Enchanted 11: Service Charge

Uh, normal people were usually deep asleep in the middle of the night…. Not playing hide and seek

So I guess, jack and I aren't normal people huh?

I don't even know how this silly game started, maybe because I ran away when he said something… nice.. okay, I'll admit, extremely nice and that's my way of expressing my thanks by running away, Jack chased me like a cat hunting for a mouse.

And here I am hiding diligently like a mouse trying to avoid a dangerous cat as i lean back on an ice wall peeking from the corner. The problem is, this palace is really huge so there are a lot of corners where you could hide which is kind of frustrating if you are trying to find each other. Besides, for goodness sake! That cat can fly so he can pop out anywhere like a ghost and it's really unfair.

Yet, I am determine not to be found

We decided to have a bet on this game to make it more interesting. The mechanics is, to try finding each other, since we are not normal people, powers are involved in this game. Once you found out your opponent you need to pin him down with your power so he won't get away.

The bet? Whomever lose will do anything that the winner wants him/her to do.

So I guess, it's understandable why I am taking this silly game so seriously.

I see a movement not from afar so I aim at him with my hand. Spark of ice shoots out from my hand. It misses so I run after him

My eyes are also sharp so I easily see that something sparkling comes my way. I duck down just in time that sparkling something sails above my head. It hit the floor; a deformed shape of an ice emerges.

I continuously chase him. I stop at the intersection deciding which way to go: left or right or just straight. I decide to turn left so I turn to the left to walk but then, I freeze.

Damn. I feel a presence behind me

"tsk…" jack says "wrong move your majesty. Don't you know that you should always keep right? I guess I won"

"uh-nuh" I answer still not moving "you found me but I can still get away"

I whip around as another spark of ice shoots out at him. He deflects it with his staff but another wave of ice aims at him. This time, he fights backs releasing also a beam of ice from his stick.

This is the final stage where the winner could be determined. i still have a chance to win.

"not giving up huh?" he smirks. That annoying smirk that clearly say he's having fun with this

"never" I narrow my eyes on him

The battle of the fittest continuous. I push my power harder. For that moment, I thought that I'm going to win… how wrong I am

"okay that's your call" jack winks in a handsome way. Then he suddenly jumps high enough

High enough to shoot at me openly

And I realize that I am too late to do anything..

Spark of ice hit me at the waist sending me to the nearby wall because of the impact. That ice is like a glue sticking to the wall refraining me from going anywhere.

"for the last time" jack lands on his knees and he approaches me "I guess I won"

I glare at him "you tricked me!"

He raises an eyebrow "tricked you?"

"yeah that-" I stop myself,. Wait, no way in hell I'll tell him that he winked so handsomely that I got startled by it.

"that what?" he asks

"that…" come on Elsa! Think..

"that?" he presses on

"that you jump so suddenly!" I blurt out

He sighs "elsa, that's what you call strategy. You need to have a strategy to win"

"and that wink is also your strategy because you thought that I'll fall for it" I blurt out again

Nanoseconds after I said it, I start cursing myself internally. why my very bad mouth acts so fast before I could think what to say. it feels like my mouth has a life of its own! Ugh. Creepy

Jack stares at me

I don't know what excuse to say

Then he bursts out laughing adding so much more on my humiliation piggy bank. I groan.

"really?" he continues to laugh

Anyway his laugh is handsome too – quit it Elsa. Please.

He sobers up wiping the side of his eyes. "honestly Elsa, I never thought about it. Now that you mention it…" he leans forward to me, closing dangerously and invading my personal space.

"did you really fall for it?" his face inches away from mine

"you're playing fun of me, aren't you?" I shot back

He laughs again straightening himself and steps back much to my relief

"what should I do then? That's a natural charm" jack shrugs. Then the ice holding me shatters, sparkling in the process.

"come on" he says "let's rest for a little before going home"

"is that what you want me to do as your price?" I ask

He just smiles and walks away

"hey!" I follow him

We sat on the floor on the corner as we both lean back at the wall

I yawn "now, I felt really exhausted"

"sleep for a while. You need a lot of energy when you get back to the palace" he says

"yeah, you're right" I lean also my head back at the wall

"not like that" jack says then he moves my head towards his shoulder

"you don't have to" I complain but made no move

"just rest" he orders

"how about you?" I ask

"I'm fine. You had fun right?"

"of course" I smile "it may be weird but I always felt I'm complete different person when I'm with you"

"really? How come?" he says surprisingly

"dunno, it's just that I don't have to be careful on my actions. No watchful eyes who's monitoring every move I do just because I am the queen" I sit upright and look at him "thank you for giving me a break once in a while"

"it's nothing" he smiles "I know how hard it must be for you with all the responsibilities you've got"

I face him "you know what, I just notice that I'm always thanking you this past few days. It feels like I'm starting to be indebted to you. Say how can I repay you?"

"my service is free of charge" he says giving me a side glance

"but it feels so unfair that you're always helping me but I couldn't do anything to help you back or do something good to you too" I complain

He faces me too "do you really want to pay me?"

I nod

He stares at me. I tilt my head to the side waiting for his answer

"are you sure?" he asks again

"of course! Just ask anything"

"anything huh"

"anything" I confirm

"then how about this?"

Suddenly his face is millimeters away from mine. One wrong move and my lips will collide on his

"can you still repay me?" he asks in a low husky voice

To say that I am shock is an understatement. I am beyond shock, I'm paralyze. It feels like I was hit by a ton of ice. I feel numb. I couldn't even speak. That feeling that you are having a brain short-circuit. Is he going to…

Then he moves away "now it feels like you are not so sure about it anymore" he smirks "I told you my service is free of charge so you don't have to repay me. I'm always glad that I could be your help"

I don't even blink

He frowns "hey!" he snaps his fingers in front of my face

That's when I came back to my senses and shakes my head

"what happened to you?" jack asks "I didn't even use my ice power but you look like you've been hit by an ice beam"

"you!" I say in a sudden outburst pointing a finger at him "a-are you g-going to,," I couldn't help myself to continue

"ah that. I was planning to but decided against it. Why? Do you want to?" he smiles mischievously

"you idiot!" I stand up. Beats me. I could feel my face boiling now

"let's go home" I march away

"yes your highness" he calls out

Calm down.. he's just playing fun with you..


"that's your fifth cup" Louisa put down a cup of coffee on my table

I look up at her

"didn't you get a good night sleep your majesty? Your dark circles are about to consume your face!" louisa says worriedly

I sigh "I'm fine" I lean my forehead at the edge of the table

"but you don't look like it" Louisa answers "just rest for today. I'm going to take care of everything for today"

There's a knock on the door but I didn't bother to look at it

I heard the door opens "good morning your majesty!"

Even if I don't look up I already know who's the owner of that voice

"what happened to her?" he asks

"I think she's lacking of some rest" Louisa answers

I look up at steven "why?"

"my god your majesty!" steven stares at me in horror "what did you do to yourself? Are you hanging out with zombies now?"

I sigh again straightening myself "I think you're overreacting"

"but you already look like them. I told you not to stress yourself didn't i?"

"can't help it" I shrug

"because you are being stubborn!" steven says

"true" Louisa agrees

He walks towards me "stand"

"why?"

"you need a good day sleep" then he pulls my hand to stand. The next thing I know, I am being drag away

Steven opens the door of my room. He pushes me in "sleep. Don't even dare to sneak out" the door closes before I could speak a word.

I don't have any other choice though. Besides I think I really need it. I climb to my bed and lie down. Seconds later, I am drifting off to lala land. After drinking too much caffeine it didn't help to keep me awake.

So much for today

A cold wind brushes my cheek. My eyes open. I see Jack sitting beside me at the edge of my bed

"jeez. Even in dreams you're hunting me?" I say

"sorry.." he says

"for what?" I ask confusedly

"I'm giving you a hard time, right?"

"yeah, you're right. You're really giving me a hard time" I say "you're always giving me confusion. I don't know what to feel about you anymore. You said before that I just need to relax and wait for everything to be in perfect place. But how can I do that when you're always makes my heart beats like mad. How can I relax when I couldn't hold myself together when you are with me"

"is that so?" he asks

"right. Can you still help me with that?"

"do you want to hear a story?"

"what? Why suddenly…"

"there's a stranger in a foreign land" he starts "that stranger was really clueless where he was. the n suddenly he meet a very beautiful maiden. The stranger tried to be friend with that maiden. As their friendship grew he didn't realize that his feelings also grew stronger for her. It was already late when he realize that he was falling for that beautiful maiden"

"wow" I say "was the beautiful maiden fell inlove too with the stranger?"

He nods "yes. Even though the beautiful maiden couldn't say directly to him or she might not realize it to herself. The stranger could feel it"

"then it's a happy ending?"

He shakes his head sadly "no. unfortunately the stranger should hold his feelings back"

"but why?"

"because it's forbidden. The stranger came from another world. They both live in two different worlds that love shouldn't exist between the two"

"then what happened to them?"

"the stranger decided to leave"

"and what happened to the maiden?" i ask eagerly

"she's sad, of course, but the stranger knew that there was someone who would take care the beautiful maiden and love her more than the stranger love her"

"it's not a happy ending then?"

Jack nods

"how unfortunate" I say

"now rest up, your highness. There's a lot of things you are going to face when you wake up" he says

I smile as my eyes starting to close

But before my eyes totally close up I feel something presses on my lips

My eyes snap open. All could see is Jack's face so close to mine. His eyes close

Here he is, kissing me on my dream. Just simply what the heck!

His eyes open as he move away "on the second thought, I put charges on my service and now you are all paid so you don't have to worry about your debts on me"

And all I could say "what?"

"sleep" he orders

His voice is like a lullaby that makes me fall asleep instantly

No matter what Elsa , I'm always here for you

I wake up with the sound of piano playing in the next room. I look around. I am gaze falls on the open window bringing a cold breeze and making the curtains fly. It's snowing again.

Then I remember my dream as I unconsciously touch my lips

It feels all too real

I shake my head. This is not good. Having that kind of dream is not really good for your health Elsa.