Jay's POV
The competition had finally started.
The huge auditorium was filled with excited parents, teachers, and students. Cheers echoed from every corner as the youngest participants stepped onto the floor one by one.
The six-year-olds performed first.
Some were nervous.
Some were confident.
Some forgot their routines halfway through and made everyone laugh.
The atmosphere was light and fun.
Then the announcer called the next participant.
Announcer: "Next participant, Yana Hanamachi."
I froze.
Hanamachi?
My eyes immediately moved toward Yuri.
Beside him sat Angelina.
Both of them looked nervous and excited at the same time.
Wait... is that Yuri's daughter?
The moment a little girl walked onto the floor, Section E exploded with cheers.
Section E: "YANA!"
"LET'S GO!"
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
The younger kids were cheering too.
Yana smiled brightly before taking her position.
A few seconds later, her performance began.
And honestly...
She was amazing.
The confidence.
The balance.
The determination.
For a six-year-old, she was incredible.
When she finished, the entire audience applauded loudly.
I couldn't help smiling.
She definitely got her parents' talent.
Soon the six-year-old category ended.
Then the seven-year-olds started.
But my attention was elsewhere.
I was waiting for someone.
My princess.
My Kaya.
Keifer's POV
The competition continued while we watched from our seats.
Yana had done an excellent job, and all of us were proud of her.
When she came back, Yuri immediately picked her up.
Yana: "Daddy! How did I do?"
Yuri: "Amazing, princess."
Angelina: "You were wonderful."
Yana giggled happily.
As the competition continued, I noticed something strange.
Jay.
She was sitting only a few rows above us with F4 and their families.
But unlike everyone else, she seemed nervous.
Excited.
Restless.
Like she was waiting for someone important.
Then I noticed the three boys standing near her.
And the little girl.
The same girl I had seen before.
The boys kept calling Jay "Mom."
And Jay answered naturally.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
The boys looked almost identical.
Like quadruplets.
Meanwhile the little girl sat quietly beside them.
Then the announcer spoke.
And suddenly everyone around Jay straightened up.
Announcer: "Next participant, Mira Kiara Mariano."
The reaction was immediate.
The kids near Jay jumped to their feet.
F4 looked excited.
The women looked excited.
Even Jay looked nervous.
And I became confused.
Who was Mira Kiara Mariano?
Percy's POV
I frowned.
That name wasn't familiar.
At least not to me.
But looking around...
Everyone near Jay knew exactly who it was.
Then I looked at the little girl beside her.
And suddenly she stood up.
My eyes widened.
It's her.
The little girl.
The one who had been calling Jay "Mom."
Keifer's POV
The moment she stepped onto the competition floor—
The cheering began.
Loud.
Very loud.
Aren: "ATE KAYA! YOU CAN DO IT!"
Kanya: "YES ATE!"
The little girl looked up immediately.
A smile appeared on her face.
Then another boy stood up.
Boy 1: "You can do it, Kaya!"
Boy 2: "Good luck, kaya!"
Boy 3: "Show them what you've got!"
Kaya laughed before looking toward Jay.
For a second, the noise disappeared.
Mother and daughter simply looked at each other.
Jay smiled softly.
Then mouthed only three words.
"Breathe. You got this."
Kaya nodded.
Then the entire group exploded again.
Everyone: "SHOW THEM WHAT YOU CAN DO!"
The cheering became so dramatic that the wives immediately covered their faces.
Gorya: "I don't know them."
Kaning: "Neither do I."
Rina: "Absolutely not."
The boys burst out laughing.
Jay shook her head.
Jay: "One is your husband. One is your son. The rest are brothers and nephews."
Kaning: "Still don't know them."
Everyone laughed.
Even the kids.
The tension disappeared instantly.
Then Kaya's music started.
And the entire auditorium became silent.
She moved beautifully.
Every turn was graceful.
Every landing was perfect.
Every movement flowed effortlessly into the next.
Then came a difficult flip.
The audience gasped.
She landed perfectly.
The applause became louder.
By the time she finished, everyone was on their feet.
Including us.
The performance had been beautiful.
Truly beautiful.
Kaya ran back toward her family.
The first person she reached was Jay.
Jay immediately pulled her into a hug.
Jay: "You did good, Kaya."
Kaya: "Thank you, Mom."
Then she looked toward her brothers.
Kaya: "Kuyas, how was it?"
Boy 1: "Amazing."
Boy 2: "Beautiful."
Boy 3: "It was good."
Kaya narrowed her eyes.
Kaya: "Good?"
Boy 3: "Very good."
Kaya: "Very?"
Boy 3: "Don't push your luck."
Everyone laughed.
Kaya laughed the loudest.
Then she turned toward F4 and their wives.
Kaya: "Titas? Titos? How was it?"
Everyone: "Beautiful."
Aum opened her arms.
Aum: "Come here, sweetheart."
Kaya immediately hugged her.
Aum kissed her forehead.
Rina gently kissed her hand.
The other women praised her too.
Before Kaya could respond—
Two small bodies suddenly crashed into her.
Aren: "You were amazing!"
Kanya: "That flip! And the landing! You looked so cool!"
Kaya laughed.
Kaya: "Well, thank you."
The younger kids continued praising her until she nearly turned red from embarrassment.
Finally, one of the adults rescued her.
Jay: "Alright, enough. Go get changed."
The kids groaned dramatically.
Kaya rolled her eyes.
Then she headed backstage with the others.
A few minutes later, Jay stood up.
As she walked down the stairs, I noticed something.
She wasn't looking at us.
Not even once.
Instead, she looked toward the girls.
Toward her brothers.
Toward the children.
She quietly said something to Gorya.
Gorya nodded before walking over to our side.
The girls spoke together for a few minutes.
Then Jay prepared to leave.
Before going, she stopped beside Mica.
Her eyes moved toward Mica's pregnant belly.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
Jay gently placed her hand over it.
Then silently mouthed:
"Congratulations."
Mica smiled.
Jay stepped back.
Still without looking at any of us.
Then she turned toward Angelo.
She whispered something.
Angelo nodded immediately.
And just like that—
Jay walked away.
Leaving all of us with even more questions than before.
++++++ END ++++++
one more chapter
take care
bye