A/N: For Warning and Disclaimer, refer back to PROLOGUE.

Chapter 1: Reminisce

It was their anniversary. She had thought that it was the perfect opportunity to reach out to him. How wrong she was. She could still remember his words, his eyes and that dull but painful feeling in her gut.

Flashback

It was their third year anniversary. She had planned a lot and had followed through her plan in order to make this occasion memorable. She had cooked his favorite dinner, steamed lobster. She had made everything perfect and just the way he liked it. She was wearing a simple black dress with thin straps that hung perfectly on her curves. Her hair was in their usual Chinese buns. Serph loved this look for her. He said that it always made her look cute and inviting.

She had prepared the dining room with impeccable scrutiny and had even purchased a present for him. It was a simple silver band. It was plain and masculine; she knew that Serph wasn't interested in highly designed and intricately engraved jewelry. He claimed that it made him (should he wear it) "fruity". Argilla laughed at that. Serph always had a quirky sense of humor. But he changed over the past two years. Argilla shook her head again. This was their anniversary; she shouldn't think ill of her husband, most especially at this particular occasion.

All was well. All was ready. And all she needed to do now is to wait for him.

She expected him to arrive later in the evening. His work often left him with little time to unwind and at times, he didn't come home at all. She bit her lip hoping that this would be different. Her heart raced as she heard the doorknob turn. He was home.

She sat up expectantly and walked towards the door. The door turned open to reveal her husband who had an upset look on his face. 'Work…' she thought sadly. She walked up to him, "Hey honey…" she tiptoed, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Serph didn't even notice that she was standing there until he felt her warm lips on his cheek. He wasn't in the mood however. 'Those bastards won't get away with that!' he thought angrily.

"What's wrong?" Argilla asked worriedly when he didn't respond to her touches and her words. Serph looked at her indifferently, "Nothing." He detached her arms from him and went straight to their bedroom without even looking into the dinner that she had labored to prepare. Argilla blinked her eyes rapidly in order to stop any tears that threatened to spill, 'He's just tired that's all.'

She proceeded to their bedroom in hopes of reminding him of their anniversary and maybe coax him into dinner. Argilla didn't expect an anniversary present from him. With his line of work, she lived comfortably and had no complaints. He was a great provider, just a tad bit forgetful.

She saw him by their window, sitting in the dark and having a faraway look on his face. She stood by the doorway, thinking of the words to say. She knew that he was upset, and the slightest thing could set him off, but tonight was their anniversary. That had to count for something, right?

"Serph…?"

"Hn…"

"Umm…" she stammered, "w-would you like some dinner?"

He didn't reply and she tried again, "I-I made your favorite…come on, it'll be fu-"

She never got to finish her sentence as he turned in her direction, locking her in his menacing eyes, "I don't care what the hell you cooked all right?!" he bellowed, "I'm goddamn tired right now, you understand?! So just get out of my face and leave me alone!"

Argilla stood frozen at her spot. She had never heard him like this before. Argilla did as she was told and ran out of the house. She got in her car and drove off. She didn't know where she was going or what she was going to do. But, wherever it may be and whatever she might do, it was sure a lot better than staying with him.

End Flashback

xxxxx

She squeezed her eyes shut; trying to force the painful memories from her head. It was when the bar attendant put a hand on her shoulder asking if she was alright did she remember that she was at a bar, having a glass of scotch. Argilla didn't drink but this provided an excellent opportunity for her to explore the other pleasures of life.

'It's okay…He didn't mean it…he was just tired…' Her mind justified Serph's behavior and she tired to compose herself. But it was at that time, she felt something in her break; her heart.

She had had only two glasses of wine but she decided that it was one too many. She left for the lavatory to see herself in the mirror and get cleaned up. As she looked at her reflection and saw herself flushed on the cheeks from alcohol, her hair in disarray, she knew that it only reflected her soul. She was as wrecked in her soul as she was outside. She broke down into tears.

xxxxx

After getting cleaned up, she prepared to leave the bar. At was close to midnight and she needed to go home. She dreaded the thought. He wasn't ready to see her and she was as sure as hell not ready to see him. But she had no choice. After all, who would clean up after him?

She sighed.

As she turned the knob of the door, she accidentally bumped into something; something or someone.

"I beg your pardon sir…" she trailed off absentmindedly.

"Argilla? Is that you?" the voice asked.

Argilla blinked and stared at the man she bumped into, "Dr. O'Brien?"

"Is that how you treat an old college buddy? Hey, we're not at the hospital now you know? It's Heat remember?"

Argilla blushed; she didn't like being reminded of these things, "Right. Well, it was nice seeing you but I need to go. Goodbye."

Heat grabbed her wrist gently, "Wait! I just got here! You have to go?" Argilla's eyes trailed from his hand gripping her tiny wrist to his blood-red eyes, gazing at her, "Well, yes, you see, it's kind of late and uh, my husband…"

"Right…" Heat thought, disappointed. She was married. He always forgot that about her. Married huh? Then what was she doing here? "Are you all by yourself?" he suddenly asked. Argilla blushed; she knew where this was going. When one really thought about it, it was kind of awkward being at a bar, close to midnight without an escort, a married woman at that!

"Well yes…I am. I just needed some air you know?" she lied. 'No it's not a lie, it's a half-truth.' she defended herself internally.

"Uh-huh", Heat uttered, unconvinced, "Where's your husband? Why isn't he with you?"

"Serph? Well, he's having a late night again and I was alone at home and I got bored so I…"

"So there! He's not a home and you're bored! Come on, let's have a drink. It's not everyday I get to hang out with you anyway."

She smiled. Dr. O'Brien, erm, Heat, had always been very sweet. He was one of the youngest senior doctors of the hospital. He was almost the same age as Serph, Argilla mused. Serph, being the chief scientist of the Karma Society at such an early age, easily made him a genius. Heat probably was one too.

Argilla didn't know much about Heat anymore; not really. She knew him, back when they were in college, when taking some of their electives together. They were really ecstatic when they knew that they would be working together at the hospital some five years ago. They had been interns then. They had a lot of fun; they spent a lot of time together, barhopping, having picnics, going to malls and just generally hanging out and having fun. But that was five years ago.

So much has happened to both of them that gradually, they began to slip away from each other, drifting farther and farther away from one another as the months rolled by. They didn't even notice where the time had gone. And now suddenly, they entered each other's lives again, as a senior doctor and a senior nurse. Heat had just received his promotion six months prior and she had only seen him then. Before that, he had been working at another hospital, having been transferred there. But as she saw him again, she knew that everything changed. Maybe it was natural, who knew? She didn't bother to reminisce and just went on with her work and he, his.

"So what do you think?" he asked, flashing his smile.

"Well…I don't know…" she hesitated.

"Oh come on…Please…Pretty please?" he pouted, using his infamous puppy-dog routine. As she laughed at his face, he knew that he had succeeded.

"Great! Just one drink; I promise. Just for old time's sake! My treat."

The pair had gotten their own table and Argilla just ordered a Margarita; nothing too strong.

"So, how have you been?" Argilla asked, genuinely curious.

"Great I guess. I got my dream job."

"So, when do you plan to settle down? You're not getting any younger!" she laughed.

Heat feigned hurt, "Hey! But I'm still cute right?"

She nodded, smiling, and took a sip of her drink. Heat regarded her beauty as he always had. He always had a soft spot for her. Back then, he used to think that women were a bother and a hindrance; it was best to keep them at bay. But, his perspective changed when he met her. She grew on him. He knew that his feelings were growing and that he needed to conceal them. So, he did. But, as he continued to spend time with her, all those years, he found it all the more difficult to mask them. He had himself assigned in various charity organizations and eventually got himself transferred to the Lokapala City Hospital. He hadn't seen her since. That was four years ago.

He was convinced that distance would slowly kill any affection that he harbored towards her; and it did. The only thing that he didn't count on was the return of those feelings as he saw her once again. That was why he insisted to have a separate shift from her after he got promoted. He didn't want a relationship. He was not a one-woman man after all. He didn't want to tarnish whatever relationship he had with her. And he was sure as hell that he would do just that should she learn of the truth.

"So, how's married life? I heard that you bagged the Serph Sheffield." Heat grinned.

Argilla blushed, "I married him; I didn't bag him!" she chuckled, "and anyway, life's great."

"That's good to hear. So, when do I meet this husband of yours? You must be proud of him."

"What?"

"Well, you know, Serph Sheffield is well-known; as far as scientists, physicists and doctors go. The man's a genius."

"I don't know about that…I just love him regardless of all that."

Heat grinned again, her answer shattering any hopes of his desire to be with her, 'Heh…I knew it. Well, too bad for me!' he thought. He was in love, but he didn't want to be; hence, her answer was another incentive for him to give his feelings up; his unwanted feelings.

The two spent the next hour talking about what had happened in their lives. Argilla hadn't felt so happy and invigorated in two years. Suddenly, she knew that it was time to say farewell. She needed to get home and it was getting late.

"Well, I gotta go Heat. I'll see you tomorrow." she grinned.

"Sure thing Argi!"

Argi; she hadn't heard that nickname in a long time. Heat called her that during their college days. She suddenly realized that she missed Heat. She missed all those times that they spent together; he was practically her best friend! Well, given her present situation, a friend was probably what she needed right now.

"See you!"

As she began to walk out through the door, Heat ran after her, "Wait! It's late; do you want me to take you home?"

Argilla stopped in her tracks, "What? No, it's okay. You just enjoy your drink. I'll be ok."

Heat grinned as he laid cash on the table; he made up his mind, "Be that as it may, I can't let you get home all by yourself. It's pretty late. Come on, I'll give you a lift."

She hesitated for a while before giving in to his persuasion. She knew as well as he, that he was right. She left her car where it was and rode with Heat instead. She had more to drink than he did anyway.

xxxxx

The car came to a halt in front of her house and she pinched his cheek, "Thanks Heat! See ya!" and with that, she hopped out of his car and walked towards her porch. Heat watched her as she reached her home and drove away with thoughts of only her.

xxxxx

'She hasn't changed much,' thought Heat as he sped through the roads of the city. As much as he shouted at himself, images of her refused to leave his mind. Everywhere he looked, he saw her. He saw her smiling face, her pouting face, her blushing face…her seductive grin and wink, 'Ooookkk, I think I had too much to drink…' he warned himself.

He reached his condo and lain himself on his couch. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw only images of her. He forced himself to open his eyes again, "This is getting weird; weird and annoying. Argi is a friend," he convinced himself, "A married friend."

'Yeah…married. Probably to a jerk too.' his inner voice interjected.

"Hey! Who asked you?" Heat yelled at his inner self.

He groaned in frustration as he realized that he had just been talking and yelling at himself, "I think I'm going crazy!" He massaged his temples and closed his eyes.

"But still…I kinda miss Argi…"

xxxxx

When Argilla had entered the house that she shared with Serph, she noticed that everything was just as she left it. The dinner was untouched, unchanged except for the candles that had melted and died. She sighed; he didn't even touch it. He was probably out of the house too, she mused. She quickly cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher.

She made her way into the bedroom and she saw him fast asleep. Her heart sank at what she saw. She loved him; but his image only hurt her and she wasn't ready to see him. Well, the only difference now was that Serph was asleep and he was quiet. With that consolation, Argilla tiptoed over to her closet and changed into her black nightgown. As she neared their bed, she hesitated to get on it, 'Maybe he'd prefer being alone tonight…'

She continued to gaze at him until his voice roused her from her contemplation, "Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to get in?"

"Oh! You're awake?" Argilla blinked.

"I've been awake ever since you came in. The light coming from the hall woke me." he drawled. Argilla hated that tone. It undermined her and insulted her. But she could say nothing.

"I'm sorry…"

"I don't care. Just get to bed and turn off that light."

"Okay…"

She did as she was told and buried herself under the covers, careful not to move, thinking that the slightest movement would make Serph angrier than he already was. She occupied her side of the bed, making it a point to be as far away from him as possible, not that he'd notice or care anyway.

"By the way, where were you?"

Argilla snapped her eyes open. Right. Where was she? She couldn't tell him that she had just spent the previous hour having a drink, at a bar, with a male. A friend granted, but a male friend nonetheless. Serph wasn't the jealous type, but he was the proud type. She knew that if she disclosed her activity with Heat, he'd go berserk. Not because he was jealous, but because he would consider it as an indiscretion on her part; an indiscretion that could prove dire for his reputation.

"I went to my sister's…" she lied.

Serph quirked an eyebrow, unconvinced; too bad Argilla couldn't see that in the dark.

"You went to Sera's?"

"Yes…"

Serph knew she was lying; Sera lived in Muladhara. There was no way she could have gone to her. It would mean driving at least half an hour. Sure, she could have been there, but the chances were slim. But he didn't want to bother with her trivial, emotional tantrums. He had better things to think about.

"I see…"

When he shifted his weight on his side, his back facing her, she knew that he had dismissed her and the conversation was over.

Argilla bit her bottom lip as hard as she could, trying her best to stop the ache in her heart. Serph had changed so much. Where had the man she married, gone?

Thoughts of him drifted into her dreams as she fell asleep.

xxxxx