This idiot Pilar!
First, she handed me a resignation letter last week, and now she acts all clingy, saying she doesn't want to leave!
"I-I'm so s-sorry, p-professor..." she sobs, her snot dripping on lab coat! "I-I had no c-choice..."
"Okay! Okay! Now, stop your ugly crying and let go of me! You're getting your snot all over me!" I tried to pull away from her, but she's got my left arm in a tight vice. "The hell... why bother resigning if you're planning to hold on to my arm like a damn 1tuko?!"
"I-it's because Joward... Joward is..."
"Yeah, I know, you already told us a hundredth times that your husband wants you to stay home so you can focus on your pregnancy! Now, let go already!"
"Pilar, please let the professor go," said Aahmes who's been staring daggers at her.
"You can always come back after the pregnancy, you know," said Pedro who can't help but feel sorry for his colleague. "Even my partner Dona went back to work after our youngest got weaned."
"E-easy for you to say!" Pilar moaned between sobs, "Donna now o-owns her own restaurant, and your family lives right on top of it!"
"Then tell your hubby you'd rather work here than stay stuck in at home all day!" I rub my arm after Aahmes finally pries her fingers off me.
"B-but... Joward says he p-prefers a stay at home housewife who could look after our k-kid full time..."
"Huh. What did you expect from an alpha?"
Pedro gaped at me and pointed at himself.
"Push-over alphas like you don't count," I quickly corrected myself.
"Don't worry, Pilar," he said with a beam, "you know you can visit us anytime you want, besides, we've still got five researchers left from the dozen who applied for your position. We won't be short handed even if you're not here!"
This only made Pilar cry even louder.
"Professor... I'm r-really, really sorry... I really... mi... mi..."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll be missing you, too! Now, stop crying!"
Finally, Pilar decided to cut the waterworks.
I bought some pizza for our last get-together in the office, and just like that, I was one minion short the next day.
Everyone was busy with the initial production of the SGT kits, not to mention, recording incoming data, as even more kids manifested their secondary gender.
"Peace and quiet, at last!" I sighed as I sit behind my desk. "Though I'd hate to admit it, I'll be missing that pesky Pilar, now that she's gone. This is all Higad's fault! I just lost a good slave – I mean, researcher, `coz he's too demanding of his wife!"
"Perhaps her husband just wants her to relax while she is going through her pregnancy?" said Aahmes who sat in front of me. "I heard that she almost had a miscarriage due to some sort of road accident two weeks prior."
"Yeah, I heard their car swerved along the highway," I told him. "Pilar said they almost ran over a cat who suddenly ran into the street. As if that had anything to do with our work," I mumbled.
"Never the less, we cannot blame her husband for wanting to keep her safe."
"Hmph. That was all Higad's fault as well! If I had my pregnant wife in the car and saw a cat crossing the street, I wouldn't try to avoid it and risk my wife and future kid's safety!"
I look up at my Habibi who kept seated in front of me with his usual blank expression.
"What? You think that's too much for me to say?" I asked with a pout.
"I would have done the same, Professor," he replied. "Rather, I would like you to look into something for me," he handed me a clipboard with a checklist on it. "I made an inventory of our specimens in your personal cold storage. I remember placing some pheromone samples there from your 'private collection', and labeling it 'volatile pheromones', but when I checked earlier, it was no longer there."
"From my private collection, huh?"
That means it's from the DOME collection back home.
"Professor, did you use the sample, by any chance?"
"Hmm... I don't remember using it. I worked on the terminus drug in our home laboratory, after all. Are you sure you didn't take it out yourself? Maybe you used it all up?"
"I am positive that I left it inside your storage. There was approximately 1.3 ounces left in the vial. I always take note of the amount I use and the amount that is left. Also, I cannot seem to find the vial itself."
"Well, it's not like anyone could just take it out, after all, no one has access to my storage except for our team."
"Our team?" Aahmes' smooth brows furrowed.
"Well, you know, I sometimes ask Pedro and Pilar to take stuff from the fridge when I'm too busy working in the lab downstairs."
"You lend them your key?" Now his prismatic eyes go round like kaleidoscopes.
"Of course not, Don't you have all my keys?" I reminded him. "I gave Pedro his own copy, then Pilar started sulking for being left out, so I gave her a copy as well."
"You mean to say, they had access to your storage which contains..." Aahmes stopped mid sentence and covered his face with his hands.
"C'mon, you know we could trust those two, we've known them for more than five years! I mean, they're practically family now –"
"We are also missing a raw sample of the SGT kit," Aahmes interrupted me. "and a sample of the new suppressant you were working on."
"What?"
I rose from my seat and went to the locked fridge in my cubicle.
"Maybe we just misplaced them somewhere..." I took my key from Aahmes and opened it. "Come to think of it, I remember that suppressant was a dud, and that test kit... hmm... I think maybe I might have had used it somewhere..."
"Are you sure, professor?" Aahmes looked dubious.
"Yeah, I probably used it."
At least, I think I did.
"Okay, then." He wrote something in his clipboard. "That means, only the volatile pheromones went missing."
"Hmm... maybe you just misplaced it somewhere?"
Aahmes actually glared at me.
Come to think of it, my Habibi have always been very particular about his stuff. He's not the type who would mishandle things or mess up his own record books.
"Okay, I'll ask Pedro about it, in the mean time, let's get a new lock for the fridge."
A week goes by peacefully.
Nothing much changed.
Nothing much happened.
"Pedro, go buy some food," I called my remaining researcher. "Habibi and I are too busy to leave the lab."
"What do you want for lunch?" he asked as he texted the diner downstairs. "They've got 2pinakbet, cordon bleu, mechado, lechon paksiw..."
"Paksiw!" I called out with a finger raised.
"Poultry for me, please," said Aahmes who didn't bother look up from the microscope he was using.
"Okay, I'll be right back!"
"I had no idea it was already 3 PM..." I mumbled as I returned to the report I was reading. "You know, I kinda like Sadako, she works fast yet detailed. Good thing she haven't resigned yet."
"Sadako?"
"You know that gloomy kid, Sara Conde?"
"I feel the same way," Aahmes agreed, "I believe she was part of the first team of interns we worked with when I first got here. She can work well under pressure and with minimum supervision. I think she would make a good replacement for Pilar."
"Hmm, now that you mention it, I do remember her from back then. She did say that she wanted to work here."
"I believe she is serious about the it, too," Aahmes said with a nod.
I walked to the doorway and looked out at my minions who were currently having a break in the pantry.
"Sadako, come here a second..."
A tall woman with long, straight, black hair stood up from her seat from the corner of the pantry.
"Sara Conde, po, Professor," she mumbled as she entered my cubicle, her long fringe covering her eyes with her head hung low. "Is there something you need, Sir?"
"Good work on this report," I said, raising a black file folder.
This is something I hardly ever do, particularly to my probationary minions.
"Can you make me a similar analysis of the other test results we've received so far, as well as for the incoming ones?"
I was expecting her to look pissed with the additional work load, instead, large black eyes looked up at me, and her pale face turning pink as a goofy grin broke on her face.
"You mean to say, Sir, take over Dr. Hilario's old work?" Her eyes got even wider.
"That's right, I plan to pass her work to you. Can you do it?"
"Sir, of course, Sir! I'll do my best, Sir!" Her head bobbed up and down, sending a cascade of black to the sides of her head.
"Good. Do you plan to stay in this company for a long time?"
I had no idea a jaw could drop that low.
"Sir, yes, Sir!" she gasped, still nodding. "I don't plan to ever leave, Sir!"
"Then I suggest you complete your probationary status properly for the next four months, do that, and I'll hire you as a regular employee." I glare at her. "That is, IF you can complete it."
"Yes Sir! Of course Sir! Even if I have to sleep in the lab, Sir! I'll start bringing my clothes tomorrow!"
"Woah, I didn't tell you to squat here! The higher ups might notice!" I chuckled as I handed her the report. "I marked a couple of points there, I want you to double check them and hand me a revised version before the day is through."
"Got it, Sir!" She gingerly took the file with both hands, took a bow, and left the room.
I chuckled some more and noticed Aahmes staring at me.
"What?"
"She seems to hold you in high regard."
"Ha? That's just respect for your boss," I said. "Didn't you notice how she took the report? She didn't even want our fingers to touch!"
"She is an antisocial germophobe, Professor. Look," Ahmes pointed outside, "she's disinfecting the report you just handed her."
I did see Sadako spraying her black folder with alcohol. She stood at the corner of the pantry, away from the other researchers and interns who were taking their break.
"Why do I have a feeling that only weirdos want to work with me?" I found myself muttering.
"At least I am sure that she will keep her hands away from you," said my Habibi who went back to his microscope. "Even if she does look up to you."
I couldn't help but grin.
"Ah, I had no idea my beloved was getting jealous..."
"I am not." Aahmes didn't even raise his head. "I know that she has no appeal to you."
My grin only got wider. I was about to give him a hug when Pedro entered with our late lunch.
I told him our plan about hiring Sadako and was glad to know that he liked the kid as well.
"Good idea professor! She's a hard worker, and she never complains no matter what job we give her."
"Good, keep an eye on her, let's hope she lasts four months."
We were still discussing about the two other remaining interns, when Aahmes' phone started ringing.
"Habibi, aren't you going to answer that?" I asked when it rang the fifth time.
"Can you check it for me, please, professor?" he replied, his eyes glued to the microscope.
I took the phone, but the ringing had already stopped and was replaced by a message tone.
"Who's this 'Mrs. Chu'?" I asked as I checked the number.
"That's Rome's mother."
"Oh, you mean, Shorty?" I opened the message.
'Please come to our home as soon as you are able. Rome fell unconscious in school, I'm afraid he's getting worst.'
"Hmph. They refuse to listen, and now expect you to visit them just like that?!" I muttered irritably.
"I hope she finally realizes that her son is more important than her pride," said Habibi. "I am almost done here. Do you mind accompanying me later, professor?"
"Hay... if you insist. I do want to give that woman a piece of my mind!"
"I don't advice it. She is the type who would sic the dog on us if we get on her bad side."
"The hell?! Just who is this woman? Is she the Evil Queen, the Wicked Step Mother, or Cruella De Ville in the flesh?"
"No. Rome is her biological child,"
I stare blankly at Aahmes and couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, let's eat first and recover our strength, before we face the demon mother."
==============
1Tuko – Tokay gecko. It is said that a tuko never lets go once it latches on to something.
There is also a saying in Filipino, 'kapit tuko', meaning a person that holds on to an object, person, or position for personal profit and refuses to let go.
2Pinakbet – a traditional Filipino vegetabledishfrom Ilocos Region with pork and shrimp paste.
Cordon bleu – a classic French dish of chicken meat wrapped in ham and cheese
Mechado – a tomato based beef stew with cubed carrots and potatoes
Lechon paksiw – traditionally, left-over roast pork chopped and stewed in herbs, vinegar, and gravy made from pig liver