I Am Deaf

Chapter 5

Rin POV

I saw Len mouth the words.

"I'm so sorry, Rin."

I gasped, the pain in my arm flaring.

I still had to go home and face my dad's wrath. I got up shakily.

"Thanks for...saving me, Len."

Len's hand brushed at my silent tears.

"Rin...wait."

Here it comes.

"You...you're deaf, aren't you?"

I saw him mouth the words, but had no response.

"Did you hear me?" He tilted my head to face him.

"Yes." I said (hopefully) quietly. "But I can't talk now; I have to go. I'll explain everything tomorrow."

"Rin, your arm. And can you just answer my yes or no question? Are you deaf?"

I waved at him. "See you tomorrow, Len."

Before he could protest, I took off down the sidewalk, hoping my dad was asleep or somber. Not likely. For the amount of wine he inhaled...

"Where have you been?" He glared deviously, murderously.

"Gomen." I said, out of breath. "I...got detention, and had to stay after school."

Light exploded behind my eyes as something jarringly hard rammed into the back of my head. I was so dazed, I barely noticed the blood.

"When...tell you ...home...you BRAT!" I was knocked forward again, this time onto the floor on my hands and knees.

"H-H-Hai...I p-p-promise." I stammered, head aching. Hovering over the counter, I brushed my hand against my mildly bleeding head. I took a thick cloth bandage from the medicine cabinet and wrapped it around my head and my arm. Then, I walked to my dad.

Ding-dong.

I cursed. Only one person would come at this time. Len. The door almost hit the wall as I pulled it open.

"What, Len?" I said, pretty sure I was snapping. He folded his arms.

"We never got the tutoring session over." I saw him say it, his expression mild.

"Um, that's OK. We can do it tomorrow." I began to close the door, but he blocked it again.

"I'll talk to your dad."

"Gomen, Len, I don't think you can." He came in anyways.

"Excuse me, Mr. Kagine?"

My dad suspiciously approached the door.

"Hai?"

"I need to finish your daughter's tutoring, may we finish?"

"Very well." I breathed a sigh of relief and led Len upstairs.

I sat cross-legged on the ground and nodded. "Okay, you can start."

"You know I really don't care about the sessions. You know what I'm here for."

"Naruhodo." I sighed. (Naruhodo- I see.)

"Rin, are you deaf?"

"Urusai, baka!" I whacked him on the head. "My dad doesn't know!"

"He doesn't-" Len trailed off.

Then he scowled.

"You haven't told anyone yet?"

I shook my head.

"What happened to your head?"

"Um, uh, Miku kicked me, remember?" I said hastily.

"Oh, right! And your arm! Gomen, gomen, Rin." he apologized.

"Doi-ja vu, Len!" I scolded him.

"Anyways, well, um, you're deaf, so...?" he trailed off, looking at me unfathomably.

"Yes. We've been over this."

"So, er...can...do...tutoring...?" he said to the ground.

I marveled at the fact that he had already forgotten I was deaf.

"Len...how can I understand when you speak to the ground?"

"Oh!" he looked up, cheeks reddening.

I tilted my head back, laughing at his expression.

Len looked shocked, and then a small smile and an odd look crept on his face.

"Don't stop laughing, Rin."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Don't stop laughing. You look so pretty."

Um, what?