Isha

I barely received any sleep last night for obvious reasons. And to think that I am on my way to the Royal Palace for our second date, with a swollen face, is horrific. Concealer and foundation can only do wonders in partial amount.

Taking out the compact mirror, I check my reflection for the nth time.

To all the dates that I have been on, in past years, not once have I felt so worked up over my attire. Killian was a completely different case, considering how we had an unhealthy relationship, and he was prone to taunting me regarding everything and no matter what I did. Anyway, I shouldn't waste my time on that filthy asshole anymore.

I do think there are certain logical conclusions as to why I am so tensed over meeting Calix, even though this is just a date made out of a silly bet. Hence, the rational part of my brain says...

I am going on a date with a freaking royalty, regardless, of it having any meaning or not. That's a big deal.

Well, not as big as being in a fake relationship and having already experienced a miserable first date with the same royalty. I just hope things go smoothly tonight.

My nervous fingers fumble with the velvety, midnight blue cloth of my dress, the length of which is a little longer than my knees. For some reason, Calix texted me this morning saying it would be better if I could wear something similar to a gown. It does not have to too extravagant; just a simple, plain dress would suffice even.

I almost sent a sarcastic reply to Prince High Horse which consisted of these words, to be specific: Do you plan on appearing as 'not' boring by preparing a formal and elegant date, similar to our unofficial first date at the restaurant? But, my conscience told me it would be foolishly rude of me to make assumptions before reaching there and seeing everything by myself.

Although, I am ninety percent sure Calix's idea of an exciting date is far too different from mine. I can only wish to hopefully not doze off in the middle, if I have to sit straight, all elegant and formal, and have a lavishing dinner over a sophisticated chat, throughout the night.

The familiar ringtone of my phone blares through my ears. Terror clashes into me at the thought of the caller. It could possibly not be Killian, but there is no guarantee. I had been receiving hundreds of so-called apology messages from my ex, which forced me to block his number, and him on all social media accounts, likewise.

A breath of relief washes over me when I read the Caller ID. It is Aria.

"Yes Didi?"

I frown, not receiving any reply from the other side of the call. I speak a little louder, "Hello? Am I audible to you?"

Another moment of silence prevails. When I plan on disconnecting the call, thinking it's a technical issue, the shivering voice of my elder sister filled with excitement, comes out.

"Isha. I am pregnant."

"Oh congratulations...wait—WHAT?"

I am probably hearing things.

"I am pregnant. Yes, it is true." Aria tries to maintain a calm tone but it comes out shaky, anyway.

"Are—" I don't know what to say. What do you even say on the unexpected announcement of your big sister's pregnancy?

"Are you alright?" I ask, the initial shock fading and it being now replaced with overwhelming emotions.

I am going to be an aunt. Oh my God. Me. Isha Sen. An aunt. That's it. I have decided that I am going to be the best and coolest aunt, out there.

"I have another news." The thirty-year-old takes in a deep breath before dropping the final bomb. "Dakota proposed to me last night, when we were having our date. So yes, I am getting married. By the way, he was over the moon after I gave him the surprise of being pregnant. Honestly, ever since he has heard the news, I am being pampered way too much. I am just three weeks into pregnancy, but he is already carrying me whenever I have to go anywhere in the house, as if I am in labour."

What day is it today? Truth bomb dropping day?

But I am truly happy for my sister.

Aria and her boyfriend, Dakota (now fiancé), have been dating for seven years now. It wasn't easy in the beginning, since Dakota's parents were strongly against their relationship, due to them belonging from different ethnicities. But their son was already too in love with my sister to let her go. He had even left the house, and his parents' wealth simultaneously, to stay with Aria. But overtime, they began to accept them together and see past their cultural differences. Now, Dakota's parents treat Aria like their own daughter.

"Well, knowing Dakota, I doubt he will let you go to office even."

Aria sighs, "He tried to bribe me using my favourite chocolates but I won the argument, anyway."

I can't help but smile at their adorableness. "When's the wedding?"

"We are thinking of having it next year, during Autumn. You can even bring Prince Calix as your date. Being a royalty, I know he has his other important works to attend to, but he surely will listen to you, if you place the invitation to him."

"Of course." My throat dries up. Next year's Autumn is too far. I and Calix will already be living our own lives in the course of that time.

"Miss Sen." Broody, the man who has been escorting me from my home to Nirvana whenever need be, calls me. I look out of the tinted car window to realize that we are already in front of the front entrance of Nirvana's main building.

"Didi, I have to go now," I quickly say to my sister, who perhaps was talking something about how Dakota is learning how to cook healthy food for pregnant women and not letting Aria do any household chore, at all, "I'll call you back later."

Broody generously holds the door open, and moves aside to make way for me.

My gaze moves up to the building in front of me. Nirvana definitely looks far magical in the dark, with the lights lightning up and bringing out its majestic beauty under the moonlight. And I certainly do feel like a noble lady, as I walk up the steps in an elegant dress, my hair laid down, and beautiful strapped heels I never often wear, excluding occasional events, being worn by my feet.

Besides the royal guards guarding the entrance, I notice another male figure with tanned skin and in perfectly done black hair, and neat buttoned up suit, waiting for me above the steps. As I move closer to the figure, I even have to straighten my spectacles to check my eyesight.

"Greetings, Miss Sen—" the man's voice gets stuck in his throat during the time he proceeds to bow at my approaching figure.

However, the initial shock and then nostalgic elation hits both of us.

"Harvey Jikora?" I question in anticipation.

"Pumpkin!" Harvey doesn't let me finish off before strangling me into a bone crushing hug.

"You are suffocating me, and stop calling me by that name." I huff out a breath.

Harvey Jikora was quite literally my first friend in Syncitia. Unlike my sisters, I attended both middle and high school here before moving to university. It took me quite a while to adjust because of a completely different environment with new people around, in a foreign country. Not to mention, I wasn't much of a pro when it came to socializing with others and making new friends. That was when one fine day, a boy named Harvey Jikora with glasses like mine and the mind that of a genius, became my seatmate and eventually, my good friend.

Unfortunately, in twelfth grade, he moved to another country and we sort of lost contact.

"Wow, it has been long." I say, elated at having met my old friend in such an unexpected manner.

Over the years, Harvey has changed a lot definitely. Long gone was the extremely thin, shy boy with huge circular glasses. Now he is a lot taller, and without any glasses at that. His features have sharpened more as well, it seems.

"Have you been working out or something?" I joke playfully.

"Kind of, I guess," he laughs along, "I can't say you haven't."

He is right. Harvey and my first encounters weren't that good. We used to get into constant quarrels for no particular reasons when one day, in middle school, he had given me the nickname Pumpkin, due to being unhealthier (result of my obsession with junk food and lazy lifestyle) than what I am today. But it was because he was envious of how thin he was compared to me (Harvey had confessed this ridiculous reason after we had become friends). In turn, I gave him the nickname Owlie, specifically because of those round glasses and since he never seemed to sleep much. Apparently, he loved studying rather than sleeping, which was another absurd reason, coming from the most brilliant student.

As years passed by, we became comfortable calling one another by the nicknames.

"So you are Isha Sen, the lover of Prince Calix. I did hear your name on TV, but didn't pay much attention to the press conference or to confirm my doubts."

"Yes. I am her." I reply tight-lipped, "Did he ask you to greet me here?"

"He asked me to escort you personally to a specific hall." Harvey frowns. "Do you have a date tonight?"

I nod, after which his smile drops. Something is wrong with this guy.

"Anyway, we should definitely catch up sometime," I say, changing the sudden growing silence. "Give me your number."

As Harvey finishes saving my number in his phone and I, his in mine, I ask, "Are you one of the newly hired employees of Nirvana?"

"As a matter of fact, I am," Harvey grins with pride, making me smile. The timid boy has finally achieved his dream of being a Royal Employee of Nirvana.

"That's good to hear."

"What about you, Isha? How is your writing journey going?"

"Well, for the record, I am a teacher at Syncitia Public High School." I chuckle at Harvey's widened eyes. "Yes I know, our old school. As for my writing journey, it might come true soon."

Yet, I have hardly been able to bring words to write, out of me.

"Are you free this weekend?" Harvey asks, after much contemplation. I decide to ignore the light red flush forming on his ears. Is he having a fever or something? "Let's hang out—"

"You appear to be quite preoccupied with my girlfriend, Mr Jikora. Is anything the matter?"

Calix's chilling, cold voice cuts through the air. With a white shirt tucked inside black pants, and rolled up sleeves, it provides a view of his attractive, muscular arms, and my gosh those gorgeous golden locks. He is styled in a way that makes his princely charms shine more. In contrary to his dashing attire, Calix's face is stiff. Really stiff, with that clenched jaw of his, nonetheless.

He is irritated. That is the only conclusion I am able to deduce.

Like a predator rounding his prey, Calix walks towards us, his gaze burning holes through Harvey. Knowing my once close friend, he must be on the verge of shitting in his pants right now.

"I was on my way to bring Miss Sen to you, Your Royal Highness." Harvey delivers steadily, but his voice breaks at the end.

"Didn't seem that way to me, unfortunately."

Okay, Calix is not making any sense now. What is it to him if someone asks me to hang out? It is probably his workaholic mind speaking to him. I conclude to myself. He really can't see one of his employees spending a little time to catch up with someone during work, can he now?

Before either of them can say anything and this develops into a verbal clash of wordplay, I step in, taking Calix's attention. "Harvey is an old friend. We were simply catching up, so please don't tell him off for slacking a bit during work."

Calix stares at me with an unreadable expression, as if I have misinterpreted something. I am pretty sure I haven't.

"I see." He replies after a while. "Well, when you are done catching up, please come to the third hall from the right, located on the fourth floor."

He is being extremely bitter today.

"I'll text you later, Harvey," with a quick, apologetic glance to him, I run off behind Calix, the sound of my heels echoing in the halls.

This Prince High Horse carries his pride around like it's his damn lover. Or perhaps, he is so punctual that he can't even have his date start later than the scheduled time.

"Wait!" The petty jerk presses the button for the elevator door to close before I can reach him.

In a haste, and also because I don't have much experience of running on heels, I trip and fall. Fortunately, no one else is around to view me in my rather embarrassed state.

I look up in surprise at the approaching footsteps.

The grumpy prince has finally got off the elevator and is marching towards me. Even before I can stand up by myself, he picks me up in his arms, taking me by surprise.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Before I can fully grasp the situation, I am already inside the elevator, standing like a dumbfounded statue, beside a fuming Calix who is pressing the elevator buttons furiously.

Now, what conclusion should I draw out of this awkward and inscrutable situation.