Jay-Jay (POV)
I just wanted to sleep.
Everything hurt.
My body felt heavy, weak, and exhausted.
Even breathing felt tiring.
But the noise around me—
God.
It was so loud that I couldn't even keep my eyes closed anymore.
Voices overlapping.
Laughing.
Someone arguing.
Someone is eating loudly.
Plates clinking.
It felt less like a hospital room and more like a family reunion.
I groaned softly before finally opening my eyes.
"It's so noisy here," I complained weakly.
The second I spoke—
The entire room exploded.
"She's awake!"
"JAY!"
"Ate opened her eyes!"
"Move—move—I can't see her!"
My eyes widened slightly as I stared around the room.
Ulupongs.
Everywhere.
My brothers.
Their wives.
Even Cassian was there.
And to make it worse—
Everyone was carrying food.
Actual food.
Boxes.
Drinks.
Snacks.
Someone was literally eating fried chicken near the window.
I stared at them in disbelief.
"…Are you all seriously having a feast without me?"
The room immediately burst into laughter.
Amy Ate quickly walked toward me.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly while touching my forehead gently.
"Does your body still hurt?"
"Do you feel dizzy?"
"Jay, say something," Percy said nervously from the back.
I blinked slowly at all of them.
Then suddenly—
Chaos.
David, Percy, Yuri, and Jare immediately rushed toward me like I was about to fall apart.
"Careful—careful—"
"Fix the pillow!"
"Don't let her lean too much!"
"Open the window, she looks uncomfortable!"
Someone adjusted my blanket carefully while another shoved pillows behind my back to support me.
Meanwhile, Percy was helping me drink water so carefully that I almost felt insulted.
Not even with a glass.
A spoon.
A literal spoon.
I stared at him weakly while he slowly lifted another spoonful toward me.
"…Am I dying or did I time travel into history?" I muttered.
Yuri snorted loudly.
"Drink your water."
Meanwhile, the other Ulupongs were in the corner eating food like starving prisoners who hadn't seen a meal in years.
Felix was holding fried chicken.
Kai had noodles.
Kiegen somehow already opened dessert.
Honestly—
Disgusting behavior.
And the worst part?
The smell reached me.
I swallowed hard while staring at their food with betrayal in my eyes.
"I'm starving," I announced weakly.
Felix paused mid-bite before blinking at me innocently.
"You can't eat right now."
I stared at him in disbelief.
Then my eyes slowly moved around the room.
Big mistake.
Food.
Food everywhere.
Pizza boxes.
Fried chicken.
Adobo.
Sinigang.
Menudo.
Pancit.
Even Ice cream.
I looked around like a betrayed victim.
Percy was casually chewing something while pretending not to look at me.
Yuri had an entire slice of pizza hanging from his mouth while helping adjust my pillow at the same time.
Even David was standing there peacefully eating puto like this was some kind of family picnic.
Wow.
Great.
Absolutely wonderful.
"…Why?" I asked weakly.
I even raised my hands dramatically like a suffering patient in a tragic historical movie.
"Because the doctor said so," Kit answered while drinking his Coke shamelessly.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Doctors say things like that all the time," I argued immediately. "I won't die if I eat."
Then I pointed weakly toward the food.
"But if you don't feed me right now…"
I placed a hand over my chest dramatically.
"I feel like I might die."
The entire room burst into laughter.
Even Percy bent over slightly while laughing into his food.
"That's our Jay," Rory sighed proudly.
I glared at all of them.
"You people are heartless."
Felix took another slow bite of chicken right in front of me.
"Very heartless."
"Give me one bite."
"No."
"Half bite."
"No."
"A smell, then."
That made Jare choke laughing while Amy Ate covered her face.
Meanwhile, I stared at the food like a war survivor watching heaven disappear in front of her eyes.
I sighed dramatically and lowered my head in defeat.
Then suddenly—
A food box appeared in front of me.
My eyes widened instantly.
Before anyone could snatch it away, I grabbed it protectively against my chest.
I looked up immediately.
Clyden Kuya was standing there, trying very hard not to laugh.
"Eat it," he said calmly.
I smiled so fast it probably looked embarrassing.
Then I quickly opened the container—
And froze.
Plain rice porridge.
Normal.
Bland.
Sad-looking porridge.
The entire room immediately burst into laughter after seeing my expression.
Slowly, I lifted my head and looked at Clyden with the most betrayed expression I could manage.
"Isn't this cruel?" I asked weakly. "While all of you are eating a feast… You gave me porridge?"
"Jay," Clyden said patiently, "you can't eat spicy food right now."
Then he casually held out his hand.
"If you don't want it, give it to me."
My eyes widened instantly.
Without another word, I immediately opened the lid fully and started eating before anyone could steal it.
And honestly?
The second the warm porridge touched my tongue—
I felt like I had entered heaven.
My entire body relaxed instantly.
For a moment, I forgot everything.
The pain.
The exhaustion.
The hospital.
Everything.
Then slowly, my eyes wandered around the room again.
And suddenly—
Something felt wrong.
Missing.
My hand instinctively moved toward my stomach.
Flat.
My breath caught instantly.
"CARETAKER?!" I shouted suddenly.
Half the room nearly choked on their food.
"What happened?!" Percy asked immediately, rushing closer.
I looked around frantically.
"Where's the baby, Kuya?!"
My voice came out panicked.
"And why can't I see Kiefer around?"
The room immediately became quieter.
Percy's expression softened before he smiled gently and tapped my head carefully.
"Everything's okay," he said softly.
But that didn't calm me down at all.
"Then why isn't Kiefer here?" I asked quickly.
Fear crawled into my chest so fast it hurt.
"Did something happen to him?"
Nobody answered immediately.
And somehow—
That silence terrified me more than anything.
"Finally," a familiar voice said tiredly from the doorway. "After seeing food, I thought you forgot me."
My head snapped toward the door instantly.
"Kiefer!"
Relief crashed into me so hard I almost cried on the spot.
He was leaning weakly against the doorway, still pale, still injured—
But alive.
Beside him, C-In was carrying the baby carefully in his arms.
"She already forgot about me, too," C-In complained dramatically. "The first thing I see is you already eating. At least leave something for me too."
I immediately tightened my grip around the porridge bowl protectively.
"This is mine," I said weakly but seriously. "Ask the Ulupongs. They're literally having a feast."
I pointed accusingly toward the corner.
Everyone immediately looked guilty.
Pizza boxes.
Chicken.
Sinigang.
Menudo.
Pancit.
Drinks everywhere.
Felix was still holding chicken-like evidence.
Yuri had pizza in one hand while somehow fixing pillows with the other.
David was peacefully eating puto as none of this concerned him.
C-In turned slowly toward them.
"…You people started without me?"
"No," Felix answered immediately.
"We continued without you," Calix corrected shamelessly.
The room burst into laughter again.
C-In clutched his chest dramatically.
"Heartless."
The room burst into soft laughter again.
Then C-In slowly walked toward me with the baby.
"Jay…" he said carefully, "don't get shocked when you see him."
My brows furrowed instantly.
"Why?"
Without answering, he gently placed the baby into my arms.
Thankfully, because I used to carry Kai all the time before, holding him came naturally.
Still…
The second I looked down—
I froze.
My breath caught instantly.
His eyes.
They weren't black like mine.
Not black like Kiefer's either.
They were green.
Beautiful.
Bright green.
I stared at him in complete shock while the baby blinked sleepily in my arms.
Then suddenly—
I felt Kiefer's hand rest gently on my shoulder from behind.
"Does he look like you?" he asked quietly.
I slowly looked back down at the baby again.
And honestly?
No.
Not even a little.
He looked exactly like Kiefer.
A complete copy.
The same tiny nose.
The same lips.
Even the way he frowned slightly in his sleep looked identical to him.
Everything.
Except his eyes.
And somehow—
That made my chest ache warmly in the best possible way.
"But why green eyes?" I asked softly while staring at him in wonder.
Kiefer leaned slightly against the bed beside me, his hand still resting gently on my shoulder.
"Our great-great-grandfather had the same eyes," he said quietly.
I looked up at him.
"The one who built the Watson Empire."
The room immediately became quieter.
I blinked slowly before looking back down at the baby.
"So…" I said carefully, "the one who looted all the money?"
The room froze.
"You said pirates, right?"
Clyden choked instantly.
Cassian covered his mouth.
Even Kiefer looked genuinely offended for the first time that night.
Then suddenly—
The entire room exploded with laughter.
Yuri nearly fell off the couch.
Percy bent over, coughing while laughing.
Even Angelo had tears forming in her eyes.
Only I looked confused.
"What?" I asked defensively. "That's literally what you told me before."
Kiefer rubbed his forehead weakly.
"We were traders."
"That sounds like rich people trying to rename piracy," I replied immediately.
The laughter became even louder.
Cole wiped tears from his eyes before pointing dramatically at me.
"Only Jay can disrespect the Watson family like this and survive."
Then he grinned shamelessly.
"After all, she's collecting them like trophies."
Kiefer narrowed his eyes immediately.
"What do you mean?"
Cole pointed one by one.
"Kiefer."
Then toward Cassian.
"Cassian."
Then toward Clyden.
"And now even the main Watson family is already here."
The room instantly lost control again.
Cassian actually laughed this time.
Meanwhile, Kiefer looked deeply unimpressed.
"You're talking like she kidnaps us."
Cole crossed his arms proudly.
"She basically did."
I looked at them in disbelief.
"You all came into my life yourselves!"
"Hm," Kiefer hummed teasingly while leaning carefully against the bed. "You trapped us with kindness and love."
"Ohhhhhhh—"
Section E immediately exploded like a group of gossiping teenagers.
"You're so flirty, Kiefer!"
"I can't stand here anymore!"
"I don't even have a girlfriend, and I already became a godfather!"
"I can't survive this!"
"So cheesy!"
"Disgusting behavior!"
Even Percy looked traumatized.
"Why does hearing Kiefer talk sweetly suddenly feel illegal?"
Meanwhile, Kiefer ignored every single one of them completely.
His attention wasn't even on me anymore.
It was on the baby.
His eyes never left the baby.
And for the first time since I met him—
I saw something in Kiefer's expression I had never seen before.
Peace.
Not anger.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just… peace.
Then slowly, the baby wrapped his tiny fingers around mine.
My chest tightened instantly.
Kiefer quietly sat beside me on the bed despite everyone protesting about his injuries.
He didn't care.
He only looked at us.
Me.
And the baby.
"Why are you looking at him like that?" I asked softly.
Kiefer didn't answer immediately.
His eyes stayed fixed on the baby resting quietly in my arms.
Then finally, he spoke.
"I dreamed about having a family with you," he admitted quietly.
His gaze slowly lowered toward the baby in her arms before he spoke again.
"And now that I can finally see you carrying our child…"
A small, almost disbelieving smile appeared on his face.
"It still feels unreal."
The room slowly became quieter again.
Not because anyone told them to—
But everyone noticed the expression on Kiefer's face.
Carefully, like he was afraid the baby might disappear if he moved too fast, Kiefer reached out and touched his tiny cheek gently with his fingers.
"Hey, caretaker…" he murmured softly.
My heart instantly melted hearing the nickname.
"I'm your father."
The second he said it—
The baby suddenly wrapped his tiny hand around Kiefer's finger.
Then a small giggle escaped him.
The entire room froze.
"Oh my God," Amy Ate whispered immediately.
"He recognized your voice," I said.
"No," Felix corrected while pointing seriously. "That baby already knows who pays the bills."
The room burst into laughter again.
But Kiefer didn't even hear them.
He was still staring at the baby as if nothing else in the world existed anymore.
And honestly?
I had never seen him look happier than this.
"So," Jare said while leaning forward excitedly, "what are you naming him?"
"We've been dying to know since yesterday," Mia added immediately.
I looked down at the baby smiling peacefully in my arms.
Then slowly—
I lifted my eyes toward everyone in the room.
Toward my family.
Toward the people who stayed.
Softly, I whispered—
"Mark Orion Watson."
The entire room stilled.
Even Section E stopped talking.
C-In blinked first.
"What does that mean?"
I looked back down at my son carefully.
"Orion means heavenly light in Greek," I said softly. "But it also has another meaning."
"What is it?" Aries asked quietly.
I smiled faintly.
"It means stars."
The room became even quieter.
"I wanted Kiefer to be part of his name," I admitted while gently touching the baby's tiny hand. "That's why I chose Mark."
Then my eyes slowly shifted toward my brothers.
Toward Section E.
Toward everyone inside the room.
"And Orion…"
My voice softened.
"I wanted him to always be surrounded by people who would love him…" I whispered while looking at everyone in the room.
Then my eyes slowly dropped back to the baby in my arms.
"…The same way everyone loved me."
Nobody interrupted me.
"Everyone in this room is somehow connected to darkness, light, stars, heaven, or the sky," I continued quietly. "So even if one day he ends up lost in darkness…"
I swallowed softly before finishing.
"He'll still have people who will stay beside him—like stars that never leave the sky."
Silence filled the room instantly.
Awkward silence.
Then slowly, I looked around nervously.
"…Why are you all so quiet?"
My brows furrowed slightly.
"Don't you like it?"
"No… I like it," Clyden said calmly. Then a small grin appeared on his face. "I'm already thinking about how to spoil him." breaking the silence.
"That was awesome," Cole said.
"Hmm… it's a wonderful name," Amy added softly.
"I just hope he grows up bright like a star…" Angelo muttered before glancing toward Kiefer. "…but not like Kiefer."
"Watch your mouth," Kiefer said flatly, making everyone laugh instantly.
Then Ion slowly walked forward and looked down at the baby warmly.
"It's a lovely name," she said softly.
Everyone slowly started nodding after that.
But despite everyone reacting—
Kiefer stayed quiet.
He was still staring at the baby silently.
I frowned slightly before nudging him carefully with my shoulder.
"Say something," I complained.
Kiefer finally lifted his eyes toward me.
For a moment, he just looked at me quietly.
Then the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"He's already lucky enough to have you as his mother," he said softly. "I don't think he needs luck anymore."
My chest tightened instantly.
Then he glanced toward the baby again.
"The name is good," he added calmly.
A pause.
"But not as good as Caretaker."
The entire room burst into laughter again.
I immediately glared at him.
"Gago."
Kiefer actually laughed softly this time.
And hearing that sound—
Real laughter.
Not forced.
Not empty.
Then suddenly, Section E started talking all at once again.
Honestly—
That was the first mistake.
"I just hope when he starts talking, he won't curse," Felix said seriously while staring at the baby.
Eman crossed his arms dramatically.
"And I hope he doesn't become gluttonous either."
Kit shook his head.
"I just hope he doesn't start picking fights with everyone."
"Or meddling in everyone's business," Mayo added.
I slowly looked at them in disbelief.
Then Danzel looked down at the baby carefully.
"But honestly…" he said thoughtfully, "he doesn't fully look like Kiefer."
"Me either, I can't tell," Drew said.
Danzel, while pointing at the baby. "Maybe he'll take Jay's personality instead."
I gasped loudly.
"Excuse me?!"
Rory shook his head.
"I just hope he doesn't grow up mean."
That immediately pushed me over the edge.
"What?!" I shouted in disbelief. "What is wrong with my personality?!"
The room instantly exploded into laughter.
"You're all acting like I'm the problem! You all assholes." I said, pointing at everyone.
I pointed aggressively at Felix.
"You're calling me gluttonous when you literally stole my lunch boxes at school!"
Felix looked deeply offended.
"That was survival."
Then I pointed toward section E
"And because I meddled in your lives, all of you became happier!"
"That's unfortunately true," someone whispered, admitting.
I looked even more offended now.
"And why are all of you only referring to me?!" I complained while pointing toward Kiefer beside me. "He's the father, too!"
Instant silence filled the room.
Then slowly, everyone turned toward Kiefer.
Kiefer looked back at them calmly without even blinking.
Nobody said a word.
I looked around in disbelief.
"Why are you all quiet now?" I demanded. "Don't you have anything to say?"
Kiefer answered before anyone else could.
"Because," he said confidently, "I'm rich, handsome, and smart."
The room exploded instantly.
Yuri fell against Percy, laughing.
Felix nearly dropped his food.
Even Cassian covered his face.
Meanwhile, I stared at Kiefer in complete disbelief.
"What kind of audacity do you have, gago?!"
Kiefer looked completely serious.
"I'm also very humble."
That made the room lose control even more.
"He's getting worse after becoming a father," David muttered while laughing.
I gasped loudly.
"I am literally surrounded by evil people."
Then I turned to the baby immediately.
"I hope you took my side, right?" I asked seriously.
The baby only blinked up at me.
Then he smiled.
And honestly?
It was the cutest thing I had ever seen.
"Aww…" I whispered, completely melting. "I can't believe I gave birth to you… you're so tiny."
For a moment, everything felt soft again.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Then I slowly turned toward Kiefer.
"Hold him," I said carefully. "I'm scared I'll drop him."
I tried to place the baby into his arms.
But Kiefer immediately stiffened and pulled back slightly.
"No," he said instantly, shaking his head.
I blinked.
"Why?"
Kiefer looked down at the baby like he was handling something more dangerous than a weapon.
"I don't know how," he admitted quietly. "What if I hurt him?"
I stared at him for a second.
Then my expression softened immediately.
"Kiefer," I said gently, "you're not going to hurt him."
He didn't look convinced at all.
His hands stayed half-raised, frozen mid-air like he was afraid to even breathe too hard.
I sighed softly and stepped closer.
"Come here," I said, guiding him carefully.
Slowly, I placed the baby into his arms myself.
"Support his neck firmly," I instructed softly, adjusting his grip. "Like this… and his back here."
Kiefer nodded stiffly, trying his best to follow every instruction.
His face was pale.
Focused.
Almost terrified.
Like one wrong move would break something precious.
The room slowly went quiet watching him.
Even Section E stopped teasing.
Because for the first time—
Kiefer didn't look like a monster.
He looked like a man afraid of loving something too much.
"Jay… Jay, he's moving," he said suddenly, panic slipping into his voice.
"Of course he's alive," I replied gently. "He moves."
"Then what do I need to do?" he asked immediately.
"Just stay like that," I said softly.
He froze again.
Then—
I saw it.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
My eyes widened slightly.
"Hey…" I whispered. "Why are you crying?"
Kiefer blinked rapidly, still holding the baby carefully like his life depended on it.
"I don't know…" he whispered. "I didn't know being happy could feel like this… and make you cry."
Everyone went quiet.
And for a moment, all I could do was look at him holding our child so carefully—like the world might break if he breathed wrong.
I sat there beside him, arms resting on my legs, watching the two of them.
The way his expression softened.
The way his fear slowly turned into awe.
And in that moment, I realized—
I was looking at the most beautiful thing I had ever known.
I smiled quietly.
Just watching them felt like healing every broken piece of me at once.