Pure-sue \ pər-ˈsü , -ˈsyü \

II

II .

"Lex? What are you doing here?" I mumbled.

"Uhm-- I thought you have something to say, so I needed to hear it" he casually said.

"Come in" I let him entered the house.

"Good evening ma'am," he smiled at my mother as he greeted her.

"I- uhm-" I tried to collect my thoughts before speaking.

"Ahh mom this is Lex, my friend," thankfully that came out.

Oh welcome Lex, my mother embraced him as she welcomed him.

"Ahh ma'am, this is Sophia, my girlfriend" he smiled.

I didnt see that coming, I could see the shock in my mother's reaction. She looked at me as if she's asking if I know about this.

My eyes tried to connect with her, telling her...come on mom ride on it. And, I guessed my mother got my message so she turned to Lex again.

"Oh hi Sophia, welcome" my mother is really trying her best. I dont know if Lex had noticed it though.

I know my mother will demand a lot of explaining later. After knowing Lex and witnessed his case, I know she couldnt sit still. After all, she's a devout psychologist.

"By the way, what is it you want to tell me, Psyche? " Lex just snapped me to look at him.

Ahhh--that, I would just like to invite you and Sophia on saturday. Got some plans? I asked him. "Actually, I could just have invited you over the phone, but I think it would be rude." That came out as a plausible excuse.

"Why? What's the occasion? He asked.

My mother, while carrying the glasses of juice, butt in. Lex stood up and offered some help.

"Well, its nothing special my dear. We just used to celebrating the first saturday of the month as a simple gathering for thanksgiving. And I asked Psyche if she could invite over her friends." She softly said.

Lex just nodded at that. As for me, I cant help but to stare at Lex; how he responds to my mother, how he drinks his juice, even his little cute mannerism of tapping his feet. Its sad, that he could never be mine, that he would not love me back. Ugh, I cringe at that. Com'on Psy, wake up. I shook the idea as I reprimand myself.

Just as I am about to tell something---

"Come and stay for dinner Lex" what? Mom!!! Im screaming silently. I know what she's planning. She could be a little cunning when it comes to a case unknown to normal people.

Ahem, I cleared my throat..."th-that is---"

Ah thank you ma'am, but I think I gotta go. Its already getting late. He courteously refused.

I sighed at that. Not that I dont want him to eat with us, but thankfully, we just got avoided a crucial situation.

"Okay, if thats what you want. But are you sure?" My mother insisted.

"Yeah, maybe next time." He smiled.

"Mom, I'll escort them out" I cut her to stop her chasing.

"I'm sorry that you have had to go here. i apologized at that. "So see you?" I asked

"Okay see you" he saaid and waived his goodbye.

Just when I got in the house...

"Psy, care to explain?" My mother glared at me.

I know where she's getting at and so I caved in.

"I first noticed his case when we were at the camping. She introduced Sophia to me, but I could not see anyone else. At first, I thought...maybe he is just pranking me. But Lex is not that kind of person."

My mother just nodded to signal me to go on

"She keeps on talking with Sophia, and that's when I get it...only him could see her. I dont know if Sophia was a ghost of his past or something, but clearly...only him sees her."

"The worst is...he loves her, and I get jealous over her. My voiced cracked at that. But Im trying to hold it in.

My mother must have noticed it, so she tapped my back. I leaned on her shoulder. Ahhh...That was comforting. And she remained silent.

"But what do you think about him mom?" I asked.

"Uhm, based from what I have observed a while ago, that Sophia is just a delusion. And delusions were created when a person wants to escape his own reality. That is clearly one symptom of psychosis or a dellusion disorder.

"I could not be certain yet as to what particular kind of case he's having. But, maybe, I hope not, he's suffering from schizoprenia" my mother tried to explain to me in a way that I could understand.

I have heard the term before, but I dont know exactly what it is.

"People with this illness often have changes in behaviors and possess symptoms like illusion or hallucination. But there are different kinds of psychotic disorder." She continued.

"Could you describe him for me Psy, maybe I could get ahold of his case even just for a bit." My mother demanded me. Im happy that she's really into her passion, and that she might be able to help my friends.

"Uhm...he's odd, I mean, the way he thinks at things are somewhat different than others. He is annoyingly deep at some point, and...actually he is dense. He could not feel at all, or he might just be confused of what he's feeling." I gladly told her as if I really knew him for a long time already.

"Ahhh...if that's the case, then he was more likely having schizotypal personality disorder. People with this disorder often describe as odd or eccentric and usually have few, if any, close relationship. They generally dont understand how relationship is form and the impact of their behavior on others." My mother explained.

He might have gotten this when he was still a child and/or he might have experienced something that led him to this.

I nodded, and I had hoped this was not the case for him. I got sad thinking about him. Come to think of it, he had not told anything about his childhood or even his family.

At that I hugged my mother.

"You like him, don't you?" My mother intriguingly asked.

There's no point in denying it. So I nodded to say yes.