Jay's POV
The heavy, suffocating silence of our bedroom was suddenly shattered into a million pieces.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The loud, aggressive pounding on our bedroom door hit me like a bucket of freezing water. My eyes snapped wide open, and my brain instantly booted back into reality.
I blinked rapidly, looking up at the broad, sweaty chest hovering just a millimeter above mine. I looked at Keifer's parted lips, then down at my own hands, which were wrapped tightly around his bare ankles.
A wave of pure shock and embarrassment flooded my chest. Oh my god, I thought, my heart leaping into my throat. I had been about to kiss him. I had been less than a single breath away from completely destroying my own rule, breaking my one-week punishment on the very first day, and giving him the ultimate victory.
The realization made my face burn with intense heat.
"Don't touch me!" I gasped out, my voice sounding way more breathless than I wanted it to.
I immediately pulled my hands away from his ankles and scrambled backward on the rug like a panicked cat. Keifer let out a loud, frustrated groan that sounded like a wounded animal. He threw his upper body backward, flopping flat onto his back on the carpet and staring at the ceiling with absolute defeat written all over his handsome face.
"I wasn't touching you, wifey! You were the one leaning in!" he complained loudly, his voice thick with irritation at the terrible timing of whoever was at the door.
I didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer. I scrambled to my feet, my weak legs trembling slightly from the workout and the sheer adrenaline.
I rushed over to the chair, grabbed my oversized t-shirt, and yanked it over my head in one swift motion, hiding my lace bra from view. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Keifer reluctantly push himself up from the floor, grabbing his own dark t-shirt from the bed and pulling it over his chest, though his jaw remained tightly clenched in pure annoyance.
Bang! Bang!
"Ate Jay! Kuya Keifer! Are you guys dead in there? Open up!"
It was Mia. Of course it was Mia.
I took a deep breath, patting my burning cheeks to try and cool them down, and walked over to the door. I turned the lock and pulled it open. Mia was standing in the hallway, her hand raised to knock again, a pout on her face.
She marched right into the room past me. "Ate, why did you take so long to open the door? I've been standing out there for—"
Mia froze mid-sentence. Her sharp eyes darted from my face, which was undoubtedly bright red and flushing, over to Keifer, who was leaning against the bedpost with a dark smirk playing on his lips, his ears still tinged with a furious red color from the abrupt interruption.
A slow, mischievous grin spread across Mia's face. She crossed her arms, looking back and forth between the two of us with an incredibly teasing look in her eyes.
"Oho," Mia purred, her voice dripping with amusement. "Were you two about to give me a little niece or nephew? Because if I interrupted something... personal, you could have just shouted!"
My eyes went wide, and my entire face exploded in a fresh wave of heat. "Mia! Shut up! What are you even talking about?" I stammered, completely flustered, while Keifer let out a low, amused chuckle behind me, clearly enjoying how flustered I was.
Hoping to change the subject before she could tease me any further, I crossed my arms and demanded, "What are you doing here anyway? Why were you banging on the door like the house was on fire?"
Mia clapped her hands together, her playful expression shifting to one of excitement. "Oh, right! I almost forgot because of the heavy atmosphere in here. Kuya Rafael sent me up to inform you guys. Rosie is coming!"
I blinked, the embarrassment instantly vanishing, replaced by a massive shock. My eyes lit up with genuine happiness. "Oh, really? Rosie is coming here today?"
Before Mia could answer, Keifer's deep voice cut through the room. His smirk had vanished, replaced by a slight, confused frown as he looked between the two of us.
"Who is Rosie?" he asked, his tone laced with a protective, cautious edge. He always got suspicious whenever a new name entered our circle.
Mia turned to him, her devious grin returning in full force. She looked at Keifer and said, "Your competition, Kuya."
The moment those words left her mouth, a highly satisfied smirk spread across my own lips. I looked over at Keifer, watching his eyebrows knit together in an immediate, intense frown. He looked completely thrown off, his competitive, possessive nature instantly flaring up at the mention of the word competition.
"Let's go down," I said to Mia, completely ignoring Keifer's demanding gaze. I turned and walked out of the bedroom, feeling a sudden burst of energy. If Keifer wanted to play a game of jealousy and temptation, it looked like the universe had just handed me the perfect secret weapon.
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Keifer's POV
I swear to god, everyone in this house is completely against me.
I stood in the middle of the bedroom, my jaw tight, watching Jay and Mia walk out of the room while whispering and giggling like schoolgirls.
I let out a harsh breath, running a hand through my damp hair. I had been so goddamn close. I had felt Jay's breath on my lips. I had seen her eyes glaze over with desire.
She was less than a second away from kissing me and breaking that ridiculous one-week "no touching" punishment, and then Mia had to ruin it.
And now, apparently, someone named Rosie was coming.
Your competition, Kuya.
Mia's words echoed in my head, making a dark, ugly knot of jealousy tighten deep in my gut. Who the hell was Rosie? Was it some guy from her past? Some friend from Jay life that I hadn't met yet?
The mere thought of another person coming into this house and drawing Jay's attention away from me—especially while I was banned from touching her—made me want to punch a hole through the drywall.
I pulled my dark shirt down, making sure I looked presentable, and marched out of the room. I followed them downstairs, my footsteps heavy and filled with a dark, brooding energy.
I didn't care who this Rosie person was; no one was allowed to compete with me when it came to my wife. She belonged to me, even if she was currently giving me the silent treatment.
When I reached the grand living area downstairs, the house was no longer silent. In fact, it was complete and utter chaos. It looked like the entire Section E and group had finally crawled out of their rooms, and they were already deeply entangled in their usual loud arguments.
I stopped at the edge of the room, observing the madness. Over in the corner, Angelo and his group were huddled around a tablet, their faces dead serious as they discussed something in low, urgent tones. Knowing them, it was probably some security issue or a leftover problem from yesterday's chaotic events.
Meanwhile, right in the center of the living room, a completely ridiculous shouting match was taking place. Aries, Yuri, and Percy were practically standing chest-to-chest, waving their hands wildly in the air as they argued furiously over which local restaurant served the best food.
"I'm telling you, the steakhouse down the street uses premium meat! You guys have zero taste buds!" Aries yelled, slamming his hand on the back of the sofa.
"Are you insane?" Yuri shot back, rolling his eyes dramatically. "That place is overpriced garbage. The seafood place by the harbor has actual fresh catch. You just like eating burnt leather!"
"Both of you are idiots," Percy chimed in, crossing his arms with a smug expression. "The Italian bistro on the corner destroys both of those places combined. Their pasta is literally imported. I swear on my handsome face."
I rolled my eyes at their stupidity, shifting my gaze across the room. The girls—Freya, Rakki,Ella, Grace, and a few others—were gathered around the large kitchen island, chatting happily. Jay had joined them, and she was currently laughing at something Freya said.
Seeing her smile like that, completely relaxed, sent a familiar ache through my chest. I just wanted to walk over, wrap my arms around her waist from behind, and bury my face in her neck. But the memory of her strict warning kept my arms firmly at my sides.
I noticed that Keiren and Keigan were nowhere to be found; they had mentioned last night that they were staying over at a friend's house to escape the post-party cleanup, which left me alone to deal with this chaotic household.
I stood there, leaning against a pillar, my eyes completely locked onto Jay as I admired the way the morning light caught her hair. I was so engrossed in watching her that I almost didn't notice the front door clicking open.
"Atieeeeee!"
A high-pitched, incredibly excited little voice pierced through the loud arguments in the living room.
I turned my head toward the entrance, my muscles tensing as I prepared to see this mysterious "Rosie" competitor.
Instead of a tall, handsome guy stepping into the condo, a tiny, adorable little girl with bouncing curls came tearing through the front door. Her little arms were thrown wide open, her face lit up with a massive, gap-toothed smile as her tiny sneakers puddled across the polished floor.
Jay's entire face transformed. The cool, stubborn expression she had been wearing all morning completely vanished, replaced by pure, unadulterated joy.
She immediately bent down, dropping to her knees, and caught the little girl right in her arms. Jay lifted the toddler up into the air, spinning her around in a circle while the little girl let out a cascade of bright, bell-like giggles.
I blinked, completely stunned. This was my competition? A child?
Before I could even process the sight, another woman stepped through the front door behind the little girl. She was elegant, beautiful, and carried herself with an easy confidence.
She didn't look at any of us; instead, she walked straight past the living room, heading directly toward Rafael, who was standing near the kitchen counter.
Without a single word of warning, the woman stepped up to Rafael, wrapped her hands around his neck, and planted a soft, lingering peck right on his lips.
The entire living room went dead silent.
The argument between Aries, Yuri, and Percy cut off instantly. Angelo stopped talking mid-sentence. Every single person in the room froze, their jaws dropping wide open in absolute, comedic shock. The only two people who didn't look surprised were Jay and Mia, who were both watching the scene with massive, knowing smirks.
"Woahhh... what the hell was that?!" Eman gasped out, his eyes practically popping out of his skull as he stared at Rafael.
"Who is she?" Ion asked, his voice cracking slightly in sheer disbelief.
We all knew Rafael as the serious, quiet, and stoic guy who rarely showed any romantic affection toward anyone. Seeing a woman just casually walk in and kiss him was like seeing a unicorn.
Jay set the little girl down on her feet, keeping a tight grip on her tiny hand, and looked around at the frozen crowd.
"Guys, meet my Ate Zia Vanessa," Jay announced, her voice filled with pride. She then pointed down at the giggling toddler next to her. "And this is Rosie. Kuya Rafael and Ate Zia's daughter."
A collective explosion of noise hit the room.
"Whattt?! Kuya Rafael is married?!" Cin yelled, clutching his head as if his brain had just short-circuited.
"Pinch me, it's a dream. There's no way this is real life," Felix muttered, shaking his head in complete denial.
David, who was standing right next to him, didn't hesitate for a single second. He reached out and pinched Felix's arm incredibly hard.
"Ow! Whacked out! What the hell, David!" Felix winced in pain, rubbing his arm furiously and glaring at his friend.
"You told me to pinch you," David replied calmly, his face completely blank.
Eren, who was staring at Zia with wide eyes, whistled low under his breath. "She is hot, though," he murmured.
Instantly, a lethal, icy glare snapped from Rafael's eyes, locking directly onto Eren. The sheer, murderous intent radiating from Rafael made Eren instantly swallow his words and take a cautious step back behind Angelo.
"She is so adorable!" Freya squealed, running over to look at little Rosie, her hands clutched over her heart.
"Look, Grazel, a new friend," Grace said gently, holding up baby Grazel so she could look at the toddler who had just arrived.
While the entire room was buzzing with shock and introductions, little Rosie's eyes suddenly wandered away from Jay. She looked around the massive living room, her gaze scanning the faces of the crowd until her bright, curious eyes fell directly onto me.
She froze, staring at me for a few seconds. Then, a massive smile broke across her tiny face. She walked right past the girls, marching straight toward me with her tiny hands extended upward, silently demanding to be picked up.
I felt a sudden, soft warmth bloom in my chest. I couldn't help the wide smile that spread across my face. I stepped forward, bent down, and easily scooped the little girl up into my arms, holding her securely against my side.
She was incredibly light, and she immediately wrapped one of her tiny arms around my neck.
Rosie looked over at her mom, Zia, then turned her head back to look at me, checking my face with an incredibly serious, intense expression that looked hilariously mature for a child.
"Ma, I want to marry him," Rosie announced, her little voice carrying clearly across the quiet room.
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Jay's POV
"What?!"
The word left my mouth before I could even stop it. My jaw practically hit the floor as I stared at the tiny toddler currently hooked onto my husband's side.
Rosie didn't care about my shock. She kept her tiny hands on Keifer's cheeks, turning his head slightly as if she were examining a prize possession. She looked down at her mom and then back at the crowd, listing off her reasons with absolute certainty.
"He is handsome, tall... and I think rich also," Rosie said, nodding her head as if she had just made a highly logical business decision.
The entire room erupted into a fresh wave of laughter, but the real kicker came next. Before anyone could say a word, Rosie leaned forward and planted a big, wet, enthusiastic kiss right on Keifer's cheek.
She pulled back, smacking her lips together thoughtfully, and declared, "His kisses are sweet."
Mia completely lost it. She threw her head back, laughing so hard she had to lean against the kitchen counter for support. "I take my words back!" Mia wheezed out, pointing a finger at me. "She is definitely your competition, Ate Jay! Look at her go!"
"Oh, this is iconic," Blaster said, quickly pulling out his phone and aiming the camera directly at Keifer and Rosie. "I am recording every single second of this. The great Keifer Watson being claimed by a four-year-old."
I felt a sudden, sharp spike of something strange in my chest. It wasn't real, bitter anger, but a hilarious, protective wave of possessiveness. Keifer was my husband, and even if it wasy Niece, a little girl, I wasn't about to let someone walk in and claim him on the day I had banned him from touching me!
I walked over to them, keeping my expression soft and gentle as I looked up at the little girl in my husband's arms.
"Baby," I said softly, reaching up to gently pat her curls. "He's my husband. You can't marry him. I will search for a new, handsome husband for you, okay?"
Rosie's tiny lower lip instantly pouted out. She tightened her arms around Keifer's neck, hugging him incredibly tightly, burying her face against his shoulder. "No! I want this one!" she whined loudly, refusing to let go.
I let out a soft chuckle, highly amused by her stubbornness. It ran in the family, clearly. "Why this one, Rosie?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Rosie peeked out from his shoulder, her big eyes looking at me with absolute seriousness. "Because his kisses are sweet! Ma said Dad's kisses are sweet, so they married. This one has sweet kisses too!"
The girls let out a collective "Awww," completely melted by her childish logic, while Zia just covered her face in her hands, shaking her head in pure embarrassment at her daughter's antics.
"But he's my husband, Rosie," I repeated, raising an eyebrow at her, playing along with the little drama.
Rosie looked at me, then looked at Keifer, and then back at me. Without missing a single beat, she shrugged her tiny shoulders and said, "No. Then divorce him."
The room absolutely exploded.
Kuya Angelo put his head down on the table, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Aries and Yuri were practically rolling on the floor, and Rory was cheering loudly.
"Divorce him! You heard the lady, Jay!" Rory shouted.
I snapped my gaze over to Keifer. He was absolutely loving this. The dark, brooding look he had been wearing all morning had completely vanished, replaced by a massive, radiant smile.
He was thoroughly enjoying my sudden wave of jealousy, and before I could even say a word, he burst into loud, deep laughter that vibrated through the room. His dark eyes locked onto mine, completely teasing, filled with a triumphant glint that said, See? You care.
I narrowed my eyes at him, sending him a look of absolute, lethal promise. You are dead, I mouthed to him silently across the small space.
Keifer's laughter faltered for a fraction of a second as he caught my expression. He knew me well enough to understand that look.
He knew that when I went quiet and narrowed my eyes like that, I was planning something dangerous, something that would undoubtedly make his life a living hell for the next six days.
Realizing he needed to diffuse the bomb before it went off, Keifer softened his expression. He looked down at the little girl in his arms, his gaze incredibly gentle. He leaned forward and placed a soft, sweet kiss right on Rosie's forehead.
"I am your Tito, princess," Keifer said, his voice deep, warm, and meltingly soft. "And you can't marry me right now. You have to grow up first. But by the time you grow up, I will be a very old man."
Rosie tilted her head, listening intently as he explained.
"An old man might not be so handsome anymore," Keifer continued, a teasing smirk on his lips as he glanced up at me for a split second. "So... do you really want to marry an old man, Rosie?"
Rosie stopped hugging his neck. She sat back in his arms, her tiny eyebrows drawing together as she thought about his words with absolute, deep concentration for a long moment. She looked at his face, imagining him old, and let out a heavy, disappointed sigh.
"No," Rosie decided, shaking her head firmly. She turned her body toward me, extending her arms out. "Atieee, you can let him be your husband. I don't want an old man."
The crowd let out another massive roar of laughter. I stepped forward, a triumphant smile returning to my face, and took Rosie into my arms.
I leaned down and kissed her soft cheek. "Whatever your Highness wishes," I murmured, feeling a massive sense of victory as I held her.
Before I could say anything else to Keifer, a large shadow fell over us. Rafael stepped forward, his face completely serious as he reached out and took Rosie out of my arms, pulling his daughter securely into his own chest.
Rafael glared directly at Keifer, his voice dropping into a low, warning register that made everyone instantly quiet down.
"Watson," Rafael said, his tone lethal. "Stay the hell away from my daughter."
Keifer just raised his hands in a defensive gesture, his smirk returning in full force as he looked at the protective father. The chaos of the house was back, but as my eyes met Keifer's over the crowd, I knew our little war was far from over.
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Author's Note
Hey my cutie 🥰!!
First and foremost, I want to take a very special, deeply emotional moment to wish every single one of you an incredibly Happy Friendship Day! 🫂🎉❤️
You all are not just my readers; you are the absolute best friends an author could ever dream of having in this creative journey! Your love, your continuous support, and your beautiful energy are what keep me going every single day! 🥺👉👈
I also want to say a massive, massive SORRY to all of you for the unexpected delay in uploading this highly anticipated chapter! 😭 I know you were all waiting anxiously, but unfortunately, it wasn't today—it was actually yesterday that there was a major, complete electricity cut-off in my entire area! 🔌❌
I had absolutely no power, no internet, and no way to finish writing or processing the social media uploads until everything finally came back online today. I felt so bad keeping you all waiting.
I think Little Rosie just completely stole the entire show! 😭🖤 Who would have thought that Keifer's biggest competition wouldn't be some handsome guy from Jay's past, but a fierce, adorable four-year-old demanding a divorce?!
The absolute chaos in this house is unmatched!I am having so much fun writing these dynamics, and seeing Jay get a little protective over her husband—even against a toddler—was the absolute cutest thing ever!
But don't forget, Keifer still has a long week ahead of him, and Jay is definitely planning something dangerous after that look she gave him!.
Stay tuned for next chapter ❤️
See you soon 🫂💗