One hour later, the front gate opened with noise and laughter.
Shopping bags… voices… chaos.
And right in the middle of it—
Jay was almost hanging on Keifer's arm.
The moment she spotted him, she ran straight to him and slipped into his side like she belonged there.
Which she did.
Keifer's hand automatically went around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Keifer—listen, today was insane," Jay started yapping without even stopping to breathe.
"Mama literally made me try twelve dresses, and then Papa started his own fashion show—no, seriously—he was judging everyone like a designer, and Keigan and Keiren kept running through the store like wild kids—"
He smiled.
Soft.
Unbothered.
Completely focused on her.
"And then Karina dropped a bag on Karim's foot and he started blaming the whole mall—"
Keifer leaned down and kissed her forehead quietly.
Jay stopped for half a second.
Then continued.
"…and then—wait, you kissed me."
He smiled wider.
"You were talking too fast."
She huffed.
"That's because you weren't there."
His arm tightened around her waist.
From behind them—
Keizer watched the scene with a knowing smile.
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ahem."
Keifer looked up.
Keizer pointed at them.
"Are you planning to walk… or should we just rename you both as a single person now?"
Jay blinked.
Keifer didn't even try to move away.
Instead, he pulled her even closer.
Keizer laughed.
"So clingy," he teased.
"When did my son become this shameless?"
Keifer replied calmly,
"When I found my home."
Jay's fingers tightened on his sleeve.
And just like that—
The teasing turned into quiet smiles.
Because everyone there knew…
This wasn't clinging.
It was choosing.
Kia was standing a little behind everyone.
Shopping bags still in her hands.
She saw it.
Jay tucked perfectly into Keifer's side.
His arm locked around her waist.
Her voice filling the hall.
His forehead kiss—so natural, it didn't even look like a decision.
It looked like habit.
Her nails slowly dug into the paper handles of the bags.
Tighter.
She forced a smile when Karina brushed past her.
But her eyes never left them.
Keifer didn't look at Kia even once.
Not when Jay laughed.
Not when she tugged his sleeve to tell another small story.
Not when Keizer teased him.
It was like—
the whole room existed for him…
but only one person existed in his world.
Jay.
Kia's chest tightened.
Serina passed by and said cheerfully,
"Put the bags in the living room, dear."
Kia nodded.
"Yes, Aunt Serina."
But as she turned away, her gaze flickered back to them.
Jay was still in Keifer's arms.
Still safe.
Still chosen.
And that was the part that burned the most.
Not that she liked him.
But that—
she could never be where Jay was standing.