𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬

𝐨 𝐧 𝐞: meanie

                     BUILDING BLOCKS with your small hands as an attempt to make some sort of castle that right now only resembles a huge block made out of blocks, you were too entertained to notice the little boy enter the playground with his father escorting behind him.

No, your eyes are still intact with your building masterpiece that the little boy who entered seemed to be intrigued with your ignorance and watch you build your little castle. But your eyes looked back up when the little boy spoke.

"Father, why is she playing with my blocks?" Your eyes showed panic as you kicked down the castle that you spent five minutes on. You stood up and bowed as instructed by your mother when she showed you the playground.

Still looking down, you finally noticed your hands were a little shaky. You were nervous, feeling someone stare at you like this when almost most of the kids never really bothered you since you were so shy. "She wants to play with you." His father insisted, sounding so stern that it sounded more like a command.

He gently pushed his son forward who was still staring at your bowed figure. "I-I'm sorry playing with your toys..."

"Yes. These are mine, you're not allowed to touch it." The little boy says before facing his father. "Why is she here?"

His father only smiled, but not the smile you can recognize on people's faces as a sign of happiness, more of a smile that showed a sneer. "Well, she's the daughter of my best employee and her parents now both work here."

"The deaf one?" The little boy asks, sounding a little critical which only gives you a reason to look at the floor as you stop bowing. You felt judged for the way the boy pointed out your father's disability.

"Yes. Akai L/N. Please, Shuntaro, call him Mr. L/N." His father advised and pats the boy's shoulder. "Go play now. You two will be seeing a lot of each other."

That said, the father turned around and left the playground room. After the boy who you now know by the name of Shuntaro watched his father exit the room, he turned his head to look at you only for you to look away.

Still quiet, Shuntaro approaches you and you had hoped he would talk to you but he only sat down ahead of you and rearranged his blocks. You bite your inner cheek and feel your feet wobble from how silent the room is.

You purse your lips and approach Shuntaro, "Do you want me to help you? We can play together." Shuntaro looks up at you and only blinks before looking back at the blocks.

"I can do it on my own. I'm independent." He worded which only made you tilt your head as you are still unable to control the muscles of your eyebrow. It sounded like Shuntaro slurred the last word but you were still able to hear it right.

"Independent?" You ask.

"Yes. Independent. It's when someone does not need help and right now, I don't need it."

"Oh..." Your lips formed into a straight line and looked around, feeling shy and embarrassed. You wanted to hide behind your daddy's leg again, this boy was scary like his father. Seeing a little seat right over the corner, you walked to it and sat down, afraid that maybe if you touched his toys again, he would get mad.

But not longer than two minutes, a rather colorful book that plopped on the floor with a 'pang' can be seen right beside your small feet. You look up and see that Shuntaro is the one who dropped it.

You picked it up and read the title that says 'Children Learn Sentences.' You look up at him and hand out the book only for him to shake his head and push it back to you. "Read it. You don't talk properly. That can help you."

"Oh... thanks." You nod your head, still feeling embarrassed and open the first page while Shuntaro heads back to his building blocks. From that, you sort of looked a little jealous – a first negative emotion you had as you get to educate yourself with a colorful book when you wanted to play and Shuntaro gets to play but bans you from playing with him.

After getting to the fourth page, Shuntaro finally stood up and approached you – more like stomping, as he listened you educate yourself when he was playing. He was greatly annoyed at the fact you can't pronounce some words right and it was not so long since he had to stop hearing you.

Sensing his aura, you look back up. "You can't pronounce cut and it's annoying."

"Cat?" You say, a little embarrassed. In your ears, you were saying the exact same thing but apparently what he hears is different. "What's different between cat and cat?"

Shuntaro sighs and palms his face. "Cut. It's pronounced cut."

"Cat."

"Cut."

"Cat."

"Do you want me to help you?" Shuntaro asks and you visibly nod, a smile on your face as you had hoped that he will finally start spending time with you.

"Yes."

"Well, I don't want to help. You can do it on your own."

"Then why come here when you're gonna say that...?" You mumble, feeling offended and your intelligence threatened.

"Because you're annoying and it's annoying to hear you get the words wrong. It's rat not lat." He visibly scoffs and walks away.

"Where are you going?" You stand up from the little seat, book at hand, following the boy.

"Away from you."

You pouted and stopped your little feet. "But we can be friends if you weren't so mean." You mumble which to your luck, he hears. He looks over his shoulder,

"Being friends with someone who can't even say the word mean? I'll pass. I'm just smart."

"Please?" You bat your lashes at him who only shakes his head.

"Not until you learn your words right." You look down at your feet,

"Okay..."

"Bring the book with you, I don't need it. It's obvious you need it more than I do."

You nod your head again, shuffling your feet together, hugging the book to your chest. "Okay..." Though disappointed, you're looking forward to tomorrow. Now, you're just eager to learn even though you felt embarrassed.

You're gonna have to make friends now and you know that's what your mother wanted, so with determination, you look back at the playground and go back to the seat to relearn the words again with an objective in your mind.

That was to be friends with Shuntaro and make your parents happy.