The Sickness Pt. 1

5th March 2022, in the nighttime, the newscasters reported that COVID-19 is no longer a threat, nor anymore is it a pandemic. It is now considered as somewhat just like influenza. They even made a graph showing the differences between The Flu and COVID-19, which gave similarities in death rates and infection.

Which both are now considered being equal as not much of a big problem anymore to humankind. Which WHO had said themselves. The anti-vaxxers and the conspiracy theorists self-proclaimed to be superior among the "sheep" they call doctors from this one.

They stopped making masks mandatory and removed all restrictions. My father saw this, and he seemed baffled. I didn't want to annoy him, but I had to ask him.

"So," I exclaimed, clearing my voice, "What now?" despite I'm no anti-vaxxers but I must admit there was a time I gave in to their conspiracy theories once on the internet because of how I was in complete denial, when the time I was about to be free to the outside world, and the quarantine being loosened all this time, my mother had to intervene saying that I can't go outside due to the pandemic, still not able to go to school or look for a job, not even to socialise at the time.

However, that was a long time ago. My father already agreed to let me out to study, but my mother was furious about it. But we all already know the story, so let us move on. Shall we?

"Dad?" I said, as he seems to be in a, somewhat altered state of mind, refusing to speak or move, and not even blink.

My father sighed as he finally snapped out of it, "Okay! Fine! Tomorrow."

"Now! I'll be back before 7:45, I promise! I still have an hour and forty-five minutes 'till I can come back so I can eat, take a shower, then drink medications."

"Klei, you take an hour or two in the bathroom from whatever you are watching on your phone when you take a bath."

"I stopped doing that since you beat the shit out of me for using a long stick!"

He sighed once more, trying to calm himself down, "Okay, fine. Whatever, come back by 7:30. Bring your phone so you know the time."

"Yes! Finally!"

"But I'm not going to give you anymore coffee. You find that on your own."

"So, what? You're just going to waste the remaining coffee in this house? Why not just give them all of it to me and I'll find a job to get my own coffee?"

"If you impress me by getting a job, I will."

"I already have a job! It's called being an author. I'm a novelist."

"Where's your money?"

"I spent them on investing, remember? Like I said, I'm not wasting my money on coffee and cigarettes- IT IS definitely your obligation to give me coffee, anyway!"

"No, I'm going to stop taking care of you, and you are on your own now. This is what you wanted, right? So stop depending on me. This is what you wanted."

"You didn't even teach me how to do my own chores, how to do the laundry, how to cook, how to make rice, etcetera!"

"Tomorrow morning, I'll teach you. Don't be lazy if I do."

"Alright! Bet!"

"But you still need to wear a face mask."

"Fine."

I wore my outing shorts and my face mask, then headed out. And that's when I went to travel around the villages in the voidness of the night.

I just wandered around for the entire night, then headed back home punctually earlier than I promised. That's when I ate, took my meds and took a bath.

Then, I fell asleep that night. And in the following day, I ate foods and my father, regardless of what he said, he still gives me coffee anyway, but only at a limited amount.

I headed outside of the house after chugging my hot black brewed coffee. Then, headed to Guagua town and thinking about going to Downtown San Fernando City if I have the cash.

That's when I went to the back side of the public market to find uncle Ojit. He was surprised and asked me if I had escaped again.

"Let's make a bet," I offered. "If you text or call him and ask him if he allowed me to go outside, you'll give me a hundred pesos."

"No, you're staying in my tricycle until he arrives. I'll call him."

"Suit yourself, mate."

He dialled my father, as he should expect since everyone in town is not used to a supposedly locked up mental escapee get out casually in broad daylight, and not even attempting to hide his face with a pair of bandanas.

"Alright, I believe you."

"Where's my hundred?"

"I didn't agree to that!"

I laughed along with the jest.

"So, he finally lets you out? It probably means you're finally recovered."

"I couldn't say that, it's more of… he got tired of me always begging him to let me out. Until well he eventually did, but my mother couldn't let me out because of the panda bear."

"Yeah, I get that. So how've you been?"

"I just feel a bit knackered from all this writing, really." I said, which is my favourite catchphrase.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about your job as a writer."

"Author," I corrected him, "I am but a novelist and a poet. But in all seriousness, ye self, how are you?"

"Mhm." he shrugged, "I've been better."

"That's sad to hear, mate. How about you give me a cigarette?"

"Oh, sure!" he handed me his pack as I took one cigarette stick.

"You know, I used to accidentally ask to buy a fag instead of a cigarette. The clerk lady looked at me oddly. It feels like asking for petrol instead of gas in America, really. They thought I thought I went inside a gay strip club."

"What are you talking about?"

"What I'm on about are jokes, for your peasant mind couldn't understand."

"Well, I have a joke for ya, Klei. What do you call a funny investment?"

"A laughing stock? I made that joke up, it's been getting viral lately. You probably heard it from TikTok. Shamelessly not giving me credit."

"Okay, another one. I made this one. I'm sure you'll like it. Knock knock!"

"Come in."

"No, you should say-"

"Who's there?"

"A BA,"

"A BA who?"

"A BO'O'WO'WA"

"Is this a peasant joke that I am too rich to understand?"

"How rude!"

"Well, you made fun of my accent. I only practised this due to working hard on making an audiobook for over 66 chapters now."

"Yeah, I heard. I do like your accent though. You sound more American."

"Mate, this accent is from London."

"Yes, London! In America right?"

"God…, yes, you are absolutely correct!"

"So, how is your father now?"

"Well, he's doing fine, I hope."

"What happened to him?"

"He has prostate cancer, but it's not active yet."

"Really? I feel bad, tell him to get well. You owe me that time. I told your Lola Pelly that you missed her."

"Of course, as if he's going to care."

"That's cold!"

"Yeah, I know I'm cold and rude. That's my sense of humour."

"Your sense of humour is being an asshole?"

"Well, if they could shove something up in me if I were to be one."

"Jesus… are you gay?"

"Hell no!" (At least not coming out yet, as pansexual)

"Here, have some 50. Go buy yourself a coffee."

"Thanks, mate. Cheers! I'll go buy coffee at 7-11 and go to Lola Pelly's."

"No problem!"

I left and which was the entire goal in the first place, anyway. Oh? You thought I was going to change because April came into my life? Well, she's gone now. What's the point? I want to be myself for now.