Two weeks after the diary. Saturday morning.
Jay’s phone rang at 8am. She groaned. Reached for it.
Keifer stirred beside her. "Who’s calling?"
She looked at the screen. "Mama Reycee. At 8am on a SATURDAY."
She answered. "Mama. It’s early."
"GET UP. BOTH OF YOU. WE HAVE PLANS."
Jay sat up. "What plans?"
"FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT. Professional. Everyone. Watson-Mariano. Together. TODAY."
Jay stared at the phone. "Today? You didn’t tell us."
"I’m telling you NOW. One hour. Watson house. BE READY."
She hung up.
Jay looked at Keifer. "Family photoshoot. Today. One hour."
He closed his eyes. "I’m going back to sleep."
She threw a pillow at him. "GET UP."
One hour later. Watson house.
Chaos.
Absolute chaos.
Keizer was already dressed. Too loud. Too excited. "FAMILY PHOTOS! THIS IS THE BEST DAY!"
Serina was calm. Helping everyone. Fixing collars. Smoothing hair.
Jasfer paced. "Do I look okay? Is this tie right?"
Mama Reycee fussed over everyone. "Keiren, sit STILL."
Aries stood in the corner. Arms crossed. "I don’t do photos."
Ella fixed his collar. "You do TODAY."
Percy posed in the mirror. "I look good. I always look good."
Honey laughed. "Humble."
"Never."
Keigan had his own cara. "I’m docunting the behind the scenes. Archives."
Keiren ran around with a toy. "I’M READY! TAKE MY PICTURE!"
Then Jay and Keifer walked in.
Jay in a soft cream dress. Hair perfect. Makeup natural but stunning.
Keifer in a light suit. No tie. Handso. Relaxed.
Everyone stopped.
Keizer whistled. "LOOK AT YOU TWO."
Jasfer nodded. "My babies."
Mama Reycee grabbed Serina’s arm. "They’re going to steal the show."
Serina smiled. "They always do."
Keifer looked at Jay. "Ready for this?"
"No. But let’s do it anyway."
He almost-smiled. Took her hand. "Together."
"Always."
The photographer arrived. A professional. Nad Marco. He took one look at the chaos and sighed.
"Large group first. Everyone together."
Getting everyone positioned was IMPOSSIBLE.
Keizer wanted to be in the middle. Jasfer also wanted the middle. They argued.
Aries refused to smile. "I’m smiling on the inside."
Percy kept posing. "Get my good side."
Keigan wanted to hold his cara. "I should be IN the photos."
Honey pulled him into place. "You WILL be."
Keiren kept running away. "I WANT TO BE WITH KUYA!"
Serina chased him. Mama Reycee chased Serina.
Jay watched. Laughed.
Keifer stood beside her. "This is insane."
"Always is."
"You love it."
"So do you."
He didn’t deny it.
Finally. Everyone in place.
Marco counted. "Three... two... one..."
CLICK.
"One more. Everyone smile."
CLICK.
"Okay, now smaller groups."
First: The parents.
Keizer and Serina. Jasfer and Mama Reycee. Together.
Keizer put his arm around Serina. Genuine smile.
Jasfer held Mama Reycee close. Real love.
Marco snapped away. "Beautiful. Perfect."
Second: The brothers.
Aries, Percy, Keigan. And Keiren.
Aries crossed his arms. Tried to look tough.
Percy grinned. Posed.
Keigan held his cara anyway.
Keiren sat on Aries’ shoulders. "I’M THE KING!"
Aries sighed. But smiled. Just a little.
Marco laughed. "Perfect. Hold that."
Third: The sisters-in-law.
Ella and Honey. New friends. Close now.
Ella laughed at sothing Honey said.
Honey smiled bright. Genuine.
Marco captured it. "Lovely."
Finally: Jay and Keifer.
Marco’s eyes lit up. "Just you two. Alone."
Jay looked at Keifer. "Just us?"
He took her hand. "Just us."
They stood together. Natural. Easy.
CLICK.
"Now look at each other."
They turned. Faced each other.
Jay looked up. Keifer looked down.
Soft. Real. Love.
CLICK.
"Now kiss. Soft."
He leaned in. Kissed her forehead.
CLICK.
She smiled. Kissed his cheek.
CLICK.
He pulled her close. She laughed.
CLICK.
Marco lowered his cara. "Perfect. You two are... perfect."
Jay blushed. Keifer’s ears went red.
The families watched from the side. Sobbing. Recording. Cheering quietly.
After the shoot. Everyone gathered inside.
Marco showed previews on his laptop.
Gasps everywhere.
"LOOK AT US!"
"WE LOOK SO GOOD!"
"KEIREN ACTUALLY SMILED!"
Then Jay and Keifer’s photos appeared.
Them looking at each other. Soft. In love. Real.
Silence.
Keizer whispered, "That’s... that’s museum quality."
Jasfer nodded. "Fra it. Now."
Mama Reycee wiped her eyes. "Look at them."
Serina smiled. "My baby. So in love."
Aries cleared his throat. "Okay. That’s... that’s actually beautiful."
Ella hugged him. "You’re crying again."
"Allergies."
"IN SPRING?"
"SEASONAL."
Keiren pointed at the screen. "Kuya and Kuya’s girlfriend are PRETTY."
Percy grabbed Honey. "We need photos like that soday."
Honey kissed his cheek. "Soday."
Keigan fild the laptop screen. "Archives. Main folder."
Later that night. Jay and Keifer at ho.
Curled on the couch. Looking at the photos on Jay’s phone.
"This one," Jay said. "Where you’re kissing my forehead."
"Perfect."
"This one. Where we’re laughing."
"Also perfect."
"This one. Where your ears are red."
Keifer paused. "My ears are not red in that."
"Totally red."
"Liar."
"Shut up."
"Make ."
She kissed him. Long. Sweet.
When they pulled apart, she was smiling.
"I love you, Keifer Watson."
"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."
"Our kids are gonna hate family photos."
"Probably."
"Too bad."
"Definitely too bad."
They kissed again.
Perfect.
Group Chat Later:
Keizer:I’M ORDERING PRINTS OF EVERY PHOTO.
Jasfer: TOO.
Mama Reycee:The Jayfer ones are going in a FRA.
Serina:Multiple fras.
Percy:I want one for my desk.
Honey:You don’t have a desk.
Percy:I’ll get one.
Aries:The photos are fine.
Ella:He already made one his wallpaper.
Aries:...Shut up.
Keigan:I have behind the scenes footage. Posting soon.
Keiren (via Serina):I’M FAMOUS NOW.
Jay:You’re always famous, kid.
Keiren:I KNOW.
Keifer:Goodnight everyone.
Keizer:GOODNIGHT SON.
Jasfer:GOODNIGHT FUTURE SON-IN-LAW.
Mama Reycee:GOODNIGHT BABIES.
Serina:Sleep well.
Jay:This family is insane.
Keifer:Our family.
Jay:Yeah. Our family.
Perfect.
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