I Am Deaf

Chapter 22

Len POV

I finally had her.

The girl I loved was finally, finally, mine.

She twirled around in a fantasy-like demeanor, and I chuckled, watching her hair float around her like an angel's, her blue eyes sparkling like crystals. Mom caught me watching and smiled, ruffling my hair.

"You're hopelessly in love, aren't you, Lenny?"

I sighed, content. "I guess I am."

"And why not?" She shrugged. "She's beautiful, sweet, bright, everything I'd wish to see in a girl you date."

"Yeah..."

We watched Rin for a few more minutes.

"You know, you'd never think she's deaf." My mom mused. "She hides it quite well. I might put her in a school for the deaf. Because, you know, she has an extremely hard time at normal school, I'd assume."

"Really? You'd do that for her?"

"If you... want it."

"Yeah, Mom." I grinned. "That would be great."

"Go catch up with her, Len, sweetheart. I'll be behind." Mom smiled wistfully, somewhat melancholic.

I raced ahead and grabbed Rin's hand. She beamed at me, and then hugged me tightly, her small arms around my neck, on her tiptoes to reach my height.

"I love you." She said to me again. But I really didn't mind. I pressed my lips into her hair, inhaling the citrusy scent of it.

"Do I really need to say it?" I teased, looking into her eyes.

"You guys!" I turned, startled, to see Rei and Neru.

"Rei? Neru?" Mom said, shocked. "What are you-?"

"Hello, Rin, Len, Lola." Rei said smoothly. "Len, to cut to the point... Remember the murder case?"

Rin looked at him bitterly. "Can we forget the murder case?"

"Well. Rin, do you know this boy?"

He showed us a picture of a teen-looking kid with shocking white hair and a pure evil smirk.

"How- How did you-?"

"Rin. This boy might have killed Rinto."

Rin's eyes fluttered closed. "I wouldn't put it past him."

Rei shook her. "Ne, Rin. That's not it."

Rin bit her lip.

"Your dad... he was just killed."

Me and Mom gasped, shocked.

He said it while looking down, so Rin didn't catch his words. She looked at me, Mom, Neru, and Rei, cerulean eyes confused.

"What? What happened?"

"Your dad... murdered..." I managed to say.

Rin's eyes widened, and then she froze, as if her feet were planted right into the ground.

"Rei! What happened?" I yelled.

"He was murdered... strangled, looks like."

"By this... By this boy?"

"Apparently... shortly after you left. Once again, there was a note. This person... still wants to get his or her hands on Rin."

I reached towards her protectively.

"Dad...he's...dead." Rin let out a strangled sob. "And it's my fault."

"No! It isn't! Don't blame yourself, Rin... We'll stop him."

"Negative." said Neru. "This is our job. Tell us, though, what this boy's relation with you is."

"Okay... okay." Rin said, breathing deeply, tears tracking down her cheeks. "Dad was Mom's second husband. First she married some guy who worked at a fast-food joint. She had a boy. Dell." She pointed at the picture. "He was always mad at me, because apparently, I "stole" Mom. So he's older than me, the outcome of Mom's first relationship. And he hates me."

"So he murdered your family because he thinks you guys "stole" his mom?" Rei said incredulously. I stroked her blond locks. She nodded, sniffling.

"These are some serious charges. Thanks, Rin."

They left.

"O-em-gee." Mom gasped. "So, you're stepbrother is like, a serial killer?"

Rin broke down sobbing. "R-R-Rinto, and then D-D-Dad... he th-thinks I'm the c-c-cause of Mom's d-d-death, p-p-probably. He g-g-got r-revenge on D-D-Dad, and I'm next..."

I glared at Mom. She winced sheepishly.

"Rin... It'll be okay."

I gathered her shaking form into my arms.

"I promise."

I would protect her forever.