[Jay's POV]
The living room of the Watson Estate felt like a warm, sun-drenched sanctuary. Breakfast had concluded—thanks to Keifer carrying me to my seat like a literal royal—and now the family was gathered on the plush velvet sofas.
I was tucked into the corner of the sectional, practically buried in silk pillows. Keifer was sitting so close to me that our shadows were basically one, his hand resting on my knee, his thumb tracing slow, possessive circles through the fabric of my dress. With Bridget finally gone to the university, the air felt lighter, devoid
that sharp, acidic tension she always brought with her.
The Interrogation
Mamma Serina was sipping her chamomile tea, her eyes twinkling with a mischief that matched Keigan's. She looked at me, then at the faint, tell-tale bruising on Keifer's knuckles and the radiant, exhausted "Glow" on my face.
"So," Serina started, her voice a sing-song of pure teasing. "The Blue Suite sounded like it was undergoing some... very intense structural renovations last night. I heard quite a bit of 'engineering' going on. Jay, dear, your voice sounds like you've been shouting over a jet engine."
I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, my face turning a shade of crimson that probably set off sensors in the room. "Mamma! It was just... a very complex integration process," I rasped, my throat still feeling like I'd swallowed a handful of dry sand.
Keifer didn't even blink. He just smirked, leaning back into the cushions. "The system required maximum output to reach equilibrium, Mamma. I'm sure you understand the importance of a thorough stress test."
The Keiran Variable
Suddenly, Keiran popped his head up from the floor where he was playing with a robotic car. He looked at me with wide, confused eyes.
"Why did Ate Jay have to shout at the engine?" he asked, his brow furrowing in genuine concern. "Was the bed broken? Is that why her legs hurt today? Did it fall on her?"
The room went dead silent for a microsecond before Keigan let out a snort that turned into a full-blown cackle.
"Uh, yeah, Keiran," Keigan choked out, clutching his stomach. "The... uh... the gravity in the Blue Suite shifted. It's a very rare physics phenomenon. Kuya had to hold her down so she wouldn't float away. That's why she was screaming. For safety."
"Gravity shifted?" Keiran's eyes went even wider. He looked at Keifer. "Is that why you look so tired, Kuya? From fighting gravity?
Keifer didn't miss a beat. He looked at his little brother with a perfectly straight face. "Exactly, Keiran. It was a high-stakes wrestling match with the laws of physics. I won, obviously, but Jay had to provide the... auditory sensors. Every time I moved, she had to announce the coordinates."
"Coordinates?" I croaked, hiding my face in Keifer's shoulder. "Keifer, stop it."
"Like... 'North! South! Harder! Higher!'?" Keiran asked, trying to be helpful.
Pappa Keizer actually choked on his coffee, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter behind his newspaper.
"More like 'Oh God, Keifer!'" Keigan added, howling with laughter. "That's a very important scientific coordinate, Keiran. It means the experiment is reaching 100% efficiency."
The Pure Joy
I was laughing so hard—and so painfully—that I had to clutch my core. Every time I laughed, I felt the "aftershocks" of last night, a sweet reminder of Keifer's devotion.
"You guys are terrible," I managed to rasp out, my eyes watering.
"We're family, Jay-Jay," Serina said, leaning over to pat my hand. She looked at me with such warmth, her eyes soft. "And seeing you two this happy... even if it means we have to install soundproofing in the West Wing... is worth every bit of teasing."
Keifer pulled me closer, his lips brushing my ear as the family continued to feed Keiran silly explanations about "thermal expansion" and "vocal cord calibration."
"Next time," Keifer whispered, his voice low enough that only I could hear, "I'll make sure the 'gravity shift' is even more intense. We might need to break a few more laws of physics."
I leaned into him, the "Glow" reaching a 100% saturation point. Bridget was at the university, miserable and alone, while here, in the heart of the Watson home, I was more than just a student or an employee. I was home.