One of a kind: chapter 2
#2 of One of a kind series
There you go folks, chapter 2. Sorry for being late.
Enjoy reading! :)
Thoughts were tossed aloud, cuss words exploded like gunfire, arguments rebutted. The two cats had arrived at an impasse. The white sabertooth firm on his stand, I do not want a child. Fuming, his girlfriend Layla stormed outside the room and into the kitchen. Axel rubbed his temples, unsure of the what was to come. He put on his robes and went after the black feline.
He saw her standing idly, showing her back to him. Layla was sobbing lightly. She started to pour water in a kettle and boiled it. Silently, the sabertooth made his way and sat on the dining chair. He checked on his girlfriend. She had black fur, just like his eyes. Typical for a cat, but he was fond of it whenever they made love. They both waited, the quietness deafening to Axel. He wanted to reason with her, but decided to hold his words for a better chance. The kettle whistled, and she expertly handled it and made tea.
They sat face to face. Sipping hot tea in the cold winter weather. Seconds after, Layla was the first to break the silence, giving Axel an appalling ultimatum. She made him decide, whether to have a kid together or she leaves. He was trapped, unsure what to make of it. Her girlfriend was making him choose with all odds stacked against him. How could you, He screamed in his head.
Axel deflected, trying to calm her down with rationalizations. He never wanted their relationship to end, but he did not want to bear a child with her either. Axel kept talking, offering her choices that were unlikely to come true. Whilst he was blabbing poor solutions, she kept her gaze stoic. It seems that Layla was determined that she did not see this relationship continuing.
Her visage calm, absolute of her next course of action. She stood, walked over to him and offered a kiss on his cheeks. Naturally, Axel was dumbfounded by her reaction, fearing the end of their beautiful but short lived relationship. She exited the kitchen and back into his room. Axel gathered his strength and stood, silently praying that it was a dream.
She recollected herself and gathered her belongings. She thought about their relationship, three months went by so fast. She had met her parents, and him hers. They had talked houses. They even made quirky gestures their intimate way of communication. She treasured his attitude most, always the charming prince towards his darling princess.
They hugged one last time and she left the apartment, quickly, before giving way to her tears. Axel knew he was devastated, but did not felt it. Is this supposed to happen? He questioned aloud. His words seem to echo the walls, reverberating back and forth. With heavy paws, he closed the door, made his way to the living room and collapsed on the sofa.
He assumed a fetal position on his couch and pondered about his emotions. When she left, he did not felt aghast of her leaving. Something was amiss, he thought. The feeling of sadness was present, no doubt, but not too great as to cause any grief to him, or even made him cry. Is it because he was bisexual? Is it because he did not love her strong enough? Or maybe he did not love her at all, only loving the idea of falling in love. It portrayed nonetheless a hole in his heart, as anyone would in their time of need. Once again he felt empty, but oddly enough thinking that he felt closely the same even when Layla was by his side.
He sat upright, confused by his own pool of emotions. Axel thought about his refuge, his piano. So he walked, eager to welcome the music back into the living room. His was a grand piano in black color, with the keys in reversed color. Natural keys black, while the flats white, customed made by his preferences. There were picture frames on it, all depicting Axel's childhood. One particular picture shown him in a cute, emerald green graduation robe, altogether with his classmates in kindergarten. He adored his younger self, carefree of worldly responsibilities. Aww, look at you...
Axel noticed an orange pup, standing in the middle of the class bunch, a labrador. He was not smiling like the rest. In fact, he looked somber. Axel did not notice before as the pup was small, hidden in a group of lively yearlings. You look familiar...
He shrugged, leaving behind his train of thought, and felt the keys. For Axel, the piano was his trademark, his expression. If troubles upbring him difficulty, the piano would be his sanctuary, the music his savior. He put his palms together, fingers wide like a web, and focused unto clearing his mind. Ever so gently Axel placed his fingers on the keys. The piece Georgia on My Mind fills the room. Outside, the falling snow seemed to sway with the music.
...
That night, he dreamed of the kindergarten that he went to. Axel stood at the threshold of the kindergarten gates. In his left grip was a band aid, with scribblings of red ink on it.
Get better so we can play :)
Axel tried to find meaning, but it was of no use. He shoved the band aid into his pocket and looked around him. The building was small, with cheesy drawings of cartoons and figures on the walls. He walked to the playground at the side of the building. As he guessed, there were children playing. Some were playing tag, some were at the sandbox, building castles out of buckets and wet sand. It appeared odd to him though, as none of the children were aware of his presence.
What he saw next caught his eye. A younger version of himself appeared out of one of the bushes, smiling ear to ear. His paws tiny, his fur long, and his fangs barely show. He was panting, probably from exhaustion. He was followed by a another pup, the orange labrador from the picture. He too was grinning, euphoric from his short breath. They both ran, the orange lab chasing the younger white sabertooth.
Axel watched, interested in their little game of tag. He sat on a bench nearby, observing intently when suddenly his younger self tripped from the tag by his playmate. By instinct Axel stood back again, but paused midway when the orang pup helped Axel's crying younger self, sitting him into the labrador's embrace. It was a kind moment, the labrador soothing the whimpering sabertooth. A full minute passed with them together. After settling down and the sabertooth had stopped his crying to a mere sobbing, the labrador stood and raced into the building, urgence show in his expression.
Axel was touched at the pithy moment, but was interrupted by the blood smear just beneath the pup's right eye. Probably from the fall, he reasoned. Not long after, the orange labrador returned with both paws cupped, holding something. The young sabertooth looked up to find his friend panting yet again. He knelt on the ground, opened his paws and revealed a band aid and a red marker. Awestruck, Axel felt his pockets. Everything became clear to him, reason upon reason. He rubbed the black spot underneath his right eye. It was a scar, he remembered.
The orange pup wrote on the band aid and unstuck its covers. He held up his paws to the whimpering sabertooth, wiping away his tears. Young Axel stopped sobbing at the last gesture. The labrador licked his finger and gently wiped away the blood, all the time soothing the sabertooth, It's okay, Axel. The orange labrador then kissed young Axel on the wound, providing reassurance to the sabertooth. Just as he was placing the band aid, older Axel felt a cold, stabbing sensation to his chest, doubling over as he coughed when the darkness trumped his vision.
He rubbed his bum hard, all the while cursing words to thin air. He had woken up from his dream, with an addition of falling off the bed. The sun was already blazing high, its rays penetrating his eyes from through the windows. Groggily, Axel undressed and slung his orange polka dot towel over his head, walked nude towards the bathroom and took his shower.
He opened to the hot waters, welcoming it to his physique. Steam wafted around him while he stood idly in the shower. He willed of the bizarre dream last night and of its significance.Why? Paws rubbing through stomach. Who are you? The hissing of the water echoed away. What is your name? No matter how hard he chased, the puzzle still leading a step ahead of him.
Axel sighed, tired of the wild goose chase. He wanted answers, only to be disappointed time after time. Staring into the mirror, he touched the black spot. All this time he thought it was a birthmark, a beauty spot that brings out his streak black eyes. Obviously Axel had the orange pup to thank for, but as all dreams go, he had his doubts. What if it was all a lie? His thoughts consuming him, urging him to find a rationale.
He left for work disheveled and tired. The office seems to stretch an infinite to his eyes. Axel passed familiar faces of colleagues, all of whom were looking concerned. He found his cubicle, sat down and went over some paperwork, redundant of the previous days.
All the while typing and writing and sorting, the clicking of clock hands grew in his ears. He growled, vexed by the sound. He just wanted the day to be over, so he can rest it all away. His ears dropped flat against his messy head fur, and the image of the somber looking orange pup flashed in his head. The hell? He thought. Was it a sign? Again he played twenty questions with himself. Axel rubbed his temples, frustrated by the confusion.
The day went slowly, and it was not till dark did Axel completed his work. He straightened himself, yawned and looked around him. Again was he one of the last to go home, just like any other day. Carefully he tidied his desk, shoved his laptop in his sling bag and prayed a silent thank you for surviving the day. Quickly he grabbed his coat and paced along the office, avoiding eye contact as to not get invited to any late night drinks.
The dusk was upon him as he walked to his usual bus stop. The winter was not taking it easy as the coldness sent shivers down his tail. Axel adjusted the beanie on his head and rubbed his paws together, the bus stop visible from his location. It was getting dark, so he was forced to squint his eyes for better vision.
He arrived at the bus stop only to find another canine sleeping on the bench. He was impressed to see the canine sleeping in this blizzard of a temperature. And since he cannot see from the dog's coat and scarf, he speculated the dog probably had thick fur. He dismissed the dog and sat, waiting for the final bus to arrive.
When the sound of a familiar horn blew, Axel reckoned it was the bus getting nearby. He stood and walked over to the sleeping canine, waking him up. No reaction at all. Hey, you. Axel noticed the dog's face, his expression peculiar yet familiar. The dog looked sad.
He pushed the dog one last time before the dog fell lifeless on the ground. A cracking sound echoed in Axel's eardrums as the lab's tail bone and right paw broke under the fall. The scarf on his head became undone, revealing orange fur. And to that Axel's brain whirred, making the connection between the dog's expression plus his orange fur.
He panicked and started yelling for help as the bus arrived. Hello!? He pushed on the unconscious canine's chest, providing cpr. Hey, wake up! Still no reaction. Then Axel felt a pulse, and he slumped backwards, relieved for a second.
Finally other animals came to his aid and lifted the dog into the bus, making their way to the hospital. During the ride, Axel's stare fixated on the dog's face, confirming that he was the same pup from Axel's dreams. He had an epiphany, a puzzle piece finally showing itself. The dog was his long lost companion, and for once in his life, the sabertooth felt the emptiness filled, completely.
When they came about the ER, the dog was beginning to seize, muscles tensed and his body shook violently. Axel held the canine's paws tight as aides rushed over bringing medical equipment and shouting unknown terms. He cringed his body. All that was left was for him to pray, and so he did, pleading that the lab would endure the frightening experience.
...
Things finally settled down and the lab was admitted into the hospital ward, with Axel signing off as his temporary guardian. The doctors confirmed the labrador suffered from hypothermia, and explained that Axel's help was of brilliant timing.
Midnight came and the moonlight brushed the room with peace, all the while clearing Axel's messed up thoughts. He was sitting beside the labrador's bed, holding his hands. He was tired, but chose to neglect sleep as the moment offered him serenity. Axel felt in control again, being the dominant tiger, and watching over the pitiful labrador did him justice.
While observing the pup snoring lightly, Axel pondered about his future, how it would turn out with the orange canine as his mate. He smiled, obviously picturing them both together till kingdom come.
Finally the fatigue caught up to him and forced his head down, pulling him into sleep. For once, Axel White was truly happy.
SO0oo, hope you enjoyed reading this..
Remember to leave comments! I need them ;)
Though I have no idea what to write on the following chapter... *rubs temples*
P/s: If you were wondering about the piece Axel played on the piano, here's the link