Internal Conflicts!

"Are you pregnant?"

Was he kidding? Cradling the bedside phone tightly, Téa gritted her teeth. "Excuse me?"

"It's 9:30 in the morning. You're usually up by 6. Why are you still in bed?"

Big deal! So she slept in! Seto's proposal, the small celebration with champagne, and the late night game of Squash strained her muscles. Her confused mind and tired body required rest. It was hardly a crime. And why should she offer him a justification?

"It's none of your business, Marik." Raising herself on the bed, she retorted flatly. "Why are you calling me?"

"To confirm if you're pregnant. I heard you're marrying Kaiba." He indicted. "Explain yourself." He demanded.

"Go to hell!"

"So it's true then. You've signed in for the Kaiba ride?" – The second taunt of the morning.

"First, I'm not pregnant. Second, if I've signed for the Kaiba ride, it's because he's going places." No denial. No shame. To hell with the blame of being called an opportunist! "And I can't believe you're confronting me?"

Marik, on the other end, had the grace to look shameful. "Congratulations!" His voice cracked, heavy with emotions. "If you're trying to make me jealous, it's working."

'Mr. Ishtar! Not everything is about you.' "Get over yourself, will ya?" I most certainly am. "It makes no difference what you feel. We're done."

The words sounded like a relief even as she spoke them. Last night, she wasn't sure she was finished with him. But now, voicing it out loud, she felt better. Téa frowned at this unexpected, internal revelation. Her ego no longer felt wounded at his betrayal. In fact, she was experiencing a sense of release. Like a heavy burden was lifted from her shoulder. There was no need to lie, or feel hurt, or in love with him anymore. It was all over. Surprisingly, she felt free.

"I missed you."

His confession stirred a sense of guilt in her. She knew Marik was feeling the hurt of rejection she had caused. She had denied him and now his male ego couldn't handle the refusal. The question was did she wanted to share his hurt of rejection? Did she ache to pity him and take him back? Did she want to live the facade of normalcy for few days only to find that her love was no longer reciprocated? She maybe famous among her friends for being the martyr type... but was this emotional torture worth it?

Few seconds of silence passed over the static phone line. Neither of them was willing to speak. Marik said he missed her. But did she miss him too?

Closing her eyes, Téa bit her lip. Her heart heavy stilled against her chest.

"Be honest, Gardner. Do you miss him?" – Seto inquired in her mind. His cut glass accent cut through the fog of doubt. "Do you love him?"

Searching deep, she found that she didn't. No she didn't missed or loved Marik. The beginning of a new chaos, in the form of Seto Kaiba, had diverted her attentions... 'And affections.'

"We've sorted our differences a month ago. I feel nothing for you." Téa offered politely. There was a touch of steel in her closure. And then on an impulse she asked him. "What's the most important thing for you in a relationship?"

"Are you asking me why we broke off?"

"No." She rolled her eyes. "I'm asking what you look for in a relationship." She could sense his confused frown. So she explained further. "Say with Vivian, what's that one thing that really keeps you by her side. And I'm not talking about her beauty or physical attribute."

Her question took him by surprise. But he thought over it.

Clarity flooded through his mind as Marik understood her completely. He understood why he and Téa fell apart. It was because there was no 'them' to begin with. Sure, the initial physical intensity was great. But once that attraction wore off... things became dull. In truth, he understood that Téa was too bold, too determined, and too independent for his taste. Right now, it was only his hurt ego persuading him to get her back. They were just two individuals with nothing in common. But in contrast, he and Vivian wanted the same thing.

And it was. "Sense of security!"