A/N: The last chapter is out :( PLZ ENJOY ;3
«Alright, let me get this straight for a moment. You met him the day before you found out that you were his new psychologist. And you found out the next day that he was deaf and also exchanged numbers with him. You went on a date and got into some trouble, but in the end you're a couple now.»
I gulped nervously as Yoshiki's father's conclusion. Both my and Yoshiki's parents were now in my apartment the day of christmas, waiting for Yoshiki to come. I told him that they wouldn't come until 6 pm, when they really came at 5 pm, just to surprise him. But first, I needed to introduce myself to the one person who hadn't met me yet. And bloody hell was he conservative…
«T-That is about right…» I replied. He narrowed his eyes at me, making me more scared than I already was. He looked really sceptical, almost as if he didn't believe my story. «And now… You know how to give him his hearing back?» he asked, his face softening up. I nodded. «I am very sure that this will work. But you will have to co-operate with me here, if you truly care about your son,» I said. By the time I said that, Yoshiki's mother Ayako had joined in on our conversation.
«Of course we do!» she desperately said. I nodded at her and said: «All you need to do, is to show how much you love him, without drowning him if you know what I mean.» Isao raised his eyebrow and Ayako nodded at me, but I can guarantee that she was even more confused as he was.
…
«For real, sorry for making you do this…» I apologetically mumbled to mom who was slightly stressing over the turkey sauce. Ah, turkey two days in a row! «Oh, nonsense! Isn't this what I do every christmas?» she asked, making me laugh. «Now now, tell me! What's this boyfriend of yours like?» she asked. «Um…» I nervously laughed again, struggling with the question. Yoshiki is not one thing, and not the other. He's like sweet, but mean sometimes. He's hilarious and has a really weird sense of humor. He's observant, but oblivious to things that are so obvious…
«He's… an idiot,» I eventually answered. «Gosh, is that how you treat him?» mom said, giving me a light hit on the head. «It's true! He really is an idiot!» I said and crossed my arms. «Whatever you say, honey. When is he coming, by the way?» she asked. «He's coming in an hour. You remember the plan, right?» I asked. She nodded and fixed her gaze ond ad who was sitting on the couch, resting. «Your dad too, no matter how much it looks like he doesn't care,» she explained. I nodded and laughed. Dad was always the one who discreetly showed support.
…
I'm in the elevator right now!
Seeyu in a sec!
«Alright everyone, prepare yourselves! He's on his way!» I yelled, making everyone take a step back behind me. Woah, this is kinda like pokemon, holy shit! I took a deep breath when I heard footsteps getting closer and closer to the door. Okay… Prepare yourself for the worst. I clutched my hands into the package in my hands.
*DING DONG!*
«It's open!» I yelled. Yoshiki didn't need to hear that twice. The doorknob turned and he opened it as fast as lighting, the big grin on his face disappearing the moment he saw the squad behind me. That was the sign! I took a deep breath and yelled out:
«Everyone! 1, 2, 3!»
«Merry christmas, Yoshiki!»
We all yelled in sync with huge smiles on our faces. I know he couldn't hear us, since the sun had not gone down yet, but it was still fun. Mom and I were laughing at the loudness of our voices, making dad and Yoshiki's parents laugh along with us as a reaction while Yoshiki just looked at us, his jaw hanging in mid-air.
«A-Ayumi… What the hell is this?» he bluntly asked, breathing out a laugh. «It's a surprise!» I explained, raising my hands in the air. He looked over to his parents and muttered: «Mom… and dad?» «Merry christmas, son,» Isao said with a grin, scarily similar to Yoshiki's signature grin. Is Yoshiki… shaking?
«Sorry… I-I gotta go…»
Yoshiki blurted out in a weak voice and sprinted out of my apartment.
«W-What? What just happened?» Ayako whimpered, close to a breaking point. To be honest, I kind of expected that reaction. He was either so shocked that he wanted to run away, or really embarassed. «I'll be back with him in a minute!» I reassured them and ran after him.
…
I thought I needed to run for my life to catch up with him. But surprisingly, he was just by the cafe we once went to together. His back was turned to me and his arms were crossed. He couldn't be mad at me… could he?
I put my hand on his shoulder, making Yoshiki jump, startled and turn around. His terrified expression calmed down when he saw that it was me, though.
«Hey… Sorry about that,» was the first thing that escaped his lips. I grabbed his hand and said: «You had all right to be shocked.» He then shook his head, explaining: «It wasn't just because of the shock… Mostly, I felt like I didn't deserve that.»
«What do you mean?» I asked, suprised at this new side of Yoshiki. «Well… Looking back on it, I've talked a lot about the things that bothered me in the past. And then you come and make it all worth it… That just makes me feel like a spoiled brat who gets everything he wants,» he explained.
I sighed and flicked him on the forehead. «Ow!» he pouted, but I didn't bother to apologize. «Idiot! I told you last night, didn't I?!» I scolded him. «W-What…?» he asked, dumbfounded. I grabbed his other one too, forcing him to look at me.
«I said "I love you". Quite a load of times, too! I wouldn't lie about that, so stop seeing yourself as a toy to me, because you're not!» I said. His hands went completely numb in mine. «… My gosh… What am I supposed to do now?» he painfully whined out. He covered his mouth in embarassment and mumbled:
«I feel like I'm going to fall apart…»
«Hold on. I've got something else for you,» I said, handing him the package. He cocked his head to the side, so I made it clear to him. «It's your christmas present.» His eyes widened and got filled with life. «For real? Can I open it now?» he asked, taking the package out of my hands. I nodded at him, and he mercilessly ripped off the wrapping paper and turned completely speechless.
«T-This is….» he just barely managed to whisper out. I smiled at him and said: «A little bird told me that you've always wanted a homemade scarf. I didn't know your favorite color, though…» His lips trembled and he had to cover his mouth again. But this time, two tears ran down his cheeks from each eye. «Ayumi… You're just so amazing…!» he hissed out, tightly shutting his eyes. As If I was comforting a crying child, I hugged him and stroked his back.
«Anything for you, Yoshiki…»
«…Say that again.»
It sounded like his voice was being tightened. What? He can't see my lips right now. And the sun isn't down, is it? I looked up at the sky and I was right. Then, how could he…? No way.
«It… worked?» I gasped out and looked Yoshiki directly in the eyes. The sun isn't down. He understood what I said, even though he couldn't see my lips during. Then, that must mean…!
«Ayumi!» Yoshiki yelled out and embraced me much tighter, trying to squeeze the life out of me. «Oh my god…!» I whimpered out, tears of joy staining the shoulder of his jacket. I did it… I did it, for real! Yoshiki's body felt so warm… So warm that I just forgot every worry in my mind.
«Ayumi… Say that you haven't done anything to help me. I dare you,» he said, cupping my cheeks in his big, warm hands. «…I'll pass,» I whispered closing my eyes as he leaned in. It was then I realized how cold my lips were, since his were so hot… I wrapped my arms around Yoshiki's neck while trapping my lips in his own.
That cold christmas night… In between kisses I could clearly recall Yoshiki whispering in my ear:
«I love you… Ayumi…»
I know I wasn't imagining things.
…
Tears of relief were in Ayako's eyes when we finally returned and explained what happened. It warms up my insides every time I think back on their reaction and the laughter of us opening the rest of our presents and eating the turkey mom was struggling so much with. They were all small parts that made it into the best christmas ever. That honest smile on Yoshiki's face…
…made me realize that I may just have saved his life.
*4 weeks later*
«A month, huh…»
I repeated those painful words again. «Yup… Dad said it was for my own good. I'm really sorry,» Yoshiki apologized once again. It had been a month after Yoshiki finally got his hearing back. But he was still somehow struggling with his past issues, which is why his parents suggested therapy. A therapy camp was held in Osaka, so he would stay there for a week and hopefully deal with the smallest of problems that were remaining.
«Please, don't say sorry. Like your dad said, it is for your own good,» I said. He sighed and pinched my cheek. «I'm glad you think that… But I'll miss you,» he admitted, embarassed. «Me too, Yoshiki,» I said, stroking the red scarf that was wrapped around his neck. Surprisingly, he grabbed that hand and moved it to his lips, kissing it.
«That's not what I want, dummy…» I said, annoyed and jokingly puckered up my lips. He laughed and suprised me with a small kiss on the lips, whispering: «Call me first.»
I smiled at him as he went to the bus that had been waiting quite a while for him. I watched every single move while he walked to the closest seat to the window where he could see me. Struggling not to shed a tear, I blew a kiss at him and mimicked:
«I love you.»
He smiled at me from the window and mimicked back:
«I know.»
The seconds that followed from then on, was me seeing Yoshiki Kishinuma off to the road of a new life with him.
THE END
A/N: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING SOUND OF SILENCE! It would lighten up my day to hear you guys' final comments, so don't hesitate! (entirely optional, of course) I do have another story in mind, but it'll take a while until I start writing it, all because of the writing school, plus I'll be going to Cyprus for two weeks with my family. Can't wait! I'll have to wait and pray every night for their answer until the middle of June DX Sigh… Anyways, I should stop talking XD UNTIL NEXT TIME ;3
Senpai's Boo is out ;3