Ch1 – What He Smelled Of

Old clothes and stale coffee.

That was my first impression of him.

That was what he smelled of.

There I was, stark hopping mad with anticipation, ready to meet this brilliant mind that is well known throughout the international scientific community for his advanced and unparalleled research concerning the omega gene.

Then I see this... uncouth man in front of me, sipping tepid coffee from a chipped cup in his pajamas.

"Sino `to?" (who's this?) he asked the lab assistant who ushered me inside the maze-like laboratory.

"Sir, this is Dr. Aahmes Abdel!" the assistant said excitedly. "In the flesh!"

He looked back at me from head to toe and smiled. Then he turned to his assistant with the same fake smile still stuck on his face.

"Sino `yun?" (who's that?)

"Sir, s'ya `yung sikat na scientist na nag re-research din tungkol sa omega gene! Kilalang-kilala s'ya sa buong mundo dahil sa mga research n'ya tungkol sa mga omegas, (Sir, he's a world renowned scientist who also does research on omegas) particularly about their mental state and behavioral patterns! Bali-balita rin po na s'ya ang bagong (he's also known as the new head) head of the Omega Research team ng Universal Labs sa United Arab Countries of the Middle East!"

How rude.

I don't think they know that I understand a bit of Tagalog, but then again, the fact that they are talking in their native tongue while a foreigner is in their midst is proof enough that these people know nothing of basic etiquette.

"Eh, ba't `di ko s'ya kilala?" (then how come I don't know him?) the professor asked again. "At kung head s'ya ng UACME branch, anong ginagawa n'yan dito?" (and if he's the new head, what's he doing here?_

"Sir..."

The assistant looked back at me and smiled.

It looked strained.

"Dr. Abdel has never been under the spotlight before," he explained, "he's part of Egyptian royalty, and no one has ever seen him in person, not even in pictures, only his journals are released publicly in the internet..."

"Kung ganon, pano n'yo nasigurado na s'ya nga `yan?" (then how can you make sure that this is actually him?)

He took another sip of his coffee.

"Ugh..." the assistant now looks desperate. "Dr. Abdel, perhaps you could introduce yourself to the 'kind' and 'hospitable' professor?"

He said the two adjectives with emphasis.

I stepped forward, looked the professor straight in the eye, and gave him my best professional smile.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Eric Antonio. I am Dr. Aahmes Abdel. I am 22 years of age and have a PhD in Molecular biology, Neurophysiology, Neurology, and Psychiatry. I have come here specifically to meet you and would like to study under your tutelage."

He stared at me and blinked, unimpressed, then he looked at his assistant sideways.

"Bakit s'ya nakangiwi?" (why is he sneering at me?) he mumbled. "Anyway, Dr. Abdel," he said, looking back at me, "I think you got a lot of things mixed up. First of all, I am not a morning person, so I apologize for not being as 'kind' and 'hospitable' as my soon to be ex-assistant assumes me to be."

Said assistant turned pale.

"Second, I am not a 'doctor', I am merely a researcher, or a professor, if you prefer to call me that. Third, final, and most important of all," he continued, "I do not accept students."

He gave me a quick smile, his bristled chin moving close to mine, since he was about five centimeters taller than I. "Now, Dr. Abdel, if indeed, that is your name, please kindly leave my laboratory before I finish my coffee."

"Please excuse Sir Eric, he just woke up, and it usually takes a while for him to be civil after a nap," said the assistant. "If he even sleeps at all," he added in an undertone as we made our way towards the elevator shaft. "You simply came at a bad time, he's actually been working on something for a couple of weeks now..."

I check the time. It was already 1 in the afternoon.

"He stinks," I told him directly. "He smells of old clothes and stale coffee. I believe he is what people would call a 'slob'?"

The assistant looked at me, surprised, then gave a soft chuckle.

"You'll get used to it in time, you see, the professor lives alone and barely goes home. He has always been so busy that he hardly has time to look after himself..."

"You seem to think that I would stay here for a while?" I asked the man who smiled fondly as he criticized his superior.

"Ah, yes, you see, he didn't kick you out of the room himself. That means that you might just have a chance to get on his good side. Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Well... you know how it is with people and their coffee," again he chuckles. "Word of advice, since I'm your fan," he added in a whisper, "he's not really into PhD's and titles, heck, more than half of his staff here have more diplomas than him. You see, he graduated from a science high school at age 8 and got a master's degree from MIT at age 13 for Molecular Biology and Secondary Gender study. He decided then that he didn't want to return to school anymore."

"Also, he doesn't really like to talk in English," he added. "I mean, he can speak the language, but he's too lazy to bother, so I guess that's why he wasn't so thrilled to talk to you. After all, he's only 26, but he's already one of the top researchers around the world, studying the secondary genders."

"Is that so?" I said when he finished, though I already knew most of it.

"And also, he's not very fond of alphas," he finally concluded.

"He thought I was an alpha?"

The assistant looked at me with surprise once more.

"I-I beg your pardon, I just assumed that you were..."

"Do you think perhaps, that he did?"

"W-well... I guess... you do look quite intimidating," he looked up at me. "With your stoic looks and all those credentials, one would think that you are an outstanding alpha... so... are you a beta?"

"I am not," I replied before going back into the maze of halls.

"Where are you going?" the assistant called after me, but I was already turning a corner, making my way back to the professor.

The place was a glass labyrinth.

A whole floor dedicated to research, full of enclosed, air-tight work stations for individual experimentation, each equipped with state of the art equipment.

I took 2 left turns and three rights to get back to the pantry in the middle where we left Professor Antonio, and saw him slumped on a long sofa with a book covering his face, his hand still holding the half full cup of tepid coffee on the table.

"Ahem."

I tried to call his attention.

"A-he-hem," I repeated. "Professor Antonio. Mukhang hindi po tayo maayos nakaintindi." (it seems we didn't understand each other well)

That seemed to do the trick as he took the book off his face and frowned at me.

"Ako po si Aahmes Abdel, isang omega, mahal ko po ang mga gawa mo. Mahal ko po ang kagalingan mo sa larangan ng science and medicine. Nagpunta po ako dito dahil mahal na mahal ko kayo." (I am Aahmes Abdel, an omega, I admire your works. I admire your skill in the field of science and medicine. I came here because I admire you very much.)

He stared at me with his jaw hanging.

I believe I said it right – how I put his work in high regard?

I had my Filipino acquaintance translate that properly for me.

"Gusto ko po mag-aral sa ilalim mo, kung maaari, gusto'ng gusto ko pong mapailalim sa iyo." (I would like to study under you, if possible, I would appreciate it very much if I could study under you.)

He is still not moving.

"Professor?"

"Pfft!"

Now, he starts laughing, a low chuckle that quickly turned into roaring laughter, which was joined in by a couple more. I turned around and saw Mr. Assistant and a young woman laughing side by side.

"Aba, marunong ka palang magtagalog, Dr. Abdel?" (I see you know tagalog, Dr. Abdel?) asked the assistant. "Dapat sinabi n'yo agad kanina!" (you should have told us earlier!)

"Nako, hayaan n'yo na lang s'ya mag-inggles!" (oh please, just let him speak in English!) Prof. Antonio piped in, "at baka mamatay ako kakatawa tuwing nagsasalita s'ya!" (for I might just die of laughter everytime he tries to speak!)

He laughed again.

"To-to-o-ba-na-ma-hal-mo-a-ko-dok-a-mes?" (is-it-true-that-you-ad-mire-me?) he mocked me. "A-lam-mo-ba-ang-pi-nag-sa-sa-sa-bi-mo?" (do-you-actually-know-what-you-are-sa-ying?)

"Opo, alam ko ang sinasabi ko," (yes, I know what I'm saying) I replied, "mahal na mahal kita." (I really, really admire you)

That seemed to silent him.

"Define 'mahal'?" he asked as he sat straight on the couch with a smirk on his face.

"Mahal – to hold someone in high regard."

"Tama nga naman," (well, he's right, you know) said the assistant from behind.

"`Wag kang makisingit dito, Pedro," (don't butt in, Pedro) the professor called out, then looked back at me. "At sinasabi mo'ng mahal mo ako?" (and you're saying you admire me?)

"Of course," I replied. "You are like an idol to me po, I put you on a high pedestal and treat you as a hero po. That is how high I regard you po and your contribution to the scientific community. Ganiyan kita kamahal."

(note: po is a sign of respect used when talking to someone older or of a higher authority, likened to 'ma'am' or 'sir', but is gender neutral)

And again, he laughs at me.

He is starting to irritate me.

"Do you have autism? Hindi ka lang parang robot magsalita, pati itsura mo walang kaemo-emosyon." (you don't only speak monotonously like a robot, but also show no emotion in your face)

"And if I do, dahilan po ba iyon para hindi mo po ako bigyan ng pagkakataon na mapailalim sa iyo?" (is that reason for you to refuse me to work under you?)

"H-hindi naman..." he held back another peel of laughter. (n-no, not at all...)

"Kung ganoon tinatanggap mo na po ako?" (does this mean you accept me?)

"Wala pa ako'ng sinasabi..." (I haven't said anything yet)

"Wala 'pa', meaning, balak mo in the future?" ('yet', meaning, you plan to do so in the future?)

That made him shut up.

It seems I have outwitted him.

"Haay..." he sighed in resignation. "Sige, kung mapilit ka, bahala ka'ng gawin kung anong gusto mo, kahit tingin ko, wala ka namang matututunan sa `kin." (okay then, if you insist, then go do what you want, though I doubt if there's anything you can learn from me.) He started to sip his coffee again. "Basta't `wag ka lang makiki-elam sa mga ginagawa ko." (just don't bother me when I'm working.)

"Kung ganoon tinatanggap mo na ako?" (does that mean you accept me now?)

Finally! I gave him my most radiant smile.

He seems to flinch.

"`Wag po kayo mag-alala po, hindi po kayo magsisisi, alam ko po balang araw matututunan n'yo rin na mahalin ako." (don't worry, you won't regret this, I know someday, you will learn to admire me as well.)

He spits the coffee.

How disgusting.

Good thing it didn't stain my white coat and slacks, as well as my white designer shoes from Paris.

"Maayos lang ba kayo po professor?" (are you okay, professor?) I asked him. "`Wag po kayo mag-alala, basta nasa tabi n'yo lang ako palagi napaka saya ko na po." (there's no need to worry, I'm well content as long as I can study next to you.)

The laughter seemed to multiply as I look around and saw more researchers surrounding us.

"Sir, sagutin n'yo na!" (Sir, just say 'i do'!) said the girl beside assistant Pedro.

"Oo nga, sir, eto na ang prinsipe n'yo, mukhang naghihintay sa labas ang puti n'yang kabayo!" (that's right, sir, it's your prince charming, his white horse is probably waiting outside for you!) said another assistant.

"If you mean my Ferrari, it is color black."

They start to laugh again.

"Sige, sinasagot na kita!" (okay, I accept you, then!) Prof. Antonio said with a grin.

He stood up, walked up to me, and placed a hand, an inch above my left shoulder where he kept it hovering.

"Mula ngayon, ikaw na ang Habibi ko!" (from this day forth, you shall be my beloved!)

"Why Habibi?" I asked him, frowning. I can tell that he was making fun of me again.

"Hindi ba't sabi mo mahal mo `ko?" (didn't you say that you 'admire' me?) he grinned, "And since ikaw ang kauna-unahan, at malamang, ang nag-iisang taong magsasabi n'yan sa `kin, ay pumapayag na ako'ng maging s'yota mo." (and since you're the first, and most probably, the only person who would say that to me, then I accept your proposal to be your lover.)

S'yota? (lover?)

What does that word mean?

Perhaps it is a Filipino slang for teacher?

"Thank you, Prof. Antonio, I assure you po, you will not regret this."

"And since sinabi mo rin na gusto mong lagi ako'ng makatabi," (and since you also said that you want to always stay beside me,) he continued with a big grin on his face, "ay ikaw na ang gagawin ko'ng personal assistant. Kailangan mo'ng sumunod sa `kin 24/7 at gawin ang lahat ng iuutos ko. Mula ngayong oras na ito." (I'll assign you as my personal assistant. You need to follow me 24/7 and do everything I tell you to do. From this day forth.)

The room fell silent.

The laughter and snide remarks all came to a halt as he kept his hand floating over my shoulder.

"I accept your challenge," I replied.

This is probably a test, a right of passage before he decides to take me in as his protege.

"Tumagal kaya s'ya?" (would he be able to last?) I heard someone whisper.

"`Di ba, naospital ang huling personal assistant si Sir Eric dahil sa sobrang stress at pagod?" (wasn't sir Eric's last personal assistant hospitalized due to stress?)

"At nag-mental breakdown naman ang nauna doon dahil sa mga demands n'ya..." (and the one before that had a mental breakdown due to his absurd demands)

"Tapos `yung isa, hindi na nagpakita matapos n'yang utusan nang ilang ulit pamunta kung saan-saan!" (and there was one who just disappeared after he kept sending him all over the place!)

"Oy, break time na ba? Ba't ang daming bubuyog na bubulong-bulong sa paligod?!" (Oy, is it break time already? Why do I keep hearing bees buzzing all around me?) Prof. Antonio told the crowd who quickly dispersed.

"Ano, handa ka na ba'ng sumunod, Habibi?" (so, are you ready to obey me, Habibi?)

"Opo," (yes sir) I replied. "Ano po ang unang gagawin natin? Saan ang laboratoryo?" (what do we do first? Where's the laboratory?)

"Bigyan muna kita ng ground rules, ha?" (let me give you the ground rules first) he stifled another laugh. "Una, `wag mo na `ko po-in at nakakapika. Mas maganda, `wag ka na rin mag-tagalog at ako ang nahihirapan sa `yo." (first, don't use 'po' on me since it's irritating. Better yet, stop talking in tagalog since I'm the one who's having a hard time tryin to understand you.)

"Affirmative."

"Pangalawa, bilang personal assistant, ikaw ang magiging secretarya ko, slash-runner, slash-alalay, slash-utusan, slash-buhusan ng init ng ulo, slash-tagatimpla ng kape..." (second, as my personal assistant, you shall be my secretary, slash-runner, slash-butler, slash-slave, slash-punching bag, slash-coffee maker...

"On it."

I went to the pantry table and placed some ground coffee in the coffee maker.

"Oy, sandali, alam mo ba ang timpla ko?" (oy, hold on, do you knew my blend?) he asked.

"Two parts liberica to one part arabica, and a dash of lilac sugar."

"Pano mo nalaman?" (how did you know?) he asked with a frown.

"I have a keen sense of smell."

"Ganon ba?" (is that so?)

"Yes. It can be very useful in my line of work since..."

I suddenly stiffen as a pungent aroma filled the air.

"Ugh... did you just... pass gas?"

"`Pag nahulaan mo kinain ko kagabi, bibigyan kita ng bonus points." (I'll give you bonus points if you can guess what I ate last night.)

"Something rich in sulfur... broccoli?"

It was fun seeing the grin in his face disappear.

"Woah, seryoso nga ang ilong mo!" (woah, that nose of yours is no joke!) He seemed to see me in a new light now. "Dahil d'yan, bibigyan kita ng bonus." (because of that, I will give you a bonus.)

He took a post it from his coat pocket and wrote something on it, then, he came closer and stuck it on my forehead.

It seems to be a phone number.

"Karinderia `yan ni Aling Tinay. Gusto ko ng kare-kare." (That's Madam Tinay's Cafeteria. I want some kare-kare)

(kare-kare is a Filipino stew in thick peanut sauce, partnered with a fermented fish or shrimp paste condiment called bagoong)

"Huh? What about the bonus you just mentioned?"

"Umorder ka na rin ng gusto mo," (order what you want,) he replied. "Pasalamat ka ililibre kita." (be thankful that I'm treating you.)

He then took the cup of coffee I just made and patted the air on top of my shoulder again.

Well, I guess a lot of people have a thing about touching others.

"Sige, tawagan mo na `yan at gutom na `ko. Masarap ang nilaga nila, try mo." (now, call the number, I'm hungry. Their nilaga is good, you should try it.) He then turned around and started to walk away.

(nilaga is beef or pork stewed in clear broth)

"Where are you going?"

"May tinatapos pa akong reaction..." (I'm still working on a reaction)

"Oh, an experiment? May I observe your procedures?"

"Hintayin mo ang delivery sa lobby at bawal silang umakyat dito." (wait for the food at the lobby. The delivery personnel isn't allowed up here.)

"Huh?"

"Pedro!"

"Sir?" assistant Pedro appeared out of thin air.

"Pakisamahan `tong Habibi ko para masanay sa pasikot-sikot sa trabaho." (accompany Habibi to get him used to the ins and outs of his job)

"Yes, sir!"

"Wait a minute, Prof. Antonio, I would prefer to watch you conduct an experiment..."

"Matapos ko'ng kumain," (after I eat) he replied, "sa ngayon, gutom ako, pa'no `ko makakapag-isip nang diretso?"(I'm hungry, how do you expect me to think straight?)

"But..."

"Sige na, Pedro, go. Shoo! Shoo! Isama mo na si Habibi!" (Go on, Pedgo. Shoo! Take Habibi with you!)

"I am not your Habibi."

He looked at me and grinned.

"Hindi ba't ilang beses mo'ng sinabi na mahal na mahal mo `ko? Sabi mo, gusto mo'ng mahalin din kita, kaya mula ngayon ay ikaw na ang Habibi ko." (didn't you tell me that you adore me? You said you want me to adore you, too, so you are my Habibi from now on!)

Again, he placed his right hand an inch above my shoulder.

"Gusto ko'ng makita kung paano mo `ko paiibigin sa `yo." (I want to see how you plan to make me adore you.)

I took hold of his hand and pressed it down on my shoulder. He looked surprised and tried to pull it away, but I held on to it tightly, and looked him straight in the eye as if making a vow.

"Then I promise, I will make you want me to stay."

We stared at each other, his light brown eyes wide open, an eyebrow slightly arched, while I gave him the most intimidating gaze I could muster.

"Mwa-ha-ha-ha!" he grabbed my shoulder tightly. "I will look forward to that then, Habibi," he snorted as I frowned at him some more.

"Don't call me Habibi."