"I have outdoors today" Anxin, Leo's roommate replied as he quietly got up from his bed.
"I have indoors again today. I wish we could work together" Leo said pouting.
Anxin just gave him a small nod. Leo clicked his tongue when Anxin didn't say anything. He stood up, hooking his arm over Anxin's shoulders.
"Why are you acting like you won't miss me? I'm your sweet roommate" Leo said tickling him. Anxin softly laughed as he moved away from him.
Leo could still see the hint of gloom in his eyes. "What's wrong?" He softly asked.
Anxin let out a sigh. "Hyung.. I just.. I wonder what it feels like to go to school"
Leo quietly looked at him. Anxin was a Chinese servant whom their Master bought when he was ten. Now Fourteen.
In an era where only the rich get to enjoy the luxury of life, people like him and Anxin could only dream.
"Hey don't worry, when I find a good job and make some money, I'll buy you textbooks and we can finally get some lessons"
Anxin sighed. "That's nearly impossible"
"Relax Anxin, we're still young. I'm only seventeen and you're Fourteen. We still have more years ahead of us"
Anxin just nodded although he paid no listen to Leo's words. He already knew he was going to spend the rest of his life serving his Master like most servants do.
"Now come on, let's go. I have someone I want to meet"
-
Leo cheerfully skipped around, happily greeting the other servants. He laughed when he got back cheerful responses from the other servants.
His smile immediately died down when he saw someone walk down the stairs. He immediately bowed.
"Good morning Young master" He greeted.
Junseo, the eldest son of the Master smiled.
"Morning to you too. How's your morning going?" He asked patting Leo's shoulder.
Leo immediately moved away from his hand.
It was an eyesore for a Prestigious person to touch a servant like him.
"Good, Young master" Leo said and Junseo nodded. "I see you were walking in this direction, perhaps you're going to see my little brother?"
Leo slowly looked up at him. He saw a teasing smile on Junseo's face. "Be calm, I don't bite"
Junseo said with a snicker.
Leo awkwardly chuckled as he nodded.
"Sangwon is currently having an English class. You'll have to wait" Junseo calmly said.
"Yes, Young master" Leo said and looked down.
Junseo smiled and patted his shoulder.
"I'll be off. Father's waiting for me at the Court. Have a good day" Leo bowed deeper till Junseo left.
-
Sangwon bowed to his teacher and sat back down. As he was arranging his books he heard a knock. He turned, seeing Leo by the door, looking at him with a stupid smile.
"My Friend!" Leo exclaimed, walking in not waiting for Sangwon's invite. Sangwon let out a sigh already dreading his presence.
"How are you doing this morning?" Leo cheerfully asked as he sat on the bench beside Sangwon.
Sangwon's eyes widened when Leo sat shoulder-to-shoulder beside him.
'What are you doing? Do you want to get in trouble?' He signed. Leo scratched his head.
"I don't know what that meant" Leo said sheepishly chuckling. Sangwon clicked his tongue as he stood up and walked to the door, closing it.
"How was class? Was it fun?" Leo asked with a bright smile as he scooted closer to Sangwon. Sangwon carefully pushed him away.
Sangwon nodded. "Tell me what you learned. Oh wait- you can't speak. Uhhhh...show me-yes.. show me" Leo said.
Sangwon looked at Leo, shaking his head as he wondered why he was inviting himself trouble by interacting with him.
Sangwon just sighed as he opened his book.
Leo scratched his head as he looked at the foreign symbols and signs.
Sangwon saw his confusion and picked up a pen.'It's English. A foreign language' He wrote.
Leo scratched his head. "I can't read that well"
Sangwon looked at him with his eyes widened in shock. 'You can't read?'
Leo chuckled seeing Sangwon's face.
"I don't think it should be a surprise. I'm a pauper. People like me don't go to school.. I just learned on my own, I'm not good though"
Sangwon quietly looked at him. He nodded. It seemed he had forgotten that not everyone lived the luxury he did.
"How old are you?" Leo asked, his cheerful spirit back. Sangwon put out ten fingers then six.
"Sixteen? You're only a year younger than me. See? This is Destiny. We're meant to be friends"
Leo said broadly smiling.
'You could get punished for talking to me. You know Servants are not meant to interact with Lords'
"Come on, it's not like we're doing anything bad"Leo said hooking his arm over Sangwon's shoulder. Sangwon immediately pushed his arm away.
He looked at Leo in curiosity. He took his pen and wrote down. 'Why do you want to be my friend? I can't speak'
He quietly waited as Leo carefully read.
"Huh? What does you not being able to speak have to do with us being friends?" Leo asked genuinely confused.
Sangwon furrowed his eyebrows. He wrote again.'I'm mute. I'm different'
Leo looked at him. "So?"
Sangwon grew confused. There's no way someone actually wants to interact with him.
"We're all different. I don't see a problem"
Sangwon shook his head and wrote down.
'I don't have a voice'
He looked at Leo who looked back at him. His eyes searching for the usual pity and disgust he got from people when they found out he was mute.
The hidden son of the family. Isolated as if he had a contagious plague. Shunned by his peers because of his disability.
Leo looked at Sangwon seeing how the breeze played with his hair. His face glowed against the sun rays.
His hand met Sangwon's hair, gently tucking it behind his ear. He looked back into Sangwon's eyes. A soft smile forming on his face.
"I can be your voice"