NOTE: The whole novel is now translated into English.
Remember that Prof. Eric Antonio still speaks in tagalog.  I will just leave some necessary tagalog terms and place its translation in brackets beside it. 

- me

It has been almost two weeks since I met Prof. Antonio.

I have long realized my mistake.

It seems `mahal kita’ is used to confess one’s romantic love towards another.

I had already sent my disdain to the acquaintance who taught me those lines.

So far, I have made little progress with the professor whom I realized to be a disgusting, egocentric, bigoted, sociopath who has a deep hate for other people, particularly, alphas.

Yet I cannot help but feel respect for him.

It seems the only person he likes is his 10 year old niece named Meme. He has a picture of said niece in his wallet, his phone, and on his desk. He seems to have a makeshift room in the biggest work station in the laboratory. It is right next to the pantry, where he has a long couch where he sleeps in and a desk full of three feet high piles of case studies and half eaten instant ramen cups.

For the past 11 days, he has been ordering me around to make him coffee, bring him his lunch, and clean his work area.

I have been dying to read the folders stacked on his table ever since I arrived, regrettably though, Prof. Antonio does not seem to leave his room unless one of his assistants are in a life or death situation. He only stands up when he goes to the lavatory next door, and does not seem to have a house to go home to.

“Pedro, does the professor always sleep in the office?” I once asked.

“Yeah, he prefers to sleep here. He thinks it’s a hustle to go home just to get back to work the nest morning, besides, he hardly sleeps anyway.”

“How about taking a bath?”

Pedro laughed at my question.

“Can you not take his smell anymore?” he asked, “Come to think of it, an omega’s nose is more sensitive compared to others. Though, I don’t think he smells that’ bad... yet... We have shower rooms here, but as the professor likes to say, ‘if you don’t smell, then no one should care...’”

Actually, it is not that I find his scent repulsive, I just want him to go home so that I can check the files on his desk.

“And how come I rarely see him work?” I asked again. “Most of the time, he’s just playing games on his phone or staring at the photo of his niece until he falls asleep.”

“Ah, bebe Meme?” again, Pedro laughs, “That’s just how Sir Eric is, it helps him concentrate. You see, sir Eric had a brother complex. His big brother was an omega, and bebe Meme looks exactly like him.”

“Had?”

“Yeah, his brother died a year after giving birth to Meme, still, he absolutely adores his niece, compared to his other niece and nephew who looks like their dad.”

“You mean, the alpha mate?” I asked.

“Yup,” he leans closer to whisper to me. “Actually, that person is the reason why he hates alphas so much.”

“Oy, chismis `yan ha, baka mahuli kayo ni sir, sige kayo,” [hey, stop gossiping, sir might hear you,] said Pilar who sat beside us in the central pantry.

“Well, everyone knows how much the professor hates his brother-in-law, anyway” said Pedro with a laugh, “doesn’t he compare him to all the evil alpha scum on the face of the earth?”

“Haay... you do have a point there...” Pilar drank some coffee and gently touched my shoulder. “By the way, Dr. Abdel,” she said, “We’re going bar hopping since it’s the weekend, why don’t you join us?”

“No thank you, Pilar,” I replied, “I am actually working on something on my own.”

“Actually, my real name’s Maureen Peralta,” she corrected me, “Sir Eric just called me ‘Pillar’ since there used to be another employee named Jose who joined the same time I did. He called him`Pepe’. You know, in reference to the old elementary school book called ‘Pepe and Pilar’?”

“I do not get it.”

“Never mind,” she sighs, “So, you’re running your own experiment?” she looked at me with interest.

“Yes, I have set up a laboratory in my hotel room.”

“Oh, can I come over to see it?” asked Pilar while gently rubbing my shoulder.

“I am sorry but the study is confidential.” I took her hand and placed it on her lap. “I shall tell you about it as soon as I finish it.”

I heard Pedro snort and looked his way.

“That’s right, doc, it’s almost 10 PM, you’re working overtimea again! Are you coming in tomorrow even if it’s a Saturday?” he asked.

“Perhaps not, I plan to look for a permanent place to stay. I don’t have as much privacy in my hotel room, particularly when the chambermaids come to clean-up. I’m looking for an apartment I can rent where I can have a separate room to experiment in.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll ask around for an apartment, too,” said Pedro. “Well, we need to leave now,” he picks up his coffee. “Take care, we’ll see you on Monday.”

I watched them walk away and decided to check on Prof. Antonio.

I saw him through the glass walls, staring at his niece’s photo again with a steaming cup of my newly brewed coffee by his side. I knocked to catch his attention, then opened the door.

“Prof. Antonio, is there anything you want me to do before I leave?”

“Wala. Umalis ka na.” [no. Go away.] He replied, not even taking his eyes off the photo.

I took my silver briefcase from the central pantry, and went on my way. I plan to stop by a good restaurant today for dinner, it is a Friday after all, and I’m in the mood to eat a proper meal tonight.

I went to the parking area to board my black Ferrari and went on my way. I chose a French restaurant. The food was exquisite, and as I was about to leave, I thought of all the instant noodle cups around the professor’s table and decided to bring him something good to eat as well.

Perhaps, then, he would think better of me.

I ordered some Confit de canard and a bottle of white wine, together with four different kinds of cheeses. I went back to the laboratory to give Prof. Antonio the food, when lo and behold! I saw him, actually on his feet – working!

He was standing behind an electron microscope and typing on his laptop! He was so engrossed in his study, that he didn’t notice as I stood behind him, watching his every move.

They were fluid and precise. Fast and calculated. Not a movement was wasted. And the more I watched him, the more I felt respect for him. I was still staring at him as he worked, my face against the thick glass wall, when the professor turned around and was surprised to see me.

Okay, surprise was an understatement.

He was so shocked that be backed up on the electron microscope, knocked down three test tubes, and dropped a pile of research paper on the floor.

Then he started cursing at me.

“Puuutang ina!!! Ano’ng ginagawa mo rito hindot ka?!?!” [son of a bitch! What thte fuck are you doing here]

“I brought you some dinner.”

I calmly showed him the paper bag I was carrying.

“Ayoko ng dinner!!! Putcha!!!” [I don’t want dinner! Bitch!] he looked at the mess around him. “Putang-inang kaputang-inahan nitong putang inang `to!!!” [bitching bitchiness of this bitch!] and starts stomping around.

I placed the paper bag down on a nearby counter and entered the room with a broom.

“Ano’ng ginagawa mo rito?! Pinapasok ba kita?!” [what are you doing here? Did I tell you to enter?]

“No,” I replied, “but stomping on broken glass will not get rid of it.”

“Ba’t ka ba kasi biglang lumitaw?!” [just why did you suddenly appear out of nowhere] he shouted at me again. “Binabasa mo ba ang ginagawa ko?! Balak mo’ng kopyahin ang research ko, ano? Sinasabi ko na nga ba’t may dahilan kung ba’t bigla ka’ng lumitaw dito, eh!” [where you rerading what I was doing? Are you planning to copy my research? I knew you were up to something when you suddenly appeared!]

“Is that the reason why you have been doing your best to keep me away from your work?” I asked him.

“Obvious ba? Dumating ka kung kailan patapos ko na ang first stage ng experimentation ko! Lagi mo ako’ng binabantayan! Pilit mo’ng binabasa ang mga sinusulat ko, pati `yung mga walang `wentang report ng mga alipores ko sa mesa, ang sama ng tingin mo!” [isn’t it obvious? You suddenly came when I was about to finish the first stage of my experimentation! You’re always watching me! You’re trying to read all my writings, even the useless reports of my minions on my desk!]

‘Walang wentang reports’? [useless reports?]

Is he talking about the folders stacked on his desk?

“No, I am not after your experiment,” I tried to pacify him. “Please calm down, I can smell your fear.”

Prof. Antonio did not calm down, in fact, his body started to quiver and release more fear pheromones as he stared at me with bulging eyes.

“I-isa ka’ng spy, ano?! Sino nagpadala sa `yo?! T-terorista ka, `no?! Mula sa isang anti-omega group?!” [you’re a spy, aren’t you? Who sent you? Are you a terrorist? From an anti omega group?]

“I am not any of those. I told you, I am just a fellow scientist.”

I stepped forward.

He stepped back and is now against the glass wall.

“I’m warning you! Puro cameras ang lugar na `to! Nakikita nila ang lahat nang ginagawa mo!” [this place is full of cameras! They can see everything you’re doing!]

I looked at the camera in our work station. Sure enough, the light was blinking. I smiled and waved at it.

(to be continued in Ch2b . . . )