Bare Skin | Yoonmin Soulmate!AU (Hiatus until summer)

Chapter Two *Unbetaed*

It took me a while to write this second chapter. Since it was supposed to be a one-shot type of thing, I did not think about all the research that I have to do now. I research about sounds that mute persons can make since I don't know anyone that is mute and I did not want to make mistakes for the way they communicate. Not only that, but I realise that I will have to describe sign language and I don't know how to sign. yELP

Warning: Due to limited research material, I'll use British Sign Language mostly and not Korean SL. Also, I don't know sign language so I'll be describing from what I see on the Internet. When you find a mistake, please correct me in a nice way, since again, I do not speak BSL.

*****

Jimin still remembers how difficult it was for him to try and copy the way his mother's mouth opened and moved. Opening his mouth was not a problem, but making the sounds his mother kept repeating for the past 5 minutes? No matter how hard he tried, nothing but small puffs of air would leave his mouth. It made him frustrated and often he left his mother in favour of his toys, grabbing the stuffed animals and focusing on it, failing to see his mother's teary eyes.

When he was 3 years old, a special teacher started visiting the Park Family. Jimin wasn't the only one needing to learn sign, but also his parents, so they could understand what their son was asking or saying. Even his then one year old brother mimicked the movement, but it was more of a fun game for him anyway. Jimin was happy to learn 'how to talk', clapping in excitement every time he signed something and his parents would understand. Slowly, sign language became part of their routine, his parents finding themselves signing as they spoke even when Jimin was not in the room.

It wasn't until he was 6 years old that he realised he was different from other children, on his first day at school. He was seated in his seat, stealing glances at the boy that sat next to him and he thought that he should introduce himself since his mother always told him that greetings are the first impression and that he has to make a good impression in order to have friends.

He gathered all his courage before tapping the boy's shoulder, already smiling at the idea of making a new friend. The boy next to him turned around, looking at Jimin with curious eyes and Jimin waved his hand at him, as a way to say 'Hi'.

'Hello,' His classmate said, pointing a finger at himself. 'My name is Hanyong. Nice to meet you.'

Jimin raised his right hand, his middle and index finger glued together, to his forehead before moving it forward to sign the word 'Name' and then signed each character of his name, very careful to not make a mistake. It was still difficult for the 6-year-old to hold his hand in a certain way to sign due to his chubby fingers but Jimin was proud of himself each time his signs would look like the ones his Sign Language teacher made.

Hanyong watched each movement that Jimin made, but his eyebrows were glued together in confusion, much to Jimin's confusion. Weren't his signs clear enough? Was he too fast? Jimin tilted his head in confusion and started signing 'What is wrong?' but just then, Hanyong stood up from his seat, frowning down at Jimin.

'Why are you moving your hands like that? It's rude! You are weird!' the 6-year-old said, taking the few items he had on the table and he walked to the back of the class, finding an empty seat there. A few of the other children in the room where staring at Jimin, the room too quiet for a class of excited 6 years old.

Jimin felt tears pool up in his eyes as he could not understand what he did wrong, staring down at his hands that were now gripping at his uniform. His parents could always understand him. His teacher as well, even his 4-year-old brother that still had trouble speaking. He raised his head, looking at the children around him and they were all staring at him with confused looks as if he was a strange creature from another planet.