Ceo Couple-Jayfer-Chapter 21 - 20: The Scare

Three weeks later. Wednesday morning.

Keifer woke up feeling off.

His head pounded. His body ached. His throat burned.

He ignored it. Got dressed. Went to work.

By 10am, Honey knew something was wrong.

He was pale. Sweating. Coughing into his elbow.

"Sir? Are you okay?"

"Fine."

"You don’t look fine."

"I said I’m fine."

He stood up. Too fast.

The room spun. His legs gave out.

Honey screamed.

Jay was in a meeting when her phone rang.

Percy. Again. She ignored it.

He called again. Again.

She finally picked up. "WHAT?"

"Jay. It’s Keifer." Percy’s voice was shaking. "He collapsed. They’re taking him to the hospital."

Jay’s world stopped.

"What?"

"Ambulance just left. Honey called. It’s bad, Jay. You need to come."

Jay didn’t remember hanging up. Didn’t remember leaving. Didn’t remember driving.

She just remembers running into the emergency room.

Honey was there. Crying.

"Where is he?" Jay grabbed her. "WHERE IS HE?"

"Room 304. They’re running tests. His fever is 104. They think it’s pneumonia. Bad case."

Jay ran.

She burst into the room.

Keifer lay in the hospital bed. Pale. Tubes in his arms. Machines beeping. Eyes closed.

His parents were there. Keizer pacing. Serina sitting, holding his hand, tears streaming.

Keizer looked at Jay. "Baby..."

Jay didn’t hear him.

She walked to the bed. Took Keifer’s other hand.

It was hot. Too hot.

"Keifer," she whispered. "Keifer, it’s me. It’s Jay. Open your eyes."

Nothing.

"KEIFER."

His eyelids fluttered. Opened. Just a little.

"Jay?" His voice was wrecked. Barely a whisper.

"I’m here, baby. I’m here."

"Sorry," he breathed. "Scared you."

"Shut up." She was crying now. "Don’t apologize. Just get better."

He tried to smile. Failed. Eyes closed again.

The doctor came in. Explained.

Severe pneumonia. Both lungs. He’d been sick for days and ignored it.

"If he’d come in sooner..." The doctor shook his head. "We’re doing everything we can. But it’s serious."

Jay’s knees gave out. Keizer caught her.

"Easy, baby. Easy."

She looked at Keifer. Pale. Still. Machines beeping.

Her whole world in that bed.

The waiting room filled quickly.

Both families. Everyone.

Jasfer held Mama Reycee. Aries had his arm around Ella. Percy gripped Honey’s hand. Keigan sat frozen. Keiren on Serina’s lap, confused why everyone was sad.

Keizer paced. "He’s strong. He’s so strong. He’ll be fine."

Serina was quiet. Just held Keiren. Prayed.

Jay sat alone. Staring at the floor.

Percy sat beside her. "Jay..."

"He ignored it." Her voice was hollow. "He was sick and he ignored it and now he’s—" She stopped. Couldn’t say it.

"He’ll be okay."

"You don’t know that."

Percy had nothing to say.

Hours passed.

The doctor came out.

Everyone stood.

"He’s stable. The antibiotics are working. But he’s not out of danger yet. We’ll know more in 24 hours."

Jay exhaled. Just a little.

"Can I see him?" she asked.

"Family only for now."

"I’m his family." Her voice was steel. "I’m his future wife. I’m not leaving."

The doctor looked at her. Nodded.

"Five minutes."

Jay walked in alone.

Keifer looked worse. If that was possible.

She sat beside him. Took his hand.

"Hey," she whispered. "It’s me again."

No response.

"You need to wake up, Keifer. You need to fight. Because I can’t do this without you. I can’t."

Tears fell on their joined hands.

"You’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met. You’re cold and quiet and you never say what you feel. But you’re mine. And I’m yours. And you promised me forever. So you don’t get to leave. Not now. Not ever."

She pressed her forehead to his hand.

"I love you, Keifer Watson. So fight. Please."

A squeeze.

Barely there. But real.

Her head shot up.

His eyes were open. Just slits. But open.

"Jay," he breathed.

"I’m here. I’m here, baby."

"Love you."

"I love you too. Now shut up and rest."

He almost-smiled. "Bossy."

"Always." She kissed his forehead. "Always."

The next 24 hours were hell.

Jay didn’t leave. Didn’t eat. Didn’t sleep.

Families brought food. She ignored it.

They begged her to rest. She refused.

"Until he’s awake. Really awake. I’m not moving."

Keizer tried. Jasfer tried. Serina tried.

No one could move her.

She sat by his bed. Held his hand. Talked to him.

Told him stories. About their first meeting. About the fight in the conference room. About the rooftop dinner. About everything.

"Remember when you called my proposal bad? You were wrong, by the way. My numbers were fine. You’re just picky."

Nothing.

"You owe me a date when you wake up. A good one. With less hospital."

Nothing.

"If you die, I’ll kill you. I swear."

His fingers twitched.

She grabbed his hand. "Keifer?"

His eyes opened. Slow. Confused.

"Jay?"

She sobbed. Full ugly cry.

"You’re awake. You’re awake oh my god."

He blinked. Looked around. "Hospital?"

"Pneumonia. You almost died, you idiot."

"Sorry."

"Shut up." She was laughing and crying. "Just shut up."

He tried to smile. "Make me."

She kissed him. Gentle. Careful. So much love.

When she pulled back, he was looking at her. Really looking.

"You stayed," he whispered.

"Of course I stayed."

"Whole time?"

"Whole time."

His eyes got wet. Keifer Watson. Crying.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too. Now rest. Doctor’s orders."

"Your orders?"

"My orders."

He almost-smiled. Closed his eyes.

But he didn’t let go of her hand.

The families rushed in when they heard.

Keizer was crying. Serina was crying. Everyone was crying.

Keifer opened his eyes. Looked at all of them.

"Too loud," he croaked.

Everyone laughed. Cried harder.

Keiren climbed on the bed. Careful. "Kuya! You scared me!"

"Sorry, little man."

"Don’t do it again."

"Promise."

Jay watched. Heart full.

Her family. All of them.

Two weeks later, Keifer was home.

Weak. Tired. But alive.

Jay barely left his side.

She brought him food. Made him rest. Yelled at him when he tried to work.

"You’re supposed to be recovering."

"I’m fine."

"You were in the HOSPITAL."

"Minor detail."

She threw a pillow at him. He caught it. Weakly.

"Stay," she said. "Rest. Let me take care of you."

He looked at her. Soft.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"For you. Okay."

She smiled. Kissed him.

"Good. Now eat your soup."

He ate.

That night, both families gathered at the Watson house.

Dinner. Laughter. Chaos.

Keifer sat on the couch. Jay beside him. His head on her shoulder.

"Tired?" she asked.

"Mm."

"Sleep. I’ll be here."

"Always?"

"Always."

He closed his eyes.

The families watched. Quiet for once.

Keizer whispered, "He’s going to marry that girl."

Jasfer nodded. "Soon, I hope."

Mama Reycee wiped her eyes. "She never left him. Not once."

Serina smiled. "That’s love."

Keiren whispered loudly, "Kuya’s girlfriend is a hero!"

Jay laughed quietly. "Thanks, kid."

Keifer murmured in his sleep. "Love you, Jay."

She kissed his hair. "Love you too, baby."

Forever.