~*~Side A~*~
As we make our way into the class, I take my seat in the last row, just beside the window, with Angelo following right behind me. He stopped right in front of the door. At first, I was confused, but then I realized that of course, he's new and he still doesn't know where to sit and stuff. I was going to motion him to sit at the empty desk in front of me, but our teacher, Mrs. Reese, notices him and starts introducing him to the class.
"Good morning, everyone. This is Angelo. He'll be your classmate for the remaining year so please make him welcome." She smiled then looks at him.
"Would you like to introduce yourself?"
"Uh. Yeah. Well, I'm Angelo Sy. It's been a while since I've been in school. Um. That's it. Nice to meet you all." He seemed to held his breath as he looked around, waiting for the reactions he's about to get.
When no one spoke up and some gave friendly smiles to him, I beamed and gave him a little wave.
"Alright, how about you take the seat in front of Chris there? You can get to know some friends after class alright?" Our teacher said as she gave me a smile, giving Angelo a little nudge to my direction.
This morning has been really nice. Something about the kid makes me feel like I've known him for a long time and I feel at ease with him. He didn't really looked at me with pity, or worse disgusted, when he found out that I was mute. I really wanted to be his friend. His shy smile seems to make the morning brighter. I would really like to see more of that. He was so pale and nervous when I met him earlier. I thought he was going to pass out. I'm glad I managed to get him uncomfortable when I brought him to the rose garden. I haven't brought my friends there since it's my place of escape, but I felt like I had to share it to Angelo.
Speaking of the rose garden... What was I doing? Did I just try to kiss him? His lips looked so soft and it glistened under the morning light, just like sparkling morning dew falling off the petals of roses. I'd really like to feel those lips with mine and make it puffy and red. And then touch the nape of his milky white neck with the palm of my hand- Wait. Was I just fantasizing about a guy? Huh? This feels weird. I've never thought about guys that way. I mean, Angelo is too pretty for a guy so I guess it's not bad. But still, he's a guy. Does that mean I'm gay? But I've liked girls a lot before. Though right now, I'd rather be with Angelo than any girl. Oh shit. So I do admit that I like Angelo than girls. What does this mean??
" - would you pay attention to class?" Mrs. Reese clears her throat then snaps her fingers in front of my face that I was pulled out of my daydream, refocusing my vision in front of me, seeing pass our teacher's fingers, but looking straight at Angelo, who was staring at me, and realizing that the rest of the class are doing so as well.
"
Sorry.
" I signaled then looked down on my desk as I feel my face flush.
"Are you feeling okay, Chris? Would you like to go to the infirmary?" Mrs. Reese looked at me with concern.
I shook my head then gave her a thumbs-up, letting her know that I'm okay.
"Alright then. Pay more attention please." She said as she walks pass me then goes back in front of the class.
After the lesson starts, there wasn't much happening except for my friend Ray giving me a look that asks if there's anything wrong. I shrugged then returned to taking notes for class.
Afterwards, the bell rings and Mrs. Reese reminds us not to forget our homework for tomorrow as she dismissed the class. I stood up just as my friends walk up beside my seat. Ray, is about 6 ft tall, with reddish brown hair, and brown eyes, while Nick is around my height but about an inch smaller so maybe around 6"2' or 6"1, his platinum blond hair gives contrast to his really dark blue eyes, which almost look black in comparison. They're both in my basketball team and we've been friends for as long as I could remember. They've been my neighbors since 2nd grade, when they both moved to our town around the same time.
Ray is very loud and outgoing, although he's like the older brother to us, being overprotective and making us depend on him whenever we need to or not. Although he's very emotional and could easily be provoked. In the other hand, Nick is mellow. He's usually very calm and rational. Stepping in whenever Ray is too emotional to handle situations. Although he's very kind and forgiving, he treats us both as brothers and will always help us with any problems. They balance out each other perfectly and I feel really fortunate to have them both as my best friends. Over the years, they've learned how to understand sign language, although sometimes I wonder if I need to do it because they can already guess whenever I need to say something.
-
I met Ray and Nick at the same time. During the summer before 2nd grade, I was outside our lawn, playing with myself with a little rubber ball. While kicking, it shoots out to the neighbor's lawn and I heard someone curse. I was petrified thinking that I might have broken something or hit someone. I gathered up my courage and walk to their lawn and there I see a dark redhead kid who's a bit taller than I am, rubbing his head while holding my ball in his other hand. It was what I feared and I was about to bolt when he walks over to me and grabs the back of my shirt.
"Did you just hit me with a ball!?" He stares me down without giving up his grip.
I wanted to scream my apologies but I couldn't do that so I just shook my head frantically.
"What's wrong with you? Can you talk?"
Again, shaking my head, his grip starts to loosen up.
"Hey kid. You look like you're going to shit your pants. I'm not going to beat you up ok. It must be an accident."
I looked down on my feet then nods.
"I see. I'm Ray. We moved in just yesterday. You really can't talk?" He looks at me with confusion as he returns the ball to me.
I nod then gave him a time-out gesture with my hand, crossing them to form a "T". I ran back inside then grab a pencil and some paper then quickly run back to our neighbor's lawn.
[My name is Christian. I can't talk.] I held it up to him and he nods.
