Calming Tone

When I woke up the next morning, I felt heavy. Opening my eyes, I found Amy had fallen asleep on my chest again like she does every now and then whenever she gets a nightmare in the middle of the night. Smiling, her light contrast color glistened in the light that came into my room, I took notice she held on to heel hard cover book as it was worth more to her than any stuffed animal she had in the past.

"Mm… Xie… " Closing my eyes, I felt her steadily wake and to keep her from blushing, I pretended I was still asleep.

She then got off and headed back to her room while yawning. Peeking with a soft smile, she left the room as I turned to face the ceiling. Spending a little time basking in the warmth and fluff of my bed, I turned my head to the window as I saw bright, lifeless light outside.

Hours then passed as I was up and studying ahead for the exams next week. Before long, my mom walked into my room wearing a bathrobe as she held her wet hair up.

"Xie, there's someone at the door, I think she's from your school. " Walking over beside me, she brushed up against my back and took a cream from above my desk. "Good luck, sweety. "

Flustered while watching heels steady leave my room, I rushed downstairs, bumping I to the walls and reached for the door.

"Xi-oh! Are you okay?! " Holding her hands up, I stood beside the door, catching my breath.

"I'm… fine… please, come in. " Walking inside, I guided her to my room where I closed the door to make sure my little deviant brothers didn't interrupt us.

"Wow! It's such a pretty room! There's so much life! " Anxious about the fact that I could agree with her, I nodded aimlessly as she sat down at my desk.

Looking over my extensive notes as I fitted them into smaller notes I understood to help me when taking the Exams. Hearing something snap, she met my gaze and asked if we could head out for the day to simply hang out.

"But… I thought you wanted to stu-" Stopping my sentence with her finger, she smiled and insisted we head out to spend the day in the town. "Hmm.. "

~

Walking out in the cold, breezy morning, I found myself shivering. When I turned to Rin, her nose had gotten bright red as she was covering herself as well. The temperature had drastically gone down as heavy clouds filled the sky. Looking around, I spotted a coffee shop and took Rin's hand as we headed inside.

Out from the cold, we sat down on one of the open tables and ordered two hot chocolates. As we waited for our orders to arrive, Rin looked upset about something. I then realized she was still shivering, as such, I stood up quickly and took off my large jacket as it fit around her like a warm blanket. Her fave suddenly changed into delight as she grit her teeth with excitement.

"Here you go… these biscuits are on the house. " As the waitress left, I began enjoying my hot chocolate.

I then gasped as Rin took such an adorable sip until before burning her tongue. Snapping to her aid, she was startled and then the chocolate spilled all over her. Holding it in, she gasped and snapped at me as she spoke in a different manner.

"Hmm! You massive idiot! How stupid are you to not notice me holding a cup in my hands! " Apologizing to her right after, I tried to help her when she suddenly smacked away my hand.

Overcome with sorrow, I stood up and left the shop as I headed back home in a daze as her anger expression remained etched in my mind.

Heading through the front door and kicking off my shoes, I rushed into my room where I stayed locked inside over the weekend.

~

As school started just an hour ago, I remained in bed even after my mother took my siblings to school. My initial shame for treating the only person who gave me a chance, and I blew it. Seeing her expression, I found myself digging a deeper hole as it hurts me every time I think about how kind she had always been.

Another hour passed and my mother came back home as she entered my room and kissed my head.

"Come on, honey… I'll make you some pancakes. " Unwrapping my blankets, she picked me up and effortlessly carried me to the living room downstairs.

Setting me down gently on the couch, she smiled and went into the kitchen to begin making pancakes. I loved my mother the most as she was possibly the only person who could understand me as she never once raised her voice at me. She always supported my decisions, even when they resulted in me crying, she loved me and my siblings nonetheless.

Turning on the TV, the channel was to one of our favorite TV dramas our family always watched together in the middle of the week. Whether that we considered normal, I didn't care as I got to spend valuable time with my family as a result of it.

~

After enjoying a comfortable setting while eating pancakes under a warm blanket, me and my mom laughed and cried as the ups and downs of the TV drama made us emotional.

Before long, my mothers phone rang as it was time to pick up my little brothers from school. Having been born twins, Kola and Mili were both in kindergarten as they were troublesome wherever they went. Smiling, I stopped her by pressing on her chest and talking the house keys from her hand.

Getting up, I headed to pick up my little brothers as Amy had a couple more hours until her school was let out.

~

Walking up into their school, I felt the most anxious as I had inadvertently focused everyone's attention to my casual wears. Swiftly picking up my brothers, we rushed home and as I got inside, Mili and Kola took off into the house.

Collapsing onto my mothers chest, I groaned from the anxiety and fleet at ease in her arms.

"Forget to cover up? " Nodding, she hugged me lightly and then shifted her attention to the boys upstairs as she let out a threat and they came running down.

Looking at the colorless TV screen, I felt happy I could at least see the figures and hear the story as all the TVs in the house were fitted with special color receptors to help my Color blindness.

~

By the end of the night, I ended up finishing my studies out of impulse and was wiped out after taking a bath. The following morning, I woke up an hour earlier than usual. Staying up, I moved around my room and began brainstorming ways to apologize to Rin for the other day.

Coming up blank, I exhausted a while hour and ended up going to school with a gloomy expression.

Passing the school gate, I gulped and headed inside. Suddenly swarmed by attention, I felt uneasy until I realized they were facing the gate behind me. Turning around, my eyes could not comprehend what was happening as I clenched my shirt tightly.

With a breathless gasp, I helplessly spoke the first thing that came to mind...

"B-beautiful... "

--