Going Back

Supposedly, Sunday was the best time for Aria to work Beauty's Flowers. She hoisted a cap and tucked in the loose strands of her hair underneath. Aria doesn't have time to chit chat with the gardeners about her life because she's already running late. She hitched her bag out of the counter, ran through the shining hallways of the cabin mansion, and slammed the door close.

Aria hastily stepped downstairs, waved to the intended chauffeur Prince ordered earlier, and run as fast as she could. Aria gasped for air, slid the bag into the booth, and climbed inside comfortably. The chauffeur closed the door for her.

Aria wiped the sweat out of her forehead. It's the start of something new. She couldn't wait to come inside the Beauty's Flowers after so long. Aria didn't have enough time to think about her look. What she needed to prepare at was the shout of her boss.

…

She stood outside of the shop with trembling legs. Even though she's wearing a skinny jacket and slacks, Aria felt cold. It might be cause of the hormones coursing through her body. More likely, the child bearing in her womb was craving for some heat, and her temperature gradually slow down as it regulated.

Aria sighed, looking at a new colleague they must have hired in replacement of her.

She was the senior designer, and her talent for her craft would never be a bother to every shop.

It was the intellectual need of every person: to rely to someone far more intelligent than them.

When Aria reached out for the handle, she closed her eyes tightly, and prayed to a thousand Gods. Aria doesn't have enough time to hesitate, because her work would be up by now, and she'll be late already. She pushed through the door, right inside, seeing the benches and cabinets in the same position.

The flowers' scents lingered around the room. She heard the hushes of voices, and Aria walked quickly, showing up right at the side, peeking in her head. Someone caught her attention, and it was the junior designer, Flora.

She widened her eyes. Right when she saw Aria, she dodged the conversation from the newbie away. Flora raised her arms, welcoming her with a grand gesture, and gasped, "Aria? Oh my…"

Aria doesn't know how to react. In this way, she knew she had a family to come back.

Flora immediately gave her a warm embrace and Aria couldn't help but to tear up. After what happened in her house with Bryce's beating, Aria disappeared like a ghost for weeks. Fortunate enough that Prince found her before everyone else do. Aria might be suffering now if it hadn't for Prince's heart.

"How much longer do you have to stay absent, Aria? Our boss was so worried about you."

Flora unclasped, looking at her shoulders, checking if she's well. She even pinched her arms, and Aria doesn't know how to calm her racing heart. Since the incident, she never got a call from their head manager. She's always out, but whenever there's trouble, she'd come up quickly and straighten out the dispute.

"I don't know how I should say it to him. I need to get back to work and design the remaining sketches I have. Plus, I really like to go back here, even though in 3 shifts."

Flora turned to the head manager's door, and smiled sadly. The newbie by the counter goes back to her job, arranging the flowers inside the vases for convenience. Flora assisted, "You have to go there at the back end. Make sure not to do anything that can raise her voice. Be certain of your reason."

Aria nodded. She doesn't have any time to think it over. Aria has to be utterly honest, or else, she might lose her job.

…

Night came, and Aria was in a good mood. Before she even say something, the head manager stood up from her chair and gave her a hug. Aria doesn't know why, or if someone stated the reason Aria didn't file any absence without leave, and if Prince… comes by to explain himself.

All day, she's been thinking about the manager's words.

She even touched her belly, saying, "She's going to grow up as a beautiful kid like you, Aria."

Aria wanted a peaceful day in the office, but it bothered her the most. Maybe, she had to ask Prince about it after coming home.

She's waiting for 7 pm to tick off the clock and it's time for dismissal. Aria waited a few seconds, then called out to Flora about closing time.

"I'll go ahead, Flora, time to close the shop after 9 pm!" Aria yelled.

Flora raised her hand and waved through the sea of packaging boxes. Aria smiled widely at the door, and adjusted the cap to the level of her eye. She slung her bag comfortably in her shoulder, sighing happily, and closed the revolving door gently.

Aria tucked in her hands inside her slim jacket, grinning at the pedestrian's light, and fleeted her gaze back to the other side of the street. She remembered Bryce standing there, waiting for her, so as not to disturb her from work, letting her go on for a while. When it's dismissal time, he still stood there.

"He's always waiting for me to go off work by crossing the street," Aria whispered.

Her heart longed for Bryce's touch. However, when she remembered his punches to the side of her head, all of that disappeared on a trace of pain. No one can stop it from hurting. Whenever his name popped up on her mind, it'll leave her scarred, deeply wounded and unhealed.

Aria looked down for a while.

Little did she knew, that Bryce walked up the street after waiting for a few hours. He wore off the earphones, stuffed it inside his pants, and stood there, at the other end, wearing a black cap they both bought down the street of the night market.

When Bryce gazed at her direction, he immediately knew who she was.

She's there, sulking. Bryce stood upright at the center, wearing the devastation in his face. He breathed heavily, and the tears brimmed in his lids. Aria heard the pedestrian lane's light, and it turned green. The stoplight blinked red, and all of the vehicles halted.

Aria wiped the tears out of her cheeks, sniffing, and paved her way across.

Right when she was about to turn, Aria bumped to a brusque shoulder, and before she even went away after saying a quick sorry, she already recognized the scent. Aria froze, stopped from walking, and turned around hastily, widening her eyes underneath the cap's hood.

After the crowd dispersed, Bryce met her soft eyes. Those soothing, pampering eyes he loved to look at.

The cold water drained down her body, freezing her to death, and all of the fears she had resurfaced as if it's the only thing that she's clinging into for the past few days.

Both of them stared into each other eyes' as longer as possible.

It took a second before they snapped back to reality, and Bryce was the one who wore off his cap first. He looked at the hood, seeing his initial, and the same one goes with Aria. Bryce doesn't want to stare at her.

By this time, she's already glaring at him. Aria felt a lot of emotions rushing in, similar to running off down the mountain with no direction in mind. Aria's lips trembled, and she balled her fists, closing her eyes tightly. She shook her head vigorously.

"Aria…" Bryce called out. He took a step forward.

Aria staggered back, holding up a hand, whispering, "Don't come near me. Don't come… near me…"