Jayjay'sPOV
"Jayjay, just come on!" Keifer shouted from downstairs.
Keifer had gone downstairs twenty minutes ago. First, I took a shower, but then finding something decent to wear turned into a complete nightmare.
The first outfit I picked was missing its top. The second outfit was missing its pants. The third one—a three-piece set—was missing its inner top! The fourth option was a cute shirt and skirt combo, but when I pulled it out, I realized one of the shirt buttons was broken. In the end, out of pure frustration, I just threw on my classic blue jeans and a random top.
Then came the hair struggle. Today was officially a bad hair day. I tried making a ponytail, but it came out completely lopsided. I twisted it into a bun, but my scalp immediately started aching. Keifer had actually walked back upstairs to try and help me, but all my wardrobe-induced rage exploded onto poor Keifer, and I literally kicked him out of the room.
Hehe. It wasn't my fault my day was starting off so terribly, but I definitely took all my anger out on my poor husband.
After finally getting ready, I stomped downstairs and found Keifer sitting on the living room sofa, impatiently waiting for me and tapping his foot against the floor nonstop.
He looked up at me and let out a long breath. "Finally," he sighed, standing up as I walked over.
"Shut up and come on, let's go," I snapped, glaring at him.
He nodded, but then paused. "Wait, lemme just put my shoes on."
I stood there, staring at him in complete disbelief while he slipped on his sneakers and tied the laces. Once he stood back up, he looked at my expression and immediately frowned.
"What?" he asked.
"Seriously?! You were rushing me for twenty minutes and you couldn't even put your shoes on while waiting?!" I barked angrily.
Keifer burst into a low laugh. "Okay, okay, my red chili. Come on, let me hold your hand."
He offered his hand, but I slapped it away and walked right past him out the front door.
"Hey! I'm sorry!" he called out, following close behind me.
I completely ignored him and climbed straight into the passenger seat of the car. Keifer got into the driver's seat and immediately leaned across the center console toward me. Thinking he was about to do something sweet to make me less mad, I quickly turned my head away, staring stubbornly out the window to ignore him.
He just sighed softly and pulled my seatbelt across my chest, clicking it into place.
Oh, holy crap.
He always puts my seatbelt on for me, so my brain didn't even think to do it myself... Hehe. Excuse me, it's just reflex! Or instinct... whatever it is!
I shifted my eyes sideways to sneak a glance at him, but Keifer caught me looking red-handed. I instantly snapped my eyes back toward the window.
He chuckled softly under his breath, shifted the car into drive, and smoothly pulled out of the driveway.
The ride to my family's home was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the cool breeze blowing through the slightly open windows.
Even though I was trying my hardest to stay angry at him, Keifer kept making it nearly impossible. With one hand on the steering wheel, he reached his other hand across the center console, gently taking my left hand into his. His thumb lightly stroked the back of my hand in slow, rhythmic circles, silently apologizing for earlier.
I let out a tiny, dramatic huff, but I didn't pull my hand away.
"Still mad at me, wifey?" Keifer asked softly, glancing over at me with a playful glint in his dark eyes.
"Yes," I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the passing streetlights. "You were rushing me when my hair wasn't cooperating. That's a crime."
"I apologize, my queen," he murmured, lifting my hand up to his lips to press a tender kiss right against my knuckles. "Next time, I'll stand behind you and brush your hair myself until it's perfect."
My cheeks flushed warm at his words, and a small smile threatened to break through my sour mood. I quickly bit the inside of my cheek to hide it. "You don't even know how to tie a hair tie, Watson."
"I can learn," he answered without missing a beat, turning the car onto our familiar neighborhood street.
Within fifteen minutes, the car rolled to a smooth stop right in front of Tita Gemma's house. The porch light was warmly lit, and I could already smell the amazing aroma of home-cooked food wafting through the open kitchen window.
Before we could even unbuckle our seatbelts, the front door flew open.
Kuya Angelo stood on the porch, leaning against the doorframe with a wide smirk plastered across his face.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up!" Kuya Angelo called out loudly. "We thought Keifer got lost driving to a house he's visited a hundred times!"
"I told you, Angelo, they were probably on their way but your delulu!" Ate Ion's warm voice boomed from inside, and a second later, she appeared right behind Kuya Angelo with Tita Gemma wiping her hands on her apron with a huge smile.
"Jayjay! Keifer! Come inside, quick!" Tita said and I waved from the car.
Keifer unbuckled his seatbelt, turned toward me, and reached over to cup my cheek gently, his dark eyes locking onto mine with so much warmth.
"Ready to go in?" he asked softly, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip.
My bad mood completely evaporated. I smiled back at him, nodding as I reached for the door handle. "Ready, hubby."
We both got out of the car, and I immediately ran straight toward Tita Gemma in the kitchen. She turned around, her face lighting up, and instantly wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her back with the exact same energy.
"I missed you," she whispered warmly against my shoulder.
"Me too, Tita," I smiled, squeezing her tight.
"No, you just missed my cooking," she teased with a gentle joke.
We both pulled away from the hug, laughing softly, and I leaned back against the cool marble of the kitchen island.
"What's for dinner, by the way?" I asked, watching her carefully stir a large pot on the stove.
"Rice, and some special potatoes just for you," she answered, looking over her shoulder with a sweet smile. I smiled right back at her. "I know you must be thinking that's not enough, but don't worry, I made plenty of side dishes," she added, making us both burst into laughter again.
Just then, a soft, dramatic cough echoed from the kitchen doorway. I turned my head and saw Ate Ion standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Oh, okay. I understand now—having a laugh without me," she said, raising an eyebrow dramatically.
"Umm, actually yeah, Ate. We completely excluded you on purpose," I joked, winking at Tita Gemma.
Tita chuckled quietly under her breath while Ate Ion gasped in complete shock.
"Oh my god, I have been betrayed!" Ate Ion cried out, dramatically placing the back of her hand against her forehead like a soap opera actress.
I completely lost my composure and laughed out loud. Tita Gemma and Ate Ion couldn't hold back their giggles either.
"I was just kidding!" I laughed, waving her over.
She walked over with a big smile, and we shared a quick, warm hug before diving straight into our favorite pastime: girls' gossip.
...
"...Mom, did you know that Angelo taught Kyap how to fight?" Ate Ion asked a little while later, casually leaning against the counter.
"Nope," Tita Gemma replied, shaking her head as she chopped vegetables. "And if I knew, I wouldn't have let him."
"Why, Tita? I think learning how to fight is actually great," I said. Ate Ion tossed a fresh apple across the counter, and I caught it smoothly in mid-air, taking a crisp bite. "That way, you know how to protect yourself."
"Yeah, coming from the Holy Saint's Don," Tita Gemma teased playfully, making Ate Ion burst into soft laughter.
"Tita! I was just spoiled back then," I protested, pouting slightly. "Look at me now, I don't fight anymore!"
"Yeah, because you don't go to school anymore!" Ate Ion chimed in.
Both of them started laughing uncontrollably while I gasped dramatically, holding a hand over my heart.
"Oh my god, are you two seriously teaming up against me?!" I whined, stomping my foot lightly. "Guys, we're girls! We should team up together against Kuya, Aries, Tito, and Keifer!"
All three of us broke into loud laughter at that.
"Well, actually, that makes total sense," Tita Gemma agreed, chuckling. "For the first time ever, Jasper Jeen is making sense!"
"And for the first time ever, I'm actually helping Tita work in the kitchen," I added proudly, making us all smile.
"And for the first time ever, Ion is actually washing dishes—which explains why soap and water are flooding out of the sink!" Tita added, pointing toward the washing area.
We all erupted into laughter again because it was 100% true. Ate Ion was struggling with those dirty dishes like she was fighting in a whole third world war. Poor Ate probably hadn't washed a single dish in ages!
"Mama! We're hungry out here!" Aries' loud voice suddenly boomed from the living room.
"Shut up, Horoscope! We're not making anything for you!" I shouted back at the top of my lungs.
Tita, Ate Ion, and I shared a collective laugh in the kitchen, completely ignoring the boys' hungry complaints.
After finishing up—or more accurately, laughing our hearts out—we placed all the food onto the dining table. The second the dishes touched the surface, the boys scrambled over and sat down at lighting speed.
"Hey, hey, calm down!" I said, holding up my hands.
"Yeah, what's the giant rush?" Ate Ion asked, shaking her head.
"So impatient," Tita Gemma commented with a soft sigh.
"It's been an hour since Keifer and Jay arrived, and I've been telling you that I'm starving for more than two hours!" Kuya Angelo complained to Ate Ion.
"So? Can't you just wait two more minutes?" Ate asked as the rest of us took our seats.
"I waited for two hours! Now I can't wait anymore because the mice in my stomach are about to start eating my organs!" Kuya replied.
We all burst into laughter. Without saying a word, Keifer immediately pulled my plate toward himself, generously filling it with food before sliding it back to me with a soft, warm smile.
Aries watched us, then looked over at Kuya who was serving Ate Ion, and finally at Tito who was sweetly serving Tita Gemma.
"Am I seriously the only one at this table who isn't married yet?" Aries asked, looking around the room.
We all casually nodded while taking our first bites.
"I guess I'm getting married the exact second Ella turns eighteen," he declared, stuffing a forkful of rice into his mouth.
"No way," Kuya Angelo shot back instantly. "First you complete your studies, and you let Ella complete hers too."
Aries groaned loudly, rolling his eyes. "Since when was that a rule?! Jay got married way before that!"
"Lola was here back then," I replied smoothly, taking a bite of my potatoes.
Aries paused, thinking deeply about my answer for a second. "Hmm... maybe I need some Lola support right now," he muttered under his breath.
Unfortunately for him, we all heard it. Kuya Angelo reached straight across the table and smacked the back of Aries' head. The entire table erupted into roaring laughter—even Kuya couldn't help but laugh—while Aries sat there rubbing his head with a pout.
"Aray! Kuya, that actually hurts!" Aries whined, rubbing the back of his head and glaring at Kuya Angelo. "I'm just planning for my future!"
"Plan for your upcoming exams first, Aries," Kuya Angelo said, completely unbothered as he picked up his spoon again.
"I am smart enough to handle both," Aries huffed, adjusting his collar arrogantly. "Ella and I already have everything calculated."
"Calculated?" Ate Ion giggled from across the table. "Aries, you couldn't even calculate how much salt to put in the soup last week."
"That was a cooking experiment, Ate!" Aries defended himself immediately, making Tito Julz laugh warmly into his napkin.
Tita Gemma shook her head, smiling as she served more rice onto Keifer's plate. "Eat more, Keifer. Don't listen to these children."
"Thank you, Tita," Keifer said politely. He turned to Kuya Angelo, his posture shifting into his usual calm, composed tone. "By the way, Angelo, the shipment documents for the new company cars came through this afternoon. I had my secretary forward them to your email."
"Good," Kuya Angelo nodded, taking a sip of water. "I'll review them tonight after we get back."
I glanced over at Ate Ion and caught the exact moment her jaw tightened, her grip visibly squeezing her fork.
"Keifer... isn't your secretary that Honey Bee Ryder?" she asked smoothly.
Keifer nodded without thinking. "Yeah, she is."
Ate Ion slowly turned her head toward Kuya Angelo. "Isn't she your ex?"
Kuya Angelo swallowed hard, his eyes dropping straight down to his plate to avoid Ate Ion's sharp gaze.
"Yeah, but we were just making Percy jealous and regret, and as you know, I don't take relationships seriously unless it's permanent!" he blurted out in one single breath before stuffing a massive mouthful of food to avoid speaking further.
We all chuckled quietly at him because the terrifying Don was literally sweating in front of his wife. The guy who wasn't afraid of anything in the world was absolutely terrified of Ate Ion!
I slowly turned my eyes toward Keifer, but before I could even open my mouth, Keifer threw both of his hands straight up into the air.
"I only have two exes and you know about both of them! I don't have any other relationships! Even while I was in London, I didn't look at any other girl that way—you can ask Ion!" Keifer rushed out in one panicked breath, his dark eyes wide as his hands stayed raised in self-defense. "Honey and I were together just because she's my lawyer's daughter and my secretary, and we were literally just making you jealous!"
I stared at his panicked face, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
"I was just going to ask if you wanted the vegetables from my plate..." I said softly.
A silence fell over the dining table. Kuya Angelo was staring down at his plate, forcing a tight smile while chewing for his life. Ate Ion was biting her bottom lip, trying not to laugh out loud. Aries suddenly found his empty plate to be the most fascinating object in the universe, while Tita Gemma and Tito Julz were suddenly deeply invested in studying the salad bowl.
I looked at Keifer, who was slowly lowering his hands while eating his food, trying his absolute best not to burst out laughing right beside me.
I shook my head with a soft smile and quietly went back to eating my dinner.
The End 🌸.
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