I Am Deaf

Chapter 4

Len POV

"Okay. So, what's the first step, Rin?"

"Um, subtract five?"

"Yeah. Good."

She worked through the problem slowly, and then looked at me for approval.

"Yup. Now we're going to go to history."

She groaned.

"There's so much discussing in history!"

"Yeah, but it's part of the curriculum."

I took out the history book, pointing at a picture of an Egyptian king.

"What does it say his name is?"

I looked at her. Her sapphire eyes were focused on the picture.

Hmmm.

"Rin."

She didn't look up.

"Rin!"

No response.

"RIN!" I literally yelled. In fact, a few students at the tables on the other side of the cafeteria looked up at me.

She still didn't respond. I shook her arm again. She looked up at me.

"Yeah?"

What. The. Crap? She says I mumble, but I'm practically shouting! How can she not hear me?

This time, I looked straight at her and whispered the words.

"Who is this person?"

"Shepseskaf, 2472 – 2467."

So she can hear me if I look at her and whisper, but not if I look away and shout?

"Uh, Rin?"

"Yeah?"

I looked down at the table.

"Can you hear me?"

She didn't say anything.

I looked directly at her.

"Can you hear me?"

"...Yes."

Now I had a pretty good idea of what was wrong with Rin.

Just then, Miku Hatsune, this annoying popular girl with super long teal pigtails, came up to Rin.

"Rin, I need to talk to you."

Rin studied the history book.

"Don't pretend to ignore me!" Miku screeched.

Rin didn't even blink.

"You little-!" Miku raised her hand to strike Rin, but my hand snapped out and caught her wrist.

Rin looked up, startled, and then saw Miku.

"Oh! Hatsune-san! Why are you here?"

Miku glared at Rin. "Don't play dumb. I need to talk to you."

She pulled Rin behind the school. I sat back and looked at the clouds above our "tutoring bench."

Ten minutes, twenty minutes, half-an-hour. I decided to go get her.

I wandered behind the school, and then heard voices emanate from a stall.

"You little brat..."

I peeked in and saw Miku glaring at Rin. Sonika, a girl with short and spiky green hair, and Sweet Ann (pretty ironic nickname) hovered around Miku.

Miku crossed her arms, staring so venomously at Rin that the girl sunk down against the wall.

"Stay away from Len-kun, you worthless idiot. He's mine." Miku spat.

Um, what?

Rin looked down. Miku aimed a kick at her head and Rin winced. Then, Sonika grabbed Rin's arm and pulled it in a direction that was unnatural. It snapped, and Rin let out a silent plea of help. I was frozen.

Freakin' MOVE, you baka! I yelled at myself.

Ann kicked Rin's legs, and her stomach, really hard. I stepped into the stall, fire burning in my heart and voice.

"Miku. Stop."

Miku looked up, startled, and then started to simper, probably ready to state some pathetic lie.

"I don't wanna hear it. Get the heck away from Rin."

She stormed past me, followed by her stupid friends. I raced to Rin's side. Her body was quivering, and she choked back a sob.

I stared at her, horrified. "I'm so sorry, Rin."