Chereads / REAPER'S BALLAD / Chapter 129 - Episode 127: DYSGRAPHIA

Chapter 129 - Episode 127: DYSGRAPHIA

Winter kept quiet, a bit jealous that Gabby and Red could still continue to love each other despite the odds. Even for a cat face, he managed to frown.

Gabby giggled, and Winter immediately looked at her, a bit wondering of why she did so.

GABBY: Let me guess...you like someone, don't you?

She said, smiling at him in a knowing way, and Winter immediately looked shock.

WINTER: What?! No, no! That is impossible!

GABBY: What's impossible is if you haven't. I mean...why would you even have any interest in romance if you're not feeling a bit...lovey dovey?

WINTER: I...no way!

He felt so offended that he had his claws burying itself on the couch. And his small head shakinh in disagreement. Again and again he deny. But Gabby knows the expression too well. It was just too obvious even if he keeps saying he doesn't.

GABBY: Oh, come on! Who is it? I'll keep it a secret!

Gabby kept pushing.

WINTER: I am telling you...there is none.

While Winter kept on dodging.

GABBY: Hmmm...you're rank...what rank are you again?

WINTER: 4!

GABBY: Ah...okay, okay...3..oh! Tara!

WINTER: T-Tara?! That woman is way older than I am.

GABBY: Huh? But...hmmm...

She tried to ponder more possibilities, but she barely know any reaper names aside from those Red had her occassionaly meet.

WINTER: I'm telling you, there's nobody on my mind right now.

GABBY: Then why the flushed face?

WINTER: I was just shocked, that's all.

GABBY: Are you sure?

The green eyed woman kept saying with a teasing voice and a smug face.

WINTER: Don't make me shout again...

GABBY: Okay, fine...we're definitely not friends yet...although if she's a reaper...just go confess to her. You'll surely get loved back. After all, you seem charming in your own way.

WINTER: Pff, I might get rejected still.

GABBY: Aha! I knew you like someone!

WINTER: What? H-huh?!

GABBY: *CACKLES* Anyways...haha! I...I'm just saying, you know? Don't be a pussy, oh wait!

Winter looked at her, very much offended. He even returned back looking like a human. And that scared Gabby since now...he seems the type that won't tolerate you saying the wrong words. Him in his reaper form sure is...something. He looks so intimidating. His ceylon colored eyes were very different from Harry's friendly bright yellow pupils.

GABBY: I...I just think she'd like you back.

WINTER: I don't care. I won't do it regardless, love is not for me. Love would only make me weaker.

GABBY: Humility loves Carrie and his friends. And his desire to protect her and them makes him strong, although not undefeatable, love still makes him hella strong.

Winter wanted to argue more, since he doesn't like the idea of losing. However, he analyzed her words carefully again and again, and it began to make more sense to him each time. He considered it a fact, then looked at Gabby.

WINTER: I...how do I start?

Gabby's eyes lit up in excitement and she quickly stormed out of the living room to get her art materials in her closet. She rummaged through them and eventually found her box of unused scrapbook pages. There were also glitters, and small cutouts of hearts and kissing swans. She sniffed the pages and they still smell like flowers. It's been a while since she used them in greeting friends on special occassions, but the scent never faded.

She paused for a moment to wonder if Winter would approve of this. Well, maybe he would? After all, he looks decent, and smart, just like Humility. And she can only imagine Winter's beautiful and delicate handwriting.

Realizing that Winter could be picky, she went to look for her expensive pens.

She looked under her bed and found her set of pencils and pens laying there. Damn, they must have fell and she was too lazy to get them, or perhaps she hid them there and forgot about it, who knows? She vaguely remember a thing about them anymore and maybe because she was thinking more and more of this other part of her life. Of the supernaturals, that she forgets simple things..

But man, if Red would have seen her room that moment, he might have yelled at her for being messy yet again. She felt really bad though. But there's not much time to think of it now.

She quickly grabbed them then neatly placed them on a pink pencil case, as she once again, sprinted towards the living room, where Winter was already looking quite impatient.

He immediately noticed the things on her hand, and he furrowed his brows in question.

WINTER: What are those supposed to be?

GABBY: (Damn, do these still look cheap to him?) Obviosly, we're going to write her a letter too!

WINTER: A...no way. I can't...

GABBY: Ow, shut up you tsundere you can do this!

WINTER: I don't think you understand at all, I meant...

GABBY: Huh?

WINTER: I can't do it.

GABBY: But I know you can!

WINTER: No...I meant...I meant I can't write.

GABBY: Eh?

WINTER: I...*sighs heavily* It's a long story but...point is...if I could, I may have written her something a long time ago.

GABBY: How can you read, then?

WINTER: I...I have dysgraphia. If...you ever know what that means.

GABBY: Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. (Literally no clue what it means.)

WINTER: I..that's why I'm grateful I became a yellow reaper instead. If I became a white reaper or a red reaper, or any other type...I'd have problem gripping any weapon with my hand. It'd feel really hard for me. I...I would have sore hands if ever.

GABBY: Sounda troublesome. You're like that since you were alive?

WINTER: Yeah.

GABBY: Okay. I won't ask for more personal details of why, but...I still think you could learn how to write.

WINTER: I told you-

GABBY: We're using a machine, don't worry! It will type the words from your mouth.

WINTER: Eh? But...you'll hear it. And your grandpa too.

GABBY: He's not-I mean he's probably asleep or anything. And I'd listen to music, promise!

WINTER: I don't trust this. You might listen to nothing.

GABBY: Fine, I'll teach you how to type using a computer then.

WINTER: Com...puter?

GABBY: Oh glob. You really don't visit this human realm unless it's your job, huh?

WINTER: Yes...I...I'm sorry about that.

GABBY: Hey, hey...nothing to be sorry of. You're not the one at fault here.

Gabby goes back to her room, laptop in hand. By the sight of it, and the keys present on the device, Winter already knew it may be quite the task to get used to it. At first the keys won't register letters since his fingers are to soft.

GABBY: Click it harder.

WINTER: I might break it.

GABBY: I...okay, maybe just a little harder.

The reaper sighed heavily, then attempted to press it a bit harder. He even closed his eyes to focus. And when he opened his eyes, he was filled with joy seeing that it worked.

WINTER: Wow.

GABBY: Now, you can write whatever you want. Just call me when you're done so we can print it.

WINTER: How do you make designs?

GABBY: Here.

Gabby swifly chose a rose themed border and Winter quickly agreed to it.

WINTER: Looks pretty.

GABBY: Hehe, just be sure your spellings are correct. I searched dysgraphia on my phone and...well, just call me when the words turn red or something.

WINTER: Ah, okay. I..I am thankful you offer me help.

GABBY: Oh, please...it's no big deal.

WINTER: I...I hope you live a long life.

Gabby looks at him, and even so he was focused on the screen, she knows well that he was aware she's looking. After all, the scary looking reaper smiled.

GABBY: Smile like that, and you'd get all the ladies~

Gabby said, trying to motivate the reaper. That made him smile wider.

WINTER: Thank you for the optimism.

...

It has been an hour and Winter was finally able to finish his first letter. Although his haggard appearance tells a lot of how much hardship and adjusment he went through, it sure felt good doing something on your own.

His usually groomed hair were no more, and his eyes looks sleepy despite the fact that they weren't supposed to sleep. His mind was exhausted, but it felt satisfying.

He even muttered his own congratulations to himself, taking pride in managing to do something, he bets other reapers haven't done.

GABBY: You, okay? You, done?

Winter looks at her proudly.

WINTER: Yes, come check! But don't look down, you'll see her name!

GABBY: Eh, I may look down.

WINTER: Damn it, I'll delete it then. I'll just write the first letter of her name in the envelope.

GABBY: Oh, sure.

_

_

_

In the end, the reaper felt his fingers give up on him the moment they were finished.

He wanted to be a cat that moment. To sleep. Be lazy. Writing was a nightmare, although it's just clicking keys for him.

GABBY: I printed it! Come see!

Gabby hands him the printed letter, and by the looks of it he was so overjoyed!

WINTER: If mama sees this, she'd be so proud..I..

But then that proud look turned into a gloomy expression, and this time, Gabby was the one curious.

What could have been the matter?

Why did he turned sad suddenly?