Bryce and Aria [2]

[4 years ago.]

Bryce found her address right after he asked multiple times in the neighborhood. Well, that was a pretend. He was just garnering attention for them to testify he's been searching for Aria De Leon. Bryce knew her address right away, even though the neighbors though he didn't.

Bryce stopped at the narrow street, right at the very edge of their neighborhood, and saw the signs.

Aria's house is right on the last lane.

Bryce sighed, turning to the clock, and it's already her off-time. In just a few minutes, Aria would walk down the street, and recognized him as the prosecutor who helped her a few days ago.

Bryce doesn't have to worry about Prince. He's paving his way to execute the plan with Avery.

After all, they had many months to get their ease. Nothing is easy at the first time.

Bryce stayed at the post, leaning there, and texted Prince.

To: Prince

From: Bryce

'I'm on my way to capture Aria's heart.'

He hit the send button, and waited for a few moments. It beeped.

To: Bryce

From: Prince

'Stay away from the subject. Don't get too attached. Make sure she falls in love with you.'

Bryce smirked. Him? Getting attached? There's no way that would happen. As he tucked in his phone after a while, he saw a familiar silhouette. Bryce pretended to fall asleep on the corner until a neighbor called Aria out, revealing that there's a man who come over to ask about her address.

He still closed his eyes, just in case Aria came around.

"Really? Who was it?"

"He's too handsome to describe. He introduced himself as a prosecutor in the capital city. You're so lucky, Aria," the neighbor praised. Aria bowed down her head, and gave her a little smile. She isn't categorizing herself as lucky because a man came looking at her.

Sometimes, they just needed someone, and not because they want to stay by the woman's side.

Aria held onto her sling bag, and walked down her post, but before she can even turn into her street, she saw a familiar figure. Aria was going to ignore her, since she doesn't know if it was the prosecutor who introduced himself a few days ago, but right when he open his eyes…

Aria got struck in her place. It is… the prosecutor who helped her with the rolling oranges.

Bryce inhaled a hefty amount of air, stepping out of the gutter, and stood a fair distance away from Aria.

"Hello, orange girl," Bryce greeted. Aria doesn't have that many suitors, or she's just turning them down because they aren't as pursuant unlike this guy in front of her. Bryce tucked in his hands inside his slacks, and smiled sweetly to her.

"Mister, what is your business around here?" Aria couldn't help but to be straightforward.

There's a part of her unknowingly wanting to push him away, but he stalled some time in front of her, and that's the longest time she ever had a moment with a guy. Aria usually hung out a lot around girls, and she doesn't want to date someone.

Maybe that principle broke off right away when Bryce came into the light.

"To see you," Bryce dropped it too well Aria's cheeks flushed. She held onto her sling bag for her not to give up.

"Oh, that. I didn't know you were too cheesy." Aria tucked in the hair behind her ear, and recovered from the sudden jolt of her heart, thumping it like crazy.

"Only to you, lovely lady, still, I don't know your name even if I embarrass myself like this."

Bryce raised his eyebrows, and his eyes have gone soft. He's infatuated already, and it just has been days. For sure, his feelings were true. It isn't the lies that Prince wanted him to do. At first sight, she had taken toll of her his heart, capturing it already, as if he got struck by her beauty.

Aria smirked, teasing, "You have gone way too lovely on the lines, and not even asked for my name. Courtesy is the first key to unlock it."

She crossed her arms over her chest and walked away with a grin. In those simple moments, they both got into rollercoaster of emotions, and nothing can explain the rumble of butterflies in their stomach. Aria tracked the narrow street while Bryce was right on her foot.

Aria turned halfway, and gave a hearty laugh.

…

It was like music to his ears. Every day he got off work, he rushed to his car to meet Aria. Even though she's persistent about coming to dinner, Bryce waited outside of the Beauty's Flowers to fetch her, but after a week, she still didn't give in.

To: Bryce

From: Prince

'Make sure she'll give in for the next week. Be vigilant, Bryce. Find another way to let her date you.'

In order to work this out, Bryce had to leap a few times to make the plan solidified.

As Aria's colleagues went out, Bryce turned to their circle, and she didn't find her at all. They have never seen him, and he hid for as long as possible. Aria tended to rush home whenever she heard Bryce was at the corner, waiting for her.

Bryce had to lose her chance today. It was two weeks after they met.

The door closed, and when her colleagues turned around the corner, Bryce came out of her hiding spot, looking inside the flower shop, and she's moving things around. As soon as he saw her, Aria reached out to a box on the top of the closet, and was close to tipping off the step.

Bryce was right. Before Aria could even reach the box, she lost balance. A perfect time for Bryce to be in the rescue, and the one who can help her this time since her colleagues already went home.

A loud thud indicated she fell and Aria winced behind the counter.

Bryce rushed inside the flower shop, dashing at the counter, seeing Aria's feet twisted.

Aria didn't know what happened, but Bryce hastily opened the trap door, and came into her aid.

"Ow, it…" Her face painted with pain, and Bryce skeptically touched her ankle.

Aria shrieked out, "Don't touch it. It hurts badly!"

She didn't even realize who it was until she sniffed in the masculine scent. Aria turned to see Bryce's physique turning to him, checking if the injury was bad. Bryce muttered, "We have to check into the hospital. This could get worse if you didn't treat it right away."

Bryce carefully retrieved her leg, and raised it up to his lap. Aria was humiliated, because she's still wearing a skirt. Bryce didn't even glimpse down her leg, because that would be discourteous. Aria sighed, asking, "That would be just an expense. I'd be alright only a day of having ice pack."

"No. You need to cast it. It will get infected if you didn't treat it."

"Bryce…"

"What's your name?" It is very unusual to ask about her name at this tight situation while she's holding his ankle. Aria dropped her jaw, and couldn't believe this guy.

"How can I say something to the nurse later if I don't know your name," Bryce exhaled.