The Royal Contract

"Hey, you better be decent because I am coming in." Somebody outside the door shouted.

It was late, and Miss Dragonbreath was already breathing fire on all the staff and the entourage. She quickly volunteered to check on the bride to flee, away from the chaos.

Then, when she turned into a corner, she accidentally bumped into someone. Well, it would seem that she was not the only one who grabbed the opportunity to escape the heat.

"Hey, man. Whatever the two of you are doing, better make it quick because Antonette is about to rain fire on the both of you." Another voice joined in the disturbance.

He did not sign up for this when he agreed to be his best man. He loved his friend, but it did not mean that he had to put up with the dragon lady.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Jacky asked while they waited for the two to emerge from the room.

It was getting very late, and the wedding rehearsal was about to start, followed by a few programs that Antonette prepared. But since she met her, all Antonette did was bark orders. 

Her nose would flare up, and her eyes would be on fire when she felt her commands were not being met. Thus, the label Dragonbreath, Dragon fire, Dragon Lady, and so on.

"I am here to escort my friend to the party, same as you, I supposed." He assumed that it was also her reason for standing outside their friends' room.

He did not mind her company. In fact, he was glad that she also thought of it. It was a chance to be near her and spend time with her.

"Fine." Accepting his answer. Well, she did not have a monopoly on their friends. Anyway, she did swear to be friendly with him.

She knocked this time on the wooden panel. If the two still did not answer, she swore she would break the door. At least the man on her right would do it for her.

"Come on in. The door has no lock." A man's voice finally responded to the two outside.

"Are both of you decent?" She asked the question again, not wanting to walk into a sex scene.

"We are now." Her friend finally answered with a chuckle. It was as if she was being tortured while talking, giggling, and squealing in the process. "Go in, Marcus, and bring along Jacky."

Marcus held on to the knob and twisted it. As his friend said, it was indeed open. He guided Jacky inside the door that they realized was not locked at all. 

Upon entering, the two noticed that both were still on the bed, in a state of disarray. But like what they said, they were still decently clothed in their nightwear, except for Alex, who was bare of his top clothing.

"Aren't you two attending your own party?" Jacky finally snapped at the two, smiling like small kids who were a bit naughty. "People are already filling the room, and the honor guests are still shacking up in their bed."

"Correction, Jacky. We never did make it to the sex part since we were rudely interrupted." Dani complained to her friend, not embarrassed about what she said.

"Oh, is that right?" Jacky turned to her and stared at her friend. "Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?" She jokingly said, not surprised about the changes she had seen in her.

As a matter of fact, she was glad that she had seen quite a significant difference in her, good ones as far as she could tell. She knew that the dominant factor in this would come from her relationship with Alex.

"Why don't the two of you make us some coffee while we change? The kitchen is downstairs." Alex stood from the bed and pushed Marcus and Jacky out the door. "You won't miss it." He said before closing the door on them before they could complain.

"Please hurry up. I don't want another earful from the Dragonbreath today." She shouted to the already closed door before Marcus ushered her downstairs and into the kitchen. 

"You go make the coffee. I hope you have learned by now." Jacky ordered Marcus as she went to the refrigerator. "I will try to create a sandwich for a quick bite." She supplied.

As she busied herself in the kitchen, she could not help but keep on bumping into him. Either the kitchen was relatively small compared to what she was used to, or she was just not used to moving around him.

Or more like, uncomfortable being around him again in a familiar setting. It had been a while since they woke up in the same room and prepared breakfast together. So, it was, in a way, nerve-racking on her part.

"Yes, Mam." He even saluted, patronizing her command. But he was enjoying every minute of this. It was bringing back so many memories.

Memories that he should not be entertaining but could not help himself. For a few more times, he would like to indulge in his fantasies before they finally faded away forever.

He was about to grab the cups on the other shelves when he accidentally bumped into her again. Fortunately, it was not much of a physical impact. Besides a slight unbalance, no one was hurt or needed rescuing. 

She only shifted in her direction, and he was back on his way to the cups. But emotionally, he felt the longing of having her in his arms again. That slight contact had him wanting to beg for her forgiveness.

"Are you going with someone to the wedding?" He could not think of anything else to ask, but the silence was definitely getting on his nerves. He looked down at her and locked eyes with her.

He ended up speaking his mind without thinking much about the question and what she would feel about it. Now, he regretted saying it. It was not his business to know her current dating life.

Besides, it was only common sense that she would be going with Lance. He was, after all, her boyfriend, based on what he was hearing around the palace. 

"Is the coffee ready?" Dani interrupted the two of them before Jacky could answer him. The couple walked into the kitchen and sat on the opposite side of the counter.

While the other couple broke their tiny eye contact and walked on the opposite side of the counter. He poured the coffee while Jacky cut the sandwiches, putting them in front of all of them.

"Bona petit," Jacky responded with a smile, ignoring the question that lingered in her mind.

She wondered if he was trying to ask her out to the wedding. But then again, she chastised her heart for beating too fast. It would seem that she was excited about the possibility.

But could she trust a man like him? She had once given him a chance, but he ruined it, hurting her in the process. Could she go through it again?

Or should she just end it here, now before she had her hope up again, only to get disappointed again in the end? Finally, she came up with a conclusion. She could not trust him again. 

That ship had sailed.