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Chapter 44 - Chapter 44 Innocent questions

Next Morning

Third Person POV

Morning light slips quietly into the room, soft and pale.

Jay wakes first.

Her body feels heavy, her legs aching in a dull, lingering way that makes her wince slightly as she shifts. It's not sharp pain—just soreness, the kind that reminds her too clearly of how intense the night before had been. She exhales slowly and then turns her head.

Keifer is still asleep.

His expression is peaceful, almost boyish, lashes resting against his cheeks, one arm stretched where she'd been moments ago. For a second, the ache fades behind the warmth in her chest. Married. This is real. This is them.

As if sensing her gaze, Keifer stirs. His eyes open, unfocused at first, then soften when they land on her.

A slow smile curves his lips.

He leans closer and presses a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Good morning, wifey."

Jay smiles despite herself. "Good morning, Keif."

He studies her face, instinct already shifting into concern. "Are you… feeling any pain?"

She blinks. "Why would I—"

Then realization hits.

Her cheeks heat instantly.

"Because of last night," Keifer adds, voice low, amused.

Jay lets out a tiny gasp and hides her face in his chest. "Don't say it like that!"

Keifer chuckles, the sound deep and lazy. He lifts her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. "Jay," he murmurs, eyes dark with teasing, "don't blush like that. You're going to start something you're not ready for."

She swats his chest lightly. "Stop."

He laughs again, then his expression softens. "Seriously," he asks again, quieter this time. "Does it hurt?"

Jay hesitates, then nods. "Yeah… a lot."

Keifer smirks reflexively. "Then I must've done my job well—"

The smirk disappears the moment he really looks at her.

Her eyes aren't playful now. They're glossy, tired, and honest.

"Hey," he says, immediately serious. "What's wrong?"

"It's just… really hurting," Jay admits softly.

That's all it takes.

Keifer leans in and kisses her temple, slow and reassuring. "Wait here."

He slips out of bed, pulls on his clothes, and leaves the room. Jay hears drawers opening somewhere outside, the quiet sounds of morning.

When he returns, there's a small bottle of oil in his hand.

He sits at the edge of the bed, careful, gentle, and lifts Jay's legs onto his lap. His touch is warm, grounding, nothing teasing about it now. He rubs the oil between his palms and begins to massage her calves slowly, firmly, easing the soreness with practiced patience.

Jay lets out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

Keifer doesn't say anything. He just focuses—on her comfort, on taking care of her, on proving without words that last night wasn't about recklessness.

It was about trust.

And this morning—

this quiet care—

is part of that promise too.

Keifer is halfway through massaging Jay's legs, focused and gentle, when—

click.

The door opens.

Keifer freezes.

Jay freezes.

In walk Keiren, Keigan, and Eces like it's the most normal thing in the world.

Jay is sitting on the bed in Keifer's oversized hoodie, sleeves covering half her hands. Keifer is at the edge of the bed, oil on his palms, her legs resting on his lap.

For a solid second, no one speaks.

Eces bites the inside of her cheek.

Keigan turns his face away suspiciously fast.

They both know.

They both absolutely know.

Keiren, however, tilts his head, innocent as ever.

"Kuya?" he asks, blinking. "Why are you massaging Ate Jay's legs? Is she okay?"

Keifer clears his throat. Jay looks at him. They exchange a look that says think fast.

"She—uh," Keifer starts. "She fell."

Jay nods immediately. "Yeah. I fell."

Keiren's eyes widen. "Really?" He walks closer. "Are you okay, Ate?"

"Yes," Jay says quickly, forcing a smile. "I'm okay."

Keiren nods, satisfied… until his eyes drift to Jay's neck.

He squints.

"What's that?"

Jay's hand flies up too late.

"What?" she asks, too casually.

"That," Keiren points. "On your neck. It's red."

Jay panics for half a second, then blurts out, "Mosquito bite."

Keigan snorts.

"A mosquito?" he repeats. "Wow. That's a huge mosquito."

Eces immediately joins in, deadpan. "Yeah. Must've been very aggressive."

Keiren frowns, confused. "Mosquitoes do that?"

Keigan nods seriously. "Only the dangerous ones."

Eces taps her chin thoughtfully. "The kind whose name starts with… K."

Keiren looks between them. "K?"

Keigan grins. "Yeah. Very rare species."

Eces adds, "Tall. Overprotective. Likes to hover."

Keifer groans. "You two—"

Jay buries her face in Keifer's hoodie, shoulders shaking with laughter.

Keiren looks at all of them, more confused now. "Why is everyone laughing?"

Keigan pats his shoulder. "You'll understand when you're older."

Keifer resumes massaging Jay's legs, shaking his head but smiling despite himself. "Out. All of you. Give us five minutes."

Eces turns toward the door. "Sure, sure. Recovery time."

Keigan follows. "For the fall."

Before leaving, Eces glances back at Jay, eyes soft but amused. Jay peeks out of the hoodie and glares playfully.

The door closes.

Keifer exhales. "We need a lock."

Jay laughs. "We have a lock."

Keifer smirks. "Clearly not enough."

Keifer finishes the massage slowly, carefully, his hands warm and steady. Jay sighs in relief, stretching her legs just a little.

"Try standing," Keifer says, already half-panicking.

Jay swings her legs off the bed and stands.

The moment she puts weight on one leg—

"Ow—"

Keifer is on her in a second. "I knew it. I knew it. Sit. Sit back down."

"I'm fine," Jay protests, laughing even as she wobbles.

Keifer ignores her completely. "You are not fine. You fell, remember?"

Jay shoots him a look. "You're the one who said I fell."

"That means you're injured," he says seriously.

The door opens again.

Eces steps in, arms crossed, unimpressed. "Wow," she says calmly. "Relax. She's not dying."

Keifer glares. "She can't even walk properly."

Eces raises an eyebrow. "She can. She's just sore."

Jay points at Eces. "See?"

Keifer exhales sharply. "I'm still watching you."

Eces smirks. "Congratulations. You're officially dramatic."

Breakfast Time

Everyone gathers around the dining table a little while later.

Jay sits carefully, Keifer pulling her chair out like she might shatter. Keigan and Eces exchange a look across the table.

"So," Keigan says casually, buttering his toast. "How's the fall?"

Jay nearly chokes on her water.

"I'm okay," she says quickly.

Keigan nods. "Good. Because it looked… intense."

Eces sips her drink. "Very intense. Must've been a steep fall."

Keiren blinks. "Where did Ate Jay fall?"

Keigan answers smoothly. "On Kuya."

Jay coughs again. "KEIGAN!"

Keifer shoots him a warning look. "Eat your breakfast."

Eces adds, innocent as ever, "Careful with your chair, Ate Jay. Wouldn't want another accident."

Keiren frowns, genuinely worried. "Ate, should I bring you ice?"

Jay laughs despite herself. "I'm okay, Keiren."

Keigan grins. "See? Survivor."

Keifer leans closer to Jay and murmurs, "I hate all of them."

Jay hides her smile behind her cup.

Plates clink, chairs scrape, and Jay sits carefully while Keifer hovers like a human shield. Keigan and Eces are mid-tease, Keiren quietly eating—until he suddenly looks up, curious in the most dangerous way possible.

"Kuya?" Keiren asks innocently.

Keifer hums. "Yes?"

Keiren tilts his head. "Last night… there were some different types of sounds coming from your room."

Silence.

Absolute. Dead. Silence.

Eces freezes mid-sip.

Then—

PFFFT—

She spits her coffee straight forward.

It lands directly on Keigan's face.

"What—!" Keigan yelps, jumping back. "ECES?!"

Jay chokes on air. Keifer's soul temporarily leaves his body.

"I— I—" Eces coughs, grabbing a napkin, eyes wide. "SORRY— I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT QUESTION!"

Keigan wipes his face, horrified. "Why was it HOT?!"

Keiren blinks, now confused by the chaos. "Why did Ate Eces spit coffee?"

Jay reacts fast. Too fast.

"Oh!" she blurts. "Those sounds! That was— um—"

Keifer jumps in immediately. "The bed."

Everyone looks at him.

"The… bed?" Keigan repeats slowly.

Keifer nods firmly. "Old bed. Makes noises. Very noisy. Extremely noisy."

Eces hides her face behind her hands, shoulders shaking.

Keigan squints. "Beds don't—"

"They do," Jay cuts in quickly. "This one does. It's… dramatic."

Keiren nods, satisfied. "Oh. Okay."

Keigan looks between Jay, Keifer, and Eces. "Why does no one look okay?"

Eces finally recovers, sipping water this time. "Because," she says calmly, "some questions should only be asked after breakfast."

Keiran thinks about that. "Okay."

Keifer exhales like he just survived a natural disaster.

Jay leans closer to him and whispers, "We need house rules."

Keifer mutters back, "We need soundproofing."

Across the table, Keigan wipes the last of the coffee from his face and smirks.

"I'm never drinking coffee near you again."

Eces smiles sweetly. "Good."

Breakfast continues—louder, messier, and infinitely more chaotic than before.

And no one brings up the sounds again.

By evening, the house is anything but quiet.

The doorbell rings once—then twice—then someone knocks like they own the place.

Keifer opens the door.

Section E.

All of them.

Ci-n grins first. "Good evening, Mr. Watson."

Felix adds smoothly, "And where is Mrs. Watson?"

Jay appears from the living room and stops short when she sees the crowd. "Why are all of you here?"

Blaster answers far too cheerfully, "Visiting hours."

Kit whistles. "Wow. Married life suits you."

Mayo leans in, stage-whispering, "Jayfer looks… well-rested."

Jay's ears instantly turn red.

Keifer exhales. "You planned this."

Eman raises his hands. "We came peacefully."

Eren smirks. "With curiosity."

Josh claps once. "So—first night?"

"Out," Keifer says flatly.

David laughs. "Relax. We're just teasing."

Drew's eyes flick to Jay. "Nice hoodie."

Jay freezes.

It's Keifer's hoodie.

Denzel nudges Yuri. "Confirmed."

Yuri nods solemnly. "Evidence accepted."

Edrix grins. "Mr and Mrs Watson."

Rory adds, "Jayfer is officially unlocked."

Calix folds his arms, smirking. "So… how was the bed?"

"CALIX!" Jay yelps.

Keifer steps forward, arm sliding naturally around Jay's waist. "That's enough."

Ci-n raises an eyebrow. "Protective already?"

Keifer doesn't even hesitate. "Always."

That only makes them laugh louder.

Felix grins. "Don't worry, Mrs Watson. No details."

Blaster adds, "Just lifetime teasing."

Jay groans and hides her face in Keifer's chest.

Keifer looks down at her, amused, then back at them. "You're all lucky she's stopping me."

From the couch, Eces shakes her head, smiling quietly. "You deserve this."

Keigan snorts. "Absolutely."

Keiren peeks from behind the stairs. "Why are they calling Ate Jay Mrs Watson?"

Everyone freezes again.

Ci-n clears his throat. "Because… she upgraded."

Keiren nods seriously. "Oh. Like an update."

Jay laughs despite herself.

The teasing continues—loud, ridiculous, affectionate.

And as Keifer looks around the room—at the noise, the laughter, Jay safe at his side—he knows one thing for sure:

Marriage didn't make life quieter.

It made it fuller. 💙

Late Night — Third Person POV

The house finally quiets down.

The door closes behind the last of Section E, their laughter fading into the night. The living room feels bigger now—softer, calmer—like it's exhaling after holding its breath all evening.

Jay drops onto the couch with a long sigh. "I'm never living down 'Mrs. Watson,' am I?"

Keifer smiles and sits beside her, close enough that their shoulders touch. "Not a chance."

She glances at him, mock-offended. "You enjoyed that."

"I enjoyed you," he corrects easily. "They're just background noise."

Jay's expression softens at that. She leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. For a moment, neither of them speaks. The quiet isn't awkward—it's earned.

Keifer reaches for her hand, lacing their fingers together. His thumb traces slow, absent circles on her knuckles, grounding, familiar.

"Are you okay?" he asks softly. Not teasing. Not joking.

Jay nods. "Yeah. Just… tired. Happy tired."

He presses a kiss to her hair. "Good."

They sit like that for a while, listening to the hum of the house—the distant ticking of a clock, the muffled sounds of everyone else asleep. Married life, stripped of the audience.

Jay turns slightly, looking up at him. "Today felt… real."

Keifer meets her gaze. "It is real."

She smiles. "I like this part. After everything. When it's just us."

"So do I," he says, honest and steady. "This is my favorite version."

She shifts closer, tucking her legs under her, her forehead resting against his chest. He wraps an arm around her without thinking, protective and easy.

"Hey," she murmurs. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For choosing me. Every time."

Keifer lifts her chin gently so she has to look at him. "There was never another option."

The look in his eyes makes her breath hitch—not heat, not teasing—just certainty.

He leans in and kisses her slowly, unhurried, like there's nowhere else they need to be. When they pull back, Jay smiles, small and content.

"Come on," he says quietly. "Let's sleep."

He stands first, then helps her up, fingers still intertwined as they head down the hallway together. No rush. No words needed.

Just the quiet understanding of two people who finally get to end the day the same way—

Together.

++++++++++++++++

How many of you watched yesterday's India vs Newzealand match ????

If you did , then what was the most amazing moment you liked ????

And , no chapter target for this chapter because of India's victory and and and

I will upload next chapter today only ...

Enjoy this one ☺️☺️

Liked Keiren's innocent questions?

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