Chapter: Six Years Later, Same Old Chaos
(Jay's POV)
The car pulled up to Kuya Angelo's house, and for a moment, I just stared.
It looked exactly the same.
The same gate.
The same garden.
The same warm lights glowing from the windows.
Six years ago, I had stood in this house, young and stupid, thinking I knew everything about love.
Six years ago, Keifer had stood in this house too.
Arguing with me.
Teasing me.
Making my heart race in ways I didn't understand yet.
And now—
We were back.
Together.
Keifer's hand found mine.
"You okay?"
I nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"Liar."
I looked at him.
He smiled softly.
"Your eyes do that thing when you're remembering something."
"What thing?"
"The soft thing."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're ridiculous."
"You love it."
Before I could respond—
The front door burst open.
Angelo stood there.
Arms crossed.
Grinning like he had just won the lottery.
"WELL, WELL, WELL."
He walked toward us slowly.
Dramatically.
"Look what the cat dragged back."
I crossed my arms.
"Kuya."
"Little sister."
He looked at Keifer.
Keifer nodded.
"Angelo."
Angelo's grin widened.
He walked around us slowly.
Circling like a shark.
"Six years ago…"
He pointed at the garden.
"You two were standing right there."
I frowned.
"What?"
He ignored me and kept walking.
"Arguing about something stupid."
Keifer sighed.
"Angelo—"
"And then—"
Angelo stopped in front of us.
"Keifer said something."
I blinked.
"What?"
Angelo's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"He said—"
"ANGELO."
Keifer's voice was sharp.
Angelo ignored him completely.
"He said, 'Jay, you're impossible.'"
My heart skipped.
I remembered that.
Angelo continued.
"And Jay said—"
I covered his mouth.
"OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH."
He laughed against my hand.
Aries jumped out of the second car behind us.
"WHAT'S ENOUGH?!"
Percy appeared beside him.
"DRAMA?!"
Cin and Rakki climbed out next.
Rakki yawned.
"Are we doing nostalgia?"
Cin nodded.
"Nostalgia time."
Denzel carried a sleepy Grazel.
Grace followed.
"Can we do nostalgia inside? It's hot."
Serina and Kaizer walked up last.
Serina smiled.
"Ah, Angelo's house."
Kaizer nodded.
"Still standing."
Angelo finally escaped my hand.
"WHAT I WAS SAYING—"
"No."
"—IS THAT—"
"KUYA."
"—THESE TWO HAVE BEEN IN LOVE FOR SIX YEARS AND FINALLY ADMITTED IT."
The driveway went silent.
Then—
Aries screamed.
"SIX YEARS?!"
Percy grabbed his chest dramatically.
"THAT'S LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT!"
Cin pointed at us.
"YOU TWO ARE DISGUSTING."
Rakki nodded.
"Adorably disgusting."
Denzel shifted Grazel to his other arm.
"Can we go inside now?"
Grace sighed.
"Yes, please."
Angelo threw his arm around my shoulder.
"Welcome home, little sister."
He looked at Keifer.
"And you."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
Angelo grinned.
"You're not leaving this house ever again."
Keifer blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Angelo pointed at the house.
"Six years ago, you were here."
He pointed at the ground.
"Now you're here."
He pointed at both of us.
"And you're together."
He crossed his arms.
"Conclusion?"
Percy leaned in.
"What?"
"You're both staying here forever."
I choked.
"WHAT?!"
Angelo nodded seriously.
"This house is now your prison."
Aries gasped dramatically.
"ROMANTIC PRISON!"
Percy clapped.
"BEST IDEA EVER!"
Cin raised his phone.
"I'm documenting this."
Rakki smirked.
"Episode one: Trapped in Love."
Denzel finally gave up.
"I'm going inside."
Grace followed.
"Me too. Good luck."
Grazel waved sleepily.
"Bye bye, smol!"
I watched them disappear into the house.
Then turned back to Angelo.
"You're not serious."
His face was completely serious.
"Dead serious."
Keifer sighed.
"Angelo."
"Yes?"
"We have our own places."
"Don't care."
"We have work."
"Work from here."
"We have—"
Angelo held up a hand.
"Let me stop you there."
He pointed at the house.
"This house watched you two fall in love."
He pointed at us.
"Now this house will watch you stay in love."
He crossed his arms.
"End of discussion."
Aries whooped.
"LET'S GO INSIDE!"
Percy grabbed my arm.
"Come on, prisoner!"
Cin grabbed Keifer's other arm.
"Both of you. Now."
Before we could protest—
We were dragged inside.
---
Inside – The Living Room
The house was exactly the same.
Same couch.
Same tables.
Same memories.
I stood there for a moment, overwhelmed.
Keifer stood beside me.
Quiet.
Watching.
Angelo appeared behind us.
"Remember this couch?"
I tensed.
"No."
"Yes you do."
He pointed.
"Six years ago, you two sat on opposite ends."
He demonstrated by pushing us apart.
"Keifer here."
He pushed Keifer left.
"Jay here."
He pushed me right.
"Glaring at each other like enemies."
Aries appeared with popcorn.
"WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!"
Angelo grinned.
"Then Keifer said something stupid."
Keifer rubbed his temples.
"I'm leaving."
"No you're not."
Angelo grabbed his arm.
"Jay got angry."
He pointed at me.
"Threw a pillow."
He mimed the action.
"Hit Keifer right in the face."
Percy howled with laughter.
"ICONIC!"
Cin was recording.
"THIS IS GOLD!"
Rakki smirked.
"Love story of the century."
I buried my face in my hands.
"Oh my god."
Angelo continued mercilessly.
"Then Keifer—"
"ANGELO."
"—picked up the pillow—"
"STOP."
"—and threw it back—"
"KUYA."
"—and Jay screamed—"
"ANGELO WATSON—"
"—'I HATE YOU!'"
The room exploded.
Aries fell off the couch.
Percy was crying.
Cin dropped his phone.
Rakki actually laughed out loud.
Even Serina was wiping tears.
Kaizer shook his head.
"Beautiful."
Keifer looked at me.
"We're never living this down."
I groaned.
"Never."
Angelo patted both our shoulders.
"Welcome home, lovebirds."
He walked away whistling.
Aries grabbed my arm.
"Jay. Jay. Jay."
"What."
"Say it again."
"No."
"Please."
"Never."
Percy leaned in.
"For the memories?"
I threw a pillow at him.
He caught it.
Laughed.
"STILL GOT IT!"
Cin pointed.
"SHE'S STILL VIOLENT!"
Rakki nodded.
"Some things never change."
I looked at Keifer helplessly.
He shrugged.
"Want to hide?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Anywhere."
He grabbed my hand.
"Come on."
We slipped away while everyone was still laughing.
---
Upstairs – My Old Room
The door clicked shut behind us.
Silence.
Blessed silence.
I leaned against the door and closed my eyes.
"I'm going to kill him."
Keifer laughed quietly.
"Which one?"
"All of them."
"Fair."
I opened my eyes.
He was standing there.
Looking at me.
That look.
The one that made my heart skip even after everything.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"Liar."
I smiled.
"You know me too well."
He stepped closer.
"I should."
Another step.
"Six years."
Another.
"I've had time."
He stopped right in front of me.
Inches apart.
My heart started racing.
"Keifer."
"Yeah?"
"We're in my old room."
"I know."
"Where I used to dream about you."
His eyes softened.
"Good dreams?"
"Both."
He smiled.
"Me too."
His hand came up.
Cupped my face gently.
"Jay."
"What?"
"I'm glad we're back."
I leaned into his touch.
"Me too."
"Together."
"Yes."
"This time for real."
I nodded.
"For real."
He leaned down.
Slowly.
Giving me time to pull away.
I didn't.
I pulled him closer.
Our lips met.
Soft at first.
Then deeper.
His arms wrapped around my waist.
Mine tangled in his hair.
Six years of longing.
Six years of pain.
Six years of waiting.
All melting away in that single moment.
He walked me backward gently.
Until my back hit the wall.
He pulled back just enough to breathe.
"I love you."
Three words.
Simple.
But they shattered every wall I had left.
"I love you too."
He kissed me again.
Hungrier this time.
Like he was making up for lost time.
His hands on my waist.
Mine on his chest.
Nothing else mattered.
Nothing else existed.
Just him.
Just us.
Just this moment.
Then—
The door burst open.
"GUYS—"
Percy froze.
We froze.
Complete silence.
Percy stood there.
Mouth open.
Eyes wide.
Hand still on the doorknob.
Then—
"Oh."
"Oh no."
"I—"
He pointed behind him.
"Aries sent me."
I grabbed the nearest object.
A pillow.
Threw it with perfect accuracy.
It hit Percy square in the face.
"GET OUT!"
He stumbled back.
"I'M SORRY—"
"OUT!"
"ANGELO SAID DINNER—"
"NOW!"
He ran.
The door slammed shut.
I stared at the closed door.
Breathing hard.
Keifer started laughing.
Not a small laugh.
A full laugh.
The kind that shook his whole body.
I turned to him.
"THIS IS FUNNY TO YOU?!"
He nodded.
"Very."
"WE WERE INTERRUPTED!"
"Yes."
"BY PERCY!"
"Yes."
"AGAIN!"
He pulled me close.
"It's okay."
"IT'S NOT OKAY!"
He kissed my forehead.
"It's a little okay."
I hit his chest.
"You're impossible."
He grinned.
"You love it."
I sighed.
"Unfortunately."
He held me tighter.
"We have forever, Jay."
I looked up at him.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Another kiss.
Soft this time.
Then—
Aries' voice echoed from downstairs.
"DINNER! LOVE BIRDS! MOVE YOUR BUTTS!"
Percy joined.
"AND STOP KISSING!"
Cin added.
"THERE'S FOOD!"
Rakki yelled.
"AND GRAZEL IS HUNGRY!"
Grazel's tiny voice.
"SMOOOOL!"
I buried my face in Keifer's chest.
"This is my life now."
He kissed the top of my head.
"Our life."
I looked up.
Smiled.
"Our life."
We walked out together.
Hand in hand.
Facing the chaos.
Facing the family.
Facing whatever came next.
Together.
---
Downstairs – Dinner Table
Everyone was already seated.
Angelo at the head.
Serina and Kaizer beside him.
Aries and Percy across from each other.
Cin and Rakki squeezed together.
Denzel, Grace, and Grazel at the end.
One empty seat beside Aries.
One empty seat beside Percy.
Keifer pulled my chair out first.
Gentleman.
Even after everything.
I sat.
He sat beside me.
Aries immediately leaned in.
"So."
I tensed.
"So what?"
He pointed at my face.
"You're blushing."
Percy nodded.
"Very red."
Cin grinned.
"Interesting."
Rakki smirked.
"Very interesting."
I grabbed my fork.
"I will use this."
Aries held up his hands.
"Violence!"
Percy pointed.
"She's aggressive when embarrassed!"
Angelo cleared his throat.
Everyone went quiet.
He looked at me.
At Keifer.
Then smiled.
"Welcome home, you two."
Serina raised her glass.
"To family."
Kaizer nodded.
"To chaos."
Aries raised his.
"To Jay finally stopping being in denial!"
Percy added.
"To Keifer finally growing a spine!"
Cin cheered.
"TO LOVE!"
Rakki smirked.
"To entertainment."
Denzel raised Grazel's tiny hand.
"To food finally being served."
Grace sighed.
"To surviving this family."
Grazel grabbed her spoon.
"SMOOOOL!"
Everyone laughed.
Even me.
I looked at Keifer.
He was already looking at me.
Smiling.
That smile.
The one that made my heart flip.
I smiled back.
And for the first time in six years…
Everything felt exactly right.
---
Later That Night
Everyone had finally gone to bed.
The house was quiet.
Peaceful.
I stood by the window in my room, looking out at the garden.
The same garden where Keifer and I used to argue.
The same garden where everything started.
A knock on my door.
I didn't turn.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Closed.
Footsteps behind me.
Then arms wrapped around my waist.
Keifer's chin rested on my shoulder.
"What are you thinking about?"
I leaned back against him.
"Us."
"Good things?"
"All things."
He kissed my neck softly.
"I love you."
I smiled.
"I love you too."
He turned me around.
Faced me.
Looked into my eyes.
"No more running."
"No more running."
"No more hiding."
"No more hiding."
He kissed me.
Slow.
Tender.
Full of promise.
Then—
A tiny voice from outside.
"KEIF! SMOL! SLEEP!"
We froze.
Looked at the door.
Grazel's tiny footsteps.
Then Grace's tired voice.
"Baby, come back to bed."
"But Keif and Smol!"
"They're sleeping, sweetheart."
"No they not! They kissing!"
Silence.
Then—
Grace's muffled laugh.
"Let them kiss, baby."
"But I wanna kiss too!"
"Tomorrow."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Footsteps fading.
I looked at Keifer.
He looked at me.
We both burst out laughing.
Quietly.
So we didn't wake anyone.
He pulled me close.
"Even the baby knows."
I grinned.
"Everyone knows."
He kissed my forehead.
"Good."
I looked up.
"Yeah?"
"Because I'm never letting you go again."
I melted.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Another kiss.
Longer this time.
Deeper.
Then—
Aries' voice from across the hall.
"OI! KEEP IT DOWN! SOME OF US NEED SLEEP!"
Percy joined.
"YEAH! WE HEARD GRAZEL!"
Cin shouted from somewhere.
"USE THE BEDROOM!"
Rakki yelled.
"THERE'S SOUNDPROOFING!"
Denzel's tired voice.
"PLEASE LET US SLEEP."
Grace added.
"BABY IS WATCHING."
Grazel's tiny voice.
"KEIF! SMOL! SHHH!"
We stared at the door.
Then at each other.
Then we collapsed laughing.
Silently.
Desperately.
Holding each other.
Because this—
This chaos.
This family.
This love.
Was exactly what we had been waiting for.
Keifer kissed my tears away.
"I love you, Jay."
"I love you too, Keifer."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
And outside—
Grazel's tiny voice one last time.
"Smol happy."
Yeah.
Smol was very happy.
The end.
(For now.)