Design Theory class flows quite a bit slower than usual, even though we still take our weekly lecture of two hours. Lecture is different when I have a more unfamiliar face sitting beside me, unlike my usual seatmate who seems to have disappeared for some time since the other week.

Ying was a respectful sort, knowing well our boundaries like the back of her own hand. She well knew how to talk to the sorts like me. Even sign language, she was especially taught at a young age.

This boy, however, is deaf, and can't even sign his shrimping name.

I can't help but fidget under our table. Hopefully, Hali doesn't even notice my unhealthy twitching habits.

Nibbling on my fingers made class flow by a bit faster, other than also actually listening to our professor lecture about color perception and the other stuff from our module.

At the same time, I also take moments to jot down notes, taking into account that Hali isn't listening in lecture.

Well, he can't listen, that's what.

Even with some points already projected in front, he still fails to pay attention. Neither does our professor really care he's there.

Prof's a chill man, honestly, giving very little concern to people who just sit in his class without permission. Given he's a traditional teacher who doesn't really believe in strict learning, I find his classes interesting most of time.

Solar, on the other hand, only bothers to write key words, just trying to solely depend on our module.

Speaking of, I look to our professor's table, the stacks and stacks of thick modules waiting to be distributed at the end of class.

Great, another research paper, I guess.

My phone buzzes on my tabletop.

🔴 What's our topic?

This dude- I thought he said no texting in classes?

🔵 Color Theory
🔵 I thought you said no chatting in between classes?

🔴 No chatting me
🔴 I didn't say anything about no chatting YOU

I swear to God, this boy-

🔵 You're not taking notes are you?

🔴 I do, occasionally
🔴 He doesn't scold students texting in his class, does he?

Honestly, what's wrong with this boy?

🔵 Nah, he's pretty much a chill person...

🔴 You taking notes?

🔵 Yeah...why'd you ask?

🔴 Nothing, I was just thinking of borrowing your notes. That's what you're here for, right?

🔵 👌

I honestly have nothing else to say for Hali at this point on.

🔴 Can you lend me your notes for a second after class? I'll just snap a pic of it then go

🔵 Sure! ^^

Honestly, after trying to intimidate me for the past few minutes, can I just say no?

For a second, I even just want to chat him.

Do you have any plans of trying to kill me?

I backspace on it all.

🔴 Good, I thought you weren't going to give them to me

For a while, I thought so too.

Instead, I make an effort to ask.

🔵 Why not?

It takes him long before something manages to pop up in our message box.

🔴 Nothing
🔴 Just thought you'll be like everybody else

===

For an odd reason, Hali's vague answer haunts me for the remaining minutes of lecture. After that strange last statement, I simply look to him, trying to see if he meant typing that. His hands have already let go of his phone, turning back to his sketches.

He always begins and ends the discussion on a strange note.

It didn't take long for him to actually let go of his pencil and watch our professor scribble some more notes on the board. I get the feeling he might not understand things completely at this point, considering he wasn't listening to the first half of class.

It's odd how I didn't want to end with such a mysterious sentence.

Professor is already on his concluding portion of the class anyway.

🔵 What did you mean by "like everybody else?"

I hear his phone buzz. He gives me that deadly glare again, like he already knows it was from me.

Thankfully, his reply wasn't as terrifying.

🔴 I'm sorry, that's none of your business

He did not just apologize, did he?

🔵 You sure you don't wanna talk about it?
🔵 It's better if you get it outta your chest...

He types for some time. I even worry he's gonna do one shrimping paragraph now.

🔴 Actually you're the one who sounds like he needs something out of your chest
🔴 You aren't even reciting in class
🔴 Don't think I didn't notice
🔴 You're a tutor but you don't participate in class

okAY THIS SHRIMP~

I bite my lip, holding back whatever I might type. I lower my phone to my lap, under our table.

🔵 //scoff
🔵 I'm sorry...I'm a tRANSLATOR, not a tUTOR
🔵 And might I add...Hali...I don't recite for a reason~

I inhale.

🔵 I'm mute

He doesn't reply for an odd length of time.

🔴 Excuse me?

🔵 I'm not deaf, but I'm mute...
🔵 I can't talk

I'm set off. He doesn't reply for seconds. He's seen it, but he doesn't reply. I try to turn to see if he's let go of his phone.

Instead, I find him looking straight at me.

His face is puzzled, his eyes with a natural red hue. It's weird. He doesn't look as deadly as he was a few hours ago.

I understand his face. He's asking. I know that look. It's something like a what-do-you-mean face.

Like he wants to know more.

A creepy chill runs up my spin in turn. I purse my lips again.

I play his game.

When I look at my phone, there's a new message.

🔴 What do you mean?

🔵 I'm sorry, but that's also none of your business...

🔴 Sure okay fine

It's another discussion ending. I watch us let go of our phones in unison, ready to listen to our professor for the last five minutes.

Our professor's bellowing voice echoes through the wide room. "Okay, class. These next few days, you won't be able to see me for some time, I have errands to run. For now, I have these modules to distribute to each and every one of you regarding Color Theory and Cultural Art Studies," he says, distributing stacks of the modules to the front row, with each student passing fewer to the back rows.

As usual, his module is about a hundred pages.

Here we go again.

He walks through the aisle. "For the next two weeks, study the given module and I'm tasking you all to produce five abstract paintings due in two weeks time, and you are to defend them in front of class that day as well. Make sure to include our key points about Color Theory in your works. Your defense must be five minutes long and must satisfy all my questions."

Soon, he ends his little announcement, stopping at my side.

"This will be a partner work and you will be working with the person sitting next to you. Do not choose partners."

Oh boy.

It's funny how Hali must not be hearing all this and I'm just here, exclaiming "Oh no" in my brain.

It doesn't take long for Professor to look down at the both of us, whispering lowly for me to hear while the others murmur to their seatmates. "Taufan, given your condition and Halilintar's, I'm pardoning the both of you from the defense. However, I'll be asking you both to produce a ten-page research paper also due that day, am I clear?"

I nod.

"I'll be sending some of my key points to your email for you to answer in the worksheet as well. Make sure you work hand-in-hand with Halilintar," he concludes.

I nod again, and he turns away.

"Class is dismissed, you may all go now."

Everyone scrambles up, fixing all their stuff. Meanwhile, Halilintar still stares on his little sketch, unaware of the dismissal.

I chat him.

🔵 So your full name's Halilintar eh...?

🔴 Who on Earth told you that?!
🔴 Don't call me that again please

I don't look at him. He already sounds angry. Even with the "please," honestly.

🔵 Prof
🔵 We have a project to do
🔵 And we're partners

I find myself pressing on.

🔵 Why do you not wanna be called like that?
🔵 My mom named me Taufan, my granddad calls me pan-pan, my cousins call me Upan...
🔵 Who named you Halilintar? Your mom?

I wait for a reply, and I put all my things back to my bag on my right.

After that, I look to my left. Halilintar's gone.

I catch him by the door, standing. He's texting somebody. Me.

🔴 Sorry, need to go to work
🔴 I don't talk about my mom