It's half past four. The clouds started dripping droplets of clear liquid when Ashton left home approximately 50 minutes ago. He is on his way to the hospital to ferry Anne home because they are celebrating their very first anniversary tonight. Aston promised Anne that he will cook her favourite Chicken Pot Pie as a reward after her 36-hours deranged shift. Ashton never love the rain and now the traffic is collaborating with the weather in the game of upsetting him. He is losing so he uses his all-time winning weapon to counteract. Ashton rolls the window down and lights a cigarette.
"You've been smiling all day. What's the occasion?"
"Today is my first wedding anniversary with Ashton. I'm so excited. Can't wait to go back and celebrate with him"
Leo half smirks in reply to Anne's answer. A small part of him is happy for her though his heart has gone through a terrible process to bring a stop towards his unconditional love for Anne. Leo sighs and takes a gulp. He tasted bile.
"May all your years to come, bring in loads of sweet and lovely memorable times in your life. I congratulate you, and wish you a very Happy Anniversary, Anne"
"Thank you Leo, you're such a good friend. Ashton is so lucky to have you as his best friend"
"Friend huh", Leo murmured as he faces away from Anne.
"I'm so happy to see both of you together. I never imagined that Ashton is going to get married before. He's not the dating type."
Anne let out a giggle. Maybe she is too obsessed admiring Ashton that she never realized he never had a serious relationship before they were together. "Haha really?"
"Yeah, but that was before he met you. He never has time for anything other else than his work. He can hardly leave this place, it's like home to him." Leo reminisces the past. "And after he met you, he changed. It was hard for me to believe that Ashton, the work machine, changed because he met a girl. But I'm not surprised that he did because, well, it's you. I know that both of you will be together".
Leo makes Anne awed. "Wow, now a psychologist can predict someone's future. Are you sure you're not a seer?"
Leo puts his hands inside his pockets when the frosty wind blows. He looks into Anne's eyes and says, "I'm not predicting your future, my dear Anne. For your information, we never talk about anything other than man's stuff before. But since he met you, his topic will always have an association with you. Ashton really loves you Anne, he really do."
Anne can feel the warmth of her tears in the corner of her eyes so she hastily blinks it away. "I know Leo. I love him too, I love him so much. And I can't imagine my life without him". She takes a quick glance at her watch and realized that she had spent almost an hour on the rooftop with Leo. "I'm so sorry Leo but I really have to get going now, he's been waiting for me since morning. I'll catch up with you soon Leo". Anne plants a friendly kiss on Leo's left cheek and heads to the elevator.
Before he left their apartment, Ashton felt a yearning for his meeting with Anne but now he doubts that. He throws the cigarette between his teeth onto the concrete floor and steps on it furiously. Seeing Anne and Leo laughing intimately makes his heart aches. "After all that I'd done, Anne" he monologues. Ashton clenches his fist and walks back to his car and return home cancelling his plan to fetch his wife.
The first thing Ashton does when he enters the apartment is switching off every single light in there. He sets up the table although he is not sure whether the dinner is still on or not. His encounter with Anne and Leo at the hospital still messes his minds. Once everything is in place, he goes out into the balcony and lights another cigarette, the 20th for today. Ashton hears a knock on the door and he knows that Anne is home. He lets the sound sink into the depths of the silence and enjoys the poison in his mouth instead.
"I'm home, darling" Anne hugs Ashton from his back. "Happy Anniversary Ash. The past 36 hours were killing me. I miss you so much it hurts. Glad that I don't have to go to work tomorrow". She plants a kiss on his neck.
As much as Ashton is still annoyed by the incident, seeing Anne somehow cleared the air a little bit. He doesn't want to dismay Anne so he fakes a smile. "Please tell me you're hungry because one, I'm starving and two, I cooked your favourite chicken pot pie that you've been craving for since the last 36 hours."
"On the scale of 1 to 10, I'm at 11 of how hungry I am. Let's fill the monster in my tummy now", Anne takes Ashton's hand whilst her other hand takes the cigarette he is smoking and throws it.
"OH MY GOD! Are you sure you haven't seen Jamie Oliver sneaking into our apartment? Cause this Chicken Pot Pie is the best I've ever had in my entire life!", Anne mumbles with her eyes closed. "Wow that's a huge compliment baby, thank you. So, are you ready for your gift?" Ash asks halfheartedly.
"Of course I am. Is it normal that I'm sweating out of nerve haha", Anne places the cutlery down. Across her, Ashton is holding a beautifully wrapped box with a red bow. Anne takes his gift and eagerly opens it. Inside, there is a stethoscope with both Ashton and Anne's names carved in cursive writing.
She is overwhelmed by the present, tears rain from her sparkly eyes. "You even have our names carved there! I swear this is the best gift ever. Thank you so much Ash!" Ashton glad to see the look on Anne's face. He is flattered by her priceless reaction.
"The reason I put our name together is to remind you that I'm always by your side every time you use it." Ash takes a sip of wine. "I love you forever Ashton Flack. You know, I wouldn't mind if you hurt my feelings because it would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you". Anne kisses the back of Ashton's right hand.
To be continued
