JAY JAY POV
I blinked my eyes open, the morning light filtering through the white canvas of the tent. My head felt like a drum line was performing inside it, but the warmth beside me was definitely not a pillow. I turned my head and saw Keifer, looking annoyingly handsome for someone who had slept in a tent.
"Keifer, what are you doing here?" I croaked, my voice thick with sleep.
"Nothing," he murmured, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to my neck. "Just spending the night with my fiancée before she officially turns into my wife."
"Get up," I said, though I didn't push him away. I fumbled for my phone to check the time. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "Shit! Keifer, we have to go to the venue! We're late!"
Keifer just chuckled, stealing another quick kiss. "First: watch the profanity, Mrs. Watson. Second: yeah, we should probably move."
I scrambled out of the sleeping bag, trying to shake off the haze. We stepped out into the crisp morning air and began the rounds to round up the bridal party. It was like walking through a minefield of secrets.
First up: Freya. I unzipped her tent and froze. She was still asleep with Edrix. Luckily, nothing "bad" seemed to have happened, but Edrix was shirtless and Freya's collarbone was covered in a few very fresh-looking hickeys. Her shirt was riding up dangerously high.
"Get up, lovebirds!" I shouted.
They both bolted upright. Edrix turned a shade of red that matched the autumn leaves, frantically looking for his shirt.
Next was Honey. I stopped in my tracks—I had a very bad feeling about this one. I really didn't want to see my brother in there if things had gone south.
"I've got this one," Keifer said, stepping in front of me. He poked his head in and woke Honey and Percy up. He stepped back a second later with a shrug. "They weren't bad, just... way too close to each other."
We moved on to Mica and Rakki. No surprises there—Mica was practically glued to Calix, and Rakki was cuddled up with Ci-N. It seemed like the "no contact" rule had been a complete and utter failure for everyone involved.
Then we hit Sarah's tent. Sarah had stayed to surprise me, but she was the one with the surprise this morning. She was already stepping out, hurriedly buttoning up her shirt, followed closely by a very smirking David.
"Had a nice night?" I teased, crossing my arms.
Sarah glared at me, her face blooming into a massive blush. David, on the other hand, looked way too proud of the marks on his neck, glancing over at Sarah's matching hickeys with a grin.
"Keifer, please," I muttered when we reached Mia's tent. I couldn't handle seeing my twin brother in 'boyfriend mode' quite yet.
Keifer nodded and checked inside. It was basically a repeat of Sarah and David, except Jare was completely shirtless and Mia was huddled deep under a heavy blanket, looking like she didn't want to face the world.
Finally, we reached Amy. Please don't be anything bad, I prayed.
I unzipped the flap and my jaw dropped. "OH MY GOD."
Aries—the grumpiest, most stoic guy in the world —was basically spooning Amy.
"Get up! We're late!" Keifer called out, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
He leaned into my ear as we walked back toward the center of the camp, watching our friends scramble to get their lives together. "Damn, I think everyone had more fun than us last night," Keifer joked, his eyes dark and playful. "But don't worry, Jay. I'll make sure I don't let you off the hook tonight."
I shoved his shoulder, laughing despite the headache. "Focus, Watson! We have a rehearsal in two hours, a venue to decorate, and a bridal party that looks like they've been through a war."
"Hey," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back for one serious look. "In twenty-four hours, the party is over and the rest of our lives start. Ready?"
I looked at the chaos of my friends, the ring on my finger, and the man I loved. "Ready."
********************AT THE VENU**************************************
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I could hardly recognize the girl staring back at me. In exactly two hours, I wouldn't be Jay-Jay, the Section E troublemaker, or just another Mariano. I would be Mrs. Keifer Watson.
The gown was more than just silk and lace; it was our story. Keifer and I had spent weeks designing it together. If you looked closely at the delicate embroidery along the hem and the veil, you could see the "invisible" map of our lives: the outline of the classroom where we first met, the tiny stitched lollipop near the waist, the symbol of the Section E gates
Keifer's suit was the same—the lining of his jacket was printed with the same memories. We were literally wearing our history as we prepared to start our future.
The door creaked open, and Grandma stepped in. She stopped, her hands flying to her mouth as her eyes welled with tears.
"My baby," she whispered, walking over and placing her warm hands on my cheeks. She leaned forward and kissed my forehead gently. "You look so beautiful. Your grandfather is out there trying to keep Jare and Percy from crying, but if he saw you right now, he'd be the first to break."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Is everything ready, Grandma?"
"Every flower is in place, the blue and orange ribbons are tied, and the guests are arriving," she said, smoothing down the front of my dress. "But more importantly, Keifer is waiting. I walked past his room, and that boy is pacing enough to wear a hole in the carpet. He's terrified and excited all at once."
I laughed, feeling the nerves finally settle into a steady, happy hum.
"He better be," I joked, looking back at the mirror.
A knock at the door signaled the arrival of the bridesmaids. Mia, Freya, Honey, Amy, and Sarah burst in, looking stunning in their blue and orange gowns. Even though they all looked like they'd had about three hours of sleep and had used a gallon of concealer to hide the "camp party" evidence, they were glowing.
Jare came to me first. He looked sharper than I'd ever seen him in his suit, but his eyes were already glassy. He pulled me into a tight hug and kissed my forehead, his voice thick with emotion.
"If that asshole makes you cry, tell me first," he whispered, the classic brotherly threat finally cracking as he tried not to let a tear fall. "I'll have the car running."
I nodded, my own eyes blurry. "I know you will, Jare."
Percy was next, stepping forward with a lopsided grin. "I have to admit, sis... you actually look more beautiful than me today. Just for today."
I pushed his shoulders slightly, letting out a watery laugh. He hugged me just as tightly as Jare had, but his voice was softer. "I know Keifer will take care of you better than we ever did," Percy said, a single tear finally escaping and rolling down his cheek.
Then came Aries. He didn't look grumpy at all today; he looked genuinely happy—maybe because of a certain conversation in a tent early this morning. He looked me up and down and smiled.
"You look good, Monkey," he teased.
"Aries!" I protested, laughing through my tears.
He didn't care; he just pulled me into a warm hug. "Tell me if you're sad, okay? Anytime. I don't care if it's three in the morning."
Finally, Kuya Angelo stepped up. My grumpy, "devil" cousin stood there looking proud. He wrapped his arms around me in a steadying embrace.
"I'm proud of you, Jay," he said simply.
"Thanks, Kuya," I whispered, pulling back to look at him. "Where is Ate Ion, anyway?"
I still couldn't believe it—my cousin had finally been tamed by the beautiful, fierce Ion. It was the shock of the year
"She's here, just inside making sure everything is perfect," he said, glancing toward the door. "She's as stressed as you are, believe me."
Just then, the music changed—the heavy, rhythmic swell of the wedding march began to echo from the gardens. This was it.
The boys stepped back to give me space, but Jare stayed by my side, offering me his arm. I took a final look at myself in the mirror. The embroidery on my dress—the lollipops, the school gates, the memories—seemed to shimmer under the lights.
"Ready, sis?" Jare asked, his arm firm and steady.
"Ready," I said.
The doors swung open. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the venue. I saw the rows of our friends from Section E, our families, and the people who had survived the chaos with us.
But my eyes went straight to the end of the aisle.
There he was. Keifer.
He looked breathless, his eyes wide as he saw me for the first time. For once, the confident Keifer Watson looked completely floored. He wasn't smirking. He was just looking at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
The walk felt like it lasted a lifetime and a single second all at once. Every face I passed—Mica, Rakki, Sarah, Amy—was a blur of tears and smiles. When we finally reached the altar, Kuya Angelo took my hand, his grip firm and protective one last time.
He placed my hand into Keifer's waiting palm. The heat of Keifer's touch grounded me instantly.
"Take care of my sister," Kuya Angelo said, his eyes narrowing just a fraction as he leaned toward Keifer. "If she cries, you will taste my fist. I think you know how they taste, right?"
A ripple of chuckles went through the crowd. Everyone remembered battles and the rough start we all had. Keifer didn't flinch; he just nodded solemnly, showing my cousin the respect he deserved.
As Angelo stepped back to join the family, the world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of us standing under the flower-covered arch.
I looked up at Keifer. He was breathtaking. His eyes were rimmed with red, a clear sign that he'd been struggling to keep it together since the moment the doors opened. But the moment our eyes met, that familiar, playful spark returned to his gaze.
The edges of his lips curled into a soft, private smile.
"Looking good, Mrs. Watson," he teased, his voice barely a whisper that only I could hear.
"I haven't even said 'I do' yet, Watson," I whispered back, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Oh, I'm way ahead," he murmured, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. "I've been waiting for this since the day you threw that first insult at me."
The priest began the ceremony, but I was barely listening to the traditional words. I was looking at Keifer—at the man who had fought for me, waited for me, and loved me even when I was at my most difficult.
When it came time for the vows, Keifer didn't pull out a piece of paper. He just held both of my hands, his palms slightly damp from nerves, and looked me straight in the eye.
"Jay-Jay," he started, his voice steadying but thick with emotion. "I've played this scene in my mind way too many times. Now that it's finally here, I can't tell you how happy I am. Maybe I could explain it... but you'll have to wait until tonight for that."
I felt the heat rush to my face instantly. I blushed a deep crimson, and the entire crowd erupted into laughter. Even Grandpa was chuckling, shaking his head at Keifer's typical boldness.
Keifer's expression softened, the teasing light in his eyes turning into something deep and soul-searing.
"But that wasn't the point," he continued, his voice dropping to a low, velvety tone that vibrated in my chest. "The point is, you are my everything. Before you walked into Section E, I was just a guy moving through a world I thought I had already figured out. I lived in the shadows and played by my own rules, but then you crashed into my life with all your fire and that stubborn, beautiful defiance."
He squeezed my hands, stepping a fraction closer until our heartbeats felt like they were in sync.
"You didn't just challenge me, Jay; you woke me up. You showed me that even a guy like me deserves a home, and I found that home in you. You are the rhythm in my pulse and the only reason I look forward to tomorrow. I promise to be the man who protects your smile, the one who stands between you and the world, and the one who loves you more when you're at your worst than most people do at their best."
A tear finally escaped his eye, tracking down his cheek, but he didn't look away.
"I don't just love you for who you are, but for who I've become because of you. My life started the second you looked at me and didn't blink. And I want you to know, Jay-Jay... I will love you until scientists find the end of the universe."
The crowd went completely silent, a heavy, beautiful weight settling over the garden. It was the deepest, most romantic thing I had ever heard. My heart felt like it was overflowing
The weight of his words—until scientists find the end of the universe—lingered in the air, making my heart ache with a happiness so sharp it was almost painful. It was my turn. I looked down at our joined hands, then up into those eyes that had seen me at my messiest, my angriest, and my weakest.
"Keifer," I began, my voice trembling but gaining strength with every word. "I used to think that being strong meant standing alone, behind walls so high that no one could ever get over them. I didn't need anyone. But then I met an arrogant, stubborn, lollipop-sucking jerk who didn't care about my walls—he just started climbing."
A soft laugh rippled through the guests, but I kept my eyes locked on his.
"You saw the girl behind the legend before I even knew she existed. You didn't just love me when it was easy; you loved me when I was a walking disaster, when my brothers were threatening you, and when the whole world seemed against us. You taught me that I don't have to be a legend to be worthy of love—I just have to be yours."
I took a shaky breath, stepping closer until our lace and silk brushed together.
"So, here is my promise to you: I promise to be your peace when the world is loud. I promise to be the one who calls you out when you're wrong and the one who fights for you when you're tired. I will walk beside you through every storm and every victory, and I will choose you, over and over again, in every lifetime I'm given."
I squeezed his hands, a tear landing on our joined fingers.
"You told me once that you were obsessed with me. Well, Keifer Watson, consider me obsessed right back. If you're going to love me until the end of the universe, then I'll be the one waiting for you there, holding your hand, ready to start all over again. I love you more than words can stitch into a dress."
The priest smiled, the silence of the garden feeling sacred for a long moment before he finally spoke. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Keifer, you may kiss your bride."
Keifer didn't just kiss me. He wrapped his arms around me, lifting me slightly off the ground as if he finally had everything he ever wanted. The crowd went wild—Jare was whistling, Percy was cheering, and I could hear Amy crying loudly in the front row.
As Keifer pulled back, his forehead resting against mine, he whispered so only I could hear, "We made it, Jay-Jay. No more walls."
"No more walls," I whispered back.
We turned to the crowd, the sunset painting the sky in shades of orange and blue—our colors—and walked into our future. The history was on my dress, but the future was in my hands. And it was beautiful.
As we reached the end of the aisle, wall of protection immediately closed in. Kuya Angelo, Aries, Jare, and Percy all converged on us with that familiar, "don't-forget-we're-lethal" look in their eyes.
But Keifer didn't even give them a chance to speak. He pulled me closer, a triumphant grin on his face.
"Sorry, guys, time is ticking! Our honeymoon has officially started," Keifer announced to the brothers. "And as for your threats, I already know them by heart. 'Don't break her heart,' 'Don't make her cry,' and anything along the lines of 'I will kill you.' Consider them memorized."
The boys stood there, stunned for a second, before Jare let out a frustrated huff. "He's getting too good at reading us."
"Wait! Keifer! We still have the flower toss!" Honey yelled, running up and waving her hands. "We really want to see who gets married next!"
Keifer looked at me, and I gave him a quick nod. I gathered all the girls—Mica, Rakki, Sarah, Amy, Honey, and Mia. They lined up, a chaotic blur of blue and orange silk, eyes narrowed in competition.
I turned my back, took a deep breath, and tossed the bouquet high over my shoulder.
I spun around to see the result. It wasn't just one person. There was a frantic scramble, and suddenly, Amy and Mia were both clutching the bouquet, each holding onto a different side of the stems.
They both looked at their respective partners with incredibly intense expressions. Mia's gaze toward Jare was especially pointed.
"Looks like you're next, Jare!" I teased, nudging my twin brother.
"Ready as ever. Tell me when," Jare said, puffing out his chest.
"Now," Mia said firmly.
Jare didn't need to be told twice. He practically sprinted to her, let out a war cry, and scooped her up in bridal style while the crowd cheered.
I laughed, leaning into Keifer's side as I watched the chaos of our friends. "I think the Section E wedding fever is officially spreading."
"Done?" Keifer asked me, his voice dropping an octave, his eyes fixed on mine.
"I think—" I started, but this asshole didn't even give me time to finish. Before I could blink, his arms were under my knees and back, and he swung me up into a bridal carry of his own.
"OUR HONEYMOON OFFICIALLY STARTS!" Keifer yelled at the top of his lungs, loud enough to echo across the entire venue. "DON'T CALL US OR TEXT US UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY! AND KEIRAN AND KEGIAN—YOU GUYS ARE STAYING WITH ANGELO!"
"Wait, Keifer!" I shrieked, laughing and holding onto his neck as he started jogging toward the decorated getaway car.
"No waiting, Mrs. Watson!" he laughed back. "The universe is waiting!"
He tossed me (gently) into the passenger seat, slammed the door, and hopped into the driver's side. As we sped off, leaving a trail of blue and orange ribbons and the sound of our cheering, crazy family behind, I looked at the man beside me.
The jerk. The legend. My husband.
The end of the universe was a long way off, but as long as Keifer was the one driving, I was ready for the ride.