Taste

|| Carlo

After around 2 liters of coffee, some sleepless nights, and the fact that we just had our preliminary exams this week...

At last, we are fucking done with the first plan.

I know kakasimula palang, but I didn't expect that preparations can be exhausting.

We were currently in the conference room for our 4th meeting; me and Adriano were seated next to each other, Maryl and Lawreign were seated in front of us. Axis was talking in front, as usual. We all have our laptops on for notes and Google docs editing.

"We are all gathered today for the 4th meeting. Sana walang himalang mangyari ulit di ba?"

We all just looked at him.

He sighed in relief. "Okay, let's start!" and he looked at me. "Mobile application report please, Carlo?"

I stood up and spat all the details. "Current status of the Operation: SEIRA app, complete. Short name; OP: SEIRA. This application can be transferable via flash drive installation only, so that means we can access this in our laptop, tablet or mobile phones. While the application itself is transferable, a pin code is required for it to open. For security purposes, screenshots are not allowed, and the read messages will only be available for an hour. We are not allowed to create another group chat called 'server', but we can private message and group message other members."

"'Server?' So you mean this was based from Discord?" Maryl asked a sudden question.

"Yep!"

"Saan naman yung pin code?" Reign asked.

"Sa invisible sticker. You can use a UV light to check. The locks sent me all the details, lahat ng background na nakukuha ng invisible sticker and your actual ID, nakuha ko agad. I used that to make personal profiles in the app." I explained.

"Ah okay. May UV light naman tayo dito no?" Reign asked again.

"Yeah." sagot ni Maryl whilst typing. "There's one at the biochemistry lab, di pa naman nagagamit yun."

Reign nodded and looked at her laptop again. "Gesi gesi. Check ko nalang mamaya."

Axis looked at Adriano "Ian, the spy camera report please."

He stood up, cleared his throat and checked his laptop for details. "Status, complete. These cameras are waterproof, shockproof, fireproof, provides high definition video of 8k resolution and..."

"8k? DSLR camera ba yan? Magshoshoot ka ba ng kasal sa engagement party? Masyado ka pang maaga." Reign interrupted.

Adriano gave him a glare. "I'm giving y'all a high-quality 'cctv' footage. It will be easier for us to track down people."

"Okay fair enough. Okay proceed." and she looked back on her laptop.

A few seconds later, I'm starting to smell something bad that I had to get a medical face mask from my pocket and put it on top of my cloth face mask. I'm always wearing one, whether in school or formal events. Maryl took a medical mask and put it on as well.

Adriano couldn't discuss well because of the smell, so he took a medical face mask from his pocket and put one. He looked back at his laptop after. "Maryl did the motion sensors, I did some other improvements, and Carlo did the data transferring feature. We could say na ginawa naming homework yung pagaayos dahil inuwi namin yung ibang parts, but I did the assembling in this lab. We will check its functionality on Saturday. I think it's a safe event, even for beta testing, since we need impromptu movements to check it's functionality..."

"May kumakain ng durian dito?!" Axis interrupted. He covered his nose with a violet handkerchief.

He looked at Reign, working on her laptop, munching something yellow. We all looked at her and the one she's munching.

Yep, it's durian. We can see something yellow inside a tupperware beside her.

I think Axis noticed right away for she isn't covering her nose what-so-ever.

"Lawreign Ellison, akala ko ba naman seryoso ka na!?" Axis shouted at her.

Reign gave him a look. "Seryoso na nga ako. Nagcrecrave lang ako ng durian kasi magkakaroon na ako."

I saw Maryl facepalmed.

"Mamaya ka na kumain niyan please lang. Mahirap maglinis dito!" Axis ordered.

Which is true, this facility has to be as clean and disinfected as possible. The conference room itself is enclosed with glass, but with a ventilation.

"I think we have lemons inside our fridge. We can work on that." Adriano answered and sat down. Reign ate a last piece of durian and hid the tupperware in her bag beside her. She took a water bottle with lemon water and drank it, and hid it inside her bag after.

Yes, we also have a kitchen here with the latest appliances; Samsung inverter fridge, electric stove, microwave oven and convection oven. We felt like Reign will be cooking in this lab soon, so we made a seperate section where we could cook and eat without damaging the important equipments.

We also have a bedroom with 2 bunk beds attached to a single stair to climb on, with drawers on the wall to store some of our personal stuff. Luckily Axis would never sleep here or we'll have a problem with regards to bedroom space. And also, luckily we don't have to worry about the bathroom since it has a shower and bathtub combined, but we also placed a comfort room near the kitchen. Adriano and I literally made this our second home so we don't have to tire ourselves when we have to cram, lalo na sa mga malalayo ang bahay.

"So ano pala kakainin sa Sabado, Lawreign?" Axis changed the topic.

"Ba't ako tatanungin mo?" Reign looked at him and answered.

"Malamang nakalagay kasi sa invitation na ginawa ni Maryl na sa Midford Hotel Alabang gaganapin."

"Oh, porket Midford ako, sa akin mo na tatanong?" and she crossed her arms.

"I thought you'll be a sous chef in the morning for the desserts?" Maryl gave her a quizzical look and asked, ended a potential bicker.

"Ay hehe. Italian food. Ako na nagsuggest kasi kulang sa spice ang British food, baka di nila magustuhan." she replied.

"Thank you!" Adriano exclaimed.

"Seconded." Maryl agreed.

"What's with British food and they despise those so much? I mean, it tastes okay, I guess?" I genuinely and curiously asked.

"Bland." Maryl answered... blandly.

"So, what's on the menu Reign?" Adriano asked her.

"Hm... teka lang." she checked her laptop and read the details. "Eto yung menu: Bellini for aperitivo, antipasto, isang platter lang naman to ng karne at keso eh, di ko sure kung isasama pa nila itong bruschetta. Spaghetti alla puttanesca sa primo. Mahaba haba tong secondi at contorno, baka masapok ako ng Ian at Carlo teka..."

"Don't worry about me, I don't speak Italian hehe." I answered.

Reign shockingly looked at me. "Weh?!"

"Yeah. My older siblings know but I don't so..." I replied.

"So si Ian lang pala..." she looked at Adriano. "Ikaw lang pala sasapok sa akin."

"Shoot your shot." he answered while typing on his laptop.

Reign looked back at her laptop, breathe deeply and tried to mention the dishes' names in one take.

"Costata di Manzo Ai Porcini con Aceto Balsamico sa secondi. Verdure Invernali con Pancetta e Uova sa contorno."

"The pronounciation is actually good." Maryl complimented.

Adriano nodded in approval.

I don't speak Italian but she did it in a perfect Italian accent, the pronounciations are right.

She looked at him for confirmation. "Tama ba?"

He gave him a thumbs up of approval.

"Sinusumpa na ba ako ni Lawreign, Ian?" Axis looked at Adriano for confirmation as well. He looks legit scared.

"Lol no." Adriano answered. "It means 'Beef Short Ribs with Porcini Rub and Balsamic Vinegar' for secondi or main course, and Winter Greens with Pancetta and Egg for side dish."

Axis sighed in relief. "Akala ko susumpain na ako ng babaeng 'to eh

Reign looked back at her laptop and smirked. "Malapit na." and she continued. "Tiramisu for dolce. Siyempre di mawawala ang caffè, which espresso ang kailangang inumin para one shot lang. Not sure pa sa digestivo, baka magiba yung isip ni Zia Donatella."

"Kindly tell mom that she doesn't need to be indecisive when it comes to late-night drinks. Thanks." Adriano interrupted.

"Eh wala akong magagawa. Utos ng nanay mo eh." Reign answered.

-----

|| Adriano

Saturday, 0930H

Phew. Gladly it's easy for me to install the spy cameras. I brought 10 improvised spy cameras and had five of those mimicked some decorations; facing the front and side of the stage, and facing the audience from 3 different angles. The other five would be spare ones.

I'm currently in one of the rooms of the presidential suite, in which Carlo and I had to share. This room has two beds, so it's fine. I'm wearing a casual clothing, just gray t-shirt and olive pants so that my skin would breathe while before the event. This is not my usual attire, but I know the reporters won't find out anyways.

I'm sitting on my bed, with my back laid onto the soft headboard, watching the footages from what I call "mini command center"; all of the information gathered by the main command center will be sent in this device as well. Nothing special actually, I just made one of my laptops into one.

How would I get those informations? Wifi and Operation: SEIRA app.

All of the devices are wifi-operated, so that the data will be easily transferred device to device. OP: SEIRA has all of the information that we could get access to, except for Axis. Gladly this hotel got a strong connection, Lawreign's family got some fine taste in everything. From the exquisite ambiance of the hotel, to the technological details to assure the efficiency of staff-costumer cycle.

After a few moments of monitoring, I felt something fluffy jumped onto the bed and laid on my lap. When I gave it a conjecture look, I found out it was from the movements of a gold-colored shih tzu. I left the door open so it indeed surprised me.

I placed my laptop onto the side and carried him rapturously. "Hey buddy, what's your name? Are you a boy or a girl?"

I checked onto the collar. It was blue, so I'm assuming that he is a boy. I checked onto the private parts and looked at his adorable face again.

He is a boy that looks like a girl. How cute.

I read his name that is engraved on his metal collar name plate. "Hm.. Pot--"

My collar reading got interrupted by a familiar baby-talk voice approaching the room. I laid him on my lap and looked at the door.

"Potatooo? Where are you baby?" Maryl, in her ponytailed hair, denim shorts, and plain baby blue sleeveless top, entered the room worriedly, and felt such relief when she found the dog on my lap. She gave an alluring smile. "There you are. You seem to like Adriano huh?"

Potato stood up on my lap and wagged his tail, like a happy and friendly dog that he is.

Maryl looked at us and left out a faint giggle. "It's okay, you can have him for a while."

"Your dog is so... adorable. I like him." I complimented while hugging such a wonderful creature.

"Thank you. He's very friendly, so pwede muna kayong maglaro."

Potato and I gazed at each other, as if we've been companions for years. "Did you hear that buddy? Laro daw muna tayo! My name is Adriano, and I am so glad to meet you!" and he laid his head on my chest. He's clingy, his mom must've been spoiling him like her own son.

Maryl's lips formed a faint smile. "Diyan ka muna baby ha? I'll finish some of my homeworks, baka matambakan ako. Have fun with Adriano!"

"Iwanan mo na yang homeworks. Nandito tayo for relax, not for school." I teased.

"And for work." she added and left the room.

Not gonna lie, I like how hardwoking and resilient she is.

She's amazing.

Thinking of her capabilities and looking at her existence warms my heart.

I guess I shouldn't think that, should I?

_____

Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 10: Taste • © mxylms