Old Clothes and Stale Coffee

Chapter 101 - don’t speculate on it too much

Chapter 101 - don’t speculate on it too much  

Things have been going smoothly as of late.

The Secondary Gender test kits are already in full production, with the professor’s new formula that could give faster results.

Pilar’s prospective substitute has been performing well in the laboratory, though she may be very timid and antisocial.

The professor’s new suppressant is at the last stage of development and would be ready for release as scheduled on July.

Eric, though, has been cranky all week.

“Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala! Ang dami talagang sira-ulo sa mundo!” he fumed, gritting his teeth beneath the face mask he wore. “May nakaisip pa talagang gumawa ng pekeng Terminus pill?! Hindi ba sila natatakot sa side-effects nito?! `Di pa ba sila nadala sa Club A incident?!”

This is because we just got a sample of a Terminus pill confiscated by the Gender Police. It seems that the professor’s nephew, Nathan, cooperated with the authorities to entrap his friend Dan, and were able to find the pills in his possesion.

“At least, now, the Gender Police has a suspect in hand. Your nephew and DOME are already off the hook, since they found the immitation Terminus pill and several illegal substances in his possession.”

“Hay nako, isa pa `yung Reubert na `yun! Pati na rin si Louie! Sadyang `di ako sinabihan na balak pala nilang gawing pain si Nathan sa entrapment nila!” he ranted on as he checked a slide beneath the microscope. “Sinangkot pa nila pamangkin ko sa cross fire! Buti na lang talaga `di na paano si Nathan, kung `di, nalintikan talaga sa `kin ang dalawang `yun!”

“Yes, I know, I was there when they told us about it.” I placed a cup of coffee on his table. “Besides, the operation was very sudden, and wasn’t it Nathan who thought up of a plan to catch Dan red handed?”

Eric frowned at me, his mask covering half his scowling face.

“Hmph! `Di pa rin nila dapat ginamit si Nathan kahit pa nagprisinta s’ya!” he insisted, “Kahit ganoon ka-sutil ang sira-ulong Nathan na `yun, anak pa rin `yun ni kuya! Kaya dapat may `say’ din ako, since ako ang pangalawang nanay n’ya!”

Eric paused for a moment and shivered.

“Teka, mali pala, tatay ako, tatay! Ayokong maging katuwang ni Louie kahit kunwari lang!” he rubbed his arms in disgust.

“Nakakapagtaka lang,” he continued, “ang lapit ng formulation nitong fake pill na nakuha ng Gender Police, kumpara sa original Terminus pill na ginawa ko mula sa halu-halong matatapang na omega pheromones,” he frowned. “Ako lang ang may alam kung pa’no ihalo iyon, at nai-dispose ko na rin dito sa lab ang nag-iisang batch na ginawa ko, matapos natin iyon mai-present as evidence...”

I stared at the professor. I remember, that was the time when we were busy with both the terminus pill and with his nephew who was still in the hospital. Only Eric, Pedro, Pilar and myself had access to the vials in this room, as well as the professor’s locked storage unit.

I sigh and massage Eric’s stiff shoulders as he sat in front of the microscope.

“Well, it was only a matter of time until someone could actually distill the right combination of omega pheromenes to make a harmonious concentrate almost as strong as a DOME’s. I guess, it was partly our fault. Reubert, for using his pheromones freely, and us for making the Terminus pill.”

“Anong `us’?” Eric frowned at me. “Ako lang! Ako ang gumawa noon, kaya wala ka’ng kinalaman dito! `Wag ka nang makisawsaw pa, at baka pati ikaw madamay pag nagka-letse-letse tayo!”

“Eric, I am your partner. I should be involved in everything about you.”

Eric looked at me, his brows knitted, and gave a long sigh.

“Mahal...” he touched my shoulder, “Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kung wala ka sa tabi ko ngayon... `di ko rin alam kung ano’ng magagawa ko kung sakaling may mangyari sa `yo!”

“Then don’t speculate on it too much,” I told him. “What matters most is that we’re together right now.”

“Tama ka mahal... Dapat talaga lumayo na tayo rito... `pag naayos na talaga itong FTP kits natin, goodbye UL na! Baboo Louie and kids! Sa net na lang tayo magkamustahan.”

I couldn’t help but smile as he said this.

“Gusto mo ba punta `uli tayo’ng Batangas?”

“Are you finished analyzing that pirated Terminus pill?” I took a peek at the microscope in front of him. “I need to make a report according to your findings.”

“Oo, just tell them it’s the same pill. Up side is, lalong mapagtatakpan nito ang existance ninyong mga DOME’s, down side, siguradong dadami ang incidents concerning the Terminus pill. Buti na lang talaga at hindi s’ya kasing potent ng pheromones ni Dome. It can only work on one person at a time.”

“How about your new suppressants?” I asked with a smile, hoping it would cheer him up a bit.

“Ah, na stabilize ko na ang gamot ko!” he brightened up. “And even though it has a shorter shelf life compared to the chemical ones, mas kaunti naman ang side effects nito, kaya lang, hindi pa rin ako makahanap ng replacement for c******s buds.”

“Well, c******s  is legal for medical use in most parts of the globe, anyway.” I pointed out.

“Oo, pero bawal pa rin `to sa sports.” Eric gave a sigh. “At least, `yun na lang ang pro-problemahin ko. Balak ko’ng subukan ang isang uri ng moss, pero `di pa dumarating ang inorder ko mula New Zealand, since bihirang-bihira lang ang nagsu-supply nito. So for now, gusto ko na lang mag-relax kasama ka pag-uwi natin ng bahay.”

“I can’t wait to get home as well,” I answered back. “We’ve been stuck in the office for two days now, since you insisted in finishing your analysis before the week is through.”

“Kaya nga gusto ko, bumawi, eh.” his brows went up and down. “Punta tayo  Batangas?”

We were still talking with our eyes, when the professor’s phone suddenly rang.

“Ugh, ano ba `yan, ang aga-aga... pustahan, si Louie nanaman `to!” the professor frowned as he reached for the phone in his pocket.

“Ano?” he grumbled.

“Ano kamo?” he frowned.

“Ha?!”

Eric suddenly stood up.

“Pucha! Sandali pupunta na `ko d’yan!”

”Who was it? What happened?” I asked, alarmed.

“That was Nathan. Minolestiya raw ng alpha si Blondie kahapon! Muntikan nang makagat!”

“What? How is he doing right now?” I asked the professor who hurriedly cleared his table.

“Maayos na naman daw, pero kinagat na raw ng tatay n’yang loko si Blondie kagabi, at hanggang ngayon, ayaw pa rin tumigil ang dugo sa batok nito!”

“Why wouldn’t it stop?”

“Malay ko. Baka sa carotid artery nangagat si loko!” he said irritably.

“I doubt Louie would do such a thing, he’s experienced enough to know that he should bite his mate’s nape.”

“Mahal, joke lang `yun.” Eric messsed my hair. “Makapunta na nga, at baka kung ano ang ginawa ni  Louie sa bata n’ya.”

“Ah, good, I’ve been planning to meet with Reubert and your nephew Nathan this week for our experiment.”

“What experiment?” Eric looked at me as he cleaned his equipment in the sink. “At saka, may paperwork ka pa, `di ba?”

“Wait for me. I need to check Nathan for my FPS experiment. They are a rare dominant alpha and dominant omega pair, after all,” I grinned. “According to Reubert’s report, there has been a lot of progress lately, Nathan has started to open up to him more. He has noted that his skin tone has gotten more supple, he is practically glowing everyday. His muscle tone has also started to decrease, and he has shown a significant increase in appetite.”

“Kailan pa nagreport sa `yo si Reubert?” Eric frowned, “At malamang, mamayat si Nathan dahil mukhang gabi-gabi s’ya nilalaspag ni Reubert, at dahil doon, kaya laging gutom ang loko!” he paused. “Well, mukhang consentual naman, kaya `wag na tayo’ng manghimasok doon. At `wag ka rin masyadong makulit pagdating natin kina Louie, ha? ” the professor shook his finger at me. “Ikaw bahala sa experiment mo’ng `yan, but remember not to go too far.”

“Of course, professor.” I replied.