Old Clothes and Stale Coffee

Chapter 106 - Doon s’ya magaling. Ang manahimik.

Chapter 106 - Doon s’ya magaling. Ang manahimik.

April 29, Saturday.

We just got home from Louie’s house after having dinner with his family.

I was not able to meet with Nathan to give him a check-up. He refused to leave his room even after some coaxing from the professor. It seems he’s going through a bad break-up ever since Reubert separated from him.

Of the two, the dominant omega, Reubert, seems to be more composed and in control of his emotions, though it might be that he is merely putting up airs.

I could smell distress in his pheromones when we met him yesterday. It seems he is reluctant to leave his mate, but he had to leave due to the circumstances that neither he, nor Dr. Webb could disclose.

My only hope is that Nathan would snap out of his depression soon, so that I could give him a proper check-up, as well as an MRI to prove the development of a womb in his person.

“Aahmes!” I was surprised when Eric suddenly burst inside the lab where I was writing my journal.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“Tama si Louie, tumakas nanaman nga si Nathan,” he said, irritated.

“Do they know where he’s headed?”

“Hindi, pero naglagay ako ng tracer sa kotse at phone ng lokong bata na `yun matapos nang nangyari sa Club A,” he explained, “Halika, kailangan natin s’yang puntahan at ibalik sa bahay.”

Twenty five minutes later, we found ourselves in front of a bar.

“Ayun ang kotse n’ya!” said Eric who quickly went to his nephew’s car and looked inside. “Tarantado talagang Nathan `to! Walang kadala-dala!” he muttered under his breath. “Dito ka muna, magbantay ka sa kotse, para walang kawala ang loko. Papasok lang ako para hanapin ang sutil ko’ng pamangkin!”

“Okay.”

I watched Eric make his may inside the bar. It was then that I caught a whif of Nathan’s scent. I followed it and saw an ATV moving out of the parking lot.

Quickly, I ran in front of the vehicle to stop it.

The automobile jolted to a stop, just as its front tires went flat.

I look around and saw Wahib standing in a dark corner. He nodded ever so slightly at me.

”Pucha! Gusto mo ba’ng mamatay?!” shouted the driver who rolled his window down. “Umalis ka d’yan sa daan!”

“Aahmes! Are you okay?!”

Eric was suddenly by my side.

“I’m fine, Eric, Nathan seems to be inside this vehicle.” I told him.

“Ano ba’ng ginagawa ninyo?!” the driver shouts at us once more.

Eric looked dangerously at him and went up to his half open window.

“Nathan!” he called to his nephew, “Lumabas ka d`yan! Balak mo nanaman ba’ng sirain ang buhay mo?!”

In reply, the vehicle simply drove backwards. I guess they haven’t realized that their front tires are both flat.

“Nathan, ano ba?!” Eric continued yelling.

I pushed him to the side, and faced the driver.

“That guy is sick.” I told him. “He’s got a highly contagious s****l desease and you are all going to die if you f**k him.”

“What the f**k?!” said the driver who looked at the two people at the back seat, one of whom was Nathan.

Ten minutes later, the three of us enter a convinience store. Nathan insisted that he was hungry, so Eric decided to buy him something fast to eat.

“Hindi ba p’wedeng sa restaurant tayo kumain?” he complained as Eric bought him a hotdog sandwhich.

“Ano sa tingin mo ang bukas pa nitong alas kuwatro ng umaga?” asked Eric. “Isa pa, mas madali mo ko matatakasan sa resto. At least dito, maliit, wala kang tataguan.”

“Hmph. Parang makakatakas pa ko sa inyo,” mumbled Nathan.

“Bilisan mo nang kainin `yang hotdog mo, at nang maiuwi na kita!”

“Bakit pa? Alam mo naman a tatakas lang `uli ako!” he stared at his food.

“Ano ba talaga problema mo, Nathan?” Eric snapped upon hearing this. “Talaga ba’ng wala ka’ng paki sa mga ginawa namin para sa `yo? Ang daming naperwisyo para lang iligtas ka noon. Ang dami naming inayos at pinagtakpan, tapos ngayon, babalik ka nanaman sa ganyang buhay?”

“Bakit ba kung magsalita kayo, eh, parang may paki kayo sa akin?” his nephew retorted. “Dahil ba `di pa kayo tapos sa experiment ninyo? Dahil `di pabor sa inyo ang naging resulta?”

“This is not about the experiment, Nathan,” Eric told him. “This is about you and your future! Porket ba iniwan ka ng partner mo, sisirain mo na ang buhay mo?”

Nathan looked at him and laughed.

“`Yun ba ang sinabi niya? Na iniwan niya ako? Tarantado rin talaga `yun, ano? Hindi matanggap na ako ang ngang-iwan sa kan’ya? Tapos tatakutin pa niya `ko na babalik na s’ya sa New York?” he snorted. “Umalis siya! Wala akong paki! hindi lang siya ang lalaking p’wedeng kumantot sa `kin!”

“Keep your voice down!” Eric hissed.

“Are you saying then that anyone would do?” I asked him.

“You wanna try?” he asked back, challenging me with his sharp gaze. “Wanna have some hands-on experimentation?”

Eric hit him on the head.

“Just so you know,” Eric told him as he rubbed his head, ”ang sabi lang ni Reubert, ay hindi nag work-out ang relationship ninyo. Wala siyang sinabi kung sino ang humiwalay. Sinabi lang niya na babalik na siya sa New York at the end of the month.”

“`Yun lang?” Nathan asked as if he was hoping for something more.

“`Yun lang, hindi na s’ya sumagot nang magtanong pa kami.”

“Hmph,” Nathan looked away. “Doon s’ya magaling, eh. Ang manahimik.”

Upon saying that, Nathan stood up and walked towards the door, leaving his food untouched.

“Saan ka nanaman pupunta?” Eric walked after him.

”Wala kayo’ng paki kung saan man ako magpunta.”

”Nathan, your family are worried sick about you,” I reminded him. “Please think this over.”

“My family are doing fine,” he replied. “They have more things to worry about other than me. Sanay na sila sa ganito ko’ng buhay.”

“Nathan, ano ba, `wag matigas ang ulo,” Eric tried to stop him. “`Wag mo’ng hintaying magalit ako!”

He simply looked at his uncle and laughed.

”At ano naman ang gagawin mo?” he mocked him. “Isa ka lang walang kuwentang beta. Anong laban mo sa alpha na tulad ko?”

He turned his back at us then.

I looked at Eric who was left speechless, his eyes filled with pain, then at his useless nephew who cared for nothing but himself.

I took a deep breath and let it out, aiming my pheromones at the unappreciative brat who dared to hurt my beloved.

Nathan staggered as he reached for the door and fell to the ground.

“Nathan!”

Eric quickly ran to his side.

“Nathan? Ano’ng nangyari?!”

“Don’t worry, he’ll wake up soon enough.” I assured him.

“Ikaw ba ang...” he looked around the store and sighed. “Tulungan mo ako’ng dalin s’ya sa sasakyan,” he said instead.

We carried Nathan to my car where we placed him in the backseat, then Eric sat on the passenger seat with a sigh.

“Ang mga bata talaga... habang tumatanda, lalong tumitigas ang ulo...” he said as I started the car. “Dati rati, bubuntot-buntot lang sa `kin ang lokong yan, nagpapakarga, nagpapabili ng candy... ngayon, basta-basta na lang akong sinasagot.”

“His fated pair just left him. We cannot blame him for his unruly behavior.”

The professor gave a soft chuckle.

“Sabi mo `yan, pero ikaw ang nagpabagsak sa kan’ya!”

“He was disrespecting you.”

Eric laughed in earnest.

“`Wag ka’ng mag-alala, lagot sa `kin `yan paggising n’ya! Makakatikim talaga sa `kin ng matindi-tindi `yan!”

I smile, knowing that he didn’t mean that at all.

“Shall we take Nathan home to his father?” I asked him.

“Hindi,” Eric answered. “nakita mo naman ang ginawa ni loko, tumakas nanaman at naghahanap ng makakalandian. Kung iuuwi natin `yan sa kanila, siguradong tatakasan lang n’yan `uli sina Louie.”

”What do you suggest, then?” I asked him.

“Sa atin muna s’ya tutuloy. At least doon, mababantayan natin s’ya at matutulungan kung sakaling tamaan s’ya ng Pair Withdrawal Symptoms.”

“You mean, FPS?” I corrected him, “Only marked omegas get PWS when their alpha partners leave them. Nathan was left by his fated pair, naturally, he’ll be suffereing from Fated Pair Syndrome. In fact, two of the symptoms have already manifested. He’s become quite agitated, and is looking for another partner to satisfy the lust in his body.”

“Ugh... oo na, oo na, FPS na kung FPS!” Eric looked irritated. “Kung bakit kasi etong Gagambang `to, ngayon pa pinatawag si Reubert! At ang tarantadong Reubert naman na `yun, ayaw magpaliwanag sa sira-ulo’ng partner n’ya!”

“It seems to be a highly classified mission.”

“Mukha nga. At mukha ring gusto lang ako’ng gipitin ni Gagamba para mapilitan ako’ng bumalik sa kan’ya,” he gave a long sigh. “Sobrang taba ng loko ngayon, mukhang hirap na s’yang maglakad kaya gusto n’ya, ako na mag-baby sit kay Dome.”

“Baby sit?” I looked at Eric, “Why would Dome need a babysitter?”

“Haay...” again, another sigh. “Matigas kasi talaga ulo ng isang `yun. Malaki galit n’ya sa mga alpha, lalo na sa mga mayayabang at abusadong members ng Secondary Gender Police. At `pag naiinis s’ya, mahilig s’yang magpatumba ng mga alpha, kahit pa ang mismong mga kakampi n’ya.”

“Is that so?”

“Oo. Ang unang mission ni Dome ay nang tumungtong s’ya ng diese-otso anyos, nagpunta kami sa isang liblib na lugar sa Albay na may nababalitang kulto ng mga alpha na nangongolekta ng mga omega. Pucha...” Eric went silent for a whie. “Nakita namin lungga nila... ginawang paanakan ng mga putanginang pastor ang mga miembro nilang omega, some of them as young as 9... and they were treating them like animals... napatay n’ya ang dalawa sa tatlong pastor doon, tapos pati yung dalawang kasamahan naming Special Gender Police SWAT members na nag-joke tungkol sa mga omega, tinira rin n’ya ng pheromones at pinabagsak.”

“Hmm... I guess you wouldn’t know just by looking, huh?” I said, “He looks so harmless when we’re together.”

“S’yempre, omega ka, eh, at beta naman ako,” Eric replied. “Balita ko nga nakapatay na `yun ng tatlong kabaro nila na nang molestya ng mga omega habang nasa field sila, kaya nga laging nakabuntot ang Gagamba tuwing pinadadala s’ya sa missions. May nakahanda laging double suppressant si Gagamba para masaksakan s’ya once na tamaan s’ya ng init ng ulo.”

“And he wants you to take his place?”

“Mukhang `di na n’ya kayang humabol kay Dome,” Eric laughed. “Nawala lang kasi ng isang taon mahigit si Reubert, pinabayaan na n’ya katawan nya, ngayon, mukha na s’yang lumba-lumba!”

We carried Nathan to one of the spare rooms when we got home. Eric then removed all the stuff inside it, leaving only a bed, a small table and a chair, before locking its door shot.

“Sigurado’ng magwawala ang loko’ng `yan pag nakita n’ya na kinulong natin s’ya,” he said, “Mas mabuti na `yung wala s’yang masisira.”

“What if he decides to hurt himself?” I asked.

“Hindi naman siguro n’ya gagawin `yun,” Eric replied, “Masyadong mahal ni Nathan ang sarili n’ya, `di s’ya ang tipo na mananakit sa kanyang sarili.”

“Then what do you call his plan to look for men to have s*x with?”

“Tawag lang `yun ng kalamnan. Ikaw na mismo nagsabi, isa ito’ng symptom ng FPS.” He went to the laboratory, and took out one of the alpha inhibitors from our supply closet.

“Panigurado, mabigyan na ng shot si loko para `di s’ya tuluyang magka-rut. Lalo na at wala ang kanyang fated pair...” he added.

“Wait.”

I took the inhibitor from him and looked over its packaging.

“Inhibitors should only be used when the alpha is already in rut.”

“Eh, ano pa nga ba tingin mo’ng nangyayari kay Nathan?” Eric frowned at me. “At hindi naman nakakasama sa mga alpha ang inhibitors kahit pasumpong pa lang ang rut nila. Buti nga at mapigilan na `to bago pa tuluyang dumating.”

“But we are not sure if this is safe for pregnant people.”

Eric frowned at me, his mouth ajar.

“Malamang, `di natin talaga malalaman kung safe `to sa mga buntis, dahil hindi naman nabubuntis ang mga alpha!” he jeered at me. ”Ano nanaman ba ang iniisip mo? Pagpipilitan mo nanaman ba na tinutubuan ng matres ang pamangkin ko?”

“We won’t know for sure unless we give him an MRI.”

“As if you could convince him to get one? You think he would sit still long enough if you asked him nicely? Kita mo nga at kailangan pa natin s’yang ikulong para `di tumakas?!”

“But if he is pregnant, then the fetus...”

“Haaay, nako, Habibi!” Eric sighed exaggeratedly, “O, s’ya, sige, gagamitin ko na lang sa kan’ya ang bagong gawa ko’ng suppressant! At least `yun all natural.”

“That would be ideal, professor,” I quickly answered.

Eric gave another long sigh and went back to the storage to get some of his new samples. He then went to his nephew’s room.

“Ayan, posibleng maging groggy s’ya, pero at least mapipigilan nito ang kanyang rut,” he said after injecting Nathan with the suppressant. “Ano, masaya ka na?” he frowned at me.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Haaay, sa dami ng problema natin, nalimutan ko nang tawagan si Louie!” he mumbled.

Eric took his phone then and dialled his brother-in-law’s number. It was quickly answered by Louie.

“Eric? nakita n’yo ba si Nathan?” he asked.

“Oo, `andito s’ya ngayon sa `kin. Tulog s’ya, pero safe.”

“Good, maraming salamat Eric.”

I could hear relief from his voice, as well as from the people in the background.

“Sige, magpahinga na rin kayo, ako na muna ang bahala rito kay Nathan, kung okay lang sa `yo.”

“Oo,” Louie replied, “ikaw naman talaga ang mas magaling sa `tin mag disiplina. Siguraduhin mo lang na ligtas s’ya.”

”Of course,” Eric asured him. “Ako na bahala sa loko’ng `to.”