Chapter: Unexpected Visitor – Jay's POV
The living room smelled like cinnamon and roasted turkey.
Christmas lights twinkled softly, reflecting off the polished floors and ornaments I had spent the morning helping arrange.
I was standing near the couch, holding a small plate of cookies Tita Gemma had just baked, when the door opened.
And then I saw him.
Keif.
He was standing there, casually holding a small, neatly wrapped gift in his hands.
Time froze for a moment.
My chest tightened.
I didn't think.
I ran toward him.
"Keif!" I shouted, barely able to contain my excitement.
He looked down at me in surprise as I threw my arms around him.
I hugged him as tightly as I could, burying my face into his chest.
"Don't ever scare me like that," I whispered against his shirt.
He froze for a moment.
And then he hugged me back, his arms steady, protective, warm.
I felt like I could stay there forever.
"Jay…" he murmured softly, almost a warning, almost a comfort.
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him.
The gift in his hand didn't matter right now.
Nothing mattered except the fact that he was here, in front of me, safe.
That's when I heard it.
Clearing of a throat.
I blinked.
And realized… Kuya Angelo was standing a few feet away, arms crossed, pretending to be serious.
"Ah," he said. "Very… touching."
I felt my cheeks heat up.
Keif glanced at him, a small smirk playing on his lips, as if daring me to acknowledge the situation.
"Uh…" I stammered.
Before I could think further, another voice joined in.
"WOAH! Look at you two!"
Aries.
He had appeared behind Kuya Angelo with that mischievous grin I've learned to hate and love all at once.
"You're hugging him like he's your entire Christmas present!" he shouted, hands on his hips.
I felt my face heat even more.
"Aries!" I hissed, trying to shove him gently.
"Oh, don't mind me, Jay. I'm just here to observe the rare phenomenon: Jay Mariano, hugging a Watson voluntarily. Truly historic," he teased, waggling his eyebrows.
Keif chuckled softly.
I glared at him for laughing, but it only made my heart skip faster.
"Don't encourage him!" I whispered harshly, still clinging to Keif.
"Encourage?" he asked, tilting his head. "Who's encouraging whom?"
I buried my face back in his chest, not ready to answer.
Aries laughed louder, clearly enjoying this far too much.
"Keif, my man," he said, pointing at him, "she's glued to you. Can't even let go for five seconds."
"I like holding her," Keif replied casually, still keeping me close.
Aries's jaw dropped slightly.
"I… wow. Okay, that's… intense."
"Intense?" I scoffed. "He scared me, so yes. It's intense."
Keif smirked down at me.
"Good intensity," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I felt my knees weaken just slightly.
Aries groaned dramatically.
"I can't deal with this," he muttered, holding his head.
"Then don't look," I said sharply, finally letting go just a little to glare at him.
But of course, he didn't look away.
He stepped closer, arms crossed, smirking even more.
"Jay, Jay, Jay… you really are impossible. You hug him, scold him, glare at me—all in the span of two minutes. Truly, a masterclass in chaos."
Keif chuckled again.
"You like chaos?" I whispered, ignoring Aries.
"Only when it's you," he murmured, his hand brushing against mine.
I froze.
Aries laughed so loud I thought he would wake the entire block.
"Oh my God! Did you hear that? Did you HEAR that, Jay? Watson admits you're his chaos!"
"Aries!" I hissed again, louder this time, glaring daggers at him.
"Relax," Keif said softly, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "He's just loud."
I pressed my face against his chest again, ignoring Aries completely.
"You're ridiculous," I whispered to Keif, trying to hide my smile.
"And you love it," he replied, smirking down at me.
I glanced over at Aries.
He was still smirking, shaking his head, muttering something about "unbelievable chaos."
"Horoscope!" I shouted suddenly, pointing at him.
"What?" he asked, mock offense on his face.
"You. You're my horoscope. I predict chaos wherever you go," I said dramatically.
Aries blinked.
"And now you've just predicted this situation perfectly," I added, gesturing to me clinging to Keif like he was my lifeline.
Aries groaned again, holding his head.
"Jay," he said, "I cannot survive this level of insanity."
"Then leave," I said, crossing my arms. "Or embrace it."
Keif laughed softly, brushing a hand over my hair.
"I think I'll embrace it," he murmured.
I felt my chest tighten.
"Good," I whispered. "Because I'm not letting go either."
Aries groaned for what felt like the fifth time.
Tita Gemma and Tito Rachel watched from the kitchen, shaking their heads but smiling quietly.
"You two are unbelievable," Tita Gemma said.
"Exactly," I whispered back to her with a grin.
Keif smirked down at me again, holding my hand tightly.
"And everyone else?" I asked quietly.
He shrugged.
"They can look, but not touch," he said softly.
I nodded.
"Perfect," I whispered, resting my head against his chest again.
And even with Aries teasing, Kuya Angelo pretending to be serious, and Christmas chaos all around… I felt completely safe.
Completely happy.
Completely… in love with chaos.
Because right now, chaos had a name.
Keif Watson.