JAY JAY POV
"Keifer," I said when I finally saw him. "You're late."
"Yeah, but I'm here now," Keifer replied, smiling at me like that was enough to erase the whole world's problems.
"Jay, go change," Grandma ordered
"Give me ten minutes," I said to Keifer, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
Keifer froze for half a second, then smiled—soft, real, the kind of smile that made my chest feel warm.
I changed into the dress.
When I stepped out, Grandma actually froze—
hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
"You look so beautiful, Jay," she said, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Thanks, Grandma," I said, hugging her back carefully so I wouldn't crush the dress.
"Let's go, everyone is waiting for you at the grand hall," Grandma said.
"I thought they were downstairs?" I asked, confused.
"Well, we were running late, so we decided to send them first," Grandma said, checking her watch. "Let's go, we're late too."
I nodded, and we made our way toward the grand hall.
The closer we got, the louder the music and voices became.
My stomach did a little flip—nerves, excitement, everything mixed together.
Right at the entrance, I saw Jare waiting.
"You two stay here until you see that red light blink," Grandma said, pointing at the tiny indicator near the door. "The others are inside. Everyone is inside."
I nodded, my heart suddenly beating a little faster.
The music from the grand hall was muffled but loud enough to feel through the floor. Voices, laughter, clinking glasses— everyone was already there.
Grandma went inside, leaving me and Jare at the entrance.
Jare looked me up and down, then smirked.
"Looking good for once," he said. "I thought you would look like a monkey."
I stepped on his foot. Hard.
"OWW—abuse on my birthday!" Jare yelped, hopping on one leg.
"Idiot, it's my birthday too," I said, crossing my arms.
"Whatever," Jare muttered, rolling his eyes like the dramatic clown he is.
"Idiot," I repeated.
"You're the bigger idiot," I added, "you didn't even greet your twin sister on her birthday."
Jare pointed a finger at me.
"Again, it was a one‑time thing—"
I grabbed his finger and twisted it.
"OW—OW—JAY! LET GO! LET GO!"
"You deserve it," I said, twisting a little more.
"OKAY OKAY I'M SORRY—HAPPY BIRTHDAY—STOP—MY FINGER—"
I let go.
Jare shook his hand dramatically like he'd survived a war.
"You're violent," he muttered.
"You're annoying," I shot back.
We were quiet for a moment, just standing there with the muffled music behind the doors.
"Scared?" I asked him softly.
"A little," Jare admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "There will be so many people inside."
"Yeah… business partners, friends, Eden," I said.
His jaw tightened for a second, but he shook his head.
"Don't worry about Eden. She can't do anything," Jare said.
"I'm not scared she'll do something to me," I whispered. "I'm scared she might do something to you. Or worse… Jace."
Jare looked at me then—really looked
"She can't do anything," he said again, firmer this time. "Not today. Not ever again."
I swallowed, my chest tightening.
Jare stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Jay… you're not the only one who's scared. But we're together. And she can't break that. Not anymore."
For a second, it felt like we were kids again—
just the two of us against the world.
Then the red light blinked.
Jare straightened, wiped his palms on his suit, and said,
"Showtime."
I rolled my eyes, but my heart was already beating faster.
Jare held out his hand to me.
"Tradition, sis," he said.
I couldn't help but smile.
I took his hand.
Right on cue, the doors opened.
Grandpa's voice boomed through the speakers:
"So, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the birthday girl and birthday boy—Jasper Jean Mariano and Jasprit Jare Mariano!"
Jare squeezed my hand.
"Let's go."
We stepped inside.
The lights hit us.
The music softened.
And every single person in that massive hall turned to look.
For a second, it felt like the world paused.
Keifer was the first face I found.
He looked at me like—
like I was something unreal.
Like he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
Like he was trying not to forget to breathe.
Section E?
Their jaws dropped.
Kuya Angelo and Tita Gemma smiled—
proud, soft, warm.
And Jare?
He lifted our joined hands slightly, like he was presenting me to the world.
We walked toward Grandpa, hand in hand, the lights following us as the whole hall quieted.
Grandpa stood tall at the center of the stage, microphone in hand, pride written all over his face.
"Today is the day our twins turn eighteen," Grandpa announced, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "Which means the world gets to know the future Mariano Heir and Heiress."
The crowd murmured—surprised, impressed, curious.
Jare straightened beside me.
I kept my chin up, even though my heart was pounding.
Grandpa continued, eyes softening when he looked at us.
"These two… they carry the blood, the strength, and the legacy of our family. And today, we celebrate not just their birthday, but the beginning of their future."
I felt Jare squeeze my hand.
Grandpa lifted his hand, signaling for the hall to quiet down again.
"Jay. Jare. Come forward."
Jare and I exchanged a quick look—
his nervous, mine steadying—
and we stepped toward Grandpa together.
The lights shifted, following us as we walked to the center of the stage.
Grandpa placed one hand on Jare's shoulder, the other on mine.
"This," he said, voice deep and proud, "is the moment our family has waited for. A symbolic gesture to mark the beginning of their future."
A staff member stepped forward with a velvet box.
Inside were two identical rings—
simple, elegant, engraved with the Mariano crest.
Grandpa took them out slowly.
"These rings represent responsibility, unity, and the legacy you both carry. From this day forward, the world will know you not just as our grandchildren… but as the future of this family."
He slid one ring onto Jare's finger.
Then he slid the other onto mine.
The hall erupted into applause.
But I wasn't looking at the crowd.
I was looking at her.
Eden.
She was seated near the front, dressed in something expensive and dramatic, like she wanted attention.
But her face—
Her face was tight.
She wasn't happy.
Not even close.
She looked like someone had just ripped the ground out from under her.
Her eyes flicked from me to Jare, then to Grandpa, then back to me.
And for the first time in years…
She looked afraid.
Jare leaned slightly toward me and whispered without moving his lips,
"She's pissed."
I didn't look away from Eden.
"Good," I whispered back.
I smiled directly at her—
slow, calm, controlled.
And she smiled back.
It was the kind of smile that said: I'm planning something.
A chill crawled up my spine.
"I think she's up to something," I murmured to Jare, still keeping my eyes on her.
"She can't do anything," Jare said again, trying to sound confident.
But I heard it—
the tiny crack in his voice.
The way his jaw tightened.
The way his hand flexed like he was ready to fight someone.
He wasn't as calm as he pretended to be.
Neither was I.
"Jare, a tiny speech," Grandpa said, handing him the mic.
I almost burst out laughing.
"Ha! Told you to make a speech ready," I whispered, elbowing him lightly.
Jare shot me the most sarcastic smile ever—
the I hate you but also you're my twin so I can't escape you smile.
He took the mic anyway, cleared his throat dramatically, and stepped forward.
The entire hall quieted.
Jare glanced at me once—
a quick, grounding look—
"Good evening. I'm Jare. Today Jay and I turn eighteen, and we officially step into the Mariano legacy. Our family raised us to handle responsibility, and I'm grateful we get to face the future of this company together. Jay's the heart of this family—even if she bullies me daily—and I wouldn't want any of this without her. Happy birthday, sis, and thank you to everyone here for supporting us."
He handed the mike back to grandpa
I smiled "You actually have a speech" I said to him
Jare grinned at me, all proud and annoying at the same time, like "good luck topping that, sis."
Grandpa turned toward me, eyes soft, and handed me the mic.
The hall quieted again.
I took the mic and said:
"Good evening. Thank you all for being here today. Turning eighteen with my family, friends, and everyone who supports the Mariano name means more to me than I can say. I'm grateful for the love, the guidance, and the strength this family has given us. And Jare… thank you for being the best twin I could ever ask for. I'm proud to face our future together. Thank you, everyone."
Everyone clapped their hands, the applause echoing through the hall like soft thunder.
Grandpa lifted the mic again, smiling proudly.
"Let's start the dance," he announced. "Sister and brother dance."
Jare groaned under his breath.
I snorted.
But he still held out his hand to me—
dramatic, formal, like he was some prince in a fairytale.
"Tradition," he muttered.
I rolled my eyes but placed my hand in his anyway.
The lights dimmed.
A soft melody started playing.
People stepped aside, forming a circle around us.
Jare leaned in slightly and whispered,
"Don't step on my foot."
I whispered back,
"No promises."
He laughed—quiet, real, the kind he only does when it's just us.
And then we started to dance,
just the two of us in the center of the room,
the twins everyone was watching,
the siblings who survived everything together.
The music wrapped around us, slow and warm, and for a moment it felt like the whole room faded away.
Just me and Jare.
He rested one hand lightly on my shoulder, the other holding mine, guiding us in a gentle sway. No teasing. No sarcasm. No stepping on feet.
Just… us.
"You look happy," he murmured, almost surprised.
"I am," I said softly. "Because you're here."
He let out a tiny breath, the kind he only does when he's trying not to get emotional.
"You know," he said, eyes fixed somewhere over my shoulder, "I don't say it a lot… but I'm proud of you."
My chest tightened.
"Jare—"
"No, listen." His voice stayed low, steady. "Everything we went through… you stayed strong. Stronger than me, most days. And I don't think I ever thanked you for that."
I blinked hard, trying not to tear up in front of an entire ballroom.
"You don't have to thank me," I whispered. "We're twins. We survive together."
He smiled—small, real, the kind he never shows anyone else.
"Yeah," he said. "Together."
He pulled me a little closer, resting his forehead briefly against mine like we were kids again hiding from thunderstorms.
"I've got you," he whispered.
"And I've got you," I whispered back.
For a moment, the world felt safe.
Just Jay and Jare.
Two halves of the same story.
Dancing in the center of a room full of people—
but only seeing each other.
The music shifted, more people stepped onto the floor, and the soft sibling moment slowly dissolved into the crowd.
Jare let go of my hand with a dramatic sigh.
"Go dance. Your boyfriend has been waiting for you," he said, nudging me forward.
I rolled my eyes.
"Don't be jealous. Go find yourself a girlfriend."
He scoffed, but he was smiling.
And before I could even turn fully—
Keifer was already there.
Like he'd been counting the seconds.
He stepped in front of me, offering his hand with a small bow, eyes warm and a little mischievous.
"Would I get a dance with you, my highness?" he asked, voice low and teasing.
My breath caught for a second.
He looked…
different under the lights.
"Sure," I said, giving him my hand.
Keifer laughed softly, that warm, breathy kind of laugh he only does when he's genuinely happy, and we started to dance together.
"I'm proud of you, Jay," he said, voice low, meant only for me.
I smiled—small, shy, the kind I couldn't hide even if I tried.
His hands slid to my waist, steady and gentle.
I looped my arms around his neck, feeling the warmth of him, the closeness, the way he pulled me just a little nearer like he didn't want any space between us.
Keifer leaned in slightly, his forehead almost touching mine.
"You look… unreal tonight," he murmured.
My heart did that stupid flip again.
Keifer's hands were already warm on my waist, but then— slowly, deliberately— he pulled me even closer.
"Careful," I whispered, trying to sound steady.
"You're pulling me too close."
Keifer smiled—
that quiet, confident smile he only ever shows me.
"Good," he murmured.
"I like you close."
My fingers tightened slightly around the back of his neck,
and he guided us in a slow turn,
his thumb brushing lightly against my waist like he didn't even realize he was doing it.
But he did.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
"You're doing amazing tonight," he said softly.
"Strong. Beautiful. Brave."
My chest warmed.
"Keifer…" I breathed.
He leaned in just a little more,
his lips near my ear,
his voice low enough that only I could hear:
"I'm right here, Jay. With you."
"Wait—where is Jace?" I asked, pulling back just enough to scan the crowd.
Keifer's brows furrowed instantly.
"Where is Keigan?" he echoed, his voice dropping into that serious tone he rarely used unless something felt off.
We both looked around.
Keifer's hand tightened slightly on my waist.
"They were here a minute ago," he muttered.
I nodded, my heartbeat picking up.
Jace never wandered. Keigan never disappeared. Not without telling someone.
Keifer leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Jay… stay with me."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
😭🔥 GUYS WHO'S HERE AFTER SECTION E EP 9 🔥😭 Because SAME... I'm literally crying on the floor right now.
I have NO WORDS for that episode 😭💀 June feels so far away I might actually evaporate before the next part drops 😭🔥
But I'm READY for PERCY tho 😭💙 He's gonna be the light in the dark side, I just KNOW it ✨🔥
ANDDDDDDDDD— The actors?? BRO THEY SLAYED SO HARD 😭🔥 Ashtine didn't get crowned QUEEN for nothing 👑💙