Chapter: The Neck Situation – Remastered
(Jay's POV)
I woke up feeling like a queen.
Sore, yes.
Tired, definitely.
But happy? Absolutely.
Keifer's arms were wrapped around me like usual, his breath warm against my hair. The morning light filtered through the familiar curtains of his childhood room—the same room he'd grown up in, the same walls that had witnessed his awkward teenage years, the same window he'd probably stared out of while dreaming about the future.
And now that future included me.
In his bed.
In his childhood home.
In the mansion where Keigan and Keiran were currently sleeping down the hall.
My eyes snapped open.
"Keifer."
"Mm."
"Wake up."
"Five more minutes."
"YOUR BROTHERS ARE HERE."
He didn't move.
"I know."
"IN THIS HOUSE."
"I know."
"WHERE THEY GREW UP."
"I know."
"WHERE THEY KNOW EVERY HIDING SPOT."
He finally opened one eye.
Smirked.
"And?"
"And NOTHING. We have to go downstairs."
He pulled me closer.
"In a minute."
"Keifer—"
"Four minutes."
"KEIFER."
"Three."
I groaned.
But I stayed.
Because his arms were warm.
And his heartbeat was steady.
And honestly?
This room felt like home now.
---
Twenty Minutes Later
We finally got up.
Barely.
Stumbling.
Laughing.
Stealing kisses between getting ready.
I stood in front of the mirror, fixing my hair.
Keifer came up behind me.
Wrapped his arms around my waist.
Kissed my shoulder.
"You're beautiful."
I smiled.
"You're biased."
"True."
"Still beautiful."
I turned in his arms.
Faced him.
Kissed him quick.
"Ready to face your brothers?"
He sighed.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
I grinned.
"Good."
"Let's go."
---
The Staircase – Watson Mansion
We walked down together.
Hand in hand.
This staircase was old money.
Grand.
Elegant.
Polished wood that had witnessed decades of Watson family history.
Keifer had probably run down these stairs as a kid.
Probably fallen down them once or twice.
Probably brought girls here before me.
I shoved that thought away.
The dining hall opened before us.
Same as always.
Massive table.
Chandelier overhead.
Staff moving quietly.
And at the table—
Two young men.
Keiran, 14 years old, sitting with the calm, observing gaze that made him terrifying even as a teenager. He'd grown up in this house, knew every corner, every secret. And right now, his eyes were locked on us with that familiar, unsettling focus.
And Keigan.
Keigan was now 19.
Gone was the little boy who used to tackle-hug me. In his place sat a young man—taller, broader, with the same chaotic energy but wrapped in a more mature frame. He'd inherited the Watson looks fully now. Dangerous combination.
But his grin?
Still the same chaotic, trouble-making grin.
The moment they saw us—
Keigan's face lit up.
"HIPAG JAY!"
He stood.
Walked toward us.
Pulled me into a hug.
Proper.
Warm.
Not the wild tackle of before.
But still full of love.
"You're here."
I hugged him back.
"I live here now."
"Technically."
He pulled back.
Grinned.
"Best decision Kuya ever made."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
Keigan shrugged.
"Just facts."
Keiran approached next.
14 years old.
But the way he looked at us—
Like he already knew everything.
He hugged me politely.
"Good morning, hipag."
I smiled.
"Good morning, Keiran."
He looked at Keifer.
Nodded.
"Kuya."
Keifer nodded back.
"Keiran."
We all moved to the table.
Breakfast waiting.
Chaos pending.
---
The Dining Table
We sat down.
Keifer beside me.
Keigan across from us.
Keiran beside Keigan.
The table was loaded.
Pancakes.
Waffles.
Eggs.
Bacon.
Fruit.
Everything.
Keigan immediately grabbed food like he hadn't eaten in days.
Old habits.
Keiran ate calmly.
Observing.
Always observing.
Keifer sipped his coffee.
I started on my eggs.
Everything was fine.
Normal.
Peaceful.
Then—
Keiran looked up.
Right at me.
Those eyes.
Too smart for a 14-year-old.
"Hipag Jay."
I froze.
That tone.
That calm, collected tone.
"Yes?"
He pointed at my neck.
"What's that?"
My heart stopped.
My hand flew to my neck.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
I scrambled for an answer.
"Uh—"
"It's—"
"Mosquito bites?"
Keiran tilted his head.
Unconvinced.
"Mosquito bites."
"Yes."
"Many mosquito bites."
"Very aggressive mosquitoes."
"In this house."
"Where we've lived our whole lives."
"And never had mosquito problems."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
Keifer choked on his coffee.
I kicked him under the table.
He coughed harder.
Keigan finally looked up from his food.
Saw my neck.
Saw Keiran's expression.
Saw my panic.
And grinned.
The evil grin.
The one that meant trouble.
"Wait."
He leaned closer.
"Are those—"
Keiran cut in calmly.
"Hickeys."
The word dropped like a bomb.
I choked.
Keifer's face turned red.
Keigan's grin widened.
"OH MY GOD."
"KUYA ACTUALLY—"
"KEIGAN."
Keifer's voice.
Warning.
Keigan ignored him completely.
Turned to me.
"HIPAG JAY."
"YES?"
"How did Kuya convince you to—"
"KEIGAN."
Keiran interrupted again.
Still calm.
Still observing.
"They're very prominent."
"Right on the neck."
"Anyone would notice."
He looked at Keifer.
"Kuya."
Keifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What."
"Next time."
"Use the other side."
"Or higher."
"Behind the ear is easier to hide."
I stared at him.
This 14-year-old.
Giving hickey advice.
With the straightest face imaginable.
Keigan burst out laughing.
"KEIRAN! YOU'RE A LEGEND!"
Keiran shrugged.
"Just facts."
Keifer looked at me.
Helpless.
Trapped.
I looked at him.
Same expression.
Then—
I laughed.
I couldn't help it.
The absurdity.
The chaos.
The fact that a 14-year-old just schooled us on hiding hickeys.
Keigan joined in.
Keifer eventually cracked a smile.
Even Keiran's lips twitched.
We sat there.
Laughing.
In this old mansion.
In this dining room where Keifer had eaten breakfast as a kid.
Where Keigan had thrown food as a toddler.
Where Keiran had probably planned world domination since age 5.
And now—
Now it was our chaos too.
---
After Breakfast
Keigan grabbed my arm.
"Hipag Jay."
"Yeah?"
"Walk with me."
He pulled me toward the garden.
The Watson mansion garden.
Massive.
Beautiful.
Filled with memories.
We walked in silence for a moment.
Then—
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
He stopped.
Turned to me.
Serious now.
The 19-year-old version of the boy who used to tackle-hug me.
"You really love my brother?"
I blinked.
"Yes."
"Of course."
He nodded.
"Good."
"Because he's been through a lot."
"I know."
"He waited for you."
"I know."
"He never looked at anyone else."
My heart tightened.
"I know."
Keigan smiled.
Soft.
Genuine.
"Then welcome to the family."
"For real."
"For always."
I hugged him.
Tight.
"You're a good brother, Keigan."
He hugged back.
"The best."
"But also—"
He pulled back.
Grin returning.
"If you ever hurt him—"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?"
He shrugged.
"I'll just tell Mom."
"Serina will handle it."
I laughed.
"Fair."
"Very fair."
We walked back inside.
Keigan immediately ran to find food again.
Some things never change.
---
Back Inside
Keiran was in the library.
Reading.
Of course.
I sat across from him.
He looked up.
"Hipag."
"Keiran."
"Can I ask you something?"
He closed his book.
Gave me his full attention.
Scary.
"Yes?"
"How do you know so much about—"
I gestured vaguely at my neck.
"About that?"
He didn't even blink.
"Internet."
I stared.
"You're 14."
"And?"
I had no response.
He opened his book again.
"Also—"
I waited.
He looked up.
"Kuya's really happy."
"I haven't seen him smile like this since—"
He paused.
"Ever."
My heart melted.
"Keiran—"
He held up a hand.
"Don't get emotional."
"I hate emotions."
I laughed.
"Liar."
He smirked.
Small.
Rare.
"Maybe."
"But seriously."
"Take care of him."
I nodded.
"Always."
He went back to reading.
Conversation over.
Typical Keiran.
---
That Evening – Living Room
Everyone gathered.
Keigan on his phone.
Keiran reading.
Keifer beside me on the couch.
Normal.
Peaceful.
Then—
Keigan looked up.
"Hey, hipag."
"Yeah?"
He grinned.
"Those marks on your neck?"
I tensed.
"What about them?"
He pointed at Keifer.
"Kuya."
Keifer looked up.
"What."
"Next time?"
"Use your mouth on something else."
The room went silent.
Keiran choked on air.
Keifer's face turned purple.
I buried my face in a pillow.
Screaming.
Laughing.
Dying.
Keigan continued.
"I'M JUST SAYING!"
"IT'S OBVIOUS!"
"AT LEAST BE CREATIVE ABOUT IT!"
Keiran recovered.
Calmly.
"Agreed."
"The neck is amateur."
Keifer threw a pillow at both of them.
They dodged.
Laughing.
Running.
Chaos.
I peeked out from behind my pillow.
At Keifer's red face.
At Keigan's victory dance.
At Keiran's rare smile.
And I laughed.
Hard.
Full.
Happy.
Because this—
This mansion.
This family.
This chaos.
Was home.
Real home.
---
That Night – Our Room
We lay in bed.
Tangled.
Laughing about the day.
"Your brothers are insane."
Keifer nodded.
"I know."
"They're perfect."
He looked at me.
"What?"
I smiled.
"They love you."
"So much."
"So obviously."
He was quiet.
Then—
"I know."
"They've always had my back."
"Even when I didn't deserve it."
I kissed his cheek.
"You deserve everything."
He pulled me closer.
"I have everything."
"Right here."
I melted.
"Keifer—"
He kissed me.
Soft.
Sweet.
Then—
A knock on the door.
Keigan's voice.
"OI! KUYA! HIPAG!"
We froze.
"What?!"
"JUST CHECKING!"
"NO HICKEY MAKING TONIGHT!"
"WE HAVE BREAKFAST EARLY TOMORROW!"
Keifer grabbed a pillow.
Threw it at the door.
"GO TO BED KEIGAN!"
Keigan's laugh.
Fading.
"LOVE YOU TOO!"
Silence.
We looked at each other.
Then—
Burst out laughing.
Again.
Because this—
This chaos.
This family.
This love.
Was exactly what forever looked like.
And it was perfect.
---
The Next Morning
We walked downstairs.
Carefully.
Neck covered.
High collar.
Scarf.
Just in case.
Keigan and Keiran were already at the table.
Keigan looked up.
Grinning.
"Good morning, hipag!"
"Nice scarf!"
"Very fashionable!"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Keigan."
"Yes?"
"I know what you're doing."
He gasped dramatically.
"Me?"
"Never."
Keiran looked up from his book.
"Just eat your breakfast, Keigan."
Keigan saluted.
"Yes, sir."
I sat down.
Keifer beside me.
Hand on my thigh.
Comforting.
Warm.
Mine.
Keigan pointed at us.
"You two are disgustingly cute."
Keiran nodded.
"Agreed."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
They looked at each other.
Then back at us.
Same grin.
Same chaos.
"And nothing."
"Just stating facts."
I laughed.
Shook my head.
Because this—
This was family.
This was home.
This was forever.
And I wouldn't change a single thing.
---
Later – The Garden
Keifer found me.
Arms around my waist.
Chin on my shoulder.
"What are you thinking about?"
I leaned back against him.
"Us."
"Good things?"
I smiled.
"The best things."
He kissed my neck.
Gentle.
Where no one would see.
"I love you."
I turned in his arms.
Faced him.
"I love you too."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
He kissed me.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
And somewhere behind us—
Keigan's voice.
"OI! KUYA! HIPAG! DINNER IN TEN!"
Keiran's calm addition.
"And maybe use a different spot this time."
We pulled apart.
Laughing.
Because this—
This chaos.
This family.
This love.
Was everything.
And it was ours.
Forever.
The end.
(For now.)