David were cutting vegetables like they were competing.
Fast. Precise.
Silent tension.
Rory stood between them, giving instructions like a referee.
"Are you all cooking or starting a war?" I asked.
"Ate…"
I turned.
Kiran stood there, holding a plate.
"Ate… I made you a sandwich. Kiegen kuya helped."
I blinked.
Then smiled.
I leaned down and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, my son."
He froze.
Just for a second.
I didn't say anything.
Just took the plate and sat down.
I broke the sandwich in half, handing a piece to Kiran—
while Kiegen was already eating something, distracted with his laptop.
"Hey, we want too!" Rory shouted from the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes.
Everyone was busy.
So—
I fed them.
One bite to Rory.
Another to Edrix.
Even C-in tried to steal more.
"Enough," I said, pulling the plate back.
I fed Yuri and David too—
after all, they were the main chefs.
"Priority service?" C-in complained.
"Earn it," I shot back, pulling the plate away from him.
Yuri just shook his head, but I caught the small smile.
David muttered a quiet "thanks" and went back to cooking.
"Bias," C-in grumbled.
"Respect," I corrected.
"I'll tell Kiefer…" C-in said.
I shot him a look.
Not loud.Not dramatic.
Just one glance—
sharp enough to shut him up.
"Try it," I said quietly.
A pause.
My lips curved just a little.
"And I'll tell him everything you've been doing too."
Silence.
He swallowed.
"…I was joking," he muttered.
Of course you were.
The kitchen felt warmer somehow—
louder,
lighter.
Like for a moment—
everything was just… okay.
We ate together.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
I shifted closer and sat beside Kiran
"So," I said casually, glancing at him,
"how's school?"
He shrugged.
"No one's bothering me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"They're scared," he added. "Because of you."
I paused.
"They found out who it was," he continued. "They transferred schools."
I didn't respond.
But I knew.
Kiefer.
Of course he handled it.
Without saying a word.
"…Idiot," I muttered under my breath.
Dinner was ready not long after.
We all sat together.
Yuri made fried rice and sushi.
David brought adobo.
And Rory—
of course—
showed up with carbonara.
I looked at the table.
"…Why did you all make so much?"
"Don't worry, Jay," Rory said, already serving himself. "We'll finish it."
We ate.
Loud.
Messy.
Comfortable.
And then—
cleaning time.
"Who's cleaning?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.
"You," Rory said immediately. "You didn't do anything."
I didn't argue.
Surprisingly.
I just stood up and walked to the kitchen.
Maybe I needed something to do.
Something to stop thinking.
About Kiefer.
"I'll help," Yuri said.
"Me too," David added.
I paused.
Turned slightly.
Looked at both of them.
"…Why are you two acting weird today?" I asked.
Silence.
That was answer enough.
I tied my hair up and started rinsing the plates.
David took over washing.
Yuri wiped everything down beside me.
No one spoke.
The sound of water filled the space.
Then—
"So…" I said casually, not looking at them.
"You both know where Kiefer is, right?"
The water kept running.
But I saw it.
That glance.
Between them.
Quick.
But not quick enough.
My hands stilled.
That confirmed it.
Something was wrong.
I turned the tap off.
Slowly.
"Tell me."
This time—
my voice wasn't casual.
It was serious.
"Jay…" Yuri started.
"Is something going on with Kiefer?" I asked.
Silence.
"Tell me, Yuri," I said again.
He didn't.
So I turned to David.
"Please, David… tell me. I'm worried about him."
David exhaled slowly.
"Nothing. He's just working."
I let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"He was with me for months," I said. "He never left my side. Not once."
A pause.
"And now suddenly… he remembers he has a company?"
Neither of them answered.
"Jay," David said carefully, "believe in Kiefer."
"You know him better than any of us," Yuri added.
I looked at them.
Really looked.
"That's exactly why I'm asking," I said quietly.
"That idiot won't tell me… but he trusts you all."
A beat.
"And I know you're hiding something from me."
Yuri's jaw tightened.
David looked away.
There it was.
Truth—
without words.
"Kiefer is dealing with something," Yuri finally said.
"He'll be back to normal in a few days."
A pause.
"…It's about shares. Company issues."
I held his gaze for a second longer.
Then nodded.
Because they weren't going to say more.
And if I wanted the truth—
there was only one person who would give it to me.
Kiefer.