The courtroom was alive before it even officially started.
Not only were Jasfher Mariano and Mark Keizer Watson there, sitting together with quiet amusement, but today, Mir Keigan Watson, the 19-year-old aspiring lawyer, had also come along.
Keigan had grown up around the Marianos. He and Jay had known each other since they were kids, sharing family dinners, basketball games, and random chaos with the Mariano siblings. Mike Keiren Watson was also there, bouncing excitedly on the edge of his chair.
Jay smiled slightly when she saw them.
"Keigan! Keiren!" she whispered as she passed them on the way to her table.
"Hey, Ate Jay!" Keiren waved dramatically. "Try not to crush my brother too badly today."
Keigan nudged him. "Focus, Keiren." Then he looked at Jay seriously. "You're going to destroy him anyway."
Jay laughed softly. "Thanks, kid. You're going to be a great lawyer one day."
Keifer walked in from the other side, calm as ever, and his eyes immediately found Jay. He paused for a second when he noticed Keigan and Keiren waving at her.
So did she notice. And it annoyed her slightly.
Then the most entertaining person of all entered the room: Luke Reyes, their favorite judge.
"Good morning, your honor," everyone said automatically.
"Luke," Jane whispered to Percy. "He is the literal definition of 'funny judge'."
Luke—known as 'Your Honor' to all of them—smiled widely and waved.
"Good morning, everyone!" he said theatrically, adjusting his robe. "I hope today's session is as spicy as the last twenty-three cases you two have done together."
Jay rolled her eyes. "You're going to make fun of us again, aren't you?"
Luke clapped his hands. "Of course! But don't worry… I also ship you two. You're like chaos and logic… a beautiful mess waiting to happen."
Jay groaned quietly. Percy and Jane snickered behind her.
Across the aisle, Keifer scowled but didn't argue. Luke had a knack for making him a little… unsettled, which Percy found hilarious.
"Counselors," Luke said, leaning on the bench. "Let's begin. And remember—no throwing files. Well… maybe just a little."
Jay leaned over her table to whisper to Keigan. "You think he's serious about the 'throwing files' warning?"
Keigan shrugged. "Knowing you two? I'd bet on it happening within ten minutes."
Across the courtroom, Keifer noticed the slight smile Jay had when she whispered to Keigan. That small moment of calm—Jay interacting with people she trusted—made something stir in him. He didn't like feeling… curious.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Counselor Mariano, your opening statement."
Jay stood tall, walked to the center, and presented her argument confidently. She explained the timeline, cited every law she needed, and even made subtle jabs at Keifer's minor mistakes from the last hearing.
Keifer calmly stood next, listened carefully, and began his counterpoints. His voice was smooth, persuasive, and absolutely infuriating.
During one point, Jay leaned forward. "Your Honor," she said sweetly, "I believe opposing counsel is misrepresenting Exhibit D."
Luke adjusted his glasses, grinned, and said, "Ah yes, the infamous Exhibit D. Very spicy today, aren't we?"
Keifer's jaw twitched. Luke loved to tease him.
Jane whispered to Percy, "He's enjoying this too much."
Percy snorted. "I'm not complaining."
Aries, sitting behind Jay, was cold as ever. His arms were crossed, eyes narrowed at Keifer. "I do not trust him."
Jay ignored him and focused on presenting her case, though she noticed how protective he always was.
Keigan leaned over to Keiren and whispered, "One day, I'll be arguing cases like this."
Keiren rolled his eyes but smiled. "You'll just get yelled at by Luke like everyone else."
The session went on like this—Jay making sharp, chaotic points, Keifer countering smoothly, Luke interjecting with jokes, and both families quietly cheering or teasing from the back.
When the judge finally called for a recess, Percy whispered loudly to Jane, "Team Jayfer is winning, I swear."
Jane smirked. "Don't get too confident, Sunshine."
Outside the courtroom, Jay walked toward her family and the Watson siblings. Keigan and Keiren jogged up beside her.
"So," Keigan said, grinning, "think you can survive the second half without Luke making fun of you?"
Jay laughed softly. "I'll survive. But only if Keifer doesn't ruin my plans."
Keifer walked past them silently, giving Jay a single sharp glance.
Her heart did a weird flutter. She hated it.
But Luke, watching from the doorway, simply smiled. "Oh yes… this one's going to get interesting."