Next morning
Keifer's POV
The doorbell rang, calm but firm—like it already knew this wasn't an ordinary visit.
When I opened the door and saw Tita Gema standing there with Angelo, something in my chest tightened instantly. They weren't dressed casually. Not overdressed either. Just… intentional.
That alone made my stomach twist.
"Good morning, Keifer," Tita Gema said warmly.
"Good morning," I replied, stepping aside. My voice came out steadier than I felt.
They walked in, and the living room slowly came to life.
Eces looked up from her seat, alert.
Keigan straightened immediately.
Keiren, who had been half-distracted, suddenly paid full attention—the adult tone had kicked in.
Tita Gema didn't sit right away. She looked at all of us first.
"Tomorrow," she said gently, "is Pamamanhikan."
Tomorrow.
The word echoed in my head.
She must've seen the confusion—and the sudden panic—on my face, because she smiled and sat down, motioning for us to do the same.
"Pamamanhikan," she explained, "is a Filipino pre-wedding ritual. The groom's family formally goes to the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage. Not just permission—but respect, intentions, and unity."
I nodded, listening closely, heart pounding harder with every word.
"Traditionally," she continued, "it's led by the groom's parents or elders."
Her gaze met mine, soft but direct.
"I know no one from your side is here," she said carefully, "except your brothers."
The words landed heavier than I expected.
For a moment, I felt that familiar ache—the absence I never talk about, the space that never really fills.
Then she reached out and placed her hand over mine.
"But Keifer," she said quietly, "you are also like my son."
I froze.
"You have loved Jay with sincerity. You have protected her, respected her, and stood by her even when it was difficult," she continued. "So tomorrow, Angelo and I will go and ask for Jay's hand—on your behalf."
My throat tightened.
"Tita…" I started, but my voice failed me.
Angelo nodded once. "You don't stand alone in this."
I looked down at my hands, then up again, blinking harder than necessary. I hadn't expected this. I hadn't prepared for how much it would mean.
"Thank you," I finally said. It didn't feel like enough.
Tita Gema smiled, then clapped her hands lightly. "But today," she added, shifting the mood, "we prepare."
Keiren leaned forward immediately. "Prepare how?"
"We buy presents," she replied. "For the Pamamanhikan."
She looked around the room. "All six of us."
Keigan raised an eyebrow. "All?"
"Yes," she said, amused. "Keifer, Eces, Keigan, Keiren, Angelo, and me."
Eces glanced at me then, a small knowing look in her eyes—quiet support, steady as ever.
I nodded. "Okay."
As we got ready to leave, one thought stayed with me, heavy but warm—
Tomorrow, I wouldn't just be asking to marry Jay.
I'd be doing it with people who chose to stand beside me.
And somehow… that mattered just as much.
We decided not to take just one car.
Angelo unlocked his and looked at all of us. "We'll go ahead in this one."
Tita Gema nodded immediately. "Eces, come with us."
Eces gave a small nod and walked over, taking the seat in the back beside the empty baskets meant for the gifts. She settled in quietly, seatbelt clicking into place, already focused.
That left me with Keigan and Keiren.
"Shotgun," Keigan said automatically, opening the passenger door.
Keiren climbed into the back, already asking, "Are we buying food first or clothes?"
"Focus," I said, starting the engine.
Angelo's car pulled out first, and I followed closely behind.
Two cars moving down the road, one after the other.
It felt symbolic in a way I couldn't fully explain—two sides moving together, not merged yet, but aligned.
As we drove toward the market, I caught sight of Angelo's car ahead of us and felt that same quiet weight in my chest.
This wasn't just shopping.
This was preparation.
And for once, I didn't feel like I was walking into it alone.
Eces's POV
The moment we stepped out of the car, I knew—
this was not going to be calm.
Tita Gema took one look at the market and immediately went into mission mode. Her eyes scanned everything at once: stalls, people, prices, quality.
"Alright," she said, clapping her hands softly. "We'll do this properly."
Angelo sighed beside her. "This is where the chaos begins."
I hid a small smile.
We started with fruits, but that didn't stay simple for long.
"This mango is too soft."
"These grapes are too small."
"Why are these apples bruised?"
Angelo followed behind her like a very patient pack mule, carrying baskets that grew heavier by the minute. I stayed close, helping where I could—checking firmness, choosing neat pieces, quietly replacing anything imperfect.
Then Keifer's car pulled up nearby, and suddenly the calm split in half.
Keiren jumped out first. "Why does this feel like a competition already?"
Keigan groaned. "Because it is."
Within minutes, everyone was talking at once.
Keifer tried to keep things organized—failed.
Keigan argued over prices like it was a sport.
Keiren somehow disappeared and reappeared with snacks.
Tita Gema pointed. "Those pastries. No, not those. The ones behind."
Angelo blinked. "You mean the ones I just passed?"
"Yes."
I gently took one basket from Angelo's arms. "I'll carry this."
He looked relieved. "Thank you."
The chaos grew when we moved to sweets and gifts.
Keifer and Keigan debated presentation.
Keiren asked if chocolates counted as tradition.
Tita Gema corrected all of them without raising her voice once.
At one point, Keifer looked over at me. "You okay?"
I nodded. "I like this."
And I meant it.
The noise.
The movement.
The purpose.
It was loud, yes—but not threatening. My mind stayed alert, cataloging exits, sounds, faces… but it didn't spiral. I breathed through it, grounded by familiar voices and steady presence.
While everyone argued over ribbon colors, I quietly picked up a set of neatly wrapped fruits and handed them to Tita Gema.
"These look balanced," I said.
She smiled at me like I'd just solved a puzzle. "Very good choice."
By the time we were done, arms were full, patience thinner, but something else filled the space too—connection.
As we loaded the bags into both cars, I realized something quietly, unexpectedly true:
This chaos didn't scare me.
It felt… like belonging.
Keigan's POV
I don't usually notice small things.
I notice noise. Movement. Obvious problems.
But today… my attention kept drifting back to Eces.
The market was loud—vendors shouting, people bumping shoulders, Keiren talking nonstop, Keifer trying (and failing) to keep order. It should've annoyed me. Normally it would have.
Instead, I kept watching her.
She moved differently from everyone else. Careful, but not hesitant. Like she was constantly measuring the world—where to step, what to touch, when to speak. She didn't demand space, yet somehow people naturally gave it to her.
When Tita Gema asked for help, Eces was already there.
When Angelo's hands were full, she quietly took a basket.
When things got chaotic, she didn't freeze—she adapted.
I felt something twist in my chest.
Not panic.
Not excitement.
Recognition.
At one point, someone brushed past her too fast. I saw it—the way her shoulders stiffened for half a second, the way her eyes flicked to exits automatically.
I stepped closer without thinking.
Not touching. Just… there.
She noticed. She always notices.
Our eyes met for a brief second. She gave me a small nod, like she was saying I'm fine. And maybe she was. But that nod stayed with me longer than it should have.
I'd always thought strength was loud.
Defensive.
Aggressive.
But watching Eces, I realized strength could be quiet. Controlled. Chosen.
Keiren started complaining about how heavy the bags were, and Keifer laughed, telling him to "build character." Tita Gema scolded both of them at once. Angelo shook his head, amused.
I should've been part of the noise.
Instead, I found myself walking beside Eces when we moved back toward the cars.
"You okay with crowds?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.
She glanced at me. "Not always. But today's manageable."
That was it. No drama. No explanation.
Still, my grip tightened on the bag I was carrying.
Because manageable didn't mean easy.
As we reached the cars and started loading everything in, I looked around—at Keifer laughing, at Tita Gema directing, at Keiren stuffing snacks into his mouth—and then back at Eces, standing slightly apart but still part of it all.
And that's when it hit me.
I didn't just want to understand her.
I wanted to be someone who made things easier for her—
without her having to ask.
The realization sat heavy and quiet in my chest.
I didn't name it.
But I didn't ignore it either.
Keifer's POV
I should've known the calm wouldn't last.
The moment we reached home and started unloading the bags, chaos found us again—this time in a much dumber form.
"Where's the pastries?" Tita Gema asked, standing in the middle of the living room like a general about to declare war.
Angelo froze. "In the blue bag."
Keigan frowned. "I thought the blue bag was fruits."
Keiren immediately pointed at me. "You said everything was sorted."
"I said we'd manage," I corrected. "Big difference."
Tita Gema folded her arms. "Keifer."
That single word carried more threat than any shout.
We opened bags.
One by one.
Fruits.
Wine.
More fruits.
Decor ribbons.
Sweets—but not those sweets.
Angelo scratched his head. "I swear we bought them."
Keigan sighed dramatically. "This is why lists exist."
Keiren, who had been suspiciously quiet, said, "Maybe the other car?"
Everyone turned toward Angelo's car parked outside.
Silence.
Then Tita Gema asked very calmly, "Eces… did you see the pastries?"
Eces, who had been helping arrange fruits neatly on the table, looked up.
"Yes," she said.
I felt a strange relief—quickly followed by fear.
"Where are they?" I asked.
She pointed… not to a bag.
"To the fridge."
We all stared at her.
"You put them in the fridge?" Keigan asked.
"They were cream-based," she replied, like that explained everything. "It was warm."
Angelo blinked. "You… carried them separately?"
"Yes."
I ran a hand through my hair and laughed—actual laughter.
"Of course you did."
Tita Gema stared at her for a second, then sighed in defeat. "Why does this make so much sense?"
Keiren grinned. "She's like the emergency brain of the group."
Keigan nodded. "We should just ask her before we panic."
Eces tilted her head slightly. "You were panicking?"
I leaned against the counter, still chuckling.
We had almost started a full family argument over missing pastries—
and the quietest person in the room had already solved the problem before it existed.
I looked at Eces, shaking my head with a smile.
But for once, the chaos felt light.
++++++++++++++++
Spoilers for next chapter
~ Pre wedding rituals ( chapter 40 )
~ Wedding ( chapter 41 and 42 )
~ First night ( chapter 43 )
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{ Sorry, if I sound rude . }