THE CAFÉ was a bit quiet, but the never ending whispers seems to be eliminated for some minutes creating a eerie awkward silence.
“Never” a voiced echoed.
“Alright you are entitled to your own opinion another voice replied."
Phobia has to do with the psychology of human mind, it a false impulse signaled to the brain as a result of a specific environment, condition or tragedy, she argued.
False impulse? That is not the best way to describe phobia, he disagreed, sipping his coffee.
Jide, a computer science enthusiast, couldn't help but contribute to the conversation. "Technophobia is on the rise with all these advancements. People fear technology, and it's changing the way we live. It's like a clash between progress and fear."
There are so much erroneous believe that phobia are not genuine. A lot of wide research has been made over the years and has proven the existence of phobias, but….how can you be scared of irrelevant things, Mark added.
So are you among the erroneous believers? Daisy asked irritatedly.
The works and experiment of B. Watson and B.F. Skinner laid the foundation for behaviorist theories and had a lasting impact on psychology, at least there works proved phobias exist,Daisy added.
"It's incredible how our brains can develop these intense fears. Jude chimed in.”
Alissa, what do you think about this issue, Tony asked in an attempt to make her contribute. Tony was a guy who has a way of reminiscing words which makes him quite friendly and entertaining to people.
Please answer us our dear psychologist from Alabama, Tony teased.
Oh darn it, Alissa groaned in her throat.
Yeah, I do really think phobias exist, you know we can be so scared of many things, she replied uninterestedly. So how will you describe phobia, Daisy asked.
Yeah, I would describe phobia as an excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. It goes beyond normal fears and can lead to significant distress or impairment in one's daily life.
By the way Dr. Dabo said we should prepare the projects on or before Monday, she digressed from the main issue on ground,
I have to get going, I have a lot of schedule to keep up before nightfall, Alissa stood up to leave.
Why do you keep ignoring, asked a voice from behind.
Wooah , Alissa almost jumped out of her skin. “Sorry for making you scared, Tony apologized sheepishly.”
No problem, she replied pretending to be alright.
“What were you doing at the faculty of law yesterday, Tony asked curiously”. You wore a peach gown. I can’t trek to that far distance in my right senses I’m too lazy for that, by the way are you monitoring me? Alissa asked irritatedly. No Alissa, I just went to pick up something from my brother, I even tried calling you but you didn’t answer, so I started wondering if your name wasn”t Alissa anymore.
I actually went to drop a package there, probably I didn’t hear you, and by the way I was wearing a black gown, seems you are having trouble differentiating colors, she laughed.
"I could have sworn I saw you in a peach gown. Am I seeing things?" Tony asked with his head poked out.
Probably, Alissa replied angrily this time.
Goodbye Tony I have a lot of things to attend to, she snapped. “ Have a good day, and don’t forget the materials needed for the night class, Tony added”
“Alright, she replied hurriedly”.
***
The air, crisp and cool, resonated with the lively chatter of students walking in clusters. Laughter echoed, punctuating discussions about the day's lectures, upcoming exams, and the ever-elusive balance between academia and social life. The cool evening breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it a gentle chill that caressed the skin.
“The night class was not merely a study session; it was a collective effort to conquer the challenges that academia presented” but of course there were a few individuals whose presence deviated from the studious ambiance, they were total nuisance, Tony wondered while waiting for the arrival of his reading partners.
Amidst the ebb and rhythmic beat of footsteps mingled with the symphony of voices, Tony's eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of Alissa, he stood up to walk towards her but she turned to a corner and vanished from his line of sight. He went outside, only to find Alissa discussing with Daisy. Alissa I just saw you inside, you really walked so fast down here. I just arrived here for goodness sake Tony, it seems you’ve started seeing things. I’m sorry, Tony apologized.
“ok let’s get into the business for tonight, Daisy chuckled.”
They settled in, textbooks and notebooks sprawled across tables, they prepared to immerse themselves in the sea of knowledge that awaited. Ideas were exchanged, concept were clarified, problems were solved. They studied till midnight.
***
Alissa hesitated outside Tony’s apartment, holding his notebook tightly in her hands. She almost drop dead when she realized he stays on the third floor, the familiar twinge of anxiety crept through her as she glanced at the imposing flight of stairs leading to his place. Her heart raced, a sense of unease wash over her, she was sweating despite the cool breeze, she wiped beams of sweat beneath her chin with her palm, she was trembling. She couldn’t feel her legs anymore, what the hell is this? She asked her inner mind.
The vivid recollection takes her back to a day etched in her past, a day when the world seemed to tilt beneath her. The vivid imagery of her stumbling down the stairs flashes before her eyes, a reel that plays in slow motion each time she faces a flight of stairs. The rational part of her knows that the present staircase was distinct from the one her sister mistakenly pushed her from,Yet the emotional residue lingers.
She looked up only to find Tony staring down at her, what the hell was she going to do now, run away? scream? faint? she could do anything to prevent her from climbing the goddamn stairs. Tony descended down the stairs, she was visibly shaking and fidgeting. Are you alright Alissa? Tony asked
“No” I’m battling with bathmophobia, she stammered staring at her sweaty palm. Which one is bathmophobia again, Tony asked looking lost.
Bathmophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an intense an d irrational fear of stairs, or slopes. I do experience anxiety and panic attack when confronted with situations involving stairs Alissa explained. What caused it? Tony asked in a sorrowful manner. Mine was caused by a traumatic experience, when my sister mistakenly pushed me down the stairs during a fight, we were just five years old. It can also be caused by learned behavior especially when one hears about accident on stairs. Since that incident I prefer staying in bungalow houses and instead of stairs I use the elevator.
“I’m so sorry Alissa, we are going to cope through this together” Tony assured.
I don't mean to take advantage of your situation but....
“Alissa, I’ve been thinking a lot, and I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me sometime, he said fearfully”. She looked at him with a bloodshot eyes but quickly replaced it with a warm smile. Tony heaved a sigh of relief. Would you be less busy on Friday? Tony asked. Hmm yeah, she replied. Let’s meet at filmhouse by 2pm to watch a movie together, is it okay by you? Yeah it alright, Alissa replied, I should get going now, she said hurriedly handling him notebook.
It was like a dream come true for Tony,he couldn’t believe Alissa just accepted his proposal. He was smiling all day, he wasn't feeling feverish anymore.
***
As the heavy glass doors parted, a rush of air, tinged with the scent of buttered popcorn, continuous chattering. He has been waiting outside for Alissa, but she said she would be there ten minutes time, so he decided get something to eat inside the gigantic building before her arrival.
Alissa stood before the polished doors of the elevator, as the elevator slid open, revealing the muted glow of the interior, she stepped in and pressed the button for the desired floor upward.
Tony was munching potato chips, he strolled waiting anxiously for Alissa. As the minutes ticked by, he spotted a familiar figure ascending the stairs, and his heart leaped with excitement. Alissa! He called out, the doppelganger paused, looking towards him with a quizzical expression.
"Alissa leaned against the mirrored wall and adjusted her gown, with a practiced poise she adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag."
When did you start using the stairs, Tony asked her because he was surprised. The doppelganger was perplexed by the sudden interrogation. Please who are you? she asked . Tony was shocked and was wondering if Alissa was suffering from amnesia. You offered to come here with me on a date he tried explaining.
As the elevator reached its destination. The door slid open.
She decided to find Tony since he was not picking his call, finally she saw Tony engrossed in conversation with a young damsel, however she couldn’t see her face, only her back.
The damsel walked past Tony. Tony he turned to stare at her, confusion was written over his face. Tony!! A voice jolted him back to reality “who the hell is she” Alissa barked, Tony turned to the familiar voice only to see another Alissa, he fainted, the noise made Alex to turn back only to find someone who looks just like her, they both fainted.
Emergency, three casualties, voices screamed to the security.
***
Alissa woke up staring and scratching her nose because of the antiseptic smell of the hospital, and stared at Alex- her missing twin sister for about fifteen years is still alive, her parents will be amazed, but she wondered if her mom would be able to handle the shock.
Afterall Tony wasn’t seeing things, he was seeing her twin sister all this while.. poor Tony.
Shortly her parents arrived...
Writer Details: Meekness✍️
Location: University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria🇳🇬.
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