"Okay, I'm on my way."
"So? Was that Doc Fuego?" Eric asked as I placed down my phone next to a pile of paperwork I was working on earlier.
"Yes, he said the Chu family just contacted him for a house visit," I replied as I prepared my briefcase. "He said he had already mentioned me to Rome's mother. They are expecting me to arrive anytime in the afternoon."
"Hmph. It's a miracle you got Fuego to work with you? That foxy bastard's so greedy, you could see dollar signs on the sides of his face."
"Those are mustachios, and it wasn't for free," I replied.
"Ha? How much did he ask for?"
"Fifty thousand."
"WHAT?!"
"Plus a year's supply of our latest omega suppressants."
"WHAT-WHAT?!" Eric gaped at me in disbelief, "Why... we haven't even released our latest suppressants yet, and he gets them first for free?!"
"Who said anything about the new formula? It isn't out on the market yet, so technically, it isn't our latest suppressant. I'm going to give him the old formula, so hurry up with the new one."
"Ha-ha-ha! My Habibi really is the best! And you're getting more devious, like me!"
"I learn only from the best."
"Just make sure to take care of yourself, okay?" he touched my arm, frowning. "What if Feugo tries something on you? Maybe I should go with you?"
"I am going straight to the Chu residence, I won't be seeing Dr. Fuego."
"What if some alpha bastard there does something..."
"Professor, I'll be fine. Just stay here and take care of the laboratory," I told him before leaving his workstation. "Don't forget to lock the door if and when you leave the room."
"Yeah, of course, now go on your way, I've still got a mountain to overcome." He looked irritably at the dissertations pilled up high on his table and sighed.
I arrived at the Chu residence half an hour later. They lived in a large mansion in a high-end subdivision in Quezon City. A guard even accompanied me on a motorcycle to make sure I would not lose my way.
"Is this the Chu residence?" I asked the guard as we stopped in front of a large residence covered by tall concrete walls.
"Yes, sir, let me call their guard for you."
He went towards the tall red gates and pressed the doorbell to page the guards inside the property.
"Hello, sir, a Dr. Aahmes Abdel is here to visit you."
The guard faced me again after a while.
"Everything seems fine, sir, you may proceed."
The wide gates of the Chu property opened automatically. I closed my window and entered the place. There was a long drive before I got to the front of the house where I was greeted by three maids in uniforms.
"Welcome, Dr. Abdel, please come in, our mistress has been expecting you, she is upstairs with her son," they told me as we entered a spacious hall fitted with Italian furniture.
"Master Jerome has been sick since last week, but this morning, he couldn't even get out of his bed."
"Yes, I was advised by Dr. Fuego about the situation," I told them as we climbed to the second floor.
"Dr. Abdel?"
I looked up and saw a tall woman, about middle aged, standing along the landing. She looked stately in an expensive looking suit, stiletto heels and golden jewelry. It looked as if she was planning to attend a business meeting.
"Dr. Abdel, welcome to our home," she said, reaching out a hand to me. "It is such a privilege to have an internationally known doctor in my house."
"Thank you, Mrs. Chu. May I see the patient?" I asked as I shook her hand.
"Oh, of course, Dr. Abdel, but you must be tired, why don't we sit for a while and discuss about my son's condition?" she smiled at me and squeezed my hand, pulling me gently towards the den where there were some tea cakes prepared.
"Mrs. Chu, I am afraid I cannot discuss about your son's condition without first, giving him an actual check-up," I said, standing my ground.
"Well, Dr. Fuego told me he would inform you about his case. Didn't he tell you it was just a silly psychological condition?" she softly laughed. "Frankly, I think my son is just making it up. He's always been an attention seeker ever since he was young."
"I am afraid this is more serious than you think," I pulled my hand away from her. "Dr. Fuego informed me that your son is suffering from FPS."
"FPS?" the brows on her smooth forehead creased.
"Fated Pair Syndrome."
Mrs. Chu laughed, louder this time.
"Like I said, it's just a silly psychological condition my son is making up!"
"On the contrary," I replied, seriously. "Fated Pair Syndrome is a real condition that could be fatal to alpha-omega pairs, particularly if they are forced to separate from each other."
"Really, doctor, I'm old enough to differentiate fact from fiction! I know that my son is just faking –"
"Are you a doctor, Mrs. Chu?" I interrupted her.
"Well, no, but..."
"Have you gone to a university to study about the secondary genders?"
"No... but..."
"Are you an omega, then?"
This time she did no longer replied.
"What makes you so sure that your son is just making things up?"
She looked at me with a frown, her perfect face turning red.
"I have been studying secondary gender traits and personalities for about a decade now, I even wrote a book which aimed to explain the science behind the fated pair phenomenon. But if you insist that your son is merely making things up, then I guess I have no reason to be here." I opened my briefcase and took out some sheets of paper from inside. "Please sign a waiver stating that you refuse to let us treat your son and inform Dr. Fuego if and when your son passes away due to FPS."
"W-w-wa-wait a minute!"
Now, she looks flustered.
"Pass away?! Are you serious?! Y-you mean... my son could actually die from this... this FPS?!"
"Like I said, FPS could be a fatal condition. One of its symptoms is extreme depression that might lead the patient to suicide. Another symptom is extreme fatigue and lethargy, causing the patient's body to shut down into a coma, consequently leading to death."
"I-is that so... then... how.... how do we treat him, doctor?"
"First," I replied, "I need to see your son and give him a proper examination."