JAY-JAY POV
I went home and the kids were waiting for me.
They were all sitting on the couch — tiny legs dangling, eyes wide and sleepy, like they were fighting to stay awake.
"Why are you guys not sleeping?" I asked, my voice tired as I dropped my bag by the door.
"Mama, you didn't come and it's almost 9 o'clock," Kevin said, his serious little face scrunching up like he was the parent here.
I crouched down to his height, brushing his hair back gently.
"Sweetheart, you know Mama works overnight sometimes."
"But—" Kevin started, already ready to argue like a tiny lawyer.
"If I come late next time, make sure you and your siblings sleep by your bedtime, okay?" I said softly but firmly.
Kevin sighed — the dramatic, put‑upon sigh of a four‑year‑old who thinks he carries the world on his shoulders.
"Fine."
"Mama, why do you always tell Kuya Kevin to take care of us?" Keira asked, her wavy hair bouncing as she tilted her head.
I smiled softly at her — that hair always made her look like she'd just stepped out of a storybook, curls and waves everywhere, refusing to be tamed.
"Because he is your oldest brother," I said.
"So?" Kade asked, blinking up at me like he genuinely didn't see the connection.
I sighed and opened my arms.
"Come here."
All three of them shuffled closer, crowding into my space like little magnets.
I placed a hand on each tiny back.
"That means since he's older than you, he should help take care of you," I said, looking at Kevin.
He nodded immediately — like he already knew, like he'd been doing it without being told.
"But listen," I continued, pulling them all a little closer, "not just him. You three should always take care of each other. With or without me."
Their eyes widened a little — not scared, just listening, absorbing every word like it mattered.
"Understood?"
Three small heads nodded at the same time.
"Ma'am," Mabel said gently as she walked toward us, "sorry, they refused to go to sleep until you come."
I sighed, not annoyed — just tired.
"It's okay, Mabel. I should've come home earlier."
Her eyes softened, like she wanted to argue but knew better than to push me when I was already stretched thin.
"You can go home now," I added, brushing Kevin's hair back. "And you don't have to come tomorrow. You have a leave."
Mabel blinked, surprised.
"Ma'am… are you sure?"
"Yes," I said, giving her a small smile. "Spend time with your family. You deserve it."
Her expression melted into gratitude.
"Thank you, Ma'am. I'll come early the day after."
I nodded.
She gave the kids a quick kiss on their heads — they adored her — then gathered her things and left quietly, closing the door behind her.
"Mama," Keira said, tugging on my sleeve
"Yes, baby?" I asked, brushing a curl away from her face.
"Since you came late today… you have to take puniment," she declared proudly.
I couldn't help it — I laughed.
She pronounced punishment wrong every single time, and it never failed to melt something in my chest.
"And what is that?" I asked, pretending to be amused, even though I already knew exactly where this was going.
Because they always did this.
Every time I came home late.
Every time I walked through the door with tired eyes and a heavy heart.
They didn't complain.
They just… asked for me.
For time.
For a day where I wasn't CEO, or busy, or exhausted.
Just Mama.
Keira put her hands on her hips — her tiny, dramatic version of authority.
"You have to stay with us the whole day tomorrow," she said, like she was announcing a royal decree.
Kevin nodded seriously beside her.
Kade hugged my leg tighter, already agreeing without saying a word.
I smiled softly.
"That's why I gave Mabel a day off tomorrow," I said, pulling all three of them into my arms. "So I can spend the whole day with you."
Their faces lit up instantly — three little suns in my dim, tired world.
"Call Tito Percy, he will come with us," Kade said confidently, like he was making an executive decision.
"Why?" Kevin asked, already suspicious.
"Because there can't only be one handsome man in the house," Kade said, flipping his hair like he was in a shampoo commercial. "Two should be enough."
I burst out laughing — I couldn't help it.
"I think your Tito Percy influenced you too much."
Kade shrugged like it was a compliment.
"Mama, I'm hungry," Keira said, tugging on my hand
"Then let's go and eat something," I said, standing up and gathering all three of them close.
They followed me to the dinner table.
I cooked some pasta quickly — nothing fancy, just something warm — and served it to them.
We all sat together, the kids chatting about something silly, their voices overlapping like always.
Then Keira turned to me.
"Ma," she said softly.
I looked at her. "Yes?"
She blinked up at me with those big eyes and asked—
"When will we be meeting Papa?"
I froze.
My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
"What?" I asked, shocked, even though I heard her perfectly.
Kevin immediately turned to her, eyes wide.
"Keira, I told you not to ask her that."
"Why can't she?" Kade asked, frowning like he genuinely didn't understand the weight of the question.
I swallowed hard.
I opened my mouth—
But nothing came out.
Because how was I supposed to explain something even I wasn't ready to face?
How was I supposed to tell them that their father didn't know they existed?
That the man who broke me didn't deserve to meet them?
That I was terrified — absolutely terrified — of the day he might find out?
"I already said no," Kevin said, his voice sharper than usual.
"Kuya…" both of them said at the same time, like they were ganging up on him.
"I already told you guys—" Kevin started, getting a bit mad now, his little eyebrows pulling together.
"Kevin," I cut in gently but firmly, "please don't be mad."
He froze immediately.
Kevin looked down at his plate, poking at his pasta with his fork.
"I just… I don't want Mama to be sad," he mumbled, barely audible.
My heart squeezed.
I reached out and cupped Kevin's cheek, lifting his face so he'd look at me.
"I'm not mad," I said softly. "And you don't have to protect me from everything, sweetheart."
He blinked up at me, eyes shiny but stubborn.
"But I want to."
That one sentence hit harder than anything that happened today.
I pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"I know," I whispered. "But Mama's okay. Really."
Keira scooted closer, resting her head on my arm.
Kade leaned against my side, quiet for once.
And for a moment…
The question about their father faded into the background.
"Go to sleep, we have places to go tomorrow," I said, gathering the plates.
"Mama, I want to sleep with you today," Kevin said, his voice small but firm — the kind he used when he was trying not to sound needy.
"Sure," I said immediately. "And yes, you two can also sleep with me," I added, turning to the other hurricanes.
Their faces lit up like I'd just promised them a trip to the moon.
After dinner, they ran straight to my room — tiny footsteps, giggles, and the sound of Kade tripping over absolutely nothing on the way.
I followed them to the doorway.
"Babies, sleep. I will come after talking to your Tito," I said softly.
They nodded — all three of them — already climbing onto my bed like it was their personal playground.
For a moment, I just stood there, watching them settle.
My whole world.
Right there on my bed.
I went outside and called Percy.
He picked up in three rings.
"HELLO BABY SISTAH!" Percy practically screamed into the phone.
I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear.
"Percy, lower your volume… it's night."
"Oh—sorry," he whispered dramatically, like we were in a spy movie. "HELLO baby sistah."
I sighed, but a small smile tugged at my lips despite how drained I felt.
"Percy, the kids want you to come with us tomorrow," I said, leaning against the wall.
"WHAT?!" he yelled again, then immediately whispered, "Sorry. What?!"
"They said there can't be only one handsome man in the house," I said, rubbing my forehead.
Percy gasped like he'd been chosen for a royal coronation.
"WHO SAID THAT? WHICH ONE OF MY BABIES SAID THAT?"
"Kade."
"Oh my GOD," Percy said, voice cracking. "He's my favorite today. Don't tell the others."
I shook my head, exhausted but amused.
"They want you to come."
"Baby sistah," he said, suddenly softer, "are you okay?"
My breath caught for a second.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"Jay," he said quietly, "is this about meeting Keifer and Aries?"
"No," I said immediately.
"Jay, please don't call yourself those words again," he said, voice suddenly serious — the kind of serious Percy only used when he was worried.
"Percy, are you coming or not?" I asked again, not wanting to go down that road tonight.
"Actually… I can't," Percy said.
"What do I tell the kids?" I muttered, already running through excuses in my head.
"Tell them their Tita Honey will come," Percy said.
"Fine," I sighed.
Just as I was about to hang up, the phone shuffled and another voice came on.
"Hello, Jay," Honey said.
"Hi, Honey," I replied, already tired.
"You look tired. Did you overwork again?" she asked, like she already knew the answer.
"No," I said.
"Don't lie to me," she shot back instantly.
I exhaled.
"Maybe a little bit."
She sighed — long, disappointed, mother‑hen energy.
"Bye, Honey. The kids are waiting for me," I said, ready to hang up.
"Wait up, buttercup," she said.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"What now?"
"Well, where are we meeting tomorrow?" she asked.
"Let's meet in the amusement park," I said.
"Fine. Bye. Good night."
"Night," I said, finally hanging up.
I went to my room and the kids were arguing about something — voices overlapping, pillows everywhere, Kade dramatically pointing at Kevin like he was in court.
"What now?" I asked, already bracing myself.
All three of them froze.
"Mama," Kade said, "Kevin said he gets to sleep on your left side but Keira said SHE gets to sleep on your left side."
Keira popped up from behind the pillow.
"Because Mama hugged me first yesterday!"
Kevin crossed his arms.
"But I'm the oldest! I should sleep next to Mama"
Kade gasped dramatically.
"And what about ME? I'm the cutest!"
I stared at them.
Three tiny humans.
One bed.
Zero logic.
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"Okay, okay," I said, walking toward the bed. "Why are we fighting about sides? There's space for all of you."
"No," Kevin said seriously. "There is a system."
"Yes," Keira added. "A very important system."
Kade nodded like a wise old man.
"And today is MY turn to sleep next to you."
I blinked.
"What system?" I asked.
They all looked at each other.
Then at me.
Then at each other again.
Finally, Kevin whispered, "We don't know… we forgot."
I stared at them for a long second.
Then I laughed — tired, soft, real.
"Come here," I said, opening my arms.
I went to the bed and lay down in the middle.
"Come here," I said, opening my arms.
They didn't walk.
They launched.
Three tiny bodies dove toward me at the same time — Kevin sliding under my left arm like he'd been training for it, Keira climbing over my stomach with her wavy hair tickling my face, and Kade flopping onto my right side like a starfish claiming territory.
I let out a soft laugh, wrapping my arms around all of them.
Kevin tucked his head against my shoulder, already half-asleep.
Keira curled into my chest, her little hand gripping my shirt.
Kade threw a leg over my waist like he was trying to pin me down.
Warm.
Heavy.
Safe.
My whole world in one messy pile.
Keira mumbled something into my shirt.
"Mama… don't go to work tomorrow."
"I won't," I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Tomorrow is our day."
Kevin hummed in approval.
Kade tightened his grip like he was making sure I couldn't escape.
And just like that, sleep pulled me under before I even knew it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
💙🎄 Author's Note 🎄💙
Hello everyone!!
Merry Christmas 🎁🎄🌲🎅🏻✨
Please comment on how the chapter was 💬💙
And yesss, I KNOW a lot of you are waiting for the kids to finally meet Keifer 👀🔥
Just wait a little bit more… I promise I'll give you that moment 😌💙
How many of you guys watched Section E ep 4 and CRIED 😭😭
Because Keifer's backstory is actually so sadddd like why did they do him like that 😭💔
I was literally sitting there wiping my tears like "be fr right now" 😭💙
Comment if you cried too because I KNOW I wasn't alone 😌🔥