BATTLING THE PRINCE
HAN HOO NAN
I really let my ego get in the way this time around and how could he have me pay back that huge amount of money in a week. He just wanted me in the corner where he could destroy me. No matter the amount of money I earned from all those part time jobs, they couldn't even reach one percent of the payment.
I had no other alternatives but to go with option two, you should've seen the smirk on his face. He thought he's won huh? He has no idea what he's asking for.
" I hope I fail all the tests so I don't end up being your personal maid." I said as I slammed the car door.
" Then you'll have to pay for the damages then." He said happily and I wanted to tear that smile off of his face.
How could he do this to me? I mean besides it's not like I did it intentionally, how can a whole rich Prince ask for payment. I bet the money isn't even up to that amount!
I stormed into my room and roared really loud.
"Girl you gonna burst my ear drum…" Sandra said as she walked out of the bathroom.
" Hurgggh…he'll pay for this!" I roared and she came pushing me to my bed.
" Will you calm down, besides the person you're mad at isn't any one of us." Ga In added as she fetched a spoonful of oatmeal and consumed it.
" Does it have some milk?" I asked , taking a peak at her oatmeal.
" Yeah but I ain't giving you some, you've already had yours." She replied pulling the bowl away and I sighed.
" So…what happened?" They both asked and I heaved a sigh.
" The contract starts today…we went to the castle and I had the chance to meet the Queen…one on one. She's so beautiful and I could see Gi Tak's eyes, I think Gi Tak took after her…they look so much alike. No wonder he has this feminine touch and all. She has such soft and tender voice just like Gi Tak…" I explained with dreamy eyes.
" Ya! Did we ask you to adore and day dream about Gi Tak or asked about how it went.?" That was Sandra and I chuckled childishly. I can't help it, Gi Tak is so dreamy.
"Oh sorry, well so I've got to leave for the Castle early tomorrow morning so I can go through some series of tests in order to know if I'm qualified enough or not."
"Ga In-ah…do you have any idea what the tests will be like?" I asked her and she nodded.
" I heard it's not that hard though, it's more like they will be testing your intellect and see if you are not having any health issues or handicapped…and one most important thing…" She paused dramatically and we got closer.
" They will check to see if you're pure, and I mean absolutely pure." She added.
"Huh…like a vir…pure?"
"Exactly."
" Why so?"
" You're going to serve the future King and they don't want him getting seduced by someone who's already had a taste of a dick."
I coughed by the sound of the last word.
"Oh yeah, they check that and all."
" Then will he get to know about the results as well?"
"That I can't tell but then I hope you haven't had a taste yet because that's the most important part."
"Oh of course not but I can do it now."
"Why?"
"I don't plan on becoming his personal maid and assistant. What do you think about me doing it tonight?"
" Ya!! Are you an idiot!?" They both barked at me.
"What?"
" Are you planning of loosing it tonight just because you don't want to end up by his side for life. Do you have any idea what people will give just to be his maid? Do have any idea what I would give for that?" Sandra snapped at me.
"But I thought you said you hated him?" I asked her and she sighed.
" This isn't a matter of hating him, the Castle will become like a second home. You'll get to travel with him across the world, who wouldn't want that?" She asked and I chuckled.
" You sure like free stuffs."
"Who wouldn't?" Ga In interjected.
"You two are just crazy… I'm going to shower." I said standing up, grabbing a towel, I walked to the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my chest and the other tied around my head.
"Hoo Nan-ah your phone keeps on ringing!!" Sandra said from outside the bathroom door.
"Can you check the caller ID?" I asked trying to wash the soap off of my face.
"It's "cheesy Grinch"…he keeps calling!" She replied and I smiled.
I have no idea what he wants at this time of the day, it's too hot for crying out loud and the sun is scorching. I hurried out of the bathroom and answered the next call which I came to meet.
"Hello.."
"Why weren't you answering my calls….are you ignoring me?"
"What do you want this time around?"
" I want a cup of pink lemonade with two yellow melon."
" Where on Earth am I going to get a pink lemonade ? And you know very well that yellow melons are rare within this season."
"I don't care about what you do or how you're going to get it, its an order so go get it for me or get punished. You have less than thirty minutes to bring them."
" Aish!! I HATE YOU!!" I yelled and hanged up.
" Tae Jun-ah?" Ga In asked in between her giggle.
"Yeah, who else would get me so mad at this time of the day?"
"What does he want this time around?" She asked crawling to my side.
" He wants a pink lemonade and two yellow melons."
"Pink lemonade? Is there anything like that?" Ga In asked with shock and Sandra hopped off of the dancing poll.
" Yeah there is." She replied and we all turned to her with shock.
"There is?" I asked.
" Well I learnt it from my mom when I was just six." She replied with a little sadness behind her smile.
Sandra actually lost her mother when she was ten, she lost her in a car accident and since then, her father was the one who has been taking care of her. She and my mom are like mother and daughter, she always says my mom was like the mother she didn't get to have for a long time.
" Really, then that's a relieve." Ga In stated.
" It isn't a relieve yet, I have to go find two yellow melons." I said desperately.
"Oh I've got an idea." I said more to myself as I took my phone and searched for my mom's number and called her, she picked up right away.
"Mom…"
" Hoo Nan, how are you doing?"
" I'm doing great Mom, how are you too?"
" I'm fine dear, Is something wrong?" she asked and I knew why she asked because I called her last night and we talked for a very long time on phone.
"Just a little slight problem I'm having. I've been asked to get yellow melon for a class project but then it's out of stock on campus so I called to ask you if you knew anyone whom we might get some from?"
" Okay…but then it's really hard to get yellow melon during this time of the year but then I know a friend…let me call and confirm from her if she still has some. I'll get back to you immediately I get the news okay."
"Okay mom, bye for now."
She hanged up and I kept staring at my phone, waiting for her phone call while Ga In helped Sandra prepare the pink lemonade.
Few minutes later my mom called and broke the good news to me, some of the yellow melon was available, I took a cab from campus to her friends house in the square and got five yellow melons, two for the Grinch and three for me and the girls. But I made sure I saw mom before I left for campus.
I checked the time and I was only left with ten minutes. Sandra poured the pink lemonade into a flask and helped me garnish the yellow melon and covered it with a cling film. Ga In and Sandra decided to come along with me to the lounge as she also wanted to see her Oppa for some reasons unknown to me.
The door automatically opened up and we walked inside. I was marveled by the interior décor, it looked astonishing and breath taken. I looked around as I gulped it all in.
" You are two minutes late." I heard his voice as he descended the stairs and I faked a smile.
" Tae Jun-ah, don't you think you're being too harsh on her?" Ga In asked and he chuckled.
" Me…being harsh? Of course not, she just needs to be punctual." He replied and I scuffed.
" Here's your pink lemonade and two yellow melons!" I said setting them down on the kitchen table before walked away.
" You aren't done yet…come pour me a drink." His voice was like a thumbing drum.
I walked back, took a mug, rinsed it and then poured him some lemonade as I looked around to see if Gi Tak would appear from somewhere, I mean anywhere.
"If you looking for your dear friend I'm sorry to disappoint you that he's out and wouldn't be returning anytime soon." He said as if he was reading my mind.
" Here's your lemonade." I said setting it down before him.
"Peel and slice the yellow melons into square shape and make sure every slice is two centimeters long. I hope I'm clear." He said with a grin as he took his lemonade from the table and walked away. I felt like throwing the melon at his head but I held back.
He sat in one of the couches, crossed his legs and turned on the television. I angrily turned to the two melons and took one of the kitchen knives from the knife holder, when he turned to me I hit the knife's edge on the table and cut a slice violently which made him jolt slightly.
I noticed Sandra, Ga In and Hyang descend the stairs on the balcony as the three of them walked into the leaving room. It's like the whole lounge is made up of glass, it's more of a glass house. Ga In and Sandra saw me and were headed towards the kitchen when I shook my head at them.
" Don't worry, I'll be fine." I said to them and they turned to Tae Jun who sipped his lemonade.
I was done slicing the yellow melons, I carefully arranged them in a black square shaped plate and walked majestically towards him, stood in front of him blocking his view and preventing him from seeing anything on the television.
"Your melons Sir." I said as I placed it before him on the center table.
He nodded as he tried to stretch his neck to have a glimpse of what was going on, on the television but then as he stretched, I moved in the same direction.
"Is anything the problems sir?" I asked bending over, lowering my body towards him and my face and few inches apart from his.
His eyes grew wider and he gulped so loudly that I could hear it. He cleared his throat and tried to move away but then I leaned forward towards him and I could feel him tense up as his face began to turn red. He tried to stand up when he spilled the lemonade in his hands on his shorts.
"Aish dang it!" he groaned and stood up.
"Oh…I'm so sorry." I said picking up his napkin and tried rubbing the juice off his shorts but then he jumped back before I could reach him.
" What are you thinking?" He yelled.
" I'm just trying to wipe off the spilled juice on your shorts." I replied innocently.
" Do you have any idea what you'll be brushing against?" he asked with a confused look.
" Yeah I do."
" and you still want to wipe it? I mean it's so close to my…never mind." He said and walked rushed upstairs.
" Your dick?" I asked sarcastically making his eyes grow wide followed by a cough and he rushed upstairs.
I turned around and finally let out the laughter I had been holding back and the others joined me.
" You're so bad…" Hyang said amidst laughter.
" His expression was priceless!" Ga In added still laughing.
" oh…my side hurts…" Sandra was laughing so hard.
I herd footsteps and I quickly signaled them and the whole place went mute as we turned towards the stairs and I walked to meet him.
"You've got some stains on your shirt." I said as I tried to touch the stained spot but he looked down and moved away.
"What's gotten into you?" He asked.
" I'm just trying to do my job here mister, you've got stains on your shirt as well…should I help you take it off?" I asked pulling him closer by his shirt and he grabbed my hands.
" Yeah, go ahead…take it off." He said, his voice dangerously low with a smirk and my heart skipped a beat as I turned to the others who looked as surprised as I was.
" You heard me didn't you? Help me take it off since it's your job too." He said coming closer.
"What are you waiting for?"
" Urm are you sure?" I gulped taking a step backwards.
" It's an order." His voice was soft, for the first time, his velvet voice was as soft and light as a feather but carried a hint of danger that I nearly jumped out of my skin.
I slowly got closer and began to unbutton his shirt as I looked away.
"Look here and watch what you're doing." He ordered and I gulped as I unbuttoned it on after the other, I immediately closed my eyes when I saw his bare chest, I had a glimpse of it and it was smooth, well tonned abs and manly.
"Open your eyes and focus!" He ordered and I stepped away.
" Enough! I've had enough! I'm not your fiancé to be unbuttoning your shirt and besides you're a grown man for crying out loud. Don't you think it's too much to ask me to unbutton your shirt?" I cried out and I heard him chuckle.
" You sounded so bold before. What happened?" He said more to himself and walked on back to his room and came out wearing a white round neck shirt.
I glared at him as he walked past me to join the others.
" You've done enough for today. Go and get prepared for tomorrow, it's going to be a long day." He said to me in a cold tone with his eyes glued to the television.
I felt like running up to him and hitting him with a big heavy pillow till he pleads for forgiveness but never mind, I can't do any of what I imagine most of the time.
I noticed how Hyang kept stealing glances of Sandra as I washed the dishes in the kitchen. I washed my hands and leaned against the kitchen table as I observed how he stared at her with so much warmth but then immediately looks away when Sandra turns towards his direction and pretends to be busy with his phone. Is he crushing on Sandra? I'm sure he is…but then why doesn't he want her to notice? I will make sure those two end up spending some alone time together. I think I already have a plan.
"Hoo Nan are you done?" Ga In's voice got me out of my thinking zone.
"Huh?...oh yeah I'm done." I replied.
"Let's get going then, it's getting late and I don't think Gi Tak will be coming home anytime soon either." She stated and I nodded sadly as I took off the apron around my waist and hanged it on the hanger.
" I'll come pick you up at seven in the morning." His cold voice made me pause for a second and I nodded before going ahead with the others.
I can't believe I couldn't get the chance to spend some time with Gi Tak…where could he possibly be?
I'm really nervous about tomorrow and I can't believe my trick didn't work on him!
Dear God, what have I gotten myself into.