Chapter 14: Percy Chaos
The Morning After
Jay woke to peace.
Sunlight.
Warmth.
Keifer's arms.
No tiny monsters bursting through the door.
She smiled.
Stretched.
Pressed closer to him.
"Morning," he murmured.
"Morning.
No Keiran today?"
"He's with Mamma.
Early breakfast.
We have the room to ourselves."
She grinned.
"Oh, really?
Whatever shall we do?"
He kissed her.
Slow.
Sweet.
"Whatever we want."
They had a lovely, uninterrupted morning.
For once.
---
Downstairs
They finally emerged.
Hand in hand.
Slightly flushed.
Very happy.
The kitchen was quiet.
Too quiet.
Jay frowned.
"Where is everyone?"
Keifer looked around.
"Mamma?
Pappa?
Anyone?"
Silence.
Then a crash from the living room.
Followed by Percy's voice.
"I DIDN'T DO IT!
IT WAS LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT HERE!"
Another crash.
Keigan's voice, calm:
"You literally knocked it over, Peh.
I saw you."
Percy:
"WITNESSES ARE LIARS!"
Jay and Keifer exchanged looks.
Walked toward the chaos.
---
The Living Room
The scene was... something.
Percy stood in the middle of the room.
Arms spread wide.
Looking innocent.
Looking guilty.
Around him:
A knocked-over lamp.
A spilled bowl of popcorn.
Keiran covered in popcorn.
Keigan holding a book, watching with mild interest.
Aries on the couch, hiding his face.
Mamma in the doorway, hands on hips.
Pappa behind her, trying not to laugh.
Mamma spoke first.
"Percy Mariano.
Explain.
Now."
Percy pointed at Keiran.
"He started it."
Keiran gasped.
"DID NOT!
You said you could jump over the couch!
You said watch this!
Then you jumped!
And fell!
And knocked everything!"
Percy pointed at him.
"TRAITOR!"
Keiran pointed back.
"CLUMSY!"
Jay started laughing.
Couldn't help it.
This was peak Percy.
Peak chaos.
Peak family.
---
The Explanation
Mamma took a deep breath.
The patient mother voice.
"Percy.
Why were you jumping over the couch?"
Percy shrugged.
"I was showing Keiran my athletic skills."
Aries spoke from the couch.
"You have no athletic skills.
You tripped over your own feet last week.
Walking.
On flat ground."
Percy gasped.
"BETRAYAL!
From my own brother!"
Keigan looked up from his book.
"Technically, half-brother.
Same father, different mothers.
But yes, still betrayal."
Percy stared at him.
"You're twelve.
Why are you like this?"
Keigan shrugged.
"Genetics."
---
Keiran tugged on Jay's sleeve.
"Kuya Jay!
Peh tried to fly!
But he can't fly!
He's not a bird!"
Jay knelt down.
Tried to keep a straight face.
"He tried to fly?
Over the couch?"
Keiran nodded vigorously.
"He said 'watch this, little man!'
Then he jumped.
Then he fell.
Then the lamp died."
He pointed at the fallen lamp.
Sad.
Dramatic.
Jay looked at Percy.
"You tried to fly.
Over a couch.
At your age."
Percy crossed his arms.
"It could have worked.
Theoretically."
Aries snorted.
"Theoretically, I could marry a princess.
Doesn't mean it's happening."
Percy threw a pillow at him.
Aries caught it.
Smug.
---
Mamma's Verdict
Mamma surveyed the damage.
Lamp broken.
Popcorn everywhere.
Percy looking sheepish.
Keiran looking delighted.
"Percy.
You're cleaning this up.
All of it.
And you're buying a new lamp.
With your own money."
Percy's face fell.
"But Mamma—
"No buts.
You broke it.
You fix it.
That's how family works."
Percy sighed.
Defeated.
"Yes, Mamma."
Keiran cheered.
"PEH HAS TO CLEAN!
PEH HAS TO CLEAN!
THIS IS THE BEST DAY!"
Percy pointed at him.
"You're next, little monster.
Just wait."
Keiran stuck out his tongue.
"Can't catch me!
I'm fast!"
He ran.
Percy chased.
Chaos resumed.
---
The Chase
Percy chased Keiran through the house.
Keiran squealing with delight.
Percy pretending to be a monster.
They ran through the kitchen.
Around the dining table.
Through the living room again.
Knocking over a pillow.
Bumping a chair.
Spreading chaos everywhere.
Mamma watched.
Arms crossed.
Trying to look stern.
Failing.
Pappa laughed openly.
"Aries used to do that with Keifer.
Remember?"
Mamma nodded.
"Keifer was always the monster.
Aries was always the runner."
Aries smiled.
Small.
Nostalgic.
"Good times."
Jay leaned against Keifer.
Watching the chaos.
Happy.
"Your family is insane," she whispered.
"Our family," he corrected.
"And yes.
Completely insane."
She smiled.
"Best kind of insane."
---
The Capture
Percy finally caught Keiran.
Tackled him gently onto the couch.
Tickled him mercilessly.
"Say uncle!
Say uncle!"
Keiran shrieked with laughter.
"UNCLE!
UNCLE!
PEH, STOP!"
Percy stopped.
Grinning.
"Victory is mine."
Keiran gasped for breath.
Giggling.
"Again!
Do it again!"
Percy groaned.
"You're exhausting, little man."
Keiran beamed.
"I know!
Mamma says so!
She says I'm 'energetic'!
That means exhausting, right?"
Percy ruffled his hair.
"Exactly right.
Now help me clean this mess.
You were part of it."
Keiran nodded.
Grabbed a handful of popcorn.
Ate it instead of cleaning it.
Percy stared at him.
"That's not helping."
Keiran grinned.
"It's helping me.
I'm hungry."
Jay laughed.
Couldn't help it.
This child.
This family.
This beautiful chaos.
---
Cleaning Chaos
Cleaning with Percy was... an experience.
He swept popcorn.
Missed half.
Swept it again.
Knocked over the dustpan.
He tried to fix the lamp.
Made it worse.
Much worse.
Now it had a dent AND a crack.
He attempted to reorganize the pillows.
Created a pillow fort instead.
Keiran immediately claimed it.
Refused to leave.
Mamma watched from the doorway.
Shaking her head.
Smiling.
"Percy Mariano.
You are a disaster."
Percy looked up from the pillow fort.
Grinning.
"A loveable disaster, though.
Right?"
Mamma laughed.
"Unfortunately, yes.
You're loveable.
It's your only redeeming quality."
Percy clutched his heart.
"Ouch, Mamma.
Ouch."
Keigan looked up from his book.
"She's not wrong."
Percy threw a pillow at him.
Keigan caught it.
Didn't even look up from his book.
Jay stared.
"Did he just—
Without looking?
How?"
Keifer smiled.
"Keigan has reflexes.
And focus.
Terrifying combination."
Keigan glanced up.
"I heard that."
"Good."
---
Lunchtime
Somehow, lunch happened.
Despite the chaos.
Mamma's magic.
Everyone gathered at the table.
Keiran still hyper from the chase.
Percy still plotting revenge.
Aries still calm.
Keigan still reading.
Pappa still behind his newspaper.
Mamma still serving food.
Jay and Keifer still together.
Percy looked around the table.
At his family.
His crazy, wonderful family.
"I love you guys," he said suddenly.
"Even when you gang up on me."
Keiran gasped.
"Peh said love!
Peh said the L word!
He never says the L word!"
Percy's face went red.
"Shut up, Keiran."
Keiran grinned.
"PEH LOVES US!
PEH LOVES US!"
Percy buried his face in his hands.
Jay patted his back.
"Aw, Percy.
It's okay to have feelings."
He glared at her.
"Traitor.
You're supposed to be on my side."
She smiled.
"I'm on everyone's side.
That's my job.
Family peacekeeper."
Aries snorted.
"Good luck with that."
---
After Lunch
Percy found Jay alone on the patio.
Quiet for once.
Serious.
"Hey.
Can we talk?"
Jay nodded.
Concerned.
"Sure, Percy.
What's up?"
He sat beside her.
Looked at the garden.
Didn't meet her eyes.
"I just wanted to say...
Thank you.
For being here.
For being part of this family."
Jay blinked.
Surprised.
"Percy..."
"I know I'm a mess.
I know I cause chaos.
I know I'm not the serious one like Aries.
Or the successful one like Keifer.
Or the smart one like Keigan.
Or the cute one like Keiran."
He paused.
Swallowed.
"But you...
You treat me like I matter anyway.
Like I'm important.
Like I'm worth something."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"Percy.
Of course you matter.
Of course you're important.
You're my brother.
You raised me.
You worked double shifts so I could eat.
You're everything."
He looked at her then.
Eyes wet.
Smiling wobbly.
"Thanks, Jay.
That means...
That means a lot."
She hugged him.
Tight.
Long.
Loving.
"Always, Percy.
Always."
---
Keifer Found Them
Keifer walked onto the patio.
Found them hugging.
Raised an eyebrow.
"Everything okay?"
Percy pulled back.
Wiped his eyes.
Pretended he wasn't crying.
"Fine.
Just...
Girl stuff.
You wouldn't understand."
Keifer looked at Jay.
She shrugged.
Smiled.
"Brother-sister stuff.
Very deep.
Very emotional."
Keifer nodded slowly.
"Right.
Sure.
I'll just...
Go inside then."
Percy grabbed his arm.
"Wait.
Come here.
Group hug."
Keifer stared at him.
"I don't do group hugs."
Percy pulled him in anyway.
Jay joined.
Three of them.
Hugging.
Laughing.
Loving.
Percy spoke into the hug.
"I love you guys.
Even when you're annoying."
Keifer sighed.
"Love you too, Percy.
Even when you're chaotic."
Jay smiled.
"Love you both.
Always."
---
Keiran Joined
Of course Keiran found them.
Ran over.
Launched himself into the hug.
"GROUP HUG!
GROUP HUG!
I WANT IN!"
He squeezed between them.
Tiny arms around everyone.
Beaming.
"This is the best!
Everyone hugging!
We should do this every day!"
Percy laughed.
"Every day, little man.
Every single day."
Keigan appeared in the doorway.
Watched for a moment.
Then walked over.
Joined the hug without a word.
Aries followed.
Shaking his head.
Smiling.
Hugged them all.
Mamma appeared next.
Tears in her eyes.
Pulled Pappa over.
They joined too.
Eight people.
Hugging.
Laughing.
Crying.
Loving.
Jay looked around.
At this family.
This beautiful, chaotic, impossible family.
Mine, she thought.
All mine.
---
That Evening
Dinner was loud.
Happier than usual.
Full of laughter and love.
Afterward, Percy pulled Jay aside again.
Grinning now.
Chaos restored.
"Hey.
Thanks for earlier.
For listening.
For hugging.
For being you."
She smiled.
"Always, Percy.
You're stuck with me."
"Good.
Because I have a question."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh no.
What now?"
He leaned in.
Conspiratorial.
"Keiran told me about the happy screaming.
What's that about?
Details, please."
Jay's face went red.
"PERCY!"
He ran.
Laughing.
She chased.
Chaos resumed.
Keifer watched from the doorway.
Shaking his head.
Smiling.
Aries appeared beside him.
"They're both insane."
Keifer nodded.
"Yep.
Love them anyway."
Aries smiled.
"Yeah.
Me too."
---
Bedtime
Jay finally caught Percy.
In the kitchen.
Tickled him until he begged for mercy.
"UNCLE!
UNCLE!
I GIVE UP!"
She stopped.
Grinning.
"Never ask about happy screaming again."
He gasped for breath.
"Fine!
Fine!
No more questions!
You're terrifying!"
She kissed his cheek.
"Love you, Percy."
He smiled.
Soft.
Genuine.
"Love you too, Jay.
Always."
Keifer appeared.
Took her hand.
"Time for bed, trouble maker."
She grinned at Percy.
"Goodnight, chaos brother."
He waved.
"Goodnight, scary sister."
They walked away.
Hand in hand.
Happy.
Home.
Percy watched them go.
Smiled to himself.
Best family ever,
he thought.
Best life ever.
---
End of Chapter 14