Jayjay POV
The car hummed softly as we drove away from the airport.
Keifer focused on the road, one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel, while his little brother Keiren sat beside me in the backseat, completely absorbed in a movie on his tablet.
I peeked at the screen.
Jai Ho.
The volume was low, but the dramatic music still leaked through his headphones.
From the passenger seat, Keifer's mom suddenly turned slightly.
"So Jayjay," she asked warmly, "who are your parents?"
I sat up a little straighter.
"My dad's name is Jasper Mariano, and my mom is Jeana Fernandez. But currently, I'm living with my cousin, Angelo Fernandez."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Jayjay. I'm Serina Watson… mother of these troublemakers."
Keifer scoffed. "Speak for yourself."
She ignored him beautifully.
"And the one sitting beside you," she continued, pointing gently, "is Mir Keiren Watson. The youngest."
I turned toward him fully.
He didn't notice.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe differently.
Just locked into the movie like the fate of the world depended on it.
A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.
Keiren paused the movie slowly and looked at me.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I know someone who also likes this male actor," I said.
He considered that seriously, then nodded once. "Oh. Okay."
And just like that… back to the movie.
Kids were fascinating creatures.
Not long after, the car rolled through tall gates and into a spacious compound.
Keifer parked smoothly.
"We're home."
The Watson house stood proudly before us. Large, elegant, but not the intimidating kind. It felt lived in. Warm.
We stepped inside.
Before Serina could even put down her bag, a boy rushed forward and wrapped her in a hug.
"Mom!"
He looked about sixteen. Taller than Keifer, broader shoulders, easy confidence.
They spoke quickly, overlapping each other like they had a thousand updates waiting.
"Missed you," he said.
"Missed you more," she replied.
Keifer leaned toward me and whispered, "That's Keagan. The second headache."
"I heard that," Keagan called calmly.
Serina pulled back slightly.
"Keagan, where is Victor?"
Keagan scratched the back of his neck.
"He's um… he's…"
A voice answered from behind us.
"Looking for me, dear?"
We all turned.
A man stepped out through the garage door wearing shorts and a white vest that had surrendered completely to engine oil. Dark stains dotted the fabric, even his cheek carried a smudge like a warrior mark from battle with a stubborn machine.
Serina blinked twice.
"Dear… what were you doing?"
Victor wiped his hands with a rag that did absolutely nothing.
"Changing the car's battery and oil."
Keiren burst into laughter.
Victor crouched slightly. "Yo! My little champ is back!"
Keiren grinned. "Uncle Victor… do you know how silly you look?"
Victor gasped dramatically. "Really? I look silly?"
Before anyone could intervene, he scooped Keiren into his arms and rubbed his oily cheek against the boy's spotless shirt.
Chaos.
Immediate chaos.
"KEIFERRR HELP!" Keiren cried.
Keifer walked past them without even glancing over.
"I suddenly feel thirsty," he said, disappearing toward the kitchen.
Traitor.
Keiren twisted toward Keagan.
"Help me!"
Keagan stood abruptly. "Yes, Keifer! I'm coming!"
And fled.
I pressed my lips together, fighting laughter.
"My new shirt! MOMMMM! Tell him to drop me!" Keiren protested.
Serina sighed, already tired. "Dear, please drop him. I bought him five new outfits on this trip."
Victor finally set him down.
Keiren inspected his shirt like it had suffered emotional damage.
"Dear, please go change," Serina added.
"Sure. Be back in a sec."
Then Victor ruffled Keiren's hair.
"Let's go, champ."
He slung an arm around the boy and steered him toward the stairs.
Serina turned to me with a gentle smile.
"Jay dear, please sit down. We'll be back."
I nodded and sat carefully on the sofa.
The house suddenly felt quieter… but not empty.
More like it was breathing between laughs.
From the kitchen came the faint sound of cabinet doors.
Upstairs, Keiren was still complaining.
Keagan shouted something about someone eating his snacks.
I folded my hands in my lap, taking it all in.
So this is Keifer's world…
Loud.
Warm.
A little ridiculous.
And strangely comforting.
Just as I leaned back into the couch, I thought about the blue-eyed stranger again.
For a second… I wondered if our paths would cross once more.
Then I shook the thought away.
Some people are just passing moments.
Right?
…Right?