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Alex sat quietly at the dining table. His fork picking at his breakfast with his head resting on his palm.
His eyes occasionally drifting to a particular spot by his feet, feeling cold instead of the usual warmth. He sighed, gaze returning to his untouched food that were now damaged from his fork.
His father, Jeremiah, was whistling a tune as he entered the kitchen, halting in his tracks upon seeing Alex's state and Max's sleeping form out on the backyard.
Jeremiah approached the boy, placing his mug on the table and tapped his shoulder.
"Are you alright, Alex?"
Alex jolted, pulling his chair back with a piercing screech against the tiles as he instinctively gripping the fork tightly, his knuckles turning white, looking around in panic around before he relaxed, exhaling heavily upon seeing his father's worried gaze.
"Yeah.... I'm alright, dad," he responded, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Not convinced, Jeremiah pulled out a chair for himself and sat next to him, green eyes studying him closely.
"Alex. Tell me honestly what happened between you and Max up there. In just ten minutes of being in your room, we only heard yelling, a thud and silence. And the moment you finally come out of your room, you both look down as if something unforgivable happened between the two you," he paused with a sigh, placing a hand on his shoulder, "I'm here for you, son. And I want to help you, but I feel like you've been pushing me away ever since...."
'Fredrick.'
Alex bit his lip as he faced the ground, his hair falling over his face. He parted his lips as if to breath as he felt his throat closing up.
"I-I'm fine, dad..... H-honest. I'm just um.... I'm just trying to figure things out before graduation... That's all," Alex spoke, his voice cracking through his quivering lips.
Jeremiah his grip tightened, then loosened-like he was choosing not to ask the question he really wanted to ask as he stood up with the mug in his hand, quietly walking back to the kitchen to wash the mug before heading upstairs to prepare for work.
Alex remained still as he watched his father walk out of the room and pressed his palms on the table, undecided of whether he should stand up and follow him or just sit and stay quiet.
His shoulders drooped in defeat then he sat up and began eating, but the food felt heavy and pierced his throat like shards of glass as he swallowed.
Once finished, he stood up and went to the kitchen, dragging his feet towards the sink.
He glanced at the window, staring at Max, who laid quietly under the tree, his golden fur reflecting the sun's rays.
'Should I....'
Alex hesitantly reached out his hand then stopped and dropped it as he turned away and went to the sink.
'Nah...'
After packing the clean plate in the cabinet, he went to his room, flopping face-first onto his pillow. He lifted his head, staring at his arm, still feeling pain but he saw no wound.
"Was it really a dream?"
That afternoon, Alex walked along the street, his shoes felt like bricks as he went to the convenient store after his mother forced him out of his room to buy groceries for her.
But he knew it was an excuse to get him out of the house for a while.
The air around him felt colder despite the blazing heat from the sun and the sweat dripping down his face.
He tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans, gripping the notes tightly until his palms began to sweat.
He pushed the door open, nodding at the old lady behind the register then moved through the shop, murmuring the items under his breath.
His mind was fully focused on the task, constantly glancing at the list as his shopped.
He was completely engrossed, staring at the variety of juice brands and flavors, unsure of what to buy, that he didn't realize someone calling out his name.
"Alex?" said the person behind him, poking his back, causing him to flinch and freeze before he turned then relax then froze again.
"M-M-Mia?!" Alex stammered, his hands rigid as he stared at the chubby girl in front of him.
"Hey," Mia chuckled at his reaction then waved at him, "You good?"
Alex, momentarily distracted by her presence, eyes noting her brown skin appearing lighter in the light and her kinky hair in an afro, flinched at her question then stared at the list in his hand.
"Y-yeah.... I'm good.... Just doing some shopping for the boss lady. You?"
"Just here for snacks."
"Cool..."
Mia stared at him, observing his discomfort.
"You sure you're okay? Did something happen, bro?"
"Nah, everything's fine. Just, y'know, the usual stuff."
Her brown eyes held naked doubt as she sighed and decided to change the subject to anime she recently started watching, noting how Alex immediately relaxed and listened to her rant while they shopped together.
After check out and left the shop, Mia took one of the bags from Alex's hand.
"We're walking together."
He stood for a second then quietly accepted that the walk would be longer.
"Let's see what we have here today," she began, "You look like crap... Max isn't with you.... You were shopping for your mom without complaining under your breath... And you have that look in your eyes, like you want to say something but you don't want to say it."
He turned away from her, clenching his jaw as his eyes began to water.
She moved close to him, bumping her shoulder against his, gazing at him intensely, making him feel exposed.
"It's just that..... I had a dream...."
"A dream?" Mia squinted her eyes at him.
"Yes.... A very weird dream. And in that crazy dream, Max bit my arm.... And now, I don't know how to face him without thinking about it..."
"Hmmm.... And how's he doing?"
"Would you believe me if I say... hypothetically.... Max and I shared a dream."
"You read too much fiction."
"I said hypothetically! Hypothetically!"
Mia sighed, muttering something before she stopped, her face serious. "How is he?"
Alex scratched his nape, "Down... Napping outside and staying far away from me."
"How do you feel?"
"I don't know... Upset, maybe angry at myself for failing to talk to him."
"You just don't know what to say."
"Huh?"
"It's not like you can't talk to him... you just don't know what to say without making Max feel more self hatred."
'Do I?.... Maybe...' he thought, tapping his feet on the pavement as his eyes drifted to the people moving around them.
"It's okay to feel that way, especially when you don't know the trigger," she placed a hand oh his, grabbing his attention, "All you need to do now is to go to him and just sit next to him.... Maybe even pat his head or just being there for him. If he moves closer to you, let him and that's enough."
Alex smiled and nodded, then realization of their proximity dawned on him, making him step back.
'Stupid! Why did you move back? Now she'll think that you found her touch uncomfortable!' he facepalmed, but Mia chuckled, thinking that he needed some space.
"Thanks," he said softly, 'Now confess, moron! Tell her you like her.'
"You're welcome," she smiled and gave him back the bag, checking her phone before turning to a different direction, "I'm heading home now. Bye, Alex."
Alex stood frozen as he watched her walk away, feeling utterly helpless, the sound of traffic filled his ears.
"This is why I'm still single."
Upon reaching home, he gave his mom the bags and change, placing them on the counter, and after dinner, he walked upstairs to his room and found Max lying at a corner, facing the wall while chewing on a bone.
He took a deep breath and hesitantly walked towards him, carefully settling next to him- not too close, not too far.
Max's ear twitched at the sound of ruffling fabric and the scent of vanilla. But he didn't move.
After a few minutes of silence, Alex sighed, bringing his knees close to his chest, "I'm pathetic."
Max paused before he continued chewing on the hard bone, the crunching sound filling the room.
"I met Mia today.... I wanted to poke her cheeks as usual.... We talked for a while.... And I told her about the dream..."
Max stopped chewing, turning to look at him— listening.
"She gave me advice.... And she touched my hand," a dreamy grin appeared on his face, making Max roll his eyes, "It felt so warm, but I pulled away like a fool."
Max grunted, bumping his snout on his leg.
"Then when I was about to gather courage to confess.... She went home, and I stood on the street like an idiot.... My rizzless ahh failed again.... I'm definitely destined to be single forever."
Alex covered his face, Max slowly moved closer and pressed a paw on his hand, but when the boy looked up, he saw the canine's smug face.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around him, his fingers tangled in Max's soft fur.
Max froze before melting in the embrace, tail wagging.
They stayed like that for a while until Alex opened his eyes upon feeling skin under his palms. He flinched and slowly pulled away, then came face to face with a ridiculously gorgeous boy his age with fluffy blonde hair, long eyelashes, perfect fair skin and hazel eyes..... and he was naked.
Alex froze, blinking rapidly to process the situation, but suddenly, the boy pouted at the lack of contact and pounced on him, pinning him to the floor.
"Yo, why did you stop hugging me?" the boy asked, his voice charming, energetic.... familiar.
"Max?"
"Duh, who else-" Max sat up, staring at his hands and his bare form before a grin stretched across his face, "I HAVE THUMBS!!"
'WHY IS MY DOG PRETTIER THAN ME?!!'