To Hear What Others Can't (part-2)

The light suddenly went out. I got up to go check the inverter. I turned on the flashlight of my phone. "I'm sorry about that, this usually doesn't happen. I'll go check what's the problem". I walk up to the inverter and touch it. I instantly pull my hand back. The inverter was flaming hot, it almost burned my hand. It must have overheated I think. I go to the kitchen, wear the oven gloves and go back to the inverter. I open the small gate where the wires are. I hope I was an electrician right now. I try turning the switch on and off but it doesn't work. "Is there a emergency light or something, we need some light" asked Leo. I try to think. I suddenly remembered. "yeah, there is a torch or something in the kitchen's third shelf". He walks towards the kitchen, and opens the third shelf, even though I don't see him, and turns on the flashlight.

I look at Leo's face. To my surprise, his face looked scared and sweaty. "You alright ?" I ask while putting my hand on his shoulder. "I guess, I was scared of the dark since I was a kid, I think I still am". He smiled and looked at me, still with fear in his eyes. "it's okay now, no need to be scared". He took a few deep breaths, and finally calm downed a little. "You came here to talk about something right ? let's get it then". I try and change the topic. "I wanted to talk about the..". The little flashlight's light dimmed and eventually died down. Leo started to get hyper again, "what happened to the torchlight ?" I take it from his hand and check the battery slot and take them out and put them back again. It didn't work. I hit the torchlight on the table in anger, though I don't why I was angry. Leo starts getting nervous again. I could see pure terror in his eyes, he was terrified. "I haven't used this torchlight since years, maybe even ages, the cells might have lost there power". "You don't remember about any other emergency light in your house ?" Leo asked through terrified pants. "I told you, this never happens, so I never kept a extra light or something".

 At this point, I can see how really terrified Leo is. I put my hand on his shoulder to make him feel better, but I don't think that really worked. He still keeps breathing heavily. I feel his grip on my hand, he keeps squeezing it harder and harder. I don't let go, something about his touch felt comforting. "Leo I am going to go outside to check if the whole building's light has gone or not, You'll be fine right, I'll be back in a jiffy". Leo didn't loosen his grip on my hand, instead griped on a little more tighter "No! don't go, I'll come with you, I can't stay alone here". I nod, but I don't think he saw it, so I pull him up and take him towards the door while holding his hand.

I look outside. It's even more pitch dark in the lobby. "It's looked like the whole building's light is out". There was some more natural light outside so Leo loosened his grip on my hand a little but still didn't let go. We go back inside and sit down. Leo was still not in a stable condition, panting like he just came back form a 1000m marathon and didn't get any water. "it's gonna be alright Leo, the light will probably come back in a few". I suddenly feel Leo's grip loosen. I ask "Leo ?" I hear a thump. Leo was lying down on the sofa now, unconscious. My eyes widen and I stare at his cute face while he lay on the sofa, not in his senses. 

A few moments later Leo opened his eyes, surprised to find himself in my room and in my bed. "You're finally awake, I was scared you died or something". I breath a breathe of relief. "what happened, when did the light come back ?" he asked as he struggled upwards. "well, you were so scared that you fainted and you've been asleep for almost 2 hours now. The light came back a few minutes after you went unconscious ". Leo blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry I had to put you through so much, I've been scared of the dark since I was young, I thought I got over it, but I guess I never did. I didn't think I'd faint, ya'know". I give a little giggle. "what is it, did I do something wrong ?, I know I should have called you instead of coming myself" he mumbled to himself. "nah, it's just that I find it amusing that you think I'm interesting". Leo's cheeks go flaming red. "wh-wha-what !?" I chuckled again "you were mumbling in your sleep and I think I heard some of it, how you think Mrs.Kitzerls is so boring, and how you find me interesting". Leo struggles to find words "I-I didn't-I mean- You're- I thought that-you I mean" before he could finish I interrupted "I think you're interesting too" I give a warm smile. He blushed again and smiled. "We couldn't finish our conversation, could we ?" Leo's smiled vanished "I came here to talk about the sounds that we both can hear. I noticed that you have been acting kinda weird these days so I thought I'd ask you, now I'm sure that you too are hearing things, 'cause you told me". I nod with a serious look on my face. "these voices we hear, aren't ordinary voices, they are some kind of message or something important". I try recalling what I heard the first day I started hearing voices. "someone is trying to say something to us, they are-"

"trying to tell us something" Leo interrupted in between "exactly" I agree with him. " but why only both of us, why not anyone else ?". he had a point that I couldn't argue with. "I don't know, I don't remember applying for a campaign called "come hear weird voices with messages hidden in them". Leo seemed to agree my horrible joke and kept his thinking hat on. My phone rang in the most irritating ringtone ever. "I should change my ringtone" I mumble to myself but Leo heard, so he nodded in agreement. I stare at the screen, it was Ava. "Oh shoot! I totally forgot about our meetup". Leo looked at me with concern "what happened ?" I bit my lower lip. I do that a lot, especially when I am nervous "I promised Ava to hangout today at 5, she is supposed to come here, it's 4:50, I have 10 mins to get rid of you" Leo makes a weird face "excuse me ?" I realize what I just said and try to make out what I actually mean "I mean, that you need to go, me with a boy in my bedroom is the last thing I would want Ava to see". Leo gave an awkward smile "I kinda told my mom I was gonna spend the evening at your house, so she went outside, she won't be back until 7:00 and I don't have the keys, she told me not to call her". "what!? Ava will be here any minute now, if she sees you here with me in my room she will never let me forget this". I look at the watch which was showing 4:56 now. I don't have much time. There was a knock on the door. I was dead still and Leo didn't dare move. 

To be continued...