Congratulations readers! Because I am alive and you finally got chapter after so many days!!! Cheers!!!!
(Jay's POV)
The morning sun was shining brightly through the kitchen window, and my stomach was making very loud rumbling sounds. We had just finished a giant breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and extra crispy bacon, but my brain was already deeply focused on what we were going to eat for lunch. Specifically, I was daydreaming about a triple-decker ham sandwich with extra mayonnaise and maybe a giant bag of sour cream and onion potato chips.
Instead of eating lunch, however, I was currently running for my life.
Well, I was not actually running for my life, but it felt just as intense. We were playing a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. The person who was chosen to count was none othet than Kiara . She was a ball of pure, chaotic energy, and she had promised to find us in less than two minutes.
"Ninety-eight! Ninety-nine! One hundred! Ready or not, here I come!" Kiara's loud, booming voice echoed from the downstairs living room all the way up to the second floor.
I giggled quietly and squeezed myself further into the deep, dark corners of the walk-in closet inside the bedroom I shared with Keifer, my fiancé, only mine. Be jealous as always!
This walk-in closet was absolute perfection. It was packed with rows and rows of fluffy winter coats, tall stacks of designer shoe boxes, and long dresses that hung down like heavy curtains. I hid right at the very back, completely covered by a massive, oversized faux-fur coat that smelled faintly of lavender laundry detergent. It was the ultimate hiding spot. No one would ever find me here. I could probably take a nice, long nap, or even better, sneak a chocolate bar from my secret stash if I had remembered to bring one.
Sadly, my pockets were completely empty, which was a true tragedy.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door of the bedroom burst open with a loud thud. Feet came pounding across the carpet, sounding like a panicked elephant trying to escape a safari. The closet door flew open, and a bright beam of light cut through my dark paradise.I poked my eyes out from behind the fur coat, ready to hiss like an angry cat at whoever was ruining my perfect spot.
It was Keifer. He was panting heavily, his hair messy, and his eyes wide with absolute terror. He was looking around the closet wildly, turning his head left and right like a confused bird.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered loudly, throwing a stray shoe at his leg to get his attention. "Go away! Find your own spot! This is my kingdom!"
Keifer gasped, finally spotting me in the darkness. Instead of running away like a good fiancé, a look of pure relief washed over his handsome face. He practically dove into the closet and slid the door shut behind him, plunging us right back into total darkness.
"Jay, thank goodness," Keifer breathed out, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. "There is absolutely no other place in this entire house to hide. The house is too big, but Kiara knows all the usual spots as she looked around every single corner of house yesterday. She already checked under the guest bed and behind the living room curtains in her mind, I just know it! I need to stay here."
"No way, Mr. Watson ," I complained, planting my hands on my hips, even though he could not see me in the dark.
"There is definitely less space in here now. You are too big. You are like a giant tree, and you are taking up all my precious oxygen. Also, you are standing on my favorite sneaker."
"Shh! She is coming up the stairs!" Keifer whispered urgently.
To solve the space problem, Keifer did not leave. Instead, he reached out in the dark, grabbed me by my waist, and effortlessly picked me up. Before I could even protest or kick my legs, he sat down flat on the closet floor and pulled me down right onto his lap.
I ended up sitting directly on his lap, with my back resting snugly against his warm chest. His long legs wrapped around me to keep us compact, and his arms came around my middle.
It was actually surprisingly comfortable. It felt like being hugged by a giant, warm teddy bear. My mind instantly wondered if teddy bears liked to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, and if so, if we could make some after this game was over.
"Is this better, wifey?" Keifer whispered right into my ear, his breath tickling my neck.
"I suppose so, Mr. Watson," I whispered back, blushing a little bit in the dark. "But if we get caught because of your giant feet sticking out, I am eating your share of the dessert tonight."
"Tss... You and your Mr. Waston. Anyways, Deal wifey," he chuckled softly.
Just as we settled into our tight little bundle, Kiara's loud voice boomed from the hallway outside our bedroom. "I smell fear! And I smell Keifer's expensive cologne! I am going to find you both and tickle you until you cry for mercy!"
We both froze. Keifer's arms tightened around my waist.
Then, another voice joined the hunt. It was a sweet, gentle, yet highly amused voice that made our ears perk up. It was Mom. Biggest betrayal of my life! She's definitely being Team Kiara!
"Oh, Kiara, darling! Let me help you!" Serina called out cheerfully from the hallway. "I know exactly how Keifer thinks. He always hides in places that have easy access to his office because he would never like to leave his CEO persona!"
My eyes widened in the dark. I turned my head slightly to look at Keifer, though I could only see the outline of his sharp jaw. "Wow," I whispered, my voice trembling in fake dramatic horror. "Now we have two ladies ready to ghost bust us. Your mom is a professional tracker, Keifer. We are doomed."
"My mom is supposed to be on my side," Keifer whispered back, sounding genuinely betrayed. "This is unfair. This is a betrayal of the highest order."
We heard the sound of footsteps entering our bedroom. They were walking slowly, deliberately, deliberately mimicking the creepy footsteps from a horror movie. Thud. Thud. Thud.
My throat felt completely dry, and it was cracking from pure fear. Or maybe it was cracking because I had not had a sip of water since breakfast. A nice, ice-cold glass of lemonade sounded absolutely heavenly right now. With sugar around the rim. Yes, definitely with sugar.
Keifer was clearly terrified too. He was holding my waist tightly with one hand, anchoring me against him. His other hand found my hand in the darkness and squeezed it gently, trying to offer comfort, but his palm was slightly sweaty.
It was a sweet gesture, but we were both trembling like two wet Chihuahuas in a thunderstorm.
The footsteps stopped directly in front of our walk-in closet door.
We held our breath. I literally stopped inhaling. Keifer stopped breathing too. The silence in the closet was so loud I could hear my own heartbeat going bump-bump, bump-bump.
We saw the silver doorknob begin to wiggle. It turned slowly. Creak... Mom was about to open the closet door. I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the loud, triumphant screams of victory from our hunters. I prepared myself mentally to lose the game and be forced to make lunch for everyone.
But suddenly, before the door could swing open, Kiara's voice screamed from across the hallway.
"Mom! Mom, come here quickly! I found a highly suspicious spot in the hallway closet! There are blankets moved around! I think the target is inside!"
We heard Serina let go of our doorknob. "Oh! Splendid! Let's get him!" she cried out. Then, the sound of loud, rapid footsteps faded away as both women ran out of our bedroom and down the hallway to investigate the wrong closet.
Keifer and I simultaneously let out a massive, synchronized sigh of relief. Our shoulders dropped.
"Oh thank goodness," Keifer gasped, his grip loosening just a tiny bit. "That was way too close. My heart is beating faster than a sports car."
"My stomach is beating faster than a sports car," I whispered back. "We need to check if the coast is clear. Maybe we can escape to the kitchen and grab a snack while they are busy tearing up the hallway closet."
"Good idea," Keifer agreed. "Let's peek outside just a little bit."
Moving very slowly and carefully, like two secret agents on a highly dangerous mission, we slid forward on the floor. We kept our bodies close together. We gently pushed the closet door open just a tiny crack—barely two inches wide.
Because we were trying to see through the tiny gap at the same time, we had our heads joined together tightly. My temple was pressed right against his temple. Our hair was tangled up, and we were both squinting with one eye through the crack, trying to scan the bedroom area.
The bedroom looked completely empty. The sun was hitting the bed covers, and everything was perfectly still.
But then, my eye traveled downwards, toward the space right in front of the crack.
There was a person standing there. More specifically, there was a pair of legs standing right in front of the closet door. My gaze slowly traveled up the legs, past a pair of blue jeans, up to a brightly colored t-shirt, and finally to a face that was leaning down, staring directly back into the crack with a massive, mischievous grin.
It was a girl. A girl with a face that looked very, very familiar.
I blinked once. I blinked twice. I turned my head slightly to look at Keifer, our noses practically rubbing together because we were so close.
"Hubby..." I whispered, my voice shaking like jelly. "Isn't that girl looking exactly like Kiara?"
Keifer stared through the crack, his eyes growing as large as dinner plates. He swallowed hard. "Yes, wifey... that is definitely her."
Suddenly, the closet door was violently yanked wide open, throwing bright afternoon sunlight all over us.
Kiara stood there, leaning over with her hands on her knees, staring down at us with a giant, evil smirk.
"Because the girl is Kiara only, you absolute lovebirds!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, pointing a finger at us dramatically.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Keifer and I both screamed in pure, unadulterated shock. The surprise was so absolute and total that we both jumped backward at the exact same time. Because we were tangled up in each other's limbs and sitting on top of each other, we lost our balance completely. We tumbled backward into the pile of winter coats, falling down in a clumsy heap of arms, legs, and faux fur.
Before we could even figure out which way was up, Serina walked into the bedroom from behind Kiara. She was holding a small camera and laughing so hard that tears were coming out of her eyes. She was practically doubling over with amusement.
"Oh, my sweet children," Serina gasped for air, wiping her eyes. "I listened to you both whispering about tight space and lack of oxygen through the door! You two are terrible at being quiet. Kiara and I decided to play a little prank on you. We pretended to run away so you would think you were safe!"
"You... you cheated!" I shouted, my face turning as red as a ripe tomato. I quickly scrambled up from the floor, but instead of standing up to fight them, the sheer embarrassment overtook me. I turned around, threw myself back onto Keifer's chest, and buried my face deeply into his shirt to hide my flaming red cheeks. "You both cheated! That is not how you play hide-and-seek! This is psychological warfare!"
Keifer, instead of being upset, just wrapped his arms around me and let out a loud, booming laugh that vibrated right through his chest against my cheek. "Oh, wow. They completely got us, Jay. We were totally outsmarted by Team Cobra."
"Hey! Don't laugh at our defeat, Keifer!" I mumbled miserably against his chest, though I couldn't help but smile a little bit because his laugh was so infectious. "Our dignity is completely gone. Destroyed. Wiped off the map."
"Don't worry, sister-in-law," Kiara teased, walking into the closet and plucking a stray piece of purple tinsel from my hair. "Your dignity was already gone when you chose to hide in a closet with a guy who wears cologne that smells like a fancy department store. Now, come on out. The losers have to wash the lunch dishes!"
"Lunch?!" I popped my head up instantly, my embarrassment completely forgotten at the mention of food. "Did someone say lunch? Because if there is food involved, I will happily accept my defeat."
Serina smiled warmly, stepping forward to help us both up from the pile of clothes. "Yes, dear. I made a giant batch of chicken salad sandwiches and fresh potato chips."
I looked at Keifer, my eyes sparkling with joy. "See, hubby? Losing isn't so bad after all. Now move your giant legs, I need to get to that kitchen before Kiara eats all the chips!"
Keifer just shook his head, laughing as he followed me out, completely resigned to the beautiful, chaotic madness of his family.
We all walked down to the kitchen, the sound of our laughter filling the hallway. My mind was entirely focused on the chicken salad sandwiches. I hoped Serina put celery in them for that nice, crispy crunch. A good crunch makes a sandwich ten times better, which is a scientifically proven fact in my book.
Kiara was walking right next to Keifer, bumping her shoulder against his arm playfully. "So, twin bro, tell me the truth. Were you really crying tears of fear in that closet? Because I swear I heard a little squeak."
"I did not squeak, Kiara," Keifer said, trying to sound very dignified and serious. He puffed out his chest and held his chin up high. "I was merely protecting my fiancé from the harsh environment of a dusty closet. I am a gentleman."
Of course u are Keifer!!!!!
"Oh, please," I chimed in, looking back at him with a giant grin. "You were shaking like a leaf, Keifer. Your palm was sweaty. I think you were using me as a human shield."
"Jay! Whose side are you on? " Keifer cried out, looking completely betrayed all over again. He looked at Serina for help. "Mom, tell them I am brave. Tell them about the time I chased a giant spider out of the living room when I was ten."
Serina tapped her chin thoughtfully, a small, teasing smile on her lips. "Well, if I remember correctly, dear, you didn't chase the spider. You threw a textbook at it from across the room, missed completely, broke my favorite vase, and then ran outside screaming for Aries and Percy to help you."
Kiara burst into a loud, roaring laugh, slapping her knee. "Oh, that is classic! That is the twin brother I always wanted! A true hero!"
"I love this family," I declared happily, sliding into a kitchen chair. "The roast is top-tier."
Keifer sighed dramatically, but he had a huge smile on his face as he sat down next to me. He reached over and pinched my cheek gently. "Just wait, wifey. Next time we play, I am again hiding with you, and I will win the trophy."
"There is no trophy, Keifer," Kiara said, grabbing a sandwich from the platter Serina placed on the table. "The only trophy is survival. And right now, you are losing the roasted-by-your-family game."
As we all dove into the delicious sandwiches, the kitchen was filled with the happy sounds of chewing, giggling, and constant teasing. I took a huge bite of my sandwich—it had the perfect amount of crunch—and decided that hiding in a cramped closet with my favorite person was totally worth the hilarious scare.
After eating about five chicken salad sandwiches and a mountain of crispy potato chips, my stomach was finally happy. We all moved into the massive living room to relax. The afternoon sun was warm and lazy, filling the room with a nice golden glow. I was feeling incredibly full and content. In fact, I was so comfortable that I didn't even want to sit like a normal person.
I walked over to the large, plush sofa where Keifer was sitting. Instead of sitting next to him, I just plopped right down and used his lap as my personal pillow. I lay flat on my back, resting my head perfectly on his thighs. It was the best spot in the house. Keifer didn't even blink. He was used to me treating him like a human mattress. He just shifted a little bit to make me comfortable, his hand naturally coming down to rest on my shoulder.
Right next to his legs, a large, glowing laptop screen was open. Keifer was currently looking at the intense monthly reports of Watson Enterprises. He was still the big CEO of the company (even if he doesn't gets time to work after all my melodrama) , which meant he had to do a lot of very important work stuff.
He was looking at numbers, charts, and graphs. His handsome face was fixed in a serious business look, his eyebrows frowning slightly as he read through everything.
I reached up and tapped his chin. "Hey, Mr. Big Boss. Don't look so serious. You're going to get wrinkles, and then I'll have to buy you anti-aging cream for your birthday instead of video games".
Keifer looked down at me, his serious face melting into a soft grin. He pinched my nose gently. "Someone has to do the hard work around here, wifey. These employee performance reviews won't read themselves. If I don't check who is doing a good job, the whole company might turn into a chaotic mess, just like this living room right now."
He had a point about the room being chaotic. I looked across the coffee table to the other sofa, and I immediately burst out laughing. Kiara was lying there in the most hilarious position I had ever seen a human body take. She was completely upside down. Her head was dangling off the edge of the sofa cushion, almost touching the carpet, while her legs were kicked up high in the air, resting flat against the backrest of the couch. Her arms were flopped out to the sides like a bird that had crashed.
"Hey, twin brother," Kiara called out, her voice sounding funny because all the blood was rushing to her head. "Being a CEO sounds super boring. You should fire the people who don't bring you snacks. That is what a real boss would do."
"That is exactly why you are not allowed near the office, Kiara," Keifer chuckled, eyes moving back to his laptop screen.
In the corner of the room, near the large glass window, Serina was holding her phone to her ear. She was making a phone call to my dad, Jaspher.
"Oh, Jaspher! You should have seen them earlier!" Serina giggled into the phone, her voice full of joy. "We played hide-and-seek, and your lovely daughter Jay almost died of fear in the closet with Keifer. They looked like two scared little birds! Yes, yes, they are doing wonderfully. We are having so much fun!"
Hearing Mom talk about the past made Kiara lift her head up from her upside-down position. She looked over at me with a big, mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Hey, Jay," Kiara said, giggling. "Speaking of games, do you remember our grand old days in kindergarten? Back when we didn't have to worry about adult stuff or reports?"
"Oh my gosh, yes!" I cried out, my mind instantly drifting back to those silly days. "We were absolute menaces. Do you remember our favorite snack back then? It wasn't chicken sandwiches."
"Dirt!" Kiara shouted happily, kicking her legs in the air. "We literally used to make mud pies in the playground and then actually try to eat them! We thought we were master chefs."
"I know!" I laughed, shifting my head on Keifer's lap. He let out a small soft groan as I moved, but he didn't stop me. "And remember the great glitter marker robbery? We were the most wanted criminals in the five-year-old category."
"Yes!" Kiara cheered, clapping her hands together while still upside down. "The teacher had that special box of shiny glitter markers on the top shelf. We made a human tower. Well, a two-kid tower. I stood on your shoulders, grabbed the purple and pink ones, and we hid them inside our socks for three days!"
"We were unstoppable," I murmured. But as I said the word unstoppable, a giant yawn suddenly escaped my mouth. My jaw cracked wide open. The warm sun, the big lunch, and the soft texture of Keifer's pants were making my eyelids feel incredibly heavy.
Across the room, Kiara also let out a massive yawn that sounded like a sleepy lion. She slid off the couch completely, landing in a soft heap on the carpet. She rubbed her eyes and stood up, stumbling slightly like a zombie.
"Okay, my brain is turning off," Kiara muttered, blinking slowly. "All this talking about eating dirt and stealing markers has drained my battery. I am going to my room to sleep for a hundred years. Goodnight, everyone." She waved a lazy hand and dragged her feet out of the living room, heading upstairs to her bedroom.
I wanted to say goodnight to her, but my mouth didn't want to cooperate. My eyes kept closing on their own. Keifer's hand was now gently running through my hair, his fingers moving in soft, slow strokes. It felt amazing. It was like a magic spell that was forcing me to go to sleep.
"Are you sleepy too, wifey?" Keifer whispered softly, his voice sounding distant and warm.
"Not... sleepy..." I mumbled untruthfully, my eyes shutting completely. "Just... resting my... eyes... I want a brownie later..."
And with the thought of chocolate brownies floating through my mind, the darkness completely took over, and I drifted away into a deep, peaceful sleep.
(Author's POV)
The living room grew very quiet now. The loud laughter and funny teasing had faded away, leaving only the soft sound of the afternoon breeze outside and the gentle click of Keifer's fingers on his keyboard.
Jay was completely asleep. Her breathing was slow and steady, her lips parted slightly as she snoozed. She looked completely relaxed, her head heavy and safe on Keifer's lap.
Keifer kept working for a few more minutes. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he finalized the big reports for Watson Enterprises. He checked the last employee performance review, approved a few holiday requests, and made sure all the numbers for the next week were perfectly correct. He was a very efficient CEO, but his mind was also focused on the gentle weight pressing against his thighs.
With a soft click, Keifer shut his laptop and placed it carefully on the coffee table in front of him. He let out a long sigh and looked down.
A warm, loving smile instantly broke across his face. He looked at his wifey. Jay was curled up tightly, her hands tucked under her chin, looking peacefully happy. She looked exactly like a cute, slim panda (cause she never gains weight even after eating so much!!) sleeping on a tree branch after eating too much bamboo.
At the same time, Serina finally finished her long phone call with Jaspher. She gently clicked the end button on her phone and turned around. She was about to walk into the living room, but she stopped right at the edge of the hallway wall. She hid behind the corner of the wall, peeking out with bright, happy eyes to watch her son and her future daughter-in-law.
Serina smiled warmly, her heart melting at the beautiful sight. She didn't want to ruin the quiet moment, so she stayed very still, watching from her hiding spot.
Keifer did not notice his mother watching him. His entire focus was on the sleeping girl on his lap. His eyes were incredibly soft, filled with a deep, endless love that he only ever showed to her. He reached down and gently brushed a few stray hairs away from her face, making sure she could breathe easily.
He leaned his head down, moving very slowly so he wouldn't wake her up. He pressed a long, soft, and sweet kiss right on the center of her smooth forehead.
"What am I without you, my wifey," Keifer whispered into the quiet room, his voice full of pure emotion. He knew that without her chaotic energy, her funny jokes, and her obsession with food, his life would be completely gray and boring. She was his absolute world.
Moving with extreme care, Keifer slid his strong arms under her body. He placed one arm under her shoulders and the other arm right under her knees. With a gentle lift, he picked her up into his arms effortlessly, holding her snugly against his chest just like a precious little baby.
Jay stirred slightly in her sleep, letting out a tiny, soft mumble about potato chips, but she did not wake up. She just buried her face deeper into the warmth of his chest, her hands gripping his shirt tightly.
Keifer smiled and began to walk slowly toward the stairs. As he walked, he used one hand to gently pat her back in a slow, rhythmic motion, comforting her and keeping her in her deep sleep. He carried her up the stairs, step by step, taking her toward their cozy bedroom where she could sleep comfortably for the rest of the night.
Behind the hallway wall, Serina watched them go. She saw her son carrying his love with so much care, gentleness, and respect. A tear of pure happiness welled up in Serina's eyes. She pressed her hand against her heart, feeling a massive wave of pride and relief.
She looked toward the stairs where they had just disappeared and whispered happily to herself, "This is what I wanted you to become like, my son!!"
She was overjoyed to see that Keifer had grown into a loving, protective gentleman who knew how to cherish his family, breaking the cycle of the past completely.
With a peaceful smile on her face, Serina turned off the hallway lights and went to her own room, knowing that her family was finally safe, happy, and full of love.....