Living with a Hybrid

Chapter 5

The cafe has an unusual tension. The two hybrids weren't talking, they were just doing their jobs silently but Kyle kept throwing glances at Max and the latter haven't spared even one glance at the cat hybrid.

"Okay so are we really gonna do this here?" they were at the storage room for breaktime and Kyle had enough of the silent treatment. Max was listening but he chose to ignore him and did his thing.

"At least tell me what's wrong?" Max wasn't really angry, he was just upset of him.

"I'm just... not in the mood"

"Lies, I know you. Tell me what I did that upset you. We've already talk about this Max, we tell each other if we crossed some lines and not do some silent treatment shits."

"And we already talked about not telling anyone what happened before Kyle. Why'd you have to brought that thing up to Holly? You know I hate talking about that stuff." Max exhaled sharply, he was upset and disappointed of his bestfriend but not mad. Max was far from being mad. He just sulks.

"Okay, I'm sorry I didn't mean to say those things but I know Holly won't force you to talk about your past and I know eventually you'll find yourself opening up to her about that."

Max let out a sigh and sat down, Kyle followed him as they rested their head and shut their eyes in silence.

It was a painful experience for Max, especially the fact that he gave all his trust to that person but it turns out they were just using him and played with his feelings. He invested time and effort, in the end he was the only one who was serious. What happened didn't made him mad, it shattered his heart into pieces and ended up doubting himself, he started to feel insecure of himself. It brought pain and sadness to him. They might've hurt him big time but Max has always been optimistic, he still believes that there are still humans who will love and accept him for who he really is. Not just him but all hybrids.

"Are we good now?" Kyle broke the silence, their breaktime was almost over.

"Yeah. I'm sorry for being petty" Max lowered his head.

"Nah dude, you have all the rights to get upset. I crossed the line."

They shook their hands and exchanged smiles before going back to work.

Meanwhile, Holly was still bothered about what Kyle said. It was actually none of her business but she couldn't help but wonder what happened and why did they had to do that to Max but she can't just ask him, it was obvious that he wasn't ready to talk about that.

"Holly? you still here?" she snapped out of her thoughts when Chris, her partner in their history project waved his hand infront of her face.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I zoned out." She gave him an apologetic smile. The young man just smiled back.

"It's okay, it could happen."

Holly and Chris were doing their project at the school's cafeteria, they've been doing it for almost an hour. Luckily Holly doesn't have work afterwards so she was able to meet up with him. She sent Max a message that she'll be home late and Max shouldn't wait for her. Holly's hoping Max won't trash the place again.

Holly didn't noticed it was getting late, it's a good thing that they finally finished their project and should head home by now.

"I'll take you home." Chris kindly offered Holly.

"Thank you but you really don't have to. I can handle myself." She gave him a smile as she took her things.

"I insist, it's late you shouldn't be going home at night and worst alone." Holly thought of what he said. Although she has beein going home alone and at night, it still didn't changed the fact that it was just a 10 minute walk away from her workplace compared to her situation now and t's really late. She hesitated at first but later on accepted his offer.

"Thank you for the ride." she stated smiling before bidding goodbye to the young man.

"No problem." Before leaving he playfully winked at Holly as he drove off.

Holly took her keys to open their unit. They decided to duplicate the key so they each have one rather than keeping it under the pot. It's dangerous 'cause what if the longer they do that someone might see and end up robbing them. That would be horrible.

She took a deep breath and stretched her body before going inside. Holly was surprise when the unit was tidy, she roamed her eyes around and it landed on the dog hybrid sleeping soundly on the couch. Guess he still waited even after Holly told him he doesn't have to.

Holly tapped his shoulder lightly waking him up. He might end up having stiff neck because of his position. Max fluttered his eyes open and rubbed it gently.

"Holly you're home." He stated while yawning.

"Yeah, what are you doing here? I told you, you don't have to wait for me." Holly sat beside Max and faced him.

"I can't help it. I got worried." and that made Holly smiled. Cute. "Wait... you smell... different." Max kept sniffing and his brows furrowed. Holly smelled herself as well.

"Well I guess because I was out? I shoud take a shower now" she immediately stood a little embarrassed but halted when Max held the hem of her shirt.

"Not like that. It's just... you smell different, you smell like another person, someone I never smelled before."

Holly chuckeld understanding what Max meant. Holly thinks Max can smell Chris in her since dogs can tell when you're around with other dogs or people. He's unfamiliar with the smell.

"Oh about that. I was with Chris." Holly found how Max's eyes changed a little bit and creased his forehead.

"Who the hell's Chris?"

"A classmate from one subject. We were partners for a project so that's why I was with him."

Max's eyes went back from being sparkly and his expression has already softened.

"Oh okay. You should rest now. I know you're really tired, I can sense it." The hybrid stood and yawned again.

"I will, you can go back to sleep now. I'll catch up after taking a half bath."

Holly went inside after taking a shower. Max was already asleep and he was hugging his plushie. Holly can't help but let out a giggle before turning off the lights and drifted to sleep.

"Dude are you okay?" Max was spacing out, he went back to reality when he heard Kyle behind him. He found the cat hybrid staring at him weirdly.

"Yeah? Why'd you ask?" the dog hybrid asked confused.

"Because you've been wiping that table this entire time. Is there something wrong?" Realization strucked Max. He was indeed wiping the same table for a minute now. Guess something's really bothering him. He scratched his nape lightly and went to where Kyle was standing.

"I'm just thinking. I shouldn't have let this get into me. It's not a big deal tho."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's just that... Last night Holly went home and she smelled weird, someone I never smelled in her before and it's so strong so I'm guessing she's with a hybrid, someone named Chris." Max croaked almost in a whisper. He didn't want others to hear what they were talking about especially the mention of a hybrid.

"Wait, for real? What kind?" Kyle came closer to hear him well when a silhouette of a big man interrupted them.

"Boys, take the gossip later we need to close the café now." It was the owner, the two hybrids immediately jumped out and cleaned everything, the other staffs were already done they were the only one who wasn't.

Max twisted the doorknob and pressed lock. They were changing back in their comfy clothes.

"So? What kind of hybrid do you think he is?" Kyle asked, still curious.

"I think it's also a dog but a bigger one, I have a feeling it's a Doberman."

"Now that's a really big dog. Do you think we can befriend him?" kyle asked with beaming eyes.

"Kyle!"

"What? It would be great to have other hybrid friends, don't you think?"

"I- I think so... but not this one." Max looked away as he fixed his things.

"Oh I see what's going on here." Kyle stated in a teasing tone.

"Nothing's going on here Kyle."

"Don't worry dude, you're the only puppy hybrid Holly adores." Kyle can't help but grin.

"Shut up!" Max snarled

Kyle just laughed while Max was turning red not because of anger but with embarrassment. He can't help it, dogs can sometimes be territorial, Holly felt somehow like his owner and he kinda hates it when she's near other dog hybrids. He doesn't like the smell but despite that he needs to keep in mind that he doesn't own Holly. He must not act stupid. He brushed the thoughts away and swung his bag on his left shoulder ready to leave.

Max doesn't wanna go home yet. He was certain that Holly would be home late again and he doesn't wanna get that bored so he took a walk on the neighborhood. Lights were beaming in the street, stars were visible along with the moon that helps illuminate the surrounding. People walking, going home from either work or school. He can sense their emotions, the exhaustion one's feeling but a strong scent suddenly hit him, it was pain, anxiety rushing within that person.

Max shook his head to focus, where's that person? They're in danger. He ran sniffing and feeling and there he saw a man sitting and struggling. He ran as fast as he could and helped him get on his feet as he immediately called for help and immediately rushed to the hospital. The man was having highblood pressure and close to having a heart attack. It's a good thing that he took a walk if not who knows what could've happened to the man.

The scent was too strong that it made him dizzy. Walking to their apartment he didn't notice the rock infront that it tripped him as he fell. His head bumped in a wood but it wasn't that hard, his forehead has a scratched as well as his arm. Still a little dizzy he managed to get on his feet and wiped the dirt away on his shirt. He felt the wound sting.

"What a great day!" he sarcastically commented. He didn't realized it was late. Holly was probably home by now.

Holly was walking back-and-forth, worried where could Max be. She was getting anxious again, afraid that he might be in danger again. Max always leaves her a message if he'll be home late but this time he didn't. Maybe Holly was just overreacting but she can't help it.

When the door to her apartment springs open, the first thing Holly noticed was the limping hybrid and then the scratch on his arm and forehead. She rushed to help him sit on the couch.

"Oh God, what happened? Who the f**k did this to you!" anger was fuming up to Holly seeing the wounded hybrid infront of her.

"Hey relax, no one did okay? It's my fault." Max tried to calm her down by giving her his sweetest smile which always works but not this time.

"You don't need to cover up for them Max, just tell me."

"I'm telling yoouu, I tripped on my way here because I got dizzy. I helped a person in need and because of the strong scent in him it somehow crept into me and got me dizzy but I'm fine. I promise." Max looked straight to Holly's eyes to let her know that he's telling the truth.

"What? I don't understand, how did you help that person and what strong scent? Enlighten me." Holly has calmed down but she was still confuse and worried. While cleaning Max's wound she listened to what he was about to say.

"Well you know we can sense emotions and even people who are in danger right? The man's scent was so strong 'cause he was close to having a heart attack. It's a good thing that he was able to get help as soon as possible but the more dangerous the person is in, the stronger the scent they have and it kinda pained me that's why I got dizzy."

The next thing he knew, Holly was already hugging him and giving him head pats.

"You did great today Max, you were a good boy helping someone in need, saving him."

His tail wagged as he rested his chin on Holly's shoulder enjoying the little head pats he earned from being a good boy.

"I'm sorry I raged, I just got worried and you didn't left a message that you'll be home late." Holly apologized while he placed the last band aid on Max's forehead.

"No, I should be the one saying sorry. I just wanted to get some air, I didn't know things like that would happen." He hung his head low and slightly bit his lower lip.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" Max lifted his head quickly as he shooked it repeatedly.

"Nothing big, just stress from work and I guess I miss my family." the latter wasn't a lie, he does miss his family but the main reason why he wanted to think was because of his dog things, he didn't want Holly to know about it 'cause it might scare her? or maybe feel disappointed in him.

"Aww, we'll find a way so you can see them again. I'll help you." Holly gave him a smile and so he did too. Max felt relieved when he didn't smelled the other dog hybrid in her.

Max didn't really mean to make Holly worried, he wasn't planning on staying out for too long but the situation didn't let him. Max doesn't always get to experience smelling one's sickness since he grew up in a village full of dog hybrids and there wasn't any humans at all. Some of them are used to it and they were able to control it but for someone like him who rarely does it can still feel the pain. Sensing someone's emotion makes them adapt to it so if someone's feeling sad, they become one as well. That's why living with humans is still important to them. They need to get used to their smell, not just humans but other hybrids as well.

It honestly scared Max but he did what he can do just to save the person. His heart was thumping so loud that it felt like it was about to burst, his head was throbbing in pain and he's scared that it might be too late, all he knows is that the scent has become too strong which means the person was already in danger. Max didn't hesitate in helping despite the fact that it was a human and most of them are horrible when it comes to hybrids.

Laying in bed, Max hugged his plushie as he remembered what happened earlier. Honestly there's a lot but there's one thing that still bothers him. The other dog hybrid Holly befriended, he has a hunch that Holly doesn't know about it and he doesn't have plans on telling either. He might not like the idea of him hanging around Holly, but he still can't tell other people about other hybrids especially the fact that he also happened to be a dog hybrid. They must protect each other no matter what happens.