Infection: Dying Days

"Before we do that, there's someone I need to call first."

Upon entering my room, I said to David. He was sitting on the edge of my bed, glancing around the room.

"Who're you going to call?"

"My grandma." 

Saying this, I walked towards where my gaming PC was. I don't have a phone anymore and I don't necessarily want to use everyone else's since their phones are either dead or just barely charged.

"Oh, Ms. Imani? I haven't seen her since her last visit. How is she? Is her back doing okay?"

Moving to the side of the bed where the gaming PC was, David asked concerned. Despite not being his grandma, David sure treats her like she is. The same can be said for grandma too. In her words, 'every child needs to be loved, and what's no better love than a grandmother's?'

Because of this, she's known in her neighborhood as 'Big Mama', the woman who'll never let you leave her house hungry, and the woman who would always put a smile on your face. 

This is also one of the reasons why I'm not too concerned about her safety. The title of being a 'Big Mama' has a hold on people where it makes nobody with a heart want to see her get hurt, so I'm sure the neighbors would put their all in making sure she's completely safe.  

But, despite knowing this, I still want to confirm her safety with my own eyes. I want to make sure she's a hundred percent safe.

"From what she told me last week, other than the occasional back pain, she's doing fine. However…" 

"However?"

"...She said that she was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes." 

Showing a worried expression, I continued. 

"She said that when she went to the doctors for the usual check-up last month, they did a blood test and found out that she had it. In order to bring her blood sugar down to manageable levels, the doctors prescribed her a few medications and opted for her to try and eat healthy. They also suggested light exercise but I don't think she can due to her back."

Even though she had to have surgery on her spine for osteoarthritis a couple of years back, it only alleviated the pain, she still gets the occasional ache or pang in her back.

"Sigh, I hope she's okay. There aren't many grandmas like her."

After hearing me explain, David said with a small smile. I nodded in agreement, my grandma is the kindest and greatest grandma out there!

"Let's go check up on her."

"Does Ms.Imani know how to use the computer?"

Walking up beside me, David asks. To his question, I shook my head and said.

"Not really. Other than knowing how to look up things on the internet and answer video calls, she doesn't really use her computer."

"Gotcha."

"Sigh, I hope she answers."

Silently praying that she'll answer my call, I initiated the call to my grandma.

After about 15 seconds of waiting for the call to answer…

"Dezi, is that you?"

An old but endearing voice could be heard followed by the image of a grey haired black woman in her early to mid sixties.

"It's me grandma. Are you okay? What happened to your arm?"

Seeing out the corner of the screen how her left forearm was bandaged up, I anxiously asked. 

"Oh this? I got scolded by some hot water when trying to prepare dinner. It's nothing to worry about. I put some salve on it and had Shanice help me wrap it up."

Showing me her arm, grandma slowly explains. Hearing this, I silently breathed out a sigh of relief. I thought that she got hurt because of an infected or something.

"Now that's enough about me. I'm more worried about you. Why didn't you answer your phone? I called your phone for almost two days. Did you know how worried I was about you?"

While saying this, she had a gentle but worried look on her face. Making a bitter smile, I explained to her how I lost it at school. After I was finished…

"Well, all that matters is that you are safe. Not all the phones in the world can replace you, my little grandbaby."

"Haha, thanks grandma."

Feeling happy because of what she said, I rub the back of my head. Although I heard it a million times over, it's still embarrassing being called 'little grandbaby'. Not that I hate it. 

"Anyways, grandma, is it alright over there? No one has tried to attack you have they?"

"No, no one has tried to attack me. However, I did see military helicopters flying outside and heard more gunshots than usual. Also, LaShawn and a few others came into the house asking if I'm alright. They had guns on them."

"I see. That's good."

I know LaShawn. He's the son of my grandma's neighbor. He'd sometimes visit her house to see if there's anything she needs help with. I think he's about the same age as me, 16, I think. He's a cool guy, we used to play together when I was still in Compton. 

As for the group of people who were with him on the other hand...I'll just have to trust that they won't try to harm her.

"What about you? Is everything alright over there in New Haven?"

"Sigh, no not really…"

I then proceed to tell her about what I saw on the news and how it is around my area. I wasn't going to tell her about how I almost died on multiple occasions since I don't want to cause her any undue stress.

"Just try to be safe. Okay, baby? You don't have to worry about me, I'm quite safe where I'm at. As ironic as it sounds. Haha!"

"Haha! That's true. You wanna speak to David?"

"David's there? Bring him here! I haven't seen him in ages!"

Very happily, grandma beckoned David over to see her. Getting up from the bed, he walked over and said with a smile.

"Hey, Ms. Imani."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Don't have to call Ms. Imani, just call me grandma or Big Mama."

In mock anger, grandma lightly scolded David. Showing an awkward smile, David corrects his words and says.

"H-how are you doing grandma?"

"Like I told Dezi a few moments ago, I'm okay...Look at you, you've gotten big in the year I haven't seen you. You've become even more handsome. I bet the ladies love you."

"Haha! Y-yeah."

David then throws an awkward look my way. Seeing this awkwardness, an evil idea popped into my head. So with a sly smile, I said to grandma

"Granny, you can't say that. He's got a girlfriend now. Do you know who it is?"

"Oh? Who's his girlfriend?"

"Sara."

"Wow, really? Isn't she a lucky girl."

Having a surprised expression on her face, grandma looked towards me and asked...For some reason, when she said that, it felt like I lost even more. Putting my hurt feeling aside, I continue.

"It's surprising isn't it? Even I didn't know they were dating. As a matter of fact, they told me that they've been dating for four months now."

"Four months? You've done a good job keeping it under wraps if even Desmond didn't know about it, huh?"

Oblivious to the situation between me, David, and Sara, grandma innocently said.

"...Y-yeah."

The awkwardness on his face increases. This is fun! Silently laughing while feeling triumphant because of the predicament I put David in, I turn my attention to grandma and say in complete seriousness. 

"Grandma, I have to go now. Hopefully, we'll see you sometime later. Don't try going anywhere alone and if possibly try avoiding places with a lot of people. Have LaShawn board up your windows if you can."

"Alright, I will. Stay safe now."

"You too. Love you grandma."

"I love you too baby. Bye." 

"Bye."

I then end the call.

Me: "..."

David: "..."

Now because of what I did, an awkward silence hangs between us two. But after a few moments of it…

"Y'know what? This is as good a time as ever, if I don't settle this now, the situation between us three isn't going to change." 

Swiveling my chair to face David, I said calmly.

"I'm not really mad at you guys anymore."

"Eh?"

"You heard me. I said that I'm not really mad at you guys any more. More specifically, other than that apology that you two owe me, I am practically okay with you guys dating. As a matter of fact, I'm happy for you two."

These were my honest thoughts. Other than the fact that they deceived me and caused me to waste my time and money, I'm not really angry at them. In fact, when I look at those two from the side, I consider them a perfect match for each other. 

I mean, they're both good at sports, live not too far from each other and have common interests. If this couple wasn't more meant for each other than I wonder who is.

However, if one was to ask me where all my anger towards them went, I'd probably say it all went towards the infected. All the anger that had built up inside me went towards cracking their heads. 

"But being happy for you two and being mad because you lied to me are two different things. You knew I like Sara, why didn't you say something?"

Staring at David as he looked at me with an apologetic expression I asked. A little apprehensive, David said.

"W-well, it's because…"

"Because what?" 

"B-because we thought you wouldn't be our friend. We thought that the moment we told you that we were dating you'd be mad at us and break off all relations."

"...Are you a f*cking child?"

Feeling a little pissed at what he said, I couldn't help but berate him.

"Break off all relations? What the f*ck? Who'd do that just because they couldn't get the girl they liked? I'm not that damn petty. I'm actually offended that you'd consider me as such! Sigh, and here I thought you were so much more m.a.t.u.r.e than me."

I get up from my gaming chair and walk to David face to face. We are almost the same height with him only being a centimeter taller. Staring him straight into the eyes, I said to him in irritated tone.

"Listen here dude, life isn't a place filled with only rainbows and giggles, dark skies and sadness come with it too. You wanted to date Sara and you are. If you'd just told me upfront that you two were dating, I'd be okay with it. Would I be sad? F*ck yeah I would. I'd be sad that I wouldn't be the one to make her happy but other than that, I'd be fine. I'd just shake that sh*t off and wish you two the best. But no, you didn't do that. Instead, you two hid this from me and made me have to find out the hard way. Resulting in the situation we have here now. This. Is. Your. Fault."

To add dramatic effect at the end there, I poked his c.h.e.s.t with my index finger aggressively. 

"..."

He stood there in silence as many emotions showed on his face. At times it was sad, and at times it was apologetic. As for what was going through his mind right now, I don't know.

"Now, where is it?"

"H-huh?"

And I don't care. What I want the most right now, is my…

"Apology. Where is it? I want my apology."

I didn't hold a grudge for nothing.

Taking a deep breath, David closed his eyes and said with the utmost sincerity.

"I'm sorry."

"...Continue."

"We thought that if you didn't know about us, you wouldn't get hurt and we could stay like we used to...yeah, looking back on it now, it was completely childish for us to think that way. We did more bad than good. We should've told you the truth. So once again, I'm really, really sorry. I hope that you could forgive us."

Putting a bitter smile on his face, David said. In his eyes are traces of uneasiness. I could tell David was nervous about whether or not I was going to forgive him so after thinking for a moment, I backed up a bit and extended my left hand.

"I'll forgive you…"

Seeing my outstretched hand, I could see hints of relief in David's eyes. Not thinking much about it, David grasped my hand and shook it. 

"Thank yo-"

BAM!

"Ah!"

And as he did so, my right hand, delivering a surprise attack, connected with his face! The force of punch knocked him to the floor. 

"...I deserved that."

Wiping the blood that was coming from his lip, David looked at me with a wry smile. Seeing that wry smile, I looked down at him and berated. 

"You bet your a.s.s you did. You're lucky I'm stopping it there. Otherwise, a boot would've been coming your way."

"Haha, I'm sure it would...So? Am I forgiven now?"

"Yeah, I guess you are. Here, get up off the floor."

While also showing a wry smile, I outstretched my hand again. But this time to pick him up. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and I pulled him up. Once he was up, I patted his shoulder and said regretfully. 

"Sigh, if only you bowed when you made that apology. I bet it would've felt a whole lot better."

"Bow? Why would I have to bow?"

"Because it shows more sincerity. Anyways, now that that teenage drama bullsh*t is out of the way, let's get fried!"

Pulling the blue gym bag from under the bed, I said happily.