Ceo Couple-Jayfer-Chapter 27 - 26: The Lost Boy

Saturday afternoon. Grandview Mall.

Both families. All of them. Shopping for Keiren’s birthday.

Yes, his birthday was still three weeks away. But Keizer couldn’t wait. "WE NEED TO PLAN EARLY!"

So here they were. Chaos in motion.

Keizer power-walked toward electronics. Jasfer followed, arguing about something. Serina and Mama Reycee browsed baby clothes "just for fun." Aries and Ella held hands, looking at phones. Percy and Honey were at the food court, "taking a break" (aka making out). Keigan filmed everything for his "archives."

Jay and Keifer walked together. Her hand in his. Comfortable.

Keiren ran ahead. As always.

"Keiren, slow down!" Serina called.

"I’M EXPLORING!"

"Stay where we can see you!"

"I WILL!"

Famous last words.

Ten minutes later. Jay and Keifer were looking at shoes when Serina’s voice cut through.

"Where’s Keiren?"

Everyone stopped.

Serina looked around. "He was right there. He was JUST there."

Keizer ran over. "What do you mean where’s Keiren?"

"He was here. By the toy store. I turned for ONE SECOND—"

Jasfer grabbed Mama Reycee. "We need to split up. Now."

Panic spread like wildfire.

Aries pulled out his phone. "I’ll check the food court."

Ella ran toward the center. "I’ll look by the fountain."

Percy and Honey rushed over. "What’s wrong?"

"KEIREN IS LOST."

Percy’s face went white. "WHAT?"

Keigan started recording but his hands were shaking. "I’ll... I’ll check the upper level."

Everyone scattered. Yelling his name. Running.

Chaos.

Jay grabbed Keifer’s arm. "Stop."

He looked at her. Wild. Worried.

"Stop," she said again. Calm. Firm. "Panicking won’t help. We need a plan."

Keifer blinked. Breathed.

"You’re right." He pulled out his phone. "I’ll call mall security. You—"

"Text everyone. Group chat. Last known location. Description of what he’s wearing. Photo."

He nodded. Already typing.

Jay’s voice was steady. "I’ll go back to the toy store. He loves toys. He probably went back there."

"I’ll check the other direction. Meet back here in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes." She squeezed his hand. "We’ll find him."

He looked at her. So calm. So strong.

"I know," he said.

They ran.

The families watched them go.

Jasfer stopped mid-panic. Stared.

"Did you see that?" he whispered.

Mama Reycee nodded. "She took charge. He listened. They had a PLAN."

Serina wiped her eyes. "They didn’t panic. They just... worked."

Aries slowed down. Looked at Ella. "They’re like... a team. A real team."

Ella grabbed his arm. "Look at them."

Across the mall, Jay was at the toy store. Asking employees. Showing Keiren’s photo.

Keifer was on the phone with security. Calm. Direct. Giving details.

They were apart. But connected. Same goal. Same focus.

Keizer stopped running. Stared at his son.

"Keifer’s never been that calm in his LIFE," he said. "She grounds him."

Jasfer nodded. "And she’s never been that organized. He focuses her."

Percy grabbed Honey. "They’re like... parents."

Honey’s eyes went wide. "They ARE."

Keigan lowered his phone. For once, not recording. Just watching.

"They’ve got this," he said quietly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Five minutes later. Jay’s phone buzzed.

Keifer: Security found him. Kids’ play area. Near the escalators. Coming now.

Jay ran.

She got there first.

Keiren sat on a bench. A security guard beside him. Sucking his thumb. Eyes wet.

"KEIREN!"

She dropped to her knees. Grabbed him. Hugged tight.

He hugged back. "Kuya’s girlfriend! I got lost."

"I know, baby. I know. You’re okay now."

"I was scared."

"I know." She pulled back. Looked at him. "But you’re safe. We found you."

"I want my mommy."

"She’s coming. Everyone’s coming." She wiped his tears. "You’re so brave, you know that?"

"I am?"

"The bravest. But next time? Stay close, okay?"

"Okay." He sniffled. "Kuya’s girlfriend?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we get ice cream?"

She laughed. Relief flooding through her. "Absolutely."

Keifer arrived seconds later. Out of breath.

He saw them. Jay on her knees. Keiren in her arms. Both okay.

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath forever.

Walked over. Knelt beside them.

"Keiren."

"KUYA!" Keiren launched into his arms.

Keifer held him tight. Eyes closed. "You scared us, little man."

"Sorry, Kuya."

"It’s okay. You’re okay."

Keiren pulled back. Looked at them both. Jay and Keifer. Together.

"Kuya’s girlfriend found me," he said.

"She did?"

"Yeah. She was super brave."

Keifer looked at Jay. Soft. So soft.

"She’s always brave," he said.

Jay’s eyes got wet. "Stop."

"Never."

The families arrived. All at once.

Serina grabbed Keiren. Crying. Hugging. "MY BABY. MY BABY."

Keizer wrapped his arms around all of them. "DON’T EVER DO THAT AGAIN."

Jasfer hugged Jay. "You found him."

"We found him," Jay corrected. "Keifer called security. I checked the toy store. Teamwork."

Mama Reycee was sobbing. "You two. You two were so calm."

Aries nodded. Serious. "I’ve never seen anyone handle a crisis like that."

Ella hugged Jay. "You were amazing."

Percy grabbed Keifer. "Dude. You were on the phone with security like a BOSS."

Keigan finally started recording again. "This is going in the archives. The hero episode."

Keiren, still in Serina’s arms, perked up. "Kuya’s girlfriend promised me ice cream."

Everyone laughed. Relief. Joy. Love.

Jay looked at Keifer. "I did promise."

He almost-smiled. "Then ice cream it is."

They went to the food court. All of them. Ice cream for everyone.

Keiren sat between Jay and Keifer. Happily eating his cone. Like nothing happened.

Serina watched them. Then looked at Keizer.

"Did you see them?" she whispered. "When Keiren was lost?"

Keizer nodded. Serious for once. "They were... together. Focused. Calm."

"They didn’t fall apart. They held it together."

Keizer grabbed her hand. "They’re ready."

"For what?"

"For anything. For everything." He looked at his son. At Jay. "For kids of their own someday."

Serina’s eyes filled. "Yeah. They are."

Jasfer leaned to Mama Reycee. "Our baby girl. Taking charge like that."

Mama Reycee nodded. "She’s grown so much."

"Because of him."

"Because of them."

Aries watched Jay laugh at something Keiren said. "She’s gonna be a good mom."

Ella smiled. "The best."

Percy had his arm around Honey. "That could be us someday."

Honey raised an eyebrow. "Finding a lost kid?"

"No. Being a team. Handling things together."

She kissed his cheek. "Someday."

At the table, Keiren finished his ice cream. Sticky face. Happy.

"Kuya’s girlfriend?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Thanks for finding me."

She kissed his sticky forehead. "Anytime, kid."

"Kuya?"

Keifer looked at him. "Yeah?"

"You were brave too. On the phone."

Keifer almost-smiled. "Thanks, little man."

Keiren nodded seriously. "You guys are good together."

Jay and Keifer looked at each other.

"We know," they said together.

Keiren giggled. "SAME WORDS!"

Later that night. Watson house. Everyone gathered.

Keiren was asleep on the couch. Exhausted from his adventure.

The adults sat around. Quiet for once.

Keizer broke the silence. "I want to say something."

Everyone looked.

"Today was scary. Really scary. But watching Jay and Keifer handle it?" He choked up. "I’ve never been more proud of my son. And my future daughter-in-law."

Jasfer nodded. "Same. You two... you were amazing."

Mama Reycee wiped her eyes. "You worked together like you’ve been doing it for years."

Serina smiled. "Like parents."

The word hung in the air.

Jay’s face went red. Keifer’s ears went red.

Aries pointed at them. "You’d be good parents. Don’t deny it."

Ella nodded. "We all saw it."

Percy grinned. "The Jayfer parenting era is coming."

Keigan held up his phone. "And I’ll document EVERYTHING."

Jay hid her face in Keifer’s shoulder.

He kissed her hair. "They’re not wrong."

She looked up. "You think?"

"I know." He pulled her closer. "Someday."

"Someday."

"Not yet."

"No. But someday."

"Good."

"Good."

Later, just them. On the porch.

"Today was intense," Jay said.

"Yeah."

"But we handled it."

"We did."

She leaned into him. "You were really calm."

"You were really organized."

"Teamwork."

"Always."

She looked up at him. "Hey."

"Mm?"

"I think we’d be okay. With kids. Someday."

He almost-smiled. "I think so too."

"Our kids are gonna be so chaotic."

"So chaotic."

"And so loved."

"So loved."

"And Keiren will be the best cousin."

"The best."

She kissed him. Soft. Sweet.

"I love you, Keifer Watson."

"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."

"Our family’s crazy."

"The craziest."

"Perfect."

"Perfect."

They watched the stars.

Ready for anything. Together.