Chapter Thirty: The Morning After Forever
Jay woke to warmth.
Not just the physical warmth of Keifer's body pressed against hers, though that was certainly present. But a deeper warmth—the kind that settled in her chest and radiated outward, filling every corner of her being.
She was engaged.
She was loved.
She was home.
She smiled without opening her eyes, savoring the moment.
"You're doing it again." Keifer's voice, rough with sleep, vibrated against her ear.
"Doing what?"
"Smiling. Before coffee. It's unnatural."
"Being engaged to you makes me smile. Get used to it."
He tightened his arms around her. "Never want to get used to it. Want to wake up surprised every day."
She turned in his arms, facing him. His eyes were still heavy-lidded, his hair a disaster, his lips curved in that soft smile she loved.
"Good morning, fiancé."
"Good morning, fiancée."
They kissed—slow, lazy, tasting of sleep and forever.
---
A tiny voice shattered the moment.
"MAMMA! PAPPA! WAKE UP! IT'S MORNING! SHOW RING AGAIN!"
Keiran's pounding on the door was followed by the distinctive sound of a three-year-old trying to turn a knob.
Jay laughed against Keifer's chest. "Our alarm clock is here."
"Ignore him. Maybe he'll go away."
"Keif. He's three. He will never go away."
"Worth a try."
The pounding continued. "MAMMA! PAPPA! I HEAR YOU TALKING! OPEN DOOR!"
Keifer groaned. Jay slipped out of bed, grabbing his shirt from the floor and pulling it on.
"Five more minutes," Keifer begged.
"She's already up! MAMMA!"
Jay opened the door. Keiran stood there, Rex in one hand, a crayon drawing in the other.
"MAMMA! I made picture! For you and Pappa! For engagement!"
She knelt, taking the drawing. It was... abstract. Lots of stick figures. One with a crown (probably her), one with messy hair (definitely Keifer), and a tiny one with a dinosaur (Keiran and Rex).
"It's beautiful, baby."
"Rex helped. See? Rex drew this part." He pointed to a squiggle.
"Rex is very talented."
Keiran nodded solemnly. "Now ring. Show ring."
Jay held up her hand. Keiran examined it carefully.
"Still sparkly. Good."
"Glad it passed inspection."
He nodded, then pushed past her into the room. "PAPPA! You still in bed? LAZY PAPPA!"
Keifer emerged from the pillows, looking wrecked and happy. "Some of us were sleeping."
"Sleeping boring. Engagement more important." Keiran climbed onto the bed, landing on Keifer's stomach with a bounce that made him wheeze.
"Buddy—ribs—"
"Pappa fine. Pappa strong. Now breakfast. I want pancakes. Engagement pancakes."
"Engagement pancakes?"
"Special pancakes. With EXTRA sprinkles. Because Mamma got sparkly ring."
Jay exchanged a look with Keifer. He shrugged helplessly.
"Engagement pancakes it is," she agreed.
---
The kitchen was chaos, as always.
Keiran "helped" by dumping an entire container of sprinkles onto the batter. Keifer made coffee exactly right. Jay flipped pancakes while fielding texts from approximately seventeen people.
Percy: BABY SISTA! HOW WAS THE NIGHT? DETAILS NEEDED!
Jay: Percy. No.
Percy: PERCY YES.
Honey: Ignore him. But also... good night?
Jay: Honey!
Honey: What? I'm curious!
Ella: The ring is gorgeous. When's the wedding?
Rakii: I need to schedule the engagement photos. Today? Tomorrow? Now?
Mica: BACHELORETTE PARTY PLANNING COMMENCES. YOU HAVE NO SAY.
Freya: I'll keep her somewhat reasonable.
Mica: You'll try.
C.N.: Congrats again, baby girl. He's lucky.
David: So lucky. So so lucky.
Felix: Happy for you both.
Bridget: Really really happy.
Tita Gemma: Apo! We must plan! Colors! Venue! Guest list! Come for dinner tonight!
Jay showed the last one to Keifer. "Dinner at Tita Gemma's tonight."
"Of course."
"She says we must plan."
"Of course."
"Colors. Venue. Guest list."
He kissed her forehead. "Whatever you want, love."
"What if I want to elope?"
"The Titas would hunt us down and kill us."
"True." She sighed. "Big wedding it is."
---
The day passed in a blur of happiness.
Keigan emerged around noon, took one look at them, and said, "You two are disgustingly happy. I'm going to my room."
Keiran followed him. "KEIGAN! WAIT! HELP ME DRAW MORE PICTURES!"
"I'm busy!"
"Busy doing what?"
"Being a teenager."
"What's teenager?"
"Avoiding questions exactly like that."
Keiran looked confused but followed anyway.
Jay and Keifer had the living room to themselves.
For approximately ten minutes.
Then Yuri appeared.
"Engagement footage! Need reactions! Need quotes! Need—" He stopped, looking at them curled together on the couch. "You two are disgustingly cute. I hate it. Keep going."
"Yuri, it's Sunday."
"Sunday is prime content day."
"Go away."
"Never."
He settled into a chair, phone raised, and proceeded to "document" their morning.
---
By late afternoon, they escaped.
Left Keiran with Keigan (who protested but secretly loved it). Left Yuri filming the mansion tour (again). Left the chaos behind.
Drove to Tita Gemma's house.
The moment they walked in, they were ambushed.
Tita Gemma pulled Jay into a crushing hug. "Apo! Engaged! My baby, engaged!"
Tito Rachel shook Keifer's hand firmly. "Good job, boy. Now sit. Wine."
Kuya Michel Angelo appeared in the doorway, nodded once at Keifer. "You're officially family now. Don't mess up."
"I won't, Kuya."
"Good."
Percy burst in behind them. "BABY SISTA! FIANCÉ! WE'RE HERE! THE PARTY CAN START!"
Honey followed, patting his arm. "We were here first. They just arrived."
"Details."
Aries and Ella arrived moments later, both smiling. Aries hugged Jay tightly. "Proud of you, troublemaker."
"Thanks, Kuya."
Ella examined the ring. "Still gorgeous. Still jealous."
"Get your own."
"Working on it." She glanced at Aries, who suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
---
Dinner was chaos.
Tita Gemma had cooked enough food for an army. Tito Rachel produced wine after wine, each with a story. Kuya Michel Angelo sat at the head of the table, surveying his domain with quiet satisfaction.
Percy told approximately seventeen embarrassing stories about Keifer. Honey pretended to be horrified but laughed at every one. Aries and Ella were disgustingly cute, feeding each little bites.
And Jay sat beside Keifer, watching it all, heart overflowing.
"Okay?" he murmured.
"More than okay." She leaned into him. "This is perfect."
"Yeah?" He kissed her temple. "Good."
---
After dinner, Tita Gemma pulled Jay aside.
"Apo. I have something for you."
She produced a small box, worn with age.
"Your mother's something old. For your wedding." She opened it.
Inside was a delicate bracelet—gold, with tiny charms. A heart. A star. A flower.
"She wore this on her wedding day. Now it's yours."
Jay's eyes filled with tears. "Tita—"
"She'd be so proud of you, apo. So proud." Tita Gemma hugged her tight. "You found love. You found family. You found happiness."
"Because of you. Because of all of you."
"No, child. Because of you. You opened your heart. You let him in. You chose love." She pulled back, wiping her own eyes. "Now go. Enjoy your fiancé. I'll see you tomorrow."
---
Jay found Keifer on the porch, talking with Kuya Michel Angelo.
They stopped when she approached, both looking suspiciously serious.
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing," Kuya said smoothly. "Man stuff."
"Man stuff?"
"Threatening him if he hurts you. Standard brother duties."
Keifer nodded. "Very standard. Very threatening."
Jay laughed. "Kuya, he's not going to hurt me."
"He better not." Kuya kissed her forehead. "Now go home. It's late. And you have a wedding to plan."
---
The drive home was quiet.
Jay held Keifer's hand, watching the city lights blur past.
"Today was perfect," she said.
"Every day with you is perfect."
"Even the days I'm jealous and crazy?"
"Especially those days." He lifted her hand, kissed her knuckles. "They remind me you're human. And mine."
"Always yours."
---
Back at the mansion, Keiran was asleep. Keigan was in his room. The house was quiet.
They stood in the living room, alone at last.
"So," Jay said. "Fiancé."
"So," Keifer echoed. "Fiancée."
"I like the sound of that."
"Me too."
He pulled her close. Kissed her softly.
"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."
"I love you too, Mark Keifer Watson."
"Can't wait to marry you."
"Can't wait to marry you too."
He lifted her—effortlessly, like she weighed nothing—and carried her toward the stairs.
"Keif—"
"Shh. Bedroom. Now."
"But—"
"Now, Jay."
She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Bossy."
"Your bossy."
"Yeah." She kissed his neck. "Mine."
---
The bedroom door closed behind them.
And the night was theirs.
Again.
---
End of Chapter Thirty