Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Engagement
Three months had passed since the accident.
Three months of healing, of love, of building a life together. Keifer was fully recovered. Keiran had mostly stopped asking about babies (though he still made the occasional chart). Keigan had finally admitted he liked having Jay around.
Life was good.
Perfect, even.
But something was missing.
---
Jay noticed it first.
Not in a bad way—just in a quiet, nagging way. They lived together. They loved each other. They were raising his brothers together. But they weren't... official.
Not really.
She pushed the thought away every time it surfaced. They had time. They had forever. What was a piece of paper?
But still.
---
Keifer noticed it too.
He noticed everything about her. The way she looked at other couples. The way she smiled at wedding scenes in movies. The way she'd said "someday" when Keiran asked about babies.
Someday.
He wanted someday to be now.
---
The plan formed slowly.
He enlisted help—Percy (reluctantly), Aries (willingly), Yuri (enthusiastically), and the entire chaotic network of friends and family.
Tita Gemma was consulted. Tito Rachel approved. Kuya Angelo gave his blessing with a single nod and a threatening look.
Even C.N. got involved, hacking into Jay's calendar to find a free day.
"Saturday," he announced. "She has nothing scheduled. Make it happen."
Keifer made it happen.
---
Saturday arrived clear and beautiful.
Jay woke in Keifer's arms, as usual. But something felt different. He was already awake, watching her.
"Morning," she murmured.
"Morning, love."
"Why are you staring?"
"Because you're beautiful."
"You're weird."
"Your weird."
She laughed, snuggling closer.
Then Keiran burst in. "MAMMA! PAPPA! WAKE UP! SPECIAL DAY!"
Jay blinked. "Special day?"
"PAPPA SAID! SPECIAL DAY! WE HAVE TO GET READY!"
She looked at Keifer. "What special day?"
He shrugged innocently. "No idea."
---
The "special day" involved breakfast in bed (courtesy of Keiran and the chef), a long bath (with strict instructions from Keiran to "take your time, Mamma"), and a beautiful dress laid out on the bed.
Jay had never seen it before.
Pale blue. Flowing. Perfect.
"What is this?" she asked, turning to Keifer.
He was dressed too—suit, tie, hair perfect.
"Put it on," he said softly. "I'll wait."
---
She emerged thirty minutes later, transformed.
The dress fit like it was made for her. Her hair fell in soft waves. She'd never felt more beautiful.
Keifer's breath caught.
"Jay."
"Do I look okay?"
"You look..." He crossed to her, taking her hands. "You look like everything I've ever wanted."
She blushed. "Keif."
"Come on. We have somewhere to be."
---
The car ride was mysterious.
Keifer wouldn't tell her where they were going. Just held her hand and smiled that smile.
They drove through the city, past familiar streets, toward—
The beach.
The same beach where they'd had their first real date. Where they'd talked for hours. Where she'd first realized she was falling in love with him.
Jay's heart started racing.
---
The setup took her breath away.
A wooden path lined with flowers. Lanterns glowing in the late afternoon light. An arch at the end, decorated with more flowers.
And people.
Everyone.
Her family—Tita Gemma, Tito Rachel, Kuya Angelo, Aries, Percy. His family—Keigan in a suit, Keiran in a tiny matching one. Their friends—C.N., David, Felix, Ella, Rakii, Mica, Freya, Honey, Yuri with his phone (of course). Even Calix and Bridget, holding hands, smiling.
"What is this?" Jay whispered.
Keifer took both her hands. Turned to face her fully.
"Jay. Jasper Jean Mariano. The woman who fainted on a sidewalk and changed my life forever."
Tears already pricked her eyes.
"I didn't plan to fall in love with you. Didn't plan to build a life with you. Didn't plan to watch you become the mother my brothers never had." His voice wavered. "But I did. And I can't imagine my life any other way."
"Keif—"
"Three months ago, I almost lost you. Not because of anything you did—because of a drunk driver and bad luck. And in that moment, lying in that hospital bed, I realized something."
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a small box.
Opened it.
The ring was perfect—simple, elegant, with a diamond that caught the fading sunlight.
"I realized that I don't want to wait. I don't want to waste another day not calling you what you are." He dropped to one knee.
The crowd gasped. Jay sobbed.
"Jasper Jean Mariano, will you marry me? Will you be my wife, my partner, my everything? Will you let me love you until scientists find the end of the universe and then keep going?"
She couldn't speak. Could only nod, tears streaming.
"Yes," she finally choked out. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes."
He slid the ring onto her finger. Stood. Pulled her into his arms.
And kissed her.
The crowd erupted. Percy screamed. Yuri filmed. Keigan pretended to be cool but was definitely emotional. Keiran jumped up and down, yelling "MAMMA AND PAPPA! MAMMA AND PAPPA!"
Tita Gemma cried. Tito Rachel nodded approvingly. Kuya Angelo smiled—actually smiled.
---
The party lasted all night.
Food. Music. Dancing. Laughter.
Keiran demanded to see the ring approximately fifty times. "Mamma's sparkly! Mamma's so sparkly!"
Jay showed him every time.
Keigan hugged her awkwardly but genuinely. "Welcome to the family. Officially."
"I've been officially for a while."
"Now it's legal."
She laughed. "Fair enough."
Percy cornered her at one point, fake-crying. "Baby sista! Engaged! I'm so happy I could die!"
"Please don't die."
"But it would be dramatic!"
"Percy. No dying."
"Fine. But only because you asked."
---
Later, much later, Jay found Felix and Bridget sitting together, watching the chaos.
"Hey, you two."
Felix smiled. "Hey, fiancée."
"That's weird to hear."
"Get used to it." Bridget squeezed her hand. "We're so happy for you."
"Thanks. And... you two?" She raised an eyebrow.
Bridget blushed. Felix looked away.
"We're... figuring it out," Bridget said.
"Take your time. The best things are worth waiting for."
Felix nodded slowly. "Yeah. They are."
---
Keifer found her at midnight, standing alone by the water.
"Hey, fiancée."
She turned, smiling. "Hey, fiancé."
"That's weird to hear."
"Get used to it."
He pulled her close. "I plan to."
They stood together, watching the waves.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too. More than everything."
"Until the end of the universe?"
"Until scientists find it and then keep going."
She kissed him—soft, sweet, full of forever.
Behind them, the party continued. Their family. Their friends. Their chaos.
Their life.
---
Keiran appeared, tugging at their clothes. "Mamma! Pappa! Come back! Cake!"
They looked at each other, smiling.
"Cake?" Jay asked.
"Cake," Keifer agreed.
They took Keiran's hands and walked back toward the lights, toward the noise, toward the people who loved them.
Home.
Finally, officially, forever.
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End of Chapter Twenty-Eight