Narrator
Haerin was always a sweet kid. She was kind and respectful. She loved to just be herself, laugh, and enjoy everything she could in life.
Haerin was a bit different than most people. She did her best to focus on all the positive things in life but most people around her weren't like that.
Until, she met Y/n.
- Y/N POV -
I had arrived at a new school.
I wasn't too worried, I knew life constantly changed, and I couldn't avoid change. I just had to accept it.
I made my way to class as best as I could. I got lost along the way, but that was expect for my first day.
"Oh, you must be Y/n!" The teacher said once I arrived to class.
I just nodded in response.
"Just go ahead and take the empty seat next to you," The teacher told me.
I nodded in response again and took my seat.
I paid attention in class and made sure to make mental notes on the important parts.
Classes always felt long for me, but this class was so interesting that I didn't even feel time pass.
*RING, RING*
The bell rang and everyone started to leave.
I waited for everyone to exit the room then left once I felt like it was probably time for me to head to brunch.
I was always a bit awkward with people, so I made sure to stay away from them as best as I could. Specifically now that I was in a new school, I had to be extra careful.
I made my way out of the classroom and carefully made my way down to the main floor to get something to eat.
"What would you like?" The cafeteria lady asked.
"Umm, the most popular meal with a chocolate milk please!" I responded with enthusiasm.
The lady handed me my food and a milk.
I was very happy to get my food and turned to find a place to eat it at.
Unfortunately,
Someone bumped into me.
"I'm so sorry!" The person exclaimed.
I slowly dropped down to my knees to pick up my food and simply responded, "It's okay!"
I tapped on the floor until I got a hold of my food and grabbed the first item I found.
I kept tapping the floor to find my milk, but someone suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Don't do that, your milk spilled," It sounded like the person who had bumped into me.
- Haerin POV -
I had accidentally bumped into someone.
I was on my way to meet my friends for morning break, but I guess I wasn't paying very much attention.
"I'm so sorry!" I told the stranger I had bumped into.
"It's okay!" The person responded and awkwardly dropped down to the floor to pick up the food I had accidentally knocked out of their hands.
I quickly dropped to the floor myself to try to help the stranger, but...
I quick realized that this wasn't a regular situation of bumping into a random person.
I watched as the person in front of me tapped the floor as if trying find something they couldn't see.
I was inclined to help but held myself back when I noticed the mobility cane on the floor next to them... like the one a blind person would use...
The person in front of me was also wearing sunglasses, so it just verified my suspicions.
I decided to let the person in front of me try to gather their things for a bit.
I didn't want to make them feel helpless or feel as if they were treated like they couldn't do something, so I just patiently watched as they kept taping the floor until they grabbed a hold of the breakfast burrito they had gotten for breakfast.
I continued to watch as they looked for something else.
"Come on, your cane is right next to you!" I was internationally cheering.
"Milk, milk," I suddenly heard the person in front of me murmur.
I furrowed my brows once I realized the person was looking for the spilled milk in front of them.
They kept tapping on the floor like before, but this time I needed to intervene.
I was about to say something but suddenly the person was about to tap the puddle of milk in front of them.
"Don't do that, your milk spilled," I unconsciously grabbed the person's arms.
"What a bummer! Can't cry over spilled milk!" The person suddenly chuckled and retracted their hand from my grip.
For some reason, their silly little joke caused me to laugh.
"Would you be so kind to guide me to my mess? I don't want to leave my trash on the floor like that," The person softly requested.
I couldn't help but smile to myself.
For someone who seemed to have a barrier most people didn't, the stranger in front of me didn't seem as stressed out as me, or even everyone around us, about the situation.
"Is it okay if I help you clean up?" I softly asked.
"Umm, yeah sure. If you don't mind!" The person smiled widely.
I smiled to myself at how optimistic the person in front of me seemed about the whole situation.
"I got the milk. Your cane is next to you, so don't worry about it. I bumped into you anyway," I gently spoke.
I knew I felt a bit awkward about the situation and I knew that the person in front of me probably felt like I was pitting them, but it was okay. I didn't mind helping.
"Thank you so much. You're very kind!" The person exclaimed as they got up off the floor on their own and I carried the dripping milk carton into the trash.
*RING, RING*
The end bell for brunch rang and everyone started to head to class.
"Ummm, do you mind if I ask where class 227 is?" The person suddenly asked.
"Yeah, that's Miss Jeong's class. I'm headed there right now," I politely answered.
"If you'd like, we can walk together?" I offered.
"Yeah, that be nice!" The person smiled wide.
I couldn't help but smile myself.
I didn't know why I felt so uneasy about the situation when the person seemed to be handling themselves so well.
"I'm Y/n btw!" The person suddenly introduced themselves, extending their hand for a handshake.
I took a deep breath and took their hand in mine. "I'm Haerin", I introduced myself.
"Pleasant to meet you!" Y/n kindly responded.
Y/n and I then walked to class. I was super nervous as Y/n was going up the stairs but it was like you could hardly tell that they were blind.
"You're judging me, aren't you?" Y/n suddenly asked as we reached the top of the second stairs.
"I mean, I am a bit concerned but I wouldn't say I'm judging you. I am more curious than anything else," I honestly answered.
Y/n suddenly seemed to chuckled.
"I like you!" Y/n laughed out.
"You can ask me anything you'd like!" Y/n suddenly offered.
I though about it for a bit, but I didn't want to be disrespectful.
Y/n then suddenly took a deep breath and let it out.
"I wasn't born this way," Y/n suddenly said.
I furrowed my brows a bit confused and shocked at the same time.
I was carefully watching as Y/n used their mobility cane to predict the obstacles in front of them.
It was nerve wrecking really...
But, Y/n seem to know exactly what they were doing.
"5 years ago, I got into a car crash with my mom and the airbag deployed in my face. Unfortunately, I was holding my phone up to my face and the phone shattered in my face and ended up damaging my eyes," Y/n explained.
I wasn't sure what to make of the information.
It honestly sounded like a horror story.
"At first, I had a really hard time... but I learned to really enjoy life. It's different to live life with just your senses. It's really eye opening.... pun intended," Y/n shared with a chuckle at the end.
I couldn't help but giggle.
Y/n seemed very charming.
"You smell really good by the way," Y/n suddenly complimented.
I started to feel a little flustered, unsure of how to even respond.
"You can step closer if you'd like," I awkwardly responded, not really knowing what I should be saying.
"Umm, it's okay. I have a bit of a fragrance allergy, so it's okay. I don't want to get hives or something... just in case you're wearing something I might be allergic to," Y/n kindly responded.
It seemed to me like Y/n really knew how to communicate and set boundaries.
I wasn't judging, but I was really intrigued by the way they behaved themselves. It was much different than what I expect from a blind person.
"Oh, you must be Y/n!" The teacher suddenly exclaimed as we walked into class.
"Yes!" Y/n answered with a cute smile.
"And are you their caretaker?" The teacher suddenly asked me.
From the concern of my eye, I could see Y/n's smile drop.
"No," I coldly responded.
I didn't like how the teacher suddenly brought Y/n's mood way down.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" The teacher tried to save face.
"It's fine, just direct me to my seat," Y/n coldly responded.
"Any empty seat towards the back," The teacher seem a bit awkwardly.
Y/n sighed and made their way towards the back.
I could hear Y/n counting steps or something as they walked. Suddenly, they came to a stop and placed their hand on the desk. Y/n tapped on it a few times before finding the seat to seat on.
It seemed like half the class was staring, while the other half was respectful enough to listen to what the teacher was saying.
When I entered the class, I noticed one of my friends was in the class as well and she had saved me a seat....
But, I opted to seat elsewhere instead.
I decided to seat in the seat right behind Y/n.
I don't know why or what motive it is that I had, but I wanted to be near Y/n.
"Okay, we will start with learning volumes!" The teacher started off.
Handouts were already placed on the desks and Y/n seemed to be carefully feeling through the thin paper.
"Don't get a paper cut, don't get a paper cut," I kept thinking to myself, holding my breath.
The teacher soon noticed what Y/n was doing and handed them huge Lego blocks in order to do the exercise with us.
"Use the formula and see if anyone can tell me the answer!" The teacher announced.
A few people soon start to raise their hands, while I watched as Y/n carefully stacked some blocks and ran their fingers along side the edges of the Lego blocks.
Y/n suddenly raised their hand too.
"Woah, that was fast!" I thought to myself as I hurried to input the formula to try to get the answer myself.
One by one, the teacher kept picking student for the answer.
"Nope!" The teacher told the first student.
"Almost!" The teacher told the next.
The last student that was picked started to say the answer and I could see Y/n mouthing out the answer under their breath.
"That is correct!" The teacher announced.
Unconsciously, I placed my hand on Y/n's shoulder and squeezed it.
"Umm, what is it?" Y/n whispered.
"I was just reassuring you that you were right," I softly responded.
"Thank you," Y/n seemed to be blushing as they patted my hand that was still on their shoulder.
- Y/N POV -
It seemed like I had made a new friend.
I was very worried to be treated like a crippled case at this new school, but luckily everyone didn't seem to care much for my existence.
People didn't even give me that sorrow "I'm being nice to you because you're blind" behavior...
And Haerin seemed far beyond what I expected from most people.
"Right again!" Haerin whispered to me again.
I couldn't help but smile like crazy at how kind Haerin seemed.
I didn't feel helpless with her at all. It felt more like Haerin let me do things on my own before stepping in.
I knew she felt some pity for me.
At times, I knew I was the first to raise my hand in class from how long it took the teacher to pick a person to answer.... but I was never picked..
Still, Haerin kept squeezing my shoulder or my hand to let me know that I was right.
*RING, RING*
Another class went by faster than I expected.
I could hear everyone start grabbing their things and head over to their next class.
I suddenly smelt the familiar scent, that I had smelt on Haerin earlier, pass by me.
"Haerin, wait!" I panicked a little.
"Yes?" Haerin softly responded.
"She seems so kind," I thought to myself.
Of course, I always had to be extremely careful with people and making friends, but Haerin seems much different than what I was used to.
"Can I have your number?" I awkwardly asked as I took out my phone.
"Sure!" Haerin sounded excited.
I could feel myself blushing.
"Ummm?" I heard Haerin mumble.
"There's no password," I quickly responded, already knowing what she was going to say.
I waited as Haerin put her phone number in.
"Here you go," Haerin handed me my phone back.
I knew that I couldn't stop smiling.
"Hey Siri, text Haerin "Thank you" Please!" I told my phone.
I could heard Haerin giggled.
"I actually put my name down as, 'Kang', my last name!" Haerin giggled out.
I felt a little embarrassed but teasingly replied, "Are you giving me your last name already? Shouldn't you ask me to marry you first?"
I could hear Haerin start to laugh and it felt like my whole soul could hear heavenly music.
"She has such a cute laugh," I thought to myself.
"Call me or text me anytime you'd like. We're friends now," Haerin responded.
I did my best to hold in the emotions that were trying to escape by such a small comment.
"Okay, thanks!" I did my best not to sniffle.
After that, I went through my classes as best as I could.
I didn't have Haerin in any of my classes for the rest of the day, but I was hopeful that the next day could be different.
"How was your day?" Mom yelled as I walked into the house.
I had decided to walk home from school by myself.
School was only about 3 blocks from my house, so I had convinced my family to just let me walk. I wanted to be proud of myself and learn how to get home from school.
"Good!!" I answered my mother.
"Did you make any friends?" Mom kept yelling from the kitchen.
"Yeah!" I answered.
I could suddenly hear mom's footsteps step closer to me.
"Really? Who?" Mom asked.
I couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the thought of Haerin.
"Just a friend," I chuckled in response.
After that, I made my way to my room and changed into more comfortable clothes.
I always wore an extremely big t-shirt and some baggy shorts when I was home.
Luckily, mom had bought me multiple variations of my favorite outfit, so it wasn't hard to change.
Plus..., I was home so it's not like it matter if I looked ridiculous.
"Hey Siri, text Kang "Thank you for today. You're very kind!"....," I told my phone.
My phone responded back, "Texting 'Kang smiling cat and red heart'", before reading back my text message.
I felt like I turned into a blushing mess at the name Haerin had put into my phone.
- Haerin POV -
Y/n and I had texted all afternoon.
I was really glad for once that technology had come a long way.
I was able to text Y/n knowing that Y/n didn't have to struggle to look at a screen.
"So, what do you look like? If you don't mind me asking," Siri read Y/n's message to me.
After almost 4 hours of texting each other, it seemed like I had adapted Y/n's habit of voice messages.
I was folding my clean clothes and cleaning my room at the time that Y/n asked that, so I paced around the room while I answered... "I have dark brown hair with brown eyes that kind of look like a cat. You know, like oval, big, and wide. I'm also like 165cm, so we're almost the same height. I don't know, most people compare me to like a human cat!"
I sent the message but couldn't help to laugh at the description of myself.
I was playing back my voice message when Y/n quickly responded to me.
"Is that how others describe you or is that how you see yourself?" Y/n messaged back.
I was taken aback by the question.
I thought about it for a bit, but I didn't know how to answer back.
"Maybe it's how others describe me...?" I thought to myself.
I cleared my throat as I tried to look for an answer.
It sort of felt like a force reflection.
I wasn't sure how I saw myself.
"How did you learn to use your phone like this?" I decided to ask a personal question back.
It didn't take long before my phone announced another text message.
"Link from Y/n!" Siri announced.
I smiled a bit confused and opened my phone.
Y/n had sent me a link to something.
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Author's Note: Might make part 2 .-.