Kieran ran with Mal holding hands and when they arrived to Malin's room, catching their breath, the poor girl snatched her hand yelling at him:
"-What's wrong with you?
-you could have come later, it's still early." Ayana was standing with her hands crossed and an annoyed expression on with one eyebrow raised.
"-sorry girl, Mal was sleeping like a sloth. She didn't want to wake up…
-you…" Kieran covered Mal's mouth before she could say anything but cursing him but he looked at her to lecture:
"-and what did I say about staying at your room and give your body some rest. Why can't you listen for once for you sake!
-since when I listen to an idiot like you!
-you mean since WHEN YOU LISTEN!" They started a glaring contest but Ray decided to interrupt.
"-You know guys, you really make the perfect couple…you both have superiority problems, anger issues and most important… you never get on time." The brown-haired boy added bored with a sleepy voice, Kieran bent down to her ear and said:
"-I guess I am not the only one with superiority problems here." Mal got offended and protested:
"-well I agree with the anger issue thing but I don't have superiority problems.
-just accept it." Kieran teased winking at her with his unfazed smirk on his face while walking backward.
They were all sitting on a pretty wooden table covered with an ivory tablecloth, filled with different types of food from different cuisines. Since the balcony is too small for all of them, they decided to eat indoors with the windows slightly open letting in light and fresh breeze. Kieran was sitting at the head of the table; Mal was about to sit next to Ellie but the prince pulled her to sit next to him while Ayana was on his left with Ray next to her and Ellie in front of him.
"-is this mushroom pasta with sour cream?" Mal said her eyes full of joy
"-Ellie told me it's your favorite." Ayana answered.
-It is, thank you." The happy girl thanked them both as they smiled back at her
"-Hold on! I thought you don't like milk." Kieran asked putting down his cutlery however Mal answered nonchalantly before shoving a big spoon in her mouth:
"-yes I don't.
-then how do you love creamy pasta?
-it's not the same thing.
-what…like girl are you serious now? Don't you know that…
-Aren't you done yet?" but before another argument got more tensed Ayana interrupted:
"-I told them to make your favorite pie too." Mal squealed in happiness while the white-haired boy rolled his eyes before he commented:
"-I didn't know I would get replaced easily." Mal moved a little bit next to his ear and replied:
"-I get it that you are jealous of Ray…but your best friend too." She chuckled before continuing:
"-that's too much.
-Trust me… I am mad enough to burn anyone who just thinks about looking, talking, touching or even glancing at you in a way that I don't approve of…" his smirk widened even more before he added eying her up and down:"-Cause you are mine and you will always be mine, after all… I own you… and if someone tries to take you from me…they made themselves a free reservation in hell.
-you are obsessed.
-only with you my dear." They kept staring at each other ignoring everyone else's presence.
"-have a…room." Ray said between yawns.
"-for your information it's her room." Kieran commented sarcastically while the sleepy boy closed his eyes ignoring the prince.
"-what's wrong with you, you look as if you haven't slept in days?
-after I left you, and took a shower… I slept as if I was in heaven and then these two… decided to disturb my precious nap.
-you mean coma." Ellie commented sneeringly.
"-did you drunk from her tea." Ayana questioned suspiciously and Mal answered her:
"-you can say he gulped the whole cup. Why?
-I made it to help you sleep peacefully and ease the pain for awhile but I guess someone else enjoyed it more.
-well it really helped along with the cream that Andrew sent. I can't feel much better… thank you Ayana.
-yeah but…Ayana's medicine doesn't taste or smell disgusting like the one of grumpy grandpa.
-still…you should be grateful, he was the only one who took good care of us every time we got injured and he always did his best." Malin said earning a look of appreciation from Ellie, one of admiration from Ayana, one of jealousy and curiosity from the crown prince and a head tilt from Ray.
"-I really want to meet him, he seems a good person to get along with and learn from." Ayana added with eyes full of enthusiasm and hope while Kieran and Mal said in union whispering:
"-you really don't." they stopped eating and looked at each other before they burst in laughter while the others raised their gaze at the two laughing. Mal chocked on her salvia however kept laughing along with Kieran who gave her a cup of water that she took it gratefully and thanked him.
"-what's so funny?"Ayana asked while Kieran and Mal laughed loudly at her but the princess started to feel uncomfortable.
Ellie gave her a genuine smile before she said:
"-don't take it the wrong way because of these two idiots.
-hey!" they both shouted feeling offended but Ellie glared at them to look back to their plates digging in food silently.
"-Andrew is a little bit… well… he doesn't like new company and act like an old grandpa with REALLY bad anger issue problems but…
-God complex too.
-we got it Ray but he is really a caring person once he trusts you however he has bad trust issues…
-especially with royalties.
-Kieran!
-What?" Mal rolled her eyes at the prince.
"-Why would he judge people he don't even know?
-He has his own reasons and let's stop there, you are really a good person Ayana with a big warm heart and a good character…but we were laughing because you two are completely the opposite, so we found it funny how it could be if you both met.
-As if you and Kieran any different, you two very unlike, however you decided to put your differences and hate aside and work together…even though, at first I thought you would…
-enjoy killing each other as if we were the worst enemies with an endless amount of threats and assassination attempts even by accident…then yeah you are right." Everyone looked at Kieran shocked and Mal was holding her knife upward firmly as if she was about to stub someone, but Kieran was enjoying the show looking at her smirking and put a piece of mushroom in his mouth.
"-Princess, we need you outside…