Chapter One Hundred Twenty Four: The Embarrassing Stories
The morning after the double wedding planning session, the mansion was buzzing with leftover excitement.
Akshi was already on her phone, looking at dress designs. Shreya was beside her, adding comments. Chethan and Mithun sat nearby, watching their brides with amusement.
Jay walked into the kitchen, coffee in hand, and found Keifer already there.
"Morning," she mumbled.
"Morning." He kissed her cheek. "Sleep well?"
"Eventually. Someone kept me up."
He grinned. "Worth it."
---
They sat at the table with everyone else.
Breakfast was chaos, as usual.
Percy was reenacting his Bollywood moves from the night before. Honey was trying to stop him.
C.N. was calculating something. Rakii was photographing everything.
Felix and Bridget were reading. David and Freya were playing a game.
Mica and Calix were arguing. Aries and Ella were being adorable.
Keiran was running in circles with Rex and Ganesha.
Normal.
Perfect.
---
Then Jay got a look in her eye.
Keifer noticed. "What?"
"Nothing."
"That look is never nothing."
"I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how much everyone here loves embarrassing stories."
Keifer's eyes narrowed. "Jay."
"Yes, love?"
"Don't you dare."
"Dare what?"
"Tell embarrassing stories about me."
She smiled sweetly. "I would never."
---
She stood up.
Cleared her throat.
"EVERYONE! I have stories!"
Keifer groaned. "Jay, no."
"JAY YES!"
---
The table turned.
Percy leaned forward. "STORIES? ABOUT KEIF?"
"The most embarrassing ones!"
Honey grabbed popcorn. "I'm ready."
C.N. pulled out his notebook. "Documenting."
Rakii raised her camera. "Filming."
Yuri appeared from nowhere. "I heard 'stories.' I'm here."
---
Jay began.
"So. When Keifer and I first started dating, he tried to cook me dinner. To impress me."
Keifer buried his face in his hands. "Jay—"
"He set off the fire alarm. Three times. The fire department came."
Percy screamed with laughter. "THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?"
"They were very nice about it. Said it happens all the time."
Keifer mumbled. "It was one time."
"It was three times. I counted."
---
Akshi was crying. "KEIFER! THE FIRE DEPARTMENT!"
Chethan nodded. "That's impressive, bro."
Mithun almost smiled. "Very impressive."
Shreya grabbed Jay's arm. "MORE! GIVE US MORE!"
---
Jay continued.
"Then there was the time he tried to serenade me."
Keifer's head snapped up. "NO."
"OH YES."
"What did he sing?" Akshi asked.
"Baby, by Justin Bieber."
The table ERUPTED.
Percy fell off his chair. Honey was crying. C.N. actually laughed out loud.
Keifer covered his face. "I was young. I was in love. I made poor choices."
"You were twenty-two!"
"STILL YOUNG!"
---
Mica was on the floor. "JUSTIN BIEBER! I CAN'T!"
Calix helped her up. "Breathe."
"I CAN'T! THIS IS TOO GOOD!"
David was howling. Freya wiped her eyes.
Felix and Bridget exchanged amused glances.
Aries shook his head, smiling. "I did not know this."
Ella laughed. "Neither did I."
Kuya Angelo, visiting for breakfast, raised an eyebrow. "Justin Bieber?"
Ion giggled. "That's adorable."
Keifer looked at the ceiling. "I want to die."
---
Jay wasn't done.
"Then there was the time he tried to do a romantic gesture and accidentally locked himself in the bathroom."
Akshi gasped. "THE BATHROOM?"
"For an hour. I had to call a locksmith."
Chethan was wheezing. "An HOUR?"
"An hour. He was so embarrassed."
Mithun nodded approvingly. "That's commitment to romance."
"THAT'S NOT ROMANCE!"
---
Keifer finally stood.
Walked toward Jay.
She backed up, still laughing. "Keif—"
"Keep talking."
"I have more stories!"
"I know."
"About the time you—"
He grabbed her.
Lifted her.
She yelped. "KEIF!"
"Bedroom."
"BUT THE STORIES!"
"Can wait."
"EVERYONE IS WATCHING!"
"Let them watch."
---
He carried her out of the kitchen.
Up the stairs.
Toward their room.
Jay laughed the whole way.
---
The door closed behind them.
The living room was silent for a moment.
Then chaos.
Percy screamed. "HE CARRIED HER OFF! AGAIN!"
Honey nodded. "He did."
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY!"
C.N. made a note. "Embarrassing stories consequence: Physical removal to bedroom. Effectiveness: 100%."
Rakii lowered her camera. "I got all of it."
"The carry?"
"The carry. The laugh. Everything."
"Amazing."
---
Akshi grabbed Chethan's arm. "We need to be that romantic."
Chethan nodded. "We will be."
"When?"
"Later."
"NOW?"
"Later."
---
Shreya looked at Mithun. "You'd never carry me off like that."
Mithun raised an eyebrow. "You want me to?"
"Maybe."
"Noted."
---
Percy was still crying. "THEY'RE SO IN LOVE! SO SO IN LOVE!"
Honey hugged him. "Babe, calm down."
"I CAN'T! ROMANCE IS EVERYWHERE!"
"I know."
"IT'S BEAUTIFUL!"
"I know."
---
Twenty minutes later, Keifer came down alone.
Hair disheveled. Shirt untucked. Glowing.
He walked to the kitchen. Grabbed water.
Percy appeared beside him. "KEIF!"
"What?"
"WHAT HAPPENED UP THERE?"
"Nothing."
"NOTHING FOR TWENTY MINUTES?"
"Nothing."
"YOUR FACE SAYS OTHERWISE!"
Keifer walked away.
---
Jay came down twenty minutes after that.
Same state.
Glowing. Happy. Slightly embarrassed.
She sat at the table.
Everyone stared.
"What?" she asked.
Percy pointed. "YOU."
"Me what?"
"YOU AND KEIF!"
"We're married. It's allowed."
"IN THE MIDDLE OF BREAKFAST?"
"It was after breakfast."
"STILL!"
---
She laughed.
Picked up her coffee.
Took a sip.
"So. Anyone want more stories?"
Keifer's voice from across the room. "JAY."
"What? I'm asking!"
"No more stories."
"Just one more?"
"NO."
She pouted.
He walked over.
Kissed her forehead.
"No more."
"Fine."
He sat beside her.
She leaned into him.
The chaos continued.
Perfect.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Twenty Four