"Welcome to the backyard camppppppppppp!"
Ci-N yelled at the top of his lungs, thrusting his hands into the air as the flickering glow of a bonfire lit up his excited face.
Mrs. Watson stood near the patio steps, a single eyebrow raised as she looked at the rows of tents pitched across the grass.
"Was that shouting absolutely necessary, Ci-N?"
"Yes!" Ci-N nodded vigorously.
"Very necessary!" Felix echoed from behind a stack of logs.
"Section E without chaos?"
Aries chimed in, tossing a stick into the growing flames.
"Impossible."
Mr. Watson stepped up beside his wife, checking his watch with a sigh.
"But it is already late at night, and tomorrow is the wedding. Is all this chaos really necessary right now?"
"Yes, because it's their wedding!"
Mayo called out from inside a tent.
"Yes, wedding happens only once!"
Danzel added, adjusting a camp chair.
Mr. Watson rubbed his temples.
"But it's their second time."
The yard went quiet for a fraction of a second before Ci-N grinned brightly, completely unfazed.
"Oh! Yeah! Second time happens only once!"
Both Mr. and Mrs. Watson simultaneously facepalmed, completely giving up on trying to bring logic to the group.
The Section E squad and the rest of their fellow menaces had fully transformed the pristine backyard into a massive camping ground.
A large, crackling bonfire roared in the center, surrounded by a semi-circle of cozy tents, folded chairs, and plush blankets spread across the soft grass.
Everyone had finally ditched their formal party attire for much more comfortable clothes.
The boys had changed into casual oversized t-shirts and plaid pajama pants, while the girls looked perfectly cozy in their matching soft night suits, their hair tied up in messy buns.
Kit suddenly stepped right next to the roaring fire, holding an empty glass bottle high above his head like a trophy.
"Get ready for the ultimate game of Truth and Dare!"
he shouted, a mischievous glint in his eyes as everyone cheered and scrambled to claim their spots around the bonfire.
Everyone laughed and started scrambling for spots on the soft grass, forming a massive circle around the crackling bonfire with the empty bottle resting right in the middle.
Jay walked over and sat down comfortably next to Sophia.
Seeing his spot, Keifer instantly started walking over to sit beside his fiancée.
But before he could take a seat, Felix quickly slid in and took the spot right next to Jay.
Keifer paused, throwing a deadly glare at him.
Felix completely ignored the terrifying look, instead flashing a wide, sheepish smile.
With a sigh, Keifer tried to sit right next to Felix so he wouldn't be too far away from Jay.
But before his knees could even bend-
"Daddddd...!"
Ci-N shouted, jumping out of nowhere and planting himself right down beside Felix.
Keifer raised a sharp eyebrow, his voice dropping into a dangerously calm tone.
"Ci-N.
Felix.
Go away."
"No," Ci-N said stubbornly.
Keifer slowly tilted his head, his gaze narrowing.
"No?"
Felix took one look at Keifer's darkening expression, his internal survival instincts suddenly kicking in.
He gulped, nudging Ci-N.
"Uh... I think we can sit anywhere else.
Right, Ci-N?"
"Yeah, I think so too!"
Ci-N squeaked, suddenly realizing the danger.
The two of them scrambled away in a panic.
Keifer smirked victoriously and finally sat down right beside Jay.
Jay just shook her head, laughing softly at how effortlessly he intimidated the boys.
"Okay, round one startsssss!"
Mayo yelled, leaning forward and giving the glass bottle a hard spin in the center of the circle.
The bottle whirled around, slowing down until the tip finally landed straight on...
Keifer.
"Truth or dare?"
Kit asked, a grin spreading across his face.
"Dare,"
Keifer answered without a single hint of hesitation.
Aries smirked from across the fire, leaning back on his hands.
"Sit five places away from Jay."
Keifer's glare immediately
snapped to Aries.
"Whatttttt? No."
"The great Keifer Watson stepping back from a dare?"
Aries teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Ugh!" Keifer groaned loudly.
He turned to Jay, making the most dramatic puppy-dog eyes, but Jay just laughed and waved him away.
Left with no choice, he reluctantly stood up and moved five spots down, looking thoroughly miserable.
Mayo spun the bottle again.
It whirled past the tents and finally stopped, pointing directly at Ci-N.
"Truth or dare, Ci-N?"
"Dare!
Always dare!"
Ci-N cheered.
Rory grinned, seizing the perfect opportunity.
"Propose to your crush by sitting on her lap."
Ci-N's face lit up with a massive grin as his eyes locked right onto Rakki.
"HELLL NOOOO!"
Rakki shouted instantly, her face turning bright red as she crossed her arms defensively.
Ci-N stood up anyway, confidently marching over to where Rakki was sitting.
But instead of immediately sitting on her lap, he stopped right in front of her.
His playful demeanor suddenly softened, and he gracefully bent down on one knee on the grass.
"Rakki..." he murmured softly, looking up at her.
Rakki froze.
Looking at him on one knee, her angry expression melted.
She looked deeply emotional, a soft pink blush creeping up her cheeks.
The entire backyard fell dead silent.
The girls were all watching with touched, melting smiles, while the Section E boys stared in absolute shock, wondering if Ci-N was actually going to be serious for once.
But then, Ci-N suddenly looked down at his feet and calmly started tying his shoelaces.
The romantic atmosphere shattered into a million pieces.
Rakki made the most disgusted, offended face, her jaw dropping.
"Ughhhhh!
Cnnnnnn!"
Rakki yelled.
Before she could even push him away, Ci-N finished tying his shoe, jumped up, and plopped himself right down onto her lap.
"My Rakkiiiiiiiii, will you be my girlfriend?!"
he cheered loudly, wrapping his arms around her neck and hugging her incredibly hard.
Rakki shouted in protest, struggling against his grip, but a loud, unstoppable laugh escaped her lips anyway.
"Please, Rakki, please!" Ci-N begged, pouting dramatically against her shoulder.
Rakki tried to maintain an angry, stubborn face, but she was failing miserably.
"Plzzzzzzzzzzzz!"
all the other boys and girls chanted in unison, joining in on the teasing.
She looked down at Ci-N, who was looking back up at her with the biggest, most pathetic puppy eyes he could muster.
She let out a long sigh, a beautiful smile breaking across her face.
"Okay."
Ci-N froze, blinking up at her.
"Okay?!"
She nodded, laughing happily.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Ci-N yelled at the absolute top of his lungs, a sound so piercing it echoed through the entire neighborhood.
"CNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"
everyone shouted back at him in unison, covering their ears.
Ci-N immediately winced, covering his mouth with a sheepish grin.
"Oops... sorry!"
The empty glass bottle spun rapidly once more, its scraping sound echoing softly over the crackling of the bonfire before it finally slowed down.
The tip pointed straight at Sophia.
"Truth or dare?" everyone chorused.
"Truth," Sophia replied smoothly, leaning back on her hands with a confident smile.
Mayo leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Do you have a crush, or do you love someone?
Is there anyone special in your life right now?"
Sophia fell silent for a brief moment.
Across the circle, Keifer instantly straightened his posture, his big-brother protective mode automatically turning on as his sharp eyes locked onto her, waiting intently for her answer.
For just a single, fleeting second, Sophia's eyes flickered across the circle, landing somewhere in the crowd before quickly darting back down to the grass.
It happened so fast that no one noticed-not even Keifer's sharp gaze.
But Jay, who was sitting right next to her, caught the subtle movement perfectly.
"Answer fast!"
Rakki nudged her excitedly.
"No," Sophia said simply, flashing a bright, easy smile that completely hid whatever she was thinking.
As the group moved on, Jay's eyes instinctively followed the direction Sophia had looked just a moment before.
She noticed someone's eyes lingering on Sophia.
Those eyes had turned just a little bit sad the exact moment Sophia said 'no,' but the person quickly masked it, laughing along with the rest of the group.
The game continued with high energy.
The bottle was spun again and again, leading to a flurry of hilarious dares.
Someone had to stand up and do a completely ridiculous, funny dance around the fire, while someone else was forced to sing a popular song in a high-pitched, childlike voice.
One after another, the penalties kept everyone roaring with laughter, the warm night air filled with their absolute chaos.
Then, Mayo gave the bottle another hard spin.
It whirled around the circle and finally slowed to a stop, pointing directly at Jay.
"Truth or dare?"
Jay smiled softly, pulling her knees closer to her chest.
"Umm... truth."
Josh leaned forward from across the circle, a curious grin on his face.
"Jay, do your parents really allow you to marry Keifer?
Like, did they actually agree easily?"
A few people laughed at the playful jab at Keifer's intimidating reputation, but the smile on Jay's face vanished instantly.
The mention of the word "parents" hit her like a sudden, heavy wave, and tears immediately began to pool in the corners of her eyes.
Keifer and Sophia both froze, realizing the weight of the question.
Their expressions sharpened, and they instantly looked toward Jay with deep concern.
To avoid letting the rest of the group see her face fall, Jay quickly looked down at the grass, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling.
But somewhere in the middle of the fading laughter, the rest of the Section E boys began to notice her sudden, heavy silence.
A quiet realization began to dawn on them as they realized they hadn't seen her parents at any of the wedding functions either.
Sensing the drop in the atmosphere, Ci-N immediately jumped up, waving his arms wildly to break the tension.
"What kind of question is this, Josh?!
It's youngsters' night!
No questions about parents and oldies!
This is a bachelor's nighttttttttt!"
"Yes, let's just spin the bottle again,"
David chimed in smoothly, his voice warm and grounded as he immediately reached out to give the bottle a hard shove, steering the attention far away from Jay.
The bottle whirled around, cutting through the lingering tension before finally stopping right in front of Mica.
"Truth or dare?"
everyone asked.
"Dare!" Mica answered confidently, tossing her hair back.
"Jay-jay! This time, you give the dare!"
Felix said quickly, deliberately trying to cheer her up and lighten her mood.
Jay looked across the fire toward Keifer.
He gave her a reassuring, incredibly warm smile, and seeing it, her own smile finally returned.
"Umm..." Jay thought for a bit, a sudden mischievous glint entering her eyes.
She leaned over and whispered something directly into Mica's ear.
Mica's eyes widened to the size of saucers, her jaw dropping.
"Jay-jay! You are not that innocent!"
Mica hissed with a massive, shocked smile as she stood up and stepped directly toward Calix.
She sat down right beside Calix, leaned down, and whispered those exact words into his ear.
Whatever she said made Calix's eyes go completely wide, his entire face flushing a bright, furious shade of red.
He locked eyes with Mica for a fraction of a second.
Before anyone in the circle could even process what was happening, Calix suddenly swept Mica up into a tight bridal style, stood up, and bolted straight toward one of the tents on the farthest corner of the yard.
"You guys continue! We'll meet you tomorrow!" Calix shouted back over his shoulder.
The backyard fell into an absolute, stunned silence, leaving everyone completely shocked with their jaws dropped.
Everyone slowly turned their heads toward Jay with utterly confused and questioning faces, but Jay just casually shrugged her shoulders as if she had no idea what happened.
She sat back down beside the girls, who were now staring at her without blinking, their expressions full of intense curiosity.
"Jay!" Freya demanded.
"Huh?"
"What on earth did you say to her?!" Rakki asked, leaning in close.
"Nothing," Jay said, trying to keep a straight face.
"Please tell us!
Plzzzzz!"
Cheska begged, looking like she was ready to fall at Jay's feet just to get the gossip.
"Okay, okay. Come closer," Jay whispered.
"This is cheating!
We want to listen too!"
Ci-N shouted from across the fire, pouting dramatically.
But Rakki snapped her head around, throwing a sharp glare his way.
"Ci-Nnnn?"
Ci-N immediately shrank back, raising his hands in defeat.
"Okay, okay, it's okay, Rakki baby. I'll listen to you."
The girls quickly clustered into a tight, secretive circle, leaving the boys straining their ears in vain.
"Jay, tell us!" Sophia whispered.
Jay giggled softly.
"I just told her to use a specific pick-up line on him.
I told her to say:
'Are you a deck of cards?'
and when he asks why, say,
'Because I'm ready to deal with you all night.'"
The circle of girls instantly gasped, their eyes wide with absolute shock.
"Jay! You really aren't that innocent!" Sophia laughed, shaking her head.
"It's just... I read it in a novel!"
Jay defended herself, blushing furiously.
But before the girls could discuss her secret romantic reading habits any further, Mayo's voice boomed over the crackling fire.
"Next round is here!" Mayo shouted, giving the bottle another aggressive spin.
The empty glass bottle whirled across the grass, slowing down until the tip pointed directly at Jay once again.
"Okay, Jay!
Truth or dare?" the group chanted.
"Dare," Jay said, determination in her voice this time.
Instantly, Cheska and Freya's eyes lit up with pure mischief
They looked at each other, shared a knowing smirk, and immediately pulled Jay into a tight huddle, whispering the dare into her ear.
Jay's eyes went completely wide.
"No, please!" she said, violently shaking her head, her cheeks already turning pink.
"Jay-jay, a dare is a dare!" Freya teased.
"Please, change it," Jay pleaded.
"No, go!" Cheska ordered playfully but authoritatively, pointing across the bonfire circle.
Keifer watched the whole exchange from five seats away, his eyes narrowing in complete confusion as he tried to figure out what the girls were plotting.
Taking a deep breath to steady her trembling nerves, Jay stood up from the grass.
Her heart was absolutely hammering against her ribs, a wild, electric heat rushing through her veins with every single step she took across the circle.
Keifer's dark eyes tracked her movements, his gaze narrowing in a mix of confusion and sudden, intense focus as he watched her approach.
She finally stopped right beside him, the crackling bonfire casting long, flickering shadows across them.
She swallowed hard, her face burning a brilliant crimson.
Slowly, deliberately, she slid her warm hand onto his shoulder.
Keifer's eyes instantly dropped to her fingers, his posture freezing as he felt the delicate weight of her touch.
And before he could form a single thought-Jay smoothly slid right down onto his lap.
"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The entire backyard absolutely erupted into a deafening roar of wild hooting and catcalls, but for Keifer, the chaotic noise instantly vanished into static.
"Jay..." a breathless, gravelly whisper escaped his throat.
His dark eyes locked onto hers, completely consumed by her sudden boldness.
His hands acted on pure, possessive instinct, traveling up to grip her waist firmly, pulling her flush against his chest to steady her.
Jay reached up, placing her soft, warm palm gently against his cheek.
The intimate touch sent a jolt straight down his spine, his vision blurring as his focus narrowed entirely to the girl in his arms.
She leaned down closer, her lips brushing so incredibly close to his earlobe that he could feel the frantic rhythm of her own breathing.
"Are you an ice cream?"
she whispered, her voice a velvety, dangerous purr that sent shivers through him.
"Huh?" was the only syllable Keifer could physically utter.
His grip on her waist tightened effortlessly, his mind completely paralyzed by her scent, her warmth, and the heavy, intoxicating tension hanging between them.
"I asked, are you an ice cream?"
she repeated softly.
She pulled back just an inch, looking directly into his dazed, burning eyes, her thumb gently tracing his jawline.
"Why...?" he breathed, his voice raw, barely audible over the roaring fire as his gaze dropped entirely to her lips, silently daring her to finish what she started.
Jay smiled, a stunning, wicked little curve of her lips.
Her hands traveled down to his wrists, her fingers wrapping around his.
She leaned in one last time, her breath fanning over his lips.
"Because I've always wanted to eat you."
Before Keifer could even register the words, let alone tighten his grip to keep her captive, Jay swiftly unlocked his hands from her waist, pushed herself up, and bolted straight back across the circle.
Keifer was left frozen in his seat, completely breathless, his jaw slightly slack and his heart thumping wildly against his ribs as he stared at the empty space in his lap.
"Woooooo!
Look at the boss!
He's broken!"
Ci-N shrieked, pointing dramatically at Keifer's dumbfounded face.
"Someone check his pulse!
I think Mom just short-circuited his brain!"
"Oh, he's gone, he's totally gone,"
Felix cackled, throwing his arms around Ci-N's shoulders.
"Hey Keifer!
Do you need a glass of cold water to cool down, or are you ready to be eaten?!"
"Shut up," Keifer muttered, his voice still thick as his face flushed a dark red under the firelight.
He threw a warning glare at the boys, but his eyes instantly darted right back to Jay, who was currently burying her burning face in Sophia's shoulder while the girls giggled uncontrollably.
"I think I need some air,"
Keifer muttered thickly, pushing himself up from his seat and walking away from the circle toward the quieter, dimmer edge of the backyard.
"Yeah, yeah, air!"
Ci-N shouted after him, snickering loudly.
"Are you sure you don't need some ice cream instead?!"
Felix yelled, making the whole squad burst into fresh waves of laughter.
Keifer didn't even bother to look back at them or struggle to throw a comeback.
His face was still burning a fierce shade of red, and his chest felt completely tight from how fast his heart was still beating.
Back near the roaring bonfire, Freya suddenly blinked and leaned closer to look at Jay.
"Jay-jay, are you still wearing your earrings?"
Jay's hands immediately flew to her earlobes, her fingers brushing against the metal.
"Ah! I think I forgot to take them off when I changed into my night suit."
"But there's only one in your ear," Sophia noted, squinting in the firelight.
"Where's the other one?"
Jay quickly checked both sides, her heart dropping slightly when her fingers met empty skin on her left ear.
"Oh no... I think I must have dropped it somewhere."
She immediately stood up, brushing the grass off her pajama pants.
"It must be somewhere around here. I'll go look for it."
"I'll help you," Sophia offered, ready to stand up.
"No, it's okay! You guys stay here and enjoy the game. I'll be right back,"
Jay insisted with a reassuring smile.
"Are you sure?" Rakki asked.
"Yes! If I can't find it, I'll call you guys."
"Okay, don't go too far."
Jay began scanning the grass, bending down slightly as she traced the path she had walked earlier.
Step by step, she drifted a bit away from the loud, cheering circle of tents and the bright warmth of the bonfire.
Further into the yard, a few of the decorated tables from the earlier party were still set up under the trees.
The main party lights had been turned off, leaving only the dim, romantic glow of the warm fairy lights wrapped around the branches to illuminate the shadows.
Jay walked between the empty tables, her eyes fixed entirely on the dark grass.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the shadows, wrapping firmly around her wrist.
Before a single sound could escape her throat, she was forcefully yet carefully pulled right under the draped fabric of a long table, completely hidden from the rest of the yard.
Jay gasped sharply, her chest heaving as she opened her mouth to scream -but before she could utter a sound, a familiar face moved into the faint glint of the fairy lights.
"Keifer...!" she hissed, her eyes widening in absolute shock as she stared at him in the cramped space.
"What are you doing?!"
she whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"You scared me to death!"
Keifer didn't answer right away.
Under the long table, the distant laughter from the bonfire faded into a faint murmur.
The dim, golden light from the fairy lights filtered through the heavy cloth, casting soft shadows across his face.
"Looking for this?"
he murmured.
His voice was low and a little rough.
He lifted his hand, showing her the missing earring tucked between his fingers.
Jay blinked, reaching out to take it.
"Oh, you found it-"
Before she could grab it, Keifer caught her wrist and gently pinned her hand against the grass, stepping right into her space.
He completely crowded her, trapping her between his chest and the table leg.
The flush on his face from earlier hadn't faded at all.
If anything, he felt even warmer now.
"You think you can just say something like that in front of everyone and just run away?"
he whispered, his eyes dropping to her lips.
Jay swallowed hard, all her confidence from the dare completely vanishing.
"Keifer, it was just a dare..."
"I don't care," he said softly.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against her earlobe, mirroring exactly what she had done to him minutes ago.
"You said you wanted to eat me, right?
Now we're away from the crowd... let's see you try."
Before she could even react, he reached up, grabbed her hips, and pulled her right onto his lap.
"Keifer...!" she gasped, her hands instinctively flying to his shoulders.
"What?"
"Someone might come!"
"No one's coming here," he murmured.
To prove his point, he leaned forward and pressed a soft, wet kiss against her flushed cheek, making her face burn even hotter.
"Now tell me," he whispered, pulling her even closer until there was no space left between them.
His lips brushed against her jawline as he kissed his way down.
"Aren't you getting a bit too naughty lately?"
"I don't know... it was just a dare..."
she muttered, quickly looking away to hide how incredibly flustered she was.
Keifer smirked, his dark eyes traveling from her lips back up to her eyes.
He spoke in a completely casual tone, as if he were just asking about the weather.
"You know, it took everything I had not to lose control and carry you straight into one of those
tents in front of everyone."
She snapped her gaze back to him, her eyes wide and her cheeks bright red at his bluntness.
Seeing her reaction, his smirk softened into a gentle smile.
"Okay, leave it. Look at me."
But Jay kept her head turned away, too shy to face him.
"Jay, baby... please," he pleaded softly, his voice dropping into a tender whisper.
She let out a quiet breath and slowly turned her head back to face him.
Keifer smiled warmly, cupping her cheek with his palm.
Jay rested one hand against his chest, feeling the heavy, rapid thumping of his heart, while her other hand stayed on his shoulder.
Her gaze instinctively dropped to his lips before rising back to meet his eyes.
The space between them vanished.
He leaned in slowly, and right on cue, her eyes fluttered shut.
Their breaths mingled, lips just a fraction of an inch apart...
"Where are they both?!"
"They both went missing at the same time!"
"Did they elope together?!"
"Ow!
Why would they elope? It's literally their own wedding
tomorrow!"
loud voices echoed
from just outside the table cloth.
Jay's eyes snapped open in absolute panic.
"Keifer... they are right here!"
she whispered urgently, trying to pull back.
"So what?"
Keifer muttered stubbornly, tightening his grip around her waist and refusing to let her budge.
"They'll see us!"
"Let them. You're my fiancée."
"Keifer... please," she begged, looking at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"Just one more day. If they catch us under here, they will literally kill us with teasing for the rest of our lives."
Hearing that, Keifer let out a defeated groan. He dropped his head forward, burying his face into the crook of her neck as his shoulders slumped.
"Just one day," he growled softly against her skin.
Jay smiled tenderly, her fingers gently running through the hair at the back of his neck.
"Yes, just one day... then I'm all yours."
...
They somehow managed to sneak back toward the bonfire, keeping low and trying to blend into the shadows.
But the moment they stepped near the tents, they realized their stealth mission had completely failed.
The entire group-boys and girls alike-was standing up in a tight circle, waiting for them.
"See! I told you she was with him!"
Sophia said, crossing her arms with a triumphant smirk.
"Why are you only blaming her?
He was with her too,"
Aries pointed out, gesturing toward Keifer.
Cheska stepped forward, narrowing her eyes playfully.
"Jay-jay, were you trying to fool us?"
"Hey, you're just putting all the allegations on her!
Keifer was trying to fool us too,"
Felix defended.
"Ah! Why are you guys
supporting her this much?"
Rakki asked, throwing her hands up.
Percy instantly stepped in front of Jay, puffing out his chest.
"What do you mean by that?
She's my little sister!"
"Yes! She's our Mutya!" all the Section E boys shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the night.
"And my mom too!"
Ci-N chirped, jumping up and down.
While both sides immediately launched into a loud, chaotic argument, Keifer and Jay just looked at each other from across the circle.
They simultaneously raised their eyebrows, shrugged their shoulders, and silently let the group fight it out.
"Jay is at fault!" the girls chanted.
"Then Keifer is at fault too!" the boys countered.
As the boys rallied to form a protective wall around Jay, Felix and Ci-N smoothly wrapped their arms around her shoulders.
"Don't worry, Jay, we're with you. You will get justice tonight,"
Felix said with mock seriousness.
"Oh yeah? Then we are with him too," Sophia declared.
She and the rest of the girls marched over to gather around Keifer.
Sophia reached up, trying to wrap her arm around his neck to show solidarity, but she could barely reach.
"Ugh, why are you so tall? Bend down!"
she complained, giving him a sharp yank downward so she could successfully wrap her arm over his shoulder.
Keifer raised a sharp eyebrow at the boys, completely amused.
"Weren't you guys supposed to be on Team Groom?"
"Yes, we were," Kit called out. "But not anymore."
"Why?" Keifer asked.
"Because before coming here, we hadn't met Jay," Danzel explained, shaking his head.
"She's way better than you."
Keifer's smirk widened.
"So you're actually leaving Team Groom?"
The boys looked at each other for a split second, completely in sync.
Then, they yelled in unison, "Yes! We are with our Mutya!"
Keifer's confident smirk vanished instantly.
"Seriously?"
"Don't worry, bro, we've got your back," Rakki said, stepping up to Keifer's other side and delivering a heavy, sharp slap to his shoulder to comfort him.
"Ow!" Keifer muttered, rubbing his arm.
Before the debate could escalate any further, the back patio doors opened and Mr. and Mrs. Watson walked out into the yard, both looking entirely exhausted.
"Are you guys still up?
It is almost 3:00 AM," Mrs. Watson said, adjusting her robe and looking at them with a stern, motherly gaze.
The rowdy group calmed down instantly.
David stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Yes, tomorrow is the wedding. We should definitely all go to sleep now."
"But-" Percy tried to argue, wanting to finish the game.
Aries sharply cut him off, giving him a firm nudge.
"Sleep. Otherwise, you'll look ugly tomorrow."
That final threat was enough to make everyone finally scatter toward their tents, laughing and whispering as they went, leaving the backyard to quiet down for the big day ahead.
Sleep came incredibly fast after the chaotic night, and the moment Jay closed her eyes inside her tent, she drifted off into a deep, peaceful slumber.
.
.
.
.
Few moments later, while still half-asleep, she felt a familiar, comforting warmth wrap securely around her waist.
A solid, heavy chest pressed right against her back, and a steady, warm breath softly hit the nape of her neck.
Her hand instinctively traveled down to the arm wrapped around her waist.
She slowly fluttered her eyes open, her gaze landing on a tan, muscular arm holding her close.
She turned around slowly in his embrace, only to find Keifer sleeping peacefully right beside her.
He had his face pressed gently into her neck, with strands of her long hair falling carelessly over his face.
A small, tender smile broke across her lips.
She carefully turned her entire body around to face him completely, and as she moved, his grip instinctively tightened, pulling her even closer into his chest.
She stayed still, just looking at his face in the soft, dim light filtering into the tent.
"Why is he so handsome...?"
she whispered to herself.
Watching him breathe softly, she couldn't help but let out a tiny, silent chuckle.
"He looks just like a kid while sleeping."
Her finger slowly and very delicately traveled up to his forehead.
Brushing with absolute gentleness, she moved her stray hairs away from his face, then lightly patted down his own messy black hair that fell across his brow.
Her index finger traveled down to his cheek.
She touched his skin so delicately, as if he were made of fragile glass and might break if she pressed too hard.
Eventually, she just let her whole palm rest warmly against his cheek.
Her eyes naturally fell down to his lips.
Oh god, his lips...
The hand resting on his cheek traveled inward, her index finger softly tracing the outline of his mouth.
She touched his upper lip, then his lower lip, her heart beginning to race all over again.
She bit her own lip, her hand traveling back to cup his cheek, while her other hand came up to rest firmly against his broad chest.
She began to lean in, her eyes completely fixed on his lips as if they were a magnet pulling her in.
She leaned closer and closer, until she could feel the hot rhythm of his breath fanning directly over her skin.
But suddenly, logic caught up to her.
She closed her eyes tightly, let out a shaky exhale, and opened them again.
Shaking her head at her own boldness, she decided to turn back around and pretend nothing happened.
"If you want a kiss, why are you taking this much time?"
a deep, incredibly husky voice murmured into the quiet tent.
A slow, devastating smirk instantly appeared on Keifer's lips.
Jay's eyes went completely wide, her entire face flushing a furious, bright red.
She tried to scramble backward to escape, but Keifer didn't give her the chance.
He tightened his grip around her waist like iron, effortlessly pulling her flush against his chest.
He slowly opened his dark eyes, looking straight into hers with a lazy, teasing gaze.
"Keifer...!" she whispered, her breath hitching completely.
Keifer's smirk only widened at her reaction, his eyes dark and full of lazy amusement.
"You were awake?!" she whispered in absolute shock, her face burning.
He nodded, completely unbothered, his thumb tracing a slow circle against her hip.
"From the second you turned around."
Jay opened her mouth to protest, but Keifer didn't give her the
he said shamelessly, his gaze dropping heavily to her mouth.
"I need a kiss."
"Huh?!"
she squeaked, stunned by how completely blunt he was being.
Before she could say anything else, he pulled her flush against him.
His other hand slid up from her shoulder, his warm palm pressing against the side of her neck, his fingers tangling around her neck.
Jay's breath hitched, and she instinctively bit her lower lip, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
Keifer leaned in slowly, giving her one last second to pull away, but...
(Ok should I let them kiss?
I think yes...
Maybe.....no
Umm....
Jay gave in completely.
She leaned up to meet him, and their lips finally met.
They both closed their eyes as the world outside the tent completely vanished.
At first, the kiss was soft, a gentle, lingering pressure as they found their rhythm.
But the moment their lips began working in perfect sync, the heat between them instantly ignited.
Keifer caught her lower lip between his, tugging on it with a slow, deep pressure.
The intense sensation sent a sudden jolt straight through Jay, making her grip the back of his neck tightly, her fingers burying deep into his hair as she pulled him even closer.
"Umm..." a soft, helpless moan escaped her throat, completely muffled against his mouth.
Hearing that sound entirely broke Keifer's control.
As she pulled him closer, her nails accidentally dug slightly into the skin of his neck.
A low, deep groan escaped his lips, vibrating directly against her mouth.
His grip on her neck and waist tightened, his possessive instinct taking over as he deepened the kiss.
Their lips parted slightly, and the kiss shifted, turning into something much more intense, deep, and breathless.
Keifer's tongue slid past her lips, tasting her fully as they shared a deep, passionate French kiss.
It was intoxicating and overwhelming-every stroke of his tongue was deliberate, mapping her mouth with a fierce, burning hunger that had been building up all night.
Jay met him with equal fervor, completely lost in the sensation, her tongue wrapping around his as she melted entirely into his touch.
They were both gasping for air, the space between them completely charged with heat, but neither of them had any intention of pulling apart.
They just kept holding onto each other in the dark, pouring months of longing and the anticipation of tomorrow into one deep, breathless, and unforgettable kiss.
They finally pulled away, just an inch, though neither of them could bear to fully break the contact.
Keifer rested his forehead flush against hers, his eyes closed tightly as they both drew in sharp, ragged gasps of air.
The small space of the tent felt thick and heavy with the sudden, overwhelming heat they had just created.
"Ah... y-you don't even... h-have an idea... how... how much I waited for this,"
Keifer managed to get out, his voice incredibly deep, rough, and fractured between heavy breaths.
Slowly, his warm, slightly trembling palm slid up to rest against her flushed cheek, his thumb gently smoothing over her high cheekbone.
They just stayed like that for a long, quiet minute, their foreheads touching as their chaotic breathing slowly began
to sync up and quiet down.
"Jay..." he murmured, his voice still a little breathless but softening into something laced with pure affection.
"Hmm...?" she replied softly, keeping her eyes closed as she focused on calming the erratic beating of her heart.
A sudden, wicked little shift in his tone ruined the quiet romance.
"You were so hungry."
Jay's eyes snapped open in absolute disbelief.
"Huh?!"
She instantly smacked his broad chest with her palm, her face bursting into a furious crimson, but she couldn't stop the bright, bubbly laugh that escaped her lips right after.
Keifer let out a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated beautifully against her front.
He adjusted his other arm around her waist, flexing his grip to pull her completely tight against his body.
"Okay,"
he whispered, letting out a long, slow exhale that fanned across her nose.
He looked directly into her soul, their eyes meeting, raw and full of pure devotion.
"Let's do it again."
"Huh?" she breathed, blinking up at him.
"Yes," he said, a teasing glint returning to his dark eyes as a slow smirk spread across his face.
"You were so clumsy last time."
"Me?!" Jay squeaked, her jaw dropping at his absolute audacity.
She smiled, a gorgeous, helpless expression that completely gave away how much she loved his teasing.
And that smile was all he needed.
Without giving her a chance to argue, Keifer crashed his lips straight back onto hers.
Jay leaned into the heat, boldly biting down on his upper lip.
She felt the sudden, sharp curve of his smirk against her mouth as he welcomed the sting, his control fracturing all over again.
Without breaking the kiss for even a millisecond, Keifer smoothly shifted his weight, moving over her.
He carefully caged her beneath his large frame, taking up all the space so that she was completely cocooned by his warmth.
The shift was fluid and intoxicating.
He slipped one large hand beneath the back of her head, his fingers burying deep into her messy, silky strands to cradle her skull and deepen the angle of the kiss.
His other hand slid beneath her waist, his powerful arm lifting her slightly off the sleeping mat to pull her body entirely flush against his.
Jay met him heartbeat for heartbeat.
Her left hand remained fiercely gripped in his dark hair, pulling him down to ensure there was no distance between them, while her right hand tightly clutched the fabric over his broad shoulder, holding on for dear life as the intensity of the kiss threatened to pull her under completely.
Every brush of their skin, the quiet friction of their clothes, and the heavy rhythm of their hearts filled the small tent, spinning a moment so intense it felt like time had stopped entirely just hours before their wedding.
They finally pulled away, their lips parting with a soft, lingering friction that left them both completely breathless.
Keifer let out a long, ragged exhale and simply dropped his head forward, burying his face deep into the warm crook of her neck.
They lay there in the quiet dark of the tent, their chests rising and falling in heavy, synchronized beats.
The heat of the kiss still pulsed between them, making every touch feel incredibly magnified.
"This was the best thing that happened in the whole day,"
Keifer murmured against her bare skin, his deep voice vibrating directly against her collarbone.
Jay smiled beautifully, a soft, contented expression washing over her face.
She raised her hand, her fingers sliding effortlessly into his dark, messy hair, and began to slowly and gently massage his head.
Keifer let out a low, satisfied hum at the touch, completely relaxing into her embrace.
But just as she thought they were settling down, his hand traveled down to her waist, his grip tightening with sudden purpose.
In one swift, incredibly fluid motion, he rolled over onto his back, pulling her along with him until she was resting entirely on top of him.
"Keif...!" she gasped softly, her eyes widening in surprise at the sudden shift.
But before she could protest, he guided her down gently, making her head rest perfectly against his broad, solid chest.
Jay smiled, letting her cheek sink into his warmth as she closed her eyes, listening to the rapid, comforting thumping of his heart beneath her ear.
Keifer rested his large palm against her back, his fingers slowly winding through the long strands of her hair, playing with the messy tangles she had gotten during their kiss.
Slowly, he reached up and took her hand-the one that had been wrapped safely around the back of his neck.
He lifted it between them, his dark eyes fixing intently on the elegant engagement ring catches the faint, dim light on her finger.
He held her hand delicately, bringing it up to his face.
He pressed the ring briefly but firmly against his lips, leaving a soft, devoted kiss right on the metal.
"Just one day more," he whispered into the quiet space, his voice thick with raw emotion and anticipation.
Jay's smile widened against his chest.
She nodded her head softly, her heart swelling with an absolute, overwhelming happiness.
"Just one day."
His eyes finally closed too, the lingering tension completely leaving his body.
The whole tent was quiet now, filled with nothing but their soft, peaceful breaths.
Jay lay completely content on his chest, her hand wrapped gently around the back of his neck, while he kept one protective arm securely around her waist and his other hand resting softly in her hair.
For a few hours, the world was perfectly still.
Until the morning sun hit the fabric of the tent, and absolute
chaos erupted outside.
"Where is Keifer?!" Sophia's voice screamed, echoing across the entire backyard.
"Why are you disturbing our Mutya's sleep because of your so-called groom?!" Percy's voice roared back in defense.
"I'm sure Jay's with him!"
"Excuse me! He must be with her, not her with him!"
Kit chimed in loudly.
"If he's with her, it means she's with him! It's the same thing!"
The loud, chaotic yellings of the boys and girls filled the backyard, getting closer and closer to their tent by the second.
Jay instantly panicked even before getting up from her sleep.
She snapped her eyes open and sat up straight, her heart leaping into her throat.
Beside her, Keifer just let out a heavy, deeply defeated sigh, not moving an inch from the mat.
"Keifer! Keifer!" Jay hissed urgently, smacking his arm repeatedly to wake him up.
But Keifer just opened his eyes and looked up at her with a completely bored, unbothered expression.
"Keifer, get up! They are literally right outside!"
"Jay, why are you panicking this much? It's okay," he said in a completely calm, lazy morning voice.
"No, it is not okay! You... you..."
She immediately started looking around the small tent in a frenzy. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she spotted the flap at the very back.
"Stand up, stand up!" she ordered, grabbing his hands and forcefully pulling him upward.
"Run! Run from the back before they catch us!"
"Bu-"
Before he could even finish his sentence, she cut him off by pushing him toward the back opening.
"Go! Just go!" she hissed, her eyes wide with desperation.
Keifer sighed heavily, completely at the mercy of his panicked fiancée.
He prepared to duck out of the back flap, but right before he disappeared, he paused and turned his head.
A slow, devastating smirk spread across his handsome face.
"Just fourteen hours," he murmured, his dark eyes locked onto hers.
"Then I'll give you the right punishment for throwing me out of here."
Without waiting for her reaction, he slipped out into the morning air, leaving Jay standing there in the middle of the tent, her face turning a furious, burning shade of red and her jaw completely dropped in shock.
___________________________________
Hey buddies! How are u?
Ok I never expected, this ll become this long but yeah
Happy 7285 words brand new chapter.
I tried my best to include qs much suggestions as I could.
If I missed any I'm really sorry 😔.
Ok buddies
Bye buddies ❤️
Love u ❤️
Also don't forget to tell me how are you feeling...Boys at Jay's side and girls at Keifer's side?