Chapter: Jealousy, Pouting, and a Toy Request
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The morning started like any other.
Jay and Keifer in their room.
Tangled together.
Happy.
Perfect.
Then—
Keifer's phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
A message.
From a female colleague.
Work stuff.
Normal.
But—
Jay saw the name.
Saw the message.
Saw him smile slightly at it.
Something clicked.
Something irrational.
Something jealous.
She sat up.
"What was that?"
Keifer blinked.
"Work."
"Who?"
"A colleague."
"Female?"
He paused.
"...Yes?"
Jay's eyes narrowed.
She stood.
Grabbed her clothes.
Started dressing.
Keifer sat up.
Confused.
"Jay? What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving."
"What? Why?"
"You're smiling at other women."
"I wasn't—"
"On your phone."
"First thing in the morning."
"I saw."
Keifer's jaw dropped.
"That's— that's work!"
"Mmhm."
"Jay, it's nothing!"
She pulled on her jacket.
"Tell that to your phone."
She walked out.
Door closed.
Keifer sat there.
Stunned.
What just happened?
---
The Drive to Angelo's
Jay drove.
Fast.
Angry.
Irrational.
She knew it was irrational.
Didn't care.
He smiled.
At another woman.
On his phone.
In their bed.
Next to her.
Unacceptable.
She pulled up to Angelo's house.
Stomped inside.
Past the living room.
Past Aries and Percy.
Past Tita Gemma.
Past Tito Rachel.
Past Angelo.
Didn't look.
Didn't greet.
Didn't stop.
Straight to her room.
Door slammed.
Everyone in the living room froze.
Aries blinked.
"Was that Jay?"
Percy nodded.
"Did she just— ignore us?"
Tita Gemma frowned.
"What happened?"
Tito Rachel lowered his paper.
"Trouble in paradise."
Angelo stood.
Concerned.
"I'll check—"
Then—
The front door burst open again.
Keifer ran in.
Panicked.
Desperate.
He looked around.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
Aries pointed.
"Upstairs."
Keifer ran toward the stairs.
Then stopped.
Turned.
Looked at Angelo.
Opened his mouth.
And—
"KUYA ANGELO!"
Angelo blinked.
"Yes?"
Keifer walked toward him.
Like a child.
Complaining.
Whining.
"YOUR SISTER!"
Angelo raised an eyebrow.
"What about her?"
"SHE LEFT!"
"Because I smiled at my phone!"
"A WORK MESSAGE!"
"From a COLLEAGUE!"
"She didn't even let me EXPLAIN!"
Angelo stared at him.
Long stare.
Very long stare.
Then—
"She left because you smiled at your phone?"
"YES!"
"And now she's upstairs?"
"YES!"
" ignoring everyone?"
"PROBABLY!"
"And you want me to—"
"FIX IT!"
Angelo crossed his arms.
"Keifer."
"Yes?"
"You're a billionaire."
"Yes."
"CEO of Watson Corporation."
"Yes."
"One of the most powerful men in the world."
"Yes."
"And you're here."
"Complaining to me."
"Like a child."
"About your wife."
"Who's upset."
"Because you smiled."
Keifer paused.
Opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing.
Because—
When Angelo put it like that—
It sounded ridiculous.
Aries snorted.
Percy laughed.
Tita Gemma covered her smile.
Tito Rachel shook his head.
Keifer glared at them.
No power.
Angelo sighed.
"Go talk to her."
"Apologize."
"Even if you didn't do anything wrong."
"That's marriage."
Keifer nodded.
Turned.
Walked upstairs.
Aries called after him.
"GOOD LUCK, IDIOT!"
Percy added.
"DON'T MAKE IT WORSE!"
Keifer ignored them.
Focused.
Determined.
Scared.
---
Jay's Room
The door was closed.
Keifer knocked.
Softly.
"Jay?"
Silence.
"Wifey?"
Nothing.
"I know you're in there."
Still nothing.
"Can I come in?"
Silence.
Then—
"Fine."
He opened the door.
Jay was on the bed.
Facing away.
Arms crossed.
Pouting.
Actually pouting.
Like a child.
His heart melted.
He walked closer.
Sat on the bed beside her.
"Jay."
She didn't move.
"I'm sorry."
Still nothing.
"For smiling at my phone."
"For making you feel jealous."
"For not explaining fast enough."
She shifted.
Slightly.
He continued.
"It was a work message."
"A colleague."
"Nothing important."
"Nothing compared to you."
"Nothing compared to us."
She turned.
Slightly.
Looked at him.
Eyes still angry.
But softening.
"I saw you smile."
He nodded.
"You did."
"At another woman."
"Yes."
"But—"
"It wasn't a romantic smile."
"Wasn't a interested smile."
"Wasn't a anything smile."
"It was a 'thanks for the update' smile."
"That's all."
She stared at him.
Long stare.
Processing.
Then—
"You're an idiot."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Your idiot."
She softened.
Completely.
Moved closer.
He pulled her into his arms.
She went.
Willingly.
Head on his chest.
His arms around her.
"Love you," he whispered.
She mumbled.
"Love you too."
"Even when you're jealous?"
"Especially when you're jealous."
She hit his chest.
Weak.
"No power."
He kissed her head.
"Sorry, wifey."
"Sorry, hubby."
They lay there.
Quiet.
Together.
Happy again.
---
The Romance
Minutes passed.
Talking.
Laughing.
Kissing.
Soft.
Sweet.
Perfect.
Then—
Deeper.
Slower.
More intimate.
Clothes shifted.
Bodies closer.
Mouths exploring.
Hands wandering.
Hours passed.
Or minutes.
Neither knew.
Neither cared.
Just them.
Just love.
Just now.
Eventually—
They slept.
Tangled.
Together.
Perfect.
---
Later – Evening
Sunlight faded.
They woke.
Still tangled.
Still together.
Jay stretched.
Keifer watched.
Beautiful.
Always.
"What time is it?"
He glanced at his phone.
"Evening."
"Everyone's probably waiting."
She groaned.
"We have to go down?"
"Soon."
"Five more minutes?"
He smiled.
"Ten."
She grinned.
"Deal."
They lay there.
Ten minutes.
Then—
Finally—
Got up.
Dressed.
Walked downstairs.
Hand in hand.
---
The Living Room – Everyone Waiting
The living room was full.
Angelo.
Tita Gemma.
Tito Rachel.
Aries.
Percy.
All waiting.
All watching.
The moment they appeared—
Aries jumped up.
"THEY'RE ALIVE!"
Percy clapped.
"AND HOLDING HANDS!"
Tita Gemma smiled.
"Everything okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Everything's fine."
Tito Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Fixed?"
Keifer nodded.
"Fixed."
Angelo crossed his arms.
"Good."
"Now—"
"Don't make me mediate again."
Keifer nodded.
"Won't happen."
Angelo looked at Jay.
"And you?"
She smiled.
Sweet.
Innocent.
"Won't happen."
He didn't believe her.
Not for a second.
---
The Toy Request
Everyone settled.
Chatting.
Laughing.
Normal.
Jay looked around.
Spotting Aries.
Walked to him.
Sat beside him.
He looked at her.
Wary.
"What?"
She smiled.
Sweet.
Too sweet.
"Aries."
"Yes?"
"I need something."
He braced himself.
"What?"
"A toy."
He blinked.
"A toy?"
"Yes."
"What kind of toy?"
She thought.
"I don't know."
"Something fun."
"Something entertaining."
"Something to play with."
Aries stared at her.
Long stare.
Very long stare.
Then—
"You're an adult."
"Yes."
"CEO of ELVIOLN."
"Yes."
"Second richest person in the world."
"Yes."
"And you want a TOY?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"A toy."
"For fun."
"For entertainment."
"For playing."
Aries opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing.
Because—
What do you say?
When your sister asks for a toy?
Percy appeared.
Curious.
"What's happening?"
Jay looked at him.
"I want a toy."
Percy blinked.
"A toy?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"For fun."
Percy looked at Aries.
Aries shrugged.
Percy looked at Jay.
"Like— a video game?"
"No."
"Like— a puzzle?"
"No."
"Like— what?"
Jay thought.
"Something cute."
"Something soft."
"Something I can hug."
Aries and Percy exchanged glances.
Same thought.
Same realization.
Same—
"A stuffed animal?"
Jay's eyes lit up.
"YES!"
"A stuffed animal!"
"That's perfect!"
"Why didn't I think of that?!"
Aries sighed.
Percy sighed.
Jay grabbed Aries' arm.
"Can you get me one?"
"Please?"
"Pretty please?"
Aries looked at Keifer.
Keifer shrugged.
"She's your sister."
Aries looked back at Jay.
She was smiling.
Eyes sparkling.
Hope.
Innocence.
Childlike joy.
He sighed.
Again.
"Fine."
"What kind?"
Jay thought.
"A cat?"
"A dog?"
"A dinosaur?"
"A dragon?"
"Surprise me."
Aries nodded.
"Okay."
"Surprise toy."
"Coming up."
Jay hugged him.
Tight.
"BEST BROTHER EVER!"
Percy pointed.
"HEY! What about me?!"
Jay hugged him too.
"BEST BROTHERS EVER!"
They stood there.
Both hugged.
Both confused.
Both happy.
Keifer watched.
Smiling.
His wife.
Asking for toys.
Like a child.
Perfect.
---
That Night – Their Room
Back in their room.
Jay in his shirt.
Keifer beside her.
She was smiling.
Still excited.
"Can't wait for my toy."
He laughed.
"It's a stuffed animal."
"I know!"
"So excited!"
He pulled her closer.
"You're adorable."
She grinned.
"Your adorable."
He kissed her head.
"Love you, wifey."
"Love you too, hubby."
"Even when you ask for toys?"
"Especially then."
She snuggled closer.
"Good."
"Because I'm not stopping."
He held her tighter.
"Wouldn't want you to."
They slept.
Happy.
Together.
Perfect.
---
The End
(For now.)