I have been considered to make an article for one of the biggest awards in my industry. Needless to say, I have to write a winning article to boot to be able to qualify a nomination from the award-giving body. Believe me, it's a huge honor to be able to do something like this, but at the back of my mind, can I really do it?

I work for Roponggi Weekly, one of the highest selling newspapers in the area that is under my father's list of companies that he put up from the ground up. Don't tell anyone about that fact, okay? Anyway, I have worked here for several years already, doing meager articles like sales, company profiles, restaurant reviews and even focused on which funeral home gave the best cremation. It's a tough job and you need to deliver, but I get by through thorough research and well-planned appointments. My father has offered me a position, but i rejected it thinking about my own wants and goals to accomplish something for my own without his help. I adore my office a lot, and everyone has been so supportive of me ever since I was able to come through with last years best article within the company titled, "Where The Cheating Spouses Go". I managed to get some dirt from the cheating spouses who I hid in various names to conceal their identities and helped me identify where cheating grooms and brides go to do their philandering. I also have included the tell-tale signs of a philandering partner, what they usually say and how awkward things are... you know, the usual : hiding phones, deleting inboxes/emails, going out late at night and coming home in the wee hours of the morning, refusing to kiss you when before they do that.. stuff like that.

It received a lot of recognition and made me excited to go on for my next venture...

...without me realizing the article I wrote was actually meant for me.

"Aki, a little help? What could be another word for 'disappointed'?"

"Upset? Let-down?"

"Oh, thanks."

Aki propped her elbow on her desk, twiddling her pen between her fingers as she watched the busy atmosphere of the room. Everyone was hastily running here and there, shouts from bosses heard from different places of the office. She needed to come up with an article fast and was shooting blanks as she couldn't formulate a good subject to write about.

"Goddamn it, I can't write anything relevant to Tokyo if I focus on muscle cars and the Civil War," she grumbled, laying on her desk.

Her seatmate, Yahiko Kunori, who she calls 'Hiko' for short, frowned and hit her on the back of the head with a rolled magazine.

"Then stop looking at Vin Diesel and some American History magazine for inspiration. I mean, come on, you're far off from your deadline before the boss takes it into his reins and gives you the subject himself," he told her.

"Ow, thanks for hitting me, that really gave me inspiration, idiot." Akira tutted and agreed with a nod. "You're right, who knows what he has up his sleeve. I remember how he made you write about the mating habits of monkeys and relating them to bags of candy. I don't know how you pulled that off."

"Ah... 'When making love is as sweet as candy, one cannot help but be addicted; forsaking even the risks of cavities of the heart as one does not mind who he or she does it with'." Yahiko wiggled his eyebrows, grinning widely. "That's art, Aki. I mean, I only got that from your article which got you in this position." Dreamily, Yahiko looked in the distance, beyond the walls of the office. "This line got me, 'Where cheating spouses go, the pain usually stays; corrupting the most pure of marriages, poisoning love that is sworn to eternity and destroys hearts that only love deeply.. Sometimes, it is better not to know, but where does the threshold for ignorance limit itself? They say ignorance is bliss... but to the loving heart, it is merely denial, a reason to keep on staying and not break the vow made before God. However, it's already broken... when that cheating spouse finds his/herself in another lover's arms...'"

Aki wryly smiled as she recalled the glory she received from that article. It was her best and winning moment, her time to shine...

...but she found herself alone when her husband wasn't even interested in what she'd written.

She remembered that night so well and it hurt to think about it.

"Ah, shut up. Look at me now, barely having an idea on what to write about, Jesus Christ...", she sarcastically said, playing it off so as to not provoke Yahiko into quipping another line from her article.

Yahiko tutted, stretching his hands up as he yawned. "But really, I still can't believe your husband didn't show up for the party. He could've just left one night to go and bask in his wife's glory, you know. I don't understand why he-"

"He's got business to attend to, 'Hiko. And besides, his business really is that tedious and needs special attention."

"What business? Monkey business?", mused Yahiko. "You did great and that deserved his presence, Aki. Come on."

Aki stopped twiddling her pen between her fingers and froze in her seat.

"Monkey.. business?", she repeated.

"See, I don't know if wines and suppliers take that long in the evening to deal with. I dunno, maybe he is taking care of a monkey or has something on the side that he has to-"

"What do you mean 'something on the side'?", Akira asked sharply, her eyes glaring at him.

Yahiko thought for a moment and shrugged to pacify the situation. "Jeezus, why are you so defensive? I only meant that maybe other investors from different timezones, god."

"Oh...", Akira sighed and bit her lip. "I guess so..."

Yahiko gave her a gentle pat on the arm.

"If you say he had business to attend to... okay, Aki, I believe you.."

Aki looked at Yahiko, who returned her gaze with a look of concern.

"Thing is... do you believe it yourself?"

Aki was now cooking dinner, her mind occupied by the thoughts that traced back to her discussion with Yahiko.

"Monkey business..." she murmured to herself, staring into the pot of stew she simmered in the pot.

She stared at the ring on her finger, her engagement and wedding ring, and felt like it was fire on her skin.

Aki Gojo was now Aki Natsukawa, a businessman's wife. she met her husband Koichi through her parents who planned the arranged marriage along with his own mother and father. To Aki, everything was just out of business, preserving goods and contacts to just boost each other's performances in their own respective industries. She wasn't really up to it, to be honest; that she wasn't even interested in him, however, due to her parents insistence she succumbed to parental pressure and found herself going out with him several times. All Koichi did on their dates was... well, talk about his business ventures to which she couldn't relate with and by the time it was her turn to talk, he'd often say he had somewhere else to go and leave her on her own to end the night by herself. There were unconventional times he became kind. He'd call her up and offer to pick her up after work so they can spend dinner together to discuss wedding plans. Aki found herself growing interest for Koichi, even though he was at times uncaring and just aloof. In a way, she thought he'd make a good husband for her, and finally agreed to say yes when he proposed to her. He got her a diamond ring and popped the question in front of their parents.

"He didn't even kneel on one knee and..."

Aki sighed to herself. Even though she wasn't one to think about cinematic romance scenes and sweety-shit moments, she did want him to at least gaze up into her eyes and be sincere with it. All he did was take her hand, slid it on her finger and asked her. It was like she was asked to pass the ketchup. It's been almost a year now into their marriage, and Aki couldn't help but feel as if there's something wrong with their domestic arrangement.

Separate bedrooms.

Uncoordinated schedules and sleeping habits.

Koichi coming home late and going out at odd times in the day, but most often the evening.

The pointless fights which usually ended with Koichi slamming the door to her face or her walking out on him.

Unusual irritation once he was asked where he was or what time he's going to be home.

Among others, the most intriguing of all was they haven't lain in bed as husband in wife. It wasn't just about sex, but surely Koichi had 'needs'. He surely won't be getting them somewhere else since they're married, right? That's adultery and is indeed punishable by law.

Aki bit her lip and couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Looking at her reflection from the reflection of the stew she was simmering, Aki wondered why.

"I'm not ugly.. I know I do my best to keep up with my looks and even dress to impress when needed to...", she said loudly.

Turning off the stove, she let the pot cool a bit and got herself a drink of water. Truly, it is an odd set of circumstances but maybe Koichi must have a reason for their current living situation. Maybe he was also bothered, but didn't really want to open it up thinking Aki might get mad. Is that the case?

"I sure do hope so...", said Aki, as she placed the glass on the sink to do her work.

. . . . . .

Hours ticked by quickly and it was already almost midnight.

"Koichi's still not home," wondered Aki, taking a little breather from researching for a good article to submit to her boss as a draft.

What could Koichi be doing at this late hour when he just told her recently that the peak season for the wines he had to inspect for import was already over?

As if on cue, the door opened and in came Koichi looking serious as usual. Aki gave a smile which he didn't return.

"Welcome home," she greeted him. "Relax a little and I'll prepare some dinner."

Koichi just glanced at her and replied, "I don't need dinner. I already had dinner out with a colleague of mine and I am tired from working all day."

Aki was about to say something else when she heard the door to his office slam close as if telling her not to say more. Usually, women would just take it all in and cry about it; but Aki just scoffed, looking pretty riled at Koichi's attitude. She took a look at the dinner she prepared and put it in a container, muttering profanities under her breath as she kept the stew in the fridge to bring tomorrow for work. After all, all her husband's uneaten dinners are usually finished by Yahiko so it still won't go to waste. Sulking and just really angry, she washed the pot and the loud chinks of the silverware echoed all over the apartment.

"Will you keep it down? I'm trying to work,"

Aki looked to the direction of the voice and saw Koichi staring at her disinterestedly from the hallway to his room. She scowled at him and rolled her eyes.

"Oh sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to be a nuisance. Maybe if you ate here often and came home on time, I wouldn't be doing chores late in the evening, now won't I?", she sarcastically said.

Koichi didn't flinch. His eyes wandered over to the trash bin next to the sink.

"Take out the trash before you head to sleep."

Aki glared at him as he walked back to his room. The nerve of the man to not consider her efforts is direly alarming.

"Son of a bitch," she cussed to herself.

"Excuse me, what did you call me?"

'Oh, I didn't know you were still there," Aki hauled the trash bag and tied the label on it. She returned his annoyed gaze with a mockingly innocent one. "I didn't know you could also hear."

"I don't like the things coming out from that mouth of yours, Aki. You shouldn't talk to your husband that way," he told her imposingly.

Aki didn't like the thought of giving in so she placed a hand on her hip and shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips.

"Then start treating me like your goddamn wife. If you want a maid, go hire one. I don't fucking need to be treated like shit whenever you feel like it, Koichi. We're married and you're not doing your part in helping me out."

He scowled at her.

"Not doing my part? I'm working hard for the two of us and earning more than most men should so you can keep the lifestyle you're living now. You're not making things easier for me by nagging me and keeping me up late with your hormonal bullshit. You shouldn't even be working anymore. You should be preoccupied in thinking of a way to start a family," he answered her.

Aki couldn't believe what she just heard.

"I, should be thinking of a way to start a family? Koichi, I can't think of that on my own! I can't have a family if it's just me who wants it! Are you daft?", she retorted. "Listening to you talk to me like this makes me second-guess about my position in your life, do you know that? You treat me like a maid and don't even make any effort be a husband to me at all!"

Koichi took her roughly by the arm once she let out a frustrated breath and turned her back on him. He pushed her against the island counter and raised the skirt of her dress. Aki was struck speechless at how hurtful he was. She could feel the bulge of an erection beneath his slacks on her groin, making her uncomfortable at his touch. He pushed his erection onto her, making her push him away, but he was just too strong for her to move. Looking into his dark eyes, there was nothing in them that reminded her she was his wife, not even someone special to him.

"Is this your stupid way of provoking me into sleeping with you?", he asked bluntly.

Aki could smell alcohol on his breath, making her turn her head to the side. It wasn't even sleeping with him that was the problem. HE IS THE PROBLEM.

"Let go of me! You're hurting me!", she cried. "And what difference does it make? I wouldn't want to sleep with you if you're just going to do it out of spite."

"Then make yourself someone worthy of being wanted. If you're not getting what you want from me, get it somewhere else."

Koichi pushed himself off her and left her stunned at what he'd said. He didn't say anything more and went in his room, leaving her all alone in the kitchen completely paralyzed.

Aki sank to the floor looking completely angry at her hands were balled into fists and her teeth bared. Tears fell from her eyes on their own without her knowing.

"Bastard, bastard, bastard...", she muttered, hitting the floor again and again.

What an asshole.

Aki couldn't believe how cruel Koichi was tonight. To be so cold and heartless to his own wife was something she never expected, not even from him. How he spoke to her and ordered her like a slave, to even look at her with no hint of tenderness was beyond what she could ever come up with in the worst case scenarios in her mind. She waved it off as maybe he had a bad day, or a business transaction had gone wrong, but why was it there was something in her that was telling her that she was wrong? All this time, she thought she and him can develop feelings for each other, that they can be a real couple after starting to live together; but why was it it now felt like she was angrier at him whenever they'd talk or even see each other? There were so many things in her mind, but she discarded it upon seeing the trash bag on the floor. She wiped her continuously falling tears, took the alcohol on the counter and hauled it outside their apartment while sniffling in the empty hallway. Looking on ahead, she saw someone come from the trash chute by the fire exit and through the blur of her tears saw that it was a man wearing a tucked out dress shirt over slacks. She couldn't see his face clearly as the tears made everything murky.

"Uhm... let me get that for you," he said, taking the trash bag from her hands.

She felt warm fingers wrap around hers. The warmth was quick enough to make her feel a bit better, making her wipe her tears away as soon as she realized he was close by.

"Thank you," she managed to say.

Looking at him with his back turned to her, she saw he was fairly tall and watched him dispose of the trash bag into the chute.

"Good to see you started putting the segregation tags on the trash bags," he said. "It was time management started distributing these to tenants."

His voice was deep and calming, something similar to audible velvet to her ears. Aki looked down and sniffed, wiping her nose.

"Here,"

She saw a red handkerchief thrust to her, making her tear up more. Taking it, she dabbed it on her eyes delicately.

"Sorry... I've been cutting onions and teared up. How embarrassing," she lied. "Would you like some alcohol?"

"That would be nice, thanks."

She poured some on his hands and poured some on her too. The tears in her eyes still continued to fall and she just couldn't expel what had happened earlier on. At least she had a little distraction in the form of whoever the man was who still couldn't see. Even though it was just small-talk, she was thankful to calm herself in his presence so she can mellow out from her fight with Koichi.

"I'll hold onto this and return it to you washed."

The man gave a small laugh. "How thoughtful. You can drop it over at 2B. Anyway, I have to go."

"Thanks for the help."

"Anytime, but please, next time, ask your husband to do it for you instead. Good night."

Aki felt him pass her, and as she followed him with her gaze, she was already alone in the hallway. She wasn't able to see his face nor ask for his name.

"My, my... I am happy with this draft you made about the lost wilderness in Tokyo, but sweetie, I can't pass this as enough to make you win the award."

Aki's face fell as she heard the news straight from her boss. She spent three nights working on it to boot.

"What? But I stayed up all night writing that. I put all my best research into the article, boss. Come on, I think that's worth the lookover. You didn't even read after page seven."

Her boss, Goro Fukuda, a late-40's man with three sons, a beautiful wife and a perfect life, shook his head. "You did, but it lacks... it lacks passion. Your cheating spouses article, however, had a huge amount of it." He placed on his desk her draft and leaned closer to her, resting his chin on his hand. "Tell me child, what was the source of that passion from that article?"

Aki thought hard for a moment and bitterly said, "I was.. I was a newlywed, sir. I was too in love and wanted other single people to be more aware of their positions in their relationships. Being a newlywed opened my eyes to others and am thankful I am at a better place with my husband."

Goro raised his eyebrow. "Okay, so has the fire lost its' spark then?"

She didn't answer. Her boss tutted lightly, gazing at her with a look of fatherly concern.

"If there is anything wrong with your domestic life, I suggest you while it outside and enjoy your own life, Aki," he told her softly, emphasizing on the 'own' as if he knew what was going on. "You can't forever rely on your husband to do things with you. I am not saying you rush it with marriage counseling, but maybe you need to settle with your own personal issues too."

Aki clamped her lips shut and nodded, trying hard to control the tears that was climbing up to escape from her eyes. She couldn't tell her boss what was happening since it might look as if she's mixing work with her personal life. Sucking it up, she nodded with more affirmation as she cleared her throat. She then saw her boss's hand holding a tissue and a piece of paper in front of her. Curiously, she took it, examining the piece of paper as she dabbed her eyes with the tissue.

"What... what's this?" she asked.

Aki saw the scribble on the paper read 'Kippei Ebihara'.

"Kippei Ebihara..?", she questioned, looking up at her boss.

Goro nodded. "Yup, him."

"Isn't he the Best Designer for the Interior Design category for five years in a row?"

"Yeah."

"Is he my next article?"

"No, he's gonna be your subject for your award-winning article."