JAY-JAY POV
*SKIP TO 2 WEEKS*
Keifer was officially recovered.
And not the "oh, I can walk now" kind of recovery.
No.
This was lifting me off the ground and spinning me around like a lunatic kind of recovery.
"Keifer!" I squealed, half laughing, half panicking as my feet left the floor. "Put me down before you drop me!"
He grinned, holding me tight as he spun us in the middle of the living room. "Not a chance. I've been waiting two weeks for this."
Keth clapped from the couch, bouncing like he was watching a circus act. "Papa's strong again! Spin Mama more!"
I groaned, smacking Keifer's shoulder lightly. "Don't encourage him, Keth!"
Keifer chuckled
he finally set me down. "See? Fully recovered. No more weak Papa."
I narrowed my eyes, though my lips betrayed me with a smile. "You're still reckless."
"Reckless but alive," he said, pulling me close again, his arms wrapping around my waist. "And I'm not wasting another second."
Keth ran over, tugging at my hand. "Mama, Papa's better now! Can we celebrate? Like… with cake? Or nuggets?"
"ME?" I snapped, pointing at myself.
Keifer grinned, brushing his hair back. "Yeah. You're the one who sneaks midnight snacks when you think no one's watching."
"Not just sneaking food, bud," Keifer said with a grin. "Me and your uncles had to bribe your mother with food if we needed her for something."
I whipped my head toward him, scandalized. "Keifer!"
Keth's jaw dropped. "Mama… you took bribes?!"
I groaned, covering my face. "It wasn't bribes. It was… encouragement."
Keifer chuckled, brushing his hair back. "Encouragement? Jay, you wouldn't even help us move furniture unless we promised you pizza."
Keth squealed, bouncing in place. "Mama loves pizza! Mama loves nuggets! Mama loves—"
I cut him off, glaring at Keifer. "You're supposed to be recovering, not ruining my reputation."
Keifer smirked, leaning back against the counter. "Too late. The truth's out."
Keth pointed at me like a detective solving a case. "So if I want Mama to play with me… I just give her food?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Don't even think about it."
Keifer laughed, pulling Keth into a hug. "Smart kid. He learns fast."
I cut him off, glaring. "Your dad is no better than me."
Keth tilted his head, curious. "Oh really? How?"
Keifer smirked, brushing his hair back. "Actually, bud… your mom is worse."
My eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
He chuckled. "Tell him about the time you almost blew up the kitchen. Twice."
Keth gasped, spinning toward me. "Mama! You tried to blow up the kitchen?!"
I groaned, covering my face. "It wasn't blowing up. It was… an accident."
Keifer laughed, leaning against the counter. "Accident? Jay, you almost blew up your Tita's kitchen — and don't get me started on how you almost blew up mine that one time you came over."
My mouth dropped open. "Keifer!"
Keth's eyes went wide, sparkling with mischief. "Mama… you blew up two kitchens?!"
I groaned, covering my face. "It wasn't blowing up! It was… a minor fire hazard."
Keifer smirked, brushing his hair back. "Minor? Jay, the smoke alarm cried for mercy."
Keth gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Mama, you're dangerous! You're like… the Kitchen Villain!"
I pointed at Keifer, narrowing my eyes. "And you're the Kitchen Snitch."
He chuckled, leaning closer. "Better a snitch than a victim of your cooking experiments."
Keth bounced in place, grinning. "So Papa burns toast, Mama explodes kitchens… you're both disasters!"
"Okay enough," I said, scooping Keth into my arms. "Let's go and sleep. It's night time."
"But I don't want to sleep," Keth whined, clinging to my shirt like a koala.
"Keth, hon—" I started, but Keifer cut me off.
"Jay, please. It's barely even nine," he said, smirking.
I set Keth down and stepped closer to Keifer, lowering my voice so only he could hear. "Do you want to give Keth a sibling or not?"
His eyes widened, then he nodded instantly, no hesitation.
"Actually, Keth," Keifer said, scooping him up with sudden enthusiasm, "it's about to be nine. So let's get you to sleep."
I burst out laughing, covering my mouth as Keth blinked in confusion.
"Papa, you just said it's barely nine!" he protested.
Keifer brushed his hair back, grinning. "Barely nine means almost nine, bud. And almost nine means bedtime."
Keth pouted, crossing his arms. "That's cheating."
I shook my head, still laughing. "Welcome to parenthood, Keth. We cheat all the time."
Keifer carried him toward the bedroom, whispering conspiratorially, "Don't worry, bud. Tomorrow we'll stay up late. Tonight… Mama wins."
Keth groaned dramatically, but snuggled against Keifer's shoulder anyway. "Fine. But tomorrow I get nuggets and cartoons."
"Deal," Keifer said, winking at me over his shoulder.
And as I watched them disappear down the hall, my laughter softened into a smile.
Because in that moment — with Keifer's playful grin and Keth's stubborn little demands — I realized this was the kind of chaos I wanted forever.
I went to our room, finally enjoying a moment of silence. Thirty minutes later, Keifer slipped in, his hair messy, his smile tired but triumphant.
"He's finally asleep," he said, pulling me close and wrapping his arms around my waist. "After promising him chocolate tomorrow."
I laughed softly, resting my head against his chest. "You bribed him."
Keifer smirked, brushing his hair back. "Worked, didn't it?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're teaching him bad habits."
He leaned down, kissing the top of my head. "Maybe. But I'd promise him the whole world if it meant he'd sleep."
I looked up at him, my chest tightening. "And what about me?"
His grin softened, his voice dropping low. "For you, Jay… I don't promise. I swear. Forever."
I swallowed hard, my hands tightening around his shirt. "You're unbelievable."
He chuckled, tilting my chin up. "Unbelievable… but yours."
And as his lips found mine again, the chaos of the day melted away.
For the first time in years, it wasn't just survival.
It was love. Real, messy, stubborn love.
We were kissing each other like it was the end of the universe.
Every breath, every touch felt like it was pulling us closer, like nothing else existed.
Then, just as Keifer's fingers brushed the edge of my shirt—