I Am Deaf

Chapter 18

Len POV

I jerked awake, a horrible thought echoing in my mind, despite the soft sunlight streaming in through the window.

"Rin. RIN." I shook her. She swatted at me, eyes flying open. "Rin, we forgot to call my Mom back."

"So?" She yawned. "Call her back now."

I gulped when I saw my phone. FIVE MISSED CALLS.

Quickly, I dialed her number.

"Len Kagamine." My mom growled. "WHERE WERE YOU?"

"Um, sorry, Mom." I apologized.

"Is Rin still there?"

"Yeah."

"Does she, well, know that you're moving, Len?"

"No..."

"When are you planning to tell her?"

"Um, never?"

"Len! She'll feel betrayed, you know. I can try, I mean, if you really want, I could try to bring her along, but I have to meet her and her parents!"

My breath caught.

"Really? REALLY? YES, I WANT IT!"

She laughed. "I'm actually about to board a plane back home. See you, baby. Your father's coming, too."

I groaned. "Baby? Mom, please don't embarrass me!"

All I heard was a ghostly chuckle, and then she hung up.

I gulped and turned to Rin.

"Rin, we have school soon, in an hour."

"Yeah?"

"Well, you should get ready. You have your uniform, right?"

"Yeah. Len, I can't stay forever. I'm gonna have to face my dad eventually."

I was still in shock from what her dad did.

"I'll be by your side the whole time," I swore to her.

She bit her lip, drawing tiny rubies of blood.

Knock, knock, knock.

I raced to the door.

"Hey, Kuo."

"Len! Uh, do you and Rin wanna walk to school with me today?"

I looked back hurriedly. Both of us were still in our nightgowns.

"Um, Rin, you wanna walk to school with Kuo today?"

"Hai." She smiled so sweetly at us that I felt like falling apart.

"Um, go get ready, kay?"

She nodded and darted up the stairs.

We were outside in a few minutes. Kuo spoke up.

"So, how's tutoring going, Rin?"

Rin looked straight ahead, humming something. I wondered how she could if she couldn't hear the song.

"Oh, right." Kuo whacked himself on the head. Then he tapped Rin on the shoulder. She turned to look at him, smiling cheerfully. Why was she overly happy today?

"Hey, Rin, you seem cheerful."

"Yeah!"

"Why?"

"Well, tomorrow's my birthday!"

I froze. "And you were planning to tell me this when?"

"Um, tomorrow?"

"Rin!"

"Eh... I didn't think you cared much."

I glared at her.

"I do care. A LOT."

"Okay." She shrugged. "Tomorrow's my birthday."

I facepalmed.

"What do you want? For your birthday, I mean."

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"A birthday present."

"You get presents? On your birthday?"

Kuo and I gaped at her. "You've never gotten presents?"

She shrugged again.

"Well, that settles it. I'm gonna get you something great for your birthday."

She looked suspiciously at me. "Is it gonna cost money?"

I smiled, lying through my teeth. "Not at all."

She still looked suspicious, but turned around.

"Okay, then."

But it was.

I was gonna give Rin the best birthday celebration that she would ever get in her life.