He is Deaf and Mute!

'You got it wrong, I am Drake.' Drake explained.

Amaris took a moment to digest what she just heard. When it finally registered in her mind she immediately wanted to dash for the nearby bushes and hide there for eternity or at least until the current embarrassment becomes a passing affair.

Once again she has done it.

She really wanted to slap herself silly. Controlling her troubling emotions she tried passing it off as if it was no big deal... which was true, as she just got their names wrong and nothing else. She strengthened her resolve.

It was no big deal.

'Ohh, I am sorry.' Amaris apologized and then asked looking at the other guy. 'Then, what is your name?'

'I am Rudy.'

'Hi, Rudy, your kitten is really cute.' Amaris said and once again she glanced back to look for Suzzie. But alas! It seems as if she has vanished into thin air. Amaris has already decided to give her friend an earful for leaving her in this situation.

'Actually, Precious is Kai's little girl. You can hand her over to him.' Rudy said, easily bringing Amaris's attention back to him.

'Kai?' She only grasped his name and then noticed that Rudy was pointing to that guy whom she met in the morning.

It did not take her long to figure out what he meant.

So this kitten was his? How cute! And his name is Kai, thankfully she knows it now otherwise once again she would have made a fool out of herself in front of these guys.

Amaris made way to Kai with Precious in her arms. She stopped in front of him and tried to hand the kitten over to him.

This time too the kitten made a fuss. It was clear that she does not want to leave her arms.

'Precious, won't you go back to him? They were so worried and went a mile to look for you. Be a good kitty now, huh.' Amaris cooed and then once again made an attempt. Fortunately, this time the kitten did not resist.

Amaris realized that this time there seems to be a problem with this guy. He did not extend his arms. Amaris looked at his face and saw his expressionless gaze. Then immediately a thought stuck in her mind.

How could she forget?

She had a doubt that he was deaf and mute and now it did seem like the case.

So, how should she make him understand?

Amaris pondered for a while, then balancing the kitten in one arm she stretched out her other hand. She got hold of his sleeve and then brought out his hand from his pocket, first right and then left. Crossing them in front of his chest then she lifted the kitten and slowly put her in his arms.

The kitten seemed a bit restless but Amaris cooed at her making it docile once again. When she stuffed the kitten in his arms she took a step back and then looked at Kai.

Oddly enough the pair matched.

Amaris gestured at the kitten and made a thumbs-up sign while speaking slowly so that he can read her lips. She has read somewhere that people who are deaf often look at other person's lips to gauge what they are saying.

'Your precious is all well. Now you can relax. Take good care of her and don't let her wander off.' Then Amaris patted his arm and went back to the two guys. She has yet to negotiate on her friend's behalf.

Even though the temptation to ditch it completely was very strong.

Alas! she was a good friend and she knew how much this means to Suzz. So she has to hold the fort until she arrives and if she is not back quickly then she will make the deal and then inform her dear friend but she won't give the information easily.

Hahaha, Suzzie has to pay for leaving her abruptly like that. Amaris thought but then she stopped. She was reminded of this morning and only then she realized that she did not ask him if his hand was okay. So she made a U-Turn and went back to Kai.

Rudy and Drake were watching the whole thing. Their eyes were about to pop out. That girl was really something. They did not know if she was courageous or foolish or both?

But what amazed them more was Kai's easy-going attitude. That girl actually touched him and she was still breathing fine! They could not understand why she was making all those gestures though.

Was she sick in her mind?

The possibility was there. They watched as the girl made her way to them, she seems to be lost in her thoughts. Then she stopped and once again walked towards Kai.

'What is she up to now?' Drake asked Rudy.

'As if I know! Let's watch, for now.' Rudy mused.

Kai saw as the girl turned and made her way back to him. What does she want? His question was answered in a minute as Amaris stopped in front of him and once again spoke while gesturing.

'I am sorry for this morning.' She touched her ear with one hand and continued. 'I hope your hand is okay. I really am sorry. But I was getting late for class and you were not letting go so I had no choice, once again I am sorry.' Amaris said but she noticed that he was once again only looking at her with an expressionless gaze.

She wondered if he understood what she said. Was she fast?

She looked at his hand and thought of something. She rummaged through her bag and then took out the ointment. Extending her hand she pointed to his hand that she bit in the morning and gestured to the ointment in her hand.

'For your hand, sorry, I bit too hard.' Amaris said and then put the tube in his hand and left. Kai watched as the girl kept walking away from him. His eyes that were blank were now swirling with emotions.

He has yet to notice them when the kitten in his arms started to move. He looked down at the unwanted guest and subconsciously put his hand on her back caressing lightly.

He was unaware of what he was doing. His mind was stuck on the warmth his hand registered when that girl's hand brushed against his as she gave him the tube. He could still feel the lingering heat.

As Amaris reached those guys she noticed that Suzz has yet to come.

Looks like she has to handle that date. But first, she has something to say to them.

'You guys are so close to each other. For his kitten, you agreed to go on a date.' Amaris said turning towards Drake.

'I know it must be tough for you guys to communicate with each other given his condition. But you guys are thick as thieves. It's great to see a friendship like this.' She said sweetly.

'His condition?' Drake asked feeling baffled. Is Kai hiding something from them?

'You know... he is deaf and mute.' Amaris said and then quickly changed the topic when she saw their somewhat shocked expression. She should not have said that. Saying it out loud was not polite of her.

'So I was saying, my friend, Suzzie found your Precious. As for the date, she will go with you. You-' Before she could say anything further she was interrupted by a loud shout.

'Amaris!' Amaris turned and saw that it was Suzzie. Finally, this girl was back. Amaris held back all the profanities that she wanted to shout at her friend and instead gave her a big smile.

'She is here.' Amaris announced.

'Hi, I am Suzzie.' Suzie introduced herself.

'We know, your friend mentioned that it was you who found our Precious.' Rudy said. So her name was Amaris, Rudy finally knew her name.

'Let's exchange our numbers. So that we can set up the time and place for the date.' Rudy smiled as he took out the phone from his pocket and handed it to Amaris.

But to his dismay, Amaris passed the phone to Suzzie.

Suzzie was on cloud nine. This was really happening! With trembling hands, she put her number in his phone and then clicked on save.

'See you later.' Rudy said and then they left.

'Oh, my god!' Suzzie squealed in delight and then she hugged Amaris.

When Suzzie finally calmed down she released Amaris from her bear hug.

'You... you need to tone it down, Suzz.' Amaris said as she finally was able to breathe. Sometimes Suzzie tends to forget that she goes boxing every weekend.

'Sorry, Ris.' Suzzie said sheepishly, in a moment of excitement she forgot to control her strength.

'Now tell me this, why did you take so much time? And your date is with Drake but why did Rudy ask to put your number on his phone? Don't you find it weird?' Amaris asked skeptically.

'My Mom texted me to bring ya home as she made your fav cookies. Sometimes I wonder if ya are her daughter instead of me. She treats ya so well. We were texting back and forth so I got late. And who knows how boys' world work?' She grabbed Amari's hand and then said excitedly. 'What important is that he got my number and I got a date!'

Suzzie jumped up and down in her place.

'We need to go shopping for the dress, immediately.' Suzzie exclaimed and dragged Amaris with her.

'Once I got Rudy's text, I will ask him about my date with Drake. Once that is set then I will introduce ya to Rudy. Kai is sacred diety, so we will leave him out of the loop for now. If you hit it off with Rudy then we will go on a double date. It will be fabulous and...' Suzzie continued with her ramblings all the way.