Your Name

For the first time in years, his heart skipped a beat. Prince turned to her again, wondering if she's sincere. When he met her eyes, it was. Aria looked at him with empathy, similar to a prey thanking the predator from backing out when he's supposed to slit his throat.

It was the exact same eyes Aria exuded.

Prince didn't know why he stared longer than her. Why does he can do that to Avery?

Even though they're in a relationship for 3 years, aiding with the plan, plotting points of weakness that Avery wouldn't find out, Prince couldn't look her this strong in the eye. Aria was different.

She is kind, even if Prince only talked to her twice.

Prince only knew that if he looked at her, she'll smile back. For now, it'll be a regular.

Aria added, "I hope I can pay you back, but you know… I'm not that wealthy like you are. I just live on a country side with nothing of a job but to assist on flower arranging. That's what I do in life."

Aria was becoming open to him. Does he have to do the same thing? Prince resisted doing so. The wall in between them should remain intact. It wouldn't be good for him breaking that barrier, because he'll lose direction in the plan he made, and the things would dissipate.

Prince isn't doing it for himself. It is for his father's revenge.

Prince should think of it as an advantage. This will be the move he'll first do. He swallowed, glimpsing of hope, knowing the plan would set out, and Aria would be the one leading her to the booby trap.

"Let's talk later. I'll grab some breakfast," Prince assured. He gave him a sincere smile, and went out of the room right away. He gasped for air, turning to the empty hallway, and his gaze became dark. Prince knuckled his fists. How innocent she looked at… made him angrier.

"Why does she have to look that innocent?" Prince whispered. He walked away from the room, to the hallway, and down the staircase.

…

As he checked in the breakfast with his card, the news in the television flourished.

"Avery De Leon, the daughter of Lara De Leon and late Zion Cortez, went missing, as the maids in her mansion reported her disappearance last Sunday Night, July 24. According the eye witnesses, Avery De Leon climbed her limousine on Friday night to attend a banquet party at the known Aurora Hotel.

The detectives asked the hotel director about Avery De Leon, but based on the investigation that started today, they have found the exit log and signature of Avery De Leon. They also retrieved a fingerprint on the said note."

Prince waited at the corner table, watching the news. The police were too dumb to even locate her body. Of course, Prince had dealt it before, and he had men to do that. What's more important now is that his men didn't commit whistleblowing.

Prince promised to take care of their families, and even let them wish whatever they want. They're going to live lavishly in exchange of killing one person. Prince had a hard time negotiating, but an evil should suppress the good. Maybe… his principle is like that.

"We are currently contacting Prince Gomez, her boyfriend, and the son of the former Legal Adviser to the president, Ian Gomez, regarding the matter."

After that, his phone rang. The reporters will be asking him some questions, and it'll be natural for them to come at him. Prince had planned it—everything—and no certain loophole would get pass through it. Except the failure they did with Aria.

"Damn Bryce. It should have been fine by now. No one should talk about Aria," Prince breathed.

He ignored the calls first, and decided to attend to Aria's needs. He retrieved the coffee, the bread, and bowed down his head. Prince walked out of the café towards the hospital.

When he's walking towards the elevator, the noise annoyed him. He sighed, answering one of the calls as he sat down on a private lobby, and closed the door. This is it. His acting skills should show up.

Prince pretended to cry, and his tone should be so down.

"Hello."

"Mr. Prince Gomez. We would like a word with you. Avery De Leon's missing, your girlfriend, and she isn't answering any calls." Prince gasped. Groggy as he could be, he should pretend that he just woken up with the news. He covered his mouth.

"M-missing? I just… texted her yesterday morning, she said she's busy at the moment." Prince got covered it up. He retrieved her cell phone, pretending to send a text to her boyfriend, and poof. No one will even know she isn't the one who did it.

"Could you please show us the text you have with her so that we could proceed with the investigation?"

Prince pretended to panic. "Sir, can we meet up at the police station at 10 am? I wanted to help. My girlfriend…"

This is going to be good. As long as he feed them up with lies, Avery's body wouldn't be found. Prince shuffled in his seat, pretending to hoist a thing, but he's a genius, too. Even if the police detect his cell phone, he has an anti-location on it, blocking on the signals that trying to connect where he was.

"Alright, Mr. Gomez."

…

It was just 7 in the morning, but the buzz of the missing person blown up already.

Good thing inside Aria's bedroom, there's nothing in there but a plain wall and air conditioner. She would never know the buzz of the town. Prince came in, holding boxes of donuts, and croissants, along with the cup of coffee and an orange juice in one hand.

Aria was looking steadily at the wall.

She didn't even bother to look, but when she sensed movement, Aria got startled right away.

Prince staggered back, surprised, and darted his eyes everywhere. Aria huffed some air, closed her eyes, waving her hand, saying, "I'm sorry. I was just… I thought someone c-came in…"

Prince cut her off. "It's alright. You don't need to explain."

Aria held her chest, letting Prince do her thing. He retrieved the coffee table, dragged it by the side of his bed, and placed the breakfast. Aria watched him, assuring, "You don't need to buy me breakfast at all, but you still did, and it's another debt to pay on top of me."

Prince knew he had to take advantage, but Aria will insist. It's a point for him.

"You don't have to pay. It's my good will," Prince mumbled.

"I need to. I don't even know your name. I wanted to ask, but I can't. Maybe if the time's right," Aria answered. Prince settled down on a seat, and finished preparing the food. Aria met his eyes.

She clutched the hem of the blanket. Why did she get mesmerized by his handsome face?

"What if we settle to introduce ourselves first? Do you agree with that?" He spoke too formally, out of Aria's league. He's different to Bryce. On one look, this man looked like a bad guy. But she knew it isn't. His heart was weak, just pretending to be strong.

"Should we?"

"Hm. I'll start first: I'm Prince Gomez."

Aria smiled. "I'm Aria De Leon."