Chapter 2: Blood Tests and Unspoken Fears

“Doctor, I check internet. Dem say you fit test for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B. Abeg, do all for me—no try help me save money.”

I just smile small. "Doctor, abeg, do all the tests. I no wan try luck. If e go cost, make e cost. I no wan manage health."

“Of course, we go run all the blood tests,” I talk quick. Na normal thing.

"No wahala, we go run am. Na standard for here."

Not long after, the girlfriend come back with power bank. I find power bank for car, go ask security, dem dey play draft for gate.

She rush enter, dey pant, power bank for hand. "I no see am quick, I find for car, go ask security, na so I get am." Her face still dey show say tension never clear.

The man sharply change topic, I no fit mention the other matter again.

Sharp guy, e just divert talk. "Doctor, as you see me so, na only the itching dey worry me now. Abeg, help me."

“Doctor, why you wan collect blood for ordinary allergy?” the girlfriend ask, eyebrow raise, voice carry small suspicion.

“If doctor say make you draw blood, then do am. Na you be doctor, or na doctor be doctor?” the man reply sharp, like say e dey vex.

The girlfriend still dey worry: “Drawing blood no too good for health o. He dey always stay awake at night, no dey exercise, him body no too strong, and just recover from cold last week. You know as Lagos dey, stress fit finish person body.”

I just look her, but I no wan expose the guy. Syphilis matter na private—nothing don sure yet. For Naija, some things better under wrapper.

Besides, plenty people no really sabi syphilis; dem just know say na sexually transmitted wahala, so dem dey avoid am like plague.

I explain, "For allergy people, we fit check blood to see the thing wey dey cause am. So next time, you go avoid wetin dey trigger am."

“Abeg, doctor, check well,” the man nod with urgency.

He dey nod fast, like say if I no test well, him life go end.

“I go prescribe loratadine (na antihistamine). Take am, rest for observation room, make we see if rash go calm down. Wait for blood test result. Come back two hours time make I recheck. If e no better, we go consider IV anti-allergy treatment.”

I write prescription. "Take this loratadine. Rest for observation. We go check again in two hours. If e still dey, I go give you stronger medicine."

As I see as people full waiting room, I just wan handle the allergy sharp-sharp and wait for blood test.

Truth be told, for ER, we dey always see young people wey no fit control themselves, then fear go catch them later, dem go rush come midnight for test. Na "midnight confession clinic" we dey call am sometimes.

If we talk science, most times, na just fear dey worry them. If dem use protection, chance small. But Naija mind no dey rest till test say all clear.

So most times, na just fear dey worry them, I no too think am deep.

I just dey observe, dey give them space. No need to stress them pass as dem dey already.