The Royal Contract

"Hey!" She notified Jacky that she just came in but hurriedly rushed to her room. 

She almost slipped on the floor, not noticing the remaining clutter that Jacky left earlier as she was cleaning the house. "What the heck? Jacky, you forgot the rug again on the floor." She yelled at her." She removed the rug that Jacky must have forgotten from her path and continued on her way. 

"Sorry! What time will Alex pick you up?" Jacky yelled from the kitchen as soon as she heard Dani. 

Jacky went home earlier because she had a few things she needed to do in their apartment. The laundry, cleaning, and the groceries. With the pile of work that Dani had to go through, she doubted that she would contribute much to the house chores.

"Thirty minutes ago." She said, looking at her watch, suddenly panicking that she was already late.

She got lost track of time as she worked on her cases. Luckily, Evan dropped by to give her some instructions before he left for a date, reminding her that she also had one. She continued to stride to her room, to change and prepare for her date. 

"Oh! And then where is he?" Jacky asked.

Then, she stopped in her tracks, peeked in the living room, and when it was empty. She went to the kitchen, where she found Jacky putting away their food supplies. "You mean to say Alex had not yet arrived." She asked disbelievingly.

She was conflicted if she was relieved that he had not yet arrived or was anxious about where he was. He was usually on time or earlier but never late.

"Well, I just arrived myself from the grocery, so I would not know. But I did not see Alex when I came in." Jacky informed her. "Maybe he was just running late just like you," Jacky added, not wanting her friend to worry for nothing.

"Yeah, you are right. I'll be in my room and change. Alex was probably on his way now." She smiled at her friend, turned around, and walked calmly into her room. But in her mind, she wondered what was taking him so long.

She quickly shuffled through her bag for her phone, thinking that he might have texted her, and she did not even notice it. Thankfully, she saw her phone blinking with a new message. There were several missed calls too.

She noted that she had to stop turning her phone in silent or off. She should put it in vibrate mode instead if she was busy and did not want any distractions.

The first message was from Alex, and the text said that he was running late because he was still in a meeting. Then, the others were from someone else. 

She scrolled down until Alex's other messages showed. Most of it was informing her that he was still in the meeting. Then, the last one said that he was on his way. He was calling her several times, but she was not answering. The message was ten minutes ago.

She quickly texted him back and told him that she was already waiting at the apartment. She was also sorry for not answering his calls. She waited for a reply, but nothing came. She concluded that he must be driving. She just hurried and went out of her room.

"Where's Alex?" Jacky asked when she saw her already set.

Jacky was busy preparing for her dinner for one since she would be dining alone.

"He is on his way." She answered her back as she sat on the counter to wait for him. Then, she picked up a few slices of the homemade fries Jacky had prepared and put them into her mouth.

"Stop picking on my food. That is my dinner." Jacky swatted her hand away.

"But I'm hungry." She only ate half of her lunch earlier because she was distracted, then did not get the chance to eat anything later on. Now, her stomach was growling from the enticing smell of Jacky's food. "Just a few bites." She begged her, putting her fingers together to beseech her kindness.

"Fine, but leave me some. I doubt if you will be able to eat soon since both of you are already late for your dinner." Jacky pushed the plate in her direction and finished cooking the rest of her meal.

"Thanks. You are a lifesaver." She munched on the potatoes as if her life depended on them.

"How serious are you with Alex? Do you see him as the one?" Jacky asked her friend, curious about how her friend felt about having a relationship after what she had experienced with Nick. 

Jacky had been searching for someone that would take her seriously. She longed for a family since she grew up with none. She wanted someone to love and to love her back. Kids to raise as her own. 

She knew Dani would always be her sister but soon, she might even get her own family, and then she would be alone again. She was not looking forward to such time. 

"Honestly, I am as clueless as you. After Nick, I was not sure if I will be able to love again or trust somebody with my heart. I am not saying that I am in love with Alex, but he makes me feel happy and excited to wake up in the morning." She dropped the fries in her hand and walked towards her friend.

She knew why her friend asked these questions and why her face looked like it just lost a puppy. "I know I am taking another risk with him with my heart. But I guess life is about putting yourself out there, or else we will never find the right one." She hugged her friend.

"But aren't you afraid to get hurt again?" She could not help but compare her experience with Dani. Although she could sense that Alex was different from Marcus, she still could not help but worry for her friend.

"I know you worry about me, just like I do to you. But I want to see if I can fall in love with him despite my past. My heart and mind trust him. Maybe love will eventually follow." She explained to Jacky her situation.

"I guess you are right." After thinking about it, Jacky suddenly remembered Lance. Maybe there were men out there that were exceptional. 

"I hope someday you will also open your heart for another chance. I know Marcus was a great disappointment, but maybe someone else is the right man for you." Dani could only wish that Jacky would also find an Alex of her own.

"Wait. Don't forget this." Jacky walked to the end of the counter and grabbed one of the grocery bags. She rummaged inside the bag to search for something until she found it. "Here." She pushed the box to her. "Better be safe than sorry."

"I don't think I would need that." Remembering that Alex must have his supply. But she was not about to announce that to Jacky.

"Take one, better yet, take five to be sure." She grabbed the packs and shoved them inside her bag. 

"Seriously." She could only shake her head at her friend, but she stopped resisting before it escalated to something more.

She was glad that Jacky was supporting her relationship with Alex. She was expecting to do a lot of explaining before she could convince Jacky that she was doing the right thing. 

But she was surprised when Jacky agreed with her without much of a fight and even gave her blessings. She could not ask for a better friend.