JAY'S POV
The next morning doesn't start with peace.
It starts with noise.
My phone is vibrating non-stop on my bedside table—calls, messages, notifications stacking over each other like they're competing—and for a second, I just lie there, eyes half-open, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember why the world suddenly cares so much about my existence at 8 a.m.
Then it hits me.
FUCK!!!
The show.
"Oh God…" I groan, dragging a pillow over my face before finally reaching out and grabbing my phone.
And the moment I unlock it—Chaos.
Headlines. Everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE!!!!
"Jasper Jean Mariano Redefines Winter Fashion With Historic Launch"
"The Midnight Blue Gown That Stole Millions—and Hearts"
"Watson x Mariano: A Collaboration That Just Changed The Game"
"Mark Keifer Watson & JasperJasperJean Mariano—Power Duo Behind The Year's Biggest Fashion Breakthrough"
"Are They Just Business Partners? Chemistry Sparks On Stage"
"The Walk, The Look, The Chemistry—Internet Can't Get Enough"
I freeze.
"…Excuse me?Me and that Dickehead!!!"
I scroll further—and it gets worse.
Photos from the stage. The walk. The moment my arm was hooked in his. The way we were standing too close, looking too aligned, too… something.
"Oh, absolutely not," I mutter, sitting up abruptly. "Who approved these captions anywayss??"
My thumb hovers over one picture—a still shot of us mid-walk, his head slightly tilted toward me, my expression focused but soft—and the headline right under it:
"A Partnership—or Something More? Future In Making!??"
I throw my phone onto the bed.
"Nope. Not reading that. Not processing that. Not—"
My phone buzzes again.
Sam: YOU AND KEIFER ARE TRENDING.
James: I'm framing that picture btw.
James: Should I be shocked or impressed??or should I start calling you Mrs.Keifer Watson😝"
"ALL OF YOU NEED HELP," I shout at absolutely no one.
Then dragging myself out of bed.Getting ready feels different today.Not the dramatic, statement-making version of last night—but something softerLike I need balance after everything that happened.
I pick a simple outfit—elegant, minimal, nothing that screams for attention—and pull my hair back neatly, keeping my makeup light.
But even as I move around my room, one thought keeps circling back—
Lola Watson.
I hadn't seen her in so long and the way Keifer said it last night…
"She's not in great health."
Something about that didn't sit right.
When I walk downstairs, I immediately pause.
Mom and Dad are seated at the table—With newspapers.Plural and not just one or two.
At least five.All opened.All turned toward my pictures.
"Oh no…" I whisper under my breath.
"Good morning, celebrity sissy," Jace says casually from his seat, sipping coffee like he's been waiting for this moment his entire life.
"Don't start," I warn, walking over.
Dad looks up, eyes twinkling slightly as he lifts one of the papers. "So… should we be concerned about this 'power duo' situation?"
"Dad."
Mom leans forward, smiling a little too knowingly. "You two do look very good together."
I blink.
Slowly.
"Are you both okay?" I ask flatly. "Do you need medical attention?"
Jace chokes on his coffee.
"I'm serious," I continue, grabbing a toast. "It's one event. One walk. Calm down."
"Hmm," Mom hums, clearly not convinced.
I ignore her, turning to Jace instead. "Anyways,bro we have to go to the Watson house like right now..."
He pauses mid-bite. "Why?"
"Lola's back," I say. "Keifer told me last night. She wants to see us."
That gets everyone's attention.
Dad straightens slightly. "Mrs.Watson's back?"
Mom's expression softens instantly. "Wow..it's been so long since she last visited…"
"We're coming too with you guys,We also wanna see her..," she adds immediately, standing up.
I blink. "I—okay..?whatever but we have to leave like right now.."
And just like that—the plan is made.The drive is quieter than usual and the moment we pull up to the Watson house—
I know.Before we even step out.
Voices. Laughter. Noise spilling out from inside like the house itself had come alive again.
"You she's definitely here," Jace mutters.
I don't respond because my chest feels… tight.
The moment we step inside—
"JAY JAY!"
I barely have time to react before she's already there.
Lola.
And just like that—I'm moving.
Running straight into her arms like no time has passed at all.
"Lola…" I breathe, hugging her tightly.
"My baby," she murmurs, holding me just as close. "Look at you… look at you…"
"Move," Jace suddenly cuts in, shoving his way into the hug. "You don't get her all to yourself."
"JACE!" Lola laughs, pulling him in too.
And then—
"HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME?!"
Sam.
Of course and suddenly—it's chaos.A full group hug. Laughter. Voices overlapping.
For a moment—it feels perfect.Like nothing ever changed.
But when we pull back—I see it.The way her hands tremble slightly.The way her smile lingers a second too long.The way her eyes…
Look tired.She hides it well.But not well enough.
"Come, come," she says, pulling me to sit beside her. "Let me look at you properly."
I sit. Smile. Talk. Laugh.But I don't miss a single detail.
-------
After a while, she starts to fade.Just slightly.
"I'll take her upstairs," Sam says softly, helping her up.
"I'll come," I add immediately.
We walk her to her room slowly, carefully, like she might break if we don't.Once she's settled, Sam steps out quietly.
I follow—
"Jay."
I stop.Turn back.
She's looking at me.Something serious in her eyes now.
"Come here, my precious girl..."
My steps slow as I walk back, sitting beside her again.She takes my hand.
And for the first time—Her grip feels… weak.
"Jay," she says softly, "as you can see… I'm not well."
My chest tightens instantly. "Lola, don't—"
"Jay…" she begins softly, "you can see it, can't you?"
My throat tightens. "Lola…"
"I'm not going to pretend," she says gently. "I don't have much time."
The words land like a blow.
"I don't want to hear that," I whisper.
"But you need to," she insists. "Because what I'm about to ask… I won't get another chance."
"No," she shakes her head gently. "Listen to me."
My throat dries.
"I've always considered you and Jace as my own grandchildren," she says, squeezing my hand. "Just as important to me as Keifer and Sam."
I swallow. Hard.
"And there's something I want to see before I die."
A pause.
"I want to see Keifer getting married."
I blink.Once.Twice.
"…What?"
"He's stubborn," she continues softly. "Rigid. He hides everything but I know him and I know… he won't let anyone in like ever..."
Her eyes meet mine.
"Except you."
My breath catches.
"Lola…"
"You're the only girl I've seen him smile with even when he is annoyed," she says. "The only one who challenges him… who brings something out of him."
My heart starts racing.
"I know you don't like each other," she adds gently. "But please, Jay… make my last wish come true."
I pull my hand back slightly, overwhelmed. "Lola, I—"
"Please...marry him Jay...I've already spoken to him about this," she says.
That stops me.
"Lola…You what?"
"He said he'll agree," she continues. "If you say yes."
Silence.Loud. Ringing.
HE TOLD HER WHAT???
"Jay,I want to see you as my granddaughter-in-law," she whispers. "Standing beside him… making him human."
My mind goes blank.
"Lola… I…"
Words don't come.Thoughts don't settle.
Nothing makes sense.
"Please Jay..." she says again.
I close my eyes for a second.Then open them.
"I'll… think about it," I say finally.
Her expression softens instantly. "Thank you, Jay…"
A pause.
"Lola…I wanted to ask you something...." I hesitate. "Do our parents know about this?"
She looks at me.And then—
"Yes."
My heart drops.
"There's a marriage pact between the Watson's and the Mariano's," she says quietly. "We never wanted to force it on anyone of you children so we kept it a secret. We wanted your happiness first."
I let out a slow breath.
"But since I found out about my less time on earth as we speak I talked to your parents a while ago and both the families think you two make a good pair...," she adds softly. "So please Jay don't say no without thinking."
Silence settles again.Heavier this time.
"Fine lola...but I just want to talk to him first," I say after a moment. "Then I'll give you my answer."
She smiles faintly. "Thank you.That's enough for me."
I adjust her blanket gently, standing up.
"Okay now you rest, Lola."
And as I walk out of that room—My mind isn't racing anymore.It's spiraling.
Because this?
This isn't just a decision.
It's a collision waiting to happen.
The door clicks shut behind me—and everything inside me starts spiraling.
Thoughts crash into each other, too fast to catch, too loud to ignore—marry him, he agreed, why didn't he tell me—nothing makes sense anymore.
I pace once, twice, trying to breathe, trying to think—but every path leads back to him. Always him. And just when I feel like I might lose control completely—
I stop.
He's there.
Keifer
Standing a few steps away, quiet, still—something cold and unreadable in his eyes. The air shifts instantly, heavy with everything we haven't said yet.
My heart starts racing.
Fast. Loud. Unsteady.
He walks toward me slowly, every step deliberate, like this moment has been waiting for us.
And when he stops in front of me—
"Jay…" his voice is low, controlled. "We need to talk."
My throat dries, pulse pounding as I hold his gaze.
"…Yeah," I whisper.
A breath.
"Yeah, we do."