Hiro's POV.
I was a sin in my father's eyes, but what about the person who is now his stepson? A glory? Their faces are too thick to be seen in public, but my mother and I are constantly hidden. Even while he was ignorant of my sexual orientation, he was constantly annoyed by my presence. He didn't talk to me much because I wasn't his child in his eyes. He never treated me in a fine dining establishment, the way he currently treats his new family. What I've detested the most about them is how much fun they have together.
I made a fake account to stalk them; the internet is high-tech now, so I had to be careful. I wouldn't be upset if Dad treated his bastard family like us before. But he didn't; he looked so proud of them, even if they didn't come from a prestigious family.
My mom is a fashion designer and owned a boutique in Paris, yet my dad dismissed it, so mommy had to leave it and choose to be a housewife. Until depression hit her and she died, she didn't even give Mommy a good burial or even be sane.
I've hated him ever since that day, but luckily Cbiara Blair Ashton came into my life as if by my mother's wish. That day, while she was visiting someone else at the tomb, she happened to run into me and gave me some food as a peace offering. She is incredibly mischievous, so even though I declined, I consented.
She appeared happy to have that kind of family when I first met her as a farmer's daughter, yet here I am. A military father who seems capable, but perhaps not in light of our circumstances. She offered to make us friends since, as I discovered, we attend the same school. I don't want to be in any relationships with other people, thus I refuse to have friends. Yet she is nitpicky so I left with no choice.
She has been with me in everything since then. I used to be so irritated that I would occasionally run away from her. But as time passes, I find myself smiling constantly, laughing when we're together, and being able to express my true self. And she gave me her whole acceptance; she kept it a secret from others, which made me feel more at ease around her.
Her cheeks are so full that she says, "I promise not to tell anyone." I wanted to squeeze her, but I restrained myself for fear she wouldn't approve. Hence, I respected her until I felt more at ease with her. Now, I'm free to act however I choose.
"Girl, I don't like blue! Do you have a pink one?" I played with her make-up kits when we were teenagers because she didn't put much on. And I can only do it when it is us and her family. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton are supportive of me, and I envy their family because no matter what Cbiara does, they have nothing to do except have a boyfriend.
***
Years had passed, and Cbiara had changed.
"Come with me to the market, girl; I just want to buy something, please." I even blink my eyes to look cute, but her focus is on her phone, and she looks anxious.
"I can't, Hiro, bye!" She said goodbye and quickly left. That's when I found everything weird, and I tried to talk to her about it, but she always changed the topic whenever we had a conversation. At first, I just took it away, but after a long time, I didn't like everything, so I started to investigate because something seemed wrong.
That's when I witnessed her and Roux having a secret relationship. I want to report her because I heard from her father that she hated Smith all his life, but I zipped my mouth just like she did to me. But every time I go to their house, I feel guilty.
"Cbiara, are you really not going to say what's between you and Roux?" One time at recess, when she went to meet them often where she was absent, I suddenly asked her. "Do you see yourself now, Cbiara?"
"What do you mean Hiro?" She kept looking at her back. I closed my eyes because I didn't want to see her lying on my face. I open once again, and I see the concern on her face—not for me or for her, but for me to see Roux.
"Tell me the truth, will you? I'm not going to say it, but you probably know that's wrong, right? Your dad hated Smith, yet you're in a relationship with Smith."
"Tone down your voice, Hiro!" She disobeyed me. I stared at her blankly.
I told her to stop before everything got damaged, but she ignored me and kept running away. One time, when I stayed over for a sleepover because my dad wasn't home, I even saw her fleeing their home. This is the reason I am stopping her even though she really wants it. I turn on the light in her room since I sleep on the floor there. The lights came on and she was instantly turned off.
She breathed out and chuckled a little. "I thought you were mom or dad, Hiro." I didn't reply to her and just stared at her, so slowly her smile faded when I remained serious. "Let me do this, Hiro." I switched off the light and didn't listen to what she had to say.
She is not well-influenced by Roux, and I was concerned about what would take place to her in the event that they were discovered. However, he went home that morning acting as though nothing had occurred. Because of her lack of sleep, she was therefore like a wilted vegetable when she was at school. I told her off multiple times, but all she did was laugh at me and think I was strange. "I'm fine, and if we get caught, I won't tell them that you know. Just shut up your mouth," she told me. I stare at her, scoffing—this is unreal.
"Your grades are dropping; aren't you ashamed of your dad?" I scolded her. I have so much more to say, but I don't want us to have a rift, so I just limit my mouth.
"Why? Do I have to feel pity for them? Can you do it too, Hiro? Just shut up because you don't know everything!" She turned her back on me for the first time and marched away from me like our friendship didn't matter at all.
I tried to talk to Roux, but Cbiara always meddled with it; she always threatened me with her eyes. I sighed defeatedly.
"You will study in America." That's what my dad told me when he came after his training. I was confused, I was able to say goodbye to Cbiara, but not in a good way because we still had a fight. But we're fine; I know we're still friends.
The last time I found out that Dad had his mistress in our house, I just kept my mouth shut because that's the best thing to do. I always cry in the corner whenever I remember my mom. I don't know what to do.
"We broke up; my baby is gone," one time when Cbiara called me. "You were right, Hiro. I wish I had listened to you." She cried and vented everything on me. "I was passionate about my first love, and I thought he loved me, but he was just playing with me."
"Shh, I'm not there to hit you. You're crazy." I was harsh with my words; deep inside, I felt sympathy for her, but I had to show her that she should have learned her lesson.
But it didn't; she didn't learn her lesson because she associated herself with Smith again. This time it was Raven who blackmailed me, and I don't know why he wanted to know Cbiara's actions. He was like a stalker, and I was the one he ordered.
"Just do it." Is Cbiara crazy? Raven is known for ditching his soon-to-be wife whenever the wedding is near. Since he is greedy for money, that's why he has that mindset. With so much news, others still can't take it but fall in love with him. I can't blame them, Raven is like Hades, a Greek god.
If I were a woman, I would drool over that man; he and Roux are far away. Just in body and brain, what's more in terms of visuals? So I don't know why he was obsessed with knowing where Cbiara is and what she is planning for.
"Why don't you stalk her?"
"I'm calling your father,"
"Hey! It's not a joke; of course I'll talk to her right now" I still grinned even though he couldn't see me.
Dimwit! This man has always made my heart drop whenever he utters a word. But it seems that I can't take him away from Cbiara because he seems to be crazy about my friend, who is numb.
"Don't tell her anything about our deal!" He hissed when we met when I told him that Cbiara was coming back to have vengeance on his family.
"Fine, but what's your plan when she comes back?" Out of curiosity, I asked him.
"I don't share,"
"Okay, I'll just tell Cbiara that she should not come home." I know that I can't stop that because she was determined to torture the Smiths, and I think this man in front of me is not an exception.
"I'll just make a deal with her," which I didn't expect to fall in love with my best friend.