Jay POV
After the kissing war, we were all sitting at the dining table eating breakfast. Our friends and family were going back to the Philippines today.
The chaos was a lot less than before.
Section E looked sad because they were leaving.
Honestly?
I was sad too.
"Come on, eat fast. The flight is in an hour and a half," Kuya said.
Everyone groaned.
"I want to stay here a little longer," Felix complained.
"I don't want to go," Ci-n agreed.
"I'll miss Kade," Keiren said dramatically.
I made a sad face too.
"Don't be dramatic," Aries said.
Everyone immediately glared at him.
Aries didn't look bothered at all.
After breakfast, we went to the airport to see them off.
Everyone left in Keifer's private jet.
And just like that...
The chaos disappeared.
___
Now we were on our way home.
Keifer was driving while I sat in the
passenger seat.
Kade was sitting on my lap, happily babbling to himself while playing with the bracelet Keifer had given me on our anniversary.
The car was quiet.
Too quiet.
I missed them already.
Suddenly, Keifer reached for my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against it.
"You're looking sad," he said, his eyes still on the road.
I sighed.
"I just didn't want them to leave."
His expression softened.
"Don't worry. We'll go visit them whenever you want."
I gave him a small smile.
Then...
The car slowed down.
A few seconds later, it stopped completely.
I looked out the window.
My eyes immediately lit up.
"No way."
Keifer smirked.
"I know you're hungry."
Before I could even answer, he got out of the car.
A moment later he opened my door, took Kade from my lap, then offered me his hand.
I took it immediately and stepped out of the car.
My smile grew wider.
"Keifer..."
"I know."
In front of us was my favorite restaurant.
The one I always dragged him to whenever I wanted comfort food.
"You remembered."
He looked at me like I had asked something ridiculous.
"Of course I remembered."
My heart did that stupid little thing again.
The thing it always did around him.
Kade suddenly bounced excitedly in his father's arms.
"Da! Da!"
"Even your son approves," Keifer said.
"He approves because he likes food."
"Just like his mother."
I gasped.
The audacity.
"Kade, did you hear what your father said?" Kade smiled.
Traitor
Absolute traitor.
Keifer chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked inside.
The staff immediately recognized us.
We were here often enough.
Embarrassingly often.
The familiar smell of food instantly made my stomach growl.
Keifer heard it.
Unfortunately.
A smug smile appeared on his face.
I immediately pretended nothing happened.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
"Baby."
I looked away.
"Jay."
I looked farther away.
His shoulders started shaking with laughter.
"You really are hungry."
I pointed at him.
"Not a word."
He laughed harder.
Even Kade started laughing despite having no idea what was happening.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why are both of you against me today?" I asked.
Neither answered.
Traitors.
A few minutes later we were seated in our usual booth.
Kade was sitting on Keifer's lap while I looked through the menu.
Not because I needed to.
I already knew what I wanted.
I just liked pretending I was making an important decision.
Keifer didn't even open his menu.
Because he already knew what I was ordering too.
"You want the same thing."
I looked up.
"...Maybe."
"You always order the same thing."
"It's called loyalty."
"It's called being predictable."
I gasped dramatically.
Before I could argue, Kade suddenly reached for me.
"Mama!"
I immediately took him from Keifer.
Kade settled comfortably against me and started playing with my bracelet again.
I kissed the top of his head.
Then I looked at Keifer.
He was already watching us.
That soft look again.
The one he gets whenever he sees me with Kade.
The one that always makes my heart feel warm.
The sadness from the airport was still there.
But it wasn't as heavy anymore.
Because no matter who left...
No matter how quiet the house became...
I still had these two.
My husband.
My son.
My home.
____
Ugh.
That sounded so cheesy.
If Felix heard me thinking that, he would never let me live it down.
Thankfully he was on a plane.
Far away.
As he should be.
I smiled to myself and adjusted Kade on my lap.
Kade immediately grabbed my cheek.
"Mama."
"Yes, baby?"
He responded by trying to put the menu into his mouth.
"Absolutely not."
I quickly took it away.
Kade looked offended.
Like deeply offended.
Keifer snorted.
I pointed at our son.
"Your child."
"Our child."
"Your child right now."
Keifer chuckled and reached over to fix a strand of hair that had fallen into my face.
The gesture was so casual.
So natural.
Like he did it every day.
Which he did.
Still.
I liked it every single time.
A waiter arrived and took our order.
Or more accurately—
Keifer ordered.
Because apparently my husband had memorized my order years ago.
Honestly?
A little creepy.
A little sweet.
Mostly sweet.
The waiter left.
Kade immediately stretched his arms toward Keifer.
"Dada!"
Traitor.
Keifer took him easily.
"See?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Don't start."
Kade settled comfortably against his father and immediately started playing with the buttons on Keifer's shirt.
Meanwhile Keifer just let him.
The scary mafia boss.
The ruthless CEO.
The man who terrified half the business world.
Was currently sitting in a restaurant letting a baby attack his shirt.
Life is funny.
I rested my chin on my hand and watched them.
Kade was babbling complete nonsense while Keifer listened seriously and nodded occasionally like they were discussing important business matters.
"Mhm."
"Da!"
"I understand."
"Ba!"
"That's a good point."
I burst out laughing.
"What exactly is he saying?"
Keifer looked at me seriously.
"He's explaining market trends."
I rolled my eyes.
"Of course he is."
Kade smacked the table proudly.
"See?" Keifer said. "He agrees."
My son had inherited his father's talent for nonsense.
Wonderful.
A few minutes later our food arrived.
The moment the plates were placed on the table, I felt genuine happiness.
Airport sadness?
Gone.
Temporarily.
Food heals.
I immediately reached for my fork.
Then stopped.
Because Keifer was already cutting my food into smaller pieces.
I stared at him.
He didn't even look up.
Just continued doing it like it was completely normal.
My heart softened.
"Thank you."
He finally glanced up.
"You're welcome."
Simple.
Casual.
Yet somehow it made me smile.
Kade immediately started reaching for my food.
"No, sir."
"Mama!"
"No."
"Mama!"
"No."
Kade looked at Keifer.
"Dada."
"No," Keifer said too.
Betrayed by both parents.
Kade looked devastated.
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Then he pouted.
And immediately my willpower started collapsing.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Keifer noticed.
"Don't."
"I wasn't going to."
"You're already thinking about it."
I gasped.
"Get out of my head."
"You make the same face every time."
Rude.
Completely rude.
Five minutes later Kade somehow had a tiny piece of food anyway.
Because apparently I had no backbone.
Keifer looked at me.
I looked away.
"I don't want to hear it."
His shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Traitor.
After a while, the food, the familiar restaurant, and the comfortable company slowly chased away the sadness from earlier.
The airport felt farther away now.
The goodbye didn't hurt as much.
Not because I missed them less.
But because I knew we'd see them again.
And because right now...
This was enough.
I reached across the table and took Keifer's hand.
He looked up.
I smiled.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For stopping here."
His expression softened immediately.
Then he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
Just like he had in the car.
"You looked like you needed it."
I smiled.
Yeah.
Maybe I did.
Beside him, Kade suddenly copied his father.
He grabbed my hand with both tiny hands.
Then dramatically pressed his face against it.
Not exactly a kiss.
More like a baby headbutt.
But close enough.
I laughed so hard I nearly choked.
"There he goes."
Keifer shook his head.
"My son copies everything."
"Our son."
I smiled and looked at both of them.
The sadness was still there somewhere.
A little.
But now it was mixed with warmth.
Comfort.
Home.
And honestly?
That felt pretty good.
__
We finally got home.
I flop on the couch dramatically.
"Ahh! Finally home. I want to sleep forever" I said.
Keifer sat beside me with Kade on his lap who was sleeping.
"Jay, I've to go to office " keifer said.
Off course.
*Sigh*
" When will you come?" I asked taking Kade from him.
"5 or 6 maybe " he said and kissed my head.
Maybe?
But still I just nodded.
"Okay now you take nap and I'll go" he said and give me a peck on lips.
I smiled.
"Take care " I said as he got out.