JAY-JAY POV
As soon as we got into the amusement park,
Section E was everywhere — scattering like sparks from a firework.
Ci-n was already sprinting toward the roller coasters, yelling something about "first one to puke wins."
David muttered about lawsuits and safety hazards,
while Blaster was drawn straight to the arcade, humming like the machines were calling his name.
I held Keth close, afraid he might disappear in the chaos — because to be honest, he might.
His small hand clutched mine tightly, his eyes darting from ride to ride, overwhelmed but thrilled.
"Mama," he said, voice bubbling with excitement, "I want to go on the carousel."
"Sure, bud," Keifer answered before I could, ruffling Keth's hair with a grin.
I looked at Keifer.
For a moment, the carousel lights painted him in gold, like he belonged in this easy picture of family.
And I wanted to forgive him — I really did.
But the memories pressed in, sharp and unrelenting.
Nights when Keth cried and I was the only one there.
Days when I carried him on my hip, juggling work, exhaustion, and the weight of being everything he needed.
How hard it was for me.
How lonely.
How much I had to fight just to keep us standing.
Keifer's smile faltered when he caught my stare, like he knew the ghosts between us.
The noise of Section E swirled around — Mayo shouting about roller coasters, Blaster already halfway to the arcade, Ci-N laughing at his own sarcastic commentary — but all of it blurred.
It was just me, Keth, and Keifer.
And the question I couldn't shake:
Was I ready to let him back into this picture?
"Papa," Keth said, snapping us back to reality. "Let's go." Keifer nodded, his hand already reaching for Keth's shoulder like he belonged in this picture.
"Mama, Papa, come with me — it's big enough for you guys too," Keth insisted, pointing at the carousel, its painted horses gleaming under the lights.
"I don't know, bud," I said, eyeing the ride. The music was cheerful, but the thought of climbing onto one of those horses felt… strange. Too childish. Too exposed.
"Please, Mama," he said, tilting his head, eyes wide and pleading. Puppy-dog eyes. The same ones that had undone me a thousand times before.
"Fine," I muttered, though my lips curved despite myself.
Keth cheered, tugging both of us toward the ride
As the carousel spun, I found myself perched beside Keth, his laughter ringing louder than the music. Keifer sat on the other side, his smile soft, almost careful, like he knew this moment was fragile.
And for the first time in a long time, I let myself breathe. Just a mother, her son, and the man who might still have a place in their story.
After the carousel, we were weaving through the crowd when someone called my name.
"Jay!"
I turned, startled, and before I could react Alex — my coworker — pulled me into a hug. His familiar warmth caught me off guard, but what caught me even more was the weight of Keifer's eyes burning into us.
"Alex, hi," I said, forcing a smile. "I didn't think I would find you here."
"I could say the same," he replied, easy and casual, like we were just bumping into each other at the office instead of under neon lights and carnival music.
Then his gaze shifted to Keth. "Hey, Keth."
Keth frowned, clutching my hand tighter. "Don't call me Keth. It's only for Mama and Papa."
Alex blinked, surprised. "Papa?"
Keifer stepped forward, his voice firm, almost territorial. "Hello. I'm Keifer, Keth's dad." His smile didn't reach his eyes — instead, he leveled Alex with a glare sharp enough to cut through the noise of the park.
I sighed inwardly.
Of course he was jealous.
The tension between them was thick, almost comical against the backdrop of cotton candy stalls and carousel music.
Alex shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck, while Keifer's hand found Keth's shoulder like a silent claim.
And me?
I stood between them, caught in the collision of past struggles, present responsibilities, and the fragile hope of something resembling family.
Keifer's glare didn't soften.
Alex shifted, trying to keep his tone light, but the edge was there.
"So… Dad, huh?" Alex said, folding his arms. "Funny, I don't remember you being around when Jay needed help."
Keifer's jaw tightened. "And I don't remember asking you to step into my family." His voice was low, dangerous, the kind that made people stop and listen.
Alex scoffed. "Family? Jay built this family on her own. Don't act like you get to claim it now just because you showed up."
The words hit like a slap, and I felt Keth's hand squeeze mine tighter. His eyes darted between them, confused, scared.
"Enough!" I snapped, stepping between them.
My voice cut through the noise of the park, sharper than the carousel music still echoing in the distance. "This isn't about either of you. This is about Keth. And I won't let your pride turn tonight into a battlefield."
Keifer's eyes flicked to mine, still burning, but softer now.
Alex looked away, guilt flashing across his face.
I crouched down to Keth's level, brushing his hair back. "Don't worry, bud. Mama's here. Papa's here. And we're going to have fun tonight, no matter what."
Keth nodded slowly, his grip loosening, his smile returning.
The tension didn't vanish — it hung in the air like smoke — but for now, I had pulled us back from the fire.
"Well, see you on Monday, Jay," Alex said, giving me one last smile before disappearing into the crowd.
I exhaled, ready to shake off the awkwardness, when Keth tugged at my sleeve. His little face was scrunched up, serious in a way that made me pause.
"Ma," he said firmly, "don't talk to him. I don't like him."
The words hit harder than I expected. My heart twisted — part guilt, part relief. Before I could respond, I caught sight of Keifer's face.
It was priceless.
Not the shocked kind, but the proud kind.
His chest puffed just a little, his lips twitching into a smirk he tried to hide.
He looked at Keth like he'd just won a silent battle, like his son had chosen sides without even knowing it.
"Like father, like son," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.
Keth didn't notice, already distracted by the flashing lights of another ride.
But Keifer did.
His eyes met mine, smug and warm all at once, and for a moment I couldn't tell if I wanted to laugh or roll my eyes.
After Alex left, Keth's words still echoed in my head: "Ma, don't talk to him. I don't like him." Keifer's proud smirk lingered too, like he'd just won a silent war.
But the park didn't wait for us. Section E was everywhere —
Mayo dragging Blaster into bumper cars, Ci-N heckling the roller coaster operator, Eman juggling fried dough like it was a cooking show.
Drew was already flirting with the girl at the cotton candy stand, while Aries and Kuya Angelo kept a steady eye on me and Keth, protective as ever.
Keth tugged my hand again. "Mama, Papa, let's go on the Ferris wheel!" His voice was pure excitement, no trace of the tension that had just passed.
I hesitated, glancing at Keifer. He nodded, softer this time, no glare, no pride — just a father agreeing to his son's wish.
Up on the Ferris wheel, the world shrank. The lights of the park glittered below us, the laughter of Section E rising like music. Keth pressed his face to the glass, whispering, "It's so big, Mama."
I wrapped my arm around him, feeling Keifer's presence on the other side. For a moment, the noise faded. It was just us — a fragile family, spinning high above the chaos.
When the ride ended, Section E swarmed us again, teasing Keifer about his "death glare" at Alex, making Keth laugh so hard he nearly dropped his stuffed toy. The tension melted into something lighter, something almost normal.
As we walked out of the park, Keth's small hand in mine, I realized tonight wasn't perfect. It was messy, loud, complicated. But it was ours. And maybe that was enough.
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😅 Sorry for the late update, everyone!
📖 I might only post 1 chapter today…
🧠 My brain was not braning at all
🤯 I just sat in front of the computer for 30 minutes straight 🖥️🙃
🎓 I guess school already stole most of my brain cells 😂