Looking around the shop, she steps inside. She looks a bit lost in the way her eyes jump from one thing to another. She is someone I have never seen before, which rules out the possibility of her being a local, as I almost know everyone here.

By her look, I can guess she might be in her early twenties, not much younger than me. Her cheeks are flushed probably because of humid weather while a few wisps of her dark brown hair, which managed to escape from her ponytail, stick to her long slender neck due to perspiration.

Her eyes land on me and a small smile make its way onto her face. She looks cute in her off-shoulder t-shirt and jeans shorts. But she is not my type. I am into or used to be into blondes. However, this doesn't take away the fact she is beautiful.

Frown forms on my features, realizing I am not the old Jason. No girl will ever want to be with me.

Who wants to be with someone who can't even hear what they say?

I watch her lips move in a greeting.

"How can I help you?" I ask her, impassively.

She looks at me and blinks then a frown settles on her face. She opens her to speaks, but then immediately closes it and turns around. I watch her in confusion before I watch Caleb, my fifteen years old brother, strolling inside the shop. His face lights up like a freaking Christmas tree as he watches this girl.

Who is she?

I watch both of them talking animatedly to each other, then she gives him a side-hug and ruffles his hair. Instead of scowling at her, as he used to when somebody messes with his hair, he bloody blushes.

I feel somebody tapping on my shoulder. Tearing my gaze away from them, I turn my head to the side to find Nick standing with a confused expression.

Soon Caleb and that girl make a way towards us, as I questionably arch an eyebrow at Caleb.

"She is ..." I read Caleb's lips as he speaks each word slower than usual for my sake.

I can only make the last letters of her name which is -na. I couldn't understand the first letters.

She gives a small smile and a nod, as Caleb introduces us.

Nick extends his hand with a smile that he uses to impress girls, making me and Caleb roll our eyes.

Then she stretches her hand towards me, still smiling. I hold her hand in a handshake, but I couldn't help but notice how small and soft her hand is.

"Hello Jason, I am Lina." She speaks and for some strange reasons, I feel like I can her hear. Not that I can actually hear her, but I can read her lips without any difficulty.

Lina... so that's her name.

"Lina." I nod and repeat her name in confirmation, which makes both Nick and Caleb shock. They look at me with wide eyes, which are filled with shock, that I was able to understand her clearly.

There are certain words and sounds that are difficult to guess through lip-reading. By lip-reading, it doesn't mean that I can fully comprehend every sentence and word that people speak. It is like there are missing words in sentences that I have to guess by myself. Sometimes, my guess is correct and sometimes it isn't.

My eyes are focused on her lips as she speaks and surprisingly, I can make most of the words. Then suddenly her lips purse in a tight line, as she stops talking. Averting my eyes away from her lips to look at her face, I find her glaring at me.

"Stop looking at my lips." She glares at me angrily.

At first, I don't understand, then I realize she must be thinking that I am some sort of pervert. Anger builds up inside me, as this is the first time somebody thought of me as a pervert. This is all because of my messed up hearing.

"I am not a bloody pervert!" I yell, making her flinch, and storms outside the store.

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Thank you for reading.