Dinner Scene – Third Person POV
By the time evening settled over the house, the excitement of the India trip had turned into full-blown chaos.
The dining table was crowded — not just with food, but with voices.
Jay had insisted on cooking something "simple," which somehow turned into three dishes, two desserts, and Keifer being banned from the kitchen after nearly burning the garlic.
Now all five of them sat around the table — Keifer at the head, Jay beside him, Eces and Keigan across from them, and Keiren at the corner, swinging his legs slightly under the chair.
The room felt warm. Lived in.
Happy.
"So," Keifer said, breaking a piece of bread. "India trip. Who's handling bookings?"
"Not Percy," Eces muttered immediately.
Jay laughed. "He'll book something based on aesthetic."
"It matters," Keigan defended jokingly. "Ambience builds mood."
"We're going for vacation, not a photoshoot," Jay replied.
Keiren suddenly looked up. "Are there elephants in India?"
Everyone paused.
"Yes," Eces smiled softly. "But we're not bringing one home."
Keiren looked disappointed.
Keifer chuckled and glanced at Eces. She seemed calmer tonight. Lighter. After everything that had happened at school earlier, seeing her relaxed even a little made something inside him loosen.
Jay noticed too.
She quietly placed more rice on Eces' plate without saying anything.
Eces looked at her, eyes soft.
A silent thank you.
"Okay serious question," Keigan said, leaning back. "How many days?"
"Minimum one week," Jay answered immediately.
"One week?" Keifer raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to relocate?"
Jay kicked him lightly under the table.
Keiren gasped dramatically. "Domestic violence."
"Finish your food," Jay said flatly.
Keifer smirked. "He's learning from Section E."
Keigan leaned forward mischievously. "Speaking of learning… when are we telling the others the real reason Eces wants to go?"
The table quieted for a second.
Eces' hand stilled.
Jay gently touched her wrist under the table — grounding, reassuring.
"We'll tell them when we reach," Eces replied calmly. "One step at a time."
Keifer nodded slowly. No pushing. No pressure.
Keiren, unaware of the subtle tension, raised his hand like he was in class.
"Yes?" Jay asked cautiously.
"Can we try street food?"
Eces' lips curved. "Yes."
"Can we wear traditional clothes?"
"Yes."
"Can we ride in those yellow cars?"
"Auto-rickshaws?" she smiled.
"Yes!"
"Also yes."
Keiren grinned like he had just won a lottery.
Jay leaned her head slightly on Keifer's shoulder.
"This is going to be fun," she whispered.
He looked around the table.
At Keigan's teasing smirk.
At Keiren's endless curiosity.
At Eces, who was quiet but watching everyone with that hyper-aware softness she carried.
At Jay, glowing.
"Yeah," he murmured. "It will be."
Outside, the night was calm.
Inside, their laughter filled the house.
And for the first time in a long while, the future didn't feel heavy.
It felt like an adventure waiting to happen.
Keifer's POV
Morning felt different.
Not heavy. Not rushed.
Just… alive.
Jay walked beside me toward the school gates, her fingers loosely hooked with mine. The sunlight hit her hair just right, and for a second I forgot we were about to enter a building full of chaos disguised as education.
"You're smiling like you won something," she muttered.
"I did," I replied calmly. "You."
She rolled her eyes but didn't let go of my hand.
The moment we stepped inside the classroom—
"JAAAAAAY!"
Ci-n practically launched himself across the room.
Before I could even react, he wrapped his arms around her dramatically like some soldier returning from war.
"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" he declared loudly. "The classroom felt empty. My life felt empty. My notes were incomplete!"
Jay laughed, trying to breathe. "Ci-n, I was gone for two days."
"TWO DAYS TOO MANY."
The entire Section E turned toward us.
Blaster clapped slowly. "Reunion of the century."
Denzel leaned forward. "So… Mrs. Watson."
Calix smirked. "Or should we say Jayfer?"
"Stop," Jay warned, but she was smiling.
I took my seat casually, but Ci-n wasn't done.
He squinted at me. "Sir Husband. How is married life?"
"Peaceful," I replied smoothly.
Jay elbowed me.
Then the flood began.
"Is the India trip confirmed?"
"Are we really going?"
"Who's booking?"
"Are we riding elephants?"
"Can we vlog?"
"Is Percy coming or just his face?"
Voices overlapped. Phones came out. Tabs opened. Half the class was already googling "Best places in India" like we were leaving tomorrow.
"Bro Goa looks insane."
"Shimla is aesthetic."
"Someone said Jaipur has palaces."
Ci-n turned his phone toward us. "Guys, look at this. Taj Mahal at sunrise."
Jay's eyes softened slightly. I noticed that.
Then—
The door opened.
Silence fell instantly.
Sir Alvin stepped in with his usual calm authority.
"Why," he began slowly, scanning the room, "does this class sound like a fish market at 8:30 in the morning?"
Nobody answered.
He placed his files down.
"I have an announcement."
Everyone straightened.
"You are all getting this week off."
For a full two seconds, nobody processed it.
Then—
"WHAT?"
Sir Alvin raised his hand.
"You will not come to school this week. You will report directly next week for your examinations."
The room exploded.
Blaster stood up like he'd been crowned king.
Ci-n almost cried.
Denzel started calculating gaming hours.
I looked at Jay.
Her eyes sparkled.
Vacation planning just got real.
Later – My House
By afternoon, Section E had completely taken over my living room.
Laptops open. Phones charging. Snacks everywhere.
Jay sat cross-legged on the carpet with Ci-n and Calix, scrolling through flight prices.
Blaster was arguing about budget.
"Bro, we are not booking business class."
"Why not?"
"Because we're not billionaires."
Denzel was researching food.
"I'm trying street food."
Ci-n gasped dramatically. "If we die, we die together."
I leaned back on the couch, watching them.
Keigan, Keiren, and Eces were still at their school, unaware that my house had turned into a travel agency.
"Okay," Jay said firmly, clapping once. "Places we're considering."
"Goa."
"Jaipur."
"Delhi."
"Maybe Mumbai."
"Someone said Kerala is beautiful."
Ci-n looked at me. "Sir Husband, opinions?"
I smirked. "Wherever Eces needs to go, we go."
The room quieted for a second.
They all knew this wasn't just a random trip.
Then Blaster broke the mood. "So basically emotional healing tour plus vacation."
Jay threw a cushion at him.
Laughter filled the room again.
And as I watched them — loud, messy, alive — I realized something.
This wasn't just a trip.
It was going to be a turning point.
For Eces.
For all of us.
And honestly?
I couldn't wait .
I knew something was wrong the moment the front door opened.
The house had been loud for the past two hours — Section E had practically turned my living room into a travel agency mixed with a fish market. Laptops open. Phones charging everywhere. Ci-n arguing with Rory about "budget airlines." Blaster lying upside down on the sofa claiming he already learned Hindi from reels. Jay in the center of it all like some tiny commander planning a national mission.
Then the door clicked.
And silence.
All of us turned.
Keiren, Keigan, and Eces stood at the entrance like they had just walked into a crime scene.
Keiren blinked. "What… is going over here?"
Rory slowly closed a tab titled "Top 10 Things Not To Do In India."
Ci-n hid a notebook behind his back.
Blaster whispered, "Act natural."
No one acted natural.
Jay clapped her hands like she wasn't stressed at all. "Go change first. Eat something. You three must be hungry."
Eces narrowed her eyes at the chaos but didn't argue. Keigan looked between me and Jay suspiciously. Keiren just shrugged and went to change.
The moment they disappeared upstairs, Section E exploded again.
"Ask her about food!" "Clothes!" "Is it true cows walk on the road?" "Do we need injections?" "Can I survive without spicy food?" "Will I find my soulmate there?"
"SHUT UP," Jay snapped — smiling.
A while later, the three of them came back downstairs in fresh clothes. Eces had tied her hair up, looking calmer. Keigan dropped onto the armchair. Keiren immediately grabbed snacks.
And then it began.
Ci-n leaned forward dramatically. "Eces. We have questions."
Eces blinked slowly. "I'm scared."
"You should be," I muttered.
Rory raised his hand like this was class. "Food. How spicy are we talking?"
Eces tilted her head. "Depends where you go. North India, South India — different styles. But yes, some dishes are spicy."
Blaster clutched his chest. "I'm not built for that."
Keigan smirked. "We'll feed you curd rice."
"Is that safe?"
"Yes," Eces said calmly. "It won't kill you."
Denzel leaned in. "Places. Where are we going exactly?"
Eces looked at Jay. Jay looked at me.
I shrugged. "We're still deciding."
Eces crossed her arms. "If you're coming all the way, you're not just doing tourist Instagram places. You're experiencing real India."
"Define real," Drew asked cautiously.
"Street food. Local markets. Maybe a temple visit. Maybe a historical fort. Maybe—"
"WAIT," Rory interrupted. "Temple means traditional clothes?"
Eces nodded. "Yes."
Ci-n immediately turned to Jay. "Saree photoshoot."
Jay's eyes lit up. "YES."
I sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm going to be forced into some traditional outfit too?"
Eces looked at me.
Oh no.
"Yes, Kuya," she said calmly. "You will."
Kuya.
The word hit me softly.
I don't know if anyone else noticed — but I did.
She said it casually. Naturally.
Like it belonged there.
For a second, the noise faded.
Kuya.
I had brothers. I always wanted a sister too. And now she sat there, explaining travel logistics while threatening Blaster with spicy curry, and she called me Kuya like she meant it.
I cleared my throat before anyone noticed the shift in my expression.
"Fine," I said. "But I'm not wearing anything pink."
Jay smirked. "We'll see."
Keiren raised his hand. "Are there tigers?"
Eces blinked. "In forests. Not on roads."
"Oh."
Rory leaned forward again. "Traditions? Anything we should not do?"
Eces' tone became slightly serious. "Respect elders. Remove shoes before entering homes or temples. Don't joke about religion. And please — don't treat it like some exotic zoo."
The room quieted slightly.
Ci-n nodded. "We won't."
Keigan watched her carefully. I saw it — the way he listened when she spoke. Like every word mattered.
Jay leaned back against me on the couch, smiling proudly. "See? We have our own tour guide."
Eces rolled her eyes. "I'm not carrying your bags."
"You will carry mine," Keiren said confidently.
She threw a cushion at him.
Chaos resumed.
Phones out. Lists being made. Arguments about hotels. Someone googling "How to survive Indian traffic."
And in the middle of it — laughter.
Loud. Unfiltered. Ours.
I leaned back, watching them all.
Vacation. India. Section E. My brothers. My sister.
My wife beside me.
Yeah.
This was going to be madness.
And I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I should've known it wouldn't end with just "planning."
Ci-n suddenly slapped the table. "WAIT. We need shopping."
Rory gasped. "Oh my God. Summer clothes."
Blaster looked personally attacked. "Do I need linen? I feel like I need linen."
Drew said, "We don't even know the temperature!"
Eces pinched the bridge of her nose. "India is not Antarctica."
Jay was already pulling out her phone. "Tomorrow. We're going tomorrow."
Keigan raised an eyebrow. "We have school."
Keiren immediately corrected him. "No, we don't. Tomorrow's off."
Silence.
Then the entire room exploded.
"SHOPPING TOMORROW!" "Group outing!" "Budget meeting!" "Jay, control your people!"
I leaned back in my chair, watching the madness unfold. Section E had officially turned my house into a pre-vacation war zone.
Jay looked at me, eyes sparkling. "You're coming too."
"Of course I am," I replied. "Someone has to stop Ci-n from buying ten identical shirts."
"HEY."
Plans were made. Timings set. Group chats updated. And one by one, they all finally left — still arguing about airport fits.
When the door closed, the house felt… calm again.
Just us.
The five of us moved to the dining table for dinner. It felt quieter now — more real.
Keiren was busy serving himself too much rice. Keigan was scrolling through his phone. Jay was watching Eces carefully.
I cleared my throat.
"So," I said casually, leaning back in my chair. "India."
Eces froze for half a second.
Jay didn't waste time. "What's the real reason?"
Keigan looked up slowly. Keiren stopped chewing.
I kept my voice steady. "You didn't just randomly decide to go."
Eces looked down at her plate. For a moment, she didn't say anything. And I knew — whatever it was, it wasn't small.
Finally, she looked up.
"You'll know," she said quietly. "When we reach there."
Jay's expression softened. "Is it bad?"
"No," Eces replied. "Just… important."
Keigan's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't push.
I studied her face. She wasn't lying. But she was holding something close.
I nodded slowly. "Alright."
If she wasn't ready, we wouldn't force her.
Keiren broke the tension immediately. "If we're going to India, can I ride an elephant?"
Eces blinked. "That's not a taxi service."
Jay laughed. I chuckled. Keigan rolled his eyes.
And just like that — the heaviness dissolved.
Dinner turned into teasing.
Keiren asking if Indian ghosts speak Hindi.
Keigan claiming he'll handle negotiations in markets.
Jay threatening to make me wear traditional wedding-style outfits again.
"Wife," I warned.
She smirked. "Husband."
The word still did something to me.
After dinner, plates were cleared. Goodnights exchanged.
Keiren disappeared first. Then Keigan. Then Eces.
Jay and I lingered a moment longer.
When we finally entered our room, it felt softer somehow. Warmer.
Jay closed the door gently behind us. She looked tired — but happy.
I stepped closer.
"You're excited," I said.
She nodded. "I am."
"For the trip?"
"For everything."
I cupped her face gently. "You trust her, don't you?"
She didn't hesitate. "With my life."
That answer made something in my chest ease.
I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Whatever it is… we'll handle it."
She smiled faintly. "We always do."
The room was quiet now. No chaos. No Section E. No noise.
Just us.
I pulled her into my arms slowly. She melted against me instantly — like she belonged there.
"You know," I murmured against her hair, "I like this."
"What?"
"This. Us. Our house. Our madness."
She laughed softly. "It's loud."
"It's home."
She tilted her head up to look at me. There was something tender in her eyes tonight. Something calm.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For choosing me."
I didn't answer with words.
I kissed her forehead first. Then her cheek. Then slowly — her lips.
Not rushed.
Not heated.
Just… full of promise.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. I rested my forehead against hers.
"Sleep," I whispered.
"Hmm."
"Tomorrow we survive shopping."
She groaned dramatically. "Pray for us."
I chuckled and pulled her into bed. She curled into my chest like she always does. My arm instinctively wrapped around her waist.
The house was silent.
But my heart wasn't.
India.
Secrets.
Family.
Whatever was waiting there…
We would face it together.
And with her breathing softly against me — I knew I was ready.
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