River of Tears

Aria walked home alone. She doesn't have any companion with her. Running into Prince isn't what she intended to, but when she's about to call a taxi cab, a car horn honked. Aria's puffy eyes looked up, sniffing gently, and have known she'd regret it for a while.

Aria gasped, hitching her breath, trying to calm down, but her body won't even give up on the ease.

Prince has been waiting for her already. Before she comes off to work, Prince was sitting inside his car for an hour. He never moved or roll down his window. He just watched… how she worked silently inside the Beauty's Flowers.

Prince eventually decided to climb down but he never had a chance to do so. Bryce came up at the other side of the street earlier, and Prince had to back down. If Bryce managed to find out he's following Aria, too, he'd be doomed. Though, Bryce doesn't know that Prince has been tracking him ever since.

"That wench, Bryce," Prince mumbled a curse.

Immediately after he honked his car nearby, Aria's eyes fleeted at the window.

And there, Prince saw it. Those devastated and frightened eyes that were so different from what she used to look at. The weeks have passed by, and the moment Prince sheltered her under his wing, things have changed drastically. Aria had developed those cheeky smiles, those bright eyes, and scrunched noses whenever she laughed.

Prince all saw it: how she forgotten the trauma for a minute, or even a split second.

Nothing could ever change the fact that she's suffering from a nightmare. Whenever he tried to listen at her huffed breathing sometimes, he'd deliberately hear it. A soft, squeaky muffle of a woman—who's pregnant of her first child—murmuring encouraging words at the bathroom walls, and thought that nobody can hear it.

But Prince held onto his cell phone that time, blinking twice, comprehending if Aria needed help.

That day forward, Prince waited for that sound again. The moment it tuned on, Prince had to act right away. Not because he sympathize him, but because he wanted Aria to acknowledge who he was: a knight in a shining armor.

Someone who can save her from the dark void or even hold her tight when she's dipped on a black hole. That guy who would sacrifice his life for her. The only one that mattered was her, and not everyone else.

Prince needed to be that someone.

Aria halted her tracks, her tears poured down continuously, and her sobs came through.

Prince climbed down from the car, buttoning his suit on. He turned to her, and Aria felt an obstruction down her throat. Her voice lost for a second, and as she stared at Prince, Aria doesn't want to conclude it right away.

Why do… every time she cries, Prince was there?

They're standing on each other side of the street. Aria was beside a cherry blossom tree, but the flowers aren't in blossoming period. Prince was at the hood of his car, close to the highway, but still standing at the edge of the line.

He tilted his head to one side, waiting for Aria to cross the street.

Prince knew she wouldn't hesitate on coming to him.

Aria contemplated for a while. But her insides writhe on not granting the wishes her feet wanted to. She gasped for breath, wiped the corners of her cheeks, and walked through. Aria breathed deeply, and bit her bottom lip.

When she finally reached Prince, Aria doesn't blink twice from staring through his eyes.

What she couldn't do earlier with Bryce was the exact opposite. Though she's not comparing at all, Prince was gentle compared to Bryce. Aria doesn't want to believe in her guts for a while, but she hoped it was wrong. And for the nth time, Aria's wishes might turn into stone.

"What happened to you?" Prince asked. He noticed his eyes. He knew the reason behind, but no actions can confirm what the lips couldn't. They should go on pair. Aria already wiped it couple of times, but it hasn't fell off. Something inside her heart was stirring up and it doesn't deny the sadness, that's why, her eyes were cooperating.

"No, it's nothing. Can we just… go home? I'm tired already."

Aria acted as if it's nothing at all. She shrugged off, walked past Prince towards the passenger seat, but he blocked her off, staring at her face closely. Aria wanted to remove those suspicions, but she couldn't help but to raise a concern. This isn't normal.

It's something she needed to talk to.

"You're crying. Say to me what happened before we go home," he insisted.

Aria didn't say anything. Prince lifted his arms, and flapped it close to his hips.

"Why am I trying to force the answer out of you if you don't want, right? Plus, I don't have the right, so…" Prince had to pretend to give up. Aria was highly triggered to open her heart whenever someone wasn't intentionally listening to her. Prince perfectly observed it.

Prince moved to turn around, but Aria suddenly touched his arm.

He lifted his eyebrows, wondering what Aria's next move was.

"Can I say it to you while we're at the car?"

At least, she offered to say something. Aria pursed her lips, already regretting upon discussing her personal conflicts in life. There's no use to retaliate, anyway. Aria sniffed, anticipating what Prince's reaction would be.

"Sure, if you say so."

…

And so, when they climbed inside the car, no single word has exchanged. Something in Aria could have done so, but whenever she tried to, she'd fiddle her hands, and developing second thoughts once in a while.

She has one word—and it was to reach out the truth.

Aria wouldn't rely on something close to a lie.

Prince sighed, uttering, "Can you please talk what you had to say? It's getting boring here."

Aria sat upright, clearing her throat, saying, "Oh, that. I should say it fast."

Prince observed the cars at the rearview mirror. "So, what are you going to say?"

Aria recalled the face Bryce wore earlier. A mask of pain, a wall of separation anxiety that has come to distance themselves, and their worries with the future: of their relationship, of everything that comes forth. A lot of it brushed inside her mind, but she hasn't pay attention to it.

Who should Aria be if she can read Bryce's mind?

Prince abhorred the fact Aria has been doing to him. He kept on waiting, one thing he hasn't done before. If they'll talk to him, it was because they're going to get scared of what his eyes can bore. Prince wasn't someone to be scared at, but every time he met a person, they'll get intimidated. Suppose, be afraid, too.

But with Aria, she doesn't seem to feel any fear around him.

She looked at him as someone who listens, someone who cannot judge her behavior, and the way she talked.

Prince couldn't hold his temper, querying, "Aren't you going to talk? We're nearby the mansion. Talk before I lose interest."

Aria got nervous, surprised by the sudden raise of Prince's voice. She blinked several times, and wasn't able to contemplate if he had done it intentionally. "Prince, are you…"

Prince realized how loud his voice earlier. He covered his mouth, raising his hand to hold up and calm them both down. Prince apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Aria lost her will to talk to him. Prince tapped his fingers at the steering wheel, knowing he had to make up with her. Before he can even park at a fancy restaurant, he saw the avenue of the maple park.

Prince ought that Aria would like it.

"Do you want to stop by at the Maple Park?"

Aria looked out of the window, thinking why the car had slowed down.

Prince swerved the car on the side street and shifted the clutch, halting it after a few seconds.