I Am Deaf

Chapter 3

Rin POV

I ran home quickly, knowing I hadn't fooled Len at all. If only I hadn't messed up so much!

"YOU'RE LATE!" shouted my father.

"Gomen!" I panted, out of breath.

"Okay- I want you to clean the bathrooms. And make sure they're spotless."

"Hai."

I saw the TV turn on and him popping a cork. I sighed, knowing that when he was drunk, he particularly enjoyed being physical.

"RIN!" My dad stood in front of me. "OPEN THE DOOR!"

Confused, I dried my hands and opened the door. Len stood there.

"Hey- You forgot your homework!" He smiled at me.

"Oh. Arigato!" He gave me the paper. "Wait- how do you know where I live?"

He held up the phonebook.

"Right." I forced a smile, and then waved. "Well, see you tomorrow."

"Matte! I have to ask you something." he said, stopping the door with his foot.

He looked up suddenly, glancing curiously behind my shoulder.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask me?" I asked impatiently.

"Hai, but someone is calling you."

"Ah, be right back."

I raced into the living room.

"Who are you talking to, Rin?"

"My tutor, dad."

"Well hurry. You have to do some chores for me." He chugged down the rest of the bottle, and I wrinkled my nose at the putrid smell in the air.

"Hai."

I walked to the door and smiled apologetically.

"I have to go."

"Yeah, I'll..." He turned around while talking.

"Hm?"

"I said I'll ask you tomorrow." He looked at me, his cerulean blue eyes mildly suspicious.

He's so onto me.

"Okay. Bye." I closed the door.

"Rin!" Dad called.

I walked into the living room slowly.

"Yes?"

"Is that boy gone?"

"Yeah."

"Don't just stand there, idiot. Go get me something to eat."

"I can't cook."

He hit me on the back of my head with the bottle.

"I don't care."

My head was throbbing, but I went and plopped some chips and salsa on a plate.

"Yum." he said. "Now get out of my sight."

I ran upstairs and took out the homework, already feeling helpless.

This was not going to work out.

"Ohayo Rin." Len waved.

"Ohayo Len-kun." I smiled at him.

"Just call me Len. You don't have to worry about honorifics."

"Okay, Len."

"Uh, did you do the homework?"

I drummed my fingers against the table.

"I, um, left it at home." I said quickly.

"Rin! At least make an effort to do well!" He said, looking annoyed.

"I am. I did it. I just left it at home."

"Okay then. This...review...yesterday." He said, pulling a sheet from his bag.

I pieced his word fragments together and got to work on the paper while he observed it.

"Done."

He checked it over.

"Good job. You missed a few, but all in all, nice work."

"Arigato." Thank god for the internet and dad not wanting to watch me anymore.

"Okay, today's lesson."

"Um." I said hurriedly. "Do you mind not looking down when you explain it? You kind of mumble."

"Um, okay?" I sighed. Maybe, just maybe, this will work out.