Chapter: The Sour Mango Mystery
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The day after the shuttlecock incident.
The mansion was peaceful.
Quiet.
Normal.
Until—
Jay found the mangoes.
Green mangoes.
Sour mangoes.
The kind that made people pucker.
The kind most people couldn't eat without sugar.
Jay grabbed one.
Bit into it.
Crunch.
Her eyes closed.
Her face relaxed.
Bliss.
Pure bliss.
She grabbed the salt.
Sprinkled.
Chili powder.
Sprinkled more.
Bit again.
Perfection.
She stood in the kitchen.
Eating sour mango with salt and chili.
Like it was the best thing in the world.
Keifer walked in.
Looking for coffee.
Found his wife.
Devouring a green mango.
Like it was chocolate.
He stopped.
Stared.
"Jay?"
She looked up.
Mouth full.
Juice dripping.
"Mmph?"
"What are you eating?"
She swallowed.
"Mango."
"Green mango."
"Sour mango."
"With salt and chili."
He blinked.
"That's— that's not normal."
She took another bite.
Crunch.
"It's delicious."
"You should try."
He shook his head.
"No thanks."
"I like my taste buds."
She shrugged.
Continued eating.
Keifer watched.
Curious.
Concerned.
Then—
A thought.
A dangerous thought.
One he couldn't ignore.
He walked closer.
Leaned against the counter.
Watched her eat.
Casual.
Too casual.
"Jay."
"Yeah?"
"When was your last period?"
She froze.
Mango halfway to her mouth.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned to him.
"What?"
"Your period."
"When was it?"
She blinked.
"I don't know."
"Few weeks ago?"
"Why?"
He crossed his arms.
"Because you're eating sour mango."
"With salt and chili."
"Like it's candy."
She stared at him.
Processing.
Then—
"KEIFER."
"What?"
"You think I'm PREGNANT?!"
"Because of MANGO?!"
He shrugged.
"It's a sign."
"A SIGN?!"
"Yes."
"A common pregnancy craving."
She threw her hands up.
Mango still in one.
"I'm NOT pregnant!"
"How do you know?"
"Because I just HAD my period!"
He blinked.
"You did?"
"YES!"
"Few weeks ago!"
"You just said you didn't know!"
"Because I don't track it like a SCHEDULE!"
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"So— not pregnant?"
"NO!"
He deflated.
Slightly.
"Oh."
Jay saw his face.
His disappointment.
Barely there.
But there.
She softened.
Walked to him.
Touched his face.
"Keifer."
"Yeah?"
"You want a baby?"
He looked at her.
Honest.
"With you?"
"Always."
"Yes."
"But—"
"Only when you're ready."
"Only when we're ready."
She smiled.
Small.
Warm.
"Soon."
"Okay?"
He nodded.
"Soon."
She kissed him.
Quick.
Sweet.
He pulled her closer.
Deepened the kiss.
Then—
Pulled back.
Fast.
Face twisted.
"What—"
She laughed.
"The mango."
"Salt and chili."
"On my lips."
He wiped his mouth.
Tongue out.
Face scrunched.
"That's— that's AWFUL."
She laughed harder.
"You kissed me!"
"YOU had mango mouth!"
"I was being romantic!"
"ROMANTIC?! IT BURNS!"
She doubled over.
Laughing.
Crying.
Keifer grabbed water.
Drank.
Gargled.
Drank more.
She watched.
Amused.
Entertained.
In love.
He finally stopped.
Glared at her.
No power.
She grinned.
"Worth it?"
He stared.
Then—
Laughed.
Pulled her close.
Despite the chili.
Despite the salt.
Despite everything.
"Always worth it."
She smiled.
Snuggled against him.
"My hubby."
He kissed her head.
"My wifey."
"Mango mouth and all."
She hit his chest.
"No power."
He held her tighter.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
"Even with burning lips?"
"Especially then."
---
The Kitchen – Moments Later
They sat at the kitchen island.
Jay eating mango.
Keifer watching.
Still slightly traumatized.
"Sure you don't want some?"
He shook his head.
"Positive."
She shrugged.
Continued eating.
Crunch.
Bliss.
Crunch.
Bliss.
He couldn't look away.
"You really like that."
She nodded.
"Love it."
"Always have."
"Since I was a kid."
He tilted his head.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"My mom used to make it for me."
"Green mango."
"Salt."
"Chili."
"Best snack ever."
He smiled.
Soft.
"Tell me about her."
Jay paused.
Mango in hand.
Looked at him.
"My mom?"
He nodded.
"I want to know."
"Everything."
"All of you."
She softened.
Put the mango down.
Moved closer to him.
He wrapped his arm around her.
She leaned against him.
"She was—"
"Beautiful."
"Kind."
"Broken."
He held her tighter.
"She loved me."
"Tried to protect me."
"But that man—"
"He broke her."
"Before he broke me."
Keifer kissed her head.
"She'd be proud of you."
Jay looked up.
"You think?"
"I know."
"Look at you."
"CEO of ELVIOLN."
"Second richest person in the world."
"Strong."
"Powerful."
"Loved."
She smiled.
Small.
Tears forming.
"She'd like you."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"She'd say—"
"'Finally, a good one.'"
He laughed.
"High praise."
She nodded.
"The highest."
They sat there.
Quiet.
Together.
Mango forgotten.
---
Later – Aries and Percy Arrive
The front door burst open.
Aries.
Percy.
As always.
Loud.
Chaotic.
"WE'RE HERE!"
"BRING FOOD!"
"BRING CHAOS!"
They walked into the kitchen.
Saw Jay.
Saw Keifer.
Saw the mango.
Aries pointed.
"What's that?"
Jay held it up.
"Mango."
"Sour."
"With salt and chili."
Percy's eyes widened.
"You eat that?!"
"Love it."
Aries grabbed his chest.
"THAT'S DISGUSTING!"
Percy nodded.
"TERRIBLE!"
"WRONG!"
"UNNATURAL!"
Jay shrugged.
Took a bite.
Crunch.
Bliss.
They gagged.
Keifer laughed.
"Told you."
Aries pointed at him.
"You tried it?!"
"Kissed her."
"After she ate it."
Percy gasped.
"AND?!"
He shuddered.
"Burning."
"Salt."
"Chili."
"Never again."
Aries and Percy howled with laughter.
"KEIFER KISSED MANGO MOUTH!"
"AND SURVIVED!"
"BARELY!"
"TRUE LOVE!"
Jay grinned.
Took another bite.
Crunch.
Bliss.
"Worth it."
Keifer pulled her closer.
"Always."
---
That Night
In their room.
Jay in his shirt.
Keifer beside her.
She looked at him.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For today."
"For asking about my mom."
"For wanting to know."
He kissed her forehead.
"Always."
"All of you."
"Every part."
"Even the sad parts."
She smiled.
Snuggled closer.
"Love you, hubby."
"Love you too, wifey."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
She paused.
Then—
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time you kiss me—"
"Check for mango first."
He laughed.
"Deal."
She grinned.
"Good."
"Because I'm not stopping."
He held her tighter.
"Wouldn't want you to."
They slept.
Happy.
Together.
Perfect.
---
The End
(For now.)