Jay POV.
After cutting the cake, we all gathered around a long table for dinner.
Keifer sat beside me, and Kade was on my lap. I fed him small bites of rice in between my own bites.
"So... it's finally their first wedding anniversary," Felix said.
"Are you planning to give Kade a sibling?" Felix added.
"Ohoooooo!" everyone cheered, clearly enjoying themselves.
My hand stopped in the air near Kade's mouth. My face was on fire.
Kade looked at me with confused, big eyes. He looked at the spoon, then at me, then at the spoon again, then back at me. Then he leaned forward and took the bite. I snapped back to my senses.
"Well... they didn't do anything on their wedding night because Jay was pregnant, but I'm sure they're gonna have a long anniversary night," Blaster said.
My face probably looked like a tomato.
"Maybe," I heard Keifer say.
I immediately hit his arm. Everyone burst into laughter.
They are all so shameless!
Thank God Mom, Dad, Kuya, Tita, and Uncle Keir were at the other table.
"Stop! My son is here. Don't ruin his innocence," I said, glaring at them.
"He won't remember," Ci-n said, grinning ear to ear. "He might not even remember what he eats for breakfast."
I glared at him. If eyes could melt, Ci-n would be a puddle by now.
I continued feeding Kade and ate myself.
"Let's try to give our son a playmate tonight," Keifer whispered in my ear.
I choked.
"Keifer said something dirty in Jay's ear!" Ci-n announced, pointing at us.
My face was burning. Keifer leaned back in his chair, smirking, clearly enjoying himself.
I hate him. I love him. I hate that I love him but at the same time I don't. AHHHHHHHHHH! It's so frustrating!
We continued eating.
Kade was done. He was sleepy now—fussing, rubbing his tiny fists against his eyes.
Keifer took him from me and held him against his chest, pacing around so Kade would fall asleep faster. Kade rested his tiny head on Keifer's shoulder.
I watched them with so much love that I could never explain.
David came and sat beside me.
"So, how's life as Keifer's wife and a mother?" he asked, also watching Keifer pace with Kade in his arms.
I smiled. "It's nice—no, actually, it's beautiful. I was scared before—how would I manage? But with Keifer, everything is so easy. He takes care of us and makes sure we have everything."
My husband and my son. They are my whole world.
"Hmm. I'm happy for you," David said, smiling.
"But I was right, wasn't I?" he added.
I looked at him, confused. "Huh? About what?"
"That time when Keifer came back and you asked me if there was any chance you could be pregnant soon, according to my instincts. I told you that if you got into a relationship with Keifer, then marriage and pregnancy would happen right away."
Oh God.
My cheeks warmed.
I smiled a little. "Yeah, your instincts were right." I looked down at my hands. "But I'm happy," I added quietly.
He nodded. "That's what matters."
We sat in silence.
"How's your life going?" I asked him.
"I'm busy with my family business. Learning and working," he said.
I nodded. "Don't you have a girlfriend?" I asked in a teasing tone.
He laughed. "Not yet."
I rolled my eyes and hit his arm. "Are you planning to stay single after your last breakup?"
"It's not like that. I just haven't found anything suitable for me."
"It's okay. You'll find one. Trust God's plan. He surely has someone for you."
"Hmm," he just hummed.
Hummed?
He's really not over his last girlfriend. Poor David.
He got a call and went to attend it.
I stood up and walked toward Keifer.
"Is he asleep?" I asked, peeking at Kade's face.
"I think so," Keifer said. He wrapped his free arm around me and kissed my temple.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. More than okay."
"What do you think about Kade's siblings?"
"Huh?"
"Should we try tonight?" I said with a teasing smile.
I'm joking. Mostly.
He raised an eyebrow. I hit his shoulder.
"Behave. Kade is right here," I said.
"He's sleeping."
"Still!"
"Fine. You win," he said with a sigh.
I smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I always win," I said with a smirk.
"Because I let you."
"Because you can't fight with me!"
"Because I love you," he said.
That shut me up.
I opened my mouth to argue but closed it again.
Then... "I love you too," I muttered, just enough for him to hear.
He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"Let's go back to everyone," I said, and he nodded.
---
We headed back to the group.
Keifer sat at the table with Papa and Kuya, talking about business, while I sat with our friends.
I sat beside Yuri.
"Yuri! Why were you so quiet today? I almost thought you didn't come," I said, hitting his arm.
"Oww, Jay..."
"Why are you acting up? I didn't hit hard."
"You did hit hard," he said.
I hit him again. "Anyway, happy anniversary."
"Thank you," I said with a small smile.
"How is life going?" he asked.
"Pretty good. Everything is fine, and I'm happy. For the first time in my life, I'm genuinely happy and tension-free," I said, looking at my hands.
"Yeah, I can see," he said with a nod.
"What about you? How is your life going? What about the problems with your family?"
"Everything is fine now," he replied.
I felt relieved.
"For how many days are you guys staying?" I asked him.
"For a week, maybe," he said.
I nodded. Then I realized something—I had been meaning to ask someone.
"Why isn't Denzel here? You should have brought him and Grace with baby Grazel," I said in a sad voice.
"We asked them, but Grazel isn't well, so he didn't come," he replied.
"What happened to baby Grazel?" I asked worriedly.
"Normal fever, I think. He said her medicine course is for a week, so he couldn't take the risk."
I understood. I'm a mother too.
"I'll call Denzel and ask about Grazel," I said.
---
The dinner continued. Plates were cleared. Dessert was served. Laughter echoed around the long table.
But somewhere in the middle of all the noise, something tugged at the back of my mind.
A date.
Yesterday.
I stared at my empty plate.
Yesterday was...
My chest tightened.
Yesterday was my birthday.
No one had said anything. Not Keifer. Not my parents. Not even Ci-n, who never shuts up about anything.
I swallowed.
They forgot.
I knew it was silly. I was a grown woman. A wife. A mother. Birthdays weren't supposed to matter this much.
But it stung.
It stung that Keifer hadn't woken me up with a kiss and a quiet "happy birthday." It stung that my mom hadn't called. It stung that the day had come and gone like any other Tuesday.
I had even forgotten myself. With all the party planning and the guests arriving, I hadn't even realized until now.
Yesterday was my birthday.
I looked across the table. Keifer was laughing at something Kuya said. His hand rested on the table, close to mine.
He didn't look at me.
Did he know? Did he forget?
I felt small. Stupid. It's just a birthday.
But it wasn't. Not really. It was the first birthday after becoming a mother. After becoming his wife. And no one remembered.
I blinked hard. Don't cry. Don't you dare cry at your own anniversary party.
I forced a smile and turned back to Yuri. "So, any plans while you're here?"
He was saying something about visiting old places, but I wasn't really listening.
My mind was stuck on yesterday.
The date on the calendar. The silence.
---
The night wore on.
Kade was still asleep in Keifer's arms. People were starting to stretch and yawn. I thought the party was winding down.
Then, without warning, the lights went out.
Huh?
"Why did the lights go out?" I asked no one in particular.
No one answered.
"Yuri?"
Silence.
I reached out to touch his arm. He wasn't there.
My heart started to beat faster.
"Keifer?"
Nothing.
"Ci-n? Drew? Anyone?"
The darkness was thick. Heavy. I couldn't see my own hand in front of my face.
Where did everyone go?
I stood up from my chair. "This isn't funny."
My voice echoed. No one replied.
I felt along the table. Empty. Chairs pushed back. Cold.
They left me.
Why would they leave me?
My breath started to come faster. I was alone in the dark.
This is a prank. It has to be a prank.
But the silence was too real. Too complete.
"Keifer, please," I whispered. My voice cracked.
Nothing.
I felt tears prick my eyes again. Not now. Not now.
Then—a flicker. A small light from across the room.
I turned toward it.
The lights came back on.
And I was alone.
Completely alone. The banquet hall was empty. Chairs pushed in. Tables cleared. Even the cake was gone.
"What the—"
Before I could finish, the lights went out again.
No. No, no, no.
I started shaking.
"KEIFER!"
Nothing.
"KUYA!"
Silence.
"MAMA! PAPA!"
My voice broke. Tears were falling now. I couldn't stop them.
Where is everyone? What is happening?
I hugged myself. My knees felt weak.
Then—
"BOOM!"
A loud explosion of sound. I screamed. I jumped so hard I nearly fell.
And then—
LIGHTS. EVERYWHERE.
And voices. So many voices.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUTYA!"
Confetti rained down on me. Gold and white and pink. It stuck to my hair, my shoulders, my tear-streaked cheeks.
I blinked.
Everyone was there. Everyone. Standing in a semicircle around me. Smiling. Holding up their phones with flashlights. Behind them, a new cake—huge, three tiers, covered in candles.
What?
I didn't understand.
What is happening?
Then I saw Keifer. He was walking toward me. Kade was no longer in his arms—mom must have taken him. Keifer's hands were empty. His eyes were soft.
"Happy birthday, Jay," he said quietly.
I stared at him.
My lips parted. No sound came out.
He remembered?
They all remembered?
"Yesterday was your birthday," Keifer continued, stopping right in front of me. "You forgot. I know you did. You've been so busy taking care of Kade, planning our anniversary... you didn't even notice. But you expeced someone to wish you."
He reached out and brushed a piece of confetti from my hair.
"I didn't wish you yesterday," he said. "I wanted to. It killed me not to. But I wanted to do it here. With everyone. Because you deserve more than a quiet 'happy birthday' in the kitchen while you're changing diapers."
My lip trembled.
"You deserve chaos," he said, smiling. "You deserve confetti and cake and all your favorite people shouting at you. You deserve to feel special, Jay. Because you are."
Tears were streaming down my face now. I couldn't stop them.
"You scared me," I whispered. "I thought everyone left me."
"I know. I'm sorry." He cupped my face in his hands. "But I would never leave you. Not on your birthday. Not ever."
I hit his chest. Weakly. "You're an idiot."
"I know."
"A beautiful idiot."
"Also true."
I hit him again. Harder. "I was so scared. I thought something bad happened."
"Jay—"
"I thought you forgot my birthday. I sat there at dinner feeling sorry for myself because no one said anything, and the whole time you were planning THIS?"
He nodded. "The lights, the confetti, the cake—everything. Ci-n helped. And Yuri. And David. Everyone."
I turned to look at our friends.
Ci-n was grinning, phone in hand. "I got the whole thing on video. Your scream was iconic."
"You're dead," I said.
"Worth it."
Yuri shrugged. "I had to leave you in the dark for a full minute. Sorry. Not sorry."
Drew crossed his arms. "I told them you'd cry. Edrix bet on anger. I win."
"You bet on my emotions?" I said.
"Happy birthday."
I opened my mouth to yell at them, but then I looked at Keifer again.
He was still holding my face. His thumbs wiped my tears away.
"I love you," he said. "Happy birthday, my Mutya."
I closed my eyes. Leaned into his hands.
"I love you too," I whispered. "Even when you terrify me."
"That's all the time."
"Shut up."
He kissed my forehead. Then my nose. Then my lips.
Everyone cheered. Someone wolf-whistled. Ci-n was definitely still recording.
I pulled back and looked at the cake. Thirty candles? Twenty? I didn't even know anymore.
"Make a wish," Keifer said.
I looked at him. At our friends. At my family standing behind them—my mom crying, my dad pretending not to, Kuya giving me a thumbs up.
I had one wish.
I closed my eyes.
I already have everything I need.
I blew out the candles.
The room erupted into applause.
And for the first time all night, I smiled. Really smiled.
"Okay," I said, wiping my face. "Who wants cake?"
"ME!" Ci-n shouted.
"Obviously," Drew muttered.
---
Later, after the cake was devoured and the confetti was swept into piles, Keifer found me standing by the window.
The party was still going behind us, but quieter now. People were sitting in small groups, talking, laughing.
"You okay?" he asked, coming up beside me.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just... thinking."
"About?"
I looked out at the dark sky. "Yesterday. I really thought everyone forgot."
"I know." He slipped his hand into mine. "I saw your face at dinner. When you realized."
"You did?"
"You got quiet. Started staring at your plate." He squeezed my fingers. "I almost broke right there and wished you happy birthday. But I wanted to wait."
"You're cruel."
"Romantic," he corrected.
"Same thing."
He laughed softly. Then he turned me to face him.
"Jay. Your birthday will never be forgotten. Not by me. Not by Kade. Not by any of those idiots in there." He nodded toward the room. "You are loved. More than you know."
My eyes welled up again.
"Stop making me cry," I said.
"Never."
He pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady. Calm. Home.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"For what?"
"For remembering. For planning this. For scaring me half to death."
He kissed the top of my head. "Anything for you, Mutya."
We stood there for a long time. The noise of the party faded into background music.
Then Kade started crying from somewhere across the room.
I laughed. "Duty calls."
"Duty calls," Keifer agreed.
He took my hand, and we walked back into the chaos together.
Yesterday was my birthday.
Today is our anniversary.
And tomorrow...
Tomorrow, I'll wake up next to him.
That's all I'll ever need.
--
"Kade is asleep. I want to cut the cake with him," I said, pouting.
Keifer chuckled and kissed my pout.
Heat rose to my cheeks immediately.
"Then wake him up," he said simply.
"What?"
"Wake him up. It's your birthday and our anniversary. He can afford to lose five minutes of sleep."
I stared at him. "You're a terrible father."
"I'm a practical father."
"You're enabling my bad decisions."
"I'm enabling your happiness. There's a difference."
I hit his chest lightly, then walked toward my mom, who was rocking Kade in her arms by the corner of the room.
"Mama, can I have him for a minute?"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "He's sleeping, Jay."
"I know. I just want to cut the cake with him."
She sighed—the long, tired sigh of a grandmother who has given up questioning her daughter's choices. "Five minutes."
"Thank you, Mama."
She carefully handed Kade over. He stirred slightly, his little nose scrunching, but then he settled against my shoulder, warm and heavy and perfect.
I walked back to the cake. Keifer was already there, knife in hand.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready."
He wrapped his free arm around my waist. I shifted Kade so he was cradled against my chest, facing the cake. His eyes fluttered open—just barely.
"Look, baby," I whispered. "Mama's cake."
Kade blinked slowly. Then his tiny hand reached out and smacked the frosting.
Everyone laughed.
"Happy birthday to you," Keifer started singing. Soft. Low. Just for me.
But then Ci-n joined in. Then Drew. Then everyone.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Jay... happy birthday to you!"
I was crying again. I couldn't help it.
Keifer guided my hand—the one not holding Kade—to the knife. Together, we cut the first slice.
Kade grabbed a handful of frosting and shoved it toward my mouth.
"Thank you, baby," I said, eating it off his sticky fingers.
He giggled. Then he yawned. Then he put his head back on my chest and closed his eyes.
We laughed.
--
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