Isha

It is not every day that I am blessed with the privilege of having a fabulous sleep. A sleep that will make you want to never get up from this heavenly furniture known as bed. A sleep that feels like home. With a content smile, I turn to my side to hug the side-pillow. My pillow makes a gasp sound. That's funny, pillows don't talk.

What's even funnier? I never had a side pillow.

My eyes shoot open. And when it does, I wish heavily for a tsunami to come and sweep me away right now. Settling down in Pluto doesn't seem like a bad idea either.

An amused lazy grin, and familiar pair of blue eyes greet my shocked stature. I pat his cheeks softly to test if he is real or if I have officially gone crazy to imagine him early in the morning. It is even more insane to find myself on my bed, wrapped in his arms, under the same comforter, when I had freaking slept on the couch.

What happened last night even. And why do I not remember anything.

"Isha." Damn that morning voice. Why is it so sexy?

Your Isha has lost all senses of speaking, unfortunately. It is not every day that you find yourself attached together like a real couple in a cuddling position, with the first prince of Syncitia. Especially, when he appears not even a bit offended at my face practically being pressed to his chest.

My eyes widen when I realise something. Two most horrible things to be exact. Without any words, I scamper away from the bed and inside the bathroom, locking myself in there.

My eye-crusts. My morning breath.

Oh fucking great.

"Isha, is everything alright?" comes Calix's groggy, confused, eargasmic (gosh, why am I getting freaky in the morning) voice full of heart-warming concern. The poor guy probably thinks I am having another embarrassing, mental breakdown, like that evening which I call now 'Menstruation Catastrophe.'

"Yes!" I clear my throat at the unnecessary squeak, "Yes, I am as fine as a mule." Wasn't it as stubborn as a mule?

"Well alright, take your time in there."

"Thanks! I will take my time in washing up well, brushing my teeth, peeing, pooping—" at the sound of the amused snort from the other side of the bathroom door, I eventually deduce the fact that I have started rambling.

"I am going to use the living room bathroom then. Take your time pooping. Morning poops are relaxing and refreshing."

A strangled scream full of frustration, mortification, and God knows what, after I hear the clicking sound of my bedroom door closing, erupts from my throat. I want to asphyxiate that Prince High Horse as much as I want to asphyxiate myself. He pulled my leg but I created the opportunity for him to pull my leg, anyway.

Fortunately it is Saturday, meaning no school, and no me over-thinking about the humiliation of morning for the entire day, and possibly getting into another accident. After going through a refreshing bath (and scrubbing my entire body using the jasmine-scented soap, even waxing my body hairs well, while my screams echoed inside the bathroom), my mind boggled up thinking what I should wear. And then I thought, why should I even be concerned over what I should wear? And then settled in the realisation of a certain prince, who is in my house. Once again I wondered, why should I bother about dressing up for him? And before I could act as a mediator in between the battle of my own two minds, I settled on a shirt, jeans, and white overcoat (complimented by a silver butterfly chain around my neck and matching butterfly earrings).

I look like I am going on a fucking Christmas date. Great.

My frown deepens as I eye my reflection in the mirror. I scrubbed my body using that expensive, jasmine-scented soap I had reserved for special occasions, waxed my body hair, and even freaked out while deciding on what clothes to wear. It is not like I am expecting something, now am I?

And then another harrowing realisation comes to me. I waxed my body. My body that remains covered during winter in winter clothes, obviously. It is not like I am hoping to have sex with Calix.

My jaw hangs open, my eyes widen, and I clasp a palm over my mouth. Of course you are, smartass. A taunting voice mocks me.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.

It is even worse than that day when I had received a massage and cuddling session from Calix, during my haunting periods. Because your mind was distracted by the period cramps, pervert. The voice taunts me again. Should I go to the police station and get my own self arrested for thinking such obscene thoughts about the first prince of Syncitia?

While I go through a mini mental breakdown, Calix's voice comes from outside the bedroom door, "Are you coming?"

It sounds erotic. No stop! It doesn't. Not at all. What is happening to me? I am breaking down.

I do not bother to reply as I am pretty sure my stupid mind will go south. And thus, head out to the dining table like a robot. Calix and I both stop in our tracks, staring at one another.

Calix was in this casual loungewear I don't know from where he has acquired (probably the spare fresh clothes of my ex-roommate's fiancé which are still sitting in the cupboard of her previous room). That was not even the awe-striking part. He looked so domestic. And the loungewear was Christmas themed!

To add to my reverential delusions, Calix is standing with a frying pan which has poached eggs and bacons and it seems like he was on the verge of serving it on plates. Then my gaze moves to the full-course breakfast meal on the table. Calix has cooked for us. For me.

Calix can cook.

I don't see Prince Calix in front of me. Where is that suited, sophisticated prince and why am I in the presence of a homely man, who is extremely handsome in that morning glory, and a good cook, like a cherry on the top? Hear that sound. That's my heartbeat, beating at an inhumane speed, denying all senses of cardiovascular science.

"Are you going somewhere? You don't have school on Saturday, do you?" Calix raises an eyebrow while eyeing my overly done attire.

I look like I am going on a date.

Laughing awkwardly, I take a seat at the dining table, while trying to find a logical excuse. "I thought we were going on a date—"

Isha fucking Sen. I have gone berserk. Totally. There's no turning back.

Before I can take back what I have said or turn the direction of the conversation to another path, an amused grin is already ornamenting on those velvety (I need to stop. I need to freaking get a hobby) lips. Calix doesn't say anything except for silently placing the poached egg on top of a bread slice, from the frying pan. I sit there still and focus my stance on the breakfast dishes in front of me, with a frigid, extremely fiddly demeanour. The amused glances at me once in a while, doesn't go unnoticed by me.

Calix sits down opposite to me, and says with that gorgeous smile on his face, "I hope you don't mind that I went snooping around in your kitchen to make us breakfast."

Not at all. That's so romantic—stop. For God's sake, Isha Sen, come back to Earth. I clear my throat, forcing a grateful smile on my lips, "Of course not. I am just surprised to see you can cook."

Calix raises an eyebrow, "Why? A prince cannot cook, can he now?"

A flustered blush covers my cheeks. Damn my stupid mouth. "No, I did not mean to appear as judgemental."

"I am just messing around with you," Calix chuckles deeply, taking a sip of the coriander chicken soup he has prepared, "Anyway..." Calix hesitates to speak, "I apologize for barging into your apartment unannounced, last night. It was rude of me. And also, for..." he visibly reddens, "For the things I have said and done."

"It's alright," I squeak as memories of last night flood my brain too. But before that, a particular question bothers me. "How was I in the bed, with you, this morning? I clearly remember falling asleep on the couch."

I wait patiently but in anticipation, waiting for Calix to speak. He is nervous. It is clear from his face. Did we do that? No, clearly not when I don't remember anything.

Calix must have had sensed my thoughts as he immediately shakes his head with a reassuring smile, "We did not. Don't worry. It's just..." He sheepishly grins which I didn't even know the stoic prince could do, "I woke up in the middle of the night. Found you sleeping out in the cold and thought of bringing you to the bed. I guess I hadn't fully gotten over my intoxication. Before I could take your place on the couch, I had already fallen asleep."

"I see." I gulp the lump in my throat. "And how many shots did you have?"

"Three. It was my first time taking a hard drink. I think that's why I got so heavily drunk with just three shots."

"Understandable. And would you like to tell me the reason why you had to break your oath of never touching alcohol in your entire life?" I sneak a glance at him, trying to understand if he is willing to share his deep miseries with me, or if I have overstepped the lines.

Calix doesn't answer for some good two minutes. As I was on the verge of apologizing for perhaps offending him, he opens his mouth.

"Queen Veronica was poisoned, you know that right?"

I nod my head, waiting for him to slowly open up.

Calix sighs, massaging his temples as wrinkles of stress form on his forehead. "This past week, it feels as if my life has turned upside down. The queen was saved before her conditions could deteriorate but the blame, was put on me."

"And why is that?" A frown appears on my face as a sense of defending the innocent prince in front of me rushes through, "Do I need to be present anywhere as an eyewitness to prove your innocence because I am ready—"

Calix chuckles softly, his blue eyes gazing into mine. "Thank you but that will not be necessary. The situations have been taken care of now. But well, as I was saying, I received the blame because the maid, who was assigned to serve Queen Veronica her evening tea, was hired by me. I should've been more observant during the interview," Calix rubs his eyes groaning, "Why did I not notice she was suspicious, before?"

"Has the maid been caught?"

Calix shakes his head in denial. "Before we got there, she had already escaped. We are trying to track her location down but still no news. As if she has just vanished into thin air."

That's odd. And terrifying. Whoever the assailants are, they are cunning. If Queen Veronica could be poisoned then there's no guarantee, no other member of the royal family will be poisoned.

A dreadful terror crosses me. What if the poisoning of Queen Veronica was just a warning. What if they are planning something big? Something even more evil?

What if they hurt Calix?

A soft palm slides across the table, touching my clenching fist gently. Calix's comforting voice flows in. "Nothing will happen to me. Do not worry, Isha."

Here I am supposed to comfort the distressed prince but he is comforting me, instead. Something wholesome fills my heart when I lock my gaze with his. How can someone be so, amazing?

"Our bet," before I know what I am doing, I speak up, "We had agreed on four dates. Two arranged by you, two by me. Although the two dates from my side are over, I want a redo of our first, miserable date."

Calix stares at me at the sudden rise of topic before nodding.

"24th December, are you free?"

"Well I don't usually have anything on my schedule before Christmas, so yes."

I grin. "Let me take you on a thrilling date on 24th December."

"Another haunted house tour and séance?" Calix seems to shudder at the thought. I chuckle because now I know how much frightened the prince is of supernatural beings.

I chuckle. "No. Something much more fun and entertaining than that—"

My phone suddenly rings, making me halt my speech in the middle. I look at the screen and frown seeing the Caller ID. Why would my father call right now? It is currently 8 a.m. in Syncitia, meaning back in India, it should be 3 a.m.

I pick up the call wondering if an emergency has arrived. "Hello Baba, is everything alright?"

My father's excited voice comes through the phone, followed by a couple other voices. "Guess where we are?"

"Where?"

"In front of your apartment! Surprise! Your mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Aria and Anvi too. We are all here! Open up the door now."

The line cuts off and the commotion outside my apartment door seems to be more audible now.

Calix looks at me with a questioning gaze.

"My family's here. Outside my apartment."

And I watch Calix mirroring the same, horror-stricken expression, with a whisper yell of "What".

I can only nod my head.

Oh fuck.