(Picks up flowers from the stage thrown by audience and waves). Thank you! Gracias! I'm very grateful that I know someone reads my fanfics!

BTW, congratulations to M.Y.M.P. for making it as Artist of the Year. Idol!

a/n: Have you noticed that I used xxxxxxx rather than tons of horizontal rule? It doesn't work out in the computer… tee-hee!

UNDERNEATH THIS SMILE

"Tell me what you think," she told me as she held my hand. I looked at her hesitantly and tried to think of another thing.

"I think you're beautiful," I replied, holding her cheek.

She frowned and folded her arms. "You're joking."

"No, I'm not!" I stood up. "Don't you want to be seen as beautiful?" I asked her reticently.

She stood up and stamped her foot. "What are you saying?" she asked, her eyes wed.

"Am I saying something?" I replied in a singsong voice.

"Oh, you come here!" she shouted, starting to chase me. I played with her for some time, catching her and kissing her softly. "You shouldn't really do that," she said sweetly, smiling at me.

"Why?" I asked in mild shock.

She looked at me playfully and said, "Because that won't erase the things that you've just said!" she pulled my hair and when she let go, she threw some of the throw pillows on the couch.

"Hey stop that!" I told her, dodging the assault. Everything came to halt when her phone rang.

"Excuse me for a while," she said, picking up the phone. Her heartbeat seemed to stop as she nodded slowly at the caller. "Mi-chan, I have to go," she said, as she folded her phone and grabbed her bag.

"I'll go with you," I reasoned.

She stopped me by the door, "You can't. This is private matters."

I watched her go. However, I am determined to follow her, and to be with her, no matter what.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Underneath this smile

My world is almost caving in…

All the while, I'm hanging on, 'cause that is all I know…

Could you be the one to save me?

From every bad habit that had helped me dig this hole.

I've been hanging all the while

Underneath this smile…"

(a/n: sorry for butting in some other song)

I stopped the car by the hospital and rushed to Dr. Nidori's clinic. "What now?" I asked her.

"My dear, I've found the results, and I'm sorry to tell you…" she cannot continue.

"Well? Isn't there anything that we can do?" I asked hopefully. She shook her head.

"Hopefully, you will last for a year. I don't know, Fuuko. Things can change. Everything can change," the doctor replied pityingly.

With weakness, I went out of the room and saw Mi-chan standing by the doorway. Clearly, he had heard everything. "You knew?" I asked him, not looking at him. He nodded silently as he went towards me and without another word, he embraced me. How odd. I was alive at the idea of someone leaving their loved one when they knew that they would leave.

I did nothing but I placed my head on his shoulder and cried. "I'm sorry," I apologized.

"Don't be," he replied, stroking my head.

"Are you mad because I didn't tell you the truth?" I asked him.

"No, that's why you don't need to be sorry."

I broke away from the embrace. "I'm not sorry because of that…" I looked away from him. "I'm sorry I can't be here with you for long."

"I know you will leave me but I am always here by your side, and I'll always love you," he whispered to me.

I can remember the wish I had ever since I was young. It was him that I am looking for.

Mikagami Tokiya, why haven't I met you earlier, and loved you earlier? Why now? Why do I have to know that I am yours now?

I regret the day I made you fall in love with me.

I know this chapter is fully depressing and wasteful to read. However, I caught some inspiration (I mean, exspiration) from my love. It hurts me when he talks and does some PDA with a girl he likes, and the worse is, she's a friend of mine!

BTW, next update, this fanfic will be found at rated M. please try to go over there if you are looking for this story. Anyway, I don't think that the rating matches the next chapter but I don't want to risk my account!