Bacteriophobia ∞ Kim Kibum ∞

Everyone in my opinion had their reasons for doing things. No one did something without any reason. You didn't kill someone without a reason. You didn't hate someone without a reason. You didn't marry someone without a reason. You didn't treat everyone like they were contaminated without a reason.

Or maybe you didn't have a reason. Maybe it wasn't in your control. Maybe you just developed the habit. Or in extreme cases ... your 'phobia'. 

I knew his phobia the moment I saw him. He wasn't normal. Ok. So maybe he did look normal. Beautiful even. Dark hair, perfect lips, dark eyes that drew you in, he could've been a model. But the way he dressed ... he could have just stumped his would-be career. He wore an oversized white coat, the ones only doctors and nurses wore, black skivvies and long pants. His thin slender fingers were covered by two leather gloves and he had a doctor's mask flopping halfway out of his pocket. All that ... and it was summer. 

"You're a high school student. Not a doctor. Where's your uniform?" was the first thing I asked when I approached him.

"At home"

"Why?" 

He snorted as if that question was the stupidest thing he ever heard. 

"It's sports uniform. If I wear it, I'll have to do sports. And sports make you sweat. And when you play sports ... other people could pass onto you" he shuddered.

I raised one eyebrow. That last sentence didn't make sense. 

"That doesn't make sense. Other people can't 'pass' onto you"

"Yes they can ... you're just ignorant" he huffed. His eyes then caught me advancing forward and he backed away as soon as my hands were about to grasp his collar. "Don't touch me you freak!" 

I winced at his shriek and then stuffed my hands back into my pocket.

"Listen kid. My job here is to make sure that you attend school properly. To begin with, that uniform issue is one big problem"

"It is not! Anyway, I haven't even met you before!" he came to a stop where the corridors spilt into two and shuffled further from the pot plant that was resting there. 

"It doesn't matter whether you've met me before or not. And ok, so if the uniform issue isn't a problem, then how about the attending class problem?" I asked, not bothering to make a move closer. He'd probably just go into hysterics. 

"What about it?" he gave me the type of look which made me realize he wasn't going to be an easy kid to handle at all. 

"You're meant to be in class"

"I know that"

"Then why aren't you?"

"Because ... because there're kids there!"

"Last time I checked, you're no different" my voice was calm.

"I am! I'm cleaner! I'm better!"

His chest was heaving in and out like he had just run the hardest marathon he had ever run and his eyes showed heavy persistence. 

"What's your name?" I retired to the easier questions and looked for a new change in his face. His muscles relaxed just the slightest, but his eyes held suspicion. Like he was trying to stay mad at me, make friends with me and make sure I wasn't a 'bad guy' all at once. I stared back at him emotionlessly. There were many expressions I could've chosen to get him to have an answer. Smile. Laugh. Smirk. Get angry. Stick my tongue out and call him coward. I waited. Three minutes passed. Followed by five, ten, fifteen ... my legs were starting to ache from standing there so long already. His legs were shaking.

"Aish ... well, when you finally remember your name, I'll be back ... " I turned and was about to head for the longer corridor to the office when I heard him speak up. It wasn't insane and trying to prove something maddening like before. It was shaky, and small. Unsure. But guard still up.

"Nam Woohyun"