Living with a Hybrid

Chapter 3

While Max was busy stacking his sticks with a furious face and Holly was cleaning the leaves Max had scattered around, a soft knock echoed the room

The puppy's eyes lit up and quickly ran towards it excitedly wagging his tail. Outside was a man wearing a plain black shirt paired with black pants and a beanie. This must be Kyle, Max's friend. The cat hybrid. It made Holly nervous for some reason

"Finally! come in, come in" Max grabbed his hand and shut the door. Holly on the other hand was just standing like a statue fixing her eyes on them. She saw how Kyle's brow furrowed trailing his eyes to Max's exposed ears and tail.

They walked towards her and it made her panicked a little. Why is she even nervous in the first place? It's just Max's friend.

"This is Holly, Holly this is Kyle my friend"

"Hi, it's great to finally meet you" she said smiling genuinely and extended her arm but the young hybrid was just giving her suspicious looks. Max elbowed him causing for the cat hybrid to whine.

"Oww what was that for?"

"She said hi, what will you say?" Kyle rolled his eyes and shifted his gaze back to Holly

"Hi" He said in a tiny voice and they shook hands. Holly chuckled. He's just like Max, cute but he's a little mean. He really is a cat. Kyle frowned and crossed his arms.

Max invited him to sit as they started to talk who knows what. Holly on the other hand went to the kitchen to find some snacks for them but unfortunately her fridge was empty, there's nothing she can offer to them. She sighed.

"Hey Max, I'm uhh.. gonna go grab some snacks for the both of you and also do some groceries"

"You're going to the store and I can't come??" he whined with his puppy eyes.

"You can come next time. We don't want Kyle to be alone here, would we?" The puppy hybrid nodded but ears dropped

"If you wanna go out leave a note yeah? So I will know and don't forget your beanie. Be careful always." like a mom she left some reminders for the young man

"I know, I know and I should be the one telling you to be careful"

"I will. I'll be back" before leaving she gave Kyle a smile but the latter just ignored it. He's not rude he just doesn't wanna get attached to humans. One day you like them, the next day they betray you. That's how he perceives humans but regardless, Holly understands him.

Pushing the kart she head first to the meat section, Holly is meticulous when it comes to meats and prices especially the fact that she still needs to save, she must choose the right one. After putting the chunk of meat in the kart she went next to buy vegetables, she knows how much Max loves it and she was hoping Kyle would too.

Pizza was the first thing she thought of bringing home for them, she was also done doing the groceries. Holly only bought foods good for 1 week, she can no longer afford other stuffs. Staring at her wallet and the remaining money, thinking what elese should she buy. On her way to the cashier she saw a*****e that sells plushies for dogs. She's certain Max will love it, it's like an emotional support plushie.

Heading home her left hand is full of grocery stuffs while her right hand holds their snacks but still managed to twist the door knob as it creaked pushed open. What greeted her was a disaster. Her mouth dropped while scanning the inside of her unit. Sticks and some random stones she didn't know where it even came from were scattered on the floor, cushions were chewed and kinda ripped as well as the couch and the two hybrids biting each other's tails while looking at her surprised. What the hell happened here?

Kyle quickly hid his tail and wore his beanie.

She gulped and took a deep breath to calm herself. She can't get mad, she might scare the both of them. Instead she gave them a smile and went to place the groceries to the kitchen table. Max went to her and helped her with it but she felt a stare that somehow felt like burning at the back of her head and there she saw the cat hybrid sitting at the corner and glaring at her. She smiled at him awkwardly but the cat hybrid glared at her even more.

"By the way I only bought pizza, is it enough?" she asked Max worried.

"Of course it is!"

Holly told Max to take the box and let Kyle have it while she cooks for their dinner

While Holly was busy at the kitchen, the 2 hybrids were busy talking too

"Dude, why are you letting your ears and tail exposed? What if other people will see you?" Kyle frowned while he took a bite of his pizza but his eyes sparkled with the taste of it

"It's just Holly so it's fine." he doesn't know how to convince Kyle but he knows Kyle won't tell him to leave. Looking at his best friend he may be suspicious but deep inside he agrees that Holly is kind and would never hurt them.

"I don't know man, I'm still trying to feel if she can be trusted" he glared again at the innocent lady.

"Can you stop glaring at her? You're so rude Kyle."

"I'm not?? That's just how cats are, I'm a cat Max." Kyle scoffed

"Whatever cat." Kyle hissed at him while Max growled at him.

Holly entered the living room with an intense atmosphere. Max and Kyle were glaring with each other while hissing and snarling. They must've sensed Holly as they both looked at where she's standing. Max's expression softened while Kyle looked away.

"Oh, I should go back, you both can come in the kitchen if you're done with your... things. Dinner's ready"

Holly quickly left, that was awkward... Was that a hybrid thing? What are they even doing? Weird. First, she witnessed both biting each other's tails and now glaring with each other. While in a deep thought she didn't noticed Max and Kyle already went in the kitchen and sat on silence while they wait for her.

Her heart was about to drop when she turned around and the hybrids were already there.

"Jesus christ!" Holly exclaimed while she held her chest.

"Where?" Max answered looking around

"Stupid dog" Kyle commented and rolled his eyes

"Stupid cat" Max answered back and they started glaring with each other again. If glares shoots lasers, none of them would be alive by now. It felt like anytime they would jump on each other. Holly quickly placed the food on the table that caught both of the hybrids attention.

Once she placed the food on the table, she eyed the 2 hybrids with anticipation as she watched them take their first bite.

Max's tail started wagging as he smiled ear to ear. It means he liked it. Kyle on the other hand paused for a second savoring the taste before his eyes sparkled with how good it was. From bickering earlier they started talking about how good the food was as if Holly wasn't there but instead of feeling left out or offended, it made her happy knowing the two young man were satisfied of her food.

It was already late when Kyle decided to go home. He was fixing his beanie when Holly stood beside him smiling. Max was in their room getting his hoodie, he will walk Kyle at the bus stop and would surely talk about their deal. Kyle looked around awkwardly not wanting to have eye contact with the lady.

"I hope you had a great day today." Holly suddenly spoke

"I sure did." Kyle replied without looking at her

"So uhh you can visit Max here anytime. I don't mind, really."

Kyle raised his one eyebrow and stared at her for a second, it is his way of sensing if she really meant what she said and If they can really trust her. He saw how Holly gulped nervous.

"You better not betray Max, you won't like it when I get mad."

"I will never. I could never do that to him or to any hybrids out there. I understand you're being cautious and that you're just protecting him and I won't stop you from being like that."

Holly wasn't scared because she knows she will never hurt them or even tell other people she was living with a hybrid.

"You better."

Max was walking Kyle at the bus stop when the latter spoke that made him smile

"You can stay with her." upon hearing Kyle's words, he can't help but grin.

"You believe me now?" He teased.

"Yeah but still, I'm gonna say this over and over again. Be cautious. Okay? You're too innocent Max and kind I don't want people using you... again. "

He sure don't want that to happen again. It was horrible. Kyle was there when the person he trusted before betrayed and almost killed him. From that day on Kyle was overprotective of him. But Max knows, he really knows Holly would never do that to him, he can feel it in his guts and his guts was always right.

"If I sense she's into something suspicious, I promise you, I'm gonna leave immediately."

Kyle gave him a smile, they might bicker a lot but their brotherhood is stronger than that.

"Guess, I'll visit you next time."

"Really? Yes please! We can play a lot of games next time and we can even have sleepover if you want. I'm sure Holly won't mind."

"Seriously Max? You don't even have your own room and you want me to spend the night there?" Kyle scoffed which made Max scratched his nape lightly.

"I mean we can sleep in the living room though." Kyle paused for a bit.

"I'll think about it."

Max watch as the bus Kyle was on, already left. It was already dark and cold, he inhaled the coldness as he looked up and shut his eyes. At least for once he thinks his judgments were right. Although it's too early to say that but he wants to believe it really was.

"Did Kyle got home safe?" Holly asked the moment Max entered their unit. He took of his beanie and hoodie as he sat across Holly

"Yeah he did. Thank you for today Holly" Max said while yawning. Holly's lips curved and she tapped his shoulder lightly.

"You can go to sleep now. I'll take care of everything here"

"But, there's too much work to do. Clean the living room and wash the dishes" He said whining while rubbing his eyes.

"It's okay. I can handle this. Take a rest now and no buts."

Max didn't complain anymore and just followed Holly. He tried fighting the urge to sleep but he was too tired and so he fell into a deep slumber.

Holly stared at the chewed cushions and ripped couch, it's a good thing it's just scratches and didn't really caused big damage. She picked up all of the sticks on the floor and swept it clean. After making sure the living room was already tidy she proceeds to wash the dishes. It felt like a children's party. Thinking about that, Holly chuckled. It's actually still new to her that she's witnessing what hybrids really are, how they live and how they act. Rather than thinking they're aggressive it's actually the other way around. Everything they do is endearing. After all they still have human minds and hearts. They are their own person.

The night was getting deeper when Holly finished tidying up the place. She didn't noticed it was getting late and she still has work tomorrow. After taking a quick half bath she went to her room and there she saw Max sleeping soundly, his cute fluffy ears were folded in his head. Holly noticed he wasn't using the blanket and since it's really cold at night, he grabbed it and tucked him in, 'cause he might catch a cold. Max moved a little, Holly thought she woke him up but he just shifted his position and went back to sleeping like a baby. She tapped him lightly and finally went to her bed to get some rest.

The sound of plates, spoon and forks woke her up. Holly was still half asleep but managed to check the time. Great, she forgot she still has classes. Holly groaned out of frustration and exhaustion. Why can't she just graduate immediately and get a decent job? Studying and working afterwards really drains her. Even though she complains a lot she still moved to get ready. She was sure the noise outside was coming from the kitchen, Max was probably preparing for their breakfast now.

"Good morning, Holly!" Max greeted her enthusiastically. She smiled and sat across him.

Morning isn't really her thing, she gets sensitive but watching how Max was already all smiles and energetic makes her smile too. He's a lot hyper every morning and it's the opposite for her. Probably because she knows how exhausting it will be later. Holly really hates morning.

"Mrs. Potts really had to give us a lot of homeworks, so annoying"

Giselle and Holly were walking in the hallway while ranting how their professor gave them a lot of stuffs to do, knowing that these two still need to work after class they got annoyed real bad.

"I mean what else can we do? They don't care about our personal lives so either we do it or we fail. I hate my life"

They both sighed in unison. Lunch doesn't taste good anymore. It tastes awful like how their lives are.

Guess Holly just needs to suck it all up, afterall, it was her choice why she had to go through this s**t but despite that, she never regretted the decision she made.

"Hi, Holly!" the latter looked up when her name was called. She creased her forehead with the unfamiliarity of the person in front of her. She gave him the "who are you" look and that made the man introduced himself.

"Oh, my bad. I'm Chris, we actually take the same class in History" the man claimed but Holly still doesn't know what he needs.

"Uh-huh.. so what can I do for you?"

"Seems like you forgot. We have a project and we're partners so I just want to talk about that and plan stuffs, you know" the young man scratched his nape embarrassed as he chuckled.

Holly then realized he was his partner for that project. Goddamn, how did she even forget about that. She felt her cheeks heat up out of embarrassment but still managed to stay cool.

"God, I'm sorry. We can like talk later after lunch. Here, give me your number"

Holly saved his number so she can inform him about their meeting. After that, the man named Chris left and thanked her and also apologized for disturbing her lunch which he didn't really. She had already lost her appetite long before he came.