The Royal Contract

They could not get out of that house fast enough. After that embarrassing scenario, Dani felt like she was about to die. Seeing their parents' faces light up like a Christmas tree was more than she could take.

Then, when they started thanking their Gods that the young couple was beginning to plan their young family, she knew that it would break her parent's heart if this relationship that was barely starting end in a tragic end.

"I'm sorry about what happened back in the house." Alex profusely apologized as they drove them back to their villa.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you did not mean what happened in there. Did you?" She looked at him from her seat.

"Of course not. I was only trying to find something to talk about to divert your attention away from our parents. I don't know what came to me when I opened that topic." He gave her a tight smile while shrugging his shoulders. "Ok, I was, in a way, trying to tease you. I did not mean it to escalate in that way."

"Anyway, we could not do anything about it now. I guess we should at least forget about it. I'm sure our parents will move on from the idea eventually." She wanted to dismiss it, not giving it power over her and her thoughts.

She could not keep thinking of something that was not even real. Their relationship was not even clear yet to her, much less planning for a future together.

"Yeah, I think you are right. Let us forget about it." But how could he forget something already planted in his consciousness? It was a joke that had some truth in it.

As the saying went, most jokes were half-truths. If someone thought about it, then that someone was seriously thinking about it. And that someone just had a funny way of expressing it.

Right now, that was what he was thinking. He had dreamt of a large family with many children running around the house that he would build for them. At the moment, he was imagining that it was Dani who was carrying their firstborn son.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Dani's words finally penetrated his awareness, waking him up from his trance.

He did not even know that they were already outside their villa, parked in the front of the house. He must automatically drove them back as he got lost in his thoughts.

"What were you saying?" He asked as he finally noticed her.

"Never mind." She said, deciding to forego what she said. The thought was lost anyway when he ignored her and failed to answer her.

They were back in the house. That was what was important now. She quickly went out of the jeep and entered where they would be spending the night. All she wanted to do now was to go to their room and rest.

He stopped her just inside the front door. "What's wrong? What did I do?" He wondered why she suddenly changed her mood, noticing that she was trying to avoid him.

"Nothing. I feel tired, so I think I'm going to bed." She excused herself as she turned around to move back to the room.

"I'm sorry. For whatever I did or failed to do back there." He said sincerely. He was sure that she would not feel that way without reason unless he did something.

As far as he could remember, his thoughts about her preoccupied his mind earlier, so she might have said something that he did not understand or noticed. It must have been significant to her, and she felt ignored.

"Forget about it. It was nothing. I'm just tired." She suddenly felt like she was making something out of nothing at all.

She should not make it a big deal since they were not officially a couple. What they had was a fake relationship. Not because they kissed, she should be expecting more. It was just unfair to Alex.

"Ok, but are you that tired. I was kind of hoping that we can talk some more. Besides, I want to show something." He felt that the night should not end yet and not like that.

He did not want to let go of her just yet. He longed for her company, liked hearing her voice, and enjoyed their little arguments.

She looked at him, trying to gauge what was on his mind. It seemed like he was desperate to talk. "Fine. Just a few minutes." She conceded, moving back to the living room.

In truth, she was not that exhausted. She was hardly sleepy at all. She knew it was stupid to expect Alex to make a move on her. But that was what she thought earlier was his intention.

But she was trying to avoid the awkward moment wherein Alex would tell her that he changed his mind. After what happened at the house, then on their way home. She would feel mortified if she embarrassed herself one more time.

"Thanks. Would you like a glass of wine?" He asked as he moved to the kitchen to get the wine.

"Sure, just a glass." She did not see a problem with one drink. It was not as if she would get wasted with a glass of wine. But that was her limit. She needed her mind to be clear at all times, especially when she was around him.

"Just a minute." He moved to get two glasses and poured them both a half-full glass of wine.

"Thanks." She accepted the glass. They drank the wine in silence as both tried to recompose their thoughts.

"Would you like to take a short walk outside?" He suggested, standing up from his seat.

"Sure." She followed him as he moved to the patio outside, with the view of the ocean at night.

It was a beautiful view with the moon creating a straight-line pattern on the calm water of the ocean. The small waves were making the lights danced on top of it. It was mesmerizing. She thought as she gazed at them.

"This place is so wonderful." She whispered more to herself. It was so peaceful that she felt like all her problems were slowly disappearing.

She decided to remove her shoes, letting her toes and the sole of her feet feel the sand underneath her. It felt therapeutic. It was like she was letting go of all her worries.

"Yes, it is. It is one of the few reasons that make me miss home." He confided with her.

This place held so many memories of his childhood and his youth. The family get-togethers, the crazy parties with his friends, and many more. Something that he would cherish for the rest of his life.

He led her to the path that brought them to the sandy shore, both silently contemplating with their thoughts. With only the water splashing could be heard in the silence of the night. They only stopped when their feet touched the moving cold water beneath them.

"What do you want to talk about?" She finally asked, feeling more confident to hear what he had in mind.

"I want to change the scope of the agreement." He finally spoke up.