Chapter 03

Today was a normal day. No one tried to bully me. Keith was with me all day long. He told me that he wanted me to meet with his friends and I agreed.

We had separate classes before recess time so as soon as the bell rang I got out of my seat and slowly made my way to the café. Yeah, I do walk slowly and being blind doesn't ease the predicament.

I heard the sounds of the students from outside the café and entered the café.

"Noah! C'mon mate." I heard Keith. He led me to his friends and I sat down on the seat.

"This is Noah everyone, the guy I was talking about," Keith said to his friends. I was so nervous. What if they didn't like that I'm blind?

"Hi, I'm Issac" I heard a cheery voice. I offered my hand to shake and he shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Issac" I smiled and then a shrill voice spoke.

"And I am Jessica and this is Anna"

"Jessie, he can't see," Keith said and I chuckled.

"Oh, sorry, my bad," she said and I felt someone taking my hand in theirs. Now that feels like a woman's touch.

"I'm Jessica" she shook my hand and then another hand replaced her.

"And I am Anna" I heard another voice. It's so good that I could tell the difference in voices or else there would be trouble recognizing the people.

We talked a bit and ate our lunch. All three of Keith's friends were really nice. We nattered about our childhood, how and where we grew up and everything.

"Keith where is your boyfriend?" Anna asked while Keith didn't answer.

"Noah won't mind. Would you Noah?" Jessica said.

"Mind what?"

"Keith is gay and has a boyfriend but no one really knows about them because his boyfriend is closeted and is a dick," Anna said and I heard a groan. It was Keith. Why would I mind someone being gay?

"He isn't a dick Anna. He is just confused" Keith grunted.

"Being confused doesn't give you the go-ahead to go around bullying others and calling them faggots." Jessica argued and I just listened to them silently.

"I know! I know! I'll talk some sense into him." Keith said.

"Don't just talk to him. Tell him to apologize to Noah" Issac scoffed.

"Why?" I blurted out. I covered my mouth with my hands and mumbled a 'sorry.

"No, it's okay. You should know that the dickhead who bullied you the first day in this café is the same guy Keith is dating" Issac said in a monotone.

"Oh..." was all that I could say.

"I am sorry H that I didn't tell you because I really wanted to be your friend and I thought you would refuse if I would tell you this" Keith said.

"What does your boyfriend think?" I asked trying to keep the voice steady. "When you laid the question of befriending me?"

"He asked me this morning about it when we were together, well we're not on the best of terms right now after the argument we had." I just nodded. I didn't know if this information was making me feel any comfortable.

"I need to use the toilet. Excuse me" I slowly got up and left for the bathroom.

I walked out of the café and just kept walking to God knows where. I was feeling a little betrayed. The guy I am friends with is the boyfriend of the same guy who beat me to death yesterday. I kept thinking and walking with the help of my cane and when all the voices went silent I stopped, looked around, well not specifically looked but, moved my head around and then kept walking. The sun burned my skin and my eyes as soon as I stepped out. I could feel the soft ground and grass under my feet so that means I was in some kinda pasture.

I walked around and when my cane hit something hard I knew it was a bench. I touched it for assurance. I sat on it, threw my head back on the back of the bench and closed my eyes. The dream from last night was flash-backed.

Who is this person? Is that person the light I have been looking for? Is this person even real or just a figment of my blind imagination? Why doesn't this person say anything? Are they mute or something? Are they deaf? What is the problem with them?

I felt someone's presence around me and then someone sitting beside me. I sat up straight.

"Is that you? The person who always shows when I am alone and forgets that he has a tongue that can be used to talk?" I asked but got no reply as usual.

"Are you deaf?" I asked politely. Idiot! Stupid Noah! How would they hear you if they are deaf?

But then I felt a hand on mine. I turned my head in their direction.

"So you are not deaf? Are you mute?" I asked again but no response.

"So you are mute?" I asked again to confirm. I heard someone clearing their throat. A male.

"So you are trying to tell me that you are not deaf and you are not mute but you still don't want to talk to me? Excellent!" I asked but no response but felt a little stroke on my hand.

"Are you even real or my mind just created an illusion?" I felt the grip tightened on my hand. "Ok! So you're obviously NOT an illusion."

"Are you scared of something?" I asked but still got no answer.

"Oh for Heaven's Sake! Just stop it. Please say something I am dying to know who you are" I said in annoyance and heard a little chuckle.

Wait I know this person. I have heard this chuckle before but where? Oh, God! Noah, try to remember. Who is this person?

"I know you. I have heard this chuckle before but I can't remember where" I said but no response but the stroking on my hand with his thumb didn't stop though.

"So you are just gonna sit here and stroke my hand?" I spoke but as I expected I didn't get an answer.

"Well I had a dream about you last night," I said.

"Before you say how I have dreams whilst the fact that I am blind. I wasn't born blind. I lost my sight when I was 2 years old in a horrible accident. So yeah I can have a dream" I told him.

"I can talk to you, right? You would listen to everything I say?" I felt his grip tightened.

"I'll take THAT as a yes." I passed a smile.

"So as I was saying that I had a dream about you last night. Nope, I didn't see your face. I just saw a ball of light and heard your phone's ringtone. When that ball of light came near me it felt like your touch" I told him.

"Are you real? Cause nobody has ever been this gentle to me" I turned my head to the direction where I assumed he was sitting. I felt a hand on the back of my neck and he pulled me in. Then I felt a kiss on my forehead. He pulled back. I blushed and looked down.

The bell rang and I tried to get up but he didn't let me and pulled me back.

"I have to go. I have a class" I spoke but he just didn't let me. I sat back.

"You know, I'll be late for literature and my teacher will have a fit about it even though he is very lenient. You know what, he is my favourite. He understands me very well. He always offers me help. I don't like it when people show sympathy but I know he just wants to help me not because he sympathized with me but because he is a kind-hearted human." I sighed after ranting.

"His voice is so hot, also his accent. Damn!" I said with a grin.

"Sometimes when I think about him I just want to-," he stopped mid-sentence. "Noah, what the hell are you even saying? Stop it, you have a class" he thought to himself. He chuckled again.

"Your voice would be hot too I can tell that but you don't want to talk to me" I tried to make him speak but he didn't. He just grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

"And where are we supposed to be going now?" I asked him but as usual no response.

"You know what just lead me to the lockers. I don't know where I am so I don't know the directions as well." he just pulled me and led me to the lockers. I could tell by the silence that the corridors were empty.

"Thank you," I said when I took my things away. But I didn't feel his presence anymore. I shrugged and made my way to the class. I slowly opened the door and was ready for any kind of insult.

"Sorry, I'm late," I said when I entered the class.

"It's okay. Take a seat" My professor said. I slowly made my way to the seat and sat.

The rest of the day went just about Meh and I decided to walk alone to the house. I was still not okay with the fact that Keith's boyfriend was my bully and he didn't tell me that. Was he trying to befriend me so that his boyfriend could bully me more?

I reached home and opened the door. I could tell that no one was home. I just went to my room and listened to the music.

I just kept thinking about him. The mysterious guy. The way he continuously stroked my hand with his thumb and the way he kissed and I felt tingles. It never happened before. No one ever touched me in such a gentle way before. He is really something else.

Yes, I am sure that he is male cause I felt his beard on my face when he kissed me. The truth is I knew way before the kiss. How? I don't know. It was just this feeling I can't describe.

At 5 o'clock when I heard the front door I thought it was enough and got a shower and went down.

"Hey mum" I spoke when I entered the living room knowing she would be there.

"Hey, sweetie. You didn't have lunch today?" she asked. I sat on the couch.

"Nah. I wasn't hungry"

"Noah baby what is it? Your face is covered with bruises. What happened?" at this I sat straight.

"Oh! It's……. it's nothing, mum" I said and tried to get up.

"No, you are not going anywhere, mister. Sit down," she said and pulled me back.

"Mum I just tripped over air. You know how clumsy I am. I just trip over nothing" I lied.

"NOAH..." she said in a warning tone.

"Alright, there is this gang in the school who beat the shit out of me, but now I'm fine, so don't worry" I blurted out.

"Say names," she said.

"Mum seriously I'm fine. I don't want you to go and complain about those students. I'm not a child mom and I don't know the names"

"Okay but if this happened again, I'm not going to stay quiet" she kissed my forehead.

"Mum?" I called her.

"Yes sweetie"

"Would it be dumb to share your feelings with someone who is a complete stranger?" I asked her cause even though sharing things with the mystery guy felt right I know it wasn't.

"Trust me it isn't dumb. But you should avoid it" she said brushing my hair off my face.

"Mum I want to see you again. I want to see your face and all these colours people talk about. I want to see THE light. I want to see everything" I said and laid my head in her lap.

"I promise you, sweetie, you will" she put her fingers in my hair and massaged my scalp. I could feel the sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry" I mumbled.

"Why are being sorry this time, kiddo?" she asked trying to sound like nothing happened but I knew.

"I knew we don't have enough money for the surgery but I still brought it up. I'm sorry mum I didn't want you to feel bad." I felt a tear on my cheek. I sat up and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry Noah. I'm so sorry. I'm trying and I promise you that you'd be able to see again. You'd get your vision back" she said between her sobs and cried on my shoulder.

"It's okay mum. You're doing the best you could to help me. All the stuff you bought for me, was expensive, I know. And I'm sorry for even bringing this up. I'm sorry but I'll try not to bring this up in any of the conversations again. I love you for everything you have done for me" I rubbed her back.

"I just want you to be happy, sweetie. I'd do anything to do that" she pulled back and kissed my forehead.

"Mum I AM happy." I emphasized 'am'. Though I want my vision back, it's not like I am not happy. I am happy just not as happier as other kids of my age are.

"I know," She said and kissed me one more time on the forehead.

When I got back to my room after dinner with mum and Nick, I did my homework. I heard my phone ring. I answered the call.

"Hey buddy, it's me, Keith"

"Yeah Keith"

"Listen I am sorry mate for not telling you about this boyfriend thing but I really wanted to be your friend and I thought you wouldn't want it if you knew. I'm sorry" I sighed.

"Okay, Keith. But I don't want to be in the middle of you and your boyfriend so please don't try to talk to me again. You are a good guy but I am not the one who'd want to become a reason for someone's bad relationship"

"But Ha-" I cut him off.

"No Keith please try to understand," I said and he hung up the call. I knew he was mad at me but to be honest I didn't care cause I knew what I did was for the good cause.

I laid down on my bed after doing my homework and tried not to think about the mysterious guy but it's like he has already occupied a compartment in my mind.

I touched my forehead where I could still feel his lips. It was the moment when I felt tingles and my whole body was on fire. I don't know who he was. Hell, I didn't even know if he really is real or if it's just I'm going crazy but whatever it is, he……feels……right. Like he was meant to be there in the bathroom that day, to be there on the bench beside me.

I smiled to myself and thought about all those things I have told him and how for the first time in my life I have trusted someone without even knowing who that someone is. But it didn't feel wrong so all was good, right?

I closed my eyes and let the sleep engulf me.

"Noah" I heard a whisper and opened my eyes. It was dark. I couldn't see a thing, not that I would have if it wasn't dark but it was pitch black.

"Noah..." I heard another whisper but this time closer to my ear. I just turned my head around, extended my arm but nobody was there.

"Hello!" I yelled.

"Is anybody here?" I tried to walk but then realized I was lying on the floor.

"Noah..." I heard the whisper again and I sat straight instantly.

"Please stop playing games," I said with a shaky voice. Then suddenly I started feeling cold. The cool wind started blowing. Cool as in ice cool. I wrapped my arms around me.

"H-hello..." I said with teeth chattering. I waited for the response but no one spoke. The wind was getting cooler and cooler with every passing second. I lied down on the floor and curled up in a ball but it was freezing.

I closed my eyes and waited for the most painful death I could have ever thought of. Alone.

Then suddenly I felt warmth around me. I opened my eyes and saw the ball of light covering me. I looked at it. It was hovering over me and when I reached out to touch it, I felt the same tingles as I felt when that mysterious guy touched me. I smiled at it.

"You are the mysterious guy right?" I waited for a response but obviously, the mystery guy never answered me so why this ball of light would.

"I know you are. Are you an angel?" I said but obviously, there was gonna be an answer.

"How do you always know when I need someone around? In dreams and reality? This is a dream right?"

"Of course it is. It has to be, cause I can't see light in real life, for shit" I spoke and suddenly the light started to fade away.

"Hey don't go just right now..." but it faded and I was there lying on the hard floor but the temperature was normal again. I closed my eyes and think of the ball again.

I opened my eyes and they burned. I got up and felt around. It was my bedroom so it was a dream.