Ceo Couple-Jayfer-Chapter 23 - 22: The First Real Fight

Three weeks after Keifer got out of the hospital. Watson house. Sunday dinner.

Everyone was there. Both families. Laughter. Chaos. Normal.

Jay sat next to Keifer at the table. But something was off.

She was quiet. Too quiet.

Keifer noticed. "You okay?"

"Fine."

"You sure?"

"Mmhm."

She didn’t look at him.

Keifer let it go. For now.

After dinner, Jay pulled him aside. Into the kitchen. Alone.

"We need to talk."

Keifer’s stomach dropped. "About what?"

"You." She crossed her arms. "You’ve been working. Nonstop. For three weeks."

"I’m fine."

"You were in the HOSPITAL, Keifer. Pneumonia. Both lungs. You almost DIED."

"I’m better now."

"You’re NOT better. You’re working fourteen-hour days. Skipping meals. Not sleeping. Honey told me."

His jaw tightened. "Honey talks too much."

"She’s worried. I’m worried. Everyone’s worried."

"I don’t need everyone worrying about me."

"Well, too bad. We DO worry. Because we LOVE you."

"Then trust me to know my own limits."

"Your limits are terrible! You ignored being sick until you COLLAPSED."

"That was different."

"How? HOW was it different?"

Keifer’s voice rose. "Because I’m not sick now! I’m fine! I’m working because I HAVE to!"

"You HAVE to? Or you WANT to?"

"Same thing."

"IT’S NOT THE SAME."

In the living room, everyone froze.

The yelling. From the kitchen.

Keizer whispered, "Are they... fighting?"

Serina nodded, worried. "Sounds like it."

Jasfer stood. "I should—"

Mama Reycee grabbed his arm. "No. Let them work it out."

Aries frowned. "If he makes her cry—"

Ella shushed him. "Listen."

They all listened.

Back in the kitchen:

Jay’s voice was shaking. "You promised me, Keifer. In the hospital. You promised you’d take care of yourself. For me. For us."

"I am taking care of myself."

"YOU’RE NOT. You’re working yourself to death again. And I’m supposed to just WATCH? Wait for you to collapse again?"

"That won’t happen."

"YOU DON’T KNOW THAT."

Keifer ran a hand through his hair. Frustrated. "What do you want from me, Jay?"

"I want you to REST. To let me help you. To stop being so STUBBORN."

"I’m not stubborn. I’m just—"

"You’re just what? A robot who doesn’t need anything?"

"I’m trying to PROVIDE for us. For our future."

"I don’t care about the future if you’re not IN it."

Silence.

Keifer’s voice dropped. Low. Tired. Broken.

"Do it even matter?"

Jay winced. Like he’d hit her.

"What?"

"Do it even matter? All this fighting. All this anger. When you’re the only one I love."

Jay’s eyes went wide.

Keifer kept going. Quiet. Raw. In front of the whole family listening.

"I work because I’m scared. Scared of not being enough. Scared of failing you. Scared that one day you’ll realize you deserve better and leave." He swallowed hard. "You’re the only good thing in my life, Jay. The only thing that matters. Everything else? Work. Company. Money. It’s nothing. YOU’RE everything."

Tears streamed down Jay’s face.

"Keifer..."

"So if me working scares you? I’ll stop. If you need me to rest? I’ll rest. If you need me to be different? I’ll try. Just..." His voice cracked. "Just don’t be angry at me. I can’t take you being angry at me."

Jay broke.

She crossed the kitchen in two steps. Threw her arms around him.

"I’m sorry," she sobbed. "I’m so sorry. I’m not angry. I’m scared. I’m scared of losing you."

He held her tight. "You won’t. Never."

"I love you. I love you so much it hurts."

"I love you too. More than anything."

They held each other. Crying. Breathing. Together.

In the living room, everyone was a MESS.

Keizer was full-on sobbing. "MY SON. MY SON SAID THAT."

Serina was crying quietly. "He’s never... he’s never opened up like that."

Jasfer had his arm around Mama Reycee. Both of them weeping.

Aries wiped his eyes. Pretended it was allergies. "Something in my eye."

Ella was crying openly. "That was the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard."

Percy had his face in Honey’s shoulder. "I can’t. I literally can’t."

Honey patted his back. Also crying. "Same."

Keigan had his phone out. Recording everything. But his hands were shaking. "This is... this is... I can’t even..."

Keiren tugged Serina’s sleeve. "Mommy, why is everyone crying?"

"Because love is beautiful, baby."

"Oh." He thought about it. Then: "Can I have cookies?"

Despite everything, everyone laughed.

In the kitchen, Jay pulled back. Looked at Keifer.

"I’m sorry I yelled."

"I’m sorry I made you scared."

"I just... I need you to take care of yourself. For me."

He nodded. "I will. I promise. Really this time."

"And if you need help, you ask. Me. Honey. Your family. Someone."

"I will."

"And no more fourteen-hour days."

"I’ll try."

"Keifer."

"That one might take time."

She sighed. But smiled. "Fine. Baby steps."

"Baby steps."

He kissed her forehead. Then her nose. Then her lips.

Soft. Sweet. Perfect.

When they pulled apart, she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too. You’re the only one."

"I know." She smiled. "I win."

He almost-smiled. "You always win."

"Good. Don’t forget it."

They walked back into the living room holding hands.

Everyone stared. Eyes red. Tissues everywhere.

Keizer stood up. Clapped slowly. Then everyone joined.

Standing ovation.

Jay’s face went red. "What is this?"

Percy wiped his eyes. "That was BETTER than TV."

Keigan nodded. "Best episode yet."

Aries pointed at Keifer. "If you ever talk like that again, I’ll cry. And I’ll hate you for it."

Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Noted."

Keiren ran up to them. "Kuya! Kuya’s girlfriend! Are you okay now?"

Jay knelt down. "Yeah, baby. We’re okay."

"Good. No more yelling. It’s scary."

She hugged him. "No more yelling. Promise."

Keifer knelt too. Looked at Keiren. "I’m sorry we scared you."

Keiren nodded seriously. "It’s okay. Just don’t do it again."

"Deal."

Keiren hugged them both. At the same time.

The families melted. Again.

Later that night, after everyone calmed down, Jay and Keifer sat on the back porch.

Alone. Finally.

"Today was intense," Jay said.

"Every day with you is intense."

"Is that bad?"

"No." He kissed her hair. "It’s everything."

She leaned into him.

"Hey," she said. "What you said in there. In front of everyone. Did you mean it?"

"Every word."

"You’re the only one I love too, you know."

"I know."

"Just checking."

He almost-smiled. "I love you, Jasper Jean."

"I love you, Keifer Watson."

"Our kids are gonna be so dramatic."

"So dramatic."

"Wonder where they’ll get it from."

He looked at her. "You."

She laughed. "Definitely you."

They kissed. Slow. Sweet. Home.

Inside, the families watched through the window.

Keizer sighed happily. "They’re fine."

Serina smiled. "They’re perfect."

Jasfer hugged Mama Reycee. "Our babies."

Mama Reycee nodded. "Always."

Percy whispered to Honey, "One day that’ll be us."

Honey smiled. "One day."

Aries shook his head. "This family is insane."

Ella kissed his cheek. "But you love it."

"...Yeah. I do."

Keiren was already asleep on the couch. Dreaming of cookies.

Keigan lowered his phone. Finally stopped recording.

"Archives are complete," he whispered. "Best day ever."

Outside, Jay and Keifer watched the stars.

Hand in hand.

Forever.