JAY-JAY POV
We came back from the restaurant, bellies full and laughter still echoing.
It was about to be 9 o'clock.
I turned toward our little hurricanes, who were still bouncing around like they had endless energy.
"Okay, my little cutie hurricanes," I said firmly, hands on my hips. "It's about to be 9 o'clock, so go to bed."
Instantly, three voices rose in protest.
"NOOO!" Kiara wailed, stomping her foot. "I'm not sleepy! I want to stay up and play dress‑up!"
Kade flopped dramatically onto the couch.
"Mamaaa, just five more minutes! Please? Pleeease? I'm not tired, see?" He sat up and started bouncing again to prove his point.
Kevin crossed his arms, his serious little face scrunched. "Mama, it's not fair. We should get to stay up until ten. Six‑year‑olds can stay up late."
I raised an eyebrow. "Six‑year‑olds need sleep, mister."
Just then, Kiara marched right up to him, clutching her puppy doll like it was her secret weapon. "Papa, I'm not sleepy. I want to play with you," she said, her innocent face shining with mischief.
Oh god. She really did inherit my behavior.
"Jay, you know ten more minutes won't hurt," Keifer said, turning to me with that look — the one that said I know I won't win, but I'll still try.
"Keifer," I said, using my best strict tone.
Kiara gasped dramatically, hugging her doll tighter. "Mama, pleaseee. Just ten minutes. I promise I'll sleep after."
Kade immediately jumped in, bouncing on the couch. "Yeah, Mama! Ten minutes! We can play hide‑and‑seek!"
Kevin rubbed his eyes, already halfway done. "Mama, please... just ten more minutes."
I sighed, giving in. "Fine. Ten more minutes. Okay, let's play hide‑and‑seek then."
The triplets lit up instantly, bouncing like they'd just won the lottery.
"You guys better sleep after playing hide‑and‑seek," Keifer warned, pointing at them with mock seriousness. "Or else your mom might get mad at me."
Kiara gasped dramatically, clutching her puppy doll. "Papa, Mama's scary when she's mad!"
Kade giggled, already running toward the hallway. "I'm gonna hide first! You'll never find me!"
Kevin shook his head, his little voice calm but firm. "We should play fair. Everyone gets a turn."
I laughed, watching them scatter. "Alright, Papa, you're 'it.' Count to twenty."
Keifer groaned, covering his face. "Why do I always get stuck being 'it'?"
"Because you're the tallest," Kiara said matter‑of‑factly, darting behind the couch.
Kade squealed, diving under the table. "Shhh! Don't tell Papa where I am!"
Kevin, ever the serious one, walked upstairs quietly, muttering, "I'll hide properly. They'll never find me."
Keifer started counting loudly, his voice echoing through the house. "One... two... three..."
I leaned against the wall, smiling as the chaos unfolded. Ten minutes of laughter, squeals, and little footsteps filled the house.
By the time Keifer shouted, "Twenty! Ready or not, here I come!"
The triplets were giggling so hard their hiding spots were already given away.
"Oh my god, I can't find them," Keifer said loudly, pretending to look around the room with exaggerated confusion. He peeked behind the couch, under the table, even opened a cabinet door.
Kiara squealed from behind the curtains, her little feet sticking out. "Papa, you'll never find me!"
Kade was under the table, laughing so hard he banged his head on the wood. "Ow! But I'm still hidden!"
Kevin, ever the serious one, whispered from upstairs, "Papa, you're supposed to count slower. You cheated."
Keifer smirked, playing along. "Hmm... where could they be? Maybe behind Mama?" He turned to me with a grin.
I rolled my eyes, pointing at the curtain. "Keifer, her feet are literally sticking out."
Kiara gasped, jumping out dramatically. "Nooo! You cheated, Mama helped!"
Kade crawled out from under the table, clutching his pillow like a trophy. "I was the best hider! You didn't see me!"
Kevin came down the stairs, arms crossed. "I was the best. Nobody found me."
Keifer laughed, scooping Kiara up. "Alright, alright. Everyone's the best. Now it's bedtime."
"Ten more minutes!" Kiara shouted. "Yeah, Mama, just one more round!" Kade begged. Kevin sighed, rubbing his eyes. "No. Bed. I'm tired."
I gave them my strict Mama look. "Game over. Upstairs. Now."
The triplets groaned in unison, dragging their feet toward the stairs, still giggling and arguing about who was the "real winner."
Keifer leaned close, whispering with a grin. "See? Chaos, but sweet chaos."
"Okay, queen, let's go and sleep," Keifer said, kissing me quickly before turning toward the stairs.
The triplets, of course, weren't ready to surrender.
"Papa, carry me!" Kiara squealed, clutching her puppy doll like it was her ticket to stay awake.
Kade bounced behind her, yawning but still grinning. "No, carry me! I'm the knight, remember?"
Kevin rolled his eyes, already halfway up the stairs. "You can walk. It's bedtime."
Keifer chuckled, scooping Kiara up while Kade tugged at his arm. "Jay, I think I just became a climbing wall."
I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "That's what you get for siding with them."
By the time we reached their room, the chaos had softened. Kiara curled up with her doll, Kade flopped dramatically onto his bed, and Kevin tucked himself in neatly like the little old man he was.
"Story, Mama!" Kiara whispered, her eyes already drooping. "Yeah, story!" Kade echoed, though his words were muffled by his pillow. Kevin sighed. "Just a short one. We're tired."
I sat down at the edge of the bed, glancing at Keifer.
He gave me that look — the one that said this is our sweet chaos, and we wouldn't trade it for anything.
So I began a story, my voice soft, watching their eyelids grow heavy. Within minutes, the giggles faded into quiet breathing.
Keifer leaned close, whispering, "See? Not so scary after all."
I smirked, whispering back, "Don't push your luck, Mr. Handsome."
And just like that, the house finally fell silent — our hurricanes asleep, leaving us with the calm after the storm.
We finally went to our room, both of us exhausted. I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long sigh.
"Tired?" Keifer asked softly, his voice low and warm.
"Yeah... let's sleep," I murmured.
He nodded, sliding in beside me.
His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close.
I hugged him back, resting my head against his chest.
The chaos of the day melted away in that quiet moment.
No burnt cakes, no restaurant drama, no giggling triplets demanding
"ten more minutes."
Just us — tangled together, breathing in sync.
Keifer kissed the top of my head. "Even with all the madness... I wouldn't trade this for anything."
I smiled against him, my eyes already heavy. "Me neither."
And with that, we drifted off, cuddled close, wrapped in the kind of peace only found after surviving a storm of love and laughter.
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