Chapter 69: That Dangerous Smile
(Jay Jay's POV)
The Watson Mansion was still exploding with chaos.
Not normal chaos.
Section E chaos.
Which meant everything was loud, dramatic, and slightly dangerous.
Blaster had somehow turned the snack tower into a snack castle.
Felix was arguing about the structural stability of chocolate bars.
Ci N was narrating the situation like a documentary.
Ci N:
"And here we observe the rare species known as Section E…"
Eman continued filming.
Eman:
"This is evidence for the future."
Denzel was dancing with Keiren in the middle of the living room.
Which was a terrifying level of energy.
Keiren:
"MORE MUSIC!"
Denzel:
"YES."
Keigen sat on the armrest of the sofa calmly eating chips while watching the madness.
Keigen:
"I leave for a few weeks and this happens."
David sat beside him.
Looking emotionally exhausted.
David:
"This happens every day."
Meanwhile…
I grabbed another handful of chips.
Victory snacks.
Obviously.
Then I looked across the room.
And saw Keifer.
Standing near the kitchen counter.
Watching everything.
But he wasn't just watching.
He was smirking.
And smiling.
Like he was thinking about something.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes.
Then walked toward him.
Jay:
"Keifer."
He looked down at me.
Still smiling slightly.
Keifer:
"Yes?"
I crossed my arms.
Jay:
"Why were you smirking earlier?"
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Keifer:
"When?"
Jay pointed at him accusingly.
Jay:
"Just now."
Jay:
"You were standing there smiling like a villain in a movie."
Keifer laughed quietly.
Keifer:
"That's a very specific accusation."
Jay:
"You were thinking something."
Keifer looked toward the living room.
Where Keiren was now attempting to climb Blaster's shoulders.
Which looked extremely dangerous.
Keifer sighed.
Keifer:
"I was just thinking."
Jay narrowed her eyes again.
Jay:
"That's even more suspicious."
Keifer chuckled.
Then looked back at me.
But this time his expression softened.
Keifer:
"I was watching you."
Jay blinked.
Jay:
"Why?"
Keifer nodded toward the living room.
Keifer:
"With them."
I followed his gaze.
Keiren was now laughing loudly while Felix tried to stop the snack tower from collapsing.
Keigen was still sitting calmly but clearly amused.
Jay:
"What about it?"
Keifer leaned against the counter slightly.
Keifer:
"You handle them well."
Jay shrugged.
Jay:
"They're easy."
Keifer smiled faintly.
Keifer:
"They're not."
He looked at his brothers again.
Keifer:
"They didn't really grow up with… warmth."
I stayed quiet.
Listening.
Keifer continued slowly.
Keifer:
"When our mom died…"
His voice softened slightly.
Keifer:
"The house became quiet."
He watched Keiren laughing.
Keifer:
"Too quiet."
Jay gently touched his arm.
Jay:
"I didn't know that."
Keifer nodded slightly.
Keifer:
"Keiren barely remembers her."
He glanced at Keigen.
Keifer:
"And Keigen pretends he's fine."
Jay looked toward the boys again.
Keiren was now proudly eating chips while explaining something to Blaster.
Keigen laughed softly at something Denzel said.
Jay:
"They're good kids."
Keifer nodded.
Keifer:
"They are."
Then he looked back at me.
That same dangerous smile returning.
Keifer:
"But now you're here."
Jay blinked.
Jay:
"What does that mean?"
Keifer shrugged slightly.
Keifer:
"They like you."
Jay smiled a little.
Jay:
"I like them too."
Keifer crossed his arms.
Still watching me.
Keifer:
"They're getting something they didn't have for a long time."
Jay tilted her head.
Jay:
"What?"
Keifer said it simply.
Keifer:
"Mother's love."
My brain froze.
Jay:
"…what."
Keifer smirked.
Keifer:
"You didn't notice?"
Jay looked back at Keiren.
Who was now clinging to my earlier chip bag like it was treasure.
Jay:
"…maybe."
Then Keifer leaned closer slightly.
And said something that made my brain completely short-circuit.
Keifer:
"I was also thinking something else."
Jay swallowed.
Jay:
"What."
Keifer's smile widened.
Keifer:
"You're going to be an amazing mother."
My brain stopped functioning.
Jay:
"…WHAT."
My face instantly became hot.
Very hot.
Keifer laughed softly.
Jay:
"WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT."
Keifer leaned closer again.
Voice calm.
But teasing.
Keifer:
"Because it's true."
Jay covered my face with my hands.
Jay:
"Oh my god."
Keifer clearly enjoyed this reaction.
Jay:
"That's so embarrassing."
Keifer smirked.
Keifer:
"I didn't finish my thought."
Jay peeked through my fingers nervously.
Jay:
"You should stop."
Keifer ignored that.
Of course.
Keifer leaned closer and whispered.
Keifer:
"I was thinking you'd be a great mother to our children."
My entire brain exploded.
Jay:
"KEIFER."
I shoved his shoulder lightly.
Face completely red.
Jay:
"YOU'RE INSANE."
Keifer laughed.
Clearly enjoying my suffering.
Jay:
"We're literally seventeen!"
Keifer shrugged calmly.
Keifer:
"I'm planning ahead."
Jay hid my face again.
Jay:
"You're unbelievable."
Keifer gently pulled my hands away.
Still smiling.
Keifer:
"You're cute when you blush."
Jay:
"Stop talking."
Keifer:
"No."
Meanwhile across the room—
Keiren shouted suddenly.
Keiren:
"JAY JAY!"
Jay:
"What?!"
Keiren pointed at the snack tower.
Keiren:
"IT FELL."
Blaster screamed.
Blaster:
"THE STRUCTURE!"
Felix sighed dramatically.
Felix:
"This was inevitable."
I looked back at Keifer.
Still blushing slightly.
Jay:
"This conversation is not finished."
Keifer smirked.
Keifer:
"I hope not."
Then I ran back to help Keiren rebuild the snack tower.
Trying very hard not to think about what Keifer just said.
Unfortunately…
My face was still very red.
And Keifer was definitely still smiling.