Chapter 3: Brown eyes
I was in the middle of unpacking my clothes, since this small room already had a small white vintage dresser with a oval-shaped mirror. Placing my clothes and my dog's little outfits into it, I heard a soft knock from the door, along with the doorknob turning "How are you darlin? Is everything alright in there?" the voice belonging to Luda Mae. I gave a soft smile to her "I'm alright Mrs. Hewitt, you can come in, I'm just reorganizing" I said.
Luda Mae walked into the room in a slow pace observing me and my dog from what I can sense, it was a little awkward so I decided to begin to talk "If you don't mind me asking, how come Thomas wears a mask?" I told her nervously, waiting for a answer. Expecting a cold stare from such a random question about her adoptive son, her green eyes just widened and she smiled and sighed "Well… he as a rare case of a skin disease. It just took over his lower face but anywhere else, for some reason, it left alone". My eyes widened and Luda noticed it "What do you mean took over?" I asked. She sighed "It left him with ugly flesh patches, like if he peeled his skin off, he is missing a nostril and it left him with a cleft lip. He wears. a mask to hide his deformities and he's been bullied all his life because of how he looks". "Is that also why he doesn't talk?" I asked. She nodded "People now these fucking days pick on for how others look but don't give a damn on how sweet my boy can be...my poor sweet, sweet boy" she said, sounding a little emotional.
I began to feel sad too, since I am now fully aware of Thomas' past and why he hides his face, but him wearing a mask doesn't really bother me. Luda Mae snapped me out of my thoughts "To be honest sweetpea, it surprises me that your even still here instead of running away or saying something cruel about my boy" she said with a serious tone. I looked at her with one eyebrow raised "Like I said Luda, I'm not like those people and Thomas doesn't bother me. The only thing that bugs me is that he won't talk to me" I said with a playful pout to my lips. Luda Mae chuckled "It'll be tough to get a word outta him but who knows, if you become his friend or something more, maybe you'll make him speak".
'I've only met him earlier today and I'm going to stay for only a few days and she wants me to be a friend to him or something more?'' I thought.
"Sure, we can be friends" I said, feeling uneasy that I just said that but I know how much Thomas means to her.
She smiled "I know ma boy will be happy to finally have a friend" she said cheerfully. She was about to leave to the door before I stopped her "Where's Thomas by the way?" I asked her. Before she could speak, the sound of heavy footsteps were replaced. Behind her was the huge Thomas standing over 6ft tall behind his mama, she turned around and smiled "He's right here" she said. "What did you need Thomas?" she asked him, he pointed in my direction. "You want to spend time with Alexis, is that it?" he looked down shyly and slowly nodded. Luda Mae looked at me, already knowing she was asking if it was ok "Come in Thomas "I waved at him, commanding him to come. Mrs. Hewitt smiled and left out of sight, leaving me here with him.
I gestured at hand out at Thomas to sit on the bed next to me while I finish organizing my things. "You can come sit here next to me if you want, let me just finish folding my clothes, and we can probably talk about something or play a game". He slowly sat on the bed, making it creak with noise due to his weight. He immediately went to pet Freckles with his magic gentle touch. I couldn't help but smile "You love animals, don't you?" he looked at me and nodded. "Me too, I love all sorts, my favorite animals are wolves". "Is their a favorite game or activity you like to do? Like have you heard of Mindcraft, Monopoly, Jenga, those sorts of games?" he nodded. "You never played video games or board games in your entire life?" I said, he nodded 'no' again. I sighed "Wow, I guess I have to get you in your game and teach some things to you" I chuckled, he looked at me nervously. "Anything in your comfort zone, I promise, and friends make promises" Thomas looked at me in surprise and I laughed "What? You don't want to be friends?" I told him. He nodded 'yes' and I could've swore I saw him smile behind that leather mask but it's still hard to tell. I will not force him to remove it just so I can see his expressions but it's still kind of frustrating.
I suddenly began to stare at Thomas' brown eyes. His eyes were a beautiful color of a honey brown or a dark hazel glistening in the dim room light. He dark brown long hair strands almost covering the view in them. I didn't realize myself bringing a hand to touch the side of his face. He flinched and I retreated my hand back quickly "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, it's just you… are… you have beautiful eyes" I said, blushing, feeling like slapping myself for saying that.
He perked up his head quickly and looked at me with a shocked expression, his face turning a slight red. I chuckled "It's true, why hide them?" I said, slowly scooping his hair strands behind his large ears. "I don't care how you look Thomas, you can trust me as a good friend". "Anyways, do you want to take a walk with me? I'm pretty sure my dog wants to go". He nodded without hesitation this time; we walked out of the house 5 minutes later taking a small walk around the large house. Thomas led me to the back of the house, where the small barn was at the distance. Holding Freckles' leash on one hand while I reached over and pet the pig's with the other. Thomas was just leaning his tall form against the rusty old cage bars. "They are such beautiful creatures...too bad some of them don't get lucky" Thomas looked at me. I smiled "I mean, humans eat meat too, not just the lions, hyenas, jackals, wolves, and every meat-eating creature". Thomas shrugged and nodded. "You know what is missing here?" I asked him, he was waiting for my answer and giving me a look to say 'go on'. "Horses...a herd of them running in the fields. I also wish I can own one too; one day. I love horseback riding, it's one of my favorite activities. If I had a horse, I would love to ride it everyday if I can". I looked at Thomas who
seems to be smiling and chuckling under that mask.
"You know Luda Mae told me why you wear a mask" his smile was replaced by a shocked expression. Thomas' body began trembling and he was breathing heavy. Fearing I have done the worst of him, I ran up to him and tried to calm him down "Sssh Thomas it's ok, it's ok, I don't care how you look" I said, but he didn't listen or cooperate and he began hitting his head with his fists and pulling his hair. "Thomas stop! You are not ugly, stop doing that". I was afraid the others will hear his crying so I thought of something that will probably be too quick and too soon but it might be the only way. I quickly grabbed the sides of his face and pressed my lips firmly against the leather fabric. Thomas stopped his tantrums and tensed up, eyes widened not thinking of what to do or what is happening. The kiss lasted for 10 seconds, when I pulled away he just still stayed there looking frozen but looking red on the face. I waved a hand in front of him "Hellooooooo…" I told him. No answer.