Life could be cruel sometimes.

About a week ago, Anna was thinking about Belle and how there was this annoying twist inside her gut that wouldn't go away every time she'd picture Elsa and the brunette together. It was already annoying to the imagination, but now, she had to experience it firsthand. The irritating feeling wouldn't go away no matter how hard she tried, only intensifying after hearing Elsa's innocent statement.

Anna's hand stopped drawing as she looked at Elsa and her visitor who had intruded into the solitude of her and Elsa's home. "Stay over?"

"Yeah." Elsa flipped through the papers she was holding. "We need to critique each other's papers and submit it tomorrow."

"What kind of professor would make a student read hundreds of pages and expect them to submit it the next day?!" Anna huffed, not bothering to mask her irritation.

"Ours, that's who. And it doesn't even reach one hundred pages, Anna." Elsa placed the papers on top of the dining table. "Sit down," she said to her guest.

Anna watched Belle sit beside Elsa. She had been busy drawing on top of their dining table when Elsa arrived with the brunette. That 'urgh' feeling from way back when came crashing down on her like a ton of bricks. She was glad that Elsa decided to do the critiquing in their apartment. At least then, she could keep an eye on Belle. But then, seeing them together also made her stomach churn in the wrong places.

"What are you critiquing anyway?" Anna wondered.

"Just... stuff." Elsa shrugged and offered a paper to Belle.

The side of Anna's lips twitched for being ignored. Well, maybe not totally ignored. She just hated how Elsa didn't really explain anything! Granted, she wasn't that interested. She just wanted to break their composure and all that stuff. Okay, maybe that wasn't really nice. Still. She was always talking when Elsa would do a research anyway! Okay, that wasn't nice too. Ugh.

"I don't think this part is necessary. There's already an explanation on this one," Belle said quietly while pointing on something on Elsa's paper. Anna frowned when Elsa leaned closer and looked at the corrections the brunette was talking about.

Soon, the two started talking about technical stuff and whatnot - things that Anna had no care about. She most especially didn't like how Elsa would keep smiling and talking to the brunette with this sweet tone she only ever does to her! Was she always like this to Belle?!

"Anna, sorry. Can you pick that up?" Elsa asked when their apartment phone rang.

Instead of saying anything, Anna slammed the table and stood up. The abruptness took Elsa and Belle off guard, but before any of them could speak, she walked to their living room to answer the damn phone. Was Elsa so busy with Belle that she couldn't even pick it up?! Papers your fa– whoa! Chill out, Anna mentally berated herself. She knew that they really do need some time, but she couldn't help it.

Anna knew that Belle was into Elsa after all.

No, Belle didn't say it. Even Elsa was denying it. But Anna had been at the brunt of the brunette's glare ever since they'd met. Why else would someone glare at her so much? She didn't do anything to make her angry! They barely even talked!

"What?!" Anna answered, not bothering to be kind. The poor person on the other line gasped, but Anna could care less. At least until the person spoke.

"Well, hello to you too," said a chilly feminine voice.

"M-Mom!" Anna shrieked. "Sorry! I'm sorry! I was ju—"

"Save your excuses some other time." It was easy for Anna to imagine her mother rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I take it; you're not in the mood. Maybe we can just talk when yo—"

"No, no, no! It's good! I have time! In fact, I welcome it!" A wicked smirk grew on Anna's lips. This could be a nice distraction from Elsa and Belle... and the other way around. Let's see if you can still ignore me, Anna thought mischievously.

Meanwhile, Elsa noticed how Belle looked a little uneasy. Guess she's not used to someone talking so much while working, she noted inwardly. She looked at Anna who was now sitting on the sofa, hugging her knees and talking louder than necessary. When their eyes met, Elsa frowned and tried to warn the girl with a look alone, but Anna snapped her eyes away.

"Sorry about her." Elsa smiled apologetically at the brunette.

"No, it's alright." Belle raised a hand for emphasis. "It's better than the loud drilling noises outside my apartment. I'm pretty sure we can't do any work done there."

"True, but she's being louder than usual." Elsa frowned and shot a warning look at the girl again, only to have her heart skip a beat when Anna stuck out her tongue. "I think she's doing it on purpose."

"Oh?"

"She always does it when she wants to talk or spend time together. Sometimes, she'd just sit and stare." Elsa shrugged and picked up a paper and tried to read.

"You don't get distracted?"

"I'm used to it." Elsa flipped through Belle's papers and corrected some lines while trying to ignore Anna's loud conversation with her mother. Usually, she would listen and be a part of the conversation, but right now, she has a visitor and she had to be twice as hospitable knowing that Anna wouldn't be.

"She's an artist?" Belle asked while looking at Anna's papers.

"Mhm. She's studying at C.U.," Elsa informed, pride blooming in her chest.

"Corona University?" When Elsa nodded, Belle looked at Anna's papers in amusement.

It was an understatement to say that Elsa was proud of Anna. Anna wasn't academically inclined, but because of her talent and skills in drawing, she was able to enter the prestigious Corona University: a school that specialized in Arts and Design. There were many courses connected to arts there, but because of an animation they watched as kids, Anna made it her life mission to become an animator. But of course, even without the achievement, Elsa was still proud. It was Anna after all.

"—letter, okay?" Anna tightened her hold on the phone, eyes unable to leave Elsa and Belle. Her heart clenched at the way Elsa would giggle beside the brunette. She was thankful that Elsa was hiding her laughter behind her hand, but seeing her giggle because of someone else made Anna's stomach flip.

"Yes, mom," Anna agreed, not remembering what they were talking about.

"What did I say?" Bulda asked on the other line.

"You said to ignore the letter." The other line went silent, and for a moment, Anna had to wonder if the call ended. She looked at the screen of the telephone to make sure. Still running, she frowned. "Hello?"

"Hon, I need you to go to the doctor and get your ears checked." Before Anna could ask what she was talking about, Bulda spoke again. "What do you mean 'ignore'?! I was telling you to design invitation letters for your little brother's birthday!" she spat angrily and Anna had to pull the phone away.

"Sheesh." Anna rubbed her ears before putting the phone back. "Chill out, mom! I was only testing you out! I know. Yeah, yeah, sure. Invitation for Olaf's birthday. But... Why do we need an invitation?"

"It's his request. Something about wanting his friends to come but he wasn't sure if their parents would allow them."

"It's a children's party that won't happen in about two months, mom. Don't you know, like, most of the people there? Just invite them!" Anna huffed because she wasn't sure if she had the time to design an invitation.

"Come on, Anna. Consider this your gift to him."

"Yeah, as if he'll accept this as a gift." Anna rolled her eyes. "For sure, he'll be asking me for another one of those robot fighters of that show he's been watching lately."

"Do I have to remind you who introduced that anime to him?"

"No need, mom. Okay, fine, I get it." Anna groaned and rubbed one side of her head. "Do I get money for this?"

"Do you want me to reduce your allowance?"

"You're a monster!"

"And you're the monster's child," Bulda snorted. "You can come home, right? Olaf really misses you. He's been playing with all those robots you bought for him during your last visit."

"Yeah, I think so." Anna grabbed the calendar on top of the coffee table. "Yeah, I think I can manage. I get off on the sixteenth."

"What about Elsie? She will come with you, right?" Bulda asked, expectation evident in her tone.

Elsa had always been close to Anna's parents. So much so that it was almost as if Elsa was the daughter instead of her. Heck, they only ever agreed to let her live away from them solely because Elsa was with her!

"I'll ask. Our university breaks don't match up," Anna noted, barely able to keep the bitterness away from her voice. When her eyes met Elsa's again, she quickly looked at the calendar instead. "Uhm... Mom?"

"Your room?"

"Yes," Elsa confirmed while compiling the papers. "She's my guest. We still have a long way to go and might not sleep. We don't want to distract you."

"You're not going to sleep? Elsie, you'll get sick! You're not overworking yourself, are you?"

When Belle went to their bathroom, Elsa dropped the bomb. Elsa already mentioned that Belle would be staying over, but it still surprised Anna to hear that the brunette would be staying in Elsa's room. She didn't like the idea of them sharing the same room.

"I'm fine, Anna. It's just for one night."

"It's not just one night, Elsie! It's one night!"

"It depends if we can finish early or not. We might take a nap from time to time, but, hopefully, we can get it done and rest."

Anna wanted to say something about Elsa always refusing to sleep beside someone else but her. That she wouldn't let anyone inside her room aside from Anna. She knew that Elsa and Belle were really busy with this research. Elsa said so herself, and the blonde doesn't lie to her. She knew, but she didn't like it. She didn't want Elsa to share the same things with other people when she would only do those things with her before.

Am I... jealous?

For Elsa though, she was clueless about the other turmoil inside Anna. She only thought that the girl was worried about her. Anna had been causing quite the scene ever since she fainted. Back then though, it wasn't only the stress and everything but also because Anna asked for a kiss. Maybe that was the final blow to finally pass out. Sometimes, Elsa had to wonder what could've happened if she didn't faint.

"B-But..." Anna paused, finding it hard to come up with some sort of excuse. There wasn't really any other excuse but jealousy and worry. She can try to push the worry part, but she also knew that Elsa can be stubborn when it came to academics. "A-At least take a nap... please."

Elsa's heart skipped a couple of beats at the way Anna just said it. It sounded soft, gentle, and weak. Almost like she was afraid to say it. "I will," Elsa promised. She looked at the digital clock before giving Anna her full attention. "You should rest. It's getting late." When Anna didn't move or say anything, Elsa sighed. "Anna, I'll be fi—"

All words remained unspoken when Anna placed a soft lingering kiss on her cheek. The worst (or good?) part was that Anna didn't pull away immediately. Everything was frozen at that moment, and Elsa's thoughts refused to form. Once the redhead pulled away, Elsa stared completely breathless at the way her face sported a rosy hue.

"G-Goodnight, Elsie," Anna stuttered and bolted off to her room.