Jayjay's POV.
I looked at the hand gripping my wrist. My heart stopped for a second. Slowly, I turned my head to see who had the nerve to interrupt us.
Oh, hell no. Why did he have to be here—and with all of them?
Our boyfriends, well their boyfriends and my fiancé was all standing there, watching us beat that whore. Holy crap. I pulled my wrist away from Keifer's grip and looked at him, throwing the metal rod aside. I looked him straight in the eyes.
"Wait here, let me finish the work," I said. I didn't wait for a response. I went back to that flirt and punched her in the nose, then another in the stomach, followed by two sharp slaps to her cheeks.
I looked at my girls and signaled for Ella to look behind her. She did.
"Aries?" she gasped.
Freya turned around next. "David..."
Rakki turned. "Yuri..."
Mica turned. "Calix..."
Grace delivered one last slap to the girl before turning. "Danzel..."
We were all in shock. How the hell did they even get here? The door was locked, so how did they end up in this old building right behind us? The boys signaled for their girlfriends to come out, and the girls complied, even dragging Claire's chair outside with them.
I looked at Keifer and didn't smile. His eyes were unreadable. Just by looking at his face, I could tell he was angry. But why? For beating my rival? Did he actually care about her? I decided to ask those questions later; first, I had to melt his anger.
"Keif?" I said. No response. "Keifer" still nothing, "Hoi!?'
He finally moved, sitting down on a long bench behind him. He patted the space beside him, and I went over. I sat down, and he took my hand while I rested my head on his shoulder.
"Why were you doing that?" he asked, his voice soft but authoritative.
"My girls planned this revenge because of what she did" I explained. "How long have you been watching us?"
"We entered when Freya was giving you the rod, I'm happy that you refused" he said. He looked at me. "You don't have to beat her up"
"Well, I had to," I said, lifting my head from his shoulder. "I didn't finish my work the other day because I was waiting for the girls. Why are you so concerned about that flirt, anyway?"
"I wasn't concerned about her. I was concerned about you," he said, and I looked at him, confused. I was the one doing the beating, not her! "You could get in trouble, Jay."
He placed his hand on my head and gently pushed it back onto his shoulder. "I don't care about that girl. I only care about you."
"Oh, really?" I asked playfully.
"Yeah. But I won't allow any more fights. I didn't know you guys worked like some kind of mafia gang," he said, and I laughed.
"So don't mess with me," I teased. "Or my girls will bury you alive."
He laughed. "I would never."
I smiled, then tried to pull my head back because my phone buzzed, but he gently kept it on his shoulder.
"We should leave now, Keif," I said. He sighed, and we both stood up. He held my hand firmly.
"I'm still mad at you," he said. I clung to his arm, making a cute face. He laughed softly and tried to pull his arm away. "I won't melt!"
I crossed my arms, knitted my brows, and gave him an angry look.
"Okay, okay! I'm not mad," he surrendered, holding my hand again.
"Should we go on a date today?" I asked as we walked. His face lit up instantly.
"Yeah, why not?"
We both smiled. When we reached the exit, we saw the whole group. The girls were arguing loudly with their boyfriends, while the guys just stood there, looking down and accepting every word. It was cute and funny at the same time. As we walked up to them, everyone stopped to look at us.
"Wait, Keifer didn't say anything to you about the beating? And you didn't argue?" Rakki asked, looking confused at our joined hands.
"No," Keifer said before I could speak. "I don't care if she kills her with a beating, as long as Jay is safe."
I smiled.
"See? That's a real man!"
"Learn something from him!"
"I can't believe you guys are friends!"
"You always tell me I don't have to fight!"
"See? That's a gentleman. You stopped me from beating that flirt for my friend!"
They all started talking at once, and I couldn't even tell who was saying what anymore!
"Enough!" I shouted, and everyone immediately stopped talking. I pointed at Claire, who was still tied up. "Now, who is going to take her to the hospital?"
"All of us, probably, because she is so heavy!" Grace joked. We all laughed one last time before the group started untying her. They managed to get her into their cars to head to the hospital. I looked at Keifer and smiled, then let out a massive, heavy yawn.
"Tired?" he asked softly. I nodded.
We walked to the car and hopped in. He took the driver's seat this time—a good thing, too, since I was exhausted and I usually drive way too fast anyway. As soon as the engine started, I drifted off to sleep.
A little while later, I woke up to a gentle shaking.
"Jay, we're at your house," Keifer said. I didn't want to move, so I just gripped his hand tighter.
"I want to sleep..." I muttered.
"I'll carry you inside then," he teased. My eyes snapped open instantly.
"Okay, bye!" I said, jumping out of the car before he could actually try it.
I ran inside and found Percy watching TV. "PERCYYYYYYYYYYY!" I yelled, jumping onto the sofa right next to him. "Do you know what happened today?" I told him the entire story, from the mall to the metal rod. He looked completely shocked.
"My little girl is growing up," he said, laughing as he ruffled my hair.
I smiled and headed up to my room. I wasn't in the mood to eat anything, so I just changed into comfortable clothes and started scrolling through my phone. Suddenly, a message popped up from Keifer.
From: Keif ❣️
Did you eat?
To: Keif ❣️
Nope. Not in the mood.
From: Keif ❣️
You don't eat because of your mood; you eat for your appetite. Go eat, or else.
To: Keif ❣️
Or else what?
From: Keif ❣️
Or I'm coming over there right now with food.
To: Keif ❣️
Fine.
I figured he was bluffing, so I stayed in bed. Then my phone buzzed again.
From: Keif ❣️
I'm going to ask Tita if you ate or not.
To: Keif ❣️
So controlling!
From: Keif ❣️
Controlling? No. Worried? Yes. So go and eat.
To: Keif ❣️
Okay, fine!
I sighed and closed my phone. I knew he'd actually call my mom, so I went downstairs and forced myself to eat a little bit. I even took a photo of my plate—just in case he asked for proof later!
After eating, I finally laid down for a nap. Before I let my eyes close, I sent the photo of my empty plate to Keifer as proof. He reacted with a thumbs up. Stupid. Our date was set for 6:00 PM, and I eventually drifted off because I was absolutely drained. When I finally blinked my eyes open and checked my phone, my heart nearly stopped. It was 5:45 PM!
"Holy crap, I'm going to be late!" I scrambled into the washroom and took the fastest shower of my life.
I picked out a white top and threw on a oversized, chocolate-brown leather jacket that hung perfectly off my shoulders. I pulled my hair back into a high, sleek ponytail, leaving a few strands to frame my face. I looked effortless but cool—exactly the vibe I wanted.
I sprinted downstairs at 6:10 PM. As I flew past the living room, Percy looked up from the sofa.
"Where are you going?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"With Keifer! Bye!" I yelled over my shoulder, not slowing down until I burst through the front door.
There he was, leaning casually against his car. My jaw almost dropped. He was wearing a crisp white shirt under a dark brown eather jacket that looked almost exactly like mine, with his dark hair styled perfectly in a messy fringe. He looked like he just stepped off a movie set.
"Looking mine," he teased as I approached. I felt my face heat up and playfully hit his arm.
"How do we always match accidentally?" I asked, looking between our leather jackets.
"Because... that's actually you're husband's jacket you're wearing," he said with a playful smirk. I scratched the back of my neck.
"Wait, how do you even have two of the same jackets?" I asked, noticing his was nearly identical to mine, just with slightly different lining.
"Oh, I have three of each," he said casually.
"So, if you have three black, three brown, and three red, and I've taken one of each color... that means you still have six jackets left," I calculated, and he nodded.
"Well, yes, baby girl. Now, we're getting late. Should we head to our destination?" he asked. I laughed softly and nodded as he opened the passenger door for me.
"So, where are we going?" I asked as the engine hummed to life.
"That's a surprise."
I pouted immediately. He glanced over and chuckled. "Hey, hey, don't pout. I'll lose my focus on the road."
"Pervert," I muttered, turning to look out the window to hide my smile.
"Only for you, darling," he replied. My cheeks felt like they were on fire.
The ride was amazing. We played Dracula by Jennie, and the vibe was perfect. We sang the lyrics at the top of our lungs, and I was dancing in my seat with my hands while he laughed softly at my energy.
"Keif, how much longer?" I asked, tugging at his sleeve like a restless kid.
"Just a little more, Jay. You want to play one more song?"
"No, repeat that one again!" I demanded.
"It'll be the sixth time in a row," he pointed out, but his hand was already reaching for the dial.
"I don't care, repeat it!"
"As you wish," he chuckled, and the beat started all over again. I couldn't help but smile.
After a short drive, we reached our destination. I knew Keifer was a gentleman who always opened the door for me, so I didn't rush. I waited patiently in the car until I heard the click of the door. He opened it, placing his hand above my head so I wouldn't hit it, and offered me his other hand. As I placed my palm in his, the warmth of his grip made me feel instantly safe.
We walked into the building and entered the elevator. He reached out and pressed the button for the rooftop.
"Why the roof?" I asked, looking at him curiously. He just smirked.
"Everything is a surprise today, darling," he said, squeezing my hand tightly as we ascended. Before the doors even opened at the top, he took a soft, red silk cloth and gently tied it around my eyes.
"Keif?" I whispered, my heart starting to race.
"Shh... just walk. I'll guide you," he murmured. I nodded, trusting him completely as he guided me forward. I could feel the cool night breeze on my skin as he practically dragged me along with him in excitement.
Eventually, we stopped. The air felt open and quiet.
"Remove the cloth," he said softly.
I reached up and untied the silk, blinking as my vision cleared. My breath caught in my throat. In front of me was the most beautiful setup I had ever seen. A massive heart made of hundreds of deep red roses stood against the city skyline, illuminated by glowing candles and warm fairy lights. In the center of the floral heart, a neon sign glowed with the words: "Will you be officially mine?"
I looked down, and there was Keifer, kneeling on one knee in front of the display. He was holding a sleek, heart-shaped black velvet box. Inside, a tiny LED light shone down on a stunning silver ring. It was shaped like a delicate crown with a brilliant diamond sparkling in the center, catching the light like a star.
My heart felt like it was about to burst.
"Jasper Jeen Mariano... will you be my Jasper Jeen Mariano Watson forever?" he asked softly.
I wanted to scream "Yes!" but my voice wouldn't come out. I tried to nod, but my body felt frozen in shock. Seeing my silence, his expression softened into something sad. "It's okay if you don't want to answer right now," he whispered.
"I do, Keifer! I do!" I finally yelled, thrusting my hand toward him.
He smiled, a look of pure relief washing over his face. He gently took off the ring I had been wearing—Tita's ring—and replaced it with the beautiful crown. He stood up, grabbed me by the waist, and started spinning me around in the air. We both laughed until we were breathless. Eventually, the world started spinning too much, so he put me down, but he didn't let go of my hand. We just stood there, smiling at each other like total idiots.
He signaled toward a beautifully set table. We walked over, and like the perfect gentleman, he pulled out my chair and tucked me in before taking his own seat. We started eating, talking, and laughing. Every time I looked up, I caught him staring at me with those soft eyes. I just smiled and went back to my plate—hey, love is great, but food is important!
After we finished, the song Minamahal started playing softly in the background. Keifer reached across the table and held both of my hands. As we looked into each other's eyes, I suddenly realized how handsome he actually was. His eyes were stunning, his jawline was sharp enough to cut paper, and his lips looked... Wait, Jayjay! Stop thinking like that!
I stood up to break the tension and walked over to the railing. Keifer followed me. Looking down at the street below, a mischievous idea popped into my head. I'm bored... let's tease the people walking by.
I spotted a grumpy-looking bald man walking below. Hehe. 😈
"UNCLE! YOUR WIG IS FALLING!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
The man snapped his head up, looking around frantically. I ducked down behind the railing immediately. Keifer stood there, looking completely confused.
"You're so old and yet so disrespectful to your elders!" the man shouted up at Keifer.
I waited a bit, then peeked down again. I saw a little kid eating cotton candy while the man with him—probably his dad—was sneaking bites. Perfect.
"KID! THAT MAN IS EATING YOUR COTTON CANDY!" I screamed.
The kid immediately burst into tears, and the man looked up, annoyed. I ducked back down, giggling.
"Stay in your limits!" the man yelled at Keifer.
I was about to stand up a third time to yell at a man twirling his keys, but before I could open my mouth, Keifer's palm was clamped over it.
"Oh, no. You say the things, and I get scolded? Absolutely not," he said sarcastically.
I didn't hesitate—I bit his palm.
"Ow! You little kitten!" he yelped.
I took off running in circles around the roof, laughing my head off while he chased me. Whenever I laugh too hard, I have a habit of closing my eyes, and—BUMP—I ran straight into his chest. I opened my eyes to see him smirking as he caught my arms.
"Your punishment is to eat your vegetables," he said, his smirk growing wider.
I made a face like I was about to vomit. "Argh, no! I hate them!"
He shook his head, refusing to budge. Okay, time for some acting. I started rubbing my forehead, looking up at him with a pained expression. "Are you made of stone?" I asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Why? Does it hurt?" He immediately looked worried. I nodded pathetically.
He gently moved my hand away and started rubbing my forehead with his thumb. He was being so sweet and gentle that I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He totally fell for it!
"Keif... I really don't want to eat vegetables," I whispered, looking up at him.
He didn't stop rubbing my forehead, but he finally sighed. "Okay."
I clapped my hands in victory. I win!
"Keif, it's okay now," I said, and he finally stopped rubbing my forehead.
"You sure?" he asked, studying my face to see if I was still in pain.
"One-hundred percent," I said, giving him a bright smile. As the thought suddenly crossed my mind, I looked at him curiously. "Wait... how did you guys even know that we were in the old building behind the uni?"
"We tried to call you, but you weren't picking up. David tracked Freya's number, and when he saw it was coming from the old building behind the university, I instantly figured out that you all were up to something there," he explained, shaking his head. I nodded, realizing we really need to find better hiding spots.
"I'm bored," I muttered under my breath. I didn't mean for him to hear it, but his ears are way too sharp.
"Come on, let's go somewhere else where we can spend our time," he said. I nodded happily. He held my hand firmly, and we both walked back into the elevator.
I was just standing there normally, watching the floor numbers change, when he suddenly looked down at me. "Did you apply lipgloss?"
"Yeah," I replied, wondering why he was asking.
"It's gone from your lower lip," he said, pointing a finger toward his own mouth. He took out his phone, opened the front camera, and held it up to show me.
My mouth formed an 'O' shape as I looked at the reflection. I quickly grabbed his phone and fished my favorite pink rose lipgloss out of my bag. I tried to apply it, but it was impossible to hold the tiny lipgloss bottle, the wand, and his phone all in one hand. I was clumsily fumbling around under his gaze.
Seeing my struggle, Keifer didn't say a word. He gently took the lipgloss from my hand. Before I could even react, he used his other hand to cup my chin, tilting my face up toward him. His touch was warm and steady as he carefully applied the gloss to my lower lip.
I stood completely frozen, utterly stunned by his action. My heart was pounding so loudly against my ribs I was terrified he might hear it.
He was still carefully fixing my lipgloss when the elevator doors chimed and slid open. Two girls were standing there, instantly squeezing each other's arms in excitement the second they saw him. We weren't even at the ground floor yet!
Annoyed, I pinched his free hand. He immediately let go of my chin and we both stepped aside to let them in. The girls walked in, their eyes absolutely glued to Keifer. Hey, hey... keep looking and I'll gouge your eyeballs out. I glared at Keifer, and he instantly understood the warning look on my face. He slowly turned his head toward the wall so they couldn't see his face anymore. I turned to the girls, gave them a sweet—but completely fake—smile, and tightly wrapped my hand around Keifer's arm. He didn't mind at all; he just let me hold onto him.
When we finally reached the ground floor, we stepped out first. We walked to the car, and as usual, he opened the door for me. I hopped in, but instead of walking away, he pointed down at my seatbelt. I quickly buckled it under his gaze. Satisfied, he closed the door, walked around to his side, and started the engine.
As we drove, I kept my eyes locked straight ahead, resisting the urge to look out the window. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed he was staring at me instead of the road. I reached over, cupped his face, and firmly turned his head back toward the windshield.
"Focus there," I commanded.
He let out a soft sigh. "How can I focus when you're looking this beautiful?"
My cheeks flared bright red. I quickly looked away, and after a short drive, we pulled up in front of a high-end clothing boutique. Why here? I looked over to ask him, but he was already out of the car. Within seconds, my door was open. He offered me his hand, shielding my head with his other palm as I stepped out.
"Why here?" I asked, looking up into his eyes.
"To buy matching outfits for us," he said with a smirk, dragging me inside before I could even object.
The boutique looked quite similar to the ones I usually visit. Keifer immediately started browsing through the jackets and hoodies, but since we both preferred comfort, we focused strictly on the hoodies.
"What about this one?" he asked, holding up a clean white hoodie.
"Hell yeah, it's great!" I approved. He immediately dropped it into the shopping cart.
From there, it turned into a full-blown shopping spree. We picked out matching couple hoodies in sky blue, navy blue, pistachio green, black, brown, and grey. He honestly wanted to buy out the whole store, but I had to stop him because it was already more than enough.
After paying, we headed back to the car. This time, I proudly buckled my seatbelt before he could even remind me. Hehe. He started the car, and I assumed we were finally heading home, but he suddenly changed the route and pulled up in front of a large grocery store.
"Why here?" I asked, looking at the store, then at him, then back at the store.
"To buy ice cream," he answered.
"Oh... why?" I asked blankly.
Keifer literally slapped his forehead. "Obviously to eat, Jay."
"Oh. I knew that," I muttered, clearing my throat.
"Do you want to come inside with me or wait in the car?"
"Ummm... with you," I said.
We both got out, and I immediately linked my arm through his. He reached over and playfully poked my cheek. "Why are you so cute?" he laughed softly.
We walked inside and headed straight for the freezer aisle. I didn't hesitate—I grabbed a massive tub of Cookies & Cream. Keifer just watched me with a amused look, completely used to my food antics. While he was browsing the choices, I pointed at the pistachio flavor. It was his absolute favorite when we were kids.
"Oh, so you remember?" he teased, a warm look in his eyes.
"Of course I do," I smiled proudly.
"That guy is so handsome... but the girl beside him? Just ew," a sharp, whispering voice muttered from right behind us.
"Yeah, it's like a diamond standing next to cheap silver," another voice chimed in.
I spun around and saw two salesgirls whispering to each other. I looked up at Keifer and felt the air turn freezing cold. He was visibly vibrating with pure, dark anger.
"Keif, I don't mind. Let the dogs bark," I whispered, tugging his sleeve. I really didn't want them to ruin our perfect date.
But Keifer wasn't having it. He looked past them and coldly called out to a man walking by. The nameplate on the man's shirt read Manager.
"Call those two girls over here right now," Keifer commanded, his voice dripping with authority.
The manager quickly signaled the two girls over. They walked up, their eyes darting down to my hand which was still tightly gripping Keifer's arm.
"Do you know who she is?" Keifer asked them, his voice deadly quiet. They both shook their heads nervously. "She is the only daughter of the Mariano family. And as of right now, both of you are fired."
The girls' eyes went completely wide with shock and horror.
"M-Miss, we're so sorry! We didn't know! We won't ever do it again, we're so sorry..." one of them started stammering desperately.
Before I could even say anything, Keifer gently guided me away toward the cashier. We paid for the ice cream and walked back to the car. The second we got in, I popped open my tub of Cookies & Cream and started digging in. Keifer wasn't eating because he had to drive, but honestly, he could have waited. I considered feeding him a spoonful of his pistachio ice cream, but then I thought better of it. I don't share my favorite person, and I definitely don't share my food! Plus, I had to finish at least half of the tub in the car, because if I took a full box home, my brothers would steal it within seconds.
Instead of my house, Keifer pulled the car up right against the sandy shore of a quiet beach. We both got out and sat down together right on the cool sand, watching the waves roll in.
"Eat your ice cream now," I told him. He finally opened his tub and started eating. By then, I had completely polished off my half.
I rested my head comfortably on his shoulder, just listening to the sound of the ocean. Once he finished his ice cream, he set the empty container aside and wrapped his strong arm around my waist, pulling me closer. Then, he leaned down and gently kissed the top of my head.
My entire body froze. My brain completely short-circuited. It was the very first time he had ever done that, and the feeling sent a wild shiver right down my spine.
"Jayjay... call me hubby," he murmured, a teasing smirk pulling at his lips.
I looked up at him, my heart doing flips. "Hubby," I whispered.
Instantly, his neck and ears turned a bright, deep shade of red. He quickly looked away, staring intensely at the ocean waves to try and hide his reaction. Seeing him get so flustered made me bold.
"Hubby, hubby, hubby, hubby..." I chanted continuously, leaning in close to look at him. By now, he had turned into a literal tomato.
"Jayjay, that's enough," he pleaded, though a massive, breathless smile was breaking across his face.
"Really?" I teased, loving my newfound power.
"Yeah," he laughed.
I finally stood up, brushing the sand off my clothes. "Come on, I want to go home now."
He stood up too, smiling warmly as he guided me back to the passenger seat. I hopped in, completely exhausted from the long, chaotic, and beautiful day. As the car rolled onto the dark highway, my eyelids grew incredibly heavy, and before I knew it, I drifted off into a deep sleep.
Keifer's POV
We finally pulled up outside her house, but she was still fast asleep in the passenger seat. I gently shook her shoulder, trying to wake her up, but she just mumbled something incoherently and wrapped her arms tightly around mine, refusing to budge.
I smirked and tried my usual threat. "Jay, wake up or I'll carry you inside."
Unlike earlier, she didn't snap her eyes open or jump out of the car. Instead, she just loosely opened her arms in her sleep, completely inviting it without saying a single word.
Seeing that I had absolutely no other choice, I smiled softly. I got out of the car, walked around to her side, and gently lifted her out of the seat, cradling her bridal style. Since the front gate was already open, I easily walked right inside the house.
Aries and Percy were sitting in the living room. The moment they saw us, their mouths opened to say something, but I immediately motioned for them to be quiet. They quickly caught on, nodding silently as I carried Jayjay past them and up the stairs to her bedroom.
I carefully laid her down on her bed, slipping off her shoes before pulling the warm blanket up to her shoulders. She looked so peaceful. I lingered for a second, then turned around and headed back downstairs. Passing through the living room, I gave a brief, respectful nod to Percy and Aries before slipping out of the house.
By the time I arrived back at my own place, the entire house was dead silent and everyone was asleep. I walked up to my room, threw myself onto the bed, and pulled out my phone.
A slow smirk spread across my face as I began scrolling through the photos. I had pictures of the exact moment I proposed to her on the roof. Pictures of me spinning her around in the air. Pictures of her happily stuffing her face while we ate. I even had a perfect shot of the moment I was getting scolded by those angry men while Jayjay was crouching down behind the railing, giggling hysterically. Then there were photos of us running in circles, me rubbing her forehead, and the soft look on her face while I carefully applied her lipgloss in the elevator. I scrolled further, looking at the shots from the clothing boutique, the grocery store, and finally, her resting her head on my shoulder at the beach.
I hadn't just taken these on my phone. I had secretly hired people to set up hidden cameras at every single location before we even arrived. I wanted to capture every angle, every expression, and every single second of our day. I needed to preserve everything we did together.
Staring down at the sparkling crown ring on her finger in the photos, a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me. Holding my phone close to my chest, I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep, my mind completely consumed by thoughts of my queen.
The End 🌸.
their outfit picture is in the comments.