Chapter Sixty-Six: The Kitchen Romance That Changed Everything
The morning after the wedding planning chaos, Jay woke determined to have one normal moment.
Just one.
She slipped out of bed at six, leaving Keifer still sleeping, and padded downstairs to the kitchen. The mansion was quiet. Peaceful. Perfect.
She'd make him breakfast. Something simple. Just the two of them.
No interruptions.
No chaos.
Just love.
---
She was halfway through making pancake batter when warm arms wrapped around her waist.
"Thought you'd left me," Keifer murmured against her neck.
"You were sleeping so peacefully."
"Woke up. You were gone. Got worried." He kissed her shoulder. "Found you."
She leaned back into him. "I'm making breakfast."
"I see that."
"Just us. For once."
"Perfect."
He spun her around, pinning her gently against the counter. His eyes were soft, warm, full of love.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too."
He kissed her.
Slow. Sweet. Deep.
She melted.
---
Neither of them noticed the tablet on the counter.
The one Keifer had used for a video call yesterday.
The one that was still connected to the internet.
The one that suddenly started ringing.
---
The sound shattered the moment.
Jay jumped. Keifer groaned.
"What is THAT?"
"My tablet. Someone's calling."
"At six in the morning?"
He glanced at the screen. "It's... Shreya?"
Jay grabbed it. "Shreya? It's six AM here. What's wrong?"
Shreya's face appeared—and behind her, Akshi, Chethan, and Mithun.
"NOTHING'S WRONG! WE HAVE NEWS!"
Akshi shoved into frame. "BIG NEWS! AMAZING NEWS! LIFE-CHANGING NEWS!"
Jay blinked. "What kind of news?"
Chethan was bouncing. "WE'RE COMING TO THE PHILIPPINES!"
---
The kitchen went silent.
Jay stared at the screen. "You're... what?"
"COMING! TO THE PHILIPPINES!" Akshi screamed.
Shreya was crying and laughing at the same time. "We got accepted! For higher studies! All four of us!"
Mithun, calm as always but with a small smile, added, "University in Manila. Full scholarships."
Chethan grabbed the tablet. "WE'LL BE THERE FOR YEARS! FOREVER! WITH YOU!"
Jay's knees gave out.
Keifer caught her.
---
She grabbed the tablet back. "You're serious? You're actually serious?"
"DEAD SERIOUS!" Akshi yelled. "Well, not dead. Very alive! Coming to YOU!"
Shreya wiped her eyes. "We'll be there in two months. Just in time for the wedding."
Jay was crying now. "The wedding? You'll be at the wedding?"
"We'll be at EVERYTHING! Birthdays! Holidays! Random Tuesdays!"
Chethan grabbed the tablet. "I need to know everything! Housing! Food! Places to go! PEOPLE TO MEET!"
Mithun gently took the tablet. "We'll figure it out. Together. That's the point."
---
Keifer appeared beside Jay, wrapping an arm around her. "You're really coming?"
"Really coming," Mithun confirmed. "We've been planning for months. Wanted to surprise you."
Akshi screamed again. "SURPRISE!"
Jay was a mess. Tears, laughter, incomprehensible noises.
Keifer kissed her temple. "Happy tears?"
"SO happy."
---
The tablet was passed around as more people joined.
Percy appeared, dragged from sleep by the noise. "WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHY IS EVERYONE CRYING?"
"INDIA CREW IS MOVING HERE!"
Percy's face went through several stages. Then he screamed. "WHAT? FOREVER? HERE?"
"FOREVER! HERE!"
He grabbed Honey, who'd followed him down. "HONEY! THEY'RE COMING! FOR GOOD!"
Honey's face lit up. "All of them?"
"ALL OF THEM!"
---
C.N. joined via his own call. "Why is my phone exploding?"
"INDIA CREW IS MOVING HERE!"
C.N. paused. Then grinned. "Finally. More people to annoy Mother."
Jay threw a pillow at the screen. "I'M NOT YOUR MOTHER!"
"Emotionally you are!"
---
The news spread like wildfire.
Within an hour, the entire extended family knew.
Aries called, actually excited. "They're coming? For real?"
"For real!"
Ella appeared behind him. "We need to help them find housing!"
Rakii messaged: PHOTOSHOOT WHEN THEY ARRIVE!
David texted: I'M GIVING THEM THE FULL TOUR!
Freya: They'll need help settling in. Count me in.
Felix: This is great news. Really great.
Bridget: I'm already planning welcome gifts!
Mica: PARTY! WELCOME PARTY!
Calix: Mica, calm down.
Mica: CAN'T CALM DOWN! NEW FRIENDS FOREVER!
Grace: Grazel will have more aunties and uncles!
Denzel: This family keeps growing.
---
On the video call, Akshi was still vibrating.
"WE'RE GOING TO LIVE IN THE SAME COUNTRY! SEE YOU EVERY DAY! BOTHER YOU CONSTANTLY!"
Shreya laughed. "She's been like this since we got the acceptance letters."
Chethan nodded. "Three weeks of nonstop excitement. I'm exhausted."
Mithun, calm as always, observed, "It's going to be an adjustment. But a good one."
Jay wiped her eyes. "You have no idea how happy this makes me."
Akshi softened. "We know, sister. That's why we did it."
Shreya nodded. "Family should be together."
---
Keifer pulled Jay close, addressing the tablet. "We'll help with everything. Housing, paperwork, anything you need."
Mithun nodded. "Appreciate it."
Chethan bounced. "I need a room with good Wi-Fi! For gaming!"
Akshi shoved him. "Priorities!"
"GAMING IS PRIORITY!"
---
The call lasted another hour.
More plans. More excitement. More tears.
When they finally hung up, Jay collapsed against Keifer.
"They're coming."
"They're coming."
"To stay."
"To stay."
She looked up at him. "Our family keeps growing."
"It does."
"Is that okay?"
He kissed her softly. "It's more than okay. It's perfect."
---
Keiran appeared, rubbing his eyes. "Mamma? Pappa? Why you crying?"
"Happy tears, baby. Akshi and Shreya and Chethan and Mithun are coming to live here!"
Keiran's eyes went huge. "HERE? Like, HERE here?"
"Here forever!"
He screamed. "REX! GANESHA! DID YOU HEAR? AUNTIES AND UNCLES COMING!"
Rex and Ganesha seemed thrilled.
---
That night, as they lay in bed, Jay stared at the ceiling.
"Two months."
"Two months."
"Then they're here."
"Then the real chaos begins."
She laughed. "You think it's chaos now?"
"I think we haven't seen anything yet."
She turned to face him. "I can't wait."
"Me neither." He kissed her. "Now sleep. We have a wedding to plan and chaos to prepare for."
"Best kind of preparing."
---
End of Chapter Sixty-Six