Chapter: The Boob Habitat
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The morning started like any other.
Sun shining.
Birds singing.
Jay waking up in Keifer's arms.
Perfect.
Until—
Jay remembered.
Yesterday.
What Keifer did.
What he said.
How he—
Her eyes snapped open.
Glared at his sleeping face.
How DARE he.
---
The Crime (According to Jay)
Let's rewind.
Yesterday afternoon.
Jay had been showing Keifer a new dress she bought.
Cute dress.
Blue.
Her favorite.
She spun around.
Asked him.
"Do you like it?"
Keifer looked up from his phone.
Nodded.
"Nice."
That was it.
NICE.
Not beautiful.
Not gorgeous.
Not "you look amazing, wifey."
Just... nice.
Jay waited.
For more.
Nothing.
He went back to his phone.
Her eye twitched.
"NICE?!"
He looked up.
Blinked.
"Yes?"
"That's all you have to say?!"
"It's a nice dress."
"IT'S MORE THAN NICE!"
He looked confused.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to say I'M BEAUTIFUL!"
"You are beautiful."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT?!"
"You asked about the dress."
"THE DRESS IS ON ME!"
"SO ME IN THE DRESS!"
"AM I BEAUTIFUL OR NOT?!"
Keifer opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"You're always beautiful."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU—"
She stopped.
Too angry.
Too frustrated.
Too—
She grabbed a pillow.
Threw it at him.
He caught it.
Confused.
"Jay—"
"I'M SLEEPING ON THE COUCH TONIGHT!"
She stormed out.
Keifer sat there.
Pillow in hand.
Completely lost.
What just happened.
---
The Day of Anger
Now.
Present day.
Jay had been ignoring Keifer all day.
All. Day.
Breakfast?
Ignored.
Lunch?
Ignored.
Afternoon?
Ignored so hard it hurt.
Keifer tried everything.
Compliments.
"Your hair looks nice."
Ignored.
Gifts.
"Bought you chocolate."
Ignored.
Apologies.
"I'm sorry for saying nice."
Ignored harder.
Aries watched from the couch.
Popcorn in hand.
Enjoying every second.
Percy joined him.
Also popcorn.
Also enjoying.
"This is better than TV," Aries whispered.
Percy nodded.
"Best episode yet."
Keifer glared at them.
They waved.
Grinned.
No shame.
---
Angelo's Intervention
Angelo walked in.
Took one look at the scene.
Jay on one couch.
Fuming.
Keifer on the other.
Defeated.
Aries and Percy in the middle.
Popcorn.
Angelo sighed.
"What now?"
Aries pointed.
"Jay's mad at Keifer."
Percy added.
"For saying her dress was 'nice.'"
Angelo blinked.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Angelo looked at Jay.
She crossed her arms.
Looked away.
Angelo looked at Keifer.
Keifer shrugged.
"I don't understand."
Angelo nodded.
"Welcome to marriage."
He walked away.
No help given.
Aries laughed.
Percy laughed.
Keifer glared.
Jay ignored.
---
Evening – Dinner
Dinner was awkward.
Silent.
Painful.
Jay sat at one end.
Keifer at the other.
Aries and Percy in the middle.
Watching.
Waiting.
Angelo at the head.
Eating calmly.
Unaffected.
Aries couldn't help himself.
"So, Jay."
Ignored.
"How long are you going to be mad?"
Ignored.
"Because Keifer's suffering is very entertaining."
Ignored.
"But also, I need to know when to buy more popcorn."
Jay looked at him.
Cold.
"Forever."
Aries gasped.
"FOREVER?!"
Percy choked.
"That's a long time!"
Jay nodded.
"He said my dress was NICE."
Keifer spoke.
"It was nice."
Her eye twitched.
"IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!"
"It was also nice."
"THAT'S WORSE!"
"How?!"
"NICE IS WHAT YOU SAY TO A GRANDMA!"
"OR A PLANT!"
"NOT YOUR WIFE!"
Keifer opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing.
Because honestly?
He had no idea what she wanted.
Aries leaned to Percy.
"She's right, you know."
Percy nodded.
"Nice is deadly."
"Beautiful is required."
"Gorgeous is bonus."
Aries nodded.
"Marriage is hard."
Percy agreed.
"So hard."
Angelo looked at them.
"You two have never been married."
"Doesn't mean we don't know."
"Knowledge is knowledge."
Angelo shook his head.
Went back to eating.
---
Night – Bedtime
The house settled.
Lights off.
Everyone in their rooms.
Except—
Jay was in the bedroom.
On the bed.
Facing away from the door.
Keifer stood outside.
Nervous.
Scared.
Confused.
He opened the door slowly.
Peeked in.
Jay's back was to him.
Rigid.
Angry.
He walked in.
Carefully.
Sat on his side of the bed.
Silence.
Thick.
Heavy.
"Jay?"
Nothing.
"Wifey?"
Nothing.
"I'm sorry."
Still nothing.
"For whatever I did."
Silence.
He sighed.
Lay down.
Stared at the ceiling.
This was his life now.
Sleeping next to an angry wife.
Who hated him.
For saying nice.
Nice.
Such a dangerous word.
He should have known.
Should have said beautiful.
Gorgeous.
Stunning.
Breathtaking.
Anything but nice.
Too late now.
He closed his eyes.
Accepted his fate.
Then—
Movement.
He felt it.
The bed shifting.
Jay moving.
Closer.
He held his breath.
She stopped.
Right beside him.
Still angry?
Still ignoring?
He didn't know.
Then—
She grabbed his hand.
Pulled it.
Where was she—
Oh.
Oh.
She placed his hand on her chest.
Right where he always—
Right where he—
She pulled her sleeve down.
Just enough.
And guided him.
To her breast.
His fingers touched warm skin.
Soft.
Familiar.
Home.
He blinked.
"Jay?"
Her voice.
Grumpy.
Annoyed.
But there.
"Shut up."
"But—"
"It's your habitat."
He blinked again.
"My what?"
"Your habitat."
"Before bed."
"You always—"
"You know."
He stared at her profile.
Still facing away.
Still angry.
But—
She had pulled him in.
To her.
To this.
His hand on her breast.
Like every night.
Like always.
He smiled.
Slow.
Warm.
"My habitat?"
She nodded.
Small.
Grumpy.
"Yes."
"You're used to it."
"So—"
"So just—"
"Just do it."
"And don't talk."
He didn't need to be told twice.
He shifted closer.
Spooned behind her.
Hand still there.
Warm.
Perfect.
He kissed her shoulder.
Soft.
"I love you."
She didn't respond.
But she didn't move away.
Didn't pull his hand off.
Progress.
He kissed her neck.
"I'm sorry about the dress."
Quiet.
"You looked beautiful."
"So beautiful."
"Gorgeous."
"Stunning."
"Breathtaking."
She stayed silent.
But her body relaxed.
Just slightly.
He continued.
"The most beautiful woman in the world."
"And I was stupid."
"To say nice."
"So stupid."
"So sorry."
She finally spoke.
Grumpy.
Still grumpy.
"You should be."
He smiled against her skin.
"I am."
"Very sorry."
"The sorriest."
She huffed.
Small huff.
Not angry huff.
Progress.
"Good."
He squeezed gently.
She didn't protest.
"My habitat?" he whispered.
She nodded.
Small nod.
"Your habitat."
"Now sleep."
He kissed her neck.
"Yes, wifey."
She closed her eyes.
Still facing away.
Still grumpy.
But his hand was there.
Where it belonged.
Where it always belonged.
And somehow—
That was enough.
---
Later – Almost Asleep
Minutes passed.
Breathing slowed.
Keifer was almost asleep.
Happy.
Content.
Hand in its habitat.
Then—
Jay's voice.
Small.
Quiet.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah, wifey?"
"...The dress really was beautiful."
He smiled.
Eyes still closed.
"I know."
"I saw it."
"I saw you."
"And you took my breath away."
Silence.
Then—
"I forgive you."
He opened his eyes.
Looked at her.
She still faced away.
But her hand had found his.
The one not in its habitat.
Squeezed.
He squeezed back.
"Thank you, wifey."
She nodded.
Small.
Sleepy.
"Don't say nice again."
"Never."
"Ever?"
"Ever."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She relaxed completely.
Slept.
He held her.
Hand in its habitat.
Heart full.
Because this—
This was marriage.
Fights.
Anger.
Grumpiness.
And then—
This.
Him holding her.
Her letting him.
Love winning.
Always winning.
He kissed her hair.
Whispered.
"Love you, Jay."
"Forever."
She stirred.
Mumbled.
"Love you too."
"Idiot."
He smiled.
"Your idiot."
She nodded.
Sleepy.
"My idiot."
They slept.
Tangled.
Together.
Perfect.
---
The Next Morning
Sunlight streamed through the curtains.
Jay woke first.
Still in Keifer's arms.
His hand still in its habitat.
She smiled.
Small.
Warm.
Turned slowly.
Faced him.
He was still asleep.
Peaceful.
Handsome.
Hers.
She touched his face.
Soft.
"Idiot," she whispered.
He stirred.
Opened his eyes.
Saw her.
Smiled.
"Wifey."
"Hubby."
"Still mad?"
She pretended to think.
He waited.
Nervous.
She smiled.
"No."
He sighed relief.
"Thank god."
She kissed him.
Quick.
Sweet.
"But if you ever say nice again—"
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Good."
He pulled her closer.
Hand still in place.
"My habitat missed you last night."
She laughed.
"Your habitat?"
He nodded.
"My favorite place."
"Best spot in the world."
She hit his chest.
Weak.
Fond.
"You're ridiculous."
He kissed her.
"Your ridiculous."
"My ridiculous."
They lay there.
Happy.
Together.
Perfect.
---
Downstairs – Breakfast
They walked down together.
Hand in hand.
Smiling.
Normal.
Aries saw them.
Choked on his cereal.
"WHAT?!"
Percy looked up.
Eyes wide.
"YOU'RE FRIENDS AGAIN?!"
Jay nodded.
"We're friends."
Aries pointed.
"BUT YESTERDAY—"
"YOU WERE READY TO KILL HIM!"
Percy agreed.
"IGNORED HIM ALL DAY!"
"FOREVER YOU SAID!"
Jay shrugged.
"I changed my mind."
Aries blinked.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
Percy looked at Keifer.
"What did you do?"
Keifer smiled.
Mysterious.
Satisfied.
"Nothing."
"Just being me."
Aries squinted.
"That's suspicious."
Percy nodded.
"Very suspicious."
Jay walked past them.
Grabbed food.
Sat at the table.
Normal.
Keifer sat beside her.
Normal.
Hand on her thigh.
Normal.
Aries stared.
Percy stared.
Angelo walked in.
Took one look.
Nodded.
"Good. You're not fighting anymore."
Jay looked up.
"How did you know?"
Angelo poured coffee.
"Because the house wasn't freezing."
"From the cold shoulder."
Aries gasped.
"KUYA WITH A JOKE!"
Percy clapped.
"BEST MORNING EVER!"
Angelo ignored them.
Sat at the head.
Peaceful.
Unaffected.
Jay looked at Keifer.
He looked at her.
Same thought.
Same smile.
Same love.
"Good morning, hubby."
"Good morning, wifey."
Aries fake gagged.
Percy fake vomited.
Angelo drank his coffee.
Unaffected.
Because this—
This was family.
Fights.
Makeups.
Chaos.
Love.
Always love.
---
The End
(For now.)