JAY JAY POV
I woke up to warmth.
Keifer's chest under my cheek, his arm around my waist, and his face buried in my neck like he was trying to fuse into my skin.
I didn't even have to look — I could feel he was awake.
"Keifer, wake up," I mumbled. "I know you're awake, idiot."
He made a low sound, nuzzling deeper into my neck like a sleepy puppy.
"Hmm."
Then, in the most shameless morning voice ever:
"Do you want a round three?"
I shoved him so fast he almost fell off the bed.
"Idiot."
He laughed — that deep, smug laugh that meant he was absolutely proud of himself.
Then he sat up suddenly.
"Jay, get ready. We're going somewhere."
I blinked. "Where?"
He smirked. "Just get ready. I have a surprise for you. And just say yes."
Just say yes?
What was that supposed to mean?
I stared at him, confused, but nodded anyway.
He kissed my forehead and practically pushed me toward the closet.
I got dressed, choosing my favorite blue dress — the one he always stared at a little too long.
When I walked out, Keifer was already dressed.
In blue.
Matching me.
He looked at me, eyes widening just a little before he smirked.
"Wow, wifey. Matching with your handsome husband."
I squinted at him. "I think you caught the Percy virus."
He gasped dramatically. "Take that back."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
He sighed like he was suffering — dramatic as always — and we headed outside.
Keifer picked one of the cars, opened the door for me, and once we were both inside, he started the engine.
"So I was thinking…" he said casually, eyes on the road, "of moving into our mansion."
I blinked. "Why? You don't like this house?"
"No, it's not that," he said quickly. "I just… want us somewhere quieter. This house is too close to the city. It's busy all the time. Loud. Crowded. I want peace for us. For the kids."
I nodded slowly. "Okay… then maybe somewhere farther from the city? Like a village or something?"
He hummed. "Something like that. But I was thinking… somewhere close to everyone else. Angelo, Section E, the family. A place where we're not isolated."
That made sense.
A quiet place, but not lonely.
"Yeah… what about Keiran and Keigan?" I asked.
"Keigan's in college — he's basically living in the dorms. Same for Keiran. He's almost done with high school."
I nodded. "That could work. When do you want to move?"
He glanced at me, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"After our big day."
I raised an eyebrow. "Answer properly."
"I will explain more," he said, smirking like he was hiding something. "And… the kids' names. I want them to have my last name."
I looked at him.
That was something he'd never pushed before.
"Yeah," I said softly. "We can do that too."
He smiled — that warm, relieved smile he only ever showed me.
We drove in that warm, quiet silence that only ever existed between us — the kind that felt like home.
Then the road opened up, and I saw it.
A beach.
Soft sand.
Blue water.
A little setup in the distance — white cloth, flowers, candles even though it was daytime.
My breath caught.
"It's so beautiful," I whispered.
Keifer nodded, but he wasn't looking at the beach.
He was looking at me.
"Close your eyes," he said.
I blinked. "Why?"
"Just trust me. And say yes."
Say yes?
My heart skipped.
But I closed my eyes anyway.
He took my hand and guided me across the sand, slow and careful, like he was afraid I'd trip.
His hand was warm.
His steps were steady.
"Keifer… can I open my eyes now?" I asked softly.
"Wait," he said, voice shaking just a little.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Okay. Open."
I opened my eyes.
And my whole world stopped.
Keifer was kneeling in front of me.
On one knee.
A ring in his hand.
My hand flew to my mouth as tears instantly filled my eyes.
He took a shaky breath.
"Okay—before you cry… well, don't cry," he said, already panicking. "I want to say something."
His voice trembled, but he kept going.
"I know I made you struggle. I left you. I didn't believe you when I was supposed to. And I'm truly sorry for that."
My tears fell faster.
"But even after everything… you still chose me."
His voice cracked.
"In the four years we were apart, I wasn't me. I was just… surviving. But then you came back. And God, Jay… I smiled more in the past four months than I did in the past four years."
He swallowed hard.
"You gave me the best gifts of my life — Keira, Kade, Kevin. And I love you for that. I love you for everything."
He lifted the ring slightly, hands shaking.
"So I, Mark Keifer Watson, am asking you, Jasper Jean Mariano…"
He took a breath.
"To be my wife."
The world blurred through my tears.
"So… will you marry me?" Keifer asked, voice shaking just a little.
"Yes, idiot," I laughed through my tears, throwing myself into his arms. "An infinity times yes."
He caught me instantly, hugging me so tight I could feel his heartbeat racing against mine.
When he pulled back, he slipped the ring onto my finger with hands that were definitely trembling.
It fit perfectly.
"Everything feels so quick, doesn't it?" he asked softly.
I nodded, wiping my cheeks. "Yeah… but it feels right."
Before either of us could say anything else, I heard tiny footsteps pounding across the sand.
"MAMAAAAA!"
"PAPAAAAA!"
Keira, Kade, and Kevin came running at full speed, little arms wide open.
They crashed into us, hugging our legs, our waists, anything they could reach.
Keifer and I bent down and wrapped all three of them in our arms.
"I missed you, Mama," Kevin said, kissing my cheek over and over like he was making up for the two days we were apart.
Kade copied him immediately, kissing my other cheek with the same intensity.
Meanwhile, Keira — forever her father's daughter — climbed straight into Keifer's arms and started kissing his cheeks dramatically.
"Papa, I missed you soooo much," she said, squeezing his face between her tiny hands.
Keifer laughed, hugging her tight.
I hugged the boys closer, my heart so full it almost hurt.
We were all tangled together — arms, legs, sand, tears, laughter.
Keira was still kissing Keifer's cheeks like she was claiming him as her personal property, Kevin was glued to my side, and Kade was hugging my waist like a baby panda.
And then—
BOOM.
Section E and the entire family burst out of hiding.
But this time, I caught every single reaction.
Felix (holding a camera like a documentary filmmaker):
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history. The endangered species known as Keifer's emotions has finally appeared."
Keifer: "I DID NOT CRY."
Mayo (arms crossed, judging):
"You sniffed. Twice."
Eman (offering me a snack):
"Jay Jay, want chips? You look like you need electrolytes after crying."
Ci-n(jumping around with a sparkler):
"WE'RE HAVING A WEDDINGGGG!"
Blaster (playing dramatic music from a speaker):
"THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK OF TRUE LOVE!"
Edrix (zooming in with his camera):
"Angle 3: Keifer's tears. Angle 4: Jay's shocked face. Angle 5: The children stampeding."
Rory (holding a bouquet he definitely stole):
"Jay, catch! I brought flowers!"
Josh (softly, smiling):
"You look really happy. I'm glad."
Kit (looking like a literal angel):
"This moment is aesthetically pleasing."
Calix (throwing confetti):
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
Drew (blowing kisses):
"Love wins!"
Kuya Angelo (hugging me gently):
"Congratulations, Jay. You deserve this happiness."
Ate Ion (wiping her eyes):
"I'm crying and I don't even know why."
Tita (already planning):
"Okay, who's in charge of the guest list? I want 300 people."
Mama (sniffling):
"I already planned the menu."
Rory (dramatically sobbing):
"I LOVE LOVE. I LOVE WEDDINGS. I LOVE YOU TWO."
Percy (hugging Keifer from behind):
"Congrats, bro. You did good."
Keifer: "Get off me."
Aries (smirking):
"He cried."
Keifer: "I DID NOT—"
Keira (loudly):
"PAPA CRIED!"
Section E:
"PAPA CRIED! PAPA CRIED! PAPA CRIED!"
Keifer covered his face with both hands.
I laughed so hard I almost fell into the sand.
Kevin (hugging me tighter):
"Mama, are you and Papa getting married again?"
I nodded. "Yes, baby."
Kade (kissing my cheek):
"Yay! Can I be the ring boy?"
Keira (still clinging to Keifer):
"I'm the flower girl. No one else. Just me."
Keifer: "Yes, princess. Whatever you want."
Keifer leaned close, whispering in my ear while everyone screamed around us.
"Wifey… you said yes."
I smiled, tears still in my eyes.
"I'd say yes a thousand times."
He kissed my forehead.
And even with Section E chanting "PAPA CRIED" in the background…
It was perfect.