Keifer POV
____________________DINNER AT THE FERNANDEZ HOUSE_____________________________
I walked in thinking this would be a normal dinner.
Meet the family.
Smile politely.
Try not to say anything weird.
Jay had said I was invited.
She'd looked serious.
So I believed her.
But the moment we stepped inside, I knew I was in over my head.
The air was warm, the food smelled amazing, and her Tita Gemma greeted us like we were long-lost royalty.
But then—
The hallway.
The tension.
The woman with the sharp smile and sharper eyes.
Jenna.
She looked at Jay like she was a problem to solve.
She looked at me like I was a puzzle piece she hadn't ordered.
"Jay, sweetie, you came! Where's your Kuya?" she asked, arms open.
Jay didn't move.
Didn't hug.
Didn't smile.
"Jare's on his way," she said, voice clipped.
I stayed close.
Didn't ask.
Didn't push.
Just stayed.
Because Jay looked like she was holding something heavy.
And I wasn't about to let her carry it alone.
The living room was worse.
Maria sat next to me like she'd rehearsed it.
Too close.
Too smiley.
Too… intentional.
"Hi, Keifer," she said, voice syrupy.
I blinked. "Uh… hey?"
Jay stared at her like she was seconds from launching a throw pillow.
I scooted away.
Fast.
Jay didn't say anything.
But her eyes said everything.
Then dinner.
Loud.
Crowded.
Unhinged.
I sat beside Jay.
She didn't say much.
But she didn't move away either.
That felt like something.
Jenna tried to talk to Jare.
He ignored her.
Maria pouted.
Then Jenna turned to me.
"So, Keifer, how are you?"
"I'm fine," I said, polite.
She smiled wider.
"This is my daughter Maria. She just turned seventeen."
I blinked. "Uh… okay."
"I heard you're the CEO of Watson's Enterprise."
"You heard right," I said, proud.
And then—
She dropped it.
"My daughter is single and ready to mingle. So what do you say?"
Silence.
The kind that makes your skin crawl.
I glanced at Jay.
She was staring at me.
Daring me.
I cleared my throat. "I'm… already mingled."
Maria blinked.
Jenna blinked.
Jay smiled.
Sharp.
Deadly.
I felt like I'd passed a test I didn't know I was taking.
Then Jenna asked, "Who?"
Jay turned to me.
Sweet smile.
Weaponized tone.
"Bebe, can you grab the mashed potatoes for me?"
I blinked.
Then smiled.
Because she'd called me babe.
In front of everyone.
I stood up like I'd just been knighted and handed her the bowl.
"Here you go, babe," I said, trying not to explode from joy.
The table reacted like I'd set off fireworks.
Jare choked.
Luna laughed.
Aries looked like he needed a therapist.
Maria looked betrayed.
Jenna looked like she was calculating how fast she could erase me from existence.
I sat back down.
Still glowing.
Still stunned.
Still hers.
Then James spoke.
"Keifer, how serious are you about Jay?"
I opened my mouth.
Jay beat me to it.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Are you asking if he's serious about me while sitting next to a woman who tried to set him up with her daughter five minutes ago?"
Jenna gasped.
Maria dropped her fork.
I just sat there.
Watching Jay stand up.
Watching her defend herself.
Watching her burn the table down with words.
She was fire.
She was fury.
She was done.
I stood too.
Put a hand on her back.
Didn't say anything.
Just stayed.
Jare stood. "Jay, Keifer — go. My vote is you spend the night at his place. Eat ice cream. Watch bad movies. Forget this circus."
I nodded.
Didn't ask questions.
Just took her hand.
And as we walked out?
Maria tried to speak.
Jay shut her down.
"Don't," she said.
"I wasn't—"
"I said don't."
Then she looked at everyone.
"Next time? Don't invite me if they're coming."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
I squeezed her hand.
She didn't let go.
And me?
I didn't feel like a guest anymore.
I felt like her shield.
Her person.
Her choice.
And I'd fight anyone who tried to take that from her.