Chapter 2: You Scared Me

Two months later.

Aria smiled with relief as she arranged the last pack of flowers that arrived today. She sighed heavily but smiled form on her beautiful face. Finally, she could finally go home.

Today was very busy, because many new flowers have arrived. And her job is to arrange these flowers in some beautiful buckets and ready to be arranged according to the customer's order.

Sbe really likes this job. She can arrange so many kind of beautiful flowers every day. Even though she sometimes feels tired, but when she stared at those flowers, she felt refresh and ready to continue her work.

"Dear, can you close the shop for me? Take the key with you, I probably come late tomorrow."

Conni, the florist owner approached Aria with her usual warm smile.

She nodded and returned her smile.

"Yes, Mam!" She bopped her head, made Conni laugh amusedly.

Conni is the owner of this florist. She is a friendly and very kind woman. Aria had been working with her for a year now, and Conni treated her very well. Aria even felt that Conni had a soft heart like her own mother.

"Sweety, when you're finished, go straight home. It's already late, just clean it up tomorrow morning." She said.

"Okay, then." Aria answered in agreement.

"My sweetest Aria..." Conni took a deep breath, she looked very worried. This afternoon, Conni told her that she has to go to the hospital tonight, because her daughter is about to give birth. Aria understood and even told Conni to leave early than she already plan.

But Conni couldn't bear to see this sweet, fragile girl, looking after the shop alone.

“My dear, how about you come along with me? I can ride you home first, then to the hospital.” She offered.

Aria smiled but shook her head.

“I need to buy something first then go straight home after this. Our way are not in the same direction and you have delayed going to the hospital to wait for me, your daugther need you to be there now."

Aria assured Conni that she would be fine going home alone.

“Okay. But you have to promise me. If you meet a stranger, or hear something like a gunshot or something dangerous. Hide. Don't show yourself to them. Did you bring your pepper spray?”

Aria nodded firmly. She told her what happened two months ago and it made this kind-hearted woman very worried.

After repeatedly reassuring her. Conni finally gave in and went home early.

It was true that Aria became more afraid of going home at night after what happened two months ago. But she felt bad for Conni. That woman had been too good to her. And now she is late to visit her first new born grandchild, because of her.

Aria took a deep breath and looked up at the glass window. It was already dark outside and the road lights were shining brightly, illuminating the empty street.

Honestly, she was nervous. The incident two months ago traumatized her enough. Yes, she was okay and they truly ride her home safely that night.  However, she still didn't want to face the same incident twice.

Not to mention, since that incident, Aria felt that someone was following her every day.

Aria pretended to tidy up the flowers which were already neat on the front shelf, while glancing outside where a black car was parked under a tree, not far from this little, comfy florist.

It was there. The car was always park there.

She gulped and immediately rushed to close everything and call it a day.

Aria didn't want to think negatively. But she saw the car there every day, parked under that tree. Initially, she thought that the car might belong to one of the other shop owners. But she never saw anyone get in or out of the car.

And her suspicion increased even more when she saw that same car parked near her apartment, or near the bus stop where she usually waited for her bus.

And this has been happening for the past two months.

Aria felt that the car was there to spy on her. But if that's true, what’s their purpose?

She is not someone special or wealthy. She is poor. So poor that she had to quit school only to work and gain some money.

So, why they bother to spy on her? If so, why haven't they attacked her yet? She was in the shop all day and it wasn't always busy. She also often goes and comes home alone. But no one came, attacked her, or suddenly kidnapped her, like she imagined if someone had been stalking her all this time.

On the contrary, she felt safe. She sometimes think that it is weird for her to feel that way. But the fact say louder.

Nothing happen to her till now.

Aria shook her head and immediately took her small bag and jacket. And walked out of the shop.

Like Conni said, she'll tidy up the rest tomorrow. It's too late now. If she didn't go home soon, she wouldn't find a pharmacy that still open.

Ari closed the glass door and locked it. She made sure that the door was really locked.

Then the sound of a car stopping behind her, made her freeze.

The door opened and the sound of heavy footsteps came out of the car. Aria quickly held the pepper spray from her small bag. Her heart drummed in her ears.

Have they now decided to kidnap her?

“You came home late today.”

Aria gasped and looked behind her back.

“Mr. Alexander?”

It’s him. The man who was shot in an alley not far from here two months ago, stood, leaning against his car with an indifferent expression on his handsome face.

Aria breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly her tense body became more relaxed.

"Mr. Alexander, you scared me." She put the pepper spray back into her small bag. She could see his perfect line eyebrows slightly frowned when she called him so formally. 

“You're going to spray it on me?” He spoke after some seconds passed. 

Yes, his name is Alexander. He told her that, just before another car took him to the hospital that night.

“You came home late too? Have you recovered?” She asked him. Aria once guessed that Alexander may be work around here and often came home late just like her.  

Aria put on her jacket and walked over. She stopped just a few steps from him. This man smells so good. Aria secretly enjoy his masculine perfume.

“Hm.” He answered with a single nod. And now, she thought maybe her guessing is true.

He had this cold aura and handsome expressionless face, just like when Aria first met him two months ago. When he speak, his tone was flat and cold. But for some reason, Aria didn't feel any threatening aura coming from him.

Suddenly, he opened the car door and looked at her, as if telling her to get in the car.

“What? Oh thank you, but I have to go somewhere and I don't think we're on the same direction." Aria shook her head. She didn't want to bother other people.

Besides, this man, she didn't know him that well. Apart from being handsome and not talking much, Aria didn't know anything about him. It could be that he has bad intentions now, because he is completely heal from the injuries.

Silence. The man just looked at her then looked around. Aria followed his gaze.

The street was empty. It's strange that it's so quiet. Aria remembered that when she closed the door, there were still several vehicles and even people walking around here. Because this place is indeed one of shopping centers in this city. Then since when the street became so empty and quiet? Even other store, big or small seemed to be closed.

It could be seen that only the two of them were in this place.

And this made he gulp. This is scary.

Suddenly, the chill wind blew and she heard a loud thunder from afar.

It will raining soon. She sighed. She indeed saw the weather forecast and it would rain today.

Aria looked back at Alexander and that man was already looking at her without blinking. His black eyes seemed to gleam in the bright light of the street lamp.

"I have to go to the pharmacy first before going home..." Aria said it slowly and shyly. Her cheeks flushed. She didn't expect to ask a handsome man she had only met twice for a ride.

"Of course." Alexander nodded. He gave Aria the way to get in the car.