Octo leant back on the seat, feeling happy and satisfied. Work had been tiring, but in the end, the results were worth it.

He looked over his workmates, chatting and having a good time, celebrating a successful objective. Despite the festive air, he kept his distance. Everyone knew he wasn't the type to party hard, so they didn't urge him. Besides, knowing that he was appreciated here was enough for him.

Smiling, Octo picked up another slice of pizza from his workmate's desk and ate it. His boss bought a lot of food for this occasion. He didn't want to be full, though, he wanted to celebrate by himself later.

“Hey, look, look!" Mingi sat down on his seat next to him and punched his shoulder. “Look at that Jacob go!"

The panther looked over at said Jacob, then laughed along with everyone. “Not the first time I saw someone chug down a bottle of beer." He chuckled.

The otter next to him laughed. “That bloke downed one bottle in one go!"

He smiled and drank his beer.

“Anyway, you wanna get some dinner with me later?" asked Mingi.

Octo turned to the otter and saw him grinning and wiggling his brows. “Sorry, I'd like to, but I have plans."

“Aw, too bad. It'll be on me."

He finished the slice of pizza. “Really, thanks, but I have plans."

“Well, your loss then. You have my number if you change your mind." The otter punched his arm softly, then stood up and walked to the group. Octo just watched him go with a small smile. He wanted to celebrate this by himself. It had been a while since he had an excuse to go out and dine out.

A few hours later, everyone was packing for home. The empty bottles of beer were put near the rubbish bin to be cleaned later. Good thing tomorrow was Saturday, so none of them was going to show up drunk to be told off by the boss, although, the boss himself was here, and maybe a bit drunk.

Glancing at the clock, Octo packed his things and stood up, straightening his shirt. After turning his computer off, he put his coat on and walked away. He was hungry; he didn't eat much of the pizza since he wanted to dine out. “I'm going home." He said to the room. “Thanks for the food!"

Some of them greeted him goodbye, and he left the room.

It was raining outside. The panther took his umbrella out from his bag when he reached the first floor. After exchanging greetings with the security guard as he clocked out, he opened the umbrella and walked outside towards the nearest tram stop. They were in the last weeks of autumn, so an even more reason to celebrate. He took his phone and looked at the time; 19.03. Putting his phone back in his pocket, he chuckled a bit. Were they really partying for that long?

His stomach rumbled, telling him to hurry. It was cold, so something warm would be nice.

Truthfully, he wanted to celebrate this with someone. At first, he wanted to invite Tom and Max, but knowing them, perhaps it wouldn't be such a good idea. They became boyfriends last month, so he didn't want to disturb them much. He knew they wouldn't turn him down, but no, they were only getting started.

He got on the tram, spun his umbrella to get the water off and closed it, then sat on the available seat with a sigh. Through the window, everything looked beautiful. He was really looking forward to winter. Unlike home where winter was miserable, winter here was beautiful. He still remembered that time his family went to the city square. His late brother was excited, but his excitement died down as soon as they reached the city square.

He chuckled at the memory. It felt like it happened yesterday.

No use thinking about that now. The rain was falling from the sky, the sound calming and comforting. The panther smiled as he looked over the Wolvessye Monument on the main avenue; it looked majestic under the rain, as if it was standing strong under an onslaught of destruction. Not only did it symbolise the victory of the wolves, but it also symbolised a strong will, an unyielding determination to keep standing.

When he reached the Old Highwall stop, he got off the tram, now that the rain was over. His favourite duck restaurant was near here. It wasn't very big or popular, but he liked the food there. He was glad he found it before the tourists did. Thankfully, there were many hidden gems like this all over Barrowisle. The panther smiled, closing his eyes as he smelled the aroma from inside.

However, that made him walk into someone. He almost fell but managed to catch his balance and stumble backwards a few steps. He looked down to see if anything fell, then looked up at the one whom he walked into. “Sorry, I wasn…"

“Watch it! I—"

In front of him was a red wolf. Like him, he was surprised as well. The wolf's eyes were wide, but then he looked away. “Uh, sorry."

“Kevin?" Octo said.

Kevin sighed, shoulders slumping and ears down. “Yeah? Sorry for walking into you."

Finally coming to his senses, the panther gave a sigh and asked him, “What are you doing here?"

“To get some food? Dunno, I ran out of food."

Octo only stared at him, curious at his reaction. Kevin was… not his usual self. Usually, he didn't act like this. Octo could only shrug it off and opened the door. They had things to talk about, even though he wasn't really looking forward to it. “Let's just get some food."

“I-is it okay?" Kevin asked him, making him stop in his steps. “I mean, after what happened…?"

Octo didn't turn to look at him, but he could sense the unease from the wolf. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. It would be better to talk it inside at a table over food. “Let's just get some food." He said as he put his folded umbrella near the entrance and went inside.

After they found a seat and ordered the food, they only sat in their seat somewhat awkwardly. He knew they had to talk about it, but he didn't know how. He never had the chance to meet the wolf after that incident in the campus café a month ago, and frankly, wasn't really looking forward to it. Tom told him that they were fine now, and Max wasn't panicking so he knew everything was fine.

He preferred solving problems by hitting them head-on, making sure to resolve them efficiently and thoroughly so that they wouldn't bite him again later. This one, though, he… just didn't have the will. He wasn't sure, but he genuinely felt hurt by Kevin. Not only had the wolf hurt Tom, but he also hurt Octo and Max. Octo wasn't even sure why did he feel so hurt.

He knew he had to talk about this, though. After taking a deep breath, Octo dared speak first. “Kevin, are you okay?"

The wolf kept staring at the window, but then finally gave a huff. “Yeah, I'm okay. I'm fine."

“You don't look fine."

“Yeah, well… things 've been… rough lately."

“I see."

Kevin gulped. “About that… uh… I… I-I'm sorry… for lashing out on you… last month…"

“It's fine. I'm okay." He said, looking away from the wolf. The fight itself didn't hurt much, but something else. Still, it was rather surprising for Kevin to apologise and from his tone, he sounded honest… which actually worried him a bit. Did something happen between him and Tom after he left? Kevin really sounded like he regretted that. “Are you okay, though? With Tom?" He asked the wolf, wanting confirmation.

“Yeah, we're okay. We made up." Kevin answered firmly, then looked at him and took his hand, surprising the panther. “I'm… sorry for that."

Octo wanted to pull his hand back, but Kevin was taking it so gently as if it were made of glass. “W-what are you doing?"

“Apologizing."

“Are you drunk?!"

“Maybe." Kevin's shoulders slumped again.

Octo stared at him. It was very unlike him to act like this, hell, it was very unlike him to apologise. When he saw that nervous grin on the wolf's face, though, he knew Kevin was sober… relatively sober.

The wolf finally let his hand go and they went quiet. Octo took the time to observe the wolf. He looked… fine, but he noticed the fur gap on his arm. It was still there, though very faint now. That made him wonder, did Kevin have another fight lately? The wolf himself said he sometimes got into fights. He wanted to ask, but when Kevin let out another sigh, he decided not to.

Kevin was still as handsome as he first met him. He was charming, and his colouration, red outer and white inner, suited his personality perfectly. He was brash and easy-going, which made him seem even more of a bad boy than he already was. He was muscled, and somehow he wondered if he got those muscles just to pick up dudes or not.

What made Octo interested in him? The panther didn't know. It all happened so fast. One day they discovered each other's sexuality, the next they were giving it into the other like tomorrow wouldn't exist. While it made them get to know each other, he wondered if Kevin did that because he thought they were friends or just because he wanted a fuckmate.

Octo wouldn't really be repulsed by the latter, but he kind of wished they weren't just fuckmates. Kevin was a good guy in his opinion, only wired differently from him. They got along relatively well, until that accident in the wolf's flat after Tom and Max told him they were boyfriends.

He'd never seen the wolf so angry before. Unlike the previous times, that time he looked really angry, not just annoyed. He didn't know in detail what happened between him and Tom before, but all that he understood was that two years ago Kevin liked Tom and asked him out, for a date or just a fuck he didn't know, but Tom turned him down by lying that he wasn't gay. Then, after graduation, he told Kevin that he was boyfriend with Max and that made the red wolf angry.

Somehow, knowing that Kevin liked someone made something inside him itch.

Kevin ran his fingers through his hair. “Y'know, I, uh, just watched this TV series where the main character is a total asshole who has a crush on a complete nerd. In the end they became a thing and lived happily ever after."

The panther raised his brow.

“So, well, I'm just wondering, do opposites attract? Like, y'know, magnets and stuff, but does it happen to people too?" Kevin then turned to look at him.

Octo only eyed him, surprised at the sudden question. Was it a rhetorical question, was the wolf drunk, or was he asking for relationship advice? “Maybe." answered the panther. “Depends."

“Depends?"

“Relationships aren't something that can be figured out simply, you know. It really depends on a lot of things."

Kevin didn't answer, but then he looked away and gave out a sigh. “Y-yeah, I see."

“What was that about?"

“Nothing."

They went quiet again. However, that question made the panther ponder. Did opposites attract? They were almost opposites of each other, so he knew him well. Kevin would do things he normally wouldn't do and vice versa. Kevin was the life of the party, while he was a book lover. Kevin was someone who might hold hands in public just because he felt like it, while he would never do things like that out of the blue.

“Here's your food. Sorry for the wait!" The waiter came and put down their dishes on the table, bringing him back from his thoughts. “Enjoy your meal!"

At the smell of food, Octo let out a happy sigh. Finally, some spicy duck. He took a spoonful of the gravy and hummed happily as the taste warmed him. He heard Kevin chuckle in front of him, then he glared at the wolf.

“What? Never seen you that cute before." The wolf simply said with a snicker as his ears were finally back up.

Octo just grunted and began eating his meal happily. It had been a busy week, and now he was rewarding himself. However, he felt like Kevin was staring at him. He looked up from his meal and indeed saw the wolf staring at him. He raised his brows, but the wolf didn't look away.

Kevin then asked him. “Dude, you can eat that?"

“Eat what? This?" The panther looked at his meal, buying into his excuse. He felt like Kevin was staring at him, not at what was he eating.

“Yeah, uh, the gravy's as red as my fur."

A short pause. “It's mainly just the pepper, chilli, and tomato."

“Really? And you can stomach that?"

He shrugged. “It tastes good. Want some?"

Kevin looked like he wanted to take a scoop, but he didn't and kept eating his own meal. “Nah, still love my stomach."

Octo smiled fondly. Actually, he didn't like this, not talking about a problem and just letting it be swept under the rug. Looking at Kevin, though, he did look like he didn't care much about it. The wolf apologised before, something he'd never thought the wolf would do, so maybe he really meant it. Besides, no major harm was done. However…

“Kev, what did you and Tom do after I left?"

The wolf tensed up, making Octo suspect that something must have happened. Kevin didn't look at him right away. “Well… uh…"

He narrowed his eyes.

“We… um… we just… made up. We're fine now."

He knew that, but the way Kevin said it made him think that something happened. Even more so was the way he reacted now; Kevin's ears were flat, and he didn't look at him. Octo could see his tail waving in anxiety.

“If you dare hurt him, I will not hesitate to hurt you." He said evenly.

The wolf's ears flattened again, but Kevin didn't answer.

He continued eating his meal. He trusted Kevin for now, and Max wasn't panicking so Tom must be fine. What made him worry a bit, though, was the reason Kevin didn't seem to want to talk about it. Either it was so mundane or so grave.

“I-it's a wolven matter." Kevin said suddenly.

Octo eyed him. “Wolven matter?"

“Yes, er…" The wolf looked away. “Yeah."

He couldn't pry at that, so he only nodded. As a leopard, he had no right to meddle in other species' business.

They went silent after that. Kevin was strange tonight, but he couldn't blame him. He did look somewhat more tired than usual. His fur looked a bit dishevelled, and unlike the usual, his fluff was hidden under his jacket.

“So, Oct," The wolf started. “how's… uh… work?"

The panther took a gulp of his juice. “The usual. My department met our objective today so we had a mini party. You?"

“I… uh… I don't have a job."

He raised his brow. “You don't?"

“Yeah." Kevin sighed and pushed his empty plate away. “Haven't got one since graduation. Er… any openings at yours?"

“Didn't Max send you the listing at his place?"

“No. We… uh… we haven't made up yet."

Ah. “Unfortunately, there's no position open for now." He said as he put his own empty bowl on top of the wolf's plate. “I'll notify you if there's one."

“Cool."

They went quiet again, but Kevin then spoke up. “You… um… wanna hang out?"

We are hanging out, he wanted to say, but knowing Kevin, he might have some other idea in mind. Octo didn't really want that right now. “Sorry, but I'm gonna go home after this."

“Oh, okay."

They went silent.

“Wait, aren't we hanging out right now?" Kevin asked.

Octo chuckled. “Took you long enough."

“Thanks, fuck you."

That made him laugh softly. The annoying Kevin was slowly coming back and that made him feel relieved. He looked at the wolf with an amused smile and said, “Don't you have classes tomorrow?"

“I don't—wait, you think I haven't graduated uni?"

“You haven't, have you?"

“Excuse me what the fuck?"

“And it seems you haven't had one recently."

Kevin stared at him, then sighed and leant forward on the table. “Why did I fall into that one? Dude, spare me."

Octo poked his ear. “Hey, don't die. You still have women to do you-know-what."

“Enough mocking me?" The wolf glared at him, but that lacked the bite.

“Ah, sorry. I was not aware that women don't interest you."

“Ah, sorry. I reckoned I have made that clear since we have put our sexual equipment into each other's exhaustive hole."

He chuckled. That one packed a punch. Sometimes he forgot just how much of a spoiled brat was Kevin.

“Come on, what else d'you wanna flex?" The wolf sat up. “You flexed so much already."

“Heh, I think you were the one who's been flexing." He finished his drink.

Kevin looked at him, then looked away and crossed his arms. “Tch. Asshole."

“See? You're even flexing your cuteness."

“I wanna say 'weird flex but okay' but you did too much weird flex." He said, then sighed. “Come on, I wanna go home."

“Okay, wait. I'll pay."

Kevin shrugged. Octo called the waiter over for their bill, then he paid for the food. “How much?" the wolf asked him as they walked out of the restaurant.

“Nah, I paid."

“Dude."

“Really, it's fine. I paid." The panther gave his shoulder a soft shove. “So, see ya."

Kevin just gave him a small snicker. “Well, thanks, panther. See ya 'round."

Octo led him out of the restaurant. When they were outside, Kevin gave him a weak punch on the shoulder, then walked away down the road.

As he stared at the wolf's wagging tail and wide shoulders, Octo couldn't help but feel relieved. Kevin was still himself, after all. It was nice to know that he and Tom already made up, though he still needed to make up to Max. Thankfully, neither Kevin nor Octo needed much mending on their end. The panther took his folded umbrella and crossed his arms, unable to hold back a smile.

He softly shook his head in fondness and walked away towards home. Hopefully, that really settled the problem.