Isha

"Sorry if I took you by surprise there," Calix says calmly after a moment of silent elevator ride. "The door-hold-button, I had forgotten to press it before stepping inside. You fell and out of impulse I just walked out on a whim. Had to carry you in before the elevator door closed."

He is definitely fumbling with words. It is kind of cute, but that doesn't explain his constant mood swings.

Well, how lucky for him that I consider myself a straightforward lady. So I get straight to the point, without any beating around the bushes.

"Care to explain the wonderful display of your indecipherable attitude?"

Calix doesn't answer. Eventually, I grow impatient and infuriated.

"I am asking something, Calix."

He increases his speed through the empty corridors instead. I increase mine too, and before he can comprehend, stand in front of him.

"Answer me. Now."

"Isha, move," Calix tries to walk past me but I remain still in my position.

"What do you want to know?" Calix massages his forehead with a deep exhale.

"Is something the matter?" I ask with genuine concern. "One moment you were so bitter with Harvey and refused to talk to me and now we are back on speaking terms—"

A small gasp leaves my mouth when Calix steps forward. Too close. So much so that I can feel his hot breath fanning on my lips. He is barely touching my arms in a delicate manner, yet I feel millions of warm tingles spiking up throughout my skin. Brushing contacts ignite flames, soon after.

An expression of confusion, tenderness and desperation, all mixed up in an amalgamation, clouds his blue eyes.

"I am not fond of you. Not one bit. It is truly bitter how much I would like to stay as far as I possibly can, from you. But in vain, I can't seem to let you go. Have I gone insane or do you practice black magic, by any chance?"

"You have gone insane." I breathe before contemplating what I am saying. In my defence, it is not my fault when suddenly a gorgeous, arrogant (perhaps sometimes nice) prince, with whom I haven't had proper encounters, utters out such...such heart-fluttering words. And what black magic? Does he really believe in such a sham?

A hollowness forms inside me, as soon as Calix steps back with a sigh and straightens his posture. "I am sorry, Isha. I haven't been myself for the past few days due to work pressure. Well, please follow me. We are almost there."

With that, Calix walks past me, a stony expression covering him; as if he did not have that look full of foreign emotions, not long ago.

Anyway, I follow the prince in silence.

Calix is just as mysterious as Carlos. The only difference is that, he appears lonely, as if there is no one to provide him with the solace he yearns for.

"Ladies first."

Calix graciously outstretches his right arm for me to enter. I dramatically do a curtsy, and step inside the magnificent, huge room.

Have I mentioned before that I felt like a princess tonight when I was entering the main building? Yes, I have. But, if I was feeling like a princess then, right now, here at this moment of glorious starry night, I feel like someone else.

A Royal Queen, to be exact.

Vaulted ceilings, bespangled with intricate artworks, narrating romantic and tragic tales, engraved in the history of Syncitia; glossy marble floor spread throughout; red velvet curtains draped daintily over massive French windows; semi-circular observational balconies, attached to the very windows; high golden coloured walls; a spiral staircase and balustrade leading up to the second level where the orchestra would sit; all greet me under the soft light of the chandelier, embedded with glittering crystals and gems, hanging above. A sudden urge to form a pirouette around in my dress, goes through me. And I do allow myself to let go of the moment and simply twirl around in amazement.

While whirling and skipping around the ballroom with excitement, momentarily, I forget the handsome prince leaning against the wall and watching me attentively with amused eyes. His burning gaze does something to my insides and I come to a halt; partially out of embarrassment and partially, to hide my blushing stature.

"This place..." I exhale dreamily when Calix begins to advance towards me, "Is wonderful."

"Shall I show you something even more wonderful then?" Calix raises his eyebrows in gaiety, and I can't help but wonder why he keeps walking towards me with those gracious, lazy steps of his.

While twirling around previously, I didn't realize that I was standing close to the piano. As a result, unconsciously, I step back in nervousness and find my back hitting the black instrument.

"W-What are you doing?" I stutter, much to my distaste. Calix doesn't speak and simply continues trudging forward.

When he is almost so close that with one step forward, he will be able to touch me with his body, Calix leans forward. And I shut my eyes tight, not knowing what I am expecting.

When I feel nothing, I open my eyes to find the prince staring at me and producing a jolly mirth, his face so near that I could drown in his ocean, blue eyes, if I wanted to. His arms are now across my body, but barely touching me. Unexplainable giddiness bubbles through me and when I almost, expect something, I hear a click sound.

To my disappointment for whatever reason, Calix moves away, the teasing grin not leaving his lips once.

He knows how well he can charm someone and that's the deviousness that I hate and at the same time, like about him.

"There was a button on the piano, that I had to press because of..." he trails off and looks above at the whirring sound. Out of curiosity, I too gaze above, only to be welcomed with a spectacular view.

In place of the dome-shaped ceiling, we can clearly now see the starry night above, peeking at us through the thin sheath of glass. The light of the chandelier automatically dims because of its technologically advanced light sensor, most probably.

Calix offers me his hand, and I gladly give in to the warmth of his skin, after keeping my purse on the flat lid of the piano.

The soft music of the song Perfect sang by Camila Cabello and Nicholas Galitzine flows in, filling the atmosphere of the entire ballroom, dazzlingly.

"Where did the song come from?" I ask due to not seeing any music box or speaker present near.

Calix only shrugs. "I have made certain arrangements."

I found a love for me,

Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead.

He slowly pulls me to the centre of the ballroom and bows, "May I have this dance, my lady?"

I stifle a giggle. "You may." And let him pull me close to his chest.

Well, I found a boy, beautiful and sweet,

I never knew you were the someone waiting for me.

A sharp breath leaves both of us simultaneously when our gazes meet in unexpected intensity, blurring out everything we know, in the background. Calix's right arm smoothly snakes around my waist and rests on my back, bolstering my left shoulder blade. While he intertwines fingers of his right hand with mine.

"You must know," Calix begins in his sensual, deep voice, as he proceeds to very slowly sway our body, "It has been nearly impossible for me to take my eyes off of you, this entire evening. You look breathtaking, Isha."

'Cause we may be kids,

But we're so in love.

"You don't quite look bad yourself, Calix. Although not as perfectly breathtaking as me."

Calix chuckles at my remark. "You are the only woman in this entire country who doesn't fear to speak to the first prince of Syncitia, in such a way. Are you aware of this, Isha?"

"I mean." Calix spins me around in such a manner that his arms are around me with my back pressed against his chest as we continue rhythmically swaying to the enchanting song. "I am special. After all, Isha Sen is the girlfriend of Prince Calix."

I grin satisfyingly when I feel Calix's stiff movement for a brief moment. Although I am unable to see his expressions now, I am pretty sure the boy is flustered.

Fighting against all odds,

I know we'll be alright this time.

Elegantly, Calix turns me around, and pulls me even closer. A sly smirk with a hint of warm smile, rests on his lips, "That you are."

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark,

With you between my arms.

A silence prevails between us. Heart-fluttering, passionate, comfortable, warm silence. We move melodiously to the music, our gazes not leaving one another for an instant. If one were to stay here and witness us, they would have thought we were a couple. A couple who has deeply been in love with one another. For eternity.

Barefoot on the grass,

Listening to our favourite song.

When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful,

I don't deserve this

Darling, you look perfect.

"I quite like this date," I say, not realising how in close proximity our faces are, "It is something I did not expect. From you."

"Of course it is," Calix smiles a boyish grin, "After all, your presence has made our date even more worthwhile."

"You are a true politician, do you know that?" I giggle at the prince's flattering words, "Prince Calix has a way with words, I must admit."

"That I have." Calix hums. I feel blood rushing to my cheeks when he removes a strand of hair, bothering my eyes, "But, every word that I say to you, is anything but related to politics, Isha."

Be still my heart.

"You should've been a writer, Calix," I smile through my rapidly beating heart, "I could've even have you as my mentor then."

Calix raises his eyebrow, "You write?"

"Yes. Once was a hobby which soon developed into a passion and now, a dream that I would like to achieve someday. A published author by that, I meant."

"Audrey and you would have a good time chatting then. She is a true bibliophile."

"Oh, is that so? What about you? Do you like books?"

Calix hums, twirls me around once again and pulls me closer, our breaths mingling together in the process. "Literature has never been my strongest point. I simply am unable to understand the emotions."

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark,

With you between my arms.

Barefoot on the grass,

Listening to our favourite song.

"Perhaps someday, someone will help you to understand and experience those emotions."

A feverish silence overcomes us. However, we do not stop dancing. We dance rhythmically, synchronization oozing off of us, and savour every moment of this romantic ambience.

I have faith in what I see,

Now I know I have met an angel in person,

You look perfect.

The last few lyrics of the song echo through the hall.

Calix bends me in his arm in the famous dance position, while not leaving my eyes even for a second.

I don't deserve this (I don't deserve this),

You look perfect

Tonight.

As soon as the song ends, and we stare at one another breathlessly, sparks fly between us. Unnamed, foreign, alien sparks that I don't even know if I want them to fly in reality. Or not (or yes).

And before we both know what we are doing, we allow ourselves to drown in the moment, and...

Connect our lips without any hesitancy, our hearts beating next to each other.