"I have thought of a way to easily detect the catalyst gene that you discovered."
"..."
I stare at Aahmes in amazement.
"Wait a minute," I raised a hand. "The CCTV cameras in here don't have audio, but..."
I opened my desk drawer and handed him a face mask to cover his mouth, making sure that no one could read his lips.
"Now, we can talk," I continued after putting one on myself. "How did you do it?"
"Well, considering that omegas and alphas react to each other's pheromones, I theorized that each would give a different reaction to the aforementioned gene. Simply put, I have formulated a solution using dominant pheromones, both alpha and omega. It can turn the blood a tint of pink to show if the subject is an omega candidate, and blue if he is an alpha candidate. If there is no reaction, then the subject will most probably be a beta."
"Ooh, that would help greatly to hasten the results!" I nodded at him. "Much better than my plan of tracing the reaction through an electron microscope. This way, we wouldn't need further use of a laboratory at all!"
"Exactly," he replied, "but I still need to stabilize the reaction, since it takes approximately 12 hours for the solution to change color. I am hoping to get a reaction time of 30 minutes or less."
"Do you have a sample with you right now?"
Aahmes opened the silver briefcase he always carries around and took out some vials. We arranged a set up on the lab table, and tried the solution after retrieving some blood samples from storage.
"Now, we leave the samples for a period of 12 hours to complete the reaction," he instructed me.
He was about to replace the vials inside the cold storage when I stopped him.
"Wait, why are you placing it in the fridge? It should be at about the same temperature as an omega in heat or an alpha in rut."
"At 39.8 degrees?" He looked at me as if he just had an epiphany.
"Yep. As much as possible, It's better to conduct the experiment in its natural environment. Don't you notice? I seldom turn the AC on when I'm working on something."
"So, that was what I was missing!"
"Also, try using this formula to detect the gene." I wrote something down on a piece of paper I ripped out of a note pad. "Burn it right after you memorize it."
"Yes, professor."
"Just in time, the parents' waiver I asked Atty. Derejedo to make just came through my email. We can let the first batch of volunteers come on the day after tomorrow."
"On Wednesday?"
"Yep, we can divide them into five batches of 200 children each. Hurry up with that solution so we can use it immediately."
"But professor, isn't that the 18th?"
"Yeah, that's why..."
I stopped mid sentence and blinked twice.
I almost forgot...
"Didn't you say you have somewhere to go to on that day?" Aahmes reminded me.
"Right... I lost track of the days again..."
"That is because you have been awake for the past 64 hours now."
"It's nothing coffee can't fix!" I opened the thick folder Pedro handed me. "I'll start on this list so you can inform the first batch as soon as possible. Ask them to sign the waver right after the orientation. Make an extra list in case some parents back out. If we keep on schedule, three batches would be done by Friday.
Professor, how about lunch? It's already 2 pm."
"Didn't I eat already?"
"You last ate breakfast at home."
"Ah, just buy me something from Aling Tinay's."
"Your lunch is on your desk, professor."
I look at my desk. Sure enough, there's a bowl of rice and mechado there with a solidified film of orange grease on top.
"Ah, can you heat it in the microwave?"
Aahmes stared at me.
I gave him a grin.
He took my food and went out to the pantry. I start checking the lists as soon as he left.
There were about six thousand participants for the Secondary Gender Testing Kit clinical study. After Pedro screened them, only about three thousand were left in the list, which I still need to categorize.
What we need are kids from different environments, social caste, and health conditions. It is to gauge if the testing kit would work on any child, regardless of their condition. May they be rich or poor, healthy or sickly, with hereditary disorders or physical deformities. All possibilities must be covered to make the testing kit perfect.
I was on my 5th list when Aahmes took the folder from my hands and placed a steaming bowl of rice and mechado in front of me.
"Eat first."
"Ah, thank you, Habibi."
"So, where are you going on Wednesday?" he asked after my first mouth full.
"Secret."
"Is it a trip with your niece?"
"In a way." I grinned at him.
"A family affair, then. Since your brother would never allow her to visit you on her own."
I couldn't help but laugh. I love it when Aahmes uses his deductive reasoning to try to read me.
"Do you know that my nieces always bake me a cake on my birthdays?" I bragged. "That's why I told you not to do anything for me. I won't even show up, in the first place."
"If that is so, then I shall take care of things on Wednesday," said Aahmes with his usual emotionless stare. "Please have a good time with your family on your birthday."
Hmm...
Why does it feel like he's sulking?
"Don't worry, Habibi, I promise to send you lots of pics all day so you won't feel left out!"
"No need," he replied.
It took me a whole day and a half to finish the rest of the list. After that, I checked the waver I got from my email and had them all photocopied. I also told Pedro and Pilar to ready 200 additional candidates, in case someone backs out of the program. After all that, Aahmes and I checked the venue – the multipurpose hall 2 floors below us.
The orientation would basically talk about the Secondary Gender Testing kits, also known as the SGTK Project. We will inform the parents that their kids would be monitored until they reach puberty, all to determine the SGT kits' effectivity. We would also need to prepare some food, of course, as well as some tokens as a small gift for the participants. It was already way past 11 when we finally got everything in done.
"Eat something first, professor," Aahmes reminded me as I drop on my swivel chair with a sigh.
"Didn't I just ate?"
"You last ate a single waffle stick at 7:45 PM, when one of the interns handed you a pack before they went home."
"Did you really need to be so darn specific?" I glared at him. "Well, at least now, everything seems to be in place. I know you'll do fine tomorrow, even without me."
"Precisely," replied Aahmes.
I noticed he brought a large food container when he placed my reheated dinner in front of me. I waited for him to open it, but he didn't budge. I start eating my dinner instead.
"I'm making a list of the stuff you need to do tomorrow, as well as possible scenarios that might pop up along the way, and the ways you can react to them. I'm also including a FAQ page and a list of..."
Professor, I have already seen them all," he interrupted me, "please eat your food so we can go home, and stop talking with your mouth full."
"Ah, but I still need to check the setup in the venue..."
"You have seen it five times already."
"How about the waiver? Did you place it in the kits to be distributed tomorrow?"
"Yes, you packed them yourself."
"And the caterers..."
"They have already confirmed their attendance." Aahmes placed a hand on my shoulder. "Now, professor, it is time for you to eat."
"Okay."
I savor my favorite reheated kare-kare, right out of the microwave. I notice Aahmes watching me. Does he plan to bring the large food container home? Is it for a midnight snack, perhaps?
I continued eating until I heard someone clear their voice from the doorway.
Standing there were Pedro and Pilar, carrying a small cake with a candle on top.
"What the fuck is this?" I asked in irritation.
"It is now exactly 12 midnight," said Aahmes who opened the container he was carrying. It was full of pansit1. "Happy birthday professor."
"Happy birthday po, Sir Eric!" my two stubborn minions pipped in.
"See, Sir Eric, we didn't surprise you!" said Pilar with a laugh.
"Yes, but you still irritate me," I snapped at her.
"Would you like us to sing for you, Sir?" Pedro even dared to suggest.
"Do you want me to beat you all up?"
Pedro placed the cake on the long lab table and took out some forks and plates. They even lit the candles on my bunsen burner.
"Make a wish, sir!"
And like an idiot, I closed my eyes before blowing out the two candles shaped as a two and a seven.
There's has always been only one thing I wish for.
That my kuya would always be happy.
No matter where he is.
Even if he's no longer with me.
Well, I have to admit, I am pretty happy with the people I'm with right now.
Though I could do without the two idiots.
I guess I do miss being in a functioning team environment or whatever, and training a new assistant every time someone runs away is just a waste of time. Perhaps having pesky minions around is fine from time to time. Even if they do bother me sometimes.
_______
1 Pancit Canton – also known as 'birthday noodles' and symbolizes long life. Stir fried noodles with bits of chicken, pork, shrimp, and various veggies.