JAY JAY POV
We survived the main course, but honestly, I'm surprised the table didn't spontaneously combust from the friction between Freya and Keifer. If looks could kill, Keifer would be a forensic case study, and Freya would be facing life without parole.
She kept cutting her steak like she was imagining it was his expensive necktie.
"So, how did you two actually meet?" Grace asked, her eyes twinkling with that classic give-us-the-juicy-details look. Beside her, Denzel was busy trying to wipe mashed potatoes off Gracezel's chin, while the rest of the squad leaned in like they were waiting for a Netflix season finale.
My brain hit a massive 404 Error: Story Not Found screen.
Jusko. How am I supposed to explain that we met through a marriage contract, a stalker-level folder, and a surprise shower performance?
"Oh, it was—" I started, my voice sounding like I'd just swallowed a handful of dry sand.
"Grace, I will explain everything later, trust me," Freya interrupted She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she narrowed her eyes at me. "I've got the story... or at least the outline. And our lovely Jay right here is going to fill in every single gap for me. Every. Single. One."
I gulped. Hala. When Freya uses that tone, you don't just tell her the story; you give her a sworn affidavit.
"It was destiny," Keifer said suddenly.
I almost choked on my water—again. I turned to look at him, my eyes wide. Destiny?! Keifer, you're a billionaire, not a poet!
He didn't even look at me. He just reached out, his fingers grazing my hand as he took the water carafe. "We met under... unique circumstances. I saw someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, and I knew right then that my life was about to get a lot more complicated."
He looked at me then, his smirk soft but his gaze making my heart do a marathon. "And I've never been more happy to be complicated."
"Whoa. That was smooth, Keifer" Ci-n chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "Jay-jay, are you okay? Your face is red enough to be a stoplight."
"It's just... the soup! It was very spicy!" I fanned my face frantically, though I hadn't touched the soup in ten minutes.
"We didn't order soup, Jay," Rakki pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
Traitor!
"I mean... the ambiance! It's very warm in here!" I squeaked, grabbing a piece of bread and stuffing it into my mouth so fast it was a miracle I didn't choke. I needed my mouth busy so I couldn't say anything else embarrassing.
"Leave the poor girl alone," Mica said, laughing softly at my struggle.
Thank you, Mica! You are a saint, a goddess, and I will personally buy you a box of donuts later.
"So, how is it going?" Mica asked me, her eyes scanning my face for any signs of "Billionaire-Related Stress Disorder."
"Good," I said simply, nodding. It was a lie, of course. My life was a chaotic mess of contracts and mansions, but "good" was easier to say than "I accidentally showed him my naked self after singing Taylor Swift."
She nodded, though I could tell she didn't quite believe me.
"How is Aries?" Freya suddenly asked. The mention of my brother made the atmosphere at the table shift from playful to serious.
"Better now," I said, looking down at my plate.
"What happened to Aries?" David asked, looking confused. He'd been out of the loop for a while.
"What didn't happen?" Rakki added with a heavy sigh.
"It's all because of that bitch, Ella," Grace snapped.
"Grace! Language! Gracezel will learn those words!" Denzel said frantically, immediately reaching over to cover Gracezel's ears.
"She is not wrong, you know," I muttered.
"Aries was really heartbroken. I never actually met the girl, but I know she was a total playgirl. It's sad because Aries really thought she was 'The One.' But he's recovering slowly... at least Percy is helping. Sort of."
"Ohh! I heard he made Aries go on a blind date. How did it go?" Mica asked, leaning in with a curious grin.
I couldn't help it. A giggle bubbled up in my throat. I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone. "Percy got a pie in the face! It was so funny. Look, here is the video."
I showed them the clip of Percy looking like a whipped-cream monster. The whole table exploded into laughter—even Denzel let out a chuckle while still shielding Gracezel's ears.
I turned to look at Keifer, expecting him to be laughing too. But he wasn't.
He was staring at me, his eyes dark and his jaw tight. He looked like he'd just swallowed something very bitter.
"So... he is not over Ella yet?" Keifer asked me.
His voice was like ice. It was so cold it could have frozen my spicy soup (if we actually had ordered soup).
I froze, the smile dying on my face. Wait. Why am I sensing a sudden drop in temperature? Why is he asking about Aries' ex-girlfriend with that look in his eyes?
Thinking about your EX while your WIFE is sitting right here?! I am going to poke your brain out, Keifer Watson!
I felt a surge of annoyance—and okay, maybe a tiny, teeny bit of jealousy—flare up in my chest. Gago. Truly!
"Why do you care?" I asked I narrowed my eyes at him, clutching my fork like a weapon. "Are you still thinking about her too?"
The table went quiet again. The music in the restaurant seemed to fade away.
Keifer didn't look away. He leaned closer to me, his presence completely taking over my air supply.
"Why would I?" he asked me, his voice a low vibration that made my toes curl inside my sandals. His gaze was so intense I felt like he was reading my soul—or at least the part of my soul currently debating if I should ask for an extra cup of gravy.
I rolled my eyes, trying to act like his closeness wasn't turning my brain into a puddle of melted chocolate. "Whatever, Watson. You're just a master of distraction!"
"Jay, let's go on the dance floor! You're done with your food anyway," Mica said, suddenly grabbing my arm.
Thank you, Saint Mica! Saved by the bell—or rather, the upbeat disco remix playing in the background.
The boys followed suit, laughing and heading toward the floor. I stood up, ready to bolt into the crowd of swaying people, but then I stopped. I realized a very horrifying, very life-threatening fact.
I looked back at the table.
Only two people were left sitting there. Freya... and Keifer.
Oh shit.
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KEIFER POV
I watched Jay-jay on the dance floor. She was currently failing at a TikTok dance with Ci-n, her ponytail bobbing and her face red from laughing. She looked so light. So free. It was a stark contrast to the interrogation happening at this table.
"What is your plan, Keifer?" Freya asked, her voice cutting through my thoughts like a scalpel.
I didn't take my eyes off my wife. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you doing this marriage thing just to get back at Aries?" she pressed, her gaze boring into the side of my head. "Is this some elaborate way to finally win the soul-crushing competition you two have been having since high school?"
I finally turned to her, my expression hardening. "Look, the past is the past. I'm doing this for myself. Not for a grudge."
"Are you planning to talk to Aries anytime soon?" she asked, finally taking a slow, calculated sip of her wine.
"Is he planning to talk to me?" I countered.
"Ego," she muttered, shaking her head. "That's the problem. The thing between you and Aries... your egos are just too high. You both actually care about each other, so why don't you just go back to being friends again? It would be a lot better for Jay-jay if her husband and her brother weren't trying to out to out run each other"
I stayed silent for a moment, the weight of the years pressing down on me. Friends. We used to be inseparable—me, Aries, Percy, and… him.
"I see you've moved on from Yuri," I said, shifting the target.
"Yuri was a bitch," Freya said suddenly, her voice flat and cold.
I almost chuckled. That was the most honest thing I'd heard all night. Yuri. The guy who didn't just break a friendship; he detonated it.
I remember it clearly. It wasn't just about Ella choosing Aries. It was the way Yuri played everyone from the sidelines. Freya was in a relationship with Yuri back then—or at least, she thought she was. But Yuri and Ella decided to ditch both Freya and Aries, leaving a trail of wreckage that none of us ever really moved on from.
Aries lost his girl. Freya lost her guy. And I lost my best friends because I couldn't stand seeing them both fall apart while I stood there, unable to fix it.
"He was," I agreed, my voice dropping. "But Jay-jay doesn't need to know the 'Full Recipe' of that disaster yet. She has enough on her plate"
"Jay-jay… I'm sure you're well aware of her past with her mother," Freya said, her voice lose the edge for the first time tonight.
I nodded slowly, my grip tightening on my glass. I know more than a little—I know the weight of those secrets and the way they make her shoulders slouch when she thinks no one is looking.
Freya sighed, looking at my wife with a gaze that was pure protective sisterhood. "Just don't hurt her, please. She's already seen too much rejection for one lifetime."
"I don't plan to," I said, and for once, there was no business-like coldness in my voice. It was a promise.
It's strange to think about it now, but back in the day, I actually had a crush on Freya. It was one of those high school things—nothing deep, just a distraction from the chaos of our group. But that never went anywhere, and honestly? Thank god it didn't. I moved on from that a lifetime ago.
I looked at Jay-jay on the dance floor. She was currently laughing as Ci-n tried to teach her how to do a "cool" hand sign, her eyes sparkling under the restaurant lights. A genuine smile tugged at my lips. She's not polished like Freya or dramatic like Ella—she's just Jay-jay. And that's exactly what I need.
I finished my beer, feeling the cold liquid settle my nerves. I decided it was time to play a little game. I wanted to see how much she really cared about me when the chips were down.
"Help me out, will you?" I asked, leaning toward Freya.
Freya looked at me, her eyebrow arched. "Help you with what, Watson?"
"Tell Jay I'm drunk," I said, shifting my expression to look slightly glazed and weary.
She stared at me for a flat three seconds, probably weighing whether to help me or slap me for being a jerk. Finally, she rolled her eyes and let out a huff. "You really are a piece of work, you know that? But fine. Anything to see her reaction."
I smirked. Game on, Jay
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JAY JAY
"And then you turn, and—whoops!" I yelped as I tripped over my own feet for the fifth time.
"Jay-jay! You have the rhythm of a washing machine!" Ci-n laughed, reaching out to steady me.
"Shut up, Ci-n! " I huffed, fanning my face. Jusko. I'm sweating like I just ran a marathon, and all I've done is three awkward spins.
I was about to ask Mica for a water break when I saw Freya walking toward us. She didn't look happy—well, she never really looks 'happy' happy, but this was her 'medical emergency' face.
"Jay, we have a problem," Freya said, grabbing my arm.
My heart did a somersault. "What? Did someone's appendix burst?! Is Gracezel okay?!"
Freya shook her head, pointing toward the table. "No. It's your husband. He's... well, he's had a bit too much to drink. He's completely wasted, Jay."
"WHUT?!" I shrieked, my eyes nearly popping out of my head. "Keifer? Drunk? But he only had like, two beers!"
"He's a lightweight, apparently," Freya said "He's over there leaning on the table. You better take him home before he starts singing karaoke and ruins the Watson reputation."
I didn't even wait for another word. I bolted toward the table, my ponytail whipping behind me. Jusko! A drunk Keifer?! Is he going to be a happy drunk? A crying drunk? A 'tell-the-waiter-he-loves-bacon' drunk?!
When I reached the table, my heart sank. Keifer was slumped in his chair, his head tilted back and his eyes half-closed. His tie was loosened even more, and he looked... well, he looked like a god who had just been defeated by a bucket of ice.
"Keifer!" I whispered, hovering over him. "Keifer, can you hear me? How many fingers am I holding up?"
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze wandering around before finally settling on my face. He gave me a slow, lutang smirk that made my knees feel like overcooked noodles.
"Jay... jay..." he slurred, his voice deep and raspy. "You... you have two heads. Why do you have two heads? It's... inefficient."
"I only have one head, you gago!" I hissed, my face burning. I looked around, making sure the squad wasn't watching too closely. "Come on! We have to go! Stand up!"
I grabbed his arm and draped it over my shoulders. Jusko! Why is he so heavy?! It was like trying to carry a refrigerator made of muscle and expensive cologne.
"Careful, Teach..." Keifer murmured, his face leaning dangerously close to my neck. I could feel his warm breath tickling my skin, smelling faintly of beer and peppermint. "The world is... spinning. Like a carousel. Do you like carousels?"
"I like carousels where the husband isn't a giant burden!" I grumbled, straining to keep us both upright.
I managed to lead him toward the exit, my face probably purple from the effort. People were staring, but I didn't care. I just needed to get him to the car before he did something even more embarrassing—like confessing his love to a potted plant.
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