I looked up from my paper looking at the time 7:30, grabbing my things I told my mother and father goodbye hurrying to school sitting in in my seat just as the bell rang. I sat at the back of the class by myself. It wasn't that I don't like people, it is just hard for me to communicate with others. I watched as the teacher went up to the front of the class.
"Today we have a new student joining us, I would like you all to give him a warm welcome" A small boy entered the class he looked like an elementary school student with spiky white hair and teal green eyes. I watched him turning red then looked away as the other girls began to take interest in him as well. I was at the bottom of the pile as usual.
"Toshiro you can sit there next to Cho for now" he nodded and he sat next to me nodding politely. I did the same I was hardly able to concentrate on the lesson. He for the most part looked bored he took some notes then just sat there pretty much not doing anything. I think he caught me staring at him a few times. After class the teacher asked me to stay after so she could talk to me.
"Cho I really want you to have some friends" she watched my face for reaction as she always did.
I sighed looking away. She looked at me again "I know its hard for you since you are mute, and deaf." I flinched at those words.
I began to sign back in a flurry of motion "Why is it that I have to have friends, solitude works for me.."
The teacher sighed "I paired you up with the new student for a reason and I want you to try to talk to him he will probably be just as lonely as you are"
"I disagree all the girls are staring at him" I blushed red looking down
"Thats not the point just try to talk with him… use your writing to talk with him. I also wanted to make sure you didn't miss anything in our lesson today?"
"No, I got everything, thank you" I turned getting out of there breathing a sigh of relief there were days when I wish I couldn't lip read, cause truthfully I didn't want to think about that. Yes, I Cho was not only mute, but deaf as well.
I was walking home when I noticed Toshiro was walking in the same direction I slowed so that I could walk next to him, I didn't know why just did. He looked at me for a moment then said
"You are Cho right?"
I nodded.
"I noticed you don't speak hardly at all, and I was curious as to why?" he watched my face for a moment. I blinked looking now cursing in my head how can I tell him he probably didn't know sign language and my note book was in my bag. I held up a finger asking him to wait he did to my surprise looking slightly confused when I pulled out a simple green notebook I began writing.
"I am mute" I wrote showing it to him. He looked confused at first but once he read it he nodded.
"Your deaf as well aren't you?" he watched my face and I looked at him surprised.
"Yes, how did you know?" I watched his face reading his lips as he spoke curious.
"When you look at people you look down slightly to look at the bottom part of their face and since I don't know sign language you must be able to read lips."
"Yes your right ….would you like to learn sign language?" I watched his face my heart was beating fast.
"Sure I already know some" he watched me again
"Would you like to come over for dinner?"
"Let me ask my grandmother" We stopped by his house I stayed outside waiting patiently. He came back a few moments later "OK, I can come."
I nodded smiling and we went to my house.
