Chapter I: Jonathan Ariga

It was a hazy, dim-lit room - the smoke from a lit cigarette that sat comfortably on a crystal astray on the end table filled the air. On the messy bed laid two figures immersed under a thin blanket that hid their naked bodies. A woman slept quietly as her soft, pale cheek rested against the man's chest, her soft breath caressing a small spot on his skin. His half-closed eyes kept it's gaze straight ahead, focusing on the red blinking light from his electronic alarm clock that reflected against the white coated ceiling above. He could barely feel his right arm as it had turned numb from the weight of the girl's head leaning against it for what felt like hours. It was a night like many others - this is how Jonathan Ariga would usually spend his nights. The only thing that had changed, maybe, is that he had been with the same woman for quite sometime now which is something he hadn't done before and for a good reason.

Women are creatures of emotions and through experience, it had taught him that they always seem to want more than physicality. Because of this, he had always made sure to make it clear to them before opening the door of his apartment that this is a one night thing and that is all there is to it and so for a while he had gotten used to seeing many women and not being tied down to anybody. Many mistake him for a player... well, maybe he is but what many may not know about him is that he is the very embodiment of a hopeless romantic. He believes in true love and refuses to be tied down to someone who he doesn't believe to be his 'soulmate.' Then out of nowhere comes this woman who had agreed for the two of them to see each other without expecting him to commit. It seemed like an enigma to him at the time and thus their so-called "boyfriend-girlfriend" relationship started.

"Bzzt, bzzt!" Jonathan's cellphone vibrated erratically against the table, sliding against the glass bit by bit each time it buzzed. He reached over with his left hand, feeling around for his cell until his hand had finally grasped the device. He winced slightly as the bright screen blinded him for a second before finally being able to adjust to the light and the name 'Katherine' flashed before his very eyes. He shot up straight in an instant, nearly knocking the girl off the bed.

"Oww..." She muttered slightly, rubbing her head. She laid still on the bed, watching Jonathan's back as he picked up the phone.

"Hello? Katherine?" His voice reflecting his usual calm tone, there was no trace of grogginess in his voice at all.

"Hi Johnny, sorry to call you so late but by any chance, is Vincent with you?" Katherine's concerned voice sounded almost like a melody against Johnny's ear - refreshing like the first splash of cool water on your face in the early morning hours when you had just woken up. He couldn't help but smirk to himself as he placed his right hand against his forehead, pulling back his bangs away from his eyes. What exactly did he expect to hear from her? Of course she would only call if it's regarding Vincent.

"No, he's not." He replied as he pulled away the blanket, swinging his legs off the bed and placing his feet against the cool floor tiles. "Is he not picking up his phone?"

"No, I usually send him a text when I get home but he didn't reply tonight so I tried to call to make sure he's alright but he's not picking up his phone."

"Did you try Orlando? They might be at the Stray Sheep getting drunk off their asses like usual." Johnny stood up, putting on a pair of black pants before making his way to the balcony, sliding the glass doors shut behind him. The soft, fleeting night breeze blew by, softly ruffling the black strands of his hair.

"Yeah, that's what my initial thought was so I called him first but he's not with Orlando either so I thought that maybe he's with you. I swear, sometimes it's like I'm caring for a child." He could hear Katherine sigh on the other end of the line.

"Hey, hey, you worry too much. Maybe he's just at home, passed out. Don't worry too much about it okay?" Jonathan allowed a small smile to form on his lips as his eyes rested on the distant lights shining on the horizon from the Downtown District area. When Katherine didn't say anything, he added, "I assure you, there's nothing to worry about. Knowing Vincent, he probably just forgot to text or call you when he got home. Look, I'll drop by his apartment in the morning to wake his ass up and remind him to call you okay?"

"..." Katherine sighed but when she finally spoke, he could tell she was a bit more at ease than when he initially picked up her call. "Alright, thanks Johnny. I really appreciate it. Sorry again for calling you so late at night."

"Hey, don't be all formal towards me now." He let out a small chuckle then trying his best to not sound as serious as he actually was, he added, "You know you can always call me anytime."

"Thank you. Have a goodnight." Through the phone, he could picture Katherine's smiling face as she said those words.

"Anytime. Goodnight, Katherine." And with that, he heard a click followed by the sound of 'beep beep beep' after she hung up. He held the phone against his ear for a moment until it automatically hung up for him as well. He tucked his cellphone in his pocket before resting both hands against the steel railing that served as a fence around the balcony. 'What on earth are you thinking, Vincent?' He thought to himself as he recalled the conversation they had along with Toby and Orlando regarding the affair Vincent had with some random stranger. Vincent was the last person on earth that he would think of as a cheater. It was the very same reason why he entrusted Katherine to him and the driving force behind his decision to supress his feelings for her. He knew Vincent was a good guy. A bit immature, yes, but a cheater? That just didn't seem like him at all. He had to contain his emotions and hold back his feelings as to not be transparent to his friends but deep inside, he was very upset at his bestfriend's poor choice.

"Johnny...?" A small, soft voice called out from the small opening of the glass doors that he had apparently left upon his poor attempt to close it behind him during the phone call. He turned his head over to his shoulder to spot Nina, the woman he had been seeing, clutching the thin fabric of his blanket against her chest in an attempt to cover herself up. Concern filled her features as her emerald-toned eyes stared at him.

"Oh, you're up." He closed his eyes as he turned his body to face her, leaning against the railing with his right hand. "Sorry if I woke you up -" His sentence was cut off as Nina opened the sliding door and threw herself against him, wrapping her slender arms around his bare torso. There was a shocked look on his face for a second before looking down at the girl and placing his left hand on her head, patting it lightly.

These days it's getting harder and harder keeping up this charade. Though Jonathan knows of Nina's feelings towards him, he'd tried to ignore it to the best of his abilities. Deep inside, he's pretty sure she knows that she's just a 'substitute' to him for now. Guilt is piling up but this is the only life he's known ever since he fell in love with her - his bestfriend's girlfriend.