Pain

She wished she hadn't met him at all. The pain was still alive inside, somewhere unknowingly hiding but whenever triggered, it'll leave a big scar that no one can wash away. For instance, Aria dodged every conversation that'll relive what kind of person Bryce is. Sometimes, Prince would allow bearing the topic of him while they're conversing.

Now that he's in front of her, she thought she'd be alright. That everything would go the way she wanted into, without the enraged Bryce coming after her in every waking second of her life.

Instantly as Bryce stepped forward, Aria shielded her abdomen right away.

Bryce fleeted his gaze upon it, realizing that Prince was saying the truth about Aria.

All of those punches he did washed all of the gentle caresses she has done for a very long time. She used to cherish all those relaxing steadiness of his arms whenever she's exhausted from work. The masculine scent has piled up with blood oozing at the side of her head.

The lovely stares he had manifested ever since the first day he pursued her.

Aria treasured all of the memories up to date, but now, her soft eyes weren't as infatuated as it was before. She was looking at him with doubt, and all of the bright places have become the wall of nightmares that haunted her every night. Aria wouldn't be able to control what kind of emotion she show if Bryce was here.

"Aria…"

The moment he called out her name, Aria turned around, holding her abdomen tight, and run away. He got anxious by the child inside her womb upon her rigid moves. She separated the distance between the two of them, and Bryce deemed to fit it once again.

"Aria, slow down!" He had managed to catch her up on an empty, wide street.

Bryce hitched her wrist, but then, before he can even talk about his thoughts, a slap landed on his cheek. He gasped for breath, took a step backwards, already knew it was coming. Aria gaped, the angry tears flowing unknowingly down her cheeks. Her lips quivered, accompanied by her teeth gritting on each other.

She bared her teeth, speaking up in a hushed voice, "How did you manage to find me?"

Aria knuckled her fists. Bryce caught a glimpse. Once again, he looked terrified.

But what would be those fear align into if Aria was far more traumatized by what he has done?

Aria doesn't understand his language anymore.

"Aria…"

She shook her head vigorously, ordering, "Just stay there, Bryce. Stay in your place and answer me. I want you to respond to me about what face are you wearing on right now to find me like this! Why!"

Bryce was bothered by how she raised her voice. It can affect the child inside her body.

"Why do you need to come back when I'm slowly recovering from life that I had before I met you? Why do you have to be here when I'm coming home smiling? You have a knack to ruin my life, Bryce," Aria croaked out.

There were no people around, which was as fortunate as he was right here to talk to her for a bit. Aria wouldn't go away that fast, because her eyes said the otherwise. She must have wanted to cling to him, as if it's the last she'd be able to. Aria wouldn't be able to come up with another solution to unclasp her hands from him but running away.

"Aria, it's not like that…"

"Then why are you showing up in front of me like it's not a big deal at all? Why are you here?"

She just needed to ask, and her whole word will topple over. A lot of emotions surfaced in her heart simultaneously. Confused, angry, pain… and her wounded heart, as she swallowed, Aria felt the lump in her throat. A side of her wanted to stay by his side, but her other side was demonic.

Aria wanted to curse, to shout obscenities, to show him what kind of monster he is.

Bryce is a cursed evil fated to bring her danger while she's living.

"I wanted to see your belly, Aria." Bryce closed his eyes a second after those words came out.

Aria stared at his forehead, and his tousled hair. Her vision was blurred, but she can still see how wrecked Bryce was. It broke her… right after he said that, it crashed her again. A million times that nobody can even repair.

Bryce sniffed, stuttering, "I wanted to see i-if you're doing o-okay. To see you alright is what made my day, Aria. You are…"

Aria creased her forehead, holding up a hand, "Please don't say anymore thing. Don't say that anymore… just, don't."

The cold air blustered around the trees, reaching their bare hands, covering them with icy blanket. They're standing meters apart, but Bryce wanted to seal the gap in an inch. Though Aria wouldn't allow it, Bryce wanted to do it. Still, there was a shackle resulting to him holding back.

He needed to wait another time to hold her once again.

If he wanted to win her over, Bryce had to go back to the first step.

Aria looked anywhere but to his eyes. Nothing can seem to convince that Bryce is worthy of her time. He had a gut to punch her when she's about to announce her pregnancy, and now, he wanted to see her belly, for what reason?

"I bled… a lot. I ran down the mountain to seek help, hide from the cars down by the country hotel and cried up all night. Though I wanted to accept everything happened for a reason, I can't, because I do know it's going to be as shallow as the seashore."

Aria was much calmer now. Bryce gawked at her forehead. She's sweating a lot. Maybe, the fear had consumed the strength she had left for the day before sleeping the night.

Aria blinked several times, "I was in so much pain, Bryce. My heart is aching when I saw the wounds in my wrists, the blood I wiped out of the side of my head, and my stomach… it hurts whenever I move."

Bryce wept silently. He clenched his jaw, careful enough not to make any noise.

"I didn't know where to go." It completely wielded the sobs. She buried her eyes in her palms, and bawled it out. Aria whined loudly, constantly wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Bryce was looking at her, and finally, after a split second, she did so, too. They both stared longer, tears were inconsistent, but the rage would still blaze. Bryce wanted to kneel down, but that situation wouldn't add up to her forgiveness.

"Someone rescued me. That man is not even close to you, Bryce. That man is a prosecutor, but he saved me, and didn't even ask where I came from the moment we talk. I wish I never met a man like you."

Her tears dwindle, and her death stare appeared. Aria sighed heavily, nodding repeatedly, knowing that this talk would be unnecessary if Bryce was a hindrance to her quiet life.

Aria snapped back, "Please don't show in front of me again. I don't feel like saying to you what I have done for the couple of days. Plus, that day, I don't even know you at all. Not with your name or your influence in my life."

The rage intensified. He looked guilty already.

"I never met a man like you. Know your boundaries, Mister."

Aria patted her chin dry, walking past ahead, holding her belly tight. She didn't even take a single look back and walked away as soon as possible. Bryce turned his heel around, but it was too late.

She disappeared in the corner with a heavy heart.