“What’s that sound?”
Day asked as he opened the front door.
Amidst the heavy morning rain, Day was sure that he had heard something peculiar.
Mhok just stood there with a cheeky smile on his face, “Are you not going to let me in?” Mhok shivered slightly, and he held the puppy closer to his chest.
Day immediately opened the door wider.
“Uhm, I brought you something.” Mhok struggled to keep his voice steady. He didn’t know how Day would react to him bringing a dog to his house.
What if Day was scared of dogs or worse, he had an allergy?
Mhok had started to regret this whole situation.
“What is it?” Day asked. He knew that something was off.
“It’s a puppy,” Mhok carefully said, “It’s in my arms.”
Day was shocked for a moment. Mhok was already planning to walk out with the dog if Day disliked it.
“Oh,” Day recovered from his shock, “Where did you get it from?”
Mhok would’ve scratched his neck in nervousness if the dog wasn’t in his arms.
“This morning. On my way here, I found it hiding under a pile of cardboard. It doesn’t have a name tag, so I figured that it wasn’t lost. Maybe abandoned. Poor thing was shivering and scared. It’s been raining since morning, you know.”
Mhok looked at Day with anticipating eyes.
“What are you planning to do with it, P’Mhok?” Day asked, not seeming irritated much to Mhok’s relief.
“I don’t know,” Mhok trailed off, “Maybe raise it?” He grew more nervous with each second.
Day seemed to think for a moment, “You know that I can’t take care of anything, let alone myself.”
Mhok interjected, “I’ll do it then.”
Day chuckled, “From cook to amanuensis to pet caretaker, you sure love to take up new jobs, don’t you?”
Mhok visibly relaxed, seeing Day taking it easy.
“I mean. Why not?” Mhok laughed a little.
“I’ll think about it,” Day tried not to smile, but it looked like he didn’t mind the pet, “Oh, you must be soaked, I didn’t think about it, sorry.”
Mhok felt warm from inside even though he was slightly shaking from the cold.
“Yeah, right.”
“Go to the bathroom, I’ll bring you some towels, and while you’re at it, clean the dog as well. You’re it’s caretaker, after all.” Day said with a smirk.
“Understood, Sir!”
They laughed.
An hour later, Mhok was done cleaning up himself and the dog. Day lent him some clothes to change into, since they didn’t have much size difference, Mhok fit into his clothes just fine.
Mhok’s heart fluttered when he was in Day’s clothes and he couldn’t control that stupid grin on his face.
As for the puppy, they decided to place it a small cardboard box which would be it’s makeshift home for the time being. The rain had to die down for them to buy certain things for the Labrador Retriever.
Who would even abandon such an expensive dog? Mhok could only wonder.
“The dog might not be vaccinated.” Day voiced out his concern.
Mhok’s head snapped to Day in happiness, “Does that mean we are going to keep him?”
“I didn’t say that.” Day was struggling to keep himself from smiling.
“But that’s what you meant.” Mhok smirked, feeling victorious.
“Take it to the hospital and get it vaccinated as soon as the rain stops.” Day tried to sound bossy but Mhok could only call it adorable.
“Aye aye, captain!”
Day shook his head and did not suppress his smile this time.
It took a few hours for the rain to completely cease and during that time, Mhok prepared breakfast and made something for the dog as well. They were about to continue with the writing process when the rain had finally stopped.
“I guess we’ll do this after I come back.” Mhok announced as he moved towards the dog.
“Okay. Try to make it quick, P’Mhok.” Day sounded disappointed.
Mhok knew that Day didn’t like to be lonely ever since he had hired Mhok. It is difficult to go back to being alone when someone finally understands how comfortable it is to have a company.
“Okay, Day.”
Mhok lifted the dog up and started to walk away. The dog was not underweight, and it looked healthy, which meant that it was most likely abandoned. That thought hurt Mhok.
Maybe it was for the better. If it weren’t abandoned by it’s previous owner then Mhok wouldn’t have found it. It was like a butterfly effect.
Mhok took the dog to the nearest vet and got it vaccinated. The procedure was easy since they weren’t in a city. The doctor confirmed that the dog did not have any illness and they could keep it. Mhok was relieved when he heard that. He bought some dog food and a kennel.
Without wasting much time, Mhok called a taxi and hurried to the house. He decided to drop by his home and take the mini refrigerator to Day’s house as well.
It had started to get cloudy again, but fortunately Mhok was already at his destination.
Mhok unloaded all the things from the taxi and rang the doorbell. The dog just stayed by his side. It wasn’t a restless dog and Mhok was glad for it.
“Did I take too long?” Mhok asked as he started to take inside all the stuff he bought.
“No, I guess.” Day added a nervous chuckle.
Day was already anxious when Mhok had gone to buy cake for the first time and he hadn’t even taken more than ten minutes. Today, he was gone for hours, Mhok could only imagine how lonely Day must’ve felt.
“What did the doctor say?” Day asked, sounding serious.
“The pup is alright and vaccinated. We can keep it.”
“Will you take it back if I said that I won’t raise it?” Day asked, looking smug.
“Probably no,” Mhok laughed. That’s wasn’t the truth. Mhok would do anything Day wanted without questioning.
Day laughed along, “Then I have no choice. We have to keep it.” Day shrugged his shoulders as if he wasn’t excited for his first pet.
Mhok knelt on the floor and took the dog in his arms, “What should we name him?”
“I-I don’t know. I’ve never had pets before. My mom is allergic to fur.”
“Oh, me neither.”
“How does he look like? What’s his colour?” Day asked suddenly.
Mhok tilted his head, “It’s just brown.”
Day shook his heart, “Explain it to me like a colorist.”
“I’m sorry, I’m no colorist.” Mhok said, trying to get a reaction out of Day.
Day narrowed his eyes and gave a glare in Mhok’s direction.
“Alright, alright. It is,” He examined the dog carefully, “It is hazel brown.” Mhok did his best to describe the colour.
Day nodded slowly as a smile began to pull on his lips.
“Hazel.”
“Hmm?”
“His name is gonna be Hazel.”
Mhok smiled, immediately liking the name.
“Is it- is it good?” Day looked at Mhok, waiting for some kind of approval like a child.
Mhok wanted to pat his head but he patted the dog- Hazel instead.
“It suits him.”
Day nodded, feeling proud.
“I should make you something to eat.” Mhok placed Hazel in the cardboard box and hurried towards the kitchen.
He’d have to fix the kennel later.
“And what about Hazel?” Day called out to Mhok who was already tying his apron.
“Don’t worry, I bought food for him as well.”
“Where is he?”
Mhok quickly halted whatever he was doing.
Moments like this made Day look vulnerable. There were times when Mhok could completely forget that Day was blind and he’d only remember that when Day reminded him. Like now.
“He’s two steps away from your feet. Just walk forward. He’s snuggling against all the warm cloth in the cardboard.” Mhok said softly.
Day nodded with newfound determination.
Taking two steps, Day knelt down and put his hand forward to locate the dog. In some time, his hand reached the furry animal.
He gently lifted it and held against him.
“Hazel?”
The dog barked in response and Day chuckled. Mhok looked at the sight in awe. He didn’t regret bringing Hazel in.
“Do you like the name?” Day asked, caressing it slowly.
Hazel barked again, sounding happy.
Through the open window, the evening sun’s rays adorned the floor beautifully as Day sat on the floor. The blue and grey cloudy sky had cleared up, only leaving a calming breeze.
And now, the atmosphere was graced with laughter, warmth, and love.
Day was finally home.
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