The hospital room door burst open.
Not knocked.
Burst.
Jay didn't even look up from Keifer's chart.
"…I knew this would happen."
"JAY MARIANO!"
Her mother's voice filled the entire hallway.
Jay sighed slowly.
Right on cue.
The Mariano family stormed in first.
Reycee Mariano was at the front, eyes wide with panic, clutching her handbag like it was a weapon.
Behind her came Jasfer, Aries, and Percy.
Percy immediately pointed dramatically at Keifer in the hospital bed.
"I KNEW IT."
"You knew nothing," Jay said flatly.
"You called me dead five hours ago!"
"Still an option."
Reycee rushed straight to the bed.
"Keifer, anak, are you alright? I heard you coughed blood! BLOOD!"
Keifer blinked.
"Good evening, Tita Reycee."
"Do not good-evening me! Are you dying?!"
"No, ma'am."
"Are you almost dying?"
"No, ma'am."
Jay pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Mom, he's fine. Inflamed bronchial vessel. Minor rupture. Controlled."
Reycee stared at her.
"Why did a nurse call me instead of my own daughter?"
"…Because nurses are traitors."
Percy gasped.
"They love gossip more than oxygen."
Aries walked over to Keifer, calmer than the rest.
"You okay?"
"Alive."
"Good."
Percy squinted at him.
"Wait… are you sitting comfortably?"
"Yes."
"Why do you look relaxed after coughing blood?"
"Because Jay threatened the illness into submission."
Jay glared.
"I did not threaten the illness."
"You absolutely did."
Before she could respond—
The door opened again.
And the Watsons arrived.
Chaos level doubled.
Keiren ran in first.
"KUYA!"
He stopped dramatically beside the bed, staring at the oxygen tube.
His eyes widened.
"YOU ARE DYING."
"I am not dying."
"YOU HAVE HOSPITAL NOSE THING."
"That's oxygen."
"That's what dying people use."
Keifer rubbed his forehead.
"Keiren…"
Serina Watson walked in next, graceful but clearly worried.
"Keifer."
"I'm fine, Mom."
"You coughed blood."
"It happens."
"It absolutely does not."
Keizer followed behind her, calm but sharp-eyed.
"Son."
"Dad."
"You look alive."
"I am."
"Good."
Keigan walked in last, already filming on his phone.
"This is insane."
Jay stared at him.
"Are you recording inside my hospital?"
"This is family documentation."
Percy leaned into frame.
"HELLO INTERNET."
Jay pointed at both of them.
"Put the phones down."
Neither moved.
Then—
A quiet voice from the doorway spoke.
"Everyone calm down."
Grandfather Watson.
The entire room went silent.
Even Percy shut up.
The old man walked slowly inside, leaning on his cane.
He looked at Keifer.
Then at Jay.
Then at the oxygen tube.
"Hm."
Keifer straightened slightly.
"Grandfather."
"You look dramatic."
"I'm fine."
"You're in a hospital bed."
Jay stepped forward.
"He's stable. The bleeding stopped hours ago."
Grandfather Watson studied her.
"You stayed all night."
It wasn't a question.
Jay didn't answer.
He nodded slowly.
"Good."
Percy whispered loudly to Aries.
"Why is he scary but also nice."
"Because he's old rich."
"That explains nothing."
Meanwhile, Keiren had climbed halfway onto the hospital bed.
"Kuya, if you die can I have your car?"
Serina gasped.
"KEIREN!"
Keifer looked at him.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not dying."
"Okay but if you do—"
Jay lifted Keiren off the bed.
"No inheritance planning today."
Keiren looked at her seriously.
"Jay."
"Yes?"
"If Kuya dies you can marry someone else."
The entire room froze.
Keifer slowly turned his head.
Jay blinked.
Percy choked.
"THIS CHILD IS SAVAGE."
Keiren continued thoughtfully.
"But not someone ugly."
Serina covered her face.
"I am so sorry."
Jay burst out laughing.
Keifer pointed at his little brother.
"Traitor."
Grandfather Watson chuckled quietly.
Then Keizer stepped forward.
"So what actually happened?"
Jay switched instantly into doctor mode.
"Stress-induced coughing ruptured a bronchial vessel. Temporary bleeding. No structural lung damage. We've stabilized him."
Keizer nodded.
"Recovery?"
"Two weeks minimal stress."
Everyone slowly turned to Keifer.
Percy grinned.
"You're doomed."
Aries crossed his arms.
"No work."
Serina added immediately.
"No meetings."
Keizer nodded.
"No company stress."
Keigan raised a finger.
"No yelling at employees."
Keifer looked at Jay.
"You started this."
Jay smiled sweetly.
"You coughed blood."
Grandfather Watson tapped his cane.
"Doctor's orders stand."
Keifer groaned.
"I run a corporation."
Jay crossed her arms.
"And I run the hospital you're currently admitted to."
Percy leaned forward.
"Checkmate."
The room burst into laughter.
For the first time that day, Jay finally relaxed.
She leaned against the wall, watching the two families fill the hospital room.
Marianos.
Watsons.
Arguing.
Laughing.
Panicking over Keifer.
And Keifer watched her.
Softly.
Like he always did.
She caught his gaze.
"You're smiling," he said.
"Because you're alive."
"I was always alive."
"You scared me."
His voice softened.
"I know."
Percy suddenly clapped loudly.
"ANYWAY."
Everyone looked at him.
"I propose something important."
Jay groaned.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"ENGAGEMENT DINNER TOMORROW."
Jay threw a pillow at him.
"GET OUT."