"Habibi! When did you get back? How's your day? How was Shorty?" Eric greeted me behind his desk.
"He was not doing very well," I answered. "I am afraid he would not be able to last long, separated from his mate."
"So? What did you do?"
I gave a deep sigh.
"I told his mother several times that he would need to be reunited with his mate, but his mother is too stubborn. She does not seem to want her son to have a relationship with someone she does not approve of."
"Did she now?" the professor dropped what he was doing. He stood up and crossed his arms against his chest, an amused grin on his face. "So, why is she so against her son's cross-dressing boyfriend?"
"I have no idea. I did not have the chance to interview her about her son's relationship. I do not even know what their family does for a living."
"Tough. Shorty will end up getting worst, then."
"Well, I did persuade her to let Rome keep Jinn's used uniform. The scent of his pheromones can help calm him down. I also told him to meet with his mate as often and as long as he could tomorrow."
"You think that would be enough to keep him stable?" frowned the professor. "From what I saw yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if he lapses into a comma in the next couple of days."
"Exactly, in fact, he was already unresponsive when I met him earlier. I had to administer a suppressant shot and treat him with my calming pheromones to bring him back."
"If that's the case, then we can't just leave him alone!" Eric said with concern. "Omegas who enter a coma hardly ever wake up again! This case is common in marked omegas who are left by their alphas. They just sleep until their bodies waste away!"
"I cannot help it, since the stubborn mother refuses to let her son meet with his mate. But I did my best. I even made her sign a waver."
"What waver?"
"It states that she is unwilling to follow the doctor's suggestion. If her son dies, then Dr. Fuego and myself have no legal responsibility. She would acknowledge that she killed her own son."
"Woah, nice move! So did it work?" Eric asked with a grin.
"I think so," I replied. "I am hoping that she at least has a conscience."
"Well... there's probably no parent that would want to put their child's life in danger..." the professor sounded doubtful. "I mean, she couldn't possibly be that stupid... I hope..."
"We both do," I sigh. "So, professor, have you eaten already?" I asked as I take a seat beside the professor's desk.
"Yeah, Pilar bought me some lunch. She kept bugging me to eat and wouldn't let me be until I finished everything!" he said with a pout. "She was so stubborn that she spilled some beef steak sauce on my table! Too bad it didn't reach the tower of idiocracy," he pointed at the heap of thesis folders by the edge of his table, "some of my scrap paper got soiled, though."
I looked at his working area.
Sure enough, a small part of it was cleared and was even gleaming. I looked at his trash bin next. It was empty.
"Did Pilar take your trash out?" I asked.
"Yep. She was worried about ants or cockroaches or whatever..." he answered absentmindedly as he went back to his work.
"Professor, where you not working on the new suppressant today?"
"Hmm? Actually, I'm working on some improvements for our SGT kits. Remember, I told you that I wanted the results to come out faster before we mass produce it?"
"Yes... then the scrap paper that were thrown out..."
"Don't worry, those were just points I planned to question in the dissertations I already read through." He looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Why? Is there a problem?"
I hesitated before answering him.
"I do not trust Pilar."
I told him frankly.
"She was acting suspiciously last week, I caught her near your workstation, out of breath and perspiring, as if she hurriedly ran out from somewhere."
"What?" Eric asked, wide eyed. "Could it be that..." he paused, "...she's hiding a lover in the office?!"
He suddenly burst out laughing, gently slapping my arm.
"Really, Habibi, don't be so serious!" he said with a grin. "You know Pilar, she's probably just flirting with one of my minions. I noticed she's been particularly nice to that alpha intern who's still hanging on in our team. You don't need to worry, you know she's mostly harmless!"
"Professor, this is serious," I frowned at him.
"I know, but we shouldn't think ill of our own people."
I was surprised with what I heard from my professor.
"We've been with Pilar for how many years now?" he continued. "She might be a flirt and may look desperate at times, but she ain't the type who would betray her friends." He pushed his swivel chair and went closer to my seat, placing an arm on my shoulder.
"Besides," he added, "I never write important formulas on paper. They are all in here," he tapped his temple. "And I always dispose of my experiments down the drain. So there's nothing for you to worry about. All our secrets are safe inside out heads."
I sighed once more.
If the professor says so, then I guess there is nothing for me to worry about.
"Okay then, I shall take your word for it."
"You should, `coz I don't like seeing my Habibi with a frown on his face!" He pecked the tip of my nose.
"And yet, you still keep calling me Habibi."
The professor laughed and gave me a quick hug.
"Okay, Mahal, I know you've still got a lot of stuff to do yourself. I'm almost done with my SGT kit improvements. I'll get it ready tomorrow for the official start of production!"
I could not help but smile as I watched Eric go back to his microscope.
"I'll be in my workstation then," I said standing up.
I guess I really am just thinking too much.
I shook my head as I left the professor's work station. I have more things to think about, other than a colleague's possible betrayal. I shouldn't waste my time on such petty things.
True to his word, Eric finished his new formula before the day was through.
The SGT kits are now able to release results in just 15 minutes. He was also able to lengthen its shelf life to six months from the former four, as long as the kits are kept in below freezing temperature.
The mass production of the SGT kits started immediately the next day.
We would be ready to supply our customers as early as May next year and release batches of 300,000 kits monthly for the first three months.
If the sales reach our target, the company would then double or triple production the following year to supply demand.
Everything was going as planned.
Eric was at high spirits.
Even the interns were happy.
What was left of them, at least.
Then, come Friday morning, Maureen Peralta-Hilario, commonly known as Pilar, handed over her resignation.