Tuesday afternoon. Watson mansion.
Quiet. Peaceful. Perfect.
Jay and Keifer were on the couch in the living room. Movie playing on the big screen. Neither watching.
They'd fallen asleep hours ago.
Jay was curled against Keifer's chest. His arm wrapped around her. Her leg thrown over his. Both breathing slow. Soft.
The front door opened.
Keizer walked in first, loud as always. "HOME SWEET—"
Serina clamped a hand over his mouth.
He blinked. Looked at the couch. Froze.
Jay and Keifer. Asleep. Tangled together. Looking peaceful.
Keizer's eyes went wide. He pointed. Made muffled sounds behind Serina's hand.
Jasfer walked in next. "What's wrong with—" He saw them. Stopped.
Mama Reycee came behind him. "Why are we—" She peeked over. Gasped quietly. Grabbed Jasfer's arm.
Aries and Ella next. Aries opened his mouth. Ella elbowed him. He looked. Shut up.
Percy and Honey last, holding hands. Percy opened his mouth. Honey covered it. He nodded.
The entire Mariano-Watson clan stood in the foyer. Staring at the sleeping couple on the couch.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Keiren tugged Serina's sleeve. "Mommy, why is everyone quiet?"
"Shh, baby. Kuya's sleeping."
"But I wanna say hi to Ate Jay."
"Later."
"But—"
"Later."
Keiren pouted. But stayed quiet.
Keifer's mom pulled out her phone. Silently took a photo.
Mama Reycee did the same.
Keizer finally got Serina's hand off his mouth. Whispered, "They're so cute I'm gonna cry."
Jasfer nodded. "Same."
Percy whispered to Honey, "This is the best day of my life."
"You say that every day."
"Because every day with you is the best."
Honey rolled her eyes. But she smiled.
Aries crossed his arms. Whispered, "If he's not treating her right—"
Ella shushed him. "Look at them. He's literally wrapped around her."
Aries squinted. "Fine. He passes. For now."
Keigan pulled out his phone. Started recording. "For the archives."
No one stopped him.
They all just stood there. Watching. Smiling. Quiet for once.
Twenty minutes later, Keifer stirred.
His eyes opened slowly. Blinked at the ceiling. Felt the weight of Jay on his chest.
Looked down at her.
Soft. Peaceful. Beautiful.
His hand came up. Touched her hair. Gently pushed a strand behind her ear.
His face softened completely. All the coldness gone. Just warmth. Just love.
He stared at her like she was the only thing in the world.
The families watched. Dead silent.
Keizer grabbed Serina's hand. Squeezed.
Mama Reycee wiped a tear.
Jasfer put an arm around her.
Even Aries softened. Just a little.
Percy mouthed to Honey: He's so gone for her.
Honey mouthed back: Always has been.
Keifer didn't notice them. Didn't notice anything except Jay.
He leaned down. Kissed her forehead. Whispered, "Love you, baby."
Jay stirred. Mumbled something.
He smiled. Real smile. "Wake up, love."
Jay's eyes fluttered open.
She looked at him. Blinked. Smiled sleepy.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Hey."
"What time is it?"
"Dunno. Don't care."
She laughed softly. "Lazy."
"Your fault. You're comfortable."
"Mm." She stretched. "Love you."
"Love you too."
They looked at each other. Inches apart.
Jay reached up. Touched his face.
Keifer leaned down.
They kissed. Soft. Sweet. Morning kiss.
Then it deepened.
Jay's hands in his hair. His hand on her waist.
He shifted. Moved over her. Lay on top of her on the couch. Careful. Gentle.
She pulled him closer.
He kissed her jaw. Her neck. Slow. Tender.
Jay's head tilted back. Eyes closed. "Keifer..."
He murmured against her skin, "Jay..."
The families watched. Frozen. Wide-eyed.
Keizer's mouth was open.
Serina's hand over her heart.
Mama Reycee gripping Jasfer's arm.
Aries looking away but peeking.
Ella recording. (For Jay. Obviously.)
Percy and Honey holding each other, emotional.
Keiren whispered, "Are they kissing?"
Keigan shushed him. "Yes. Quiet."
Keifer kissed lower on Jay's neck. Jay let out a tiny sound.
Then—
Ahem.
Keifer froze.
Jay froze.
They both turned their heads slowly.
Twenty people standing in the foyer. Staring.
Dead silence.
Then Keizer: "WE'RE HOME!"
Jay screamed.
Not loud. But a scream.
She shoved Keifer. He rolled off. Landed on the floor with a thud.
Jay sat up, face RED. Hair messy. Shirt slightly crooked.
"OH MY GOD," she yelled. "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?"
Jasfer checked his watch. "About forty-five minutes."
"FORTY-FIVE MINUTES?"
Mama Reycee smiled sweetly. "You two were adorable. We didn't want to interrupt."
Keifer got up from the floor. Straightened his shirt. Face completely calm.
But his ears? Bright red.
"You could have said something," he said flatly.
"And miss that?" Keizer laughed. "NEVER."
Percy wiped a fake tear. "The neck kiss. Cinematic."
Jay threw a pillow at him. He caught it.
Honey waved. "Hi, Jay. You look... happy."
Jay buried her face in her hands.
Keifer sat beside her. Put an arm around her. "They're never going to let this go."
"I know," she mumbled.
Keiren ran over. Climbed onto the couch. "Ate! You were kissing! Like in the movies!"
Jay peeked through her fingers. "Kid..."
"It was cool." He nodded seriously. "But your hair is messy."
Everyone lost it.
Laughing. All of them.
Even Jay laughed. Reluctant. But real.
Keifer pulled her closer. Kissed her messy hair.
"You're never living this down," he murmured.
"Your fault."
"My fault?"
"You started it."
"You kissed back."
"Shut up."
"Make me."
She looked at him. Raised an eyebrow. "In front of everyone?"
He almost-smiled. "Later."
"Promise?"
"Always."
The families watched. Smiling. Shipping. Loving every second.
Mama Reycee grabbed Serina's hands. "They're perfect."
Serina nodded. "Absolutely perfect."
Keizer wiped his eyes. "I'm not crying. You're crying."
Jasfer patted his back. "We're all crying."
Aries shook his head. "This family is insane."
Ella kissed his cheek. "You love it."
"...Yeah. I do."
Percy pulled Honey closer. "One day that's gonna be us getting caught."
Honey laughed. "Bold of you to assume my family is that chill."
"Your loss."
"My gain."
They kissed. Quick. Sweet.
Keigan lowered his phone. "Got all of it. The wake-up. The staring. The neck kiss. The scream. Everything."
Keifer looked at him. "Delete it."
"Never."
"Keigan."
"Keifer." He grinned. "This is blackmail for life."
Jay laughed. Actually laughed. "I like him."
Keifer sighed. "Don't encourage him."
"Too late."
Keiren tugged Jay's sleeve. "Ate?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you stay for dinner? You're my favorite."
Jay melted. "Of course, kid."
"Yes!" He ran to his mom. "Mommy! She's staying!"
Serina smiled. "I heard, baby."
Keizer clapped. "Dinner! Celebration! Jayfer caught on camera!"
Jasfer nodded. "I'll call for food."
Mama Reycee grabbed Jay's hand. "Come, baby. Let's fix your hair. You look loved."
Jay's face went red again. "Mama..."
"What? It's true."
Everyone laughed.
Jay looked at Keifer.
He looked at her.
"Your family," she mouthed.
"Our family," he mouthed back.
She smiled.
He almost-smiled.
And in the middle of the chaos, the noise, the teasing, the love—
They were home.
Later that night, after dinner, after the teasing died down, Jay and Keifer sat on the back porch. Alone. Finally.
"That was insane," Jay said.
"Always is."
"Your dad cried three times."
"New record."
"My mom showed everyone the photo she took of us sleeping."
"I saw. Keigan posted it."
"He WHAT?"
"Instagram. 100k likes already."
Jay grabbed her phone. Checked.
Sure enough. Keigan's post. Photo of them asleep on the couch. Caption: Found them like this. #Jayfer #Goals
Comments:
OMG THEY'RE SO CUTE
Look at Keifer holding her 😭
Power couple sleeping
The Watson-Mariano merger is complete
Their families are INSANE and I love it
Jay laughed. Shook her head.
"Your brother," she said.
"Our brother."
Keifer looked at her. Soft. "Yeah. Our brother."
She leaned against him. He put his arm around her.
"Today was crazy," she murmured.
"Tomorrow will be worse."
"Probably."
"But worth it."
She looked up at him. "Yeah?"
He kissed her forehead. "Yeah."
They sat in silence. Watching stars.
Jay smiled.
Hate to love.
Best decision she ever made.