Chapter 90 - It is one of his good points
1592 Words
Chapter 90 - It is one of his good points
I left the Del Mirasol residence shortly thereafter.
The professor walked me back to the car and kissed me goodbye, telling me to hurry back right after the meeting.
I drove to Universal Laboratories and went straight to our laboratory. I was planning to keep my samples at the cold storage facility while I attended the meeting.
“Good morning Dr. Abdel.” some interns greeted me. “Mag-oovertime po kayo?”
“I just need to leave something here before I attend a meeting.”
I made my way to the pantry and met Pilar there.
“Dr. Abdel!” she greeted me, “Akala ko po Monday na kayo babalik ni Sir Eric? Nandyan po ba si Sir Eric?”
She looked nervous.
“I was called for an emergency meeting,” I replied, noting that she was perspiring while in a fully airconditioned room. “I’m afraid the professor still refuses to attend.”
“Ah, tama, si Sir Eric talaga! Hindi na nagbago! Ah-ha-ha...”
“How about you, Dr. Hilario? What brings you to the laboratory on a Saturday?” I asked her.
“Ah, may nalimutan lang ako, kaya binalikan ko ngayon...”
“In the pantry?”
“O-oo...” she looked around the common room and picked up a pink mug from the cupboard. “Eto, ang favorite mug ko!” she grinned. “Nahawa na ko kay sir, may favorite mug na rin ako, `di ako mapakali `pag `di ako rito umiinom.” She gave another nervous laugh. “Sige po, Dr. Abdel, mauna na po ako! Goodluck po sa meeting!”
Pilar left in a hurry. I followed her with my eyes through walls of glass, until I could no longer see her.
It was not unusual of her to come to the office on a Saturday. She used to come to the office 7 days a week, but she seldom does now, ever since she got married.
“I should make sure our things are in proper order,” I tought out loud as I entered the professsor’s workstation.
As usual, the airconditioning in the room was turned off. I took out a bunch of keys and opened his personal cold storage. I placed my specimens inside and locked it up again. I also checked the professor’s drawers and even his trash can.
They were all empty.
Well, nothing else seems to be amiss. I checked my watch and made my way up stairs for the meeting.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Abdel. Isn’t Prof. Antonio with you?” Dr. Gonzaga asked as I enterred the conference room.
“Regrettably, no.” I replied.
“Ah, too bad,” he frowned and shook his head slowly. “Our special guests wanted so much to meet him!”
“It’s my fault, I told him to take the rest of the week off, after all,” said Dr. Gregorio who gave a conspiratory wink at me. “Well, we do have Dr. Abdel with us, at least.”
I looked inside the room.
Near the end of the long conference table sat a respectable looking caucasion in his late 50’s. Beside him sat an intimidating man in military garb. His disappointment was evident in his stare.
“You must be Dr. Ahmes Abdel.” said the military man, standing up. “I am Gen. De Leon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I stared back at him.
Yes, I know this person.
He shook my hand and sat as I took my seat in front of him, his eyes still fixed at me.
“I believe you are Prof. Antonio’s partner?”
That simple sentence sent a chill down my spine.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am,” I answered, looking straight into his cold, purple eyes. “We have been living together for four years now.”
“It is good to know that the professor has finally found someone... special...” he smiled.
Again, I felt a chill.
“So, shall we get down to business?” Dr. Gonzaga asked.
“Yes, of course.” replied Gen. De Leon.
“This is Dr. Eisenhower, the current head of Universal Laboratories who just flew in from the United States,” said Dr. Gonzaga, “And you all know Gen. De Leon, the head of National Defense in our country.”
I gave a quick look at Gen. De Leon. We was still staring at me.
“They have both shown interest in our Secondary Gender Testing Kits which we are planning to release next year,” continued Dr. Gonzaga.
“I hear that you have passed the 15% threshhold in the clinical trials?” asked Dr. Eisenhower.
“Yes, we plan to start production by Monday,” replied Dr. Gonzaga.
“Great news, we have been following your progress since the start of your project four years ago,” said Dr. Eisenhower, “we hope we can purchase the kits as soon as they come out.”
“We would be more than glad to assist you with the sales, Dr. Eisenhower.” said Ms. Sobrea, the head of the sales department.
“I believe these kits can test children as young as five years old and tell whether they would be an alpha or an omega when they reach adolescence?” asked the doctor, “Is there a way to lower the age? To say, about 1 year old?”
“It is not possible with the current formulation,” I answered. “Also, what use is it, to know the secondary gender of an infant?” I asked, “Would you get rid of it if the result is not to your liking?”
Dr. Eisenhower did not seem to know the answer to this question.
“I think five years is just about right.” Gen. De Leon spoke up. “It’s about the right age for a child to start being independent.”
“And may I ask the reason for your interest in our project?” I asked him straight out.
“I simply think that with the rising number of children in orphanages from unwanted omega pregnancies, these SGT kits would be a good tool to help prospective parents to choose a child to raise.”
“You mean, get all the alphas adopted, while the omegas are left behind?”
The purple-eyed general slowly grinned at me.
“Who said they would be left behind?” he replied. “On the contrary, I am more interested in the omegas. As a philantropist, I plan to open a military school for unwanted omegas. In this way, they can grow up as upstanding members of society and learn discipline and self-defence along the way.”
Philantropist? Why do I find what he said so hard to digest?
“Such a noble mission, Gen. De Leon,” said Dr. Gregorio who grinned at the general, “your family must be very proud of you!”
The general looked at him coldly.
“Why don’t we talk about the precurement of the SGT kits?” Dr. Gonzaga called our attention as he stood from his seat. “Ms. Sobrea from the sales department can help you with your orders.”
“And the kits would be ready for distribution in a year, am I right?” asked Dr. Eisenhower.
“That’s right, Dr. Eisenhower,” replied Dr. Gregorio, “and it it will take another 1 year for it to be available to the public.”
“Good, tell us more about the deatails, then.”
The rest of the meeting passed by.
We discussed about the necessary papers needed to bring the kits to the US, as well as the manner of transport. The professor’s formula is very sensitive to heat, after all, it needs to be kept in a cool environment with minus five degrees temperature to keep the solution inside from spoiling.
When the meeting was finally over, I placed my things inside my case and got ready to leave. I noticed then that a shadow had fallen over me. As I looked up, I saw Gen. De Leon looking down at me, sizing me up like a farmer choosing a lamb for the kill.
“Dr. Abdel, tell me, how is Prof. Antonio doing?” he asked with a grin.
I stood up beside him. He seems to be taller than the professor, much broader as well.
“He is doing fine,” I answered, not giving out more information than necessary.
“Good to hear.” He sized me up with his cold eyes once more. “It is good that someone is finally taking care of him,” he said, “he has a knack of forgetting about himself while he runs around getting into everyone else’s business.” He gave a sharp laugh.
“It is one of his good points,” I found myself saying.
His grin broadened like a python getting ready to swallow his meal whole.
“It is a shame that I cannot meet him today,” he said, “we haven’t seen each other since...” he paused, “well, since forever,” he chuckled. “Please tell him that Gen. De Leon sends his regards.”
“I will be sure to tell him that,” I replied before leaving the room.
And I was glad when I finally did.
- Writer
