Authors pov
Halfway through their first year at university...
Life had found a comfortable rhythm.
Assignments came and went.
Exams became slightly less terrifying.
The apartments on the eleventh and twelfth floors had become lively homes rather than places filled with moving boxes.
Movie nights were now a weekly tradition.
Study sessions somehow always ended with someone ordering too much food.
And every now and then...
Keifer would catch himself looking at Jay.
She'd be laughing over something ridiculous.
Curled up on the couch reading.
Or quietly watching the sunset from their balcony.
Every single time...
He had the same thought.
I'm going to marry her.
One evening, after everyone had finished dinner, Keifer quietly cleared his throat.
"I... need everyone's help."
Twenty heads turned toward him.
Jay was in the kitchen washing dishes.
She couldn't hear them.
"What is it?" David asked.
Keifer reached into his pocket.
When he opened his hand...
A small velvet ring box rested in his palm.
The room froze.
Ella's eyes widened.
Freya covered her mouth.
Grace actually squealed before immediately covering it with a cough.
Aries looked between the ring and Keifer.
"...You're serious."
Keifer smiled nervously.
"I've never been more serious about anything."
Silence filled the room.
Then...
"When?" Calix asked.
"This weekend."
"Where?"
Keifer smiled softly.
"The beach."
"The one from our first date."
Jay had never known that Keifer had quietly maintained that beach over the years.
Whenever they visited the island, he'd always make time to walk there.
Not because it needed anything.
But because it reminded him where everything truly began.
"I want it to be there."
Everyone smiled.
"It has to be there," Ella whispered.
"What do we do?" Mayo asked.
Keifer laughed nervously.
"I honestly have no idea."
"You people are the planners."
"I'm the businessman."
Aries leaned back in his chair.
"I've got an idea."
Everyone looked at him.
"We split up."
"The boys go with Keifer tomorrow morning."
"The girls keep Jay busy."
Ella immediately nodded.
"We can do that."
Grace grinned.
"We'll tell her it's a girls' beach night."
"Perfect," Freya agreed.
"She won't suspect anything."
Keifer looked around at all of them.
"You'd really help me?"
David laughed.
"You bought her an island."
"Helping decorate a beach is the easy part."
For the rest of the week...
The secret somehow stayed a secret.
Which was remarkable considering there were twenty-one people trying not to accidentally tell Jay.
Several close calls nearly ruined everything.
One afternoon, Blaster almost asked,
"So, are you excited for Satur—"
David immediately shoved a biscuit into his mouth.
"Mmph!"
"Eat."
Another time...
Grace nearly blurted everything out while shopping.
"So, what kind of dress are you wearing when Keif—"
Ella coughed loudly.
Very loudly.
"So..."
Grace quickly recovered.
"...when Keifer inevitably complains about carrying all the beach bags."
Jay laughed.
"He always does."
Ella silently exhaled in relief.
Saturday finally arrived.
Before sunrise...
The boys quietly left the apartment building carrying boxes.
Fairy lights.
Lanterns.
Flowers.
Candles.
A picnic basket.
And one very nervous Keifer.
"You alright?" Aries asked as they loaded everything into the van.
Keifer laughed shakily.
"I negotiated million-dollar contracts without blinking."
"I've stood in front of hundreds of investors."
"I've spoken to world leaders."
"And somehow..."
He looked at the small ring box in his pocket.
"...this is the most nervous I've ever been."
Aries smiled.
"That's because this one actually matters."
Keifer looked at him.
"It matters more than anything."
Meanwhile...
Around lunchtime...
Jay was comfortably reading on the couch when Ella suddenly burst into the apartment.
"Jay!"
Jay looked up.
"...Yes?"
"We're having a girls' evening."
Jay blinked.
"We are?"
Grace appeared behind Ella.
"Beach."
Freya joined them.
"No boys."
Mica smiled.
"Just us."
Rakki nodded.
"We haven't had one in ages."
Jay looked suspicious.
"Since when do all of you plan things?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Nobody answered.
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You're hiding something."
Ella smiled far too brightly.
"No we're not."
"You definitely are."
"We absolutely aren't."
Freya quickly changed the subject.
"So..."
"We should get ready."
An hour later...
Jay stood in front of her wardrobe.
"I don't know what to wear."
Ella immediately handed her a light blue summer dress.
"Wear this."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"You picked this awfully fast."
"I have excellent fashion sense."
Grace nodded enthusiastically.
"She does."
Mica quietly brushed Jay's hair.
"You look beautiful already."
"We're just making you slightly prettier."
Jay laughed.
"I don't think that's possible."
"You'd be surprised," Rakki teased.
For the next hour, the girls fussed over every tiny detail.
Ella adjusted her dress.
Grace fixed a loose strand of hair.
Freya chose simple jewelry.
Even Mica insisted on adding the smallest touch of makeup.
Jay looked at herself in the mirror.
"...Isn't this a bit much for a girls' night?"
Ella smiled.
"We wanted everyone to feel pretty."
Jay smiled back.
"Thank you."
None of them could meet each other's eyes.
Because every single one of them was thinking the same thing.
She's going to cry when she sees what's waiting for her.
As the sun slowly began its descent toward the horizon, the girls climbed into the car together.
Jay looked out the window, completely unaware.
Back on the island...
Keifer stood alone on the beach where they had shared their very first date.
Soft white flowers lined the path through the sand.
Hundreds of tiny fairy lights glowed as evening approached.
Lanterns swayed gently in the sea breeze.
The waves rolled quietly onto the shore.
The boys finished the last few decorations before stepping back.
David looked around.
"I think we're done."
Calix smiled.
"It's perfect."
Aries walked over to Keifer and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You've got this."
Keifer took one slow breath.
His hand instinctively rested over the ring box in his pocket.
He looked toward the path leading to the beach.
Any minute now...
Jay would arrive.
And if everything went according to plan...
They would leave this beach exactly as they'd left it years ago.
Together.
Only this time...
They would be planning a wedding instead.
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Hi lovelies. Sorry i am in a bit of a rush but i hope you like this chapter and i will be uploading one tmr or later today as well. It might be another day for some of j cuz i follow uk time 🕰️
Love you until the sun stops shining ☀️ ✨