The Substitute Wife Chapter 15: 15 Until I Met Him

[Mia's narrating]

When I was little, I never once feel jealous about my sister, Maya, getting all the attention from our parents.

Just envy and admire. I, too, wanted to get compliments from them. Whatever I do, they won't look at me or at my hardwork.

My only wish is for mother and father to treat me the same as they treat Maya. But I know it's not possible. Maya stands out. I'm just a shadow of hers. Until I met him. Hiroaki.

I ran to my secret hiding spot but b.u.mped into someone. Our head crash one another. I rubbed my head with both of my hands.

I looked up and see a boy right in front of me. He was very cute little boy, same age as me, but shorter.

He apologized. I just smiles. "It's okay." He noticed a piece of paper in my hand. "What's that?" I looked down and I still have my paper in my hands. "Ah."

I looked around to see if there's anyone around. I lean in and whispers, "Don't tell anyone. Got it?"

He nods. I unrolled the paper on the gra.s.s for him to see. His eyes widen as he tilts his head. "What is it?"

"Teacher said to draw my future." "...What is your future?" I smiled very 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." I sadly smiles.

The boy doesn't quite understand. "There's no way your parents wouldn't like you." I sat on the gra.s.s and sighs. "You don't understand." He sits next to me. "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...." I took my drawing and put in front of me.

"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. Just a place that I can call 'home'."

I looked at him while he's enjoying the cold breeze. He slowly looks at me. "W-what?" "I forgot to ask. What's your name?" He hesitates for a few seconds and replies, "...Hiroaki."

I repeated saying his name, "Hiroaki." I nod. "I'm Mia." I lifted my hand up. He takes it and we both shook hands.

I smile at him. Once we let go of each other's hand, he looks away and asked, "If I become a president, would you like to be my wife?"

The atmosphere got too quiet. I tilted my head. Is he going to run for president? I looked at him up and down.

He doesn't seem like he's from a wealthy family since it's covered in dirt. He turns and looks at me. I asked, "You're going to be the president?"

He nods. "I'm the heir of Tian Rui company." "Wow." My eyes s.h.i.+nes. "So...will you be my wife then?" His face were really red. I thought he's cute like a puppy.

I smiled and said, "Okay." His eyes widen. "R-really?" I nod. "I'll be your wife when you're a president."

He jumped in the air and throw a fist in the air. "Pinky promise?" "Mm, pinky promise." We both smile at each other.

Since then I never heard of him. I waited for him at our secret hiding spot, but he never shows up. I wonder what happen to him.

I dropped the flower on the ground. He probably going somewhere far from here. My shoulder slumped.

Ofcourse. What am I thinking? How can a boy like him will like me...? I'm just a shadow. I returned home and no one ever bothers me and say, "Where have you been?" To them, I'm just invisible.
...
I decided to move out once I'm done graduating from high school. Maya refused. But I told her that I'll keep in touch.

One day, I received a phone call from Father for the first time. I thought he would ask "How's work? How are you?" but I was told to come home.

Father doesn't sound like himself. I head home. As soon as I got there, nothing really change. They wanted me to pretend to be Maya.

Father and Mother were arguing. I thought maybe they would treat me like how they treat Maya. But I know, deep down, they wouldn't accept me as their daughter.

I agreed to marry the man that Maya was supposed to marry to. When I first saw him, he doesn't seem that scary? He's just too arrogant and mean and only cares about himself.

It was fun being with him. I enjoyed but I snapped back in reality. I'm just a fake. The real one is somewhere.

Soon Maya will come and take this place. I just hope she can hurry come back and take this place before I have any feelings for this man.
...
After work, I got a call. Maya is back. I got it. This place isn't meant for me. I texted Maya to meet me at x.x.x Airy Restaurant. This is how it should be. I went home.

Mother wants me to leave out of country. I refused. I just accomplish my dream job. I don't want to lose my opportunity to become a children's book cartoonist.

It's all I have left. Mother beaten me with a whip. I didn't falter. I let her beaten me. Father didn't stop her.

He just gets up of the armchair and head to the bedroom upstairs. Hiro. I wanted to see him.

I heard Maya's voice. She's angry that she got fooled by Mother. I told her not to worry but for her to apologize to Mother.

Maya refused. I couldn't bear no more so I collapsed on the floor. I was held by someone. I slightly opens my eyes. It was Hiro. I felt safe. I lost my consciousness then.

When I woke up, I see him sitting on the chair, sleeping. Why is he here? Shouldn't he be with Maya? I did my part. He had help me countless of times. I didn't know how to thank him but pushed him away.

He got irritated. He grabs my hand and place on his chest. "I only want you." My eyes widen, I didn't think he was serious, but he's Maya's husband.

I kept pus.h.i.+ng him away once again. Judging his profile, he seems like someone I know. I don't remember his name though.

I walked pa.s.s his study room, the door was open. I took a peek and sees him sleeping on the desk. I went back to the room and grab a blanket for him. I return to the study room and place the blanket over his broad shoulders.

As I was about to leave, I see a drawing that is under the marriage certificate. It looks so familiar.

I grabbed the marriage certificate. I open it and it literally said, not . My eyes widen. How is this possible? For sure I wrote Maya's name.
...
Unable to ignore my feelings, I confess to him. He stands there like he got struck by lightening.

That night, we made love countless of times. A few days later, I ran into Mother, who was admiring the antique by looking through the window. "Mother."

She wasn't curious why I'm there. I told her the words that I wanted to say. Mother stands up and said she have to go. As I watch her leave, I noticed a speedy car heading Mother's way.

Without thinking, I ran and push Mother out of the way. I got hit by the car. My eyes were slightly open. I saw her slowly getting up.

I feel relieved that she's alright. Then I lost my consciousness. Thank G.o.d, Mother is alright.