Library, not usually my kind of place. The eerie silence of the people which people call “peaceful” is something I fail to understand. My kind of peace is drink and parties. Loud music and dance. Yet, today im standing in front of the door of the national library.
“come on” my sister whispered as she pulled on to my t-shirt sleeve. My sister Alice. Wait , my one year elder sister Alice. Even if Alice was just one year older than me I have to treat her like she was twenty and I was sixteen which I am and she’s not. My dad says even if its one day or one year if some one is older than you, you have to treat them with respect. You see, he’s a man of principles. I really respect him for his values and principles. But I have to admit there are rare times where they just get to my nerves.
As I got it, the smell of old pages and new printing hit my nose together. I was going to turn around and take the chance and run but my sister was always one step ahead of me. She grabbed my collar and pulled me up the stairs. We reached the science fiction section and my sister vanished. Well , not literally. Its more like she enters a whole new dimension where she has no clue of time or another sense. I was also about to vanish into the magazine department for my kind of vanishing when suddenly my phone started to ring . And man, was it LOUD. I had to struggle to find my phone from my pocket and to put it in silent. By that time , all the people in the library were staring at me. Even my old not-so-pal librarian was walking towards me with the face which sends me out of the library every single time. I had promised my dad that it wouldn’t happen again and I would return with my sister so there was no chance of me getting into trouble this time. I sprinted with everything I had. Thanks to my gymnastic classes I can run around and not make a single sound. I was running through the sections when my legs suddenly jolted to a stop.
I was still trying to figure what happened when my eyes landed on her. Sitting in the corner of was the most beautiful girl I ever saw. Even the shadow of the corner was unable to hide her glow. From behind her huge black glasses I could see her eyes with long eyelashes focused on to the paper laid on front on the table. She has her eyebrows furrowed together and lips pursed together in a thin line. She was wearing a hijab so all I could notice were her face only. But her facial features were awesome. She bit her lower lip and a few of the girls who were sitting near a table near to where I was frozen giggled. That made me realize that I was literally drooling.
I couldn’t fight the urge to get her attention and talk to her, so I grabbed a random book from the shelf and sat near a table opposite to hers. I had my eyes fixed onto her and I was struggling with the book. I heard a few girls giggling and I figured out that I was holding the book upside down which I did not care about. She didn’t even look up once, she was completely occupied with her work. But I was desperate so I walked to her and stood near her table and said “hello?” It felt awkward as she didn’t even reply. I finally pulled a chair in front on her and sat down. Even then she didn’t look up. I wasn’t used to girls ignoring me that much and that too that perfectly . So I just randomly moved my hand in front of her paper which successfully finally caught her attention.
She lifted her head and looked at me. Her huge cocoa eyes were staring right through me. I was very occupied to stare at them until she smiled. A nervous yet perfect smile. The was her soft pink lips curled up into an almost smile left me dumb folded. I had no idea how long I was staring at her until she returned back to her work. I started to whisper “ Hi, my name is Ian what’s yours?” when she didn’t reply I just continued with my introduction. Even after my bossy introduction she didn’t even look up. It was then when it hit me. That she was deaf. That’s why she hasn’t been replying to me. She probably doesn’t even know that I am talking. I mentally slapped myself for my stupidity
I reached out for a paper from my pocket and scribbled a note which said. “don’t mean to be offensive, but are you deaf?” and passed to her. She looked at me and I nodded so she unfolded the paper. I tried to make out her expression but it was completely blank. My heart was beating really loud till then. I haven’t figured out why, she re-folded the paper and placed it on the table. Then, she reached into her hijab and pulled out two ear pieces and showed it to me. I let out a small sigh of relief and slightly laughed. She then reached into her bag and took out a marker and wrote in neat handwriting on the table “But I can’t speak” That moment of relief was lost in a split second. I was speechless. I didn’t know what to do so I just awkwardly stood up and walked away from her.
After that rude walk out from the girl, I was waiting in the car. I was thinking about the handwriting which enclosed her truth. The bitter truth. But I couldn’t help feel that there was more to it than that. I tried to think of all the possibilities but ended up getting distracted by her features. That distraction however encouraged me to go in and talk to her. Then again what would I say to her? She would have been very offended. I was still mentally debating myself when my sister tapped my shoulder
“What happened?” she asked . Worry clear on her face. “Nothing” I replied and smiled. After she had settled down in her seat I started the engine and sped off. Alice suddenly wanted to get some ice-cream so we stopped at our favorite ice cream parlor. She ordered her favorite strawberry sundae and I ordered for a bubblegum flavored ice cream.
As we settled down we started to talk about how the parlor hasn’t changed and about the days that we used to visit the place without mother when she was alive. Yes, our mother has passed away. She passes away 3 years ago when I was 13. So the memories were still very fresh just like the wound left on our hearts when she left. I sure miss her a lot. My biggest fear is that one day we would all forget the memories and soon about our mother
“Spill up” Alice commanded. I raised one of my eyebrows and she said” you were quiet the whole ride , you picked up our mother’s favorite flavor and your are missing mom. That’s enough proof that something is wrong. , so spill up,” I looked down to my ice cream and smiled. I loved my sister. She always knows what I feel just like my mother. Its like as if before she passed she passed all her mother instincts to her. Now she takes care of me like my mother and handles me and my dad when we have occasional fights regarding her girlfriend. She’s been very strong in all this. I know. I understand. So I had no further objections and told her everything. I said that I really wanted to know what happened to her and all my sister said was “go find out”. I thought about how simple the solution was and looked out of the window. After a while my sister said something “she sure is something right?”I smiled and nodded without even moving my gaze.
When we reached home liana was waiting inside. I don’t know why I gave her an extra key to our house. Maybe because she has been my girlfriend for the past 6 months or so. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a player. I rather call myself a tape which keeps going on and on the same way. First I would see a girl and be attracted and be very interested in talking to her. Then eventually fall for her. Break up with the present girlfriend and get into a relationship with her. After sometime get bored with her and the cycle continues. To be honest that’s something I really don’t like about myself. I want to change it too. But my dad says that the right woman would change me for good. Sometimes I wonder how we would know whether we met the right woman or not. I guess I would eventually know. Well till then I can just hope that the right woman comes around soon and stops this tape for good.
As soon as we got in liana wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. She wanted to go to the bedroom. I know what she wanted to do. Sometimes I wonder why I am in a relationship with her, WE are suppose to be in a relationship with those who we really like right? The truth is that I don’t like liana. The bigger truth than it is that we don’t know each other that well to like. Every meeting would end like the rest in the bedroom. Even if we do talk she would remind the things I have to make that “process” better. Maybe it’s the physical satisfaction I get from her which keeps this relationship together
After we were done with out daily routine, she got dressed up and left. While I just laid on the bed and thought about the girl from the library. I decided to meet her tomorrow and to first check the library and play on a hunch. I really hoped that she would be there. Eventually in her thoughts I fell asleep.
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THATS A PICTURE OF LUKE HEMMINGS AS IAN MACARTHUR :)
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Light ~
RomanceThis is a story about the life of a girl that was mute, Yet not mute.
