Helping You Doesn't Need A Pay

Prince had never been in touch with someone else's skin contact in a few years even if he has a girlfriend. Right when Aria came, every touch she made sent him goose bumps all over. Every step forward made him stagger back, like someone was pushing him to the wall, waiting to receive a pleasurable punishment.

Aria continued to do that, but Prince retorted first hand, "Stop it."

Her hand froze in midair. Aria stared at him.

Prince regretted it, because the moment she put her palm on his shoulder again, he longed for it.

"We need to go, so stop it. I'll be the one to take care of my sweat." Prince swallowed. Aria retracted back, and didn't even push through to touch her. She wrapped her arms around his neck once again as Prince continued to run.

With the fire blazing at the side of the hospital, taking over the nurse station and the doctor's offices, Prince knew the plan was working. He just needed to be careful on running at the right car to hide Aria inside without everyone knowing.

The electricity is cut off, and the surveillance cameras wouldn't record what had happened in the parking lot.

Prince pressed a button in his hand, and he immediately found his car. Fortunate enough his men knew a lot of pro-tactics for their escape plan. Prince held onto Aria's legs until he can't do it anymore. Her weight bore in his arms heavily, and running from floors down to the parking lot excruciate him too much.

As they reached their car, Prince put down Aria beside the passenger seat, and opened up the car door quickly.

The sirens were too noisy, and Aria even covered her ears to block the noise.

Aria helped herself inside the passenger seat while Prince went to the other side, climbing to the driver's seat. He caught his breath, and trying to calm himself down, as if it can reduce the exhaustion he's experiencing now. Aria fastened her seatbelt, staring at Prince's pale face.

"I'll drive out now," Prince whispered.

Aria turned to the flowers, and their petals still bloomed after days. They aren't bothered with the fire escape she and Prince had done.

As Prince stepped on the clutch right away, the car drove away from the parking lot, screeching its tires whenever they're turning a corner. Aria watched as the scene zoomed in past in her sight, with Prince reaching his speed limit.

She stared at the highway, and saw the flock of people at the entrance of the hospital. The fire has gotten big, and they're fortunate enough to escape before everything fell down to them.

Prince swallowed, frequently wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, and panted.

The ambulance truck and the firefighters were all in a ruckus to extinguish the flames. Aria watched as the fire disappear from her sight in a while Prince turned back to his normal state.

He rushed to the green light, passing an intersection, as Aria turned to the flowers she was holding, and the pajamas she's wearing for 2 straight days now. She felt humiliated by her appearance, knowing her scent, the grime in between her teeth, and her repetitive clothes she had for days.

Prince didn't say anything, focused ahead of the road, contemplating of what's next.

Aria sighed, saying, "I'm sorry I had to crash inside your car this time."

Prince didn't mind her at all. This is a part of the plan… this is a part of the plan… this is a part of the plan…

Aria turned to him, adding, "I promise I will pay for all the help you did to me, Mr. Gomez. Even the flowers you bought for me in our store."

Prince furrowed his eyebrows. He never wanted someone to pay for what they owe. It's not actually his thing. But looking at Aria and hearing her words, she wouldn't let her debts go unpaid. All of the grateful deeds she received… Prince guessed Bryce hasn't done it to her earlier.

"All of the things you have done…" she trailed off. Aria must have hesitated to open up. She and Prince haven't known each other for a month. This isn't the right time to talk about their lives when they're escaping a fire, with the blood still oozing out of her open vein, and with Prince all sweaty.

Wasn't this unexpected moment a perfect time to know something even for a tad bit?

Prince slowed down, and the red light showed up.

Aria's tongue must have tied, and Prince didn't probe any further.

"You don't have to pay me, Aria. I did it to save you and your child. I don't want to get paid to something I volunteered in goodwill," Prince mumbled. He held onto the steering wheel. Aria hugged her flowers close to her chest, and puffed her cheeks.

"You owe me, yes, but I never wanted to let the one I saved get burden up to repay because I helped her. It's better not to ask for a change, because that wouldn't be a help at all," Prince explained.

He's right. If someone asked for a change, it was a debt, not a help at all. Aria must be used to pay everyone who helped her, or even the ones who tried. There were a lot, but not as many as they should. They aren't that consistent, always resisting on the idea of losing money over a country girl who is a mere florist and didn't even earn at least 5 digits in one month.

"I just…" she stared at the dashboard for a while. Prince turned to Aria.

She met his eyes. "I never received this kind of help. A week-long, like you're my parent, my brother, or even a guardian close to me. It was the first time I received that kind of treatment, so I thought…"

She smiled sadly. The devastation etched in her eyes, and Prince could feel it. It radiate to him, like she's hypnotizing her as much as possible. Prince stayed intact in his seat, his eyes emotionless.

"You need some pay for it. A lot of people think I'm a pushover, someone who would lend money when someone open up their heart and lend a hand. The moment I said I had no money… they'll eventually back out like they don't know me." Aria smirked, like she's experiencing it dozens of times.

She's not hiding it. All of her expressions showed it was the people who created such an emotion for her.

"With that emotion stirring inside of me, I always insist. I felt like it was the right thing to do, to pay, even if they don't ask about it. So that the people who help me wouldn't lose value, and that they'll stay by my side without me pleasing them."

All of warnings Bryce had said added up to the moment Aria said those words. She has been alone in this world, with no one to even lean on, and when Bryce came to her life, Aria felt like the whole world answered her prayer.

He observed Aria's similarities to Avery, and Prince spotted a difference.

Her eyes… Avery's a wolf-like, but Aria was similar to a puppy.

Before he could say anything, the honk of the cars startled both of them. Prince removed his gaze, and stepped on the accelerator. The car moved, and the tension between their stares loosened up.

All of a sudden, Aria thought where Prince could drop her off.

"Prince, I…" Prince sensed it quickly.

"Say to me your address. Gather your things, and I'll hire a private doctor for you."

It just came out of nowhere, and Prince wanted to slap his mouth right then and there. Aria froze in her seat.

What is he… saying?