Never Have I Ever...

Prologue

"You have Schizoaffective Disorder."

I was a bit confused and shocked about what the doctor said and calmly asked him.

"Schizoaffective Disorder? Is there such a thing?"

He looked at me with his glasses nearly falling from his face. His hands on my chart, and the other grabbing a pen. Before answering my question, he took a sip from his cup of coffee on the table. And heaved a deep sigh.

"Are you having hallucinations?" I smiled at him.

"Nope. As far as I can remember."

I saw him bit his lip before answering me again and closed my chart. He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, then finally he placed his hands forward and looked at me cautiously.

"Well, Schizoaffective Disorder is a mental health condition." sabi niya with matching tango pa. 

"That's why I asked you if you're having hallucinations. Because it's one of the symptoms of having that disorder. Not just hallucinations, but also, having delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression." dagdag niya. While explaining that to me, kumpleto pa iyong hand gestures niya ah, which I find completely useless.

"How the hell did I get that?" mataray Kong tugon pabalik sa walang kwentang diagnosis niya.

Finally, he calmed himself down and put all his strength at the back of the seat and leaned backwards.

"It's still unknown. But stress, genetics, and drug abuse could be the cause of the development of your Disorder. Well, I won't say it's genetics, 'cause neither of our family members have it... Are you stress? or...using narcotics?" he asked while looking at questionably.

Because of what he said I stood up and looked at him.

"Really, Dad? Would you really think I would use drugs? Never... And I'm not stressed either way." I answered honestly.

"Okay, just calm down. It can still be prevented, you just have to take the treatment." sabi niya as he gestured me to take my seat again.

"What kind of treatment?"

"Medications...and Psychotherap--"

"Dad."

"I know," he grabbed both of my hands and squeezed it tightly against his. "We'll just prevent further complications." I nodded in response.

"But, not today Dad...we're planning to have our camp."

"It should be today anak, what if it triggered?" nag-aalala niyang sabi. To assure him, I grabbed my hands from his and placed it on his shoulders.

"It won't. I promise." Tumayo na ako, and leaped over the table to hug him. He hugged me back and kissed my forehead. I kissed his cheek and bid my goodbyes.

"Don't forget to take your medications." tumango lang ako at tuluyan nang lumabas sa office.

*********************

Third person's POV

"So bago tayo pumuntang camping site, let me do a recaaap... so since it's a 7-day camp, walang uuwi."

"Got it!" sabay na sabi ng buong grupo.

"Any suggestions on what we do?" tanong niya ulit.

"Syempre... shot. Woohoo." sagot naman ng lalaking makulit.

"Ikaw talaga! Puro ka nalang inom." sabi ng babaeng astigin, sabay batok sa kanya.

Biglang nagtaka ang babae at binilang ang buong grupo.

"1-2-3-4-5-6... saan na ang iba?" tanong ng lider ng grupo.

"Oh, well, darating rin mga iyon. Sige na... ano pa pwede nating gawin."

Bigla namang pumwesto ang babaeng maarte sa gitna at nagsalita.

"Uhmm, Camping-check, Drinks-check, Campfire-super check, Ghost stories?! Sige na nga. Uhm ano pa ba? Truth or dare, um--" magsasalita pa sana siya pero may biglang pumutol sa sinabi niya.

"Never Have I Ever..." sabi nang kakarating lang na babae. Bigla namang bumilog ang kanilang mga mata at sabay sumigaw ng;

"Interesting," sabay na sambit ng buong grupo at unti-unti namang napangiti ang babaeng kakarating lang.

A 7-day camp to 8 circles of friends...

It all started when they say the words, Never Have I Ever...