JAY POV —
The moment Keifer and I turned back toward the crowd, reality rushed in like a wave.
Hands reached for me immediately.
My parents were first.
Papa—Jashfer—didn't say anything at all. He just pulled me into his chest, tight, grounding, the way he used to when I was little and scraped my knees. His hand rested at the back of my head, steady.
"You're happy," he said quietly. Not a question.
I nodded, throat too tight to speak.
"That's all I ever wanted," he replied, pressing a kiss to my hair before letting go.
Mama—Reycee—was already crying openly. She cupped my face, thumbs brushing away tears I hadn't realized were falling.
"My baby," she whispered. "You look so loved."
I smiled at her. "I am."
Aries and Percy crashed into us next—my brothers grinning like idiots, pride written all over their faces.
"So this is it," Aries said, clapping Keifer on the back. "You're officially stuck with her."
Percy smirked. "Good luck. She bites."
Keifer didn't even blink. "Worth it."
I laughed, full and loud.
Angelo hugged me carefully, eyes soft, voice low. "You look beautiful, Jay."
Tita Gemma held my hands, squeezing gently. "I prayed for this kind of love for you," she said. "I didn't know it would look this perfect."
Then Keigan pulled him into a quick, fierce hug. Keiren followed, grinning, eyes suspiciously shiny.
"About time," Keiren said. "Took you long enough.Welcome to the Family ate jay "
Uncle Kier shook Keifer's hand firmly, then looked at me. "Welcome to the chaos,anak" he said warmly. "You'll fit right in."
Section E didn't walk over.
They invaded.
Cin clapped loudly. David smiled, quiet but proud. Eman whooped. Rory grinned like he'd predicted this years ago.
Edrix nodded with approval. Mayo and Kit immediately started arguing about who cried first.
Josh wiped his eyes and pretended it was allergies. Denzel and Drew fist-bumped Keifer.
Eren looked stunned. Calix laughed. Yuri gave a single nod that somehow meant everything. Blaster yelled something incoherent.
And Felix—
Felix stepped forward, hands raised dramatically.
"Okay," he announced to the entire hall. "Can we just acknowledge this?"
Everyone turned.
He pointed at Keifer. Then at me.
"Now you actually look like—" he paused for effect, grinning, "—HUSBAND AND WIFE."
The room burst into laughter and applause all over again.
I laughed so hard I had to grab Keifer's arm to stay upright.
Cole hugged me next, fierce and familiar. Celeste cried again. Grace kissed my cheek and whispered, "You did it."
Did we?
The lights softened.
Music shifted.
And suddenly, it was time.
---OUR FIRST DANCE
Keifer's hand settled at my waist like it had always known that exact place. Mine rested over his heart, feeling it steady beneath my palm.
The first note played.
And everything else disappeared.
The crowd blurred. The voices faded. The room shrank until it was just us and the slow rhythm between us.
He leaned down, forehead touching mine.
"You okay?" he murmured.
I smiled, breathless. "I don't think I've ever been better."
We moved slowly, barely swaying, like neither of us wanted to rush this. His thumb traced small, absent circles against my back. I could feel his breath, his warmth, his certainty.
This wasn't a performance.
This was us.
"I keep forgetting," I whispered, smiling into his shoulder, "that everyone can see us."
He huffed softly. "Let them."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't bracing for impact. I wasn't waiting for the fall.
I was standing in the middle of something solid.
Something chosen.
By the time the song ended, the sky outside had darkened completely.
Night slipping in quietly, wrapping the celebration in warmth and fairy lights and promises still unspoken.
As applause filled the room again, I looked up at him—my husband—and for the first time, the future didn't scare me.
It felt like an open door.
And I stepped through it smiling
-------
The room didn't empty all at once.
It softened.
Guests drifted away in clusters, laughter fading into warm echoes. Fairy lights glowed brighter as the night deepened outside the windows. Somewhere behind us, music shifted into something slower. Lower.
Keifer's hand never left mine.
Even when people hugged us goodbye.
Even when someone called our names.
Even when reality tried to interrupt.
Eventually, it was just us again.
Us—and the quiet.
We slipped away without announcing it. No spectacle. No rush. Just fingers intertwined, hearts still racing from the day.
The door closed softly behind us.
And suddenly… the air changed.
He turned to face me, really face me now, eyes dark and intent in a way that made my breath catch instantly.
"Well," I said, attempting casual and failing. "That was… a day."
He smiled slowly. Dangerous. "That's one word for it."
I laughed, nerves fluttering low in my stomach. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're deciding something."
His hand slid from mine to my waist, slow. Unhurried. Like there was nowhere else he needed to be.
"I already decided," he said quietly.
My pulse jumped.
"Oh?"
"You," he replied simply. "Still you."
Something warm unfurled in my chest.
He leaned in—not all the way. Just close enough that I could feel his breath, feel the promise in the pause.
"You okay?" he murmured again, softer this time.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just… processing that I get to kiss my husband now."
His lips curved. "Finally."
I was the one who closed the distance.
The kiss was slower than the ones before. Deeper. Not ceremonial. Not for anyone else.
Just us.
His hands settled at my back, thumbs warm through fabric, holding me like he was learning me again—new title, same heart. I melted into him, fingers curling into his jacket, tugging him closer without thinking.
The kiss deepened—not rushed, not demanding—just… intentional. Like we had all the time in the world and no reason to hurry.
When we finally pulled back, foreheads touching, both of us breathing a little heavier—
He smiled.
"That," he said quietly, "felt different."
I nodded, cheeks warm. "Yeah."
He brushed his thumb along my jaw, lingering. "We can go as slow as you want."
I smiled softly. "I know."
Another kiss followed. Shorter. Teasing. His lips grazed mine like a question.
I answered it by pulling him back in.
He laughed against my mouth, low and affectionate, like he was trying not to grin too wide.
"You're trouble," he murmured.
"I warned you," I said sweetly.
He kissed me again—slower this time, softer, like he was savoring it. Like he wasn't trying to take anything, just be with me.
"Jay, you're tired, you should rest.... " He said I didn't argue.....
Eventually, we settled into each other—his arms around me, my head tucked against his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear.
Safe.
Real.
Mine.
Outside, the night had fully arrived. Fairy lights shimmered. The world moved on quietly without asking anything of us.
And for the first time, I didn't feel like I had to brace myself for what came next.
I felt ready.
Wrapped in him.
Exactly where I was meant to be. 💫
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✨✨✨✨✨✨THE END✨✨✨✨✨✨