Something is not right with Lina, I don't know what it is but she is behaving a little weirdly. Although normally also she is weird, still this is different.

She didn't stay for long, even though I offered her that we can go for a walk or just hang out on the beach. She never says no to the beach, so when she refused to go it just confirmed my doubt that surely something is going on with her. It just felt like she is just trying to run away from me.

But what has suddenly happened that she is behaving this way?

Maybe I am coming on too strong, that is making her uncomfortable.

I feel irritated because I am not liking the way she is acting around me... I love it when she is being herself and speaks whatever is in her heart. But today it was clear that she's hiding something.

Her eyes were not showing what she's trying to show with her smile... her eyes seemed dull. The sparkle which her eyes usually have was missing.

The more I think about it... the more I feel annoyed. I just want to know what's going on with her because she doesn't seem okay and if she is not going to tell me then how will I able to help her?

"Nick, hand me the screwdriver which is to your right." I extend my hand while holding the shelf with the other which is shaking a little.

When he doesn't respond, I turn my head to look at him and frown when he is looking at me with his mouth hanging open.

"What?" I frown, feeling irritated when he doesn't move and keeps looking at me like an idiot, "Hand me with a screwdriver."

"Who pissed in your coffee today?" He makes a face as he slaps the screwdriver in my hand.

"Fuck off!" I grunt, then turning my head around I start working on tightening the screws of the shelve which have loosened.

"What happened?" Nick places his hand on my arm, forcing me to look at him as he mouths the word.

"I don't want to talk about it." Pushing his hand away, I start working on other screws, but then the screwdriver is snatched from my hand as again Nick turns me around.

"Nick, don't irritate me, I am already annoyed." I shake my head.

"If you are not going to tell me, what is bothering you then how will I be able to sort out your problem?" He signs.

"This is what she needs to understand." I throw up my hands in the air in frustration, "She should talk to me, instead of pretending that nothing is wrong."

"Who?" He asks looking confused.

"Lina." I roll my eyes, "Who else?"

"She is acting strangely, like not actually strangely... she is behaving like herself, but she is pretending..." I try to explain to him, as Lina's fake smile comes to my mind, "Are you getting me?"

"You like her?" He raises his eyebrows.

"Of course, I like her." I frown, why he is suddenly asking me this? "She is my friend, so why will I not like her?" I shrug placing my hands in my pockets.

Shaking his head at me, he mutters something quietly which neither I am able to understand nor my watch could catch the words.

"C'mon." He lightly taps my shoulder nodding his head to the front of the shop as some customers come inside, "Let's get back to work."

Taking a deep breath I slowly exhale trying to relax with some calm deep breaths as I walk to deal with the customers. I just hope they are here to buy something, not to just waste my time.

**********************************************

The day went slower than I would have liked but still, the work kept me occupied, but now when I have reached home again my thoughts drift to Lina.

I can't even call her, as her phone is not working and not being able to talk to her is making me anxious. After thinking for a while, I decide to go to her hotel room to check on her.

My bracelet vibrates making me turn to look at my right-side, to find Dad calling me while peeking his head inside from the garage door.

"Hey, dad." I smile walking to him as he motions me to come in the garage, "Need any help?" I lean against his car.

He shakes his head in no as he wipes the grease off his hands with the handtowel.

"Have you taken that handtowel from the kitchen?" I point at the towel.

He looks at me with a mischievous smile causing me to laugh.

"Mom is so going to kill you." I shake my head still chuckling.

Dad leaves no stone unturned to trouble mom, not a single day goes without mom screaming at him for something he has done. I think he just loves troubling her.

"So, how's everything going?" He asks as he mirrors my position.

"Everything is going good." Pressing my lips together, I nod my head.

Even though I can't hear his voice anymore, but still whenever he or mom talks to me their voice rings inside my head. I hardly ever relied on signs to understand them.

"How is that girl?" He raises his eyebrows.

"Who, Lina?" I ask.

"Yes, her. Why do you have any other girl in your life as well?" He narrows his eyes at me.

"Dad, I don't have any girl in my life." I roll my eyes at him.

"Is she with someone else?" Dad makes a face.

"No... I don't know." I shrug while a pang of jealousy springs inside my heart for the person whom I don't know even exists, "And why does it matter anyway?"

"Of course it does." He looks at me as if I am stupid, "If she is single then take her out on a date."

"What?" My eyebrows shoot up in disbelief, is he really asking me to take Lina on a date or I have just assumed it?

He mutters something, then holding my hand he shoves my watch in front of my face.

"I know you have understood what I am saying, so stop being a pussy and take her out on a date."

"Dad!" I sigh as soon as I finish reading, "It is not possible."

"Why along with your hearing, have you lost your manhood too?" He scoffs, while I try my best to control my laugh.

As far as I can remember after my accident dad never missed any chance to make a joke about my hearing loss. And honestly, he was the one who helped me to feel a little bit normal when it was hard for me to accept that I can't hear anymore.

"Dad, it is not like that." I rub my hands over my face and let out a small breath, "I like her, she is a really nice girl, but I think you are forgetting that I am not that Jason anymore." I bite my lip and lift my shoulders in a defeated shrug.

"Yes, that is why I am asking you to take her out on a date because this Jason needs a nice girl... unlike that Jason who was with a bitch who ran off the moment things became difficult." He signs as his teeth are clenched in anger.

"I don't know, dad." I rub the back of my neck, feeling a little nervous, "I am just afraid, it took a long time for me to overcome my fears and to be here where I am today. I just don't want to lose all this again."

"That girl has a big hand in helping you overcome your fears." He places his hand on my shoulder, "And I am not saying that you should go and ask her to be your girlfriend, although I wouldn't mind." He winks causing me to raise my eyes from my watch to give him an impressed look.

"What I am saying is that just take her out and try to know her better, there is no harm in knowing each other, right?" He smiles at me. "Don't think about anything else, just follow what your heart says and do what makes you happy. I can see that she makes you happy, so why not you show her how grateful you are to have her in your life even if it is just as a friend?"

A small smile appears on my face as I nod my head because he is right. There is nothing wrong with letting her know that, how much I am grateful to have her in my life. Even though she is my friend, but she is really special to me and I will make her feel special too.

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Thank you for reading.