CONNECTED - II

The girl hurriedly turned her face away from Maxim. However, they do not need to interact, even exchange glare like humans in general.

"Sorry," Maxim said quietly.

Both of them looked at the waves that were pounding under each other's feet. Nothing was done by Maxim and Maxine, other than sinking into each other's minds. But Maxine becomes the only one who is disturbed by some things that disturb her during the trip. A handful of Mary's complaints. For the first time in her life, Maxine feels guilty for what she didn't really do.

Maxine took a deep breath, before then turning to her right side, staring at Maxim and voicing something disturbing her.

"If... If only you're avoiding someone, or maybe everyone... At least, don't turn off your phone. My ears almost bleed constantly hearing your girlfriend complaining about not being able to contact you." complained Maxine.

Maxim raised his head, staring at Maxine who had just spewed out a long sentence at him. A smile rose, adorning his gloomy face since morning.

"I'm sorry if you're bothered by it," Maxim said quietly.

Maxine shook her head, turning her back, choosing to stare at her plunging legs. "No—"

Not yet having time for Maxine to finish her speech, Maxim swiftly grabbed —cut off her words.

"It's not my responsibility," Maxim said. He nodded before then continuing his speech. "You said that to me once."

Maxine nodded softly, and muttered, "It's good to remember."

Silence again ambushed, between Maxine and Maxim. The two both look like they want to talk to each other about something, it's just that Maxine doesn't want to be misunderstood, while Maxim worries about being called flirtatious.

In the end, Maxim who was getting tired of the darkness-clad silence above his head chose to ignore Maxine's assumptions about him. He just needs a friend to talk to. At least, even if it's just meaningless chatter, Maxim doesn't care. During these seven days, he began to know how bored it felt to run and be alone for too long.

Maxim then turned his head, watching Maxine who was also about to turn her head up to her shoulders. For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. A split second later, Maxine became the first person to smile, followed by Maxim afterward.

"Thank you, you're willing to be friendly to me," Maxim said, with a warm smile still clearly on both corners of his lips.

Maxine nodded. Three seconds later he looked up, staring at the only white cloud above the dark sky. He exhaled heavily, before finally turning his head —looking at Maxim who secretly looked engrossed in looking at the entire perfect curve on his pretty face.

Despite knowing what Maxim was doing, the girl chose not to care about him.

"I thought... I'm the only one who makes Deep Hills a place to hide. Immerse me from the crowd," Maxine said after a moment of silence.

Hearing the sentence, Maxim raised his eyebrows. Looks confused and astonished. "So, you come here often?" Maxim sounded enthusiastic and curious.

Maxine gave him a nod again. "Judging by the way you sat comfortably on that big rock, it seemed like... You hide in this place more often than I do."

It was Maxim's turn to give a nod. His warm look as he stared dimmed. "No one knows that this is where I'm hiding."

"Now I know!"

"Because this is also your hiding place."

Again Maxine nodded. "At least I know..." The answer is quiet.

"Can you make this a secret between us?" Maxim tilted his head, staring at Maxine fixedly.

"Have you ever seen me talking to someone?"

Maxine's voice sounded calm, yet she placed full emphasis on every word she said.

"I... don't know." 

Maxim stammered. He knew that despite never paying attention, Maxine had never spoken to any students, except her younger brother, Liam. Maxim just doesn't want to sound like a stalker, or whatever, that will lead Maxine to bad assumptions.

Maxine nodded faintly. "I think... My secret is safe with you."

Maxine raised her gaze, staring at Maxim straight. "Thank you," she said again.

Maxim smiled warmly. Not because he wanted to do it, but he felt the warmth of every word Maxine said. He felt completely trusted for the first time. Because all this time he did not feel like he gained such great trust, except from his two best friends, Ivan and Leo.

"I really appreciate that," Maxim said.

She doesn't know how many times, she nodded before answering. "Okay."

As if he had full confidence, and would not be disappointed by his interlocutor. In the end, Maxim ventured to talk to Maxine about something else. Maxim didn't even hesitate to ask Maxine's reason, for her choice to hide in a place that was considered forbidden.

Maxine unhesitatingly gave him an answer. "That day... On my 14th birthday, my late father and I came here to practice my transforming skills. In the midst of that simple exercise... A group of vampires suddenly came, and attacked a teenager who seemed to be several years older than me..."

Maxine paused her sentence, rubbed her face with a gentle sweep, stared at the tip of her shoe that was hit by wet ground while continuing her remarks that she deliberately stopped.

"Not far from where we are currently sitting..." Maxine lowered her head behind her back while pointing her thumb. "The vampires almost killed the girl. My father immediately asked for help from his packs, trying to protect that girl from the bite of one of the vampires. Unfortunately —"

Maxine spontaneously hung up her sentence. Her eyes watered, she almost cried as she tried to remember and recount the nightmare she had experienced that day. This is the first time Maxine has told anyone other than her mother and Liam.

The bad events Maxine witnessed that day, all, in fact, were turned around by people who liked her late father's performance as an Alpha. It became one of the causes, she received various kinds of bad treatment until this day, and it is also one of the causes of the werewolf in the City of Hillcester ostracizing her family.

Maxim was silent, listening, without interrupting what Maxine was telling. Maxim believes the girl in Maxine's story is his sister, Lisa. He remembered, every time he asked about the chronology of the events of that day, Lisa was always silent. Even their parents strictly forbid to say anything to anyone, including himself.

Today, Maxine recounts the original sequence of events of the day. And Maxim really wanted to hear the original story, from the real witnesses. He must know the truth, for he doubts everything he has heard all this time.

Maxine took a deep breath, after managing to calm herself down, then continued her pause.

"My father was attacked by another pack of wolves when he almost managed to finish off the vampires. I can't see what happened next, or how they killed my father, all I remember is... There was one vampire, the only one left, running towards me, and a little wolf saved me."

Maxine looked up, staring at the dark beginning overhead, holding back tears so as not to fall as much as she could.

Maxim's warm gaze dimmed, replaced with a tearful spotlight when he heard clearly the barrage of events that Maxine had just told him about. Now he knows the facts. There were some irregularities that pierced his chest.

The big thing that happened in the events of that day, seemed to be deliberately hidden by Maxim’s parents, as well as everyone.

A moment's of silence. Only a gust of wind as well as heavy breathing were heard from Maxine and Maxim's side. Until finally, Maxine turned her head again, looking at Maxim who was looking down —looking at the calm ocean under their feet.

"Deep Hills is the only place full of memories for me. This place is also one of the places that my father often uses as a hiding place when he needs to be alone. Just like you." 

Maxim spontaneously turned his head, replying to the expressionless gaze Maxine showed him. "So, you came here only when you missed your father?"

Maxine shook her head. "That's not all."

"And then?" 

Maxine took a deep breath before finally turning her head back, staring at Maxim who had been smiling a warm smile.

"I wish, when I came here, I could meet these little wolves that saved me that day."

Maxim's smile grew. The look in his eyes was so sparkling. "What would you do if you met that little wolf?"

Maxine shook her head slowly, then replied, "I think... I have to thank him." 

Maxine turned her head, looking at Maxim who seemed enthusiastic to hear him speak. "I should have done it a long time ago. From the moment he saved me."

"Why don't you say your thanks to him that day, Max?" asked Maxim curiously.

His voice sounded calm, but the enthusiasm in it could not be maxim hide in the slightest.

"If I hadn't ended up unconscious, I would have done it."

Maxine glared at him upset when their emerald irises met at the same point.

Without having to be told, if Maxine's day did not end unconscious, she must have immediately expressed her gratitude to the wolf who saved her. Even holding it, when they fell into the ocean.

Maxim really couldn't hide his enthusiasm. So in the next split second, he again voiced his curiosity. 

With sparkling eyes, Maxim again asked. "If he's in front of you right now, can you recognize him? Then thank him?"

Maxine winced in confusion. Her right eyebrow lifted up, looking curious about the enthusiasm Maxim had.

"Why are you so excited?"

Maxim chuckled softly. He dried his shoulders before then giving Maxine an answer. "Just curious... If you're willing to tell me."

Unknowingly, Maxine sneered at all the lines Maxim uttered. She spontaneously glared at Maxim who seemed engrossed in laughing at her.

"You are not my friend. I'm not going to tell you anymore," said Maxine after successfully silencing Maxim with the sharp spotlight she threw.

"Okay. I'm sorry," Maxim replied. "But, can we be friends from now?"

Maxim extended his right hand. Although it was impossible to do a handshake, in the end, Maxine reached out — making a handshake movement from a distance, which became a barrier between them.

"Never ask me to talk, except in this place," Maxine said. "I don't want to be considered the cause of your fight with your girlfriend."

"Backstreet friendship?" Maxim nodded slowly. "Not bad."

Maxine shook her head and laughed. 

"Weird!" exclaimed Maxine spontaneously.

For a moment, the two just shared a laugh. Laughing at unnecessary things, but fun to do as an atmosphere.

"I have a question," Maxim said loudly.

Maxine winces, trying to digest the sentence Maxim says quickly like lightning.

"What?" Maxine frowned when she saw Maxim reviewing the thin smile.

"Just a quick question," Maxim said again. "One last question. I swear."

Maxine nodded. Allow Maxim to ask, if indeed it is a simple question, also last for today.

"Go ahead." insisted Maxine loudly.

Maxim took a deep breath, then ventured to look at Maxine fixedly, straight into her green eyes.

"What if it turns out that the little wolf that saved you that day was me?"