JAY JAY POV
"Kuya, come outside! We want to talk to Ate Jay!" Keiran yelled, banging on the door like the dramatic little gremlin he is.
Keifer groaned into my hair.
"Why are they like this…" he muttered.
"You come inside the room," I called out, not moving from Keifer's arms.
"The door is unlocked!" Keifer yelled.
A second later, Keiran and Keigan burst into the room
Keiran scratched the back of his head.
"Kuya told us that it was your parents' ummm…"
He looked at Keigan for help.
"Death anniversary," Keigan finished softly.
They both stepped closer, suddenly shy, suddenly gentle.
"We just wanted to tell you that you're not alone," Keigan said.
"You have us. Me, Kuya… Keiran."
Keiran nodded quickly, trying to look serious even though he was fidgeting.
"Yeah. We're here. Always."
Something warm spread in my chest.
I smiled—small, but real.
Even Keifer did.
He tightened his arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder like he was proud of his brothers
"I know," I said, smiling at them.
Keiran grinned.
Keigan grinned.
Both of them looked way too proud of themselves for being sweet for once.
"Umm… Kuya," Keigan said.
"Hm?" Keifer replied, already suspicious.
Keiran cleared his throat dramatically.
"We would really appreciate it if you don't kiss Jay in front of us again. Like… it's really gross."
Keifer's entire soul left his body.
"GET. OUT." he yelled, pointing at the door like an angry dad.
I burst out laughing as the two idiots ran out, laughing even harder than me.
They closed the door behind them—
And then Keigan's voice came through the wood:
"I'm locking the door!"
Before I could even react, I heard the click.
He locked it.
And left.
Keifer stared at the door.
I stared at the door.
Then I started laughing again, the kind that made my stomach hurt a little.
He wrapped an arm around me again, pulling me back into his chest.
Keifer looked at me, eyes soft but curious.
"When do you want to get married?" he asked, completely serious.
I smirked.
"Maybe now."
I swear—his whole face lit up.
Hopeful.
Excited.
Like a golden retriever who just heard the word "walk."
Before I could even blink, he grabbed his phone.
"Keifer—"
Too late.
"Mr. Rider," he said into the phone, suddenly formal, "I'm wondering when I could get my marriage certificates."
My jaw dropped.
"Idiot! I'm still seventeen!" I yelled, smacking his arm.
Keifer froze.
Then he slowly pulled the phone away from his ear.
"I take it back," he said flatly, hanging up with the most offended, annoyed expression I'd ever seen on him.
He glared at me like I was the problem.
I burst out laughing again.
He groaned dramatically and flopped onto the bed beside me.
"You're ruining my dreams, wife."
I poked his cheek.
"You'll live."
He grabbed my hand and kissed it.
"Not if you keep teasing me like that."
"Keifer, it's nine o'clock in the night," I said, my voice already getting sleepy.
"Yeah… let's sleep," he murmured, pulling the blanket over both of us.
He shifted just enough to wrap his arms around me again
I tucked my face into his chest, breathing in that familiar scent that always made me feel safe.
His hand rubbed slow circles on my back, the same way he always did when he wanted me to relax.
We fell asleep like that— hugging each other, holding on, like neither of us planned to let go anytime soon.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEXT MORING
JAY JAY POV
my phone started ringing nonstop on the nightstand.
I groaned, grabbed it without even opening my eyes, and pressed it to my ear.
"Jay, sweetie," Grandma said, way too cheerful for this hour. "Good morning."
"Morning, Grandma… why are you calling me early in the morning…" I mumbled, still half-asleep.
Beside me, Keifer started to wake up too, stretching and blinking like a confused cat.
"Nothing, dear," Grandma said. "Just that since your 18th birthday is coming up, we need to get you a dress, so you need to come."
"But—" I started, already dreading the chaos.
"Jay, you need to come and pick a dress. Jare already got his suit fixed. It's your turn now," Grandma insisted, her tone leaving zero room for negotiation.
I sighed into the pillow.
"Fine… I'll be there in one hour," I said.
"Good girl," Grandma said before hanging up.
I dropped the phone on my chest and stared at the ceiling.
Keifer blinked at me sleepily.
"What happened…?"
I groaned.
"Grandma happened."
He snorted and pulled me closer like he was trying to keep me from escaping the bed.
"I need to go and pick a dress for my birthday," I said, grabbing my phone.
"Then I will also come," Keifer replied immediately, like it wasn't even a question.
I nodded and got out of the bed.
"I'll get ready."
He nodded back, still half‑asleep but watching me like he didn't want me to leave the room.
After showering and brushing my teeth, I froze.
Right.
I didn't have any clothes here.
"Keifer, I don't have any clothes here," I called out.
Without missing a beat, he said,
"Then get out like that."
My face heated instantly.
"Gago!"
"Jay, I'm not kidding. Wear a towel and come out."
"FINE, BUT YOU BETTER NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID," I yelled.
"Fine, Queen," he said, sounding way too innocent to be trusted.
I rolled my eyes, wrapped the towel around myself, and stepped out of the bathroom.
Keifer froze.
Like—completely froze.Then he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me across the room.
"Keifer—what—?"
He opened a door.
A walk‑in closet.
Filled with his clothes.
Then he walked to another door.
…Another closet?
A walk‑in closet inside a walk‑in closet?
He smirked and opened it.
And my jaw dropped.
The entire room was filled with clothes.
My size.
Dresses, shirts, pants, jackets—
even underwear and bras neatly arranged like a boutique.
"Idiot, how do you know my size?" I asked, staring at him.
He shrugged like it was obvious.
"I just do. Now hurry up. I'll go get ready."
He walked out like he didn't just reveal a secret mini‑mall dedicated to me.
I stood there in a towel, surrounded by clothes he secretly collected for me
This man is insane.
I wore something comfortable and stepped out of the closet.
Keifer was already ready—hair fixed, shirt perfect, looking like he didn't just wake up ten minutes ago.
"Let's go," he said, grabbing the keys.
I nodded.
After eating breakfast and saying bye to Keiran and Keigan—we headed out.
When we arrived at the shopping place, it was… empty.
Completely empty.
"Is it just us inside?" I asked Grandma as soon as I walked in.
She didn't even look at me.
"Morning, Keifer," Grandma said, smiling like he was her actual grandchild.
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain.
Wow. Ignoring your own grandchild now.
Amazing.
"Morning, Grandma," Keifer said politely.
"Yes, Jay," Grandma finally said, turning to me like I was an afterthought. "It's only us here. I didn't want any interruptions, so I booked the place."
I blinked.
"You booked… the entire boutique?"
Grandma nodded proudly, like she just solved world hunger.
Grandma clapped her hands dramatically.
"Alright! Let's find my granddaughter a dress before she turns eighteen looking like a homeless child."
I stared at her.
Keifer choked on his own breath trying not to laugh.
"You old lady, I have to tell the maids to stop feeding you too much sugar," I said, crossing my arms.
Grandma slowly turned to me.
Grandma placed a hand on her hip.
"Jay, sweetie," she said in that dangerously sweet tone,
"the maids don't feed me sugar. I feed myself sugar."
Keifer snorted.
I glared at him.
Grandma continued, "And if you keep talking like that, I'll make sure your dress has ten layers and weighs more than you."
My mouth dropped open.
"Grandma!"
Keifer was openly laughing now, no shame at all.
Grandma ignored me again and smiled at him.
"Keifer, dear, help her pick something elegant. She clearly can't be trusted."
I threw my hands up.
"I'm literally right here!"
Grandma patted my cheek like I was five.
"Yes, yes, we know."
Keifer leaned down and whispered,
"You're losing this battle, wife."
I elbowed him.
Grandma clapped her hands.
"Alright! Let's get you a dress before you start insulting me again."
We tried dress after dress after dress.
One was so heavy I swear I almost fell forward.
Another one was so glittery I looked like a disco ball.
One had so many layers I felt like a wedding cake.
Another one was so tight I couldn't breathe.
Every time I stepped out, Grandma made a face like she was judging the entire fashion industry.
Keifer, on the other hand…
He wasn't even pretending to judge the dresses normally.
No.
He was sitting there like every single dress was a personal attack on his self‑control.
Every time I stepped out, his eyes did that slow up‑and‑down thing—
not creepy, not inappropriate, just…
Keifer.
Like he was thinking, "Why is my wife trying to kill me today?"
At one point, I swear he actually swallowed hard.
Grandma was busy criticizing the fabric, the cut, the stitching—
and Keifer was just in the corner looking like he was about to combust.
The dress Keifer handed me was stunning—
It was deep blue, sparkly but not too much.
The top hugged my waist perfectly, with thin straps and a soft neckline.
The skirt was flowy, layered, and shimmered when I moved—like stars falling. It looked expensive, but still simple.
"Grandma, this is the one," I said, smoothing the blue dress down my sides.
Grandma's eyes widened a little.
"Keifer, I didn't know you could choose dresses," she said, sounding genuinely impressed.
But Keifer didn't even hear her.
He was too busy staring at me—
not blinking, not breathing, just staring like I'd personally ended his entire bloodline.
"You look beautiful, Jay," he said quietly, voice softer than before.
I felt my cheeks warm, but I just nodded, pretending I wasn't melting inside.
Grandma smirked like she knew exactly what was happening.
Then Jare walked in.
He didn't even say hello.
"Absolutely not," he said from the doorway, pointing at me like I was committing a crime.
"Why not?" I asked, already annoyed.
"Because it's exposing your hands too much," Jare said, dead serious.
I stared at him.
"My… hands?"
Keifer sighed.
"Jare, this is the only one without high slits, or too short, or a high neckline."
"Exactly," I said, stepping closer to Jare. "Come on, this is the only one that actually works."
He crossed his arms.
"No."
"Jare, please," I begged.
"No."
"Kuyaaaa," I dragged out, giving him the saddest eyes I could.
He looked away.
"No."
I grabbed his arm.
"Please. Just this once."
Keifer added, "She looks beautiful, man. And it's literally the safest dress here."
Jare groaned like we were torturing him.
After five full minutes of begging, guilt‑tripping, and me threatening to wear something worse just to spite him—
He finally threw his hands up.
"FINE! But I'm bringing a jacket for you to wear when we go home."
I rolled my eyes but smiled.
"Thank you, Kuya."
He muttered something under his breath about "children these days," but he didn't argue anymore.
Victory.
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