28 Are You Guys Really Dating?

Mel left Grandma's house after dinner. Tonight she will meet Hiro, who just returned from Tokyo. They promised to meet at a cafe near her apartment.

"Boss..!" Suddenly Max's voice came from the car speakers.

"Yes, Max. Any good news?" asked Mel.

Her eyes still focused on the road in front of her. The streets are a bit congested tonight; she got stuck in traffic jams at some red lights more than once. She already asks Max to clear the road ahead.

"About Tanner Entertainment."

That should be good news for her. She is getting excited. "Speak!"

"Today, Tanner Entertainment shares have fallen to their lowest price in 3 years. They held a press conference, stating that the man in the photo is not Andy Tanner. They have denied the man in the photo is the Heir of Tanner Entertainment. And, they said they would sue XFile's for spreading hoax news."

Instantly Mel burst out laughing, "Good! They take our bait! And so easy."

"So can you take the next step, Boss?... Boss, sorry, there's an incoming call from Mr. Hiro."

Not long after, Mel hears Hiro's voice on the other end, "Boss, have you arrived?"

"Not yet I'm stuck in traffic. I'll arrive in about five more minutes," Mel said calmly. The news from Max has made a lousy mood from the traffic jam gone.

"Okay. I have arrived. Anything would you like to eat? I will order it for you."

"No need, I've eaten. I will just order coffee when I arrive. "

"Okay, Boss! Be careful on the road." Hiro said, then hung up the phone.

"Max, continue..."

"About next plan?"

"Yes. You can proceed with the next step. Share the video!" Mel chuckled; she was happy because it certainly would drive Andy even crazier.

She continued, "And, don't worry, they'll never find out who is behind XFile's. Also, I will ask Hiro to buy bulks of Tanner Entertainment's shares. We're going to acquire the company. The company must return to its real owners. If we can't, then we have to destroy it. No one deserves to lead Tanner Entertainment other than my mother!" She said in a cold low voice.

But anyone who hears it could feel an angel of death is about to strike its scythe.

If Max were human, he would be terrified.

As soon she entered the cafe, Hiro called her. Mel approached him.

"What do you want to drink? IA*?" Hiro ask.

"Hmm..." she sat on the chair opposite Hiro, her back facing the door.

A moment later,

Mel received a glass of Iced Americano from Hiro; she immediately felt a little bit excited after taking a sip of the cold light coffee, her favorite. She glances at Hiro. "What about your problem? Everything okay?" she asked curiously.

"Yes! Everything is all right."

Mel frowned.

She couldn't believe how quickly he was able to convince his mother. "What excuse did you give her?"

He didn't answer right away; he just sips his coffee casually, later he said, "I told her I have a girlfriend here."

Mel sat up straight. It was getting more interesting. "Then?"

"She believes it!" Hiro said with a big grinned.

Mel frowned.

Something went wrong.

"Are you sure she believes you?" Mel knows mother Nakayama very well. She would have to call her first just to make sure about this.

Hiro chuckled.

In a low voice, Mel smiled; she asked, "So, who do you think this imaginary girlfriend of yours?"

His face froze; he turned his gaze elsewhere, trying not to look directly at Mel.

Seeing Hiro silent, her mischievous smile widened.

She knows it!

Hiro must have said the name of a woman she knew. Who is that innocent woman? Mel was getting curious. She had no other way but to threaten him. "Are you going to tell me, or should I find it out from your mother right now?" Mel in a threatening tone.

Then, she casually sipped her ice coffee.

Hiro was surprised to hear Mel was about to call his mother. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Anna."

Instantly she is choking badly. She couldn't hold it, her precious ice coffee, which she had just taken a sip, spouting out from her mouth. Her face reddened. She was shocked to hear Hiro's sentence. That innocent woman is Anna?

Later, she received handkerchief from Hiro. She wipes her mouth and table in front of her. After calming down, she looked back at Hiro sharply. "Y-you? Are you guys dating?"

Now it's Hiro's turn to choke.

He coughed so severely that his face and ears turned red.

Mel's eyes widen in disbelief. "You blush? Do you seriously like her? Don't you?"

Mel could never imagine this couple is possible, Hiro and Anna?

For her, their nature and traits are contradictory to one another. Anna is very cheerful and loves to do stuff outside. At the same time, Hiro is a quiet person and hates most outside, a.k.a. he is a homebody. Homebody? What is it? It's not a famous word for sure. Maybe because this type of person is so rare, it could be considered an endangered species.

Anyone who knows them would never have thought they would be able to connect.

If Anna and Harry are a couple, that will make sense, or anyone could figure it out. They have the same type of personality. But, Anna and Hiro? Mel couldn't even see that happened.

Mel is hoping that Hiro didn't dig his own grave here. What will happen if his mother comes to J city and asks to see Anna? Mel couldn't imagine what could happen. Too scary to think about it.

They were both silent, lost in their thoughts.

Suddenly, a female voice greeted them, "Guys, what are you doing here?"

Hiro and Mel fell silent for a moment. Their eyes met each other; then, in slow-mo, they turned their heads towards the woman's voice.

"ANNA!"

"ANNA?!!"

They shout at the same time.

Then, all in Silence.

They do not even move!

They both are in shock.

How long has Anna been standing there? Does she hear everything? Mel stunned.

After sometimes Mel finally speak in a stuttering voice, "A-anna, how? W-why?.. are you here?"

"What do you mean? I was looking for you!" Her cheerful voice was calm but still with a hint of cheerfulness. At the same time, her eyes kept glancing at Hiro, who sat quietly in his chair, nearly expressionless.

Mel Curious to hear Anna looking for her. "You looking for me? Why, I mean, why don't you call me first?"

Anna, who is already sitting next to Mel, raised her brows in disbelief at Mel's question. "Young lady!" she raises her voice to sound like a mother to her daughter, "I called you, many times but you didn't pick up."

Seriously? She immediately took out her cellphone from her bag and taken aback to see her cell phone ran out of battery. "Sorry, Anna, my battery was running out." She smiled broadly, showing her beautiful white teeth and blink with her puppy eyes, hoping that her best friend Anna wouldn't sulk.

Anna rolled her eyes in annoyance but only for a while. She turned her gaze to Hiro, who had been silent for a long time "Hi Hiro," She smiled sweetly at him and said in a cheerful and charming voice. "It feels like we haven't seen each other for a long time, have we?" Which wasn't true "How are you, darling?"

Mel, who just put her cell phone back into her bag, almost choked when she heard Anna's seductive words.

Immediately she saw Anna's pretty face blushed slightly. 'Is she flirting? What is this?' Mel couldn't believe what she saw.

Slowly she turned her gaze to Hiro; she dumbfounded. 'This statue guy is something! A beauty teasing him like this, but he could maintain his cold, expressionless look? Damn you, boy!' Mel is speaking in her mind with awe feeling toward Hiro.

Mel cleared her throat and said, "Didn't you guys have lunch together last week?" (Yes, they did). She clearly remembered last week; they had lunch together at Grandma's Recipe restaurant.

Anna ignored her. She's looking at Hiro, who looked very charming in her eyes.

After a long time, the statue guy finally made a sound; Mel chuckled in silence.

"Hello...Anna," he said it with his deep voice.

* * * *

*IA: Iced Americano. According to Mr Vincenzo Cassano, Iced Americano = Sewage water :D