โฆ CHAPTER โ "Papa Ghost" โฆ
Jay's POV
The villa was unusually quiet.
---
Which honestly should have worried me.
๐
---
Keifer was nowhere to be seen.
---
And whenever Keifer disappeared...
it usually meant trouble.
๐ญ
---
I decided to enjoy the silence while it lasted.
---
Hair tied up.
---
Skincare products scattered across the counter.
---
A rare peaceful evening.
๐ฅน๐ค
---
I carefully unfolded a sheet mask and placed it over my face.
---
Perfect.
---
Relaxing.
---
Peaceful.
---
Thenโ
---
"JAY!"
๐
---
I nearly jumped.
---
The bathroom door flew open.
---
Keifer froze.
---
I froze.
---
He stared.
---
I stared.
---
Silence.
---
Thenโ
---
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?"
๐ญ๐
---
I closed my eyes.
---
"It's a sheet mask."
---
"A what?"
---
"A sheet mask."
---
"You look haunted."
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
I grabbed another one immediately.
---
Because now he was annoying me.
๐
---
Author's POV
Five minutes later...
---
Keifer was sitting on the bathroom counter.
---
With a sheet mask on.
๐ญ๐
---
Looking absolutely ridiculous.
---
Keifer's POV
I hated this.
---
I looked ridiculous.
---
And Jay wouldn't stop laughing.
---
Which somehow made everything worse.
๐ญ๐
---
"Stop laughing."
---
"No."
---
"Jay."
---
"No."
---
I narrowed my eyes.
---
She laughed even harder.
๐
---
Author's POV
Then the door opened.
---
Unfortunately.
๐ญ๐
---
Mama Reycee walked in.
---
Then Jare.
---
Then Noah.
---
All of them stopped.
---
All of them stared.
---
And thenโ
---
The entire room exploded into laughter.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
I couldn't breathe.
---
Tears were literally forming in my eyes.
---
Because Keifer looked so offended.
---
Which somehow made it funnier.
๐
---
"Take that thing off."
---
"No."
---
"You hated it five minutes ago."
---
"I've accepted my fate."
๐ญ๐
---
Author's POV
Photos were taken.
---
Far too many photos.
---
And unfortunately for Keifer...
---
Nobody planned on deleting them.
๐คฃ
---
Keifer's POV
Traitors.
---
Every single one of them.
๐
---
Author's POV
The next morning...
---
Suitcases appeared.
---
Bags were packed.
---
The trip was ending.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
The villa that had been filled with laughter all week suddenly felt quieter.
---
More sentimental.
---
Jay's POV
I stood on the balcony one last time.
---
Watching the ocean.
---
Listening to the waves.
---
Trying to memorize everything.
๐ฅบ๐
---
Then familiar arms wrapped around my waist.
---
Again.
---
Of course.
๐ญ๐
---
I smiled immediately.
---
"Keifer."
---
"Hm?"
---
"You've been attached to me for an entire week."
---
"And?"
---
I laughed softly.
---
Because honestly...
---
I'd miss it.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
---
Author's POV
A few hours later...
---
The car finally pulled into the driveway.
---
Home.
๐ก๐ค
---
The second Jay stepped outโ
---
Tiny footsteps came running.
๐ญ๐
---
Alina launched herself straight into Jay's arms.
---
Jay barely had time to react before she was holding her daughter again.
---
The little girl immediately wrapped herself around her.
---
Like she was making sure Jay wasn't leaving a second time.
๐ฅบ๐ซ
---
Jay kissed her hair.
---
Holding her close.
---
"I missed you too, baby."
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I was literally standing right there.
---
Right there.
---
And suddenly nobody cared.
๐ญ๐
---
Not my wife.
---
Not my daughter.
---
Nothing.
---
I had been replaced in approximately three seconds.
๐
---
Jare laughed.
---
Noah laughed.
---
Even Mama Reycee looked amused.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
And honestly?
---
Watching Jay smile while holding Alina...
---
Watching them together again...
---
Made the entire trip worth it.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป๐ค
---
Even if I was no longer the favorite.
๐
โฆ CHAPTER โ "Not Fair" โฆ
Jay's POV
I woke up feeling warm.
---
Comfortable.
---
Happy.
---
The first thing I saw was Alina.
---
Curled up against me.
---
Fast asleep.
๐ฅบ๐
---
The second thing I saw...
---
Was Keifer.
---
Staring.
๐
---
I blinked.
---
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
---
He looked offended.
---
"Because."
---
"Because what?"
---
"That's my spot."
๐ญ๐
---
I stared.
---
Then looked at Alina.
---
Then back at him.
---
"No."
---
"Yes."
---
"Keifer."
---
"Jay."
๐
---
Author's POV
Unfortunately for Keifer...
---
Things only got worse.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
The entire morning belonged to Alina.
---
Breakfast?
---
Mama.
---
Getting dressed?
---
Mama.
---
Playing?
---
Mama.
---
Story time?
---
Mama.
๐ญ๐
---
Everywhere I went...
---
Alina followed.
---
Tiny hand holding mine.
---
Tiny footsteps behind me.
---
And honestly?
---
I loved it.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
---
Author's POV
Meanwhile...
---
Keifer was suffering.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I had spent a whole week being Jay's favorite person.
---
A whole week.
๐ญ๐
---
Now?
---
I wasn't even in the top two.
๐
---
Author's POV
Around lunchtime...
---
Jay was sitting on the couch.
---
Alina curled up beside her.
---
Reading a picture book together.
๐ฅบ๐
---
Keifer walked over.
---
Sat down.
---
And immediately put his head in Jay's lap.
๐
---
Jay's POV
I looked down.
---
Then at Alina.
---
Then at Keifer.
---
Silence.
---
"What are you doing?"
---
"Getting attention."
๐ญ๐
---
Author's POV
Jare nearly choked laughing.
---
Noah wasn't doing much better.
---
Keifer's POV
Nobody understands my suffering.
---
Nobody.
๐
---
Jay's POV
I started laughing.
---
Which apparently encouraged him.
---
Because now he looked pleased with himself.
๐ญ
---
Thenโ
---
A tiny hand appeared.
---
And pushed his forehead.
๐
---
Author's POV
Silence.
---
Absolute silence.
---
Keifer stared.
---
Alina stared.
---
Jay stared.
---
Then Jare completely lost it.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
I couldn't breathe.
---
Because both of them looked equally offended.
๐
---
One was a toddler.
---
The other was Keifer.
---
Which honestly wasn't much different.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
Eventually...
---
Jay ended up in the middle.
---
Literally.
---
Alina cuddled against one side.
---
Keifer leaning against the other.
---
Both acting like they hadn't spent the last hour competing.
๐๐
---
Jay's POV
I looked at both of them.
---
Then sighed.
---
"My babies."
---
Immediatelyโ
---
Keifer smiled.
---
Alina smiled.
---
And suddenly neither seemed upset anymore.
๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป
---
Author's POV
Because at the end of the day...
---
They both wanted the same thing.
---
Jay
โฆ CHAPTER โ "Mother-Daughter Day" โฆ
Jay's POV
It started with breakfast.
---
A very serious breakfast.
๐ญ๐
---
Alina climbed onto my lap.
---
Stole half my pancakes.
---
Then announced:
---
"Mama day."
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
---
I blinked.
---
"Mama day?"
---
She nodded seriously.
---
"Mama day."
---
I looked at Keifer.
---
He immediately looked suspicious.
๐
---
Author's POV
Twenty minutes later...
---
A plan had been made.
---
A very dangerous plan.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Mother-daughter day.
---
Just Jay and Alina.
---
No interruptions.
---
No distractions.
---
No Keifer.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
Excuse me?
---
What do you mean no Keifer?
๐ญ๐
---
Jay's POV
I was trying very hard not to laugh.
---
Because the look on his face was priceless.
๐
---
"You'll survive."
---
"I won't."
---
"You will."
---
"I won't."
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
Unfortunately for Keifer...
---
Nobody took his suffering seriously.
๐
---
Not Jare.
---
Not Noah.
---
Not Mama Reycee.
---
Nobody.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
By noon...
---
Alina and I were out together.
---
Ice cream.
---
Shopping.
---
A small park.
---
Tiny adventures.
๐ฅบ๐
---
And honestly?
---
I loved every second.
---
Because she looked so happy.
---
Her little hand holding mine the entire time.
๐ซถ๐ป
---
Author's POV
Meanwhile...
---
Back at home.
---
Keifer was dramatically suffering.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I checked my phone.
---
No messages.
---
I checked again.
---
Still no messages.
---
This was a tragedy.
๐ญ๐
---
Author's POV
Jare was losing his mind laughing.
---
"You saw her this morning."
---
"That was hours ago."
๐
---
Keifer's POV
Nobody understands.
---
Nobody.
๐ญ
---
Author's POV
Around evening...
---
Dark clouds appeared.
---
And suddenly rain began falling.
๐ง๏ธ
---
Soft at first.
---
Then heavier.
---
Jay's POV
I laughed as Alina pointed at the rain.
---
A second later she was trying to catch the drops.
๐ญ๐
---
My heart melted.
---
Completely.
---
Author's POV
The rain continued.
---
The roads became difficult.
---
And eventually...
---
Jay made a decision.
---
Instead of driving home immediately...
---
She stayed the night with Alina at Mama Reycee's place.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
Keifer's POV
When I got the text...
---
I stared at it.
---
For a long time.
๐
---
ยซStaying here tonight.
Rain is too heavy.
See you tomorrow ๐คยป
---
Tomorrow?
---
TOMORROW?
๐ญ๐
---
Author's POV
The next morning...
---
Jay walked through the front door smiling.
---
Happy.
---
Relaxed.
---
Holding Alina.
๐ฅบ๐
---
Then she noticed something.
---
Keifer.
---
Sitting on the couch.
---
Arms crossed.
---
Looking away dramatically.
๐
---
Jay's POV
"Oh no."
---
Jare immediately started laughing.
---
Noah nearly fell off the couch.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Because everyone already knew.
---
Keifer was pouting.
---
Author's POV
And unfortunately for Jay...
---
He planned on keeping it that way.
โฆ CHAPTER โ "I'm Not Pouting" โฆ
Jay's POV
Keifer was ignoring me.
---
Completely.
---
Absolutely.
---
Professionally.
๐
---
The second I entered a room?
---
He left.
---
The second I sat beside him?
---
He stood up.
---
The second I spoke?
---
He suddenly became fascinated by the wall.
๐ญ๐
---
"Keifer."
---
No response.
---
"Keifer."
---
Still nothing.
---
I looked at Jare.
---
Jare was already laughing.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
It had been going on all morning.
---
And honestly?
---
Nobody was helping.
๐
---
Jay's POV
I finally cornered him in the kitchen.
---
Literally.
---
He opened the fridge.
---
I closed it.
---
He tried walking away.
---
I blocked him.
๐ญ๐
---
"Are you seriously mad?"
---
"No."
---
"You are."
---
"I'm not."
---
"You're pouting."
---
"I'm not pouting."
๐
---
He was absolutely pouting.
---
Author's POV
Unfortunately...
---
Keifer wasn't planning on giving up.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
By afternoon I was getting desperate.
---
Because every time I tried apologizingโ
---
He escaped.
๐
---
Actually escaped.
---
Like a criminal.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
Later that evening...
---
Everyone was sitting together outside.
---
Talking.
---
Laughing.
---
Enjoying the weather.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
Jay finally decided enough was enough.
---
She was going to apologize properly.
---
No interruptions.
---
No running away.
---
No excuses.
---
Jay's POV
I stood up.
---
Ready.
---
Determined.
---
Thenโ
---
Noah suddenly wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
๐ญ๐
---
"You're overthinking."
---
I sighed.
---
"I know."
---
"You'll survive."
---
"Hopefully."
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
It was completely innocent.
---
Completely harmless.
---
Friendly.
---
Normal.
---
Unfortunately...
---
Keifer saw it.
๐
---
Author's POV
Silence.
---
Absolute silence.
---
The atmosphere changed immediately.
๐ญ๐
---
Keifer's POV
Interesting.
---
Very interesting.
---
So that's what we're doing now.
๐
---
Author's POV
The jealousy hit instantly.
---
Like a truck.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
I immediately knew.
---
Immediately.
---
Because his face changed.
๐
---
Not angry.
---
Worse.
---
Calm.
๐ญ๐
---
Author's POV
The terrifying calm.
---
The jealous calm.
---
The "I'm definitely overthinking this" calm.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I stood up.
---
Walked away.
---
Very maturely.
๐ญ๐
---
Jay's POV
"KEIFER."
---
No response.
---
"Oh my God."
๐
---
Author's POV
Jare was dying.
---
Absolutely dying.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
"Noah."
---
"What?"
---
"You just made it worse."
๐
---
Noah's POV
"I literally did nothing."
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
The rest of the evening somehow became even worse.
---
Because now Keifer wasn't just pouting.
---
He was jealous.
๐
---
And everyone knew it.
---
Especially Jay.
๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป
---
Because every time she looked at him...
---
He looked away.
---
Immediately.
---
Like a dramatic movie character.
๐๐คฃ
---
And honestly?
---
It would've been annoying.
---
If it wasn't so adorable.
โฆ CHAPTER โ "My Baby Is Angry?" โฆ
Jay's POV
By nighttime...
---
I was done.
๐
---
Absolutely done.
---
Because Keifer had been ignoring me all day.
---
Running away.
---
Looking away.
---
Pretending I didn't exist.
๐ญ๐
---
Meanwhile everyone else was enjoying the show.
---
Especially Jare.
---
Traitor.
๐
---
The living room was cozy.
---
Warm lights.
---
Soft conversations.
---
Everyone relaxing.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
Alina had already fallen asleep upstairs.
---
For once...
---
The house was peaceful.
---
And Keifer was sitting on the far end of the couch.
---
Still pouting.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
I walked over.
---
Sat directly beside him.
---
Very close.
---
He immediately tried getting up.
๐
---
I grabbed his wrist.
---
"No."
---
"Jay."
---
"No."
๐ญ๐
---
He sighed dramatically.
---
I sighed dramatically back.
---
The entire room immediately went quiet.
๐
---
Everyone watching.
---
Because apparently we were entertainment now.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
Jay gently grabbed his face.
---
Turning it toward her.
๐ฅบ
---
Jay's POV
"There you are."
---
Silence.
---
I smiled softly.
---
"Why is my baby angry at me?"
๐ญ๐
---
Immediatelyโ
---
Jare choked.
---
Noah nearly fell off the couch.
---
Mama Reycee covered her mouth.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I was trying very hard to stay annoyed.
---
Very hard.
---
Then she called me baby.
๐ญ๐
---
Unfair.
---
Completely unfair.
---
Jay's POV
I gently poked his cheek.
---
"My baby is still upset?"
---
"No."
---
"Hubby?"
---
"No."
---
"Baby?"
---
"No."
๐
---
He was losing.
---
I could see it.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Author's POV
Very quickly.
---
Very visibly.
---
Losing.
๐
---
Jay's POV
I smiled.
---
"Then tell me."
---
Silence.
---
Then finally...
---
His shoulders dropped.
---
And the fight completely left him.
๐ฅบ๐ซ
---
Keifer's POV
"I missed you."
---
The words slipped out quietly.
---
"I know it was just one night."
---
"But I missed you."
๐ญ๐
---
The room immediately softened.
---
Because suddenly...
---
The jealousy wasn't funny anymore.
---
It was just Keifer being honest.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
Jay's POV
My heart melted.
---
Completely.
---
Immediately.
---
Oh.
---
That was it.
๐๐ฅบ
---
I moved closer.
---
Wrapping my arms around him.
---
Without hesitation.
---
Without thinking.
---
And instantlyโ
---
Keifer buried his face against my shoulder.
๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป
---
Author's POV
Everyone immediately looked away.
๐
---
Not because it was embarrassing.
---
Because this happened every time.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Jay's POV
I gently ran my fingers through his hair.
---
The way he liked.
---
The way that always calmed him down.
๐ฅบ๐ซ
---
"There."
---
"My baby isn't angry anymore."
---
A muffled voice came from my shoulder.
---
"Maybe a little."
๐
---
I laughed.
---
Author's POV
Five minutes later...
---
Keifer had completely forgotten he was supposed to be upset.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Because now he was practically attached to Jay.
---
Again.
---
As usual.
๐
---
One arm around her waist.
---
Head resting against her shoulder.
---
Refusing to move.
---
Jay's POV
"You were mad at me."
---
"I still am."
---
"Really?"
---
"Yes."
---
His arms tightened.
---
Slightly.
๐
---
I started laughing.
---
Author's POV
The rest of the evening passed peacefully.
---
Conversations.
---
Laughter.
---
Comfort.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
And somewhere along the way...
---
Keifer fell asleep.
---
Still leaning against Jay.
๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป
---
His head resting on her shoulder.
---
One hand holding hers.
---
Like he was afraid she'd disappear.
๐๐ซ
---
Jay's POV
I looked down at him.
---
Sleeping peacefully.
---
Finally relaxed.
---
Finally happy.
---
And very gently...
---
I brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead.
---
Then kissed the top of his head.
๐ฅบ๐ค
---
"My dramatic baby."
๐ญ๐๐
---
Author's POV
Across the room...
---
Jare whispered:
---
"He's never beating the clingy allegations."
๐
---
Noah nodded immediately.
---
"Never."
๐ญ๐คฃ๐ซถ๐ป
---
And honestly?
---
Nobody expected him to.
๐ฅน๐คโจ๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป๐
โฆ CHAPTER โ "Half Asleep, Fully Honest" โฆ
Jay's POV
It was late.
---
Too late.
---
The kind of late where everything feels soft and blurry.
๐ฅบ๐
---
The villa was quiet.
---
Finally.
---
Alina was asleep between us on the bed.
---
Curled up like a tiny starfish.
๐
---
And Keifer?
---
Was still awake.
---
Barely.
๐
---
His arm was around my waist.
---
My head rested on his chest.
---
His heartbeat slow and steady under my ear.
๐ฅน๐ซถ๐ป
---
I thought he was asleep.
---
Until he spoke.
---
Very quietly.
---
"Jayโฆ"
---
"Hm?"
---
Silence.
---
I lifted my head slightly.
---
"Keifer?"
---
He blinked slowly.
---
Like even his thoughts were tired.
๐
---
"I was thinking."
---
"That's dangerous."
---
A tiny huff of laughter escaped him.
---
But it faded quickly.
---
"I like it like this."
---
I frowned slightly.
---
"Like what?"
---
"Normal."
---
My chest softened.
๐ฅบ
---
He tightened his hold around me slightly.
---
"Justโฆ you. Me. Her."
---
A pause.
---
Then quieter:
---
"I keep thinking it won't stay like this."
๐
---
I looked up at him properly now.
---
"Why are you thinking like that?"
---
He didn't answer immediately.
---
Just stared at the ceiling.
---
Then:
---
"Because good things don't stay forever."
---
Silence.
---
The words hit too softly.
---
Too deeply.
๐ฅบ๐ซ
---
I shifted closer.
---
"You're overthinking again."
---
"Maybe."
---
I reached up, gently brushing his hair back.
---
"Then stop."
---
He finally looked at me.
---
Tired eyes.
Soft voice.
---
"I'll try."
---
Thenโ
---
From between usโ
---
A tiny voice:
---
"Mama."
๐๐
---
We froze.
---
Keifer immediately went silent.
---
I blinked.
---
"Yes, baby?"
---
Alina didn't even open her eyes.
---
"Water."
---
That's it.
---
Then she rolled over.
---
Back asleep.
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Keifer stared at her.
---
Then at me.
---
"โฆshe has timing."
---
I covered my face, laughing quietly.
---
"She really does."
---
He sighed dramatically.
---
And pulled me closer again.
---
Like nothing emotional had just happened.
๐
---
Keifer's POV
I was trying to stay awake.
---
Trying to remember what I said.
---
But Jay was warm.
---
Alina was warm.
---
Everything was warm.
---
Safe.
๐ฅบ๐ซ
---
I buried my face slightly into Jay's hair.
---
"Jay?"
---
"Yeah?"
---
A pause.
---
Then very softly:
---
"I don't want to lose this."
๐
---
She didn't answer immediately.
---
Just turned slightly in my arms.
---
And held me tighter.
---
"I know."
---
Then quieter:
---
"You won't."
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
---
My eyes closed before I could reply.
---
And for the first time in a long timeโฆ
---
That felt believable.
---
Author's POV
The room fell silent again.
---
Peaceful.
---
Soft breathing.
---
Warmth everywhere.
๐๐
---
Untilโ
---
"Mama."
๐
---
Jay opened one eye.
---
"Yes, Alina?"
---
"โฆsnack."
๐ญ๐คฃ
---
Keifer didn't even move.
---
Just whispered into Jay's shoulder:
---
"I give up."
๐๐ซถ๐ป
---
And Jay laughed quietly in the darkโฆ
---
While holding both of them a little closer.๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป๐