JAY JAY POV
I was currently suffocating myself in this Snorlax plushie because why is it THIS soft?! Like, hello? Who gave this thing permission to feel like a cloud blessed by angels? I was two seconds away from proposing marriage to this stuffed toy when suddenly…
Two arms wrapped around my waist.
Wait.
"Hoy! Let go!" I yelped, jerking back like the plushie just insulted my entire bloodline. "Don't start with me, ha! If Keifer sees this, he'll think I'm cheating! And cheating is NOT on my life checklist, okay?! So stop hugging me like you pay rent here, Snorlax! I still want to grow old and collect my pension!"
Then—
The Snorlax… chuckled.
…
Excuse me? Since when does Snorlax have a laugh feature?!
My eyes widened. Slowly. Dramatically.
Oh no. Oh no no no. I turned my head—very slowly, like I was about to witness a crime.
I opened my mouth to scream— "Son of a—"
It wasn't Snorlax. It was Keifer Watson.
Eyes closed. Arms wrapped around my waist. Breathing like he pays the bills here. With the absolute AUDACITY of a man who thinks gravity adjusts itself for him.
Before I could even process this betrayal, he pulled me closer—like I was some kind of human pillow he added to cart during a midnight sale.
"Hoy—wait—" I squirmed. I swear, I used all my strength. I tried peeling his arms off—nothing. Why are his hands built like industrial locks?!
I froze. Then slowly… I looked up at his face. And I just—stopped.
He looked… calm. Like, suspiciously calm. Not like last night where he was all smug and teasing and emotionally dangerous. This was different. Soft. Peaceful.
And for some reason—my heart forgot how to function properly.
he's actually good-looking when he's like this. Not talking. Just... existing. Okay, wow. So silence really is his best personality trait.
"Stay quiet," I muttered under my breath. "You look better that way."
I bit my lip, tracing his face with my eyes. The more time I spend with him… the more I start to understand him.
🚨 RED FLAG. DANGER. ABORT MISSION. 🚨
Why am I feeling… attracted to him? No. NO. "You are NOT supposed to feel that, Jay-jay," I whispered to myself. He is an asshole. A gago. A professional stress generator wrapped in a three-piece suit. And yet… why is he the one who makes me smile?
I squeezed my eyes shut the moment I saw him move. Pretend to be asleep. Be one with the mattress.
"Jay, wake up," he murmured.
The audacity! It's Saturday! Sleep is a human right, Watson! But instead of arguing, my brain… betrayed me. I started thinking about his life. How does he do it? His mom died, he raised his siblings... if I were him, I would've collapsed dramatically and demanded emotional compensation by now.
He carries people. I… barely carry myself.
It took me four whole years to even start healing from what my mother did. She left. No warning. No explanation. And the worst part? She never told me Aries was my brother. I knew I had a brother… but I didn't know it was him.
But Aries—he was better than I deserved. He stayed.
And now… I'm married to Keifer Watson. My life is a literal plot twist.
I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt something warm brush against my cheek. Keifer. He was awake. His thumb gently wiped away my tears, his brows furrowed like he was trying to solve me like a business problem.
"Why are you crying early in the morning?" he asked softly.
Getting caught crying before breakfast. Peak dignity.
"Nothing," I muttered, turning away. If I don't look at him, then this isn't happening. Right?
Wrong. Because the next thing I knew—he pulled me into a hug. Just arms wrapping around me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You can tell me everything, Jay," he said.
And that was it. All the duct tape holding my feelings together just—collapsed. I hugged him back. Tight.
"Will you ever leave me?" I blurted out.
Wow. Great job, Jay. Peak emotional damage. Think-before-speaking challenge: FAILED.
But he didn't pull away. His arms tightened. "I will never leave you, Jay," he said, his voice so steady it made my chest ache. "Not until I die. I'll die protecting you. I promised you, remember? In front of Angelo."
He let out a small breath to lighten the moment. "If I did leave you, I think Angelo would already have my grave prepared."
I actually laughed. A small, shaky, very ungraceful laugh. "Yeah," I sniffed, clutching his shirt. "He probably already has the shovel ready."
For the first time in a long while… the idea of being left behind didn't feel so loud.
I pulled back slightly. "We have to go to Tita Gemma's house tomorrow. She asked me to bring you." I hesitated. "And… my mother will be there. With her husband."
I swallowed. Pretend like she didn't abandon me? Pretend like I'm not about to mentally combust?
"She isn't your mother," Keifer finished for me.
I looked up at him. And just like that—my heart did that thing again. That stupid, traitorous, kilig thing. He understood. Without me having to explain. And that? That scared me a little. But it also felt safe.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUNDAY AT ANGELO'S HOUSE
JAY JAY POV
I don't like how I feel right now. My stomach was doing the twisty thing.
"Jay," Tita called softly. I walked straight into her arms. "Why is she coming now?" I muttered.
Tita sighed. "I don't know, anak."
Then— "Tss. You brought a monkey with you."
Ah yes. Background music: chaos. I turned to see Aries leaning against the doorway, eyes locked on Keifer. boxing match: START.
"Good to see you too, donkey," Keifer replied smoothly.
"Jay! My baby sistah!" Percy came running in like a hyperactive golden retriever. I opened my arms for a heartfelt reunion—but that traitor! "Keifer, baby!" Percy said, bypassing me to hug Keifer.
I froze. My arms were still open. Empty. Ignored.
"Tita!" I complained dramatically. "Look at him! I've been replaced in my own family!"
"Jay, you look thin," Percy said, squinting at me. "Keifer, have you been feeding her at all?"
"Tss," Keifer scoffed. "She ate a whole plate of pasta, pizza, chicken wings, bacon, and pork before coming here."
I snapped my head toward him. EXCUSE ME?! "Thanks for exposing my entire diet history in public, Watson!"
But of course, Aries had to finish me off. "Well, that still isn't enough. Look at her—she isn't fat like before."
Silence. Absolute silence.
"Gago," I said immediately. "I WAS NOT FAT. I was 45 kg before I got married! That is called being healthy! That is called having curves! That is called—"
Tita laughed. "It's okay, Jay-jay. I made your favorite sushi, so don't hesitate to eat. And you, Aries—don't call her fat. She was so cute back then!"
Then she brightened. "Ohh, Keifer! Can I show you a picture of her when she was little? She used to be so chubby. Wait—here!"
"…Tita, that isn't necessary," I said, reaching out to stop destiny.
But it was useless. Aries was already smirking. Keifer looked way too calm. And me? I was already mourning my dignity. This is an emotional attack.