The Story of the Girl Who Was Afraid of Everything

Her name is Aria, black hair, not too tall and not too short, characterized by her noticeable Asian look, accompanied by a body in accordance to her expected body weight and BMI. She came from a family associated to health allied team. Her dad is a doctor while her mom is a radiologic technologist and her relatives belong to related field of endeavor. Although the family of her father is disappointed with his choice for a spouse, a skinny, average looking woman from a poor family and a radiologic technologist who was diagnosed with a very much diminished chance of procreating; and yet her parents' marriage luckily resulted to a miracle baby and that baby is Aria. Because she is the only daughter of her parents, she was well supervised and strictly guided.

As an infant, whenever they see her, they have a developmental guide at hand. And even a minimal delay is a big deal to her family. And all her toys pile up according to developmental age. So don't ask her about cards, kick the can and street plays we do back then, she never experienced them. She plays with her almost sterilized cousins and her toys were threatened to be autoclaved by her parents from frequent disinfection. She never goes out without a hand sanitizer. Growing older in time for school, people branded her as the walking aseptic human being. She is disgusted to boys of her age who come home bathing in perspiration, and it makes her vomit whenever a little boy shows fancy for her. To her they are the dirtiest people to walk on earth, urinating everywhere, scratching all over their bodies before taking meals and chomping down food like there's no tomorrow. So how will she ever like one?

Unlike other kids whose bedtime stories are composed of fairy tales, to Aria medical books and encyclopedia are more effective lullabies. As young as she is, she already knew that she'll take a path in health allied in the near future. She grew up knowing her symptoms. She is very much capable of taking care of herself. She holds so much knowledge that she dream of changing the world and freeing from internal and external infectious agents.

She never had any permanent friends; they say she is just too weird. Whenever kids of her age manifest vesicular eruptions and distinct rashes, she never says a word and just reverse isolate herself. She never fails to be cautious and when her teachers advise her to mingle, she only responds with, "You don't know any better." They tag her with superiority complex, and she opts to go on alone than to acquire communicable diseases.

She is a role model of sanitation and a well known consumer of vaccination. After all, she sports the famous adopted line of, "Prevention is better than cure." She can even lecture on health better than her mentors, sculptured by her years of confinement in books related to health.

She somehow managed to keep a few loyal friends who simply admired her vast knowledge and unusual way of dealing with adolescence. Boys would never dare pursue her for they get ticked off by her meticulous and rigid ways of health maintenance plus considering her stereotyped perception of them. But still, there is one guy who saw light in her despite the people's common thoughts. He is a good looking boy, the same age as Aria, likes to keep his hair in spikes as if it could kill unlucky lizards, popular with the girls yet ironically afraid to approach them. He is lean muscular too and plays badminton for the school. He kept mum about it until he finally had the courage to pursue her in college. When it came down to the point that he was already going to make his move, he had prepared himself to expect the worst.

He approached her with flowers at hand. "For you." He was mildly sweating from nervousness and it seemed to take forever before Aria finally looked up to him. "What are those for?!" She asked in slight irritation.

He wasn't sure if he should continue to remain there but he still managed to summon all the pride left in his chest, "Uh−flowers that I want you to have."

"Hayes, were you even listening to me? What are you scheming?" She is never known for her patience contrary to what course she took−nursing, when everyone thought she is best for medicine.

He exhaled longer this time. "I like you even though it's hard to believe." Smiling for a bit, "Will you give me a chance to prove myself worthy of you?" He looked at her intently. She thought about it. Sure, she was never fond of guys but then...she was silent for a while then snorted a laugh to break the ice. It made him so unsure of his standing.

"I never knew you harbor such feelings for me." She momentarily stopped and smiled back. "Okay, prove yourself, but let me warn you I don't take flowers because those are bacteria inhabited."

Feeling embarrassed he still responded to show appreciation, "I see. I'll make sure to remember that."

Day by day with more time he spent with her, he got bombarded with all her do's and dont's in health that at times those things almost discouraged him from taking the young girl's heart to school.

All his friends wondered what in the world did he see in her, the infamous touch-me-not girl as they coin Aria. And all he could say is, "Even if I explain it, you guys wouldn’t believe me."

Aria got accustomed to his company and eventually felt for the persistent guy in Hayes. When he thought they can have the least contact possible, he confidently held out his hand for her to grab on, instead she pointed at his extended hand and exclaimed, "Staph!" He didn't get it at first then after a while understood what she meant. So the Boy Scout in him took over and brought out his hand sanitizer then smiled weakly at her to which she returned in a slightly sarcastic manner though. And he knew best not to complain.

But for Hayes, one of the hardest parts in being together is dating. He asked her, "Where do you wanna eat?" And she would reply, "Let's try your choices." Aria has the habit of testing him and giving him more participation in the relationship." Oh, so how about we check my favorite place to dine." And she merely nodded in agreement.

They arrived at a carinderia and noticed the change in her expression. She started wearing a disconcerted look that he knew he took her to the wrong place. "Can we go somewhere else?" Aria finally voiced out.

"Okay, I just thought you might give it a try. They cook palatable food here."

"That's not my point Hayes, you know I don't eat anywhere I suspect to have undergone unhygienic food preparation." Aria clarified and he could only accommodate her reason or else it would spell another night long argument.

"Alright, I'm sorry. Let's eat at your hygienic restaurant then." Hayes couldn't help muttering a haughty comment once out of her earshot.

He remembered that he can't eat in front of her too because she has a lot of things to say. He digs burgers and hotdog sandwiches and when she catches him so ingesting his favorite stomach fillers, she'd drop discouraging remarks like, "Those things are high in cholesterol just look at your sandwich, hotdog+mayo+catsup, you're taking a truckload of fats Hayes."

Then he would throw a counterpunch, "I'll leave the burning to badminton."

And the girl who doesn't take defeat would go on, "Fine, I'll remind you in your burial." Harsh? Of course that's her way of telling the nasty truth. And Hayes is pretty much aware of her bothersome observations yet just takes it as her unique way of expressing her concern.

One time, naughty Hayes approached Aria and mentioned, "We've been together for so long, aren't we supposed to kiss by now?" That he followed with an irresistible grin.

Aria turned at him with a jokingly disgusted look. "Me kissing you? Have you heard of infectious mononucleosis aka kissing disease? Expect me not to take the risk."

"Ooh, harsh! You don't have to worry about that I'm clean, however you are sterile that is." Hayes interjected in his usual mocking tone.

"Really? How about your many fangirls around the campus?” Aria challenged him and he took it without hesitation.

"Them? I don't even know any of those crazy girls. If you don't notice yet, I'm a shy guy." Hayes admitted in a low tone.

This time it was Aria's turn to flash a mischievous grin.

"Yeah, I remember that time when you first proposed, you were covered with sweat from nervousness." She couldn't contain her laughter.

"I was hoping you have forgotten about that, anyway are we on?" Hayes now back to his gleeful state.

Aria appeared to have thought about it for a while then posing a sexy smile, caressed his face and stroked in a scanning manner. His hope was practically surging basing from what she's showing. And then she finally spoke, "Maybe next time when you've already chugged down a bottle of antibiotics." Turning the highly spirited Hayes, anhedonic.

One time Hayes invited Aria somewhere, she found herself dubious of his intention because he wouldn't tell where exactly they're heading then they arrived at an abandoned warehouse. She wouldn't budge when he motioned for her to follow so he took her hand and gave an assurance despite her reluctance. "I'm not gonna do anything to you, you think I'm capable of harming you?" So she at last agreed to go with him. Then they reached the rooftop and walked towards the edge and leaned at the railing. "I come here often when I wanted to relax; the view just eases me up." Hayes shared.

"Yeah it's beautiful." Then he went behind her and enveloped his arms around her waist, pressed his head in her shoulder and brushed his face against her cheek; and whispered, "Not as beautiful as you." She was blushing like crazy from embarrassment at his remark. Nonetheless, she appreciates his romantic side.

During the boys' conference, an acquaintance of Hayes curiously asked, "Man, you're one tough cookie to have endured Ms. Touch-Me-Not. I mean what do you get from her anyway, you can't even touch her!" The guy couldn't help laughing at his own remark.

Hayes getting irritated, "I didn't pursue Aria because I'm only aiming to touch her. It's because I love her."

The guy didn't seem to mind getting on Hayes's nerve as he even continued pressing at the matter. "Wow! How sure are you that girl feels the same way? What if she's just keeping you around because no other guy would be stupid enough to fall for her?" The guy is digging his own grave.

Hayes is itching to land a punch in that foul face. Who the hell is he to insult him and Aria? But he opted to walk out instead; he realized that guy is just a waste of energy to spend with.

However, when he got home, he couldn’t get the thought out of his head. What if she’s just enjoying the company and do not love him at all. After all, he was more expressive. But then his superego tells him a good boyfriend knew best a relationship is based on trust. And he chose to follow his conscience.

Unfortunately, the next incident came concurrent with the sound of Hayes’s snapped patience. It was Aria’s birthday so Hayes planned the surprise party ahead together with her friends. When he found her, he put the bouquet of roses behind his back as her friends started singing the happy birthday hymn. When he sneaked behind her and called her, handing the roses, she stormed off. Silly him, he had completely forgotten. He chased after her to apologize but she brushed him off and asked not to be bothered anymore. He tried to talk things out so that she could at least enjoy the night in consideration to their efforts but she said he spoiled it. He thought she was being too sensitive and inconsiderate, such a rigid person. “You’re exaggerating you know, we meant to give you a birthday blast and this is what’s gonna happen?”

“You knew in the first place that I was born this way, you can’t ask me to change overnight. And who told you to seek me out when it’s clear I’m not an easy task to get done with, no one! So get out of my life, I know you’ve been dying to!” Aria returned in an equally infuriated state.

“Maybe you’re right. I should be more lenient to myself and start considering my options from now on.” And then they part ways.

Their relationship has become a frozen delight with Aria’s pride and Hayes’s shattered emotions, God knows if they’ll ever be back together. One of Aria’s closest friends though is not going to let her give up that easily so Celeste invited her for a heart to heart talk.

“Aria, I’m not trying to get in between your growing fight with Hayes but are you sure you want to let your relationship go just like that? And you know Hayes’s fangirls are like vultures just waiting for the prey to be let loose.” Aria found it funny but held her own composure; she is supposed to be against everything about Hayes.

“I don’t care about them, they’ve been around longer than we have been together. Besides he can be just like those opportunistic guys, who rubbed on you until they’ve taken everything they could out of you. He already got my time and attention; I won’t allow him to suck every bit of life out of me.” Aria bitterly responded.

“Aria I don’t think he’s like that. C’mon you gotta give him the credit he deserves for seeing beyond what the eyes wanted to see in order to feel what the heart is yearning to scream. That’s how he got attracted to you for sure. I mean another Hayes wouldn’t come along that easy. So think about it, I don’t want you to regret it when you decide it’s really over.” Celeste laid out her last card hoping her friend would be finally convinced to make up with Hayes.

“Celeste, you sound like a fangirl.” Celeste couldn’t believe her ears, how could she accuse her.

“Apparently, I’m not. I’m just concerned about you.” She had to explain again, Aria can really exhaust your patience at times.

“Alright, I’ll give it a second thought.” Aria assured Celeste that she appreciates her help.

Several days passed by, now she gets bored of writing these long lectures of fundamentals. She just wants a nice, warm bath. Normally, end of classes meant seeing him and hearing his corny jokes; Evenmore, becoming a victim of his uncalled for sweetness. She hated to admit that, loud as the avalanche rapidly sweeping the terrains, she missed him. As usual she was the last one left, tinkering at the insides of her locker while the rest of the pack had already departed. She rearranges her stuff carefully, wiping off every visible dirt completely. When she shut her locker door, she heard footsteps approaching her direction then she diverted her gaze to identify the person. ”Hey, I thought you’d be the last to leave.”

“Hey.” She shortly answered yet her heart is jumping with joy that she wanted to kill it for a second. No, she shouldn’t let him notice that after all the ruckus that happened between them, she finds herself enjoying the sight of him. Maybe because he had grown on her like a fungus that just multiplies no matter how many times you pluck them again and again.

“You know, I felt like I got fixated that I had to come back for more.” He smiled wanting so bad to wrap his arms around her and pull her closer but held back, she might not be ready yet for that. But he never expected what happened next. She lunged at him and buried her head in his chest.

“I miss you, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have reacted like how I did. You guys even threw that party for me. I couldn’t control my health conscious self and *bam* I sent you away without even thinking.” She was on the brink of crying, this feels good how could she just waste it just like that? He, he’s the next best thing that ever came into her life.

Putting a finger to her lips, “Shh…I understand and it’s partly my fault that I didn’t remember it. Now, can we start on an even ground this time?”

She nodded and muttered, “Not easy but I’ll do my best.”

They walked hand in hand when she asked out of curiosity. ”What were you doing anyway these days? And how was your options?”

“Well, my options were narrowed down to badminton and…you. Yeah, so when I’m not playing, you keep on invading my head like you’ll always do. Aria, you’re my love pathogen.”