Chapter Twenty: Morning Light
The morning after Kuya Angelo's blessing, the mansion felt different.
Lighter. Brighter. Like the air itself had shifted to accommodate the new reality.
Jay was home.
Permanently.
She woke slowly, cocooned in warmth and the familiar scent of Keifer. His arms were wrapped around her, his chest solid against her back, his breath warm on her neck.
She smiled without opening her eyes.
This was her life now. Waking up like this every day. Forever.
"Stop smiling," Keifer murmured, voice rough with sleep. "I can feel it."
"Can't help it."
"Happy?"
"Ridiculously."
"Good." He tightened his arms, pulling her closer. "Me too."
---
They lay there for a long time, neither willing to break the spell.
The sun crept higher, painting the room in gold. Birds sang somewhere outside. The distant sounds of the mansion waking—staff moving quietly, the clatter of kitchen preparations—filtered through the walls.
Normal. Domestic. Perfect.
Jay turned in his arms, facing him. "We should probably get up."
"Probably."
"Keiran will be awake soon."
"Soon."
"And Keigan has school."
"Unfortunately."
"And you have meetings."
"Irrelevant."
She laughed softly. "All of those things are relevant."
"Nothing is more relevant than this." He kissed her forehead. "Than you."
"Flatterer."
"Truth-teller."
---
They did eventually get up. Eventually.
But not before a long, slow kiss that left them both breathless. Not before whispered promises and gentle touches and the kind of intimacy that came from knowing someone completely.
When they finally emerged, hand in hand, the kitchen was already alive with activity.
Keiran spotted them immediately. "MAMMA! PAPPA! You're awake!"
He launched himself from his chair, tiny legs pumping, and crashed into them. Jay scooped him up, kissing his cheeks.
"Good morning, baby!"
"Morning, Mamma! I helped make pancakes! See?" He pointed to a plate of slightly lopsided pancakes, clearly decorated by a three-year-old.
"They're beautiful," Jay declared. "The most beautiful pancakes I've ever seen."
Keiran beamed.
Keigan looked up from his phone, smirking. "They're mostly sprinkles."
"Sprinkles are the most important part," Jay said seriously.
Keigan rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
---
Breakfast was chaos, as always.
Keiran demanded Jay feed him. Keifer made her coffee exactly right. Keigan complained about homework but helped clean up anyway.
Normal. Perfect. Home.
After breakfast, Keigan retreated to his room for online classes. Keiran settled in the living room with cartoons and Rex.
Jay and Keifer stood in the kitchen, alone at last.
"So," she said, leaning against the counter. "What now?"
He stepped closer, hands settling on her waist. "Now? I have meetings."
"Boring."
"Very boring." He kissed her neck. "But necessary."
"Unfortunately."
"However..." He pulled back slightly, eyes dark. "My first meeting isn't until ten."
She raised an eyebrow. "It's eight-thirty now."
"Plenty of time."
"For what?"
He kissed her—slow, deep, thorough.
When they broke apart, she was breathless.
"That," he murmured.
---
The next hour was a blur of kisses and touches and rediscovery.
They didn't make it to the bedroom. Didn't need to.
The kitchen island. The living room couch. The hallway wall. Each location a testament to their inability to keep their hands off each other.
By the time they finally collapsed, breathless and laughing, on the floor of the study, Jay was fairly certain she'd never been happier.
"We're going to be late," she managed between gasps.
"Don't care."
"Keif. Your meetings."
"Canceled."
"You can't cancel all your meetings."
"Watch me."
She laughed, rolling on top of him. "You're impossible."
"Your impossible." He brushed hair from her face. "I love you."
"I love you too." She kissed him softly. "Even when you make us late for work."
"Especially when I make us late for work."
"Debatable."
---
They did eventually make it to the office.
Two hours late, with matching smiles and no apologies.
Yuri met them at the entrance, phone already raised. "Finally! The lovebirds arrive! Care to comment on your tardiness?"
"Meetings ran long," Keifer said smoothly.
"Meetings. Right. Is that what we're calling it now?"
Jay patted his cheek as she passed. "Document this, Yuri. For posterity."
"Oh, I am. Believe me, I am."
---
The workday passed in a haze of stolen glances and hidden smiles.
Keifer found excuses to pass her desk. Jay found excuses to visit his cabin. Their colleagues pretended not to notice, but the gossip mill was clearly working overtime.
By five o'clock, they were both ready to leave.
"Home?" Keifer asked, hand extended.
"Home," she agreed.
They walked out together, fingers intertwined, leaving whispers and speculation in their wake.
---
The mansion welcomed them back with open arms.
Keiran attacked them at the door. Keigan waved from the living room. The staff had dinner ready.
Normal. Perfect. Home.
That night, after Keiran was tucked in and Keigan had retreated to his room, Jay and Keifer sat on the patio.
The city glittered below. The stars glittered above.
"Today was perfect," she said softly.
"Every day with you is perfect."
"Even the days I'm jealous and irrational?"
"Especially those days." He kissed her temple. "They remind me you're human. And mine."
"Always yours."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the lights.
Then Jay spoke again. "Keif?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad I fainted on that sidewalk."
He laughed. "I'm really glad you did too."
"Best mistake I ever made."
"Best catch I ever made." He pulled her closer. "I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."
"I love you too, Mark Keifer Watson. Until the end of the universe and back."
He kissed her—soft, sweet, full of forever.
And the night wrapped around them like a promise.
---
End of Chapter Twenty