"That's a very nice welcome," Cassandra said as coldly as she could. She looked down at Sheena's small stature before her. Her enemy's five foot four height was nothing to her five foot eight. But Cassandra could not easily beat her because the woman was stronger than she looked—especially when it came to Cassandra.

"How dare you—" Sheena's hand went up for another attack but Philip was fast to catch it with his hand this time. Sheena's eyes flew toward him in fury.

"Sheena, right?" he asked, and Cassandra was taken aback. How did he know about Sheena? "Don't touch my wife again, please," she heard him say coldly, his blue eyes seriously serious.

Sheena roughly pulled her hand away with a menacing laugh. "Look here. You found a husband? So Beth was telling the truth?" Her gray eyes transferred to Philip, "How unlucky of you. You better hold on tight though. She might get you in another car wreck and I say you'll be lucky to be dead."

"We did not come here to see you, Sheena, so cut the speech. It's getting really old," Cassandra told her.

"Get out. You're not welcome here."

"Says who?" she raised one eyebrow at the blond lady standing between her and the room. She took one step inside and circled around her forever nemesis. Her ever supportive husband followed behind.

"I'll call security," Sheena cried out.

"Go ahead," Cassandra turned around to face her with a sly smile. "It would be my pleasure to tell them you slap everyone who visits Dennis. That would be assault, right?"

"I don't know why you're here, bitch, but make sure that you're gone when I get back." Sheena whirled around, her short blond hair cutting through air as she did so. The door slammed behind her as she left, leaving Cassandra alone with Philip—and of course, Dennis.

Cassandra slowly turned around to face the hospital bed where Dennis's comatose body lay and she gasped. The feeling of seeing him lying on that bed powerless and almost lifeless broke her composure. Seeing the man who had been haunting her dreams for almost two years in such state hurt more than a hundred slaps from Sheena. God, it hurt to know that the man who had been so full hope for his future was lying there motionless, oblivious of the time passing by, and it was all her fault.

She felt that same clenching feeling in her chest every time she remembered the car crash. The pain she thought had stopped was just sleeping after all. It was still there, the feeling of so much guilt. Once again, like two years ago, she was bombarded of too many 'if only' thoughts.

Her tears broke free as she slowly walked toward him, her feet wobbling.

Philip never uttered a word which was what she needed from him at the moment. She didn't need his touch for now because she felt she would crumble on the floor if anything as much brushed her skin. That was how weak she felt right now.

The whimper that escaped her lips was brought by the look on Dennis's face. It was still as she remembered it. But it was also different. His black hair was still dark, but his face was different, almost lifeless. He looked pale and dry.

He missed a lot of sun, she thought.

The tubing that was attached to his mouth a long time ago was gone. But those machines monitoring his vital signs were still there. So was the emergency cart she once drew on. Slowly, she willed her hand to touch his sleeping face and it felt so familiar. His face, his skin, and she knew his brown eyes would still be as what they were when they looked at her back then. Her shoulders began to shake once more.

She was full of guilt that she couldn't contain it inside her. She was well and doing crazy things while he was stuck here, his mind somewhere only she could imagine.

She had fought with his family when they decided to take off life support. She had fought hard because she didn't want to lose hope that he would wake up and be better again. She fought because she couldn't live another single day knowing she didn't do anything to save him. And now, he could breathe on his own, obviously, but he was still lost in a place no one knew.

Deep down inside, Cassandra thought that Dennis could be tired right now and that if he could only talk, he'd ask them to let him go. Only she and Sheena believed he'd wake up, but it seemed that it was not going to happen any time soon.

"I'm sorry, Dennis," she whispered brokenly. "I'm really sorry..." She sniffed, and would have fallen on the floor if Philip did not catch her and took her into his arms. "It's my entire fault. Sheena was right. It was my entire fault..." she cried out, her shoulders shaking.

She clung to her husband's shoulders like she was about to fall off a cliff.

"No, don't think that," Philip whispered in her ear. He ran his hand back and forth around her back to soothe her. His even heartbeat against her heaving chest helped ease the pain and his gentle words of assurance were lullaby to her ears. But she cried harder, pouring out every ounce of guilt and hurt.

"I just want him to forgive me. God, I want him to wake up and tell me it's all okay," she cried against his chest, her tears drenching his shirt.

Philip did not say a word, probably speechless seeing her like that. Who wouldn't be? But she didn't care what he was thinking. Right now, she got her answers.

Yes, seeing Dennis gave her answers to questions, but it also made her feel worse. God, she wouldn't disagree if Sheena was there and called her a bitch one more time because right now, that's how she felt of herself.

*****

Minutes later, Cassandra looked up and said, "Can I have a moment alone with him?"

"Of course, I'll be outside," Philip said quietly and walked out the door.

Cassandra composed herself before she turned to face Dennis.

"I'm sorry about that," she said. "In case you haven't figured out yet, he's my husband. It's a long story and I won't have enough time to tell you." She forced a smiled on her face and brushed his black hair with her shaking fingers. "I see they cut your hair," she chuckled, her thoughts flying back to her memories with him. They seemed blurry now, but they were still there. Five years with him gave her many to remember.

"He's handsome, isn't he?" she uttered, talking about Philip.

It kind of felt weird talking about her husband with Dennis but she felt like she could talk to Dennis freely more than anyone else and she sighed. "Do you know that he's the reason why I came here? He asked me if I'm still in love with you. I don't know why he wanted to know either, believe me."

She sat beside him on the bed and took his hand in hers. "I know you've been hearing this a lot from me, but I'm sorry." She swallowed and continued, "Now, I'm sorry because I..." she faltered, thinking if he could hear her and if he could, he might get hurt. "I'm sorry because I think I'm finally starting to let you go."

A single tear fell from her eye. "I don't know if it's because of him, Den. I honestly don't know. And I'm afraid. I don't know what to do. I'm so confused. It would have been easier if you didn't leave me hanging and now, even our memories together are starting to fade as the days I spend with him goes by. He helps me forget in a way that's healthy, you know."

Then, she laughed. "I'm going crazy, I know. But don't worry, I got my answer," she looked at him sadly. "I'm starting to let go. But it's really scary." She stood up and wiped her cheeks with her hands. "Anyway, I have to go. Sheena could get back any moment now and I'm not the type who turns the other cheek. Harrison told me the doctors might try some new procedures and they're really optimistic about it. I really hope you'll wake up." She grinned and bent down to kiss his forehead. "I loved you, you know that right? And I still care for you." Her hands stayed on his cheek as she said, "And don't worry, I can handle Philip. Come what may, right?"

*****

They left the hospital without meeting Sheena, but her relief was not about not having to confront Dennis' childhood best friend once again. It was the lighter feeling she had in her chest.

She was right. She got the answer by seeing Dennis. But on the other hand, she also had another matter to face and it was called Philip. Back there, she finally admitted her husband's effects on her. And yes, it was scary because she couldn't just tell him, 'Hey, I'm starting to like you,' because their situation was getting in the way.

The stupid agreement kept reminding her that she couldn't get anything out of their marriage other than sex and probably heartache if she was not careful.

"Feeling better?" Philip asked her as they climbed in the car.

"Yes, I guess so," she answered and then remembered something. "How did you know Sheena's name?"

"Harrison told me about her," he said nonchalantly.

"He told you."

He nodded as he put the car in gear. "He also mentioned a black-haired lady named Beth, one I actually happen to know."

Cassandra laughed. "I can't believe it," she shook her head, remembering Dennis' twin sister. Then she stiffened. "Wait. You know Beth?"

"I know a lot of people, Cass. She's in real estate, right? We currently have a project together."

"Wait, what?" she asked in horror.

"Why?"

She blinked. First, Angelica. Now, Beth? This was getting too personal for her. But business was business in Philip's world. How could she even demand that he dismiss Beth from his life?

"So, how do you feel?" he asked, totally forgetting about Beth. Perhaps she should treat it as nonchalantly as he did as well. "Cass, how do you feel?" her husband asked again. The question was simple but the look on his face said it meant everything to him.

"Hurt. Sheena really has a strong hand," she answered, feigning ignorance.

But he saw right through her because he said pointedly, "You know what I am asking about, Cassandra."

"I don't know, Philip," she sighed. She was not ever going to tell him everything. That was why she sent him outside back there in the first place!

She saw his brows meet in a line through the rearview mirror. She wondered what he was thinking. Both of them really had to talk whatever they were keeping secrets. It was getting frustrating! But then again, she would never say anything unless he would do it first.

*****

"When are you gonna take me into those woods?" she asked him later that night. They were in their usual spot at the back of the house, sitting on the lawn bench.

"When do you want to?" he asked, playing with her hair, twirling it around his finger.

"Anytime. I want to be in there while I'm still here," she said and she felt his hand freeze. A brief tension passed between them for a moment.

"How about tonight?" he finally asked.

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, why not? We can go camping. That would be nice." She saw the glimmer in his eyes and she instantly knew what he was thinking.

A chuckle escaped her lips before he claimed her mouth for a kiss. "Okay, okay, I give in. We're going camping."

*****

"Stay on trail," Philip told her for the nth time, all the while thinking how Henry was doing inside their house at that very precise moment. He sent his friend a message that the house would be free for the night and now the man was in there checking the entire place for bugs.

Now that Henry was getting close to completing his job, he was getting more paranoid. For Philip, it was better that Henry was acting paranoid because he did not like the idea of anyone listening in on his conversations.

"I heard you the last time," his wife's loud response draw him back to the moment. He looked over his shoulder and watched as she struggled with her flashlight and pack. "We could have just had dinner at home. It was more practical."

"It's not camping if we will not be roasting on fire."

"You made me carry one whole chicken!" she complained. "Shit!"

"What happened?" He stopped and turned around to face her. She was slapping her legs, jumping from one foot to another. "Why the hell did you wear shorts?" he asked when he realized what was happening.

"I was expecting we'd be hiking or something!"

"Do you see a hill?" he sarcastically asked. "It's nighttime, Cassy," he said pointedly.

"I know!"

"Do you have some kind of repellant?"

"Why would I bring something like that?"

"Because it's nighttime and we're going into the woods."

"I already know that!"

He sighed and took off his backpack. "I have some."

"The repellant man," she chuckled. He realized she was mocking him.

He pointed his flashlight right at her and said, "Do you want it or not?"

"Please, I'd love some." He handed her the plastic bottle and continued down the trail.

*****

An hour later, they had set up camp and were roasting chicken. They sat side by side staring at the fire, the shadows it created dancing on their faces.

"What would you do if he wakes up?" Philip asked her, his eyes not wavering from the fire as if he was talking to it.

He felt her stiffen beside him. "I don't know," she answered.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I can't talk about it right now."

He took a deep breath and lay on his back. "I didn't want to talk about it either anyway."

Cassandra smiled. She felt his finger drawing circles on her back as he lay there on the ground.

"Why do you like stars?" he was now drawing stars randomly with his finger.

"I don't know. I like the shape. It's all pointed and they point at every direction," she stared at the sky and smiled. "And they are always everywhere. Even they're not visible you know they are always there."

"Hmm..." was all he said. His thoughts were drifting elsewhere. He was thinking how oddly they matched each other. He wondered why he was attracted to her when she could easily piss him off. And he wondered why he wanted to tell her to just stop thinking about Dennis, that what they had now was far better than anything.

Because for him it was. He was never the sort of guy who would pack his bags and go on adventures. The family empire was too important to ignore for some silly soulful experience. But now he was thinking he understood why some of the people he knew would always find time to jump from one place to another to seek out adventure. The experience was intoxicating, he thought.

Cassandra was the adventure he never got to have. And he was addicted to it. He wanted to do more with her, enjoy more with her.

"Okay," she scooted and lay back beside him. He took her hand and intertwined their fingers. "You know almost everything about me but you never told me anything about you. That's unfair."

He chuckled. "There's nothing much to tell."

"I still want to know."

"What do you want to know?" his thumb played with her hand as he said it.

"I want to know the controversial stuff."

"That's something I never had. My life had been plain and simple," he moved his head to the right to face her, "until I met you. And don't think it is all good because you're one heck of a difficult woman to handle."

"Should I be happy about that?" she frowned.

"Yes, of course. It's the closest to a compliment you'll get from me."

"I hate you," she said lightly.

"No, you don't," his head moved closer. He loved how he could smell the hint of his soap in his skin.

"I do sometimes," she answered, staring at his lips.

"In that case, I should say the same thing." His lips were smiling widely as they landed on hers. He turned her on her back and covered her body with his. The chicken was forgotten as they relished themselves to the new fire they ignited. Cassandra eagerly roamed her hands over his back and Philip had the urge to pull her tighter, feel every inch of her and never let go.

"I think the chicken is ready," she rasped against his lips.

"I'm hungry for something else," he whispered, his teeth traveling to her ear.

He heard her moan. "Philip, I'm hungry. Like really hungry. Literally." She gently pushed at his chest.

He claimed her mouth once again and pushed away with a groan. "Okay, let's eat.:

"We have all the time in the world anyway," he heard her say.

Not all the time, he said in his mind. Days are ticking by, Philip thought.

They hungrily ate the chicken and talked some more. They talked about Willie and his upcoming party. They talked about her exhibit for the next month. They talked about almost everything but never about them. That was something they both mutually understood as a topic not safe to tackle. They talked and made love in the tent they had set up, forgetting about everything as they always did.

*****

The next day was really weird.

Philip seemed different.

Really different. He was silent than usual and when she asked him what was wrong with him, he said, "I'm fine."

She noticed that he was thinking about something as they packed up to go back home. Cassandra was frowning all the way back, wondering if she did anything or said something that made him like that. He was not angry, but he was silent—almost distant.

What's freaking wrong with him? He's not undergoing andropause, is he? Because he's too young for that.

The moment they arrived home, Philip went straight to get a bath and locked himself in his office.

Cassandra tried not to mind him and went on with her painting. She was working on something she didn't want him to see so she worked in her balcony for the rest of the day. It was his turn to clean up today so it was no problem. But the curious thing was that she did not see him anywhere near the vacuum cleaner or the rake or the lawnmower. He just stayed inside his freaking office doing God-knows-what.

Well, whatever his problem was, it was not hers to carry.

So he was not talking about it? Fine! She had a problem of her own. One was Sheena calling her telling her not to come back. Second, she got a text from Beth, Dennis' twin sister who had hated her since the beginning of time saying she better not see her step inside her brother's room and that it was a good thing she was not there yesterday.

Yes, not everyone liked her. Sheena and Beth were proof of that. They always thought she was to blame of Dennis being in that state. The sad thing was that, she agreed with them. That was one reason why she never went back to see Dennis. For them, she was just someone who was trying to marry him for money. Cassandra's family was well-off, but Dennis' was way out of reach—just like Philip's. And by the time they were engaged, her father's company had already been struggling and that was when the rumors started.

She did not mind it, and neither did Dennis. After all, they were in love and had no care for the world.

But then, that was before everything changed.