JAY-JAY POV
"Let's go, breakfast might be ready," I said, standing and reaching for Keth.
But when I tried to pick him up, he clung tighter to Keifer, his little arms wrapped around his father's neck like glue.
"Papa," he mumbled, refusing to budge.
Keifer chuckled softly, adjusting Keth in his arms.
"Looks like someone's made his choice," he teased, his eyes flicking to me.
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "Don't get too smug. He's just using you for pancakes."
Keth giggled, burying his face in Keifer's shoulder. "Papa makes better pancakes than Mama," he declared proudly.
"You haven't even tasted his pancakes yet," I shot back, narrowing my eyes at Keth.
"I just know it," Keth said confidently, puffing out his chest like he'd just declared a universal truth.
Keifer smirked, bouncing Keth slightly in his arms. "See? Even my son knows I make better pancakes than you."
I clenched my fist, leaning forward. "Keep talking and I might punch you."
Keifer chuckled, raising his free hand in mock surrender. "Violence already? Over pancakes?"
Keth giggled, looking between us with wide eyes. "Mama, don't punch Papa! He needs his hands to cook pancakes!"
We both laughed, the heaviness from earlier finally loosening its grip.
"Let's go," Keifer said, still carrying Keth who refused to let go of him.
We reached the dining room, and the rich, sweet smell of chocolate pancakes filled the air.
My stomach growled before I could stop it.
"Eman, even after four years your cooking is the best," I said, sliding into my chair.
Eman looked up from the stack of pancakes he was plating, grinning proudly. "Of course. You think I'd let my skills get rusty? Never."
Ci-N was already reaching for a pancake, Percy smacking his hand away. "Wait for everyone, you gremlin," Percy scolded.
"Gremlin? Please. I'm the hero who taste-tests poison," Ci-N shot back, earning laughter from Yuri and Blaster.
Keth wriggled in Keifer's lap, eyes wide at the sight of the pancakes. "Papa, can I have three?" he asked, holding up four fingers.
Keifer chuckled, correcting him gently. "That's four, buddy. And no, you're starting with one."
Keth pouted dramatically, turning to me for backup. "Mama, Papa's mean."
I smirked, sipping my water. "Welcome to reality, kiddo."
The boys roared with laughter, the dining room buzzing with noise, teasing, and the smell of chocolate.
And for the first time in years, it felt like home.
"So where are you going to stay over?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Everyone looked at each other, confusion flickering across their faces.
Then Aries, ever the bold one, shrugged. "Obviously your house."
My jaw dropped. I immediately reached over and covered Keth's ears. "Oh hell to the no," I snapped.
Keth blinked up at me, muffled. "Mama, I can't hear anything."
"That was the point," I said flatly, glaring at the boys.
Percy leaned back, smirking. "Come on, Jay. You've got space. And we're charming houseguests."
"Charming?" I scoffed. "More like freeloaders."
Ci-N snorted. "Correction: freeloaders with style."
The room erupted into laughter again, Keth wriggling free from my hands and turning to Keifer.
"Papa, can they stay? Please?" he asked, giving him the same puppy-doll eyes he used earlier.
Keifer chuckled, looking at me with a mischievous grin. "Looks like you're outnumbered, Jay."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. This was going to be chaos.
"Mama," Keth said, tugging at my sleeve.
"What?" I asked, already bracing for whatever chaos he was about to unleash.
"Can we go to an amusement park?" he asked, his eyes wide, his smile brighter than the morning sun.
"Sure," I said without hesitation.
That smile… for that smile, I could do anything.
"So, Jay," Kuya Angelo chimed in, leaning back in his chair, "when did you buy this house?"
"About six months ago," I replied, sipping my coffee. "Lawyers get paid well."
The boys exchanged looks, impressed.
Percy whistled. "Six months? And you already have this place? Damn, Harvard really turned you into a boss."
Ci-N smirked. "Boss Jay. It has a nice ring to it."
Eman popped his head out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. "Boss or not, you still can't cook better than me."
Keth giggled, pointing at Eman. "Uncle Eman makes the best pancakes!"
Keifer chuckled, ruffling Keth's hair. "Careful, buddy. You said I made the best pancakes earlier."
Keth gasped, caught in his own betrayal. "Uh… you both make the best pancakes?" he said, trying to save himself.
The whole table burst into laughter, the tension from earlier melting away into the kind of chaos that felt like family again.
"How did you guys find where I lived?" I finally asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Yesterday, you came to the café," Keifer said, his voice steady. "We were going to talk to you, but you left. Then I saw your car's number and—"
"And you tracked me," I finished, my tone flat.
He nodded, not even ashamed.
I crossed my arms. "When will you stop the habit of tracking me?"
His eyes locked on mine, unwavering. "When you stop running away from me," he replied, his voice low, almost daring.
I scoffed, shaking my head. "You're unbelievable."
Keifer smirked faintly, leaning closer. "And you're predictable."
I clenched my fist, glaring at him. "Keep talking like that and I swear I'll punch you."
He chuckled, unfazed. "Wouldn't be the first time."
The room went quiet, the weight of his words hanging between us.
Because beneath the teasing, beneath the stubbornness, there was truth neither of us wanted to admit—
I ran, and he chased.
And somehow, we always ended up here.
Before I could snap back, a small voice cut through the silence.
"Mama… Papa's a stalker!" Keth announced proudly, eating his chocolate pancakes
I blinked, stunned. Keifer froze, his ears turning red instantly. "W-what?" he stammered.
Keth nodded seriously, as if he'd just solved the biggest mystery in the world. "Papa said he tracked you. That's stalking. Papa's a stalker!"
The room erupted, even Aries and Kuya Angelo couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Jay, we have to admit," Josh said shyly, his voice soft but teasing, "even though Keth has Keifer's face… he definitely has your attitude."
David, ever the calm guy, nodded with a rare smile. "For once, I agree with everyone."
I whipped my head toward him, scandalized. "Not you too, David!" I groaned, throwing my hands up.
Ci-N smirked from the couch. "Face of Keifer, attitude of Jay. That's a dangerous combo. We're doomed."
Percy leaned back, grinning. "Correction: you're doomed, Jay. Imagine raising a mini-you with Keifer's stubbornness. That's like chaos squared."
Keth, still perched happily on Keifer's lap, puffed out his chest. "I'm not chaos. I'm awesome!"
The boys roared again, Mayo already chanting, "Awesome! Awesome!" like it was a cheer.
I buried my face in my hands, muttering, "This house is going to collapse before the amusement park trip even happens."
Keifer chuckled, tightening his hold on Keth. "Relax, Jay. You've got me now. I'll keep the circus under control."
I shot him a look, deadpan. "You? Control? Don't make me laugh."
The boys howled louder, the dining room buzzing with laughter, teasing, and the kind of chaos that felt like family again.