[October 7, 1989]
"What are we going to do with that...?"
"We won't abandon it, definitely."
Last night, we have found a dog that is placed on a box that won't protect it from cold and many things.
And of course, Mark Louise—captivated by its cuteness couldn't help but took it in my home.
"That probably has rabies, Louise. We can't just bring a random animal inside my house." I said while sitting on the sofa with my arms crossed, far away from where Mark and the dog is.
"I found Basil in a park back then, she turned out perfectly fine!"
Basil is the pet cat if the Rosewoods. Mark found him when we were young while playing together.
"Are you sure? Every time I go there, I would end up with scars and bite marks around my body because of that feral cat."
Mark Louise glared at me as I finished talking. "She's just not used to new people, that's all..."
I scoffed and looked away. Sure, Mark is my best friend but I cannot tolerate that cat.
"It's not like that dog is the same as your cat, y'know? They're both different animals."
He went silent for a moment, staring at the dog for a few minutes before looking at me,
"You won't know if we won't go to the vet."
I sighed and stood up then walk towards him and sat besides him. "The vet is expensive." I said bluntly.
The golden retriever then looked at me and began wagging its tail really fast and barked.
I flinched at the sound and backs away a little while Mark smiled as his eyes shone at the cute creature.
"Aww, it likes you!" He said as he turned to look at me,
"I don't think it does..." I said while my body stiffen. The dog barked again and immediately pounce on me, making me fall backwards,
"HEY! TAKE THIS DOG AWAY!! MARK!!!" I shouted real loud as the dog kept licking my face, covering it with its saliva.
Meanwhile, Mark is laughing as he watched the scene—"Relax, James. A little affection from an animal won't kill ya." He said while still chuckling and pulling the dog away.
"I swear that dog has rabies, alright!" I exclaimed while sitting up and wiping the saliva off from my cheeks.
"The dog licked you because it likes you, James. Stop overreacting..."
I may be overreacting but I never had a dog or any pet in my entire life, but if an animal licked my face? Get that thing away from me.
Mark was petting the dog's head—making it lean at his touch, wanting for more.
"Look at that," he said softly while still petting it. "See? It's not a violent dog."
"If it's on the street, it's a violent one with rabies or germs and viruses in his body."
He glanced at me before looking back at the dog, "Everyone says the same with you, James. But it turns out—you're not violent as they said. Just like how they see a stray dog. It just needs love, like you."
I paused at his words before turning away. "...I am violent. I smoke, I break stuff and vandalise everything."
"Don't be silly, everyone does that too. You're no any different."
"Are you comforting me or what?"
*****
Wether I liked it or not, the dog still stayed at my home. Now, while Mark is out buying dog food, I am stuck with this hairy creature who can't even sit still for a second or two.
He kept biting everything he sees and it's hurting my head real bad. "Bad dog! Put. That. Down." Are the words I kept repeating over and over, but to be honest, he doesn't even listen to what I say.
I lay on the couch while watching the dog with my exhausted body. It was chewing my old shoe that he found in my closet. Looking real content.
"I swear it does have rabies..." I muttered to myself while I was silently praying for Mark to show up again and stop all this havoc.
I was one step away from pushing the dog outside when finally, the door opened and Mark's figure was seen again.
But just then, the dog suddenly started scratching the door—as if wanting to go out.
I sighed and got up then gets closer to him, "What? You wanna go out?" I asked him like he could understand me. The dog was whimpering while looking at me with its big eyes, his tail wagging slowly.
Fine then. I opened the door and softly pushed him outside but he wouldn't budge. "What now? I thought you want to go out? What is changing your mind?"
The dog was still staring at me with its big eyes, for a moment, I seemed to understand what he was saying. "Ugh... Yeah, yeah.... We will go on a walk if that makes you stop eating everything."
We started walking out quietly. My hands tucked in the pocket of my jacket while a cigarette that has not been light up yet was sitting on my lips.
We walked for a while before we reached the park and I sat on the bench and took my lighter out, wanting to have a smoke as I rest.
I know it was bad. Especially that I'm still 17, but I can't help it. It's an addiction. I took a whip and blow it out, the smoke was dancing on nntge air as I stared at the sky, enjoying the peaceful moment as the dog was also resting besides my leg.
It was quiet. Until a familiar annoying voice suddenly shouted my name.
"Oi! James!"
It was Alex. Yes, that same kid back then. He was away for a few years before he suddenly came back with no fucking reason...
"Look at that, you still haven't changed! You're still smoking as usual, ey?" He said while chuckling.
My eyes twitched as I tried to ignore him, but as expected, he sat on the bench besides me with his signature smirk.
But what I didn't expect was his question,
"I heard you're hanging out with a hot chic these past few years. What? Did you got popular or something?"
His statement caught me off guard that I accidentally dropped my cigarette on the ground. "...A what now?" I asked.
"A hot chic." He repeated like he was asking what's the weather today. "Mind introducing me? I mean, I'm handsome and there is no doubt that she won't like me, right?"
I was still confused as I don't know any women in this town that I am closed with besides Mark's grandma and Mr. Lester's kind wife. "...I don't know what you're talking about..."
He scoffed and explained what she looked like. "Don't pretend that you don't. Y'know? That one with a pixie cut golden hair and freckles?"
...
I think I know who he was talking about...
"I'm sorry but... She is a he..."
His eyes widen in confusion and denial, "... You're kidding..." I shook my head as I stared at him back "I am not... That's a boy, Alex..."
Awkward silence hang in the air before he suddenly burst out furiously, "She's WHAT!!??" I was surprised by that since he was the type of boy who never cared to who he dated as long as she was popular.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!!! YOU'RE LYING!" he shouts loudly to the point that passerby were looking at us like we were some patients from the asylum who escaped.
"I am not... please calm down–"
"HOW COULD I CALM DOWN!!??" He stands up paced back and forth, trying to accept the logic that the girl he fell in love with was a man. "... That's not true... That's right..." He muttered,
"Ah! I know! You must've said that because you're worried that I might steal her from you!!! That's right!"
I was dumbfounded as he was still in denial, "What the fuck, man??? I am not lying, he's a boy!"
"LIES!" he shouts frustrated, "Just accept it, James! No one wants someone who's different like you!"
Every word he said makes my blood boil. Just because his delusional self can't handle the fact that his crush was a boy instead of a girl. The dog besides me was now whimpering as he felt the atmosphere between the both of us.
I was about to shout back when fortunately, Mark Louise arrived just in time to interfere at this pointless drama,
"What's going on here?" He asked as he was carrying a whole plastic of dog foods. Alex became quiet and he looked at Mark.
"... Who's this, James?" Mark asked again as he tilt his head like it would answer everything.
Before I could even answer, this motherfucker suddenly spoke again. "Y–you're really a MAN!!?? "
That sentence made Mark frown. He did not like it when somebody mistakes him as a woman. "Indeed, I am..." He said while still frowning.
My eyes twitched again as I tried to interrupt, "Finally believed me now?" I asked Alex while crossing my arms. He nodded shakily, still staring at Mark.
"I... I just can't believe it... I mean, he's–he's too beautiful to be a man! Too feminine too!"
I sighed and walked besides Mark while the dog followed me. "Mark is a man. How many times do we have to tell you that?" He stayed silent for a while again. None of us spoke. Mark was getting uncomfortable but he didn't spoke.
I was getting fed up by the scene so I grabbed Mark's arm and dragged him away. Alex finally returned but still a word didn't left his mouth. Just watching us leave with a hint of weird fascination seen in his eyes. Weirdo.
Finally, when the three of us were out of his gaze, I turned around and apologized to Mark. "Sorry about that... Alex, he... He was really a jerk..."
I wanted to say something more but this is the only thing I can say due to embarrassment. "It's fine. He was new here so he didn't know what's my gender is..."
I scratched the back of my neck as I stared at the ground, "He's actually here for a while but he didn't have a chance to see you... But even so, the rumours about you must've reach his ears and he would know you're a boy..."
Mark petted the dog again as he listened, "He probably ignored the fact that I am a boy..." I hummed and nodded "probably..."
I was still embarrassed by what happened earlier. Maybe this is what every women feels every time a man acts immature. From that moment on, I started respecting everyone's personal boundaries and tried not to be like that annoying piece of shit, Alex.