Two weeks later. Friday night.
Jay sat in her room, getting ready. Hair done. Makeup perfect. Dress new. Red. Keifer's favorite.
She was nervous.
Not because of anything bad. Because tonight was special.
Keifer had planned something. Wouldn't tell her what. Just said: Dress nice. My place. 7pm. Don't be late.
Her phone buzzed.
Keifer: On my way to get you.
Jay: I can drive myself.
Keifer: I know. I want to pick you up.
Jay: Romantic.
Keifer: Shut up.
Jay: Make me.
Keifer: Soon.
She smiled. Grabbed her clutch. Headed downstairs.
Both families were in the living room. Pretending not to watch.
"Where are you going?" Mama Reycee asked. Innocent.
"Dinner. With Keifer."
"Alone?"
"Yes, Mama. Alone."
Jasfer nodded. "Good. Alone time is important."
Percy snorted. "Alone time. Sure."
Jay threw a pillow. He caught it.
Aries crossed his arms. "Be home by—"
"Don't," Ella said. "Just don't."
"Fine. Be safe."
Jay kissed his cheek. "Always."
The doorbell rang.
Jay opened it.
Keifer stood there. Suit. Hair perfect. Flowers in hand.
Red roses.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
"These are for you."
She took them. "They're beautiful."
"You're beautiful."
Behind her, the family swooned.
Keizer yelled, "SMOOTH, SON!"
Keifer ignored him. Just looked at Jay.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
She turned. Handed the flowers to Mama Reycee. "Be right back."
"Take your time!" Reycee called. "LOTS of time!"
Jay rolled her eyes. Took Keifer's hand.
They left to cheers.
The car ride was quiet. Comfortable.
Jay looked at him. "You're being mysterious."
"Am I?"
"Yes. Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"Keifer."
"Jay."
She laughed. Gave up.
They pulled up to a building. Private. Rooftop.
Keifer helped her out. Led her to an elevator.
They went up. Doors opened.
Jay gasped.
The rooftop was transformed. Fairy lights everywhere. A small table in the middle. Candles. Roses. City lights behind.
Soft music played.
"Keifer... this is..."
"Too much?"
"Perfect." She turned to him. "It's perfect."
He almost-smiled. "Good."
They sat. Ate. Talked. Laughed.
Real food. Real conversation. No families. No work. Just them.
Halfway through, Jay reached across the table. Took his hand.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?"
"For this. For us. For everything."
He squeezed her hand. "I should thank you."
"For what?"
"For not giving up on me. That first meeting, I was cold. Rude. You still came back."
"I came back to fight."
"Same thing." He almost-smiled. "You fought. You stayed. You made me feel things I didn't know I could feel."
Jay's eyes got wet. "Keifer..."
"I love you, Jay. More than anything. More than work. More than my company. More than myself."
A tear fell. She didn't care.
"I love you too," she whispered. "So much it scares me."
"Don't be scared." He stood. Pulled her up. Held her close. "I'm not going anywhere."
They kissed. Slow. Deep. Perfect.
After dinner, they stood at the edge of the rooftop. City below. Stars above.
"This is the best date I've ever had," Jay said.
"Only date?"
"Best one."
"Good." He kissed her temple. "I have something for you."
She turned. "Another gift? Keifer, this whole night is a gift."
"This is different."
He pulled out a small box.
Jay's heart stopped.
"Keifer..."
"It's not what you think." He opened it.
A necklace. Simple. Delicate. A small J and K intertwined.
"I wanted you to have something," he said. "To remind you. Us. Always."
Jay stared at it. Then at him.
"You're going to kill me one day," she whispered. "With all this sweetness."
"Is that bad?"
"No." She laughed. Cried a little. "It's perfect."
He turned her around. Put the necklace on. Clasped it.
She touched it. Looked down.
"I love it," she said. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed again.
Later, they lay on a blanket he'd set up. Stars above. City sounds below.
Jay traced patterns on his chest.
"Hey," she said.
"Mm?"
"Remember when we hated each other?"
"Vaguely."
"You called my proposal bad."
"Your numbers were off."
"My ideas were good."
"Eventually." He kissed her hair. "You were always good. I just didn't want to admit it."
"Why not?"
"Because if I admitted it, I'd have to admit I liked you."
"And that was scary?"
"Terrifying." He looked at her. "You're terrifying."
She laughed. "Good."
"The best kind of terrifying."
She propped herself up. Looked at him.
"I'm glad you were scared," she said.
"You are?"
"Yeah. Means it mattered."
He pulled her closer. "It mattered. You matter. Forever."
"Forever's a long time."
"Not long enough."
She kissed him.
"I love you, Keifer Watson."
"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."
"Our kids are gonna be so annoying."
"The most annoying."
"Perfect."
"Perfect."
They got home at midnight.
Both families waited in the living room. Pretending to watch a movie.
Jay walked in. Keifer behind her.
Keizer immediately: "HOW WAS IT?"
Jay laughed. "It was perfect."
Mama Reycee noticed the necklace. "What's that?"
Jay touched it. Smiled. "A gift."
Serina smiled. "From Keifer?"
"Yes."
The room melted.
Keiren ran over. "Ate! Did you have fun?"
"Lots of fun, Keiren."
"Good. Kuya needs fun. He's always grumpy."
Everyone laughed.
Keifer didn't deny it.
Percy pointed at them. "So. When's the wedding?"
Jay threw a pillow. Keifer caught it.
"Not yet," Keifer said.
"But soon," Jay added.
Everyone gasped.
"SOON?" Keizer yelled. "SOON MEANS WHAT?"
Jay looked at Keifer. He looked at her.
"It means," Jay said slowly, "that when it happens, you'll know."
Jasfer grabbed Mama Reycee. "I'M NOT READY."
Aries nodded. "Same."
Ella hugged him. "You'll be fine."
Keigan was already recording. "This is going in the archives."
Keiren tugged Serina's sleeve. "Mommy, what's a wedding?"
"It's when two people who love each other get married, baby."
"Like Kuya and Ate?"
"Yes, baby."
"GOOD. I wanna be the ring holder."
Jay laughed. "You can be whatever you want, baby."
"YES!"
The chaos continued.
Jay leaned into Keifer.
"Your family," she murmured.
"Our family."
"Yeah." She smiled. "Our family."
He kissed her forehead.
"Forever," he whispered.
"Forever," she agreed.
Later, in bed, Jay stared at her ceiling.
Texted Keifer: Tonight was perfect. Thank you.
Keifer: You're perfect. Goodnight, love.
Jay: Goodnight, baby. Sweet dreams.
Keifer: Dream of me.
Jay: Always.
She touched the necklace. Smiled.
Hate to love.
Best thing that ever happened.