Note*~

I dedicate this story to all my classmates at school.

Connecting with Wasabi was partly easy for me, in a way that I have a condition as well. I was born with mild autism and ever since high school, I've been denying it. Thanks to my art school, I've seen through so many woes and demons.

Thank you for showing me what true, unconditional love is. I wouldn't know where I'd be without you.

Merry Christmas to you all! And I guess this is also my Christmas gift to y'all who are reading this. ;)

xo


OCD


He didn't mean it.

He didn't mean to hurt Tadashi when he pushed him away from his tools. Wasabi had a special way of organizing things, and if anything came out of place, it had to be put back. Otherwise the entire system would be ruined.

He almost hurt Tadashi, but Tadashi was still in front of him.

He backed into the corner of the lab.

"No, stay away from me, man…!" Tears were in Wasabi's face. "I'm dangerous…"

"Wasabi, take it easy…" Tadashi had his hands out, too.

Fred walked slowly behind Tadashi. Fred witnessed the entire thing. His two friends had soft expressions on their faces, despite what Wasabi did.

"No, Tadashi, Fred… I'm a monster!" He sobbed. "I could have hurt you, Tadashi…! This is what I do. I hurt everyone around me, all because I was born this way! I have no control over this at all, and I hate that!"

"Wasabi…!" Tadashi called.

Fred drew closer. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, man."

Tadashi firmly griped his hands. "Wasabi, look at me…!"

Tears continued to flow down Wasabi's face.

Just why? Why did he have to be this way? Why couldn't he be like everyone else?

When everyone moved on as if nothing bothered him, but he had to worry about every little thing?

It was so, so unfair…

Why couldn't he be normal?

"We are not giving up on you." Tadashi was more firm. "We are your friends. That's what friends are for."

The minutes seem like hours.

"Do you understand that?" Tadashi continued. "I won't let go until you tell me you understand that."

He was scared. He was scared all the time, and this was the first time someone actually saw it. Everyone walked away when he freaked out, but with Tadashi and Fred… They were still here with him at the end of the day.

Tadashi broke the silence. "We're always here for you, Wasabi…"

"Yeah, man…" Fred said with sincere eyes. "We're always here for you."

Fred always knew how to relax. Wasabi sometimes envied how Fred could accept everything and be free. Tadashi always knew what to say. With them, he never had to be ashamed of himself.

And he loved them for it.

They were true, true friends.

And he wanted to keep them.

He felt their frames as he continued to sob. After all this time of holding it in, he could finally be free.

"It's gonna be alright, man… We're with you every step of the way."