Of course, the sole reason you weren’t interacting with him anymore was his infection.

It was also due to the fact that he had gotten clingier than ever ever since he had obtained said infection, and even though you’ve made it obvious to him that you despise germs — and overall his are included — he still persisted, acting like your friendship from before, back when you two were once roommates was still established between the both of you.

Of course, you weren’t mean intentionally; it was just on bad days when you snapped, yelling at him to get off of you when he caught you in an unexpected embrace, either from the front or behind. It was beginning to get terribly vexating, at least from your point of view; Infected still remained oblivious and joyful as ever, never once ceasing in his actions despite your harsh-toned words towards him.

He also didn’t seem to remember his old self, or rather his old name, Kasper. There were days when you fumbled verbally and called him Kasper, which was met with no response, or simple confusion when you used that tagline mid-conversation. It was more than likely the infection had something to do with it, as said Dr. Retro when you managed to pull her aside for a moment as she was entering the elevator. Turns out, she was concerned for Infected’s wellbeing as well, but Infected had no regard for it whatsoever; and, in her own words, a patient could not be treated if they do not wish to be.

It wasn’t like she really could, anyway; there was no medicine viable for Infected’s situation, and revealed by a helpful conversation that he had with Wallter, Infected had no intention whatsoever to visit Dr. Retro any time soon; and it was all because of his gaming streak.

His gaming streak was more important to him than health?! You were incredulous to this fact, borderline stunned — astounded. There was no way this man was that unhygienic, or worse, unhealthy. Only, that was the exact truth.

And it seemed to depress you more than disgust you.

Still, it was abnormal to you that this man — who was desperately in need of medical attention, as his condition only seemed to worsen week by week — deemed his gaming streak on some stupid computer simulation more important than his personal health.

Sure, you had tried to help him, to try to convince him that he should give the doctor a visit, but he’d always refuse unconditionally, declaring that a visit to the doctor may ‘mess up’ his gaming streak — which was composed of a total of 1,400 days, the number of which even you were uncertain of; which was saying something, since you were always the one to have excellent memory at all times, for any subject or topic, in the elevator.

Nevertheless, the main concern of yours was Infected’s deteriorating health, and his constant refusal to do something about it; at least, he’d only refuse up until this day.

On this particular day, the events seemed mostly normal; Infected had joined you in the elevator, taking a spot across from you and standing in his usual corner, a corner which you, of course, avoided. Infected never took notice of this, however.

You were simply doing your best to tolerate him; and you were actually succeeding in doing so for a change, well, up until he suddenly grabbed you by the shoulders and pressed the left side of his head against your chest, a lopsided grin present on the man’s face.

“I wonder if you have a heartbeat— Do you have a heartbeat, Lampert? I wonder!”