JAY-JAY POV
I don't know when I fell asleep, but I did.
I woke up to someone calling me.
"Ma..." a little voice whispered.
"Mama..." Kiara's voice.
I blinked my eyes open and saw all three of the triplets standing in front of me, looking way too innocent for this hour.
Kiara clutched her puppy doll, her eyes wide. "Ma... we're hungry."
"Sweetheart, do you know what time it is?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah, past midnight," Kade said proudly, like it was an achievement.
"And you guys want to eat right now?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Yeah, Ma, please. We're super hungry," Kevin added, his serious little voice making it sound like a formal request.
I sighed, glancing at Keifer still asleep beside me. "Fine. Let's go before your Papa wakes up. You know he restricted all of us from eating past midnight."
They all nodded eagerly, their little faces glowing with mischief.
Truth was, if Keifer hadn't made that rule, they would've gone straight to him instead of sneaking to me.
And honestly?
I was hungry too.
Maybe one thing we all had in common — me and the triplets — was our midnight snack habit.
Getting hungry past midnight was practically a family tradition.
I tiptoed out of bed, the triplets trailing behind me like little shadows.
"Quiet," I whispered, holding a finger to my lips. "If Papa wakes up, we're all doomed."
Kiara clutched her puppy doll tighter, nodding seriously. "Okay, Mama. Ninja quiet."
Kade giggled, hopping on one foot.
"I'm a ninja! Hi‑ya!" His loud whisper made me wince.
Kevin sighed, shaking his head. "You're going to get us caught."
We crept into the kitchen, the floor creaking under our steps.
I opened the fridge, the light spilling out like a secret treasure chest.
"Whoa..." Kiara whispered dramatically. "It's glowing!"
Kade pointed at the shelves. "Nuggets! Nuggets! Nuggets!"
Kevin tugged at my sleeve. "Soup, Mama. Please. Soup is better at night."
I chuckled softly. "We're not cooking soup past midnight. Pick something quick."
"Okay then," I whispered, lowering my voice like we were plotting a secret mission. "Chocolate cake, ice cream, cookies, and chips."
The triplets all nodded eagerly, their faces glowing with excitement.
I gathered all the snakes and we all sat in the kitchen floor and started to eat
Kade bounced on his toes. "Best midnight feast ever!"
Kevin adjusted his little pajama sleeves, trying to look serious. "But Mama, we have to eat fast. If Papa wakes up, we're all in trouble."
Kiara gasped dramatically, her mouth already full of cake. "Shhh! Don't say his name! He might hear us!"
I gathered all the snacks and we sat cross‑legged on the kitchen floor, the fridge light glowing behind us like our secret campfire.
Kade bounced on his toes, crumbs already on his cheeks. "Best midnight feast ever!"
Kevin adjusted his little pajama sleeves, trying to look serious. "But Mama, we have to eat fast. If Papa wakes up, we're all in trouble."
Kiara gasped dramatically, her mouth stuffed with cake. "Shhh! Don't say his name! He might hear us!"
I whispered quickly, waving my hands at them. "Come on, eat fast."
We munched in silence for a moment — well, as silent as three six‑year‑olds could be.
Kade crunched chips so loudly I thought the whole house would wake up.
Kevin ate his cookie neatly, like he was at a fancy dinner.
Kiara smeared chocolate across her cheeks, giggling every time she licked her fingers.
I probably had ice cream smeared across my lips like a mustache.
Then Kade whispered, eyes wide, "What if Papa comes down right now?"
Kiara clutched her doll tighter. "We'll hide the cake!"
Kevin sighed, ever the serious one. "No. We'll just tell him Mama said it was okay."
I groaned softly. "Thanks, Kevin. Throw me under the bus, why don't you?"
The triplets giggled, their little whispers echoing in the kitchen.
And in that moment — past midnight, surrounded by crumbs and laughter — it felt like our own secret club.
We were still eating, crumbs everywhere, when suddenly the kitchen lights flicked on.
We all froze, eyes wide, cake halfway to our mouths.
We looked at each other in horror.
"Ahem."
"Can you explain yourself?" he asked, his voice low but sharp enough to make the triplets freeze mid‑bite.
"Well... we came to drink water," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Right, kids?"
"Yeah, drinking water," Kade echoed, his cheeks puffed out with chips.
"Yep," Kiara added, chocolate smeared across her lips like evidence.
Kevin, ever the serious one, nodded. "Water. And maybe... snacks."
Keifer raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Funny. I didn't know water came with cake, ice cream, cookies, and chips."
The triplets giggled nervously, glancing at me for backup.
I groaned softly. "Okay, fine. We were hungry. Midnight snack club."
Kiara gasped, clutching her doll. "Papa, don't be mad! It was Mama's idea!"
Kade jumped in, pointing at me dramatically. "Yeah, Mama said we could!"
Kevin sighed, shaking his head. "We're all guilty. No point in blaming."
"Jay, can you explain yourself?" Keifer asked, his voice low and suspicious.
I smiled as sweetly as I could, already plotting.
"Kids, turn around and close your eyes and ears," I whispered.
They all nodded obediently, covering their ears with their little hands and turning their backs like soldiers on a secret mission.
"What?" Keifer asked, already suspicious, his eyes narrowing at me.
"Keifer..." I said in a flirty voice, stepping closer until my hands rested on his chest.
His hands were already on my waist, pulling me in.
"No... maybe," I said with a mischievous smile, leaning in to give him a quick kiss.
Keifer chuckled softly, his grip on my waist tightening. "You think one kiss is enough to get you out of trouble?"
I tilted my head, teasing. "Depends... did it work?"
"Maybe it did but I need more kisses" He said
"Maybe it did," Keifer murmured, his smirk widening, "but I need more kisses."
I laughed softly, leaning closer. "Greedy."
His arms tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against him. "Not greedy. Just addicted."
I gave him another kiss, quick and sweet, but he didn't let me pull away. His forehead rested against mine, his voice low. "One more."
Behind us, the triplets peeked over their shoulders, whispering and giggling.
Kiara gasped, clutching her doll. "Papa's asking for more magic!"
Kade bounced on his toes. "Mama, give him ten kisses! That's the rule!"
Kevin sighed, shaking his head. "This is ridiculous. Midnight snack turned into midnight kissing."
I groaned, laughing despite myself. "See? Even the kids are keeping score now."
Keifer chuckled, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "Then I guess I'll never run out of kisses."
And just like that, the midnight snack club had a new rule — laughter, crumbs, and kisses included.
"This is a warning for all four of you," Keifer said firmly. "No more midnight snacks from tomorrow onwards."
We all nodded in unison, pretending to agree. But deep down, every single one of us knew we wouldn't follow that rule. Midnight snack club was too strong to die.
We tiptoed back toward our room, the triplets trailing behind me like little shadows.
"Mama, can we sleep with you tonight?" Kiara whispered, clutching her puppy doll.
"Yeah, Mama, please!" Kade bounced, already half climbing onto the bed.
Kevin sighed, his serious little voice calm but determined. "It's better if we stay here. Less chance of bad dreams."
Keifer groaned, rubbing his temples. "So now the bed is a hotel?"
I laughed softly, pulling the blanket back. "Come on then. Just tonight."
The triplets squealed, piling onto the bed — Kade and Kevin curling against me, while Kiara, ever the daddy's girl, nestled herself against Keifer's chest.
Kade yawned dramatically, his head flopping onto my shoulder. "Mama, this is the best bed ever."
Kevin tucked himself neatly at my side, already half asleep. "It's quiet here. I like it."
Kiara giggled softly, clutching her puppy doll as she burrowed closer to Keifer. "Papa, I'm safe with you."
Keifer glanced at me over her head, his smile tired but tender. "Looks like we've been invaded."
I laughed quietly, brushing Kade's hair back. "Our bed's officially a hurricane shelter."
The room fell into a hush, the chaos of midnight snacks fading into soft breathing and little whispers.
Kiara's giggles melted into sleep, Kade's dramatic sighs turned into snores, and Kevin's steady rhythm anchored us all.
Keifer reached across, his hand finding mine in the dark. "Even with all the rules broken... I wouldn't trade this."
I squeezed his hand, smiling. "Me neither."
And just like that, the night ended — not with warnings or scolding, but with all of us tangled together, wrapped in the kind of peace only found after storms of laughter, crumbs, and love.
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