Feathers Of A Bird

Chapter : Ten (Part Four)

(Listen to the music while reading for a better experience!)

Ryan started laughing like crazy again. On the other hand, I was sitting still with my mouth slightly opened.

"Oh, God!"
He mumbled.

"Stop laughing, will you...?"
I said back.

"Yeah, yeah, sure! I'll explain now!"
He wiped his eyes, which watered up for laughing so hard.
He cleared his throat.
"Grace's mom and my mom are- were friends- good friends!"
He started being inexact twice.

"Really?!"
I was amazed once again.
"What's her name? Do I know her?!"

"Her name's Arleana Anderson."

I tried to recall whether I knew someone named Arleana or not. I knew someone named Arla who was my therapist but-
"No, I don't think I know her."

He gave me a big smile and said as if he was ready to say it.
"No problem! I'll introduce you to her!"

I giggled.
"Okay!"

"Alright, so ever since I started to understand and remember things, I remember Grace and her family."

I nodded.
"But..."

"Yes?"
He asked.

I slowly let out.
"Why didn't you guys tell me that you knew each other...?"

"Ummm..."
He scratched the back of his head.
"Can I explain later, cat?"

I nodded.
"Okay."
I stopped for a second.
"Then what? Carry on!"

"Yeah, right!"
He laughed sofly.
"We used to visit each other's houses with our parents almost every week; and on one day like that at their house-"

"Hmm?"

"They showed us their picture album. And guess who was there!"
He laughed again, so did I.

"Meeeee!"
I chuckled excitedly.

He nodded.
"Tell you the truth- you seemed pretty cute to me!"
He winked.

"I know right! Street cats seem cute to you, too!"
I said.

"Ahem, first of all, how did you know I love cats?! And secondly, you ARE adorable!!"
He shirked.

"Well, the way you looked at the birds earlier, it was so obvious that you're in love with all creatures in this world!"
I teased and the quietly said.
"And thank you..."

"You're always welcome!"
He said in a warm tone.
"And objection, your honour! Who said I love all creatures! I don't like bugs! And humans are creatures too! So you can say I'm in love with humans as well!"
He gave a big smile.

"Okay, so you will fall in love with someone who is a murderer as well?!"
I laughed at him.

"We all are murderers, you know!"
He looked at me and continued.
"Have you never killed a mosquito?!"

"Oh my God, Ryan!!"
I busted into laughter.

"Who's laughing now?! Stop laughing in the name of the law, Katherine Thomas!!"
He asserted as he pretended to be a cop.

I kept snickering and grabbed his arm.
"Ryan, how do you always manage to cheer someone up?!"

He gently grabbed my hand away from his arm and placed it in his palm.
"I always cheer others up?"
He questioned back.

"Of course you do!!"
I nodded rapidly.
"You always cheer me up!"

"That's cause you let me cheer you up!"
He smiled again as he played with my fingers.

"Hmm? How!?"

He explained.
"Well, for example, you're sitting with me right now and conversing! If you decided not to sit beside me, would I be able to cheer you up?! Nope!"

I nodded slowly.

"Plus, to be ABSOLUTELY honest-"
Hesitated Ryan.
"I feel good when I see you too!"
His face glowed up as he smiled.

I put my sight on my other hand. All of a sudden, my heart twitched. Perhaps for hearing what he said, perhaps for realizing once again that I finally had found someone I always wanted or perhaps for some other reasons. What is this feeling?!

"Why are you smiling like that?"
Ryan asked as he gripped my hand.

"Smiling like what?"
I replied.

"Like...like out of grief?"

I looked at him and said,
"No, it's not like that. I'm not sad right now. I'm just too happy to be seemed like I'm happy! You know what I mean...?"

I noticed Ryan nodding slowly, still with a smile in the corners of his lips.

"Ryan!"
I called.

"Hmm?"

"Can I put my head on your shoulder?"
I slowly said.

He looked at me. The warm gleam and agreement in his eyes made a shiver run through my body. I clenched his hand which he was holding mine with and slowly put my head on his shoulder. I felt the coldness and evocative smell of his shirt which reminded me of the day I first met him.

"It's totally okay, kittie-cat!"
He whispered.
"I'm right here!"