Positive

1

My name is Alana. I've always been a procrastinator, a professional one. I work near the deadlines, but never passed one. Well maybe a few times but let me assure you, they're minor mistakes. I know how to sort my priorities, some matters are more important and some other are less. The upsetting thing is sometimes people give me some set of works in a sudden with inhumane deadlines. Those people seem so eager to see me fail.

I scroll my laptop and check the proposal once again. The alarm on my phone makes me jolt in my seat. Oh, two minutes left before the deadline. I save the current document and upload it to G-drive.

"Right on time baby, even there's one minute left," I say to myself in victory as I sip the remaining iced coffee latte from my mug.

A second later my phone rings. I look at the caller ID and roll my eyes. This piece of shit who happens to be my superior, he must be calling to ask if I have submitted the proposals for our nearest and biggest project. Yeah, Chester is the student council president and I am the head secretary.

I pick it up and talk first. "Yes, I have, shithead. Don't you ever check the drive before asking me?"

"Oh, okay, good. But actually I wasn't calling about it."

Oh, how unusual. The Grand Project is next week and I thought it would be the only thing filling his head. I raise an eyebrow and gesture my head as if telling him to continue talking but he can't see me.

"Some test results are out, Al, including mine. Have you got yours?"

Shit. Shit shit shit. I didn't remember about it all day, how could I? It's basically the reason to my migraine and the inconvenience of my nose, even though my head is fine now. My nose has become quite itchy since they took samples this morning. In a flash my heart started racing.

"Not yet. Uh, what's your result?"

"Negative, thank God."

"Good for you."

"I suppose you should get yours soon. Relax, Alana, everything's gonna be alright."

I gulp. "I'm relaxed," I say while nodding my head. I don't know if it helps to assure me if I'm actually relaxed.

"Your breath is too rapid for someone relaxed." He chuckles. I even can hear his eyes rolling.

A notification comes in. I put the call on speaker so I can still hear Chester. I am too afraid to see the test result for myself. Unfortunately I am alone and I can't ask anybody to see it for me. Having a piece of shit on the phone while looking at swab test result feels better than no one at all.

"Hey, shithead, you still there?"

"Yeah, miss always-PMS. Got the result?"

I shake my head, even though the answer to his question is 'yes'. "I don't wanna see it."

"You've got no choice."

For almost a minute there is only the sound of our breaths. "It's alright, open it."

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. "Don't hang up."

"Okay."

I stare dumbfoundedly at my phone screen. Some time has passed, I don't know how long.

"Al?" Chester's calm voice brings me back to the present. "What does it say?"

I hesitate for a second before finally speaking.

"Negative."