Do You?

I Do

A virus born from a laboratory, the stuff of mad science and books like Frankenstein or adorable kids cartoons that were portrayed to cause insta-effects like transformation or granting powers in a puff of smoke, gagging, or ripping off clothing. It was not something feasible, and they already had many illnesses in this modern era and growing world. And many have seen the devastating effects of messing with Mother Nature or trying to play God.

But some clearly hadn't grasped such warnings.

Maybe it was done to try and make themselves seem more powerful or to prove a point, maybe it was to pose a threat, or it could just be an accident that wasn't supposed to go this far. Whatever the reason, the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, had been born. The creator, at least presumably and by the majority of the public, China.

For over two years it had a disturbing effect across the globe and to people everywhere. Billions of people fallen ill to the virus and many, especially those first infected at the beginning, had not made it. Hospitals would scramble everywhere to try and at least slow down the effects as scientists tried to make a cure or prevention or even vaccine. Countries shut off travel altogether to prevent further contamination and those who feared for their very lives stayed indoors, afraid of so much as a sneeze or cough.

And Chinese people everywhere often were ridiculed, even if they were completely controversial to the causes or not present at the scene of the crime. The posters preventing them entry in establishments hurt the most.

But as time went on, people adapted and would find ways to keep themselves safe, and possibly lead to years of OCD along down the line. Hospitals would be able to save patients, even if they may gain PTSD themselves later on from the constant lack of sleep and food as they watched each one. And vaccines would be distributed in the hope of light at the end of the tunnel in this gruesome nightmare. Even travel bans had been slowly lifted overtime.

And yet, the ridicule would take some time to go away.

China could practically hear the whispers from his seat as the meeting of the countries went on. Technology had never been more helpful in these trying times as video calls were held in place of their usual long hall offices. Now, one can sit in front of a screen for long hours in the comfort of their home and work all at once.

This meeting however still didn't make things so good for him.

Just as representative leaders of each country could go out and hold talks in thresholds, so could their very embodiments that had taken form according to the type of country they were. These were often so they themselves could talk to one another outside of alliances and politics and get a chance to speak to one another normally. An occasional romance here or there often led to a new allegiance as do friendships and it also gave them time to offer one another words of support.

But it also left them open to here from any enemies they made.

China had been guilty of many things, some of his own accord and others by his government or even people. As such, he often got the blame and heat when he came to see the other countries, especially those that got affected. He still remembered how much ire he got from Spain, Russia, Japan, and even America for the Spratlys Islands incident. And he was still getting fire because his fishermen won't stay on their side of the border.

This COVID-19 didn't do him any favors at all as he could sometimes even still see those horrified faces of his allies or even former allies as they each gained a sign of infection. He remembered how Italy was happily munching on pizza one minute and waving at him with a free hand before that same hand covered his mouth as he started coughing. He remembered Japan happily making her cute Neko face as South Korea listened to his latest album, before the latter received chest pains as the former donned a mask that looked like a muzzle with how her distress caused her ears and tail to pin down. He remembered seeing Britain shooting an unamused glance at France's flirting before he held her in his arms to try and comfort her. Even Russia and America who, for a moment, showed true fear before their anger became evident.