Chapter Nineteen: Kuya's Blessing
The morning after the brotherly roast, Jay woke to an unusual text.
Kuya Angelo: Coming over today. Need to talk to you. Alone.
Her heart stuttered.
Michel Angelo Fernandez. Her kuya. The eldest. The one who'd stepped up when their parents died, who'd held the family together, who rarely left his own home unless something was wrong.
She showed Keifer the message over breakfast.
His expression was carefully neutral. "Alone?"
"Alone. That's what he said."
"Should I be worried?"
"I don't know." She bit her lip. "Kuya doesn't do casual visits. If he's coming here, it's important."
Keifer took her hand. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
She squeezed back. "Together."
---
Michel Angelo arrived at noon.
He was tall—taller than Aries, broader than Percy—with a quiet intensity that commanded respect without words. His eyes missed nothing. The mansion's grandeur didn't impress him. Keifer's status didn't intimidate him.
He simply walked in, hugged Jay tightly, and nodded at Keifer.
"Kuya." Jay's voice was small. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine." He released her, looking around. "Nice place."
"Thank you," Keifer said carefully.
"Can we talk?" Michel Angelo looked at Jay. "Privately."
Keifer nodded immediately. "Of course. Take the living room. I'll be in the study."
Jay grabbed his hand before he could leave, pulling him down for a quick kiss. "Stay close?"
"Always."
---
The living room felt suddenly massive with just the two of them.
Jay sat on the edge of the couch, hands clasped. Michel Angelo sat across from her, studying her with those unreadable eyes.
"You look good," he said finally. "Healthy. Happy."
"I am. Kuya, what's going on?"
He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I've been watching. From a distance. Seeing how things are with you and Watson."
Jay's heart rate accelerated. "Kuya—"
"Let me finish." He held up a hand. "I've seen how he looks at you. How he takes care of you. How his brothers adore you. How you've made a place for yourself here." He paused. "I've also seen how happy you are. How light you seem. How the shadows that used to follow you have faded."
Tears pricked her eyes. "Kuya..."
"You were sixteen when we lost them." His voice was rough. "I was twenty-two. Barely an adult myself. I tried to be everything—father, mother, brother, protector. But I couldn't be enough. I couldn't bring them back. I couldn't make the pain stop."
"You were enough. You were always enough."
"I wasn't. But I tried." He leaned forward. "And now I see you here, with him, and I realize... maybe I don't need to be everything anymore. Because you've found someone who wants to be everything for you."
Jay was crying now, tears streaming down her face.
Michel Angelo moved to sit beside her, pulling her into his side. "I came here to tell you something, little sister. Something I should have said a long time ago."
"What?"
He took a deep breath. "I want you to move in here. Permanently."
She froze. "What?"
"Move in. Live with him. Make this your home."
"Kuya—"
"I'm not abandoning you. I'm not pushing you away. I'm telling you that it's okay to build a life here. With him. With his brothers." He squeezed her shoulder. "You've been holding back, I think. Waiting for permission. For someone to tell you it's okay to let go of the past and embrace the future."
She couldn't deny it. Because it was true.
Every time she thought about staying permanently—about making the mansion her home—some part of her hesitated. Guilt, maybe. Or fear. Or the feeling that she was leaving her family behind.
Michel Angelo saw it all. He always did.
"You're not leaving us, Jay. You're expanding us. We gain a brother. Two more nephews. A whole new branch of family." He smiled—rare and warm. "Tita Gemma already considers Keifer family. Tito Rachel approved weeks ago. Percy and Aries basically live here anyway. And me?" He kissed her forehead. "I just want you happy. And he makes you happy."
"He does."
"Then stay. Live. Love. Build something beautiful." He pulled back, looking at her. "That's all I've ever wanted for you. Since the day they died. I just wanted you to find happiness again."
She threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest.
He held her, strong and steady, just like always.
---
They stayed like that for a long time.
When she finally pulled back, wiping her eyes, she managed a wobbly smile. "You're not just saying this? You really mean it?"
"I really mean it. But—" He held up a finger. "There are conditions."
"Conditions?"
"First: You come home for Sunday dinners. Every week. No excuses."
"Done."
"Second: You bring the boys. All of them. Keifer, Keigan, Keiran. They're family now. They eat with us."
"Done."
"Third: If he ever hurts you—"
"He won't."
"But if he does—you come to me. Immediately. No trying to handle it alone. No protecting him from consequences. You come to your kuya."
She nodded, tears fresh. "I will. I promise."
"Good." He stood, pulling her up with him. "Now go get your boyfriend. I need to have a word with him."
"Kuya—"
"Just a word. I promise."
---
Keifer was waiting in the study, clearly nervous.
When Jay appeared, eyes red but smiling, he relaxed slightly. "Everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect." She took his hand, leading him to the living room. "Kuya wants to talk to you."
Michel Angelo stood by the window, backlit by afternoon sun. He looked every inch the intimidating older brother.
Keifer squared his shoulders. "Sir."
"Watson." Michel Angelo studied him. "I just told my sister she should move in here. Permanently."
Keifer's eyes widened. "You... what?"
"I told her to build a life with you. To stop holding back. To make this her home."
Keifer looked at Jay, then back at Michel Angelo. "I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll take care of her. Say you'll protect her. Say you'll love her until the end of time and beyond." Michel Angelo stepped closer. "Say it like you mean it."
Keifer met his gaze without flinching. "I'll take care of her. I'll protect her with my life. I'll love her until scientists find the end of the universe and then keep going." He squeezed Jay's hand. "She's everything to me. Everything."
Michel Angelo stared at him for a long, tense moment.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Good answer." He clapped Keifer on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family, little brother."
Keifer's relief was palpable. "Thank you, sir."
"Call me Kuya. Everyone else does."
"Kuya." Keifer tested it, smiled. "Thank you, Kuya."
---
Jay threw herself at both of them, hugging them together.
"This is the best day," she declared. "The absolute best day."
Michel Angelo ruffled her hair. "Don't get too excited. You still have to pack."
"Ugh. Packing."
"And explain to Keiran that you're staying forever. He'll probably explode from happiness."
Jay laughed. "He already calls me Mamma. This won't be a hard sell."
Keifer pulled her close, kissing her temple. "You're really staying. For real."
"For real. Forever." She looked up at him. "If you still want me."
"Want you?" He laughed. "Jay, I've wanted you since the moment you fainted on that sidewalk. I'll want you until my last breath and beyond."
"Gross," Michel Angelo muttered, but he was smiling.
---
That evening, they gathered everyone for the announcement.
Keigan looked up from his phone. Keiran bounced on the couch. Even the house staff found excuses to linger nearby.
Jay took a deep breath, Keifer's hand in hers.
"So. Big news." She looked at Keiran first. "Baby, you know how you keep asking if Mamma will stay forever?"
Keiran nodded solemnly. "Forever. Mamma stays forever."
"Well..." She smiled, tears already forming. "Mamma is staying forever. For real. I'm moving in. This is my home now."
Keiran's face went through several stages—confusion, processing, realization, and then pure, incandescent joy.
"FOREVER? MAMMA STAYS FOREVER?"
"Forever."
He launched himself at her with a scream of delight, nearly knocking her over. Keifer caught them both, laughing.
Keigan approached more slowly, but his smile was genuine. "You're really staying?"
"Really staying. If that's okay with you?"
"It's more than okay." He hesitated, then—unexpectedly—hugged her. "Welcome to the family. Officially."
Jay hugged him back, heart overflowing.
---
The news spread fast.
Percy called within minutes, having been informed by some mysterious brotherly telepathy. "BABY SISTA! YOU'RE STAYING! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
Aries texted: Good. Finally. Tita Gemma already planning welcome party.
C.N. sent: About time. I was getting tired of you commuting.
David: Does this mean we get unlimited access to the mansion? Asking for a friend. The friend is me.
Felix: Happy for you, little sister. Really happy.
Bridget: He's good for you. Stay. Love. Be happy.
Ella: Finally! Now we can have girls' night in the mansion!
Rakii: Photo shoot tomorrow. The light here is amazing.
Mica: Does this mean I can finally use the pool whenever I want?
Freya: Congratulations, Jay. You deserve this.
Honey: I'm crying. Happy tears. So many happy tears.
Yuri sent a video of himself crying dramatically with the caption: THE BETTING POOL PAYS OUT! ENGAGEMENT BY CHRISTMAS HERE WE COME!
Jay laughed at each message, heart fuller than she'd thought possible.
---
That night, after Keiran was tucked in (with extra promises that Mamma would still be there in the morning) and Keigan had retreated to his room, Jay and Keifer stood on the patio.
The city glittered below. The stars glittered above.
"Today was perfect," she whispered.
"The best day." He pulled her close. "You're really staying."
"Really staying."
"No take backs?"
"No take backs." She looked up at him. "I love you, Mark Keifer Watson."
"I love you too, Jasper Jean Mariano." He kissed her softly. "Welcome home."
She smiled against his lips.
Home.
She was home.
---
End of Chapter Nineteen