A Silent Approach

Canary and Hyacinth reached school together. At the entrance gate, someone abruptly hugged Canary from her right side.

"Canary! My cutie, you're here!"

"God! Daisy! You scared me."

Daisy giggled. Hyacinth didn't want to be noticed by Daisy so he silently went ahead and disappeared into thin air.

"Canary, guess what happened?."

"Hmm….your brother let you eat his share."

While talking, they passed the school entrance and walked the way to their classroom.

"Like hell that would happen! Guess again."

"You got some extra allowance money from your parents?"

"That's not it either."

"I give up! You tell me."

"I got a job for you."

"Really! That fast!"

"Yeah! You have no idea how much I bothered and begged my manager to keep you."

"Aw! Thank you. You're a lifesaver."

"But why did you suddenly need a second job?"

"The truth is my mother's birthday is coming up and I spent all the money on buying her a dress. I need money for my school and home necessities."

"I see. It's a blessing in disguise then! We can spend more time together this way."

Canary giggled.

"True!"

The bell rang meanwhile they reached their classroom and sat in their seats. Canary was still unaware that Hyacinth sat before her. Maybe it was Hyacinth who didn't want her to know so he avoided any situation that could reveal his presence. Hyacinth was mostly cold to people and he didn't care about their lives either. What made him so drawn to Canary? But why was he being so cautious and mysterious?

It seemed like the people around him were scared to approach him so he was a loner at school. No one bothered him. Even the class president hesitated to talk to him regarding school matters. What was the reason for people to do so?

The class teacher called the roll calls and every one replied. Then, their first lecture started.

"Open page thirty-five of your books. Class president! Read from where we left off yesterday."

The reason Canary did not notice Hyacinth's name was because he had registered another name in the school's admission form, 'Ren'. Yes, it was his public name. The name he held dear the most was Hyacinth, which was given to him by his parents. He told that name to Canary.

After some classes, it was recess time. The bell rang and everyone went to grab a bite.

"Canary, let's go for lunch."

"Okay! Daisy."

They both stood in line at the canteen. Since I mentioned before that Canary was a compassionate person, she had already noticed that the guy before her seat is a loner so she felt bad for him. She was thinking about buying something for him. While she was lost in her thoughts, Daisy waved her hands in front of her eyes several times.

"Hello! Canary! Where are you lost so deep?"

"Oh! It's nothing special. Daisy, do you remember the boy whose seat comes before me in class?"

"Yes. What about him?"

"I think he is a loner. I feel bad for him. Should we befriend him?"

"I'm okay with it if you want to do so. But something about that guy feels off to me. I mean he always wears a mask and does not show his face. And… I feel like I have seen him somewhere but I can't remember clearly."

"Maybe he has some personal problems going on. We should not judge him yet."

"Yeah, you're right. But do be cautious. My gut feeling says something is not right."

Did Hyacinth always wear a mask? No. He only did so in front of others, but to Canary, he would reveal his face whenever he met her.

Their turn came and after getting their lunch, Canary bought some bread and juice for that boy. They went to class and Canary gave those to the boy while his gaze was focused on the book he was reading.

"Hello! How are you? I have bought you something. Please have it if you don't mind."

The boy was surprised, meanwhile, the whispering began in class and everyone gave her strange gazes. The boy coughed as an excuse and went out of the class. Canary left the bread and juice on his desk and took her seat but both Daisy and she couldn't understand the meaning of whispering and gazing but they chose to ignore it.

The school was over and they parted for their homes.

"Wait! Daisy, tell me the opening time of the cafe job."

"Oh, yeah. It's five to nine pm for part-timer students like us."

"I'll be free at five pm from my library job. Okay, then, meet you soon."

"See you."

Soon after Daisy left, Hyacinth joined her.

"Hello!"

"Oh, hello Hyacinth."

"Heading home? Or straight to the library?"

"No. Library. I was thinking of getting a little rest today."

"Oh! Okay."

"May I ask you something, Hyacinth?"

"Sure, go ahead!"

"I just noticed this morning that you go to the same school as me. Which class are you in?"

Hyacinth coughed with surprise. He didn't want to answer that question.

"Oh…um…that! I… I… am in the class next to yours."

"Oh, okay."

Hyacinth lied again. He didn't want her to know that he was in the same class as hers. But why?

They walked along for some time and parted ways for their homes.

"Mother! Father! I am home."

"Welcome sweetie! Freshen up and come for lunch. Your father went out to shop for some groceries. He'll be here anytime soon."

"Okay!"

Canary freshened up and sat at the table for lunch. In the meantime, his father came back holding some groceries.

"Hello, father!"

"Hello, sweety."

Her mother took the groceries from him.

"Here, give these to me."

They all sat at the table to enjoy their meal. Canary loved the warmth of her family and she would do anything just to make her parents happy. Just seeing their smile would fill her heart with happiness. Her parents were the same. They loved their only daughter and could go to any lengths for her happiness. As the saying goes, "Money and anything else doesn't worry you, when you have your loved ones." Yes. It's true. Money can't buy you the warmth of a family.