The Ways To Complicate A Mutual Divorce is the revised edition of the author's previous unfinished work 'Metamorphosis'.
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people or real locales are used ficticiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are product of the author's imagination, and resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Sailor Moon and other related characters and trademark is credited and belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.
Prologue
Melodious laughter, bright smiles, feverish kisses and warm hugs.. It's as if everything had been there for her just yesterday and yet today, it's as if nothing of the sort had ever happened, like it had been all but a sickening, too-good-to-be-true thing..a mere dream. Raising her left hand to massage her throbbing temples, she emptied the contents of her wine glass before placing it down on the granite counter top, beside the two emptied bottles of Dom Pérignon. Slowly, she got down from her stool, her bare feet touching the cold marble floor as she stood up, giving her a slight chill to run about her.
From where she stood, she could see the faint rays of sunlight making their way through the gaps in the curtains of her terrace and into her living room. A new day has come forth, but she doesn't feel like looking forward to what lies ahead that day like she used to do so, when they were still together, when she was still with him. Brushing her long silver-blonde locks away from her face, she decided that it was pointless to be bitter and depressed over nothing. After all, they had both wanted this. Knowing that things are going nowhere, no progress nor development, but only loss and pain will come forth if they had stayed together for much long and for nothing.
She could still feel it, how sweet her name sounds each time he says it with that deep but gentle masculine voice of his, the warmth of his embrace whenever he'd wrap his strong arms around her, his soft breath against the nape of her neck, his soft lips against her own. She could still feel it lingering in her being, but no emotions of passion, of desire, of love, stirs from her now. As if merely a vague passing shadow in her past, he was almost nothing to her now; nothing, but a colleague, an associate, and the friend that he had been to her long before they had been in love.
Slipping off her dressing gown and undergarments as she stepped into the shower, she allowed the water to wash off the effects of last night's one-woman drinking session and bring back the much needed sanity to face everything today. Having been gone from work for nearly two weeks now, she knew that she had to return now and assume her responsibilities. The one week she spend vacationing in Hawaii and the other one week she spent resting and lazing around did much for her already.
She can face him easily, yes; there was certainly no problem to that. But what cause her unease are the questions that would bombard her upon her arrival. No one but them had seen this coming, this divorce. Everyone had always thought they were the perfect couple. Both blessed with good looks, charm, smarts and backgrounds you could not find flaw in, they were truly what people thought were the ideal couple. And they lived up to that, not for other people's sake, not for their respective family's reputations but because they were very much in love with each other before.
They had known each other since they were little, having had their sets of parents being childhood friends themselves. And since that young age, they had shown such care and affection for each other. He was like a knight, so loyal and cared for her like she was his princess. Protecting her from everything that dared hurt her, such feelings that blossomed into an even more fruitful love as they matured. It was not a surprise to anyone that they married, a year after she had graduated university. She was twenty-two then, and he twenty-four, very much in love and blissful.
This marriage, the product of a love that had sprouted from their childhood, had gone on for three years. It was at the time when they were halfway near their fourth year when they had come to realize that the love they once held for each other was no longer there. They tried to make things work, relive the romance and such, but to no avail. Though it would certainly surprise and hurt their families, they knew it must be done lest they hurt each other with the folly and lies they would live had the marriage continued on. And so, on the fifth day of September, they had filed for a divorce. A week later, they parted ways, giving each other one last embrace before they started their lives anew.
It was painful, yes; she would definitely not deny that. But that pain was not of losing a lover but of parting with a dear friend. She knew she would not lose him as a friend but still, it pains her to not have her by her side as much as wants to now. But this was for the best of both their sakes.
When she had finished showering and had shed the last of her melancholy, she stepped out of the bathroom and made her way to her walk-in closet. Skimming through her work clothes quickly, she decided on a pristine white long-sleeved satin blouse, a black pencil skirt and pair of strappy heels of the same hue.
Upon finishing with her outfit, she then started to work on her hair. With a brush and her curling iron at hand, she began to make soft, large waves from her sleek silver-blonde locks. Next was her make-up, but as usual, she need not apply a lot or apply at all, and so she only applied a little powder over her cheeks, and a swipe of pale cherry on her lips. For the finishing touch on her prim and proper but still stylish corporate outfit, she placed a strand of lovely, freshwater pearls round her neck and a matching pair of pearls for her ears. Eyeing her reflection in the tall mirror before her, a small smile graced her lips.
Contented and ready, she gathered her work files and her purse before heading out of her condominium. She had been living there for nearly a month now, and she surprised even herself that she could live off without any maids or butlers to aid her. She felt relief in breathing, feeling and living independence. Independence that she did not have due to the sheltered upbringing her parents gave her thanks to their well-off life. Independence that she did not feel much for not long after graduating she had gotten married, and still in marriage, nothing had changed that much. And so, when this divorce had been settled, she decided that she would try living on her own, without maids and such, and so far, thankfully, she had been successful on standing up on her own.
Fishing out her car keys, she opened the door to her sleek, pale gold Porsche. She placed her files and bag over to the passenger's seat before she sat down and started up the car. The car clock showed that it was just 7:10 am; she still had almost two hours before work starts, so she decided to drop by The Crown, neat family restaurant run by her good friend Andrew. It was her friends' favorite hangout place since they were in high school and even until now.
The restaurant isn't crowded at this time of day. Only a few customers who were either having coffee or a quick breakfast lingered in the cozy place. Glancing around, she easily spotted Andrew doing last minute rounds on the place. "Hey Drew!" she called out and approached him.
"Hey there Serena, what brings you at this time of the morning? I thought you hated waking up early." The sandy-blonde haired man teased before giving her a big, warm embrace. Andrew, or Drew as she fondly calls him, is Serena's first cousin on her mother's side and a sort of older brother figure to her while growing up since she was but an only child.
Serena pouted playfully and crossed her arms over her chest. "People grow up Drew, and I am turning twenty-six soon."
"Pouting at 26, real mature Sere. Haha, kidding aside, Rita told me you went for a vacation in Hawaii. Did you get anything for your dear old cousin Andrew? Maybe a garland or two" Andrew joked, trying to avoid the topic of Serena's recent divorce. Although it was a mutual one, he knew it affected his cousin a lot, especially since he grew up together with them and he knew how much his cousin and his best friend used to love and care for each other.
"Of course, how could I forget?" She smiled as she settled herself on one of the chairs near the counter. "But I'll give yours at the same time when I give my presents for the girls."
"Thanks Sere, hmm.. So what're will you have today? As usual, it's on the house." He asked her with a playful wink. Ever since he opened the Crown, everything Serena had ordered there had been counted as 'on the house'. It's not that she couldn't pay or anything, Serena had all the cash she needs with the gold card her parents provide her, but rather he just dotes on his cousin too much.
"The usual I guess and a vanilla frap." Came her reply as she checked the messages and her schedule for the day on her iPhone.
"One order of triple chocolate pancakes and a tall vanilla frappucino." He called over the counter before pulling up a chair beside her to chat some more.
It was nearly eight when they had finished conversing. It was still an hour before her work starts but Serena decided to go to work early and check up on her people. (A/N: Serena's work starts at 9 am, her workers start at 7 am) Giving Andrew a quick peck on the cheek, she then bade him goodbye.
Thankfully, there was only minimal traffic that morning even though it was a Monday and so she got work in less than twenty minutes. She received a good number of 'Welcome back Madame President', 'Good morning's and some other greetings on her way to her office which was located on the top floor of the Williams and Shields Inc. building.
She spent the day checking up on the past two week's work, signing papers and the usual sort. Every quarter of an hour or so, she'd have to answer questions or give replies to inquiries about her recent divorce but other than that, things went smoothly with her work. It was tiring being the President of such a prestigious corporation, yes, but she loved and enjoyed her work dearly. Gathering her things, she decided to unwind and relax at the Starbucks branch located nearby before going home.
As the night went on, she found herself drinking again to some more Dom Pérignon, this time though, she decided she would only have a glass or two. She surprised herself earlier that day that she did not get a headache from last night's drinking session even though she drank through two whole bottles of wine but she was not willing to gamble on getting one or not tomorrow morning.
Heading for the terrace with her wine glass at hand, she admired the lovely scenery before her. Her condominium building was located in the city, yes, but it was quiet and peaceful here. No pollution or noise from cars and traffic or nearby factories. Instead of tall buildings, she could see sandy beaches and the sea, and the star-filled sky stretching onto eternity before her.
Pulling her shawl closer over her silk white night gown, Serena took one last sip from her glass before she went back inside the house, closing and the terrace door behind her.
She was about to go to her bedroom and rest when she heard a knocking sound upon her front door. It was already past 11:00 pm so she wondered who could be visiting her at this hour of night. Peering through the peep hole by the door, she was very much surprised to see Darien.
"Oh hi there Darien." Serena greeted him as she opened the door to let him inside her condominium unit. Ushering him to her pristine white davenport, she asked him "Which would you like? I've got wine, beer, rum, whisky, champagne and some shooters."
"Some beer would be fine, thank you." He replied.
With two glasses and two bottles of beer at hand, she was halfway back from her kitchen to the living room when she suddenly felt the urge to throw up tonight's dinner. Glasses and cans were dropped to the floor as she made a run for the bathroom. Alarmed by the commotion and her well-being, Darien rushed to the bathroom and saw her vomiting by the toilet.
"Are you alright Sere?" he asked, patting her back to soothe her somehow.
"Yeah, thanks. I figure it must be the alcohol getting to me." She said as she wiped her mouth on a towel after she finished washing the acidic taste off her mouth. "Just a dizzy spell."
"Do you want some water?" he asked her again.
"That would be nice, thank y--." She never got to finish her words when her vision going blurry before she fell unconscious to the floor.
"Serena! Serena!" he attempted to wake her up but to no avail. Scooping her up in his arms, he decided to bring her to the hospital.
When Serena regained consciousness, the strong smell of disinfectant immediately graced her senses. Glancing around, she found herself wearing a hospital gown, lying in a bed with an IV drip connected to her left hand.
"Oh good, you're awake now." Her friend Amelia Mizuno said. Amelia, or Amy as she is often called, is one of Serena's closest friends since elementary school. The azure haired young woman was soft-spoken, studious and much of a bookworm. It didn't surprise them that Amy was allowed to skip high school and go on to college in Harvard, and graduate with the highest honors and a degree at hand at the age of twenty two. Now she is working as an ob-gyn at St. Mary's Hospital, the hospital where Darien had brought Serena to.
"Hey Amy, what am I doing here? How did I get here? Last thing I remember was being in the bathroom of my house." Serena immediately shot questions as she sat up on the bed.
"Ah, yes. Darien brought you here two hours ago. He said you were vomiting then soon after you passed out." Came her friend's reply.
"So, is anything wrong with me? Don't tell me I'm gonna die tomorrow or something." Serena joked around.
"Nothing's wrong with you silly, and of course you're not going to die anytime soon. By the way Sere, did you notice anything wrong with your period and all?"
"Well, irregular, always been that way. Why do you ask?"
"That explains it then."
"Explains what Ames?"
"Would you prefer to tell it to Darien yourself or should I call him now to let you guys know together?" Amy asked her, she adjusted her half-moon spectacles back to the bridge of her nose.
As soon as Amy finished her question, Serena knew what was coming. "Bugger and blast! I'm pregnant, no?"
"Yes." Amy replied, not sure on whether she should congratulate her friend or not.
"Bloody marvelous! How long now?"
"Eight weeks. Aside from Darien, have you slept with any other blokes these past months?"
"No, he's the only guy I've slept with in forever. Blatant, he's the father." Serena answered dryly, unsure of how to react at that moment. Yes, she'd been dreaming of becoming a mother. But not at this time, she wasn't ready yet. What's more, she just recently got divorced with the father of the baby. So what now? Is this baby a blessing or a curse? Should she be happy and have it? Or get an abortion and pretend like nothing's happened? How will her family and Darien's family react? They were both from elite families; their divorce enough had caused quite a stir in the elite and business society. And now there's suddenly a baby in the picture!
"Should..should I call Darien now or would you like to be alone for now?" Amy asked hesitantly.
"N-…Yes, please Amelia. Call Darien." She replied.
Moments later, he arrived in the room.
"How are you feeling Bunny?" Darien asked, quickly rushing to her bedside. Bunny, she couldn't quite remember when exactly did he start to call her 'bunny' but since they were little, he had always fondly called her 'bunny'. Even now that they have been divorced, she found it a bit funny for him to still call her that but she did not mind. Married or not, they will always be friends and she will always and forever be his little bunny.
"Knackered and this lumpy mattress isn't of any help. I can't wait to get back to my unit." Serena complained.
"Do you want to be moved to a suite room? I could call a nurse to have one readied." Darien said, about to reach for the phone when Serena's hand stopped him.
"No need, I'm sure I could go home in an hour or so. But..uhm..Dare?"
"Yes?"
"Do you remember back when we were still married, you wanted to have a baby right?"
"Uhm, yes. Why did you suddenly bring that up? Don't tell me you're.."
"Yes, pregnant. I know it sounds rather potty but I'm eight weeks on the way, no doubt the baby is yours. So what now?"
Yuki's Notes:
I decided to revise Metamorphosis because I wasn't quite satisfied with how I did the prologue and stuff of the story. Starting over whilst I had not gone far allowed me to somehow show more about the character's feelings and development despite the story being written from a third person point of view.
Also, some of the terms and phrases you've encountered and will encounter in the story, might seem rather weird for you if you are accustomed to using American English. That's because I fancied mixing British and American English when writing this story. Yes, both are English but there are variations in the usage and meanings of certain words.
Well, tell me if I did brilliant or not with this chapter and I'll see you mates on the next chapter! Cheerio!
P.S.
Reviews help me work faster, it's my fuel or energy drink (LOL) so keep em coming!
