JAY- JAY POV
Just then Grandpa and Grandma stepped out of the house.
"Jay!" Grandma called, rushing over to hug me tight like she hadn't seen me in years.
Before I could even hug her back, I heard the other car screech to a stop.
Jare jumped out, eyes wide, hair a mess from panic.
"Are you out of your mind?!" he yelled. "Do you know how fast you were going?"
I rolled my eyes. "Here we go."
I pointed at him dramatically. "Grandma, look! Jare is yelling at me."
Grandma turned slowly, giving Jare that look—the one that could silence a whole barangay.
"Jare," she said, voice calm but deadly.
Jare froze like someone pressed pause on him.
"Ma… she was driving like a maniac," he said, voice suddenly small.
Grandma raised an eyebrow. "And you think shouting at her will fix that?"
Behind her, Grandpa chuckled. "Your sister drives like your Papa. Fast. Reckless. Stubborn."
Then Grandma looked down at my hand and her eyes widened.
"Jay, what happened to your hand? Look—there's a scratch," she said, gently taking my wrist like it was made of glass.
Before I could answer, Grandpa leaned in too, squinting at the tiny cut like it was a life‑threatening injury.
"Let's go inside and treat it," Grandpa said, already dragging me toward the house like the scratch was a medical emergency.
"Ma, tell him it's just a scratch," I complained, looking back at Grandma for backup.
She walked beside us, shaking her head with that soft, familiar smile.
I call her Ma because… well, she basically raised me.
After Mama and Papa died, before that old man sent me to the Philippines
Grandpa made me sit on the sofa like I was five years old again.
He snapped his fingers at the maids. "Get the first aid kit. And remove her shoes and socks."
"Please, I can do it myself," I protested, pulling my feet back.
The maids hesitated, glancing at Grandpa.
He gave them the look—the one that meant don't argue with me.
That old man.
Section E wandered inside, confused, whispering among themselves. Jare just rolled his eyes like he'd seen this routine a thousand times.
"Ma'am, please," one of the maids said gently.
Before I could argue again, Grandpa crouched down in front of me and started removing my shoes and socks himself.
I froze.
"Grandpa—"
He ignored me completely, waved the maids away, and opened the first aid kit. His hands were steady, practiced, gentle in that way only someone who's raised too many stubborn grandchildren could be.
"You kids can go upstairs and pick a room," he said, glancing at Section E.
They all nodded and started heading up—except Keifer, Yuri, Aries and Ella, Percy, and of course Jare, who stayed like he was glued to the floor.
Grandpa dabbed antiseptic on the scratch, and it stung more than I expected.
"So," Grandpa said quietly, eyes narrowing just a little, "how did you get this scratch?"
I didn't answer.
Instead, I made a full pout—arms crossed, lips pushed out, eyes narrowed like a toddler denied candy.
"Jay, princess… now you won't talk to me?" Grandpa asked, sounding half‑offended, half‑amused.
Grandma sat beside me, gently touching my shoulder. "Jay."
I pointed at Grandpa dramatically. "Ma, look at that old man. He didn't even meet me for two years. Forget meeting—he didn't even talk to you!"
Grandpa's eyebrows shot up. "Old man?"
I ignored him and pointed at Grandma next.
"And YOU didn't even come," I said, sulking even harder, like I was auditioning for a drama series.
Percy snorted first.
Then Jare burst out laughing.
Ten seconds later, Keifer joined them—trying to hold it in, but failing miserably.
I glared at all of them. "Why are you laughing?! I'm being serious!"
Grandpa sighed, rubbing his temples like he'd been dealing with my attitude since the Stone Age. "Ay naku, this girl. She's still the same."
Grandma chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Jay, anak, we didn't want to let anyone know where you were. And if we meet you even once… that's enough for us to stay here."
My pout faltered.
Just a little.
Grandpa nodded beside her. "We didn't want to risk anyone finding out where you were. Not Eden. Not anyone."
My chest tightened.
I looked away, suddenly feeling five years old again—small, stubborn, and loved in a way that made my throat ache.
Behind us, Percy whispered, "Aww, Jay‑Jay's getting emotional."
I grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it at his face.
Grandpa and Grandma chuckled like this was normal behavior—which, to be fair, it was.
Then Grandpa walked straight to Aries.
"You must be Jay's brother," he said.
"Yes, Sir," Aries replied politely.
Grandma clicked her tongue. "Skip the 'sir.' Call us Grandma and Grandpa."
Aries smiled, nodding. "Yes, Grandma."
Then Grandpa pointed at Yuri. "You—who are you?"
"I'm Yuri Hanamatchi, sir," Yuri said, standing straighter than usual.
Grandpa's face shifted instantly.
Oh no.
Here we go.
He hated the Hanamatchi clan.
In his mind, they were all manipulators, schemers, snakes in designer suits.
"You're the Hanamatchi heir," Grandpa said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Pa," I warned, voice sharp enough to cut glass.
He paused, caught the message, and shut his mouth.
Yuri still looked annoyed, jaw tight, but he didn't say anything.
Then Grandpa turned to Keifer.
Yuri smirked like finally, someone else is about to get roasted.
"Who are you?" Grandpa asked.
"I'm Mark Keifer Watson, sir," Keifer said, respectful but nervous.
Grandpa's eyes narrowed. "You're—"
My heart dropped.
Oh no.
If he says Keizar's son, Keifer will break.
He'll think Grandpa hates him too.
I opened my mouth to stop him—
But Grandpa finished his sentence calmly.
"You're Serina's eldest son, right?"
Keifer froze.
Like the words hit him harder than he expected.
Like he wasn't prepared for that—for kindness instead of judgment.
Grandpa nodded slowly, expression softening in a way I didn't expect. "Your mother was a good woman."
Keifer swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper. "Yes… she was."
Before the moment could settle, Grandma suddenly turned to me.
"Jay, I heard you had a boyfriend."
"What?" I blinked.
"Come on, Jay. Jare told us everything—except the boyfriend part." She raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain who it is?"
I slowly turned my head toward Keifer.
He looked right back at me.
Just staring.
Then Grandpa stepped in, pointing at Keifer.
"So you're our granddaughter's boyfriend?"
Keifer shook his head. "No, sir."
My heart dropped.
What?
Why would he say that?
Why would he deny it in front of my grandparents?
Everyone froze.
Even Grandpa and Grandma looked confused.
Yuri, of course, smiled
I felt my chest tighten.
Then Keifer turned to me.
And smirked.
That stupid, smug, overconfident smirk.
"I'm her husband, sir," he said proudly, like he'd just won a trophy.
My jaw dropped.
Grandpa choked on his own breath.
Grandma gasped.
Percy screamed, "WHAT?!"
Jare facepalmed so hard the sound echoed.
And Keifer just kept smiling like the idiot he was.
Before I could even breathe—
"Sir, she didn't tell you she is also pregnant," Keifer said, pointing at me like he was exposing a criminal.
The room went SILENT.
Grandma's jaw dropped.
Grandpa's soul left his body.
Yuri choked on absolutely nothing.
Aries whispered, "Bro… what?"
Jare slapped his forehead so hard it echoed.
And me?
I stared at Keifer like I was about to commit a crime.
"KEIFER!" I yelled.
He blinked innocently. "What? I'm helping."
"HELPING WHO?!" I snapped.
Grandpa stood up so fast the sofa creaked. "PREGNANT?!"
"NO!" I shouted.
"Yes," Keifer said at the exact same time.
We glared at each other.
Grandma grabbed my shoulders. "Jay, anak, is this true?!"
"NO!" I repeated, louder.
Keifer shrugged. "Not yet."
I nearly threw a pillow at him.
Percy fell to the floor laughing. "OH MY GOD, HE'S DIGGING HIS OWN GRAVE."
Grandpa pointed at Keifer. "YOU—sit down. We are TALKING."
Keifer sat immediately, back straight like a soldier facing execution.
"So first—the wedding part?" Grandpa asked, arms crossed.
"I'm her husband, sir," Keifer said confidently.
I swear I was about to punch him again.
Keifer glanced at me, saw my death glare, and quickly corrected himself.
"In the future, sir. Future husband."
Grandpa raised an eyebrow like he wasn't sure whether to be impressed or concerned.
Then Grandma leaned forward. "Now the pregnant part."
"Ma, I'm not pregnant, I promise," I said quickly, grabbing her hands before she fainted.
Grandpa slowly turned his head toward Keifer.
Keifer… nodded.
Then Grandpa looked at Keifer.
His eyes narrowed.
His voice dropped.
The whole room went silent.
"If my granddaughter gets pregnant before 24—" he started.
Keifer's soul LEFT his body.
I swear he stopped breathing.
Grandma's eyes widened.
Percy covered his mouth.
Aries whispered, "Oh no."
Jare muttered, "Here we go."
Grandpa leaned forward, pointing a finger straight at Keifer's forehead.
"—I will make sure you won't get her pregnant again."
Keifer's eyes went HUGE.
"PA!" I yelled.
Grandma smacked Grandpa's arm. "Stop scaring the boy!"
"I'm not scaring him," Grandpa said calmly. "I'm warning him."
Keifer sat up straighter than a soldier. "Sir, I—I understand. I won't—I mean—Jay and I—uh—24 is a very good age—"
He was stuttering so badly even Yuri felt bad for him.
I covered my face. "Grandpa, stop bullying him."
"I'm not bullying him," Grandpa said. "I'm protecting you."
Keifer nodded aggressively. "Yes, sir. Protect her. Please. I support that."
Grandpa crossed his arms. "Good. Now that we understand each other, continue your little… dating."
"Stop calling me sir. I'm your grandpa, and she is your grandma," Grandpa said, pointing at himself and Grandma like he was introducing royalty.
Keifer blinked and nodded
"Jay, please go tell your friends which room to sleep in," Grandpa said.
I nodded and got up.
I showed Aries and Ella their room, then Yuri's room.
Just as I was about to show Keifer his room, he suddenly asked:
"Where's your room?"
I pointed at the door at the very end of the hallway.
Keifer didn't even hesitate.
He walked straight over, opened the door, and stepped inside like he owned the place.
I followed him in.
He sat on my bed.
My bed.
Like he paid rent here.
I locked the door behind me and walked toward him slowly.
Keifer's eyes widened. "Jay… what are you doing?"
"You little motherfucker," I said, smacking his arm. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
He yelped. "OW—HEY—what did I do now?!"
"You told my grandparents I was pregnant!" Smack.
"And married!" Smack.
"And that you're my husband!" Smack.
Keifer grabbed the pillow mid‑swing, laughing and dodging.
Then—without warning—he pinned me to the mattress, hands on either side of my head, breath warm against my cheek.
"What? I was saying the truth," he murmured, leaning closer.
"I will be your husband in the future."
He whispered it right in my ear, voice low enough to make my stomach flip.
Then he slid his hands under my shirt, tenderly stroking the upper part of my stomach.
"And this is where you will carry for children," he remarked, grinning like a madman.
I shoved his shoulder lightly. "Gago, you think too much."
He grinned — that stupid, confident, infuriating grin — and dipped his forehead to mine.
"You make me think too much," he said.
Before I could snap back, he kissed me — firm, certain, like he'd been waiting all day for the chance.
And I kissed him back, fingers curling into his shirt, pulling him closer
After what felt like five… maybe six… maybe ten kisses, he finally pulled back, breathing a little harder than he wanted to admit.
"Profanity," he said, tapping my forehead like he was a teacher marking attendance.
"Idiot, I didn't cuss five times," I snapped.
He kissed me again — quick, smug, annoying.
"The others were just interest," he said, shrugging like it was obvious. "From now on, every time you curse and I have to wait ten minutes? That's two more kisses for me."
My jaw dropped. "No, that's not fair!"
I shoved him, and he fell back onto my bed, laughing like the absolute menace he was.
He propped himself up on his elbows, smirking. "But—"
I cut him off. "Every 30 minutes is 2 kisses."
Keifer froze for half a second.
Then that stupid, slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.
"Fine," he said, like he'd just won a negotiation he didn't even need to fight for.
I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Because," he said, sitting up and leaning closer, "you think you're punishing me."
"I am punishing you."
He shook his head, still smiling. "Jay… you basically scheduled my happiness."
I shoved him lightly. "Shut up."
He caught my wrist gently, thumb brushing over my skin like he wasn't even thinking about it.
"Thirty minutes," he repeated, voice low. "I can wait."
"You can't wait for anything," I muttered.