The house was still buzzing an hour later.
Tita Gema had somehow produced a feast fit for a celebration—which, according to her, was exactly what this was. "We SURVIVED! We EAT!"
Eman had joined her in the kitchen, the two of them moving in perfect sync like they'd cooked together for years. Jasfer had declared it "the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Percy was holding court in the living room, dramatically reenacting Jay's face-off with Keizer for anyone who hadn't witnessed it live.
"And THEN—THEN—she said, 'You're just a bully who never learned that real power isn't about taking—it's about PROTECTING.'" He clutched his chest. "I felt that in my SOUL."
Rory looked up from his laptop. "I recorded it. Want to watch it in slow motion?"
"YES."
Edrix: "I already made it my screensaver."
Rory: "You did NOT."
Edrix: "I did. Want to see?"
Rory: "…Yes."
Ci-n was running laps around the dining table, fueled by sugar and adrenaline. "WE BEAT A VILLAIN! WE'RE HEROES! IS THIS WHAT AVENGERS FEEL LIKE?"
Rakki grabbed him mid-lap. "Sit. Eat. Replenish your energy for the next lap."
"BUT I'M NOT TIRED."
"You will be. And then you'll crash and someone will have to carry you to the couch."
"That sounds like a FUTURE ME problem."
Rakki sat him down firmly. "Eat."
Mica was curled up with Calix on one of the couches, both of them watching the chaos with matching expressions of fond exhaustion.
Calix: "Our friends are insane."
Mica: "Our friends are PERFECT."
Calix: "Same thing."
Mica kissed his cheek. "Exactly."
Mayo and Kit were critiquing everyone's post-drama outfits.
Mayo: "Percy's shirt choice is… a choice."
Kit: "A bold choice."
Mayo: "A questionable choice."
Kit: "He looks like a disco ball threw up on him."
Mayo: "And yet he's owning it."
Kit: "That's the most terrifying part."
Eren was attempting to chat up Freya. It was going poorly.
Eren: "So, you're Freya, right? I've heard things about you."
Freya: "Good things or bad things?"
Eren: "…Things."
Freya: "Walk away."
Eren: "But—"
Freya: "Now."
Eren walked away.
Edrix, passing by: "Smooth."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "I didn't say anything."
Freya: "Your FACE said something."
Edrix: "My face is innocent."
Freya: "Your face is annoying."
Edrix smiled. "You like it."
Freya: "I tolerate it."
Edrix: "Same thing."
Freya paused. Then, grudgingly: "…Maybe."
Drew was collecting bets on how long until someone fell asleep first. David was the current frontrunner, already half-dozing on the armchair.
Drew: "Current odds: David in 20 minutes, even money. Ci-n in 30 minutes if Rakki doesn't knock him out first. Anyone else?"
Josh raised a hand silently.
Drew: "Josh bets on…?"
Josh pointed at Percy.
Drew: "Percy passing out from talking too much? Interesting. I'll allow it."
Baster was humming in the corner, recording snippets of conversation for "future musical inspiration."
Felix sat beside Percy, still occasionally touching his arm to confirm he was real. Percy let him.
"You know," Felix said quietly, "when I thought you were dead, I used to imagine what I'd say if you came back."
Percy's voice softened. "What did you imagine?"
"Lots of things. Yelling. Crying. Demanding to know why you didn't tell me." Felix paused. "Now you're here and I just… want you to stay."
Percy was quiet for a moment. Then: "I'm not going anywhere, little brother. I promise."
Felix nodded, throat tight.
Aries and Ella were curled up in a corner, Aries pretending to be annoyed and Ella pretending to believe him.
Ella: "You're soft. Admit it."
Aries: "I'm NOT soft."
Ella: "You let me use your hoodie as a blanket."
Aries: "That's BASIC DECENCY."
Ella: "You made me coffee this morning without me asking."
Aries: "That's called BEING POLITE."
Ella: "You kissed my forehead when you thought I was asleep."
Aries: "That's—" He stopped. "How did you know about that?"
Ella grinned. "I wasn't asleep."
Aries's ears turned red. "I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"No, I don't. Unfortunately."
Ella kissed his cheek. "Unfortunately."
Denzel sat with Grace nearby, both watching the chaos with quiet contentment.
Grace: "Our friends are ridiculous."
Denzel: "Our friends are family."
Grace: "Same thing."
Denzel smiled. "Exactly."
Grazel Jay was curled up in Jay's arms on the main couch, finally sleepy after all the excitement. Her little eyes kept drooping, then snapping open like she was afraid she'd miss something.
"Tita Jay?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Bad man gone?"
"Bad man is gone, baby. You helped chase him away."
Grazel Jay nodded seriously. "I'm brave."
"You're the bravest."
"Like you?"
Jay's heart melted. "Yeah. Just like me."
Grazel Jay smiled, satisfied, and finally let her eyes close.
Jay held her close, breathing in the soft baby scent, feeling the tiny weight against her chest.
Keifer sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched.
He watched Jay with Grazel Jay—watched the way her whole body softened, the way her face glowed, the way she held the child like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Our future.
The thought came again, stronger this time.
He imagined Jay like this—but with their child. Their baby. Their family.
His chest ached with want.
Jay must have felt his gaze. She looked up, caught his expression, and raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Keifer shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Just… thinking."
"About?"
He hesitated. Then, softly: "About the future."
Jay's breath caught.
She knew exactly what he meant.
For a moment, they just looked at each other—everything they felt, everything they wanted, passing silently between them.
Then Grazel Jay stirred, mumbling in her sleep, and the moment broke—but the promise remained.
Later. They'd talk later.
The evening wound down slowly.
Section E began to trickle out—promises to return, threats to call if anything happened, hugs and chaos and love.
Mica squeezed Jay tight. "You were amazing today. I mean it."
Jay hugged her back. "I couldn't have done it without all of you."
"You did the hard part. We just stood here looking pretty."
Calix: "Speak for yourself. I looked HANDSOME."
Mica: "Same thing."
Calix: "Exactly."
Rakki hugged Jay next. "You're my best friend. You know that, right?"
Jay smiled. "I know. You're mine too."
Ci-n launched himself at them both. "GROUP HUG! SISTER JAY IS THE BEST! RAKKI IS THE BEST! EVERYONE IS THE BEST!"
Rakki: "Ci-n, you're crushing us."
Ci-n: "THAT'S THE POINT!"
Mayo and Kit waved elegantly. "Darling, if you need fashion advice for your next villain confrontation, call us."
Kit: "We specialize in 'I'm about to destroy you' chic."
Mayo: "It's a whole aesthetic."
Jay laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
Rory and Edrix were already planning their next security upgrades.
Rory: "I'm adding three more firewalls."
Edrix: "I'm tracking Keizer's remaining assets."
Rory: "Beat you."
Edrix: "We're not competing."
Rory: "We're always competing."
Edrix: "…Fair."
Freya paused at the door, glancing back at Edrix. "Hey. Tech guy."
Edrix raised an eyebrow. "I have a name."
"I know. But 'tech guy' is funnier." She hesitated. "You did good today."
Edrix smiled. "Thanks. You too—for someone who showed up late."
Freya snorted. "I'm NEVER late. I was FASHIONABLY late."
"Same thing."
"…Maybe."
She left.
Edrix stared after her.
Percy appeared beside him. "You've got it BAD."
Edrix: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Percy: "Sure you don't. That's why you're smiling like an idiot."
Edrix: "I'm NOT smiling."
Percy: "You're SMILING."
Edrix: "I'm… existing."
Percy: "Existing with a crush. Adorable."
Edrix walked away.
Percy: "I'M DOCUMENTING THIS."
Eren left with a confused expression, still not entirely sure what had happened. Drew counted his betting money—David had indeed fallen asleep first, winning Drew 500 pesos. David woke up long enough to accept his winnings and immediately went back to sleep.
Josh slipped out quietly, as always.
Baster waved, still humming. "This is gonna be a GREAT song."
Felix hugged Percy one more time. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow. Promise."
Felix nodded, finally letting go.
And then—
Only family remained.
Jasfer stretched dramatically. "Well. That was exhausting. I'm going to bed."
Serina: "It's 8 PM."
Jasfer: "EXHAUSTING. I said what I said."
Serina smiled after him, then turned to Jay and Keifer. "You two okay?"
Jay nodded. "Yeah. We're okay."
Serina's gaze lingered—knowing, warm. "Good. Talk. Don't wait too long."
She kissed Jay's forehead, then Keifer's, and followed Jasfer upstairs.
Tita Gema was already in the kitchen, muttering about dishes and leftovers and "why does everyone eat so MUCH."
Jay's grandma had fallen asleep in her rocking chair, cane across her lap, snoring gently.
Angelo gave them a nod from the door. "I'll be on patrol. Call if anything changes."
Keifer: "Thanks, Angelo."
Angelo: "Always."
The room emptied.
Finally—
Just Jay, Keifer, and a sleeping Grazel Jay.
The silence was peaceful.
Jay leaned against Keifer, Grazel Jay warm in her arms.
"She's perfect," Keifer said quietly.
Jay smiled. "She is."
"I meant you too."
Jay looked up at him.
Keifer's voice was soft. "The way you held her. The way you protected her. The way you faced Keizer with her in your mind—protecting her, protecting all of us." He shook his head slowly. "You're going to be an amazing mother someday."
Jay's eyes welled up. "Keifer…"
"I mean it." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I watch you with her, and I think—that's her. That's the mother of my children. That's my future."
A tear slipped down Jay's cheek.
He wiped it gently.
"Jay." His voice dropped lower. "I want that. With you. When all this is over—when Keizer is finally dealt with—I want to build a life with you. A real one. A family."
Jay's voice cracked. "You mean that?"
"I've never meant anything more."
She looked at him—really looked at him. The boy she'd loved since childhood. The man who'd never stopped fighting for her. The future she'd almost lost.
"I want that too," she whispered. "I want everything with you."
Keifer's smile was the softest she'd ever seen.
He leaned in—slow, gentle—and kissed her.
Not like before. Not urgent or desperate.
This kiss was a promise.
A vow.
A future.
When they pulled apart, Grazel Jay stirred slightly, mumbling, "Tita Jay… Kuya Keifer… love…"
They both froze.
Then laughed—soft, quiet, so full of joy it hurt.
Jay kissed the top of Grazel Jay's head. "She knows."
Keifer wrapped his arm around them both. "Everyone knows."
Jay leaned into him. "Jayfer forever?"
He kissed her hair. "Jayfer forever."
Outside, the night was dark.
Somewhere, Keizer was planning his next move.
But inside the Fernandez house—
There was peace.
There was love.
There was a promise waiting to become real.
And for now—
That was everything.