Saturday morning. Mariano house.
Jay woke up feeling like someone was stabbing her lower stomach.
She groaned. Curled into a ball. Pulled the covers over her head.
"Kill me now," she mumbled.
Her phone buzzed.
Keifer: Morning love. How do you feel?
Jay: Like dying.
Keifer: Fever back?
Jay: Worse. Cramps.
Keifer: I'm coming over.
Jay: No. Stay. I'm miserable.
Keifer: Exactly why I'm coming.
Jay: Keifer—
Keifer: Too late. Already in car.
Jay stared at her phone. Then smiled. Then groaned because smiling hurt.
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Percy answered. Saw Keifer. "Dude. It's 8 am."
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs. But fair warning—"
Keifer was already gone.
Percy sighed. Texted Honey: Your boss is here. Being adorable.
Honey: For Jay?
Percy: Obviously.
Honey: Send pics.
Percy: Of them? That's weird.
Honey: Of him being soft. For proof.
Percy: On it.
Keifer walked into Jay's room without knocking.
She was a lump under the covers. Only hair visible.
"Jay."
"Go away."
"No."
He sat on the bed. Pulled the covers down gently.
Her face was pale. Hair messy. Eyes closed.
"You look terrible," he said softly.
"Thanks. Love you too."
He almost-smiled. "I brought things."
She opened one eye. "What things?"
He pulled items from a bag.
Heat pad. Chocolate. Painkillers. Her favorite snacks. A fluffy blanket.
Jay stared. "You... went shopping?"
"This morning. Before coming."
"For me?"
"For you."
Her eyes got wet. "Stupid hormones," she muttered. "Making me cry."
He kissed her forehead. "It's okay. Cry if you want."
"I don't cry."
"You cried at that movie last week."
"That was different."
"Sure."
She punched his arm weakly. He let her.
Then he plugged in the heat pad. Handed it to her.
"Put this on your stomach."
She did. Sighed in relief.
"Better?"
"So much better." She looked at him. "You didn't have to do this."
"I know."
"But you did."
"Because I love you."
Jay's heart melted.
"Come here," she whispered.
He lay down beside her. Careful. Gentle. Pulled her close.
She curled into him. Heat pad between them. His arms around her.
"This is nice," she murmured.
"Good."
"Even though I'm dying."
"You're not dying."
"Feels like it."
He kissed her hair. "I know, baby. I'm sorry."
She looked up at him. "You're being really sweet."
"I'm always sweet."
"You're literally called the ice king."
"Not around you."
She smiled. "True."
They lay there. Quiet. Comfortable.
Downstairs, the Mariano family was slowly waking up.
Jasfer walked into the kitchen. Saw Percy on his phone, grinning.
"Why are you smiling at 8 am?"
"Keifer's here."
Jasfer paused. "Now?"
"He came to take care of Jay. She has cramps."
Jasfer's face softened. "He came for cramps?"
"Brought a whole bag of stuff. Heat pad. Chocolate. The works."
Mama Reycee walked in. Heard the last part. "Wait. Keifer came over at 8 am because Jay has period cramps?"
"Yes."
"And he brought supplies?"
"Yes."
"And he's upstairs with her right now?"
"Yes."
Reycee grabbed Jasfer's arm. "I'm gonna cry."
Jasfer nodded. "Me too."
Aries stumbled in, yawning. "Why is everyone emotional?"
"Keifer's taking care of Jay. Cramps."
Aries blinked. "He came for cramps?"
"YES," everyone said.
Aries was quiet. Then: "Okay. He's family now. Official."
Ella appeared behind him. "Took you long enough."
"He passed the test."
"What test?"
"The 'will he take care of her when she's miserable' test. He passed."
Ella smiled. "Good."
An hour later, the doorbell rang again.
The Watson family. All of them.
Keizer burst in. "WHERE'S MY SON? WHERE'S JAY?"
Percy pointed upstairs. "But they're—"
Keizer was already halfway up.
Jasfer ran after him. "KEIZER. WAIT."
Too late.
Keizer burst into Jay's room.
Jay and Keifer on the bed. Her curled into him. Him holding her. Heat pad between them.
They both looked up.
Keizer froze.
Then grinned. "CUTE."
Jay hid her face. Keifer glared.
"Dad. Out."
"BUT YOU'RE SO CUTE."
"OUT."
Keizer left. But not before taking a photo.
Downstairs, he showed everyone. "LOOK. FUTURE HUSBAND MATERIAL."
Serina smiled. "He's taking care of her."
Keigan grabbed the phone. "This is going in the group chat."
Keiren tugged Serina's sleeve. "Can I see Ate?"
"Later, baby. She's resting."
"But I wanna give her a drawing I made."
Serina melted. "Okay. Quick. Then we let her rest."
Keiren ran upstairs with his drawing.
Knocked on the door.
"Come in," Jay called.
He opened the door. Walked to the bed. Held up a crayon drawing.
It was... stick figures. One said "Kuya." One said "Ate." Hearts everywhere.
Jay's eyes got wet again. "Keiren... this is beautiful."
"Really?"
"Really. I'm gonna frame it."
His face lit up. "Promise?"
"Promise."
He hugged her. Careful not to squish her. Then ran out.
"Mommy! She likes it!"
Serina smiled. "Of course she does, baby."
Back in the room, Jay looked at the drawing. Then at Keifer.
"Your family," she said.
"Our family."
"Yeah." She smiled. "Our family."
He kissed her forehead. "Feeling better?"
"Much. You help."
"Good."
"Stay longer?"
"All day."
"What about work?"
"Canceled."
"Keifer."
"Jay." He looked at her. "Work doesn't matter. You do."
She kissed him. Soft. Sweet.
"Love you," she whispered.
"Love you too. Even when you're stabbing."
"Stabbing?"
"Cramps. Stabbing you. I hate it for you."
She laughed. "You're cute."
"I'm not cute."
"You're literally feeding me chocolate in bed. That's cute."
He fed her another piece. She ate it. Smiled.
"Best boyfriend ever," she said.
"Only boyfriend ever."
"Still the best."
He almost-smiled. "Yeah. You're stuck with me."
"Good."
They stayed in bed all day. Watching movies. Eating snacks. Ignoring the chaos downstairs.
Both families took turns checking on them. Bringing food. Making sure Jay was okay.
By evening, Jay felt human again.
She walked downstairs with Keifer. Hand in hand.
Everyone cheered.
"SHES ALIVE!"
"FEEL BETTER BABY?"
"ATE IS UP!"
Jay laughed. "I'm fine, guys. Relax."
Mama Reycee pulled her into a hug. "You scared us."
"I had cramps. Not the plague."
"Still. We worry."
Keizer patted Keifer's back. "Good job, son. You passed."
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Passed what?"
"The boyfriend test. Taking care of her when she's down. Important stuff."
Keifer looked at Jay. "There were tests?"
"Apparently." She grinned. "You passed."
"Good."
"Very good."
He pulled her close. Kissed her hair.
The families watched. Swooning.
Percy whispered to Honey on the phone: "They're so disgusting. I love it."
Honey laughed. "Send pics."
"Always."
That night, Keifer stayed for dinner.
Both families. One table. Chaos as usual.
Jay sat next to Keifer. His hand on her knee under the table.
"You good?" he murmured.
"Perfect." She leaned into him. "Thanks for today."
"Always."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
Little Keiren raised his juice box. "TO ATE!"
Everyone raised their glasses.
"TO JAY!"
Jay laughed. Blushed. Raised her glass.
"To family," she said.
Keifer squeezed her knee.
"To our family," he corrected.
She smiled.
"Our family."
Perfect.