Chapter 13:His Side Story :Yhe Moment I Lay My Eyes On You

Everything was interrupted by the jingling of the bell, announcing the arrival of a middle-aged married couple. Excitement lit up their faces as they entered the cafe, in stark contrast to Hanako, who clearly didn't know what to say. She seemed completely unaware of the reason behind her fiancé breaking off the engagement.

I wanted desperately to help her, but I was at a loss as to how. Her parents sat across from her, chatting happily about her fiancé, who had apparently run from her. There was no way she could reveal the true reason behind the broken engagement, especially when her parents were eagerly expecting him to show up any moment now.

I watched closely to see if she would reveal the truth to her parents, but it was evident that she was at a loss for words. I was desperate to assist her in this difficult situation, yet I couldn't fathom a way to do so. Everyone at the café who knew about the broken engagement felt the same, wanting to help but constrained by the complex circumstances. We understood that she couldn't openly declare the end of her engagement on her own, especially when her parents were expecting her fiancé to arrive at any moment.

Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself walking toward them, a peculiar impulse guiding my steps. "I apologize for the delay," I spoke, surprising even myself. "I am your daughter's fiancé."

As I took a seat beside her, she wore a look of bewilderment, clearly wondering why I had taken such an unexpected course of action. In contrast, her parents appeared delighted, relieved to finally meet their daughter's fiancé.

My unexpected declaration left my friends and even Uncle Toshiro surprised, yet he showed his support without hesitation. Hanako's parents, on the other hand, were eager to learn more about our relationship, bombarding us with questions about how we met, our favorite memories together, and the romantic details of my proposal. I could feel Hanako's anxiety during this elaborate charade, and I tried to offer her some solace by discreetly squeezing her hand under the table, conveying that everything would be fine.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, signaling the approach of evening, Hanako's parents bid us farewell. We returned to the café, where we were met with Kazuki's playful grin. "So, you two are playing lovers now?"

Ryo, however, wore a more serious expression as he delved into the details. "Now that I think of it, Hiroshi, didn't you mention earlier that you were arranged to be married to the daughter of your father's friend, who happens to be a lawyer?"

My heart sank a little. I had hoped my friends already knew the reasons behind my actions, but it seemed that wasn't the case. However, I felt it was only fair that Hanako knew the truth, so I responded honestly, "Yes, that's correct. My father and his friend have had this arrangement for years, and I was informed about it not too long ago."

Hanako's reaction was immediate, her voice filled with surprise as she exclaimed, "What?!"

I quickly followed up with a reassuring smile, "But, you see, I don't have any intention of marrying someone I don't like, and we've only known each other for four weeks."

My words were genuine as I explained to her. The four weeks we had spent together had not been enough for me to fall in love and decide to marry her. I couldn't bear the thought of giving up what we had for a loveless arranged marriage.

I added that I had told my father that I couldn't marry that woman and had already found someone I'd likely want to marry. Hanako was startled by that revelation and asked me why I had lied to her parents about being her fiancé if I already liked someone else, making the situation more complicated for her to tell the truth.

Kazuki, displaying his usual brashness, slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "That's right, Hiroshi. If you already like someone, you should let me pretend to be her fiancé." Kazuki's words seemed half-joking, but I couldn't help but remember that Kazuki had shown interest in Hanako before.

Takuya calmed him down and looked at me with a grin. "I'm sure he had a good reason, right, Hiroshi?" All eyes turned to me, awaiting an explanation.

Everyone leaned in, waiting for my response. "Of course, I do. When I said I already liked someone, that was a lie to create an excuse for my father. I intended to find someone as soon as possible because next month he wants to meet this girl I like."

"And I just found the girl I like; it's you. Maybe this is what they call 'love at first sight.' When I first laid my eyes on you, you made my heart beat fast effortlessly."

I continued to make it more reasonable. "And when I saw the opportunity to help you in this situation, I didn't think twice. It will benefit both of us. I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend for at least four months, and we can make up a story about how we broke up to your parents when the time comes."

Everyone seemed to agree with it, but what I was waiting for was Hanako's opinion. I looked at her earnestly, waiting for her response. Would she accept my proposal to become my fake girlfriend?

"Of course, I don't have any intention of remaining a fake boyfriend to you," I thought to myself, determination coursing through my mind. "In these four months, my aim is to make you genuinely fall for me and to prove that I'm a better match than the guy who couldn't even show up in front of your parents. I want you to see that you won't regret agreeing to this arrangement."

My thoughts seemed to tumble out before I could censor them. I couldn't believe how eager I sounded to be loved by her, but there was an earnestness in my inner voice that I couldn't deny.

Kazuki's mischievous grin returned. "Well, it's certainly a twist in the story, isn't it? A fake fiancé becoming a fake boyfriend." Am i imagining it? he's being back to his normal self.

My nerves were on edge as I waited for Hanako's response. I knew this was a lot to process, and I didn't want to pressure her into a decision. So, I said, "Take your time to think it over, Hanako. We're here to support you, whatever you decide."

Everyone in the cafe seemed to be in agreement, offering their support and understanding, even Uncle Toshiro. Yet, as we waited for Hanako's answer, I couldn't help but wonder which way she would lean. Would she accept my proposal and take on the role of my fake girlfriend, or would she decline, setting us on a different path altogether?