Infection: Dying Days

"And then, there was one."

I said to no one in particular as I watched Big Sis and the other two join their group and cautiously leave the gym. I realized that with those three gone, I have nobody else to talk to in the gym.

Sigh, I never thought I'd be this pitiful. Out of the three years I've been attending this school, I can't believe I've only made five friends! Yeah, sure, I've talked to other students in class before but the conversations we had usually didn't go beyond what the teachers gave us for homework or what's currently trending in class. I'd consider them short-term acquaintances at best. Even more so if I add in the fact that we'll probably never meet again after graduation.

"Not that it matters now since there isn't even a 'graduation' to speak of...So long high school diploma. All those years of hard work went completely down the drain."

While having such thoughts as this, I walk to the boy's locker room. I've been holding it since I've talked with Big Sis and now I can't wait any longer. 

When I entered the boy's bathroom, I scanned the area and took note of its poorly maintained appearance and boldly suggested to myself…

"Should I risk taking on the name of a pervert and use the girl's locker room instead?"

Compared to the boy's locker room that reeks of sweat, feet, and piss, the girl's locker room has to be a beautiful and aromatic flower garden. And even if it isn't, at least it's got the basic sense of hygiene down (i.e. clean toilets and stalls). Not to mention, since a girl's perfume is a lot stronger than boy's cologne, they're able to suppress the odors lingering around in the air with only a few sprays.

Hmm, the more I elaborate on it, the more I think I should do it! But once I do try to sneak into the girl's locker room, there's a good chance I might get caught. And once I'm caught, I'll be labeled as a pervert and be left at the mercy of the gym's female population!

 That's a fate I don't want!

Therefore, I forcefully subdued that nefarious notion of using the girl's locker room and head into one of the stalls to relieve myself. 

"Do you think this plan's actually working?"

"Hmm, what you trying to say?"

However, I had to stop mid flow because I heard two voices talking outside my stall, sounds like they're at the sink. Wanting to be nosy, I withstood the urge to release and quietly listened. I would've turned around to see who they were but I fear that I would make to much noise trying to do so.

"I mean, do you think it's safe to continue on with this plan? Especially with that guy being in the lead?"

Huh? Is that guy me?

"I get what you're saying. I'm also uneasy about having somebody who just beat the shit out of three people becoming the leader too. Who knows if he might turn his rage onto one of us."

Disrespect mom and that won't happen to you.

"My thoughts exactly! If it wasn't for President Yang's insistence I bet the majority of the students probably wouldn't have listened to him. Seriously, who let a person such as him get into this school?"

Dude, if you got a problem with it, then take it up with the principal. He's the one that allowed me, a former juvenile inmate, to attend this school. Which I am thankful for by the way. Having graduated from a prestigious school would've looked real good on my resume. 

Key word 'would've.'

"I agree with you a hundred percent on that but let's face it, without him, the majority of us would still be sitting here waiting for help to arrive. I don't know about you but I miss my family."

"...I can't refute you on that. I'm just a little nervous that's all. It's our turn to go out there next."

As one of the voices finish saying this, I heard the sounds of a shoulder being patted. The other voice was consoling him.

"Yeah, I'm a little jittery too. Here, take this. It'll calm you down a bit"

Sounds of something being taken out of a pocket and then shuffled could be heard.

"Eh? Cigarettes? Where did you get those?"

"That doesn't matter. Do you want one or not?"

"...Yeah. Give me one."

After a few seconds of hesitation, one of the voices finally said. And immediately after getting the confirmation, the sound of a lighter being struck could be heard. Followed by the smell of burning tobacco.

"Cough, cough, cough! How in the hell can you smoke these things! Ah, God my nose burns!"

"Haha! Who told you to try and blow smoke out your nose on the first try? You gotta get used to smoking first. Haha!"

"S-shut up!"

"Hahaha!"

"Screw it! I'm outta here!"

"Haha! Wait! Where are you going? Don't you wanna try again? Haha!"

One of the voices angrily said as he stormed out of the locker room. Walking right behind him was his friend trying his best to hold back his laughter as he made fun of him.

"..."

After those two left, there was a lingering silence within the locker room. However, that silence was soon destroyed by me...

PSSS!

"Ah, that feels so much better!"

I finally broke down that temporary 'dam' I had put up in order to hear those two's conversation and allowed the liquid to flow free. It was one of the best feelings in my life.

Once I was done, I flushed the toilet and left the stall to wash my hands. And when I got to the sinks, a little surprise was waiting for me in one of them. It was a cigarette. Although it was slightly bent and little wet, it was smokable. That first time smoker must've flung it into here when he furiously coughed earlier.

Not bothering with how wet it was, I picked up the cigarette.

"Don't mind if I do. Oh, it's still lit! Lucky me!"

I said upon noticing that a few embers were still burning within the cigarette. Not wanting to let the embers disappear because I don't have a lighter to reignite it with, I took a deep drag of the cigarette and let loose a long exhale filled with smoke.

"Damn. I hadn't had one of these in a while. I think it's been around four years since I had one?"

It was easy to quit since I didn't heavily smoke back then but the urge still comes up from time to time. Sometimes when I see a person on the street puffing on a cigarette, I have the sudden urge to go up and ask them for one. But luckily, thanks to my years of abstinence, I held such tendencies down.

"But considering all that I've done these past two days, I'll make an exception. Consider it as my reward for helping my fellow students (even though some are having negative opinions of me)."

Justifying my reason for smoking, I lean against the nearby locker room wall and continue to drag on my cigarette. It might be my only one for a while!