JAY-JAY POV
The next morning, the sunlight was hitting the room in a way that made everything look soft and peaceful. I blinked my eyes open, feeling the heavy, familiar weight of Keifer's arm draped over my waist. My body felt heavy—in a good way—but also a bit sore.
Jusko. My research from last night was very... productive.
I turned my head slightly and saw Keifer staring at me. He was propped up on one elbow, his hair a complete mess, watching me with an expression that was far too awake for this hour.
"Morning," he whispered, his voice incredibly deep.
"Morning," I squeaked, suddenly feeling shy and pulling the duvet up to my chin.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my back. "Don't hide now, Jay. It's a bit late for that."
"Gago," I muttered, though I was smiling. "I have to get ready for school. I can't be late again, especially after that spectacle yesterday."
Keifer leaned over and kissed my shoulder. "You're not going to school for at least another hour. I already told the maid to start the coffee, and I'm going down to make those pancakes."
He sat up, the muscles in his back flexing as he stretched. I watched him, my brain momentarily buffering. How is he so handsome at six in the morning? It's truly unfair.
"And Jay?" he said, looking back at me over his shoulder with a smirk.
"Yes?"
"The next time Keiran asks if I'm gay, I expect you to defend my honor. Or at least tell him the data is inconclusive."
I threw a pillow at him, laughing. "Get out and cook, Watson! I'm starving!"
KEIFER POV
I headed downstairs, feeling more energized than I had in weeks. The house was quiet, the rest of the brothers likely still passed out or already at the gym.
I started on the pancake batter, whisking it together with more focus than I usually put into a merger. I didn't care that I was a CEO; right now, I was just a man making breakfast for his wife.
As the pancakes sizzled on the griddle, I heard footsteps. I expected Jay-Jay, but it was Keiran, bleary-eyed and looking for cereal. He stopped dead when he saw me at the stove.
"Kuya? You're cooking?" Keiran asked, blinking. "And... you're whistling?"
"I'm in a good mood, Keiran," I said, flipping a perfectly golden, heart-shaped pancake.
Keiran looked at the pancake, then at my smug expression, then toward the stairs. A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.
"So... the monk finally retired, huh?"
I pointed the spatula at him. "One more word and I'm eating your portion too."
"Okay, okay! Message received!" Keiran laughed, grabbing a glass of juice. "Just let Ate know that the girls from Section A are already texting me asking if you're coming back today."
I looked toward the stairs just as Jay-Jay appeared, wearing my hoodie and a pair of leggings, looking small and soft. Our eyes met, and the memory of the night before flashed between us like an electric current.
"She's not going back today," I said, looking at Keiran but keeping my eyes on Jay-Jay. "And neither am I."
Jay-Jay's eyes widened. "Wait, Keifer, I have to—"
JAY-JAY POV
"The substitute is already called, Jay," Keifer said, his voice full of that arrogant billionaire authority that usually makes me want to hit him, but today it just made my heart flutter. "Today is for recovery. And for finishing that research of yours."
My face went from pink to a full-blown sunset red. I looked at Keiran, who was practically choking on his orange juice from laughing so hard.
"Gago!" I hissed, hiding my face in the collar of Keifer's oversized hoodie. "Don't say things like that in front of his brother!"
Just then, we heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Keigan walked into the kitchen, looking a bit tired but already dressed in his college attire. He stopped, his eyes moving from my bright red face, to Keifer's smug expression at the stove, and finally to the plate of heart-shaped pancakes.
Keigan blinked slowly, adjusted his glasses, and looked at the clock.
"It's seven in the morning," Keigan said, his voice flat. "Why is the house smelling like a romance novel?"
Keiran pointed a frantic finger at the stove. "Kuya Keifer is whistling, Keigan! He's making hearts! The monk has officially left the monastery!"
Keigan looked at Keifer, then back at me. A small, knowing smile pulled at the corner of his lips. Unlike Keiran, who was loud and chaotic, Keigan was always the observant one. He saw the way Keifer's hand was resting possessively on my waist, and he saw the way I was wearing a hoodie that was three sizes too big for me.
"First of all," Keigan said, walking toward the coffee machine. "I'm glad you're back, Ate. The house was too quiet without your accidental clumsy noises."
"Hey!" I protested, though I was smiling.
"Second," Keigan continued, glancing at Keifer. "If you're taking the day off to stay here, make sure you actually let her rest, Kuya. She's still recovering from a leg injury, not a marathon."
Keifer's expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered with a bit of annoyance at his younger brother's teasing. "I know how to take care of my wife, Keigan."
"Clearly," Keigan dryly responded, taking a sip of his coffee. He looked at me and winked. "Good luck, Ate. If he gets too annoying, just tell him you're going back to Section E. He'll probably buy the whole school just to stop you."
"He already threatened to buy it yesterday!" Keiran shouted.
I groaned and leaned my head against Keifer's shoulder
One husband who is a possessive lion, and two brothers-in-law who won't stop teasing us.
"Pancakes," I mumbled. "Just feed me the pancakes before I die of embarrassment."
Keifer laughed, a deep, rich sound, and kissed the top of my head. "Coming right up, Jay."
Finally, the house felt empty. Keigan left for his classes and Keiran practically ran out the door shouting something about a basketball practice he was definitely late for.
The silence was almost heavy. I was sitting on the sofa, still wearing Keifer's hoodie, nursing a glass of juice. I felt his presence before I saw him. He walked into the living room, looking far too relaxed for a man who usually runs a billion-dollar company.
He didn't say anything. He just sat down right next to me—well, not next to me, more like on me—pulling my back against his chest and wrapping his long legs around mine.
"Movie?" he asked, his chin resting on my shoulder. His breath tickled my neck, making me shiver.
"Movies require us to be productive enough to find the remote, Keifer," I teased, leaning back into his warmth.
He reached over, picked up the remote from the coffee table, and handed it to me. "You pick. Just nothing with a love triangle. I don't feel like watching some guy pine over another man's wife."
Gago. He's still thinking about the boys at school.
I scrolled through the streaming app until I found a classic rom-com. I thought he'd complain, but he just pulled a soft blanket over both of us, tucking it tightly around my legs.
"Comfortable?" he murmured.
"Very," I whispered.
But I wasn't really watching the movie. It was hard to focus when I could feel the steady beat of his heart against my back. His hand, which was resting on my thigh, started tracing little circles over the fabric of my leggings. It was slow, rhythmic, and incredibly distracting.
"Jay," he said softly after about twenty minutes.
"Hmm?"
"Stop thinking."
"I'm not thinking," I lied.
"You are. I can feel your brain working. You're overanalyzing the night before, or you're worried about what Keiran said, or you're thinking about your lesson plan for tomorrow."
I bit my lip. He knew me too well.
"I was just thinking... you're a lot nicer when your brothers aren't around," I admitted, turning my head to look at him.
KEIFER POV
She looked so small under the blanket, her eyes wide and soft. I didn't care about the movie playing on the screen. The only thing I wanted to watch was the way her expressions shifted when she thought I wasn't looking.
"I'm only nice to you, Jay," I corrected her, my voice low. "The rest of them are lucky if I give them the time of day."
I reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. My thumb lingered on her cheek. She was so warm, so real. After the chaos of the last few months, having her here, safe and quiet in our home, felt like the only thing that made sense.
"So," she said, her voice dropping into that mischievous tone I both loved and feared. "Since we're alone... and the research isn't finished..."
I felt a smirk tugging at my lips. I pulled her closer, my nose brushing against hers.
"You're a very dedicated researcher, Teacher," I whispered.
I leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was slow and sweet, tasting like the maple syrup from breakfast and the quiet promise of a long afternoon. She hummed into the kiss, her hands finding their way to my chest, gripping my shirt.
The movie was completely forgotten.
"I thought you wanted me to rest," she breathed against my lips, her eyes hooded.
"I do," I murmured, my hand sliding to the back of her head to deepen the kiss. "But resting doesn't mean we can't be close."
I shifted, pulling her onto my lap so she was facing me. She let out a small gasp, her legs straddling my waist. In the dim light of the living room, with the blue glow of the TV flickering in the background, she looked like a dream I never wanted to wake up from.
"Keifer," she whispered, her voice full of that 'kilig' I always heard her talk about.
"Shut up and kiss me, Jay," I commanded softly.
And she did.
I really am obsessed with this woman. Truly.
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Hey guys, so I know I didn't post yesterday. It's because I went to a Holi festival! I know Holi is usually in March, but where I'm from they celebrate it around mid‑May — why? I honestly don't know 😭💀 but it was SO fun.
I spent the day with my friends, and of course I came home covered in colors and all the fun stuff. By the time I tried to write a chapter, I was already tired. And I also had to help my mom with planting trees — she has a garden, so yeah… that's how my Sunday went 🌱💚
Hope you enjoy the story 💙✨