HOW I MET MY CHEATING GIRLFRIEND

Episode 15

Both Peter and Betty entered the VCT room where they found Dr Mirabel who was in charge of that facility. Peter looked nervous and Betty had to cheer him up. He knew she (Betty) could be having the virus, and Betty too, from what Peter told her the previous night, thought she could have contracted the virus from him. Should Peter test positive, he will blame Betty for the cause. Likewise, should Betty test positive, she will have to blame Peter for the cause.

Dr Mirabel looked at both of them before conducting the pre-test counseling. Betty was nineteen years old while Peter was two years less her age. "Good morning my friends," Dr Mirabel began, "welcome and feel free and be comfortable. Let's begin by knowing each other." Dr Mirabel introduced herself, followed by Betty and then Peter.

"I didn't hear you mentioning if you have anything in common. Are you related?" Dr Mirabel asked.

"No doctor, we are not related. Am from Nyamasaria and she's from town here." Peter answered.

"If you're not, then let me deal with one person at a time..." She said before Betty could cut her short.

"Doctor, we're friends. Am his girlfriend..."

"Yes Doctor." Said Peter.

"We're here together to know our HIV statuses." She added.

"Now I understand. We can now do it together. We shall have four sessions that are also very short," Dr Mirabel said, "the first one will be counseling session with both of you, the second will be the test, third will be post-test counseling and then finally I'll have the last session with Betty alone." She added.

After the first counseling, the doctor took their blood samples for testing. While still waiting for the results, they had a session where they were taught how to protect themselves should they get intimate.

"Peter, if Betty's results come out positive, what will you do?"

Peter looked down, trying to shy away from the question. The doctor insisted. In a low voice, he said, "I will tell after the results."

"Is she your girlfriend?" The doctor asked.

"Yes. But we only met the other day, yesterday she insisted that we do... "

"No, Peter. Calm yourself down." Dr Mirabel said.

"I think we won't continue with this relationship if she has AIDS." Peter finally said his mind. Betty was shocked.

"Betty, what will you do if Peter's results come out positive?" The doctor asked her.

"I love him. I will accept him, doctor." Betty said as a few drops of tears began to come out.

After about fifteen minutes, the two sessions ended and the results were out. Betty was given Peter's results to check, likewise, she had Peter's results. Betty smiled at Peter. She knew how to check the results very first. Peter was slow on that, despite being taught how to check whether the results are positive or negative. So Dr Mirabel came in to help him. "This means the results are negative." The doctor said.

"He's negative, doctor." Betty told the doctor. She was very happy!

"She's negative, doctor." Peter also gave the outcome of the testing. He was smiling.

Dr Mirabel then gave them the tactics for protecting themselves to avoid contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STDs, and AIDS. "Because both of you are negative, be faithful to each other. When being intimate, make sure it's protected. Use condoms that are of high quality and have not expired. Use it the way have explained to you." She said.

With the completion of her last session with Betty, both left the facility. However, Betty was disturbed. "I think we won't continue with this relationship if she has AIDS..." Betty kept on remembering what Peter said while at the VCT. She was happy, not because she wanted Peter to love her, but because she was negative.