"I'm not going to make a big deal, but son, your generation has resources we didn't. I want to understand how come."
Dylan turned his head away, "you said you wouldn't make a big deal."
"I'm not; I'm just surprised. I thought you knew betterㅡ," Lee said, remaining focused on his driving.
"Well, I was drunk and high, remember," Dylan replied with a tight-lipped smile to go.
Lee evoked his sternest tone, "wipe that grin off your face. You heard Doctor Summers an STI isn't anodyne when you don't treat it. You should be weeping and inform whoever transmitted it to you."
The boy huffed, "Are you serious? Do you really think I can walk up to her and say hey, remember last Friday? Well, you gave me more than an erection. You should have a check-up."
Lee gave Dylan a side glance and would have slapped him behind the head if he wasn't driving, "What, so you're just going to let the person spread the venom? ㅡHasn't our example taught you anything? ㅡLies, deception, and secrets aren't they what broke our family and made sexually transmitted diseases a trend worldwide. Back in the eighties, those who lied and hid their condition largely contributed to the escalation of AIDS and HIV. There were millions of people spreading it without even knowing. The condom was harsh, but it saved lives."
"I don't sleep around, Dad. I didn't want to do it, but things were out of my control."
"I didn't say you did. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you asked for it, but your choices before that part were in your control. Come on, Dylan, you've seen enough movies to know how people perceive these things. If you avoided the high consumption of drugs, we wouldn't be here discussing STIs."
Dylan sighed and sunk back in his seat. His father was right, and he knew it. The boy already visualized the face Becky would make and the eventual rumors that would fly about. Still, he did what Lee asked, not for Becky's sake but for everyone's sake.
As Lee said, if he thought he was old enough to practice sex of any form, then he was old enough to take accountability for the consequences. There were so many perimeters when one decided to be sexually active.
Even though Dylan knew staying safe was a must, he made the debutante mistake, and now, he found himself in front of Becky.
"About Friday."
"What about?" The girl said between her chewing bubble bursts.
"Well, you know what happened between you and me."
The girl blinked twice, "what happened between you and me?"
Dylan didn't know if she played pretend or if she actually didn't remember. Becky had drunk like everyone else. Perhaps everything was blurry for her too.
"Do you remember anything?" Dylan pursued.
"Well, you threw up all over the place," she said while laughing and stopped when her chewing made her choke as she accidentally swallowed it.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Becky answered, feeling like karma slapped her for laughing at Dylan.
"Do you recall anything that happened before that?" Dylan tried to redirect the conversation to the essential.
Becky's eyes darted. It was obvious she knew where he was heading with his question. "Eh, Dylan, about that other thing, could you avoid talking about it?"
"I'm sorry, Becky, but it's that other thing we need to discuss. I went for a check-up and wellㅡ." Dylan paused. He didn't know how to say it. Still, he continued, "You need to see a doctor too. I think you transmitted an STI to me.
"I beg your pardon. ㅡI what? Aren't you a daft one," Becky began screaming, "You're there with a rotten sausage, and here you are trying to blame me. How do you know you're not the one who gave one to me? You think you're nuff nice like the scruff must come from elsewhere."
"Because I was fine before that nightㅡ."
"Yeah, well, you were with Carly, Candy before that, and a few others before her. Why am I the one? It could have been one of them." There was no doubt Becky was too agitated for someone unaware.
It was one of those moments that Dylan wished he had chosen his words better. "It's not what I was saying. It doesn't better who transmitted it. What's crucial is getting treated. It might seem like nothing, but it can worsen and provoke something else."
Dylan heard the rumors. Becky didn't just spread gossip. Her mouth contributed to another kind of news feed that owed her a reputation in the boy's toilets.
"Becky, listen," Dylan grabbed one of her shoulders, hoping she would stop gesturing, "it's just in case you have something."
"Well, I didn't give it to you," Becky said, giving Dylan a side glance and crossing her arms in discontent.
Dylan sighed; he couldn't understand how the fact of being the one to transmit the STI changed anything. They had an infection either way.
The boy walked away with a spoon of relief. He had done his part; now, it was her turn. He couldn't guess how gutted Becky was. She was convinced she was clear her last treatment wasn't too far back.
How could she still be infected?
She forgot one could catch the infection multiple times. The worst commenter would say well, once you visit the apartment, you know where the kitchen is, but the truth was unprotected sexual acts and mistreated infections resulted in a relapse.
Things went better than Dylan imagined until he began to feel the stares and the whispers that evoked the period of his school life where the gay rumors about him spread.
"Can I borrow your rubber?"
Jasmine barely looked at him as she chucked the rubber in his direction and said, "keep it." Dylan didn't take notice of her reaction. He presumed Jasmine didn't want to get scolded during a test, but his next course gave him a heads-up on the situation.
The desk beside him remained empty, and the last person to enter class refused to sit there. That's when he understood what Becky had done. The girl hurried to inform anybody willing to listen that Dylan was the one who spread the bacteria.
By lunchtime, Dylan was livid. Everyone fled him like the pest, and as if it wasn't enough, Carly came howling down at him before breaking down and crying. Dylan's eyes darted while his armpits factory began to unleash sweat by gallons. It was the first time Dylan wished he had more hairs to retain the drops that ran down along his lateral.
"How am I going to tell my parents?"
Luckily for Dylan, Carly's friends ushered her away.
The scene was too much for the boy, who found a bench far from the crowd. He looked at the clouds while praying to wake up from his nightmare when he felt pressure on the bench.
"What are you doing here?"
Candy shrugged and stretched out a donut, "want one? My mom is packing lunch for a sumotori these days."
"No, thanks."
"Suit yourself," Candy replied and began to eat.
"Yo, your mom doesn't want me to approach you," Dylan reminded her.
"I approached you, so she can't say anything."
"Why are you doing this, candy?ㅡWhy are you always so nice to me," Dylan asked.
The girl shrugged, "dunno; I must be an idiot."
Candy couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"You shouldn't do this, you know. You heard the rumors, right?"
"Right," Candy repeated.
"Then why?"
"Well, I'm in this as well if I follow the threads of gossip. I'm your Ex, soㅡ," she shrugged again. "when I think to made it to the cool kid's borders only to be thrown back on the outsider's refugee camp."
"You'reㅡ, Dylan stopped as he realized Candy was his ex. "I guess I'm not meant for the cool kid's island. The rumors are true, you know. I caught an STI that Friday. You shouldn't hang around me."
Candy sighed and mimicked him while rolling her eyes, "Pfff, stop aggravating. If I can't hang around you, I might as well throw my Uncle Paul in quarantine."
"What do you mean?"
Dylan's fogged expression pushed Candy to explain, "My uncle Paul was diagnosed with HIV before my birth. He practically raised me, so STD or STI, all I see are humans. I won't lie; it's one of my unconscious inhibitions. Uncle Paul has been drumming the notion of precaution and protection to me forever. Anyways, you've got treatment, right?"
Dylan nodded.
"Then it's sorted. I'm sure you won't make the same mistake twice. Carly can go to the health centers. Remember, they came the first year and explained what we say there, remains confidential. Becky can go to hell. She's a bitch. It's wild. We have all the information, and people still believe in urban legends of getting an STD or STI with a touch. Anyways, you know what they say, fighting," Candy said, clinching her fists.
Dylan blinked once and twice. He didn't know if he wished to cry, hug Candy or do both. Candy left him time to do neither as she got up.
"Candy."
"What?"
"Can I text you?" Dylan asked.
The girl giggled, "Since when do you ask permission."
"Since I realized I've never deserved you."
Candy smiled, "it's a good thing you know it."
Hi friends,
Yes, I know I did Dylan dirty in the last few chapters. Thank goodness he has Candy in his corner. I don't know about you, but Lee is taking things pretty well.
It's amusing how urban legends concerning STDs and infections still exist. I'm glad to see some doctors getting on social media to educate people.
This millennial didn't have the resources available today. A few of my friends from the Asian, African, and South American communities were part of the lot who believed we could lose our virginity with tampons, despite what we learned in school. Other beliefs, like religion, induced most of my generation's stupid reflections. I notice some people are misinformed even today. I had friends afraid of kegel balls use for the pelvic floor, thinking they were sex toys made for perverts. Anyways, all this to say, education is vital.
Everyone has a least one person in their entourage with an std or another infection. I hope none of you react like the kids in Dylan's school. I know it's still taboo in some communities, but we must improve our behavior and education.
Take care, and stay protected!