The mansion was finally settling into something that almost resembled calm.
Almost.
Section E had temporarily migrated to the living room, arguments reduced to background noise, cups of coffee in hand, some sprawled on sofas, some sitting on the floor like they paid rent here. Keifer stood near the staircase, arms crossed, quietly listening to Percy and Aries debate something unnecessarily serious.
I was just starting to think, Maybe today will pass without another dramatic entrance.
That's when the front door slammed open.
Everyone jumped.
"WHO LEFT THE GATE OPEN?" a voice thundered.
Kuya Angelo walked in first—coat half on, tie loosened, expression already annoyed like he had argued with three people before breakfast.
Right behind him—
Lia.
Hands on her hips. Chin raised. Zero patience.
"I told you," Lia snapped, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, "you don't make decisions for everyone just because you're older."
Angelo scoffed. "And I told you—someone has to use their brain when you're busy acting dramatic."
Section E went silent.
Not because they were scared.
Because this was entertainment.
Felix whispered loudly, "Oh this is better than TV."
"Shh," Rory hissed. "Don't interrupt the episode."
Lia turned sharply toward Angelo. "Excuse me? Dramatic? You literally changed plans without telling anyone."
"I adjusted plans," Angelo corrected. "There's a difference."
"There is not," Lia fired back. "You just like control."
Angelo laughed humorlessly. "And you like chaos. Look around—this house is already suffering."
I cleared my throat gently. "Hi…?"
Both of them stopped mid-argument and finally noticed the room full of people.
Lia blinked. "Why is everyone staring?"
Mayo grinned. "Because you walked in like a thunderstorm."
Keifer stepped forward calmly. "Angelo. Lia. You're in my house."
Angelo rubbed his forehead. "I know. And I apologize in advance."
Lia crossed her arms. "I don't."
Percy leaned closer to me. "They're siblings, right?"
"Yes," I muttered. "Unfortunately."
Angelo pointed at Lia. "You didn't have to follow me."
Lia shot back instantly. "I followed you because you walked out like a child."
"I walked out because reasoning with you is impossible."
"And I walked in because ignoring me doesn't work."
C In nodded seriously. "Valid points on both sides."
Everyone ignored him.
Angelo finally sighed and turned toward Keifer. "I need to talk to you."
Lia interrupted, "No, you need to listen first."
Angelo closed his eyes for exactly three seconds. "This is why—"
"This is why WHAT?" Lia challenged.
Felix whispered to Erdix, "Place your bets. How long till someone storms out?"
Erdix replied, "Five minutes. Max."
I stepped forward slowly. "Why don't we all… sit?"
Angelo glanced at me, then at Lia. His expression softened just a little. "Fine."
Lia sat down dramatically on the couch. Angelo remained standing.
She looked up at him. "You don't get to decide everything alone anymore."
Angelo replied quietly, "And you don't get to act like consequences don't exist."
The room felt heavy for a second.
Keifer spoke then—calm, steady. "Whatever this is, we'll handle it. But not like this."
Angelo exhaled. "You're right."
Lia tilted her head. "See? Even he agrees with me."
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that."
Section E burst into laughter.
Angelo finally sat down, shoulders relaxing just a bit. "We'll talk later."
Lia nodded. "We will."
They exchanged a look—not angry, not soft either—just familiar. The kind only siblings shared.
Rory clapped once. "Well. That was intense."
Felix nodded. "Ten out of ten entrance."
I glanced at Keifer. "Your house attracts drama."
He smirked faintly. "It married into it."
And just like that, the mansion returned to its usual state—
Loud. Chaotic. Alive.
Angelo went quiet again after that realization settled in—this wasn't about preparing for a marriage.
It had already happened.
He leaned back slightly, eyes moving to the ring on Keifer's hand, then to mine. His jaw tightened for a second before he spoke.
"So it's done," he said. Not accusing. Just stating fact.
Keifer nodded. "Yes."
Angelo exhaled through his nose, almost a tired laugh. "You didn't even hesitate."
"No," Keifer replied. "Because she's my wife."
The word wife landed heavily in the room.
Section E, who had been barely behaving, suddenly went quiet again. Even they understood when something wasn't a joke.
Lia crossed her arms, softer this time. "You can't undo it, Angelo."
"I know," he said. "That's not what I'm trying to do."
He stood and walked a little, hands clasped behind his back. "I'm adjusting. That's all."
I watched him carefully. Angelo never reacted impulsively—he processed, recalculated, then acted.
"You've stepped into a different position now, Jay," he said finally, turning to me. "Not just emotionally. Legally. Socially."
I nodded. "I'm aware."
"And if you weren't?" he asked gently.
Keifer answered for me. "I'd still stand beside her."
Angelo studied him for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "That's exactly why I don't oppose this."
That surprised everyone.
Lia looked up sharply. "You don't?"
"No," Angelo said. "I worry. That's different."
He looked at me again. "You married into weight. Expectations. Eyes that won't leave you alone."
"I didn't marry the power," I said calmly. "I married him."
A pause.
Then Angelo smiled—small, brief, but real. "That's the only correct answer."
Section E collectively released the breath they'd been holding.
Felix ruined it instantly. "So… does this mean we can still mess with them?"
Angelo's eyes flicked to him. "Lightly."
"Define lightly," Percy asked.
"Alive at the end of the day," Angelo replied.
Groans. Laughter. Relief.
Angelo turned to Keifer one last time. "Take care of her."
Keifer didn't even blink. "Always."
Angelo nodded, satisfied.
Lia stepped beside him, resting her head briefly on his shoulder. "You're being dramatic."
"I'm being responsible."
She smirked. "Same thing, different tone."
As Angelo moved toward the exit, he paused. "One more thing."
Everyone looked up.
"You're married now," he said. "Peace is no longer guaranteed."
Section E grinned.
I laughed softly, leaning into Keifer. "I noticed."
And just like that, Angelo left—not angry, not fighting it—
But accepting it.
The mansion finally felt quiet.
Not the empty kind of quiet—but the kind that settles after chaos, laughter, arguments, and too many people who love you loudly.
Keifer closed the door behind us, the sound gentle, like he didn't want to disturb the moment. I was still standing near the window, sunlight brushing my skin, wearing his loose shirt like it already belonged to me.
He didn't say anything at first.
He just came closer.
Slow. Unhurried.
Like he had all the time in the world now.
"You're real quiet," he said softly.
I smiled. "I'm just… taking it in."
"In what?" he asked.
"This," I said, turning to him. "Us. Married. Still here. Still okay."
He lifted his hand and tucked a strand of my messy hair behind my ear, his thumb lingering there like it didn't want to leave.
"We're more than okay," he said. "We're home."
That word hit me harder than I expected.
Home.
I stepped closer, resting my forehead against his chest. His heartbeat was steady—strong—comforting. Like it had always been waiting for me to listen.
"Do you ever think about how fast everything changed?" I asked quietly.
"All the time," he admitted. "But I don't regret a second."
I looked up at him. "Not even the chaos?"
He smiled—soft, fond. "Especially not the chaos."
His arms wrapped around me then, firm but careful, like I was something precious he never wanted to drop. I fit there perfectly, like the space had always been shaped for me.
"You know," he murmured, resting his forehead against mine, "the world can fight us all it wants."
"I know," I whispered.
"But it won't win," he finished.
I smiled. "Because we're stubborn?"
"Because we're together," he corrected.
I laughed quietly, my hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. "Kuya Angelo was right, you know."
"Oh?" he raised a brow.
"I married weight," I said. "Expectations. Power. Attention."
"And?" he asked.
"And I'd do it again," I said without hesitation. "As long as it's you."
Something softened in his eyes—something deep and unguarded.
He kissed my forehead, slow and meaningful. "You're my wife," he said, like it was a promise, not a title.
I closed my eyes. "And you're my forever."
Outside the room, chaos would return.
Section E would definitely ruin the peace again.
But for that moment?
It was just Jay and Keifer.
Married.
Safe.
In love. 💞