The Substitute Wife Chapter 13: 13 It's You

He hears her talking to herself. He smiles. He was about to leave. "What's his name again? Haru....no...Hideo...no....ah! Hiroaki!"

He stops and his eyes widen. "That's right. Hiroaki." He turns around and sees her happy expression then her curious expression.

"I wonder...what happen to him...hopefully he's well. He's my first friend." She smiles as she hugs her drawing.

Hiro turns his heels and heads to his study room. He walks in and closed the door.

He walks towards his desk and grab a roll of paper. He puts on his desk and unroll it.

It's a exactly the same picture as Mia's drawing. He smiles as he recalls.

[Flashback]

Hiro sneaked out and b.u.mped into Mia. They both hit each other's head and fell backwards. "Ow."

They both rubs their heads. Hiro noticed a little girl in front of him. "Sorry."

She smiles. "It's okay." He noticed a piece of paper in her hand. "What's that?" "Ah!"

She looks around and then whispers to him, "Don't tell anyone." He nods. She unroll her paper. His eyes widen.

"Teacher said to draw my future." He tilts his head, confused. "What...is it?" Mia smiles really big.

"In the future, I want to be the president's wife." "Why? What's so great about being the president's wife?" "If I become the president's wife, then my parents would like me." She sadly smiles.

Hiroaki doesn't understand. "There's no way your parents wouldn't like you." She sits on the gra.s.s and sighs. "You don't understand." He sits next to her. "Tell me."

"I have a twin sister. Both of our parents only adores her, not me. She's the light. I'm just her shadow. Whatever I do or accomplished, they never compliment me. So...." She opens her drawing once again.

"If I become the president's daughter, maybe they will feel proud of me." "What's in your future?" "To have a big mansion with big swimming pool, a garden and ooh a greenhouse. Mommy loves flowers."

.Hiroaki likes how she always put others before her. He looked up ahead and enjoy the breeze. He felt someone gazing at him.

He turns and sees her staring at him. He got nervous. "W-what?" "I forgot to ask. What's your name?"

He hesitates for a few seconds and replies, "...Hiroaki." "Hiroaki." She nods. "I'm Mia." She lifted her hand up. He takes it and they both shook each other hand.

She smiles. His eyes never left on her. (She's really cute when she smiles.) They let go of each other hands. Hiroaki looks away and asks, "If I become a president, would you like to be my wife?"

The atmosphere got too quiet. He turns and looks at her. She tilts her head, confused, yet thinking hard. She looks at him. "You're going to be the president?"

He nods. "I'm the heir of Tian Rui company." "Wow." Her eyes shines. "So...will you be my wife then?" He blush. He wasn't expecting her to agree with his remark, but he decided to asked her even though she might not agree.

She smiles. "Okay." His eyes widen. "R-really?" She nods. "I'll be your wife when you're a president." He jumped in the air and throw a fist in the air. "Pinky promise?" She smiles. "Mm, pinky promise." They both smile at each other.

[present]
Hiro puts his hand on the drawing. "Heh. Who would've thought the little girl is you, Mia." He smiles. He puts the drawing away.

He turns and looks at the window. He sees Mia in the garden with a few maids, planting flowers. He reaches out and touch the window. "I'll protect that smile of yours, even if you don't feel the same." He shows a painful expression.
...
After a short while, the maids comes into the book room where Mia is focusing on her sketches. She hears the maids talking. Maid 1 asks, "Do you think she will attend the ball?" Maid 2 said, Lady Mia should attend so Master won't look bad for bot bringing his wife." "True."

Mia stops and looks up. "What is it?" The maids gasped. They look at each other then they both walks up to Mia. "Master is out, heading to a ball. I'm afraid people are going to gossip our Lady."

"What kind of ball is it?" The maids look at each other and nod. Mia sits there in confusion.

A few minutes later, the maids give Mia a makeover. "Done. My lady, you look very beautiful." Mia then heads downstairs where the butler is waiting for her. "My lady, you're very beautiful." "Thank you."

He helps her walks to the car. She gets in and the butler drives her to the venue. She puts her hands together, nervously. She takes a deep breath a few times. As soon as she arrives to the venue, the butler helps her open the door. She bows to the butler and head inside of the building.

In the other hand, Hiro is standing with a gla.s.s of wine in the ballroom. (I wonder what she's doing.) Everyone gasped. He hears a man nearby saying, "Who's that beautiful lady?" He turns around and his eyes widen.

He sees Mia on the top of the stairs. (Why is she here?) She's wearing a pink tulle lace long evening dress. Her hair is in messy updo with white headband. Hiro puts his gla.s.s away and walks up to her before any men would.

She walks down the stairs. Hiro was in front of her. He lifts his hand and she takes it without hesitation. He escorts her to the ballroom. Everyone whispers about who's that lady with Hiro. Hiro announces, "This lady here is my beautiful wife, Mia."

He looks at her, he can tell she's nervous. He leans closer to her and whispers, "Be yourself. Also, you look very beautiful tonight." Her ears blushed. "T-thank you." The music plays is a slow song. "May I have this dance?" She nods.

Hiro takes her hand and guides her to the middle of the ballroom. She was too nervous. "What's wrong?" She looks up at him. She whispers, "I-I don't know how to dance." He smiles. "I'll teach you."

He takes both of her hands and puts them over his neck. He then puts both of his hands on lower back. "H-Hiro. Aren't we too close..?" "It's how it supposed to be." "R-really?" He smiles.

They both enjoyed themselves. As soon as the ball ended, Hiro and Mia takes a stroll in the garden nearby. Hiro notices she was shivering. He takes off his jacket and puts over her shoulders. "Thank you." "Mm."

Mia stops on her tracks. Hiro notices the big gap between them. "Mia. What is it?" She looks up at him. She decides to confess her feelings for him.

"I....think I'm in love with someone." Hiro's body completely turns to her. He listens to what she has to say. (...You're in love with someone else...is it Hector? or someone else.) "Is that so...?"

Hiro turns his heels and was about to walk away. (I don't want to hear it.) "You. It's you." His eyes widen. (W-what?) He turns and looks at her. Her face blushed. She grips her hand onto her dress, and looks at him in the eye. "I think I'm in love with you." Bb.u.mp. Bb.u.mp.