It's Hard

Prince nearly spat out the soup in surprise. He coughed up, picked up the glass of water, and chugged it down for a moment. Aria closed her eyes, knowing it's not the right moment to say.

He put down the glass gently, asking in an abhorred face, "What are you trying to do?"

Aria's fingers trembled. She mumbled, "I want to press charges to Bryce Fajardo. It's my ex-boyfriend's name."

Prince had known this would come at all. He warned Bryce about the warrant of arrest getting in his way. He must have prepared a counterattack while at it. Prince had to take a double-look to the case before letting Aria pursue it.

Prince was chuckling deep inside. Aria must have known a lot of legal procedures before she can pass through the trials and hearings. She doesn't have any evidence at all, or even pictures to start with.

All of the files she had on the hospital have burned down with the fire. Prince would find a hard time investigating it if she lacked of evidence.

He got stunned, put down the spoon gently on the side of his plate, and licked his lips.

Aria pushed on, "I want him to get punished for what he has done to me. He had done a lot of misery, assaulting me repeatedly that day, and even tried to kill me. Wouldn't that be an attempted murder case?"

Prince was hopeless. It's getting on Aria's nerves. She knew it wouldn't be possible at all.

"The things is, Aria, inside the court, they doesn't seem to see what you feel about the situation. You have to show evidences on the court that you got assaulted." Even if Prince didn't lie about that thing, it's part of the legal procedure.

If Aria wanted to press charges to Bryce, she had to pay a lot of sum of money.

But since a thorough listening Prince had done, it's never going to happen. Aria should show money for the hearing to proceed. If she hasn't, well, the case would be on the trash bin already.

"What else?"

"Based on your miscarriage earlier, you have to present it, too. With the fire that has happened downtown, I know it would be hard to retrieve the file," Prince added. Aria's shoulders sulked. The hope she has glistened earlier dissipated after Prince, a prosecutor, stated the things.

He swallowed, knowing this time he had to be straightforward.

"In addition to that, Aria, you have to show them money. We couldn't proceed to the case if you don't have money. Also, Bryce Fajardo…"

Aria perked up. He's working as a prosecutor, too, so they must have ran to each other. She raised her eyebrows, inquiring, "Do you know about him? He's a prosecutor, too, Prince. He's working at the Supreme Court…"

How come she didn't connect the two dots? Prince knew him well.

"I haven't got the time to know about prosecutors all over the Supreme Court. I heard his name, but, I'm sorry, Aria, I didn't know him besides his identity. I just…"

Prince picked up the fork, dipped the egg rolls on a sauce, and munched it in.

"… didn't have the time to meet everyone in the office."

Aria looked at him hopelessly. She hasn't touched his food. The assault case must have pre-occupied her that well. Prince sighed, knowing she'll plead, too. Aria doesn't know if it was the right thing to do, either.

"What should I need to do besides money? What should I pay them?"

Prince stopped from gabbling down the food she prepared. Aria broke down her stare. She looked at the food, letting all her worries took over her pride. Down at her womb, her stomach rumbled.

The baby inside must be hungry. The mother… she… is not eating that well.

Prince followed her eyes from where she's looking at and it's in her womb.

Aria hitched her breath, mumbling, "What should I do, Mr. Prosecutor? Should I just let myself suffer from this trauma or let the one who gave me this suffer inside bars?"

She placed her palms on her womb, soothing it. Prince couldn't help but to stare at her intricate fingers. Aria was a caring mother, if it happens she gave birth to a healthy baby. Someone like her should be taken care of.

…

She slept already, and her question left him hanging in his bedroom. He's staring at the blank paper for the nth time, replaying her words inside his mind. It's keeping him awake, along with the company of howls of the wild animals, or the perch of the owls on a tree.

Prince gripped the ball pen tightly, put it down again, and closed his eyes.

"I'm not feeling guilty… I'm not feeling guilty…"

Prince saved her from being miscarried. He was the one who took care of her bills, of her hospital bed, and even her food to eat for the past few weeks. He even insisted to come see her house when she's dreading to come back there even just for a second.

Prince had done it all unknowingly.

Now, she's asking for something else.

Prince tried to break off from her tie with Aria, but it doesn't seem easy.

She owe him, he owes her of the pay. Anything that can cut them off was her death.

"But I couldn't do it sooner. I have to find a right time." Prince was losing his mind. The path he has taken was now breaking off into two. It's either on the left, or on the right. Two of those roads have supposed conclusions.

The conclusion he hated the most, or the conclusion where everything would be better.

"Why are you doing this to me? Why are you…"

He gripped both sides of his head, thinking of a swerve in the plan.

…

He washed up before going downstairs. It's already 7 in the morning, and it's a long drive towards the capital city. Prince had slept for nearly 5 hours, and it's getting him dizzy.

Good thing there are no trials today.

As he came up towards the hallway, someone called out at the other end.

"Prince!" He knew who that was, and Prince shouldn't look around to see Aria.

Aria placed her palms on her knees, huffing out some air. When she recovered, she nodded for a while before stating, "I know how to attain the money and the evidence."