Kizuna {Bond}
Puzzle Piece II. Silence
I love the sweet smell of dawn - our unique daily opportunity to smell time,
to smell opportunity - each morning being, a new beginning.
~Emme Woodhull-Bäche
The next day, Yuna sat outside by herself, shivering because of the morning cold, impatiently rocking back and forth on the bench while glaring at the cell phone in hand as if it was the source of all her woes. Yuna gritted her teeth in anger, hot tears leaking from her eyes, unable to help it; being a crybaby was a hard habit to break. 'I've called over twenty times now. Why won't she answer? I'll be late for school if she doesn't show up.'
The young woman once again dialed her parent's number.
The rings began, and continued without disturbance. After several moments, the message machine was all she got. Pinching her tongue between her teeth, Yuna stifled a furious groan. She honestly tried her best not to fling the contraption at the cement out of sheer frustration. Her emotions, however, were fortunately in check.
The first time this happened, Yuna let it slide. It wasn't worth arguing about, and also because people make mistakes. But the more it happened, every other day, every other week, for the past few months, Yuna became increasingly irritated. Couldn't her mother at least try and make it on time for once?
The twittering trees, and giggling flowers, and whistling grass, and sleeping houses with their snoring occupants - they provided Yuna company in the early morning, quelling the intolerance she possessed toward her mother. The sky sighed, bringing to life the breeze, disgruntling it, lashing at Yuna with it's cold claws akin to a temperamental feline. Goosebumps dotted her skin, despite her wearing thick clothes, and Yuna shivered, wrapping her arms tightly around her torso, salvaging any residue of warmth. The sun soon winked from behind the horizon, outshining the fragile stars with its own legendary brilliance, taunting the shadows to scurry and hide away from the light.
What didn't belong to the sounds of Nature was the slow, sharp noise of clicking. Yuna darted her eyes to the passerby, immediately recognizing him as her neighbor, the boy who played his guitar under the security of moonlight. With his long bangs covering his eyes, Yuna wondered how he could even see where he was going.
He was heading her way, steering his bike on foot with hands firm on the handle bars, most likely planning to cross the street. She didn't want to ask him for a ride, since they were practically strangers, and also because she hated bothering people for favors. So, Yuna grudgingly did nothing as he eventually walked pass her. What she didn't expect, though, was for him to stop and turn slightly to glance at her. He deliberated with his choices, either to go to school or keep her company, while switching his gaze between her and the sidewalk.
Yuna curiously watched him turn around and carefully place his bike on the dewy grass, before he walked back to plop down on the bench beside her. Little did he move, except for the wind rustling his hair.
He was silent for the longest time, simply sitting there, choosing not to speak for reasons unknown. Maybe because he struggled with the words to talk, possibly not knowing what to say. Sensing her confusion at his silence, he wordlessly pointed to his throat, solemnly shaking his head as if to say he couldn't speak. Yuna nodded in sympathy, realizing he was a mute. She didn't press to ask why, though, fearing he wouldn't like her to be too nosy. When the girl remained quiet, he averted his eyes, nervously wringing his hands on his pant legs, disappointed of the silence. Without the ability of speech, it restricted a lot of ways to communicate.
She fidgeted, curious as to why he decided to stop here when he had school to go to. 'Is he going to offer me a ride? If he was, he would've said so by now.' Yuna mentally scolded herself when she remembered he couldn't speak.
"What is your name?" Yuna asked, next witnessing the emotion of relief melt the glum look off his face. The teen scooted closer, grasping her shivering hand and pulling it on his lap. Ignoring the questioning look that blossomed in her eyes, he absently traced the letters on her palm, at the same time admiring the texture of her soft, petite hand. Yuna watched, fascinated by his fluid movements, his fingers calloused to the touch (probably due to his excessive guitar playing). The loops and lines drew imaginary letters, and Yuna whispered them, piecing together the identity of his name in her head.
"B... A... R... A... L... A... I... that's it? Bar– no? Uh, bear, right? Beara... lay, no, um, lie...? Baralai?" After a few shakes of his head and silent laughter, he finally nodded, grinning gleefully. "It's a unique name," she said sincerely, secretly giggling at how girly it sounded. It fit his effeminate appearance pretty well, but didn't dare tell him that for he might take it as an insult to his sexuality. Baralai pointed to Yuna next, silently asking for her name. "I'm Yuna. It's nice to meet you, Baralai." His broad smile mirrored the same sentiment.
The faint contact of his thumb brushing her knuckles startled her, and she self-consciously discovered Baralai hadn't let go of her hand, yet. Twin flames flared in her cheeks, licking away the coldness from her skin. Her reaction both amused and pleased him, giving him the confidence to shyly lace his fingers in hers, knowing now she wouldn't mind. A gentle squeeze to her hand was enough to pour heat into her skin, and Yuna relaxed, sidling up to him, gathering what little doses of heat she could borrow.
The peaceful, content look on his face, his unfocused gaze looking at everything, reminded her why she fancied Baralai in the first place.
He was mystery personified. She wanted to get to know him, to learn bits and pieces of him, to solve the puzzle that is Baralai. This morning was only the first step, the first opportunity, the first beginning.
Together, they sat like that, shoulders touching whilst holding hands in companionable silence.
(A/N): Wee~ I updated the very next day. I'm so happeh! XDD Never expected Baralai to be mute, huh? Trust me, there will be more surprises in store. :p
