The wedding hall was already alive when Jay and Keifer arrived.
Workers moved back and forth, ladders leaned against half-decorated walls, and long white fabrics were being draped carefully across the ceiling. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, not overwhelming—just enough to remind Jay why they were there.
She stood near the entrance, slowly taking everything in.
"This is going to be us," she whispered.
Keifer glanced at her. "Next week."
That single phrase made Jay's chest tighten.
They walked further inside, watching as someone adjusted the stage lights. A couple of decorators discussed color combinations nearby, arguing softly about flowers. Jay imagined herself standing there, dressed inwhite, walking toward Keifer while everyone watched.
The thought made her nervous. And emotional.
She wrapped her arms around herself without realizing it.
Keifer noticed immediately. "Hey," he murmured, stepping closer. "You okay?"
Jay nodded, but her eyes didn't leave the stage. "I didn't think it would feel this… real."
He followed her gaze. "Yeah. Seeing it like this hits differently."As they walked past the seating area, Jay noticed a bride-to-be standing with her fiancé near the altar, laughing while someone took measurements. Something sharp flickered in her chest before she could stop it.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Keifer caught it. "Jay?"
She looked away too quickly. "Nothing."
He studied her for a moment. "You're jealous."
Her lips parted in surprise. "What? No—"
"Jay."
She sighed, shoulders dropping. "Okay… maybe a little. They look so sure. So calm."Keifer reached for her hand. "We're sure too. Just… louder about our panic."
That earned a small smile.
Before leaving, Jay turned back one last time, pressing the image into her memory. One week. Just one.
Outside, the air felt lighter—but the emotions followed them.
Their next stop was wedding shopping.
And chaos followed immediately.
Jay was pulled in one direction by dresses, another by shoes, and somehow ended up holding fabric she didn't remember picking up. Keifer stood nearby, already overwhelmed.
"Why does everything say 'final choice'?" he muttered.
Jay laughed, then froze when she saw another woman adjusting a suit jacket on Keifer—just the attendant doing her job.
Still.
Jay crossed her arms.
Keifer noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow. "Are you… jealous again?"
She looked away. "I don't like it."
His lips curved into a teasing smile. "Good to know."
"Keifer."
"I'm kidding," he said, stepping closer. "I only see you."
That softened her—but only for a moment.
Shopping turned into a blur of opinions, disagreements, and laughter.
Jay got emotional choosing accessories, wiping her eyes and blaming dust. Keifer argued over colors and nearly chose shoes Jay refused to let him buy. At one point, Jay sat down, suddenly quiet.
"What's wrong?" Keifer asked, kneeling in front of her.
She swallowed. "We're really getting married. In a week."
He took her hands. "Yeah."
"I'm scared," she admitted. "What if something goes wrong?"
Keifer squeezed her fingers. "Then we face it together. Like always."
That was enough to steady her.
By the time they left the shops, the sun was already lowering, shopping bags heavy in their hands but their hearts even fuller.
They didn't go home.
Instead, they walked—slowly, quietly, letting the rest of the day soften around them.
Jay leaned into Keifer's side, her head resting against his shoulder. "Today was a lot."
He kissed her temple gently. "But we survived."
They stopped at a quiet spot, away from people. Keifer turned toward her, brushing her hair back carefully, like she might break if he wasn't gentle.
"You're going to be the most beautiful bride," he said softly.
Jay's eyes shimmered. "You're not allowed to make me cry anymore."
"I can't promise that."
She laughed, then leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips—slow, unhurried, full of everything they didn't need words for. He kissed her back just as gently, arms wrapping around her like home.
They stayed like that for a while—hugging, sharing quiet smiles, stealing small kisses when no one was looking.
No wedding talk.
No panic.
Just them.
As the sky darkened, Jay rested her forehead against his chest. "I'm glad it's you."
Keifer kissed her hair. "It's always been you."
And for the first time that day, the thought of one week didn't feel scary at all.
It felt right.
They reached home, but the preparation continued in their house too,
Keifer's mansion had never looked this busy.
Boxes were stacked near the stairs, fabric samples lay spread across the couch, and a large notebook labeled Wedding Prep sat open on the coffee table. Jay was in the middle of arranging flowers when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall.
Heavy. Confident. Familiar.
Jay stiffened.
Keifer looked up at the same time. "That'll be him," he said quietly.
Before either of them could say anything more, Kuya Angelo stepped inside.
Tall, sharp-eyed, dressed immaculately as always—his presence alone seemed to straighten the air. His gaze swept across the room, taking in every detail with practiced precision.
"Messy," he commented flatly.
Jay rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you too, Kuya."
Keifer cleared his throat and straightened instinctively. "Good afternoon, Boss."
Angelo glanced at him. "Still calling me that?"
Keifer smiled politely. "Habit."
Angelo hummed, then looked around again. "So," he said, voice firm, "this is where you're turning my sister's life upside down."
Jay groaned. "Kuya."
Keifer didn't flinch. "With respect, Boss, I'm trying to make it better."
That earned him a sharp look—one that lingered just long enough to make Jay tense. Angelo had always been like this. Cold. Guarded. Unreadable. A wall no one dared climb.
They moved through the mansion in silence, Angelo inspecting everything like a commander reviewing territory. Jay trailed behind, heart pounding, waiting for criticism.
It came—but not how she expected.
"This," Angelo said, stopping near the dining area, "you chose well."
Jay blinked. "What?"
The layout," he clarified. "It suits you."
Keifer raised his eyebrows slightly.
They continued upstairs. Angelo paused near the door where Jay's dress bag was carefully stored. His expression changed—just a fraction. Something unreadable crossed his face.
He exhaled slowly.
"When is the wedding?" he asked.
" you are asking me like you didn't fix it with keifer without my consult," Jay replied softly.
Angelo's jaw tightened.
" Yeah sorry for that , and A week is left" angelo said , but his chest tightened
A week
For the first time since arriving, he sat down.
The room went quiet.
Jay stepped closer. "Kuya…?"
Angelo didn't look at her right away. When he finally did, his eyes weren't sharp anymore.
They were tired.
"You know," he began, voice low, "people think I'm harsh because I like control."
Keifer stayed silent.
"But that's not it," Angelo continued. "I'm harsh because the world doesn't respect kindness. And I couldn't afford to let anyone hurt you."
Jay's chest tightened.
"I acted rude," he admitted. "Bossy. Unapproachable. Because if I stayed soft… people would cross limits."
Jay's eyes burned. "Kuya…"
Angelo stood, facing her fully now. "I love you. I always have. Every decision I made was to protect you—even when it made me look like the villain."
Her tears fell before she could stop them.
"And seeing you here," he said, glancing around at the decorations, the plans, him—"seeing you this happy…"
His voice faltered.
"I'm proud of you."
Keifer stepped forward slightly. "Boss," he said quietly, "I promise you—I'll take care of her. Not because I have to. Because I want to."
Angelo studied him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"You better," he said. "Because if you don't—"
Keifer smiled faintly. "I know."
Angelo turned back to Jay and pulled her into a firm hug—awkward, sudden, but real. Jay hugged him back tightly, crying into his shoulder.
"I'm really happy for you," he murmured. "Both of you."
When he stepped away, his expression was familiar again—calm, controlled—but softer around the edges.
"Now," he added, clearing his throat, "tell me what still isn't done. I'm not letting my sister's wedding be anything less than perfect."
Jay laughed through her tears. Keifer exhaled in relief.
And for the first time, the walls around Kuya Angelo cracked—just enough to let love show through
.The house was quiet after Angelo left.
Not the kind of quiet that felt peaceful. The kind that made the past loud.
Jay stood by the window, staring at the dark outside like she was waiting for something to happen. Keifer sat beside her on the couch, close enough to touch but not touching—giving her space while still being there.
He didn't speak. He didn't push. He simply waited.
The silence stretched.
Then Jay's voice came out soft, almost broken.
"Keifer…"
He turned his head. "Yeah?"
She swallowed hard, fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve.
"I never told you… everything."
Keifer's expression softened. "You don't have to. Not if you don't want to."
Jay shook her head, eyes filling with tears. "I do. I need to. I just— I can't keep it inside anymore."
Keifer moved closer and gently took her hand. "I'm here."
Jay closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath.
"When I was a kid… my life wasn't normal," she began. "My mom… she wasn't there. Not because she didn't love me. But because she was dealing with her own pain. She was going through so much that she didn't have time for us."
Her voice cracked.
"I grew up in fear. In silence. With my grandmother. Alone. I waited for her to show up on my birthdays… every year. I'd dress up, blow out candles, and hope she'd come. But she never did."
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Keifer's thumb rubbed her knuckles gently, steadying her.
"Aries… my sibling… was adopted by our tita," Jay continued. "And I was left with my grandmother. She was all I had. She was my strength. But she got old. She got tired. She couldn't protect me from everything."
Jay's voice trembled. "And my stepfather… I hated him. He made me feel like I was trapped in my own home. I couldn't escape."
She swallowed, the pain still fresh even after all these years.
I never told anyone," she whispered. "I never wanted to be seen as weak. I never wanted pity. I just wanted… to survive."
Keifer's eyes shone with concern. "Jay…"
She shook her head, tears spilling faster now. "I thought I was okay. I thought I was strong. But when Angelo came… and he said he loved me… I realized I've been carrying all this weight alone."
Her body trembled.
"I'm scared," she admitted, voice breaking. "I'm scared of getting hurt again. I'm scared of losing people. I'm scared that… even if you love me, I don't know how to trust it completely."
Keifer didn't pull away. He didn't rush. He just held her hand like he was holding her world together.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said quietly. "I promise."
Jay shook her head, tears falling harder now. "I know. I just… I'm tired of being the strong one. I'm tired of pretending I'm fine."
Her shoulders shook as she finally let the emotions out.
Keifer wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She leaned into him, crying into his chest. He held her tightly, not letting her feel alone.
"You don't have to be strong all the time," he whispered. "You're allowed to break. You're allowed to feel everything."
Jay's tears soaked his shirt, but he didn't move away.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm sorry I'm like this."
Keifer lifted her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. "Don't apologize for being human."
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, trying to breathe.
"You know what I hate most?" she asked quietly.
Keifer waited.
"I hate that my mom wasn't there," she said, voice trembling. "I hate that I had to grow up too fast. I hate that Aries had to leave. I hate that I had to be alone."
Keifer's voice was soft. "You didn't deserve any of that."
Jay's eyes closed again. "I know."
He held her tighter. "And you won't be alone anymore."
Jay leaned back slightly, resting her forehead against his chest.
"I'm getting married in a week," she whispered.
Keifer kissed her forehead. "Yes."
"And I'm scared," she admitted again.
Keifer's hand moved through her hair. "It's okay to be scared. It means you care."
Jay looked up at him, eyes red and wet. "I care so much. I don't want to lose you."
Keifer smiled gently. "You won't."
She closed her eyes, letting the comfort sink in.
For the first time in a long time, she didn't have to be brave alone.
And as she cried into Keifer's arms, she felt something shift inside her.
Not all the pain disappeared.
But the weight of it… became lighter.
Because someone was holding her.
Because someone was staying.
Because she finally realized—
She didn't have to survive alone anymore.
_______________________________
100th chapter guys,
We made it to 100th chapter,
Yeah, so proud of you guys, without you guys I don't know I would have come here,
So here is your longest chapter, hope you love it,
I just thought keifer didn't know completely about Jay's past so he should know about it first, and Angelo?? Yeah ofcourse he loves jay, I wanted that he should express his love towards jay , so here is your chapter
Love you
Thank you 🌸🌷✨