Time bomb

Lucia took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She did this over and over again to get rid of the nervous feeling she kept feeling all night.

Today is the day of the trial which will determine what punishment she will receive as a result of her reckless and reckless actions in forcing her into a very dangerous place.

Some guards accompanied her on her way to the courtroom, where journalists had gathered along the road to take her photo. Most people would call her a very brave woman because she managed to survive. However, most would think that she was just part of the very dangerous mafia members.

Lucia didn't care when the journalists' cameras took brutal pictures of her as if they didn't give her room to look at the situation around her. The only time she felt that things were a little better was when she arrived at the courtroom.

The judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys were ready in their places to pass judgment on what she had done. However, instead of being afraid of what punishment awaited her, she was actually anxious because she still hadn't heard the latest news about Leo's condition.

Bryan, Pierre and Chris hadn't visited since yesterday and that made her feel uneasy. They always said that Leo was still in a coma and they would try anything to make Leo survive. However, she felt that everything they said to her was still not enough as long as she couldn't meet and see Leo's condition in person.

Meanwhile, Pierre and Bryan, who should have come to the court building earlier, were forced to turn around and go to the hospital when they received a call from Chris asking them to come to the hospital as soon as possible.

"What's wrong, Chris? What happened?" Bryan panicked and he walked hastily over to Chris who was standing in the ICU with a very tense expression.

Realizing something was wrong, Pierre slowed his footsteps as if realizing that they were about to hear something they least wanted to hear.

His heart was beating very fast and he felt that time seemed to have stopped turning. He hated feeling like this, the same feeling of fear he had felt when his parents asked them to let Lucia go. Yes, he hated the feeling where he was forced to decide on something he knew wasn't an option.

"Chris, what happened? Why did you suddenly ask us to come?"

Chris didn't budge, the look in his eyes showed clearly how he felt at the moment. Destroyed, yes, destroyed. A single tear fell down his face.

"Leo died."

"What?"

"He can't survive."

"You're kidding, right?"

"He can't survive, he can't survive because Lucia isn't by his side, he-"

Pierre and Bryan were silent for a moment as if they still couldn't digest the painful question that Chris had just said. A few seconds later, Bryan and Pierre forced their way into the room where some doctors and nurses were still staying even though the patient was already lifeless.

Everything felt empty without sound, until Bryan's cries broke out and filled the silent room.

"Leo...! Oh God..." Bryan cried, he didn't understand why he felt so broken right now. There is great regret that makes the pain much worse.

Behind him, Pierre was sobbing with a body he couldn't move. He looked at Leo's body which was lying stiff with bandages still wrapped around most of his body. He walked slowly with a body that felt very weak, trying to look at Leo's face one last time. Memories after memories of their childhood emerged carrying a wind of sadness.

"Leo, I- I never hated you. Believe me I never hated you at all. I'm so sorry, sorry because I wasn't as good as Lucia in looking after you. Sorry because I wasn't a good friend for you. Sorry because I-" Pierre couldn't continue his words, now he doesn't know how to tell Lucia that the man she loves has left her forever.

"Lucia, I'm so sorry, I couldn't look after Leo for you. I can't, I'm so sorry."

***

"You are hereby found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison."

The judge tapped the gavel three times after reading out the decision regarding his sentence. As she had expected, Samantha Cohen would not come to testify at the trial.

All the witnesses presented were the witnesses who actually got the sentence. It was strange, she hadn't felt Bryan and Pierre's presence at all when they had promised to come. But not a single defense witness came forward for her.

"Bryan? Pierre? They're not coming, what happened?" Instead of being afraid of the punishment that is already in front of her eyes. She actually felt a different worry.

When two guards returned to escort her to the detention room. Her eyes continued to look at each crowd, hoping that Bryan, Pierre or Chris would be in the crowd.

"Ugh..." She felt very dizzy and nauseous since morning. Sometimes the unpleasant feeling comes too strong to make her feel uncomfortable.

"Lucia...!"

Bryan's voice was heard calling her from behind. Lucia stopped walking and immediately looked back, where Bryan was walking hastily with Pierre towards her.

Their eyes showed predictable bitterness. It's like they just spent their time crying. Bryan stared at her for a moment and then hugged her tightly. Behind him, Pierre looked very tired and frustrated.

"Where have you been? Why have you just come?"

"Forgive me!"

"Pierre, why are you here? Who is looking after Leo in the hospital?"

They were both reluctant to answer and preferred to remain silent. Lucia looked into the eyes of Bryan who was standing right in front of her. In all the time she had known Bryan, he had never once seen such deep sadness in his eyes.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" Lucia started to have a bad feeling and she hoped it wasn't about Leo.

"I'm fine, Lucia! Sorry that we came late! Sorry that we failed to fight for you! We're really sorry!"

"It's okay, Mr. Smith has helped me a lot. He is a very good lawyer, thanks to him, I will only be in prison for three years. After that I will be free and we can be together again with Leo. After this, I promise that we will never be apart again. I promise I will never leave you again." Her voice was shaking. Her chest hurt so much at the thought of her longing for Leo.

Bryan and Pierre had tears in their eyes, even though they tried their best to hold them back in front of Lucia. But in the end, they couldn't hold it in.

Lucia's body was shaking, something was clearly wrong and it was clear that the bad feeling that had been haunting her all night was for what she would suffer today.

"Lucia, I'm sorry because I couldn't keep my promise to look after Leo. Sorry, I'm so sorry!" Pierre said.

"Pierre, what really happened? Tell me! What do you guys really want to say?"

"Leo died."

"What?"

"He can't hold on, he's gone. He's gone."

Time seemed to stop turning for her, her hearing started to get worse and she couldn't hear all the commotion around her. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her heart beating as if it was about to explode, exploding like a very powerful time bomb.

"That's impossible, you guys are lying, right? You-"

"I'm so sorry, Lucia! I'm so sorry."

***