Living with a Hybrid

Chapter 1

"See ya tomorrow!" Holly tightened her grip on the bag as she started walking home from the restaurant she was having a part-time job from. In order to support herself, she works as a vocalist in a band during nighttime and performs for 3 hours while daytime she's a college student.

It's also a good thing tho that her apartment was just 10-minute walk away from her workplace.

Holly hugged herself as she felt the wind touch her skin "so cold" she whispers. On her way home she heard a noise that caught her attention. It was a whimper coming from the dark corner of the street. She followed the noise 'cause she was sure it was a puppy, it brought her to a dark alley and she was right. A white cute furry puppy but it was wounded.

"Poor you, who the hell dared to hurt such a cute puppy" Holly carefully lifted the puppy and carried it in her arms. She's taking it home, not even minding the fact that there could be an owner but who cares! If they'll start looking for it she'll definitely hand it back but how iresponsible of them, the puppy got hurt because they left it wandering around

The young lady opened her mid-sized apartment and carefully placed the puppy above her bed. She took some medicine to tend its wound. The puppy yelped in pain and it broke her heart. It has a wound near its ear and above its eyes. When Holly was finished she let it sleep while she went out to buy something for her dinner. She hasn't eaten yet and she thinks the puppy too. She went to the nearest convenience and bought 4 ramyeons and 4 sausages and 2 cans of beer. There wasn't any dog food so she'll let the puppy eat the sausages.

Holly arrived, she silently opened the door and put the food on the table before peeking into her room but it was dark, she went inside and turned on the light. But jaw dropped at the sight in front of her

A man was sleeping in her bed, It only took her seconds to process what she saw before screaming. The man wiggled as their eyes met confused but seeing her, he started screaming too, he held the blanket near his face to hide. Holly was a bit dumbfounded. What the hell?

"W-where am I?" the man asked stuttering

"You're in my bed and in my room! How did you get in?" Holly was a bit shaking but she managed to ask him bravely

"I-I don't know, I woke up and you're screaming and I'm here" he stated innocently but fear is visible in his tone

Holly slowly stood and walked towards him. The man covered his whole body with a blanket as if hiding something that he doesn't want her to see

"Please don't come near. I-I'm leaving, but please don't look at me" the man said voice breaking

Holly didn't listen and instead grabbed the blanket away from the man. She covered her mouth seeing how the man has fluffy ears and a fluffy tail. Like a dog. Holly's eyes landed on the band-aid near his ear and above his eyes, she gasps, no way he was the puppy she brought home.

The man panicked trying to cover his ears and tail but to no avail, he hung his head low and was about to cry

"Please don't hurt me, I'm not a bad boy, I don't bite I promise just don't hurt me"

Hearing what the man said, Holly's heart was broken once again. He was a hybrid. She has been hearing a lot of stories about hybrids living with humans but they can't tell since they were good at blending in with them now she's witnessing one but hearing how he pleaded to not hurt him makes her think how some people treat hybrids. Humans are horrible.

Holly walked near him and sat at the edge of her bed. The man was clearly uncomfortable because of fear, he was a bit trembling.

"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you I promise. I uh.. actually bought food. Are you hungry?" Upon hearing what Holly said, the man's ears stood and his fluffy tail wagged excitedly. He felt embarrassed because he can't stop wagging his tail which Holly found cute

"I-I'm sorry, I got excited" Holly chuckled and stood

"Come, let's eat together" she gestured to him. The hybrid was hesitating at first but in the end he still stood and followed her. He was wearing shorts and a black t-shirt. He's cute Holly thought

They both went outside and straight to the kitchen and started eating, she can't help but stare at him. The man's ears droop and Holly noticed it

"Are you perhaps uncomfortable with my ears? I can hide them if you want" Holly immediately shook her head and waved both of her hands

"No, no I'm not uncomfortable. I'm actually fascinated, and they're cute don't hide them" Holly smiled, it was indeed adorable. The man's face flushed red out of embarrassment. He's so cute, Holly can't help but gush.

"Do you mind if I ask what happened and why are you wounded?" she carefully asked not wanting to scare him

"I accidentally exposed my ears and when the people around me realized I'm a hybrid, they started hurting me because they thought I will attack them and they also think that hybrids are carrying diseases but we don't, we're just like humans but... different" Holly can't help but feel sorry for him and the rest of the hybrids. They just wanted to live a normal life, like humans but why can't they?

"I'm sorry, some humans can be really horrible as if they're perfect and act like they own the world. They're a bunch of dumb people" Holly answered pissed

"May I know your name?" she added, she wasn't sure if he has a name but if he doesn't she can give him one if he wants

"It's Max, my name is Max and I'm a puppy hybrid" she was in awe when she saw him smile. Holly wanted to squish him but she restrained herself.

"But how come your animal form is a puppy? But a big buff man in human form?" Holly asked curiously, she found him blushing again. God why so cute dammit

"It varies depending on your personality. My mom told me I'm soft, caring, kind, and innocent that's why I'm mostly a puppy in my animal form but I can still grow" his tail started wagging again mentioning how he will still grow like a kid excited being called a man.

"Oh, so you have a family?"

" I do but they're far away from here, I actually don't have a place to stay but it's okay I can find one" he really is optimistic. Holly thought of letting him stay, she battled with her mind at first before settling on the idea

"You can stay here... I mean for the meantime while you look for one" once again Max's tail starts wagging and his ears stood firmly

"Really?? Thank you so much I promise to be a good boy and I'm also working hard to save money and buy my own place to stay" he said excitedly. Holly's heart felt warm. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea, obviously, it was a rush decision but she can't help it, the hybrid was so cute and after learning he got beaten by humans, she can't let him wander around that much anymore. She knows they're harmless and she'll prove that to them.

"Oh and by the way, I'm Holly" they shook hands and exchanged smiles. Max was a bit comfortable now compared before

"Dogs can sense bad and good people and you're in the good one. I like you" Max said smiling ear to ear. Holly was happy that Max is starting to relax with her presence and kind of trusted her

After dinner, they were now both standing in front of Holly's bed. Her apartment has only one room and she's thinking about where would Max sleep

"I can sleep on the couch, that's fine for me honestly" the hybrid suggested while scratching his nape lightly

"Are you sure?" she asked concerned

"Definitely" Max assured her giving her his sweetest smile. Adorable..

"I'm gonna do something about it tomorrow okay? Just for the meantime"

"No pressure"

Holly brought some pillows and blankets into the living room and left them on the couch while she let Max take a shower. She was so sleepy because of exhaustion. She collapsed in her bed and let the tiredness drown her to sleep.

Holly was awakened when she heard a series of knocks coming outside of her room

"Hi, good morning I made you breakfast. I saw you have school stuff here so I assume you still go to college? and it's kinda late now" she frantically stood and checked the time on her phone.Thank goodness it was still 8 in the morning, her classes start at 10 but it's a good thing that Max woke her up

"I'll be there in 20." she answered back while yawning as she stretched her body

"Take your time."

Holly took a quick shower and wore her uniform. She also took clothes she would wear to her work later and shoved them in her bag. That'll do...

Max was sitting with crossed legs as he took a sip of coffee from his mug while intently staring at the food. He was hungry but refused to eat first, he wanted to eat with Holly together and he promised her he'll be a good boy.

He heard the door creak and there was Holly combing her hair while approaching him.

"Hi, good morning. Thank you for waking me up Max" he felt excited knowing he did something Holly liked. His tail threatened to wag but he did his best to stop it.

"No problem, I can be your alarm clock every day" he commented, making Holly chuckle

"Wow, you cooked all of these?" He saw how the girl gasped eyeing the food he prepared for her

"I did, now dig in or you'll get late for school"

"Don't you go to school? I have a hunch that we're the same age"

"Oh I don't, I work at a café 20 mins. away from here"

"Oh, that's awesome, you going today?"

"Yeah but I need to go somewhere first"

Max needed to get all of the things he left at the place he stayed before. He can't go to work wearing the same clothes since yesterday. He would stink.

Holly instructed him to lock the door when he leaves and put the key under the flower pot next to the door so whoever comes home first will be able to enter their unit. Holly went out first 'cause her classes start at 10 meanwhile Max leaves after lunch. He contacted his friend Kyle, a cat hybrid who also happens to work at the same café. He left his things in the storage room and told Kyle to hide them so the boss won't see them.

"Yo dude, I hid your things and the old man didn't notice it" Kyle greeted him the moment he entered

"Thanks, Kyle, I owe you one. By the way, I have a place to stay now" Max said proudly. He has been staying in the storage room of the café secretly for some time. His salary wasn't enough yet to purchase a place to stay. Fortunately, Holly was kind enough to offer him her place. After all, there are still humans who possess a good heart.

"For real? I'm happy for you dude. But uhh where'd you get the money to pay for it?" Kyle's forehead creased

"I didn't, a kind human offered her place for me to stay in the meantime"

"Wait, what? Her? You mean a woman??" Kyle has a tendency of exaggerating his reactions unknowingly but Max finds it quite funny, especially his expressions

"Uhuh, she's pretty and really kind"

"But what if she finds out you're a hybrid? Dude that's risky, you know what most humans do to people like us" the young man said, concern visible in his tone.

"She already knows and she didn't hurt me in fact she fed and let me sleep comfortably on her couch since she only has one bedroom and I was the one who suggested sleeping on the couch. I'm telling you Kyle she's really kind" Kyle crossed his arms and looked him straight in the eyes

"Dude, have you forgotten? the last time you trusted a human they betrayed you. I don't know man, I can't say they're all the same but still, be cautious and don't trust easily"

They have been friends since forever and there's no way Kyle won't get overprotective of him knowing how kind and innocent Max is, he'd get taken advantage of and the cat hybrid doesn't want that to happen again and rather than getting annoyed Max was thankful for that instead.

"I will, I promise. Now for my last favor. Cover for my shift please while I bring my things to my new home"

"I got your back dude," Kyle said and saluted as he started eyeing the place like the cat he is

Max left and brought all of his things smiling as the thought of finally having a home came to him..

Holly exhaled sharply while walking home. Her stomach began growling, she haven't eaten lunch, they were given a 30-minute lunch but she still has a lot of stuff to do for the next subject, and instead of eating she chose to finish it, and now she was starving and also after the 3-hour performance at the restaurant she decided to go home, dinner wasn't part of the contract so she left, again, hungry and tired.

Holly looked around and slowly lifted the flower pot finding out that the key wasn't there anymore. I guess Max came home first.. I hope so.. She thought

She twist the door knob and it was unlocked. She immediately went in and saw Max in the kitchen and the place smelled really nice and delicious, she got hungrier because of it

"Hey you're back, dinner will be served in a minute now" Max stated smiling

Holly felt like crying, after a long and tiring day she goes home with someone welcoming her, and most of all she goes home with dinner! Something that she haven't experienced in a long time and it was making her heart warm especially with the sight and gesture.

"Smells delicious. I'll change first then I'll help you set the table"

Holly went to her room quickly and changed. She tied her hair up in a ponytail and stared at her reflection for a bit. She noticed the dark circles under her eyes, obviously, it was because of how tired she was always, and not just that but also how sleep-deprived she was. Holly shook off her thoughts and went out to help Max, but the table was already set. She saw how Max took off the pink strawberry-designed apron. Holly left a chuckle and Max heard it

"Pink looks cute on you" she stated and chuckled again. Max's cheeks flushed pink, embarrassed because of the pink apron

It was a tiring day for them but to be able to have someone waiting for them at home is something that's new to them but at the same time heartwarming. Maybe Holly's decision wasn't bad at all.