The Wounded Hybrid

Auckland, New Zealand.

Nicolas held his breath and sank down into his bath. He tried to relax his mind and ease the pain but the trauma started again. He remembered the night when it all began. 

He was driving his car with his wife, Agnes, sitting in the passenger seat. The couple were returning from their dinner date. The radio was on and the couple were engrossed in the music that was playing. A truck was heading towards them and the driver had no control of the brakes. 

Nicolas saw the truck at the last minute and swerved the car out of the road. He crashed into a tree and lost consciousness.

The blast from the crash made Nicolas short of breath. He raised his head above the water and panted. He came out of the bath with a towel wrapped around his waist. 

He stood in front of the mirror and looked at his reflection. He looked at the scar on his left shoulder caused by the crash. He took a towel from the towel rail and dried his hair partially with it. He plugged in his hair dryer and dried his hair completely with it. He turned it off and unplugged it.

Nicolas maintained his signature look–side parting short hairstyle and a short balbo beard. He picked up his pair of glasses on the vanity top and put it on. He left the bathroom and walked to the wardrobe. 

He opened it and took out one of his suits from the hanger. It was a navy blue suit which he wore over a white shirt. He perched on the bed and was tying the laces on his shoes when heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Nicolas asked sternly.

"It's Sofia, Sir." The voice replied softly.

"Come in." Nicolas said, tying the last lace of his shoe.

The door opened ajar and Sofia came in. She closed the door halfway and stood close to it.

"Good morning, Sir! I came to let you know that breakfast is ready and if you'd like to be served in your room or downstairs?" Sofia asked.

"Downstairs will be fine." Nicolas replied plainly, 

"Anything else?"

"No, Sir!" Sofia said.

"Okay!" Nicolas said.

She left the room and went downstairs. 

Nicolas arranged the scattered files on his bed, put them in his briefcase and zipped it. He was about to leave the room when he caught a glimpse of a picture frame on his bedside table. It was a picture of him and Agnes smiling with Ivan who was a baby then in the middle. They had gone to the beach during the summer with Nicolas' parents. 

Seeing the picture reminded him of her death. He pulled open the bottom drawer and kept the picture frame. He left the room and went downstairs for breakfast. Ivan was all dressed for school and sat down patiently, waiting for Nicolas. He caught a glimpse of his father climbing down the stairs and ran to meet him.

"Daddy!" Ivan said as soon as Nicolas made it to the bottom.

Nicolas crouched down and glared at him. 

"What did I say about running in the house?" Nicolas asked icily.

"Not to run in the house because I could get hurt. Sorry." Ivan said remorsefully.

"Good!" Nicolas said plainly and patted his head,

"Have you had breakfast?"

Ivan shook his head. 

"Sofia!" Nicolas called, standing up straight.

Sofia came in as soon as she heard her name.

"Yes, Sir!" Sofia replied nervously.

"Why hasn't my son had breakfast yet? Aren't you supposed to take care of him like you were hired to?" Nicolas said, looking at her and kept a straight face.

"Mr Nicolas-he-he,"Sofia stuttered,

"He wouldn't eat until you came downstairs. He insisted on having breakfast with you." 

She completed, with her gaze on the floor.

"You may leave now." Nicolas said plainly and walked to the dining room. 

Ivan followed him cheerily. They both arrived at the room. Nicolas pulled out the chair in the centre of the table and kept his briefcase one side. Ivan did the same and sat down on the other. Sofia returned with a jug of water and poured some into a glass for Ivan.

Ivan was still finding it difficult to eat with his cutlery. He made a mess of his food on the table which stirred up Nicolas' mood.

"Sofia!" He called.

"Yes, Sir!" Sofia replied.

"Feed Ivan so that he wouldn't ruin his school uniform." Nicolas said, taking a sip of the juice in his hand.

Ivan rebelled against his father's order and didn't let Sofia get hold of his cutlery. Seeing them struggle for the cutlery made Nicolas angrier than he was.

"Ivan, let Sofia feed you or you'll stay home and forget about going to school today." Nicolas said.

Ivan gave in and surrendered his cutlery to her. He didn't want his father to yell at him or tell him to stay back. Nicolas ate half of what he was served and cleaned his mouth with a serviette. Ivan was done as well and drank the water in the glass. He stood up from his chair and left the room. He went to the armchair he had sat earlier and grabbed his backpack. He put on the straps of the bag. Sofia cleared the table and returned to the kitchen. 

Nicolas stood up from the chair. He grabbed his briefcase and left the room. He arrived at the living room and walked through the archway with Ivan. He held the door open for Ivan and closed it behind them.