JAY-JAY
Tomorrow is the day I go to college.
The summer went fast.
Too fast.
One second I was screaming with Section E in the hallway, The next I was folding clothes into a suitcase and pretending I wasn't scared.
I thought I'd feel ready.
I thought I'd feel older.
Wiser.
Prepared.
Instead, I feel like a kid in a graduation gown that still smells like chaos and trouble.
My room is quiet.
Too quiet.
No Percy yelling.
No Luna threatening to organize my life with color-coded spreadsheets.
Just me.
And a duffel bag.
Just a ring on my finger that shines.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
But real.
Me and Keifer already talked about it.
We're getting married after graduation.
No rush.
No drama.
Just us—when we're ready, when we've made it through the next chapter.
Until then, I'm living with him.
Because Hamlet's closer to his department than mine.
Because it made sense.
Because my brothers didn't want to risk me getting kidnapped again
. Because apparently, I attract trouble.
Like chaos to Section E.
Like I was born with a magnet for disaster and dramatic plot twists.
So they packed my bags themselves.
Just when I thought I was having a peaceful moment, Percy barged into my room.
"Let's go, you're taking forever."
I rolled my eyes but went downstairs.
Percy was already carrying my suitcase and bags like he was my personal bodyguard. "Ready?" Jare asked.
I nodded.
Luna had already left for her college in New York.
Jare was headed there too.
Percy—he also had to go to NY to take care of the company.
That's another reason they wanted me to move in with Keifer.
Less risk.
Less chaos.
Less chance of me getting kidnapped again because I "accidentally" joined a protest or got involved in someone else's drama.
We got into the car and started driving to Keifer's house.
The ride was not quiet.
Not even close.
Percy was singing to a song like he was auditioning for a musical.
Jare was pretending not to listen, but his eye twitched every time Percy hit a high note.
I threatened Percy. "If you don't stop singing, I might break your jaw."
He kept singing.
Of course he did.
We reached Keifer's house.
He was already waiting outside.
He hugged me.
Soft.
Warm.
Like he knew exactly how much I needed it.
My brothers handed him my suitcase like it was a sacred relic.
Threatened him with a shovel and a smile.
And said, "Just keep her alive… and don't get her pregnant."
Keifer blinked.
Nodded.
Didn't speak.
Smart move.
I rolled my eyes.
They hugged me like I was going off to war.
And then they watched me walk inside like they were ready to track my location every five minutes.
Tomorrow is the day I go to college.
But tonight?
Tonight I'm here.
With Keifer.
With my ring.
With the quiet before the next storm.
As soon as I stepped into Keifer's house, chaos hit me like a flour bomb.
Kerian was in the kitchen, trying to make cookies.
There was flour everywhere—on the counters, the floor, the ceiling fan (don't ask).
Kegain was trying to help, but somehow had more flour in his hair than in the mixing bowl.
I stood frozen in the doorway, blinking at the domestic disaster.
Then I laughed.
Loud.
Unfiltered.
The kind of laugh that cracked open my chest and let the nerves fall out.
Keifer appeared beside me, brushing a bit of flour off his shoulder like this was normal.
"Is this how your house always is?" I asked between laughs.
He smirked. "Only when you're here."
I raised an eyebrow.
"They wanted to make you feel welcome," he added, watching his brothers with a mix of fondness and mild horror. "This was their plan."
Kerian waved a wooden spoon like a sword. "Don't judge the process! These cookies are symbolic."
Kegain sneezed.
A puff of flour exploded from his hair.
I laughed harder.
Because this wasn't what I expected.
Because it was messy.
And loud.
And weird.
But it felt like home.
After some time, they actually finished the cookies.
Surprisingly… they looked edible.
Shockingly, they smelled good.
I took a cautious bite.
Paused.
Chewed.
"You know," I said, eyebrows raised, "surprisingly… they taste good."
Keigan and Kerian fist-bumped like they'd just won a baking championship.
Flour still in their hair.
Victory in their eyes.
"If you guys are done," Keifer said, trying to sound stern, "we can go eat dinner."
I nodded.
I hadn't eaten at home.
Too many emotions.
Too much packing.
Too many brothers threatening my fiancé with gardening tools.
We sat down at the table.
And instantly—chaos.
Kerian knocked over the water pitcher.
Keigan tried to catch it and dropped a spoon into my lap.
Keifer sighed like he'd aged ten years in five seconds.
I laughed so hard I nearly choked on rice.
Someone passed the salt.
Someone passed the wrong plate.
Someone tried to toast with a fork.
It wasn't quiet.
It wasn't elegant.
But it was warm.
Loud. Messy.
It felt like home.
After dinner, we went upstairs.
To our room.
Our space.
As soon as I closed the door, Keifer pulled me in by the waist.
My hands went to his neck like it was instinct.
Like muscle memory.
Like home.
"So," he murmured, eyes soft, "ready for our big day tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I said, voice quiet but steady.
"Wife," he whispered, dramatic as ever, "I don't want to leave you tomorrow."
I rolled my eyes. "Keifer, we live in the same house. We go to the same college. We're literally a hallway apart."
"But there will be so many boys flirting with my wife," he said, pouting like a child denied dessert.
"My cute big baby," I teased, pulling his cheeks. "I'm only yours. And you're mine."
I gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Soft.
Brief.
Just enough.
"That was not fair," Keifer said, voice low.
"What was not fair?" I whispered in his ear.
"I need more than a peck."
"Fine," I said.
He kissed me.
One kiss turned into another.
And somehow, I ended up in his lap.
His arms around me.
His heartbeat under my hands.
"We should sleep," he whispered against my ear. "We have college tomorrow."
I nodded.
Reluctantly.
Softly.
We curled up together.
Warm.
Safe.
Cuddled close like the world couldn't touch us.
And we slept.
Wrapped in each other.
Ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.