Chapter: The Dressing Room
(Jay's POV)
The mall was chaos.
But when was it ever not?
We had taken over the entire second floor of some luxury shopping center. Racks of gowns. Mountains of suits. Sales assistants running around like headless chickens trying to keep up with our insane group.
And our group?
Insane was an understatement.
I stood near the entrance of the bridal boutique, watching everyone arrive in waves.
First—
Cin and Rakki.
Cin immediately started arguing with a saleslady about something stupid.
Rakki just watched him with that lazy smirk, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Then—
David.
Walking in like he owned the place.
Which, knowing David, he probably did.
Emman followed, already complaining about something.
Eren, Rory, and Erdix came next.
Erdix immediately found Freya and pulled her close.
Freya laughed at something he said.
Young love.
Cute.
Mayo, Kit, and Blaster arrived together.
Blaster was already eating something.
Mayo was judging everyone.
Kit was recording everything for "memories."
Calix walked in with Mica.
Mica immediately spotted me and waved.
I waved back.
Felix and Drew appeared next.
Arguing about something stupid.
As always.
Denzel followed with Grace and Grazel.
Grazel immediately started running around.
Denzel chasing her.
Grace laughing.
Then—
Josh.
Quiet as always.
But smiling.
Good.
And finally—
My brothers.
Aries and Percy.
Aries with Ella on his arm.
Ella was pretty. Smart looking. The kind of girl who could handle Aries' chaos.
Percy was alone, but honestly? He was too busy checking his reflection in a mirror to care.
Then—
Two familiar figures burst through the doors.
"HIPANG JAY!"
Keigan.
Running toward me at full speed.
Keiran followed calmly behind.
I barely had time to brace myself before Keigan tackled me in a hug.
"WE MISSED YOU!"
I laughed.
"I missed you too."
Keiran hugged me next.
Gentle.
Warm.
"Welcome back, hipag."
My heart melted.
"Thanks, Keiran."
Keifer appeared beside me.
Pulled his brothers into quick hugs.
"Behave."
Keigan grinned.
"Never."
Keiran shrugged.
"No promises."
I looked around the room.
At everyone.
All of them.
Section E.
My brothers.
My friends.
His brothers.
Our family.
All here.
For us.
For this.
For the wedding.
My eyes stung.
Keifer noticed immediately.
"Hey."
He cupped my face.
"You okay?"
I nodded.
"Just—"
"Overwhelmed?"
"Yeah."
He smiled.
Soft.
Warm.
"Me too."
I leaned into him.
"Good overwhelmed?"
"The best."
Aries suddenly shouted.
"OI! LOVE BIRDS! STOP BEING CUTE AND PICK A GOWN!"
Percy nodded.
"WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR TWENTY MINUTES!"
Cin pointed.
"SHE HASN'T EVEN TRIED ANYTHING ON!"
Rakki shrugged.
"Let her breathe."
Cin gasped.
"Traitor!"
Rakki smirked.
"Always."
I laughed.
Pulled away from Keifer.
"Fine, fine."
"I'll try some on."
Everyone cheered.
Grazel clapped.
"Smol! Gown! Pretty!"
I kissed her head.
"Thanks, baby."
She beamed.
---
The Fitting Room Area
I had been in and out of at least ten gowns.
Each one beautiful.
Each one not quite right.
Too poofy.
Too plain.
Too much.
Too little.
The girls stayed with me.
Freya, Rakki, Mica, Grace, and Ella.
Passing opinions.
Laughing.
Just being girls.
Keifer and the guys waited outside.
Occasionally shouting comments.
Mostly stupid ones.
"JAY! PICK THE ONE WITH LESS FABRIC!"
Aries.
"WE DON'T NEED TO SEE HER IN THAT!"
Percy.
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!"
Me.
Grazel's tiny voice.
"SMOL PRETTY!"
I laughed.
"Thanks, baby."
Finally—
The last gown.
The saleslady held it up.
And my breath caught.
Simple.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Sleek silhouette.
Delicate lace.
A train that flowed like water.
I nodded.
"This one."
The girls gasped.
Freya grabbed my arm.
"JAY, THAT'S THE ONE."
Rakki nodded.
"Definitely."
Mica wiped a fake tear.
"Beautiful."
Grace smiled.
"Keifer's going to die."
Ella grinned.
"Literally die."
I laughed.
"Let me try it on first."
---
Inside the Dressing Room
The gown fit like it was made for me.
Every curve.
Every line.
Every detail.
I stared at myself in the mirror.
The girl looking back—
Was a bride.
My bride.
Keifer's bride.
Tears pricked my eyes.
A knock on the door.
"Jay?"
Freya's voice.
"You okay in there?"
I cleared my throat.
"Yeah. Just—"
"Give me a minute."
"Take your time."
I turned sideways.
Admired the dress.
The way it caught the light.
The way it made me feel—
Beautiful.
Ready.
Happy.
Another knock.
Softer this time.
Different.
"Jay."
My heart stopped.
Keifer's voice.
"Keifer?! You can't be in here!"
"The girls are distracting everyone."
"I have five minutes."
I laughed.
"You're insane."
"Probably."
"Can I come in?"
I hesitated.
Then—
"Yeah."
The door opened.
Closed.
Locked.
He stood there.
And the moment he saw me—
He froze.
Completely.
Eyes wide.
Mouth slightly open.
Nothing.
Just staring.
I shifted nervously.
"Is it— is it too much?"
He shook his head slowly.
"No."
"It's—"
He walked toward me.
Step by step.
Eyes never leaving mine.
"You're—"
He stopped right in front of me.
Reached out.
Touched the lace on my shoulder.
Gentle.
Reverent.
"Jay."
"Yeah?"
"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
My heart flipped.
"Keifer—"
"I mean it."
He stepped closer.
"Six years."
"I've imagined this moment."
"You in a wedding dress."
"But nothing—"
"Nothing compares to the real thing."
I touched his face.
"You're going to make me cry."
He smiled.
"Good tears?"
"The best."
He leaned closer.
Lips hovering over mine.
"Can I kiss you?"
I nodded.
"Please."
He kissed me.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of everything.
His hands found my waist.
Mine tangled in his hair.
The kiss deepened.
Slow.
Desperate.
Perfect.
He pulled back just enough to breathe.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He kissed me again.
Hungrier this time.
His lips left mine.
Trailed down my jaw.
My neck.
My collarbone.
I gasped.
"Keifer—"
He looked up.
"Too much?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"Never."
He smiled.
Then—
His lips found the top of my chest.
Right where the gown curved.
Soft kisses.
Gentle.
Then lower.
Right above—
I held my breath.
He looked up at me.
Eyes dark.
Questioning.
Asking permission.
I nodded.
"Yes."
He lowered his head.
His lips touched—
I gasped.
His mouth on me.
Gentle.
Warm.
Perfect.
His hand came up.
Pushed the fabric down slightly.
Just enough.
His lips found—
I moaned softly.
Covered my mouth.
"Keifer—"
He pulled back just enough.
"Shh."
"Let me love you."
I nodded.
He lowered his head again.
His mouth on me.
Kissing.
Sucking.
Gently.
Reverently.
Like I was something precious.
Something sacred.
Something worth waiting six years for.
My fingers tangled in his hair.
Holding him close.
Not wanting him to stop.
Never wanting him to stop.
His lips moved.
Traced patterns.
Left warmth everywhere.
I bit my lip.
Trying to stay quiet.
Trying not to—
"Jay."
He looked up.
Eyes full of want.
Full of love.
"You're so beautiful."
I pulled him up.
Kissed him hard.
Desperate.
He groaned against my lips.
His hands on my waist.
Pulling me closer.
Careful of the gown.
Careful of me.
Always careful.
Always gentle.
Always him.
We kissed until we couldn't breathe.
Until the world disappeared.
Until nothing existed but us.
Then—
A knock on the door.
Loud.
Aggressive.
Persistent.
"JAY! FIVE MINUTES IS UP!"
Freya's voice.
"EVERYONE'S ASKING WHERE KEIFER IS!"
I pulled back.
Breathless.
Laughing.
Keifer rested his forehead against mine.
"Every. Single. Time."
I grinned.
"Every single time."
Another knock.
"JAY! SERIOUSLY! ARIES IS GETTING SUSPICIOUS!"
Keifer groaned.
"I'm going to kill him."
"Which one?"
"All of them."
I laughed.
Kissed him one last time.
Quick.
Sweet.
"Go."
"I'll be out in a minute."
He looked at me.
At the gown.
At my flushed face.
At his marks on my skin.
"You're perfect."
I blushed.
"Go."
He grinned.
Kissed my forehead.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
He slipped out.
I heard Freya's gasp.
"KEIFER?! I KNEW IT!"
His laugh.
Fading.
I turned back to the mirror.
Looked at myself.
At the gown.
At the marks on my chest.
Hidden by lace.
But there.
His marks.
His love.
His promise.
I smiled.
"Yeah."
"I'm ready."
---
Outside
The moment I stepped out—
Everyone stared.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
Grazel's tiny voice.
"Smol... pwetty."
The dam broke.
Aries screamed.
"OH MY GOD!"
Percy cried.
"LITERAL TEARS!"
Cin grabbed Rakki.
"SHE'S A BRIDE!"
Rakki nodded.
"A hot bride."
David whistled.
Emman clapped.
Eren grinned.
Rory nodded approval.
Erdix squeezed Freya's hand.
Freya wiped her eyes.
Mayo actually smiled.
Kit recorded everything.
Blaster stopped eating for once.
Calix and Mica hugged.
Felix and Drew cheered.
Denzel held Grace close.
Josh gave a thumbs up.
Keigan and Keiran ran toward me.
"HIPANG JAY! YOU'RE SO PRETTY!"
Keigan hugged me.
Keiran nodded.
"Keif's lucky."
I laughed.
"Thanks, guys."
And finally—
Keifer.
Walking toward me through the crowd.
Everyone parting.
Watching.
Smiling.
He stopped in front of me.
Looked at me.
That look.
The one that made my heart forget how to beat.
"Jay."
"Yeah?"
"You're—"
He shook his head.
"There aren't words."
I smiled.
"Try."
He stepped closer.
Took my hands.
"You're everything."
"Every dream I never knew I had."
"Every hope."
"Every prayer."
"You're—"
"You're my forever."
My eyes burned.
"Keifer."
He kissed my forehead.
Gentle.
Reverent.
"I can't wait to marry you."
I whispered.
"Me neither."
Aries sobbed loudly.
"THIS IS TOO BEAUTIFUL!"
Percy nodded.
"I'M NOT CRYING!"
Cin pointed.
"YOU'RE LITERALLY CRYING!"
"SHUT UP!"
Everyone laughed.
Even me.
Even Keifer.
Because this—
This chaos.
This family.
This love.
Was exactly what forever looked like.
And it was perfect.
---
Later – Leaving the Mall
Hand in hand.
Walking through the crowd.
Everyone around us.
Laughing.
Talking.
Being themselves.
Keifer squeezed my hand.
I looked at him.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Nothing."
"Just—"
"Happy."
I leaned into him.
"Me too."
Grazel ran past.
Chased by Denzel.
"GRAZEL! STOP!"
"NO! FOWER!"
She pointed at a flower display.
Denzel sighed.
Chased her anyway.
Aries and Ella walked ahead.
Aries saying something stupid.
Ella laughing anyway.
Percy checked his reflection in every window.
Cin and Rakki argued about dinner.
David talked business with Josh.
Emman complained to Eren.
Rory and Erdix discussed something serious.
Erdix pulling Freya close.
Freya smiling.
Mayo, Kit, and Blaster planning something chaotic.
Calix and Mica being disgustingly cute.
Felix and Drew arguing about nothing.
Keigan and Keiran running ahead.
Yelling.
Being kids.
Being brothers.
Being family.
I looked at all of them.
Our people.
Our chaos.
Our love.
Keifer kissed my head.
"Ready to go home?"
I smiled.
"Yeah."
"Let's go home."
---
That Night – Our Room
We lay in bed.
Tangled together.
Sated.
Happy.
Perfect.
His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back.
Mine drew shapes on his chest.
"Today was—"
"Chaotic?"
I laughed.
"Yeah."
"But also—"
"Perfect?"
I nodded.
"Perfect."
He kissed my forehead.
"The wedding's going to be even more chaotic."
I grinned.
"I know."
"Can't wait."
He laughed.
Pulled me closer.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
"Forever?"
I looked up at him.
At his eyes.
At his smile.
At the man who had waited six years.
The man who had loved me through everything.
The man who was going to be my husband.
"Yeah."
"Forever."
He kissed me.
Slow.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
And outside—
The world kept spinning.
But inside that room—
There was only us.
Only love.
Only forever.
The end.
(For now.)