“Ah! I forgot to prepare our breakfast!” I told the professor as I stood up.

  “That’s okay, let’s just buy something along the way.” Prof. Antonio stood up and stretched himself. “Let’s get things over with first.”

  “Is that what you’re wearing, Professor? asked his DOME who eyed the thin, wrinkled shirt and boxers he had on.

  “Why? What’s wrong with my clothes?”

  Both Reubert and I stared at him.

  “Professor, you haven’t taken a proper bath in 4 days.” I told him.

  “Seriously?” asked Reubert, wide-eyed.

  “Please go take a quick shower.”

  “I’m not...”

  “You’re starting to smell.”

  “Haay... okay, okay! Wait for me then.”

  The professor left us in awkward silence.

  “So...” Reubert spoke first. You’re the professor’s... partner at work?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  As I look at him, I see that the eyes beneath his messy hair were a shade of purple. Slanted eyes that show Chinese descent, while his narrow nose was more Caucasian.

  “So.... what do you... think of him?” he continued asking.

  “He is a very brilliant professor whom I admire greatly.”

  “Oh... so, you just... admire him? As a superior?”

  “Of course not. He is more than that to me, he is my partner after all,” I answered.

  “I mean... I’m just curious... about what you actually are to each other?” he asked, turning red. “You’re living under the same roof, after all, and the Professor mentioned that you’re going out?”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “So, you’re actually mates?”

  “I cannot acknowledge that without the professor’s affirmation.”

  “Do you usually speak that way?” he frowned.

  “Is there something wrong with the way I speak?”

  “O-of course not... so, you can speak and understand Tagalog?”

  “Yes, but the professor prefers that I speak in English. He thinks my Tagalog sounds funny, and that it distracts him when he is busy laughing.”

  “Really?” Reubert chuckled. “To tell you the truth, I’m not used to this side of the Professor. He used to be so much friendlier before, now he’s very irritable, obnoxious and paranoid...” he paused. “I guess anyone would change after going through what we’ve been through... but in spite of it all, he will always be the professor I look up to the most.” He gave a gentle smile.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Of course, there is no one like the professor, after all,” I agreed.

  “You’re something else as well, omegas are rare in your line of work, since most of them are hindered by their estrus. Did the professor prescribe something to help you cope with your heat?”

  I was about to reply when the professor came back with his hair still dripping wet.

  “Oi, what are you two talking about?” he asked, looking at us suspiciously.

  “Professor, you didn’t even dry your hair properly.” I frowned at him.

  “Never mind that! I’m hungry, and it’s time to leave.”

  We went to a drive through as Prof. Antonio called his brother-in-law to say that we were coming over.

  ‘Perfect timing, since I need to go to the station to follow up the police blotter I filed last night,’ Louie said. ‘Keep Blessing and Mercy company while I’m away.’

  “Got it.”

  But when we got there at half past eight, only Mercy was in the room.

  “Where did your sister go?” the professor asked her.

  “She’s sleeping in a separate room, Tito Eric,” she replied, “she haven’t slept all night last night, worrying over Kuya Nathan.”

  “Is that so?” We placed the food we bought on a nearby table. “Come here and have dinner with us.”

  Mercy looked at Reubert who stood by the doorway.

  “This is your brother’s professor that we met along the way,” he introduced them.

  “Sir Go, good evening po,” his niece greeted Reubert.

  “You know each other?” the professor asked her.

  “Opo, Tito, do you remember the omega classmate Kuya Nathan almost molested last month? It was Sir Go who caught him back then.”

  “My goodness...” the professor rubbed his temple. “This Nathan... really... I had no idea he’s been bugging you all this time...”

  “It’s really nothing, Professor, besides, it’s part of the job as an educator to discipline my students.”

  He looked at Nathan who lay on the bed, a tattered looking stuffed lion by his side.

  “Do you mind if I go near him?” Reubert asked.

  “Go ahead, Sir, but I’m afraid he haven’t regained consciousness since he was brought here.”

  Reubert went closer to the bed and touched Nathan’s hand. I could see that he desperately wants to hold his mate, but he held himself back since we were in the room with him. He reached for his forehead instead, and as he did, I could sense that he was releasing some pheromones.

  Calming pheromones, like my own, but a bit thinner.

  I guess it is true, what the professor said, that this DOME’s control over calming pheromones was not as strong as my own. But then again, my omega pheromones are nothing compared to his, in terms of strength and intensity. He stayed by Nathan’s side for the rest of our stay.

  “Good to see that he’s looking much better this evening,” said Prof. Antonio who drank some of my brewed coffee from a thermos.

  “That’s right, Tito, it’s good that he’s not moaning anymore,” said Mercy, “earlier, he even screamed out in his sleep.”

  “And you? Did you get some sleep?”

  “I slept from 2 am to 7 am.”

  “Only five hours?!” the professor nagged at her. “You should have at least eight hours sleep!”

  “As if I could sleep while worrying about Kuya Nathan,” she said with a pout. “Right Dr. Abdel?”

  They both turned to look to me.

  “The professor should head his own advice,” I replied, “He sometimes stay awake for four days straight when at work.”

  “Four days?!” Mercy exclaimed, “And you even volunteered to keep watch last night!”

  “I’m an adult, I’m different. Do you want to stay that small forever?”

  Mercy pouted at the professor. She’s hardly 5 feet tall, after all.

  “Okay then, but call me as soon as Kuya wakes up!”

  “Of course, now go lay down with your sister.” urged the professor.

  Reubert‘s phone chimed after Mercy entered the small bed chamber connected to the hospital room.

  “Damn...” he mumbled.

  “Are they asking for you?” asked the professor.

  “Yeah... good thing I got to see Nathan...” he stood up and bowed his head towards the professor and me. “Thank you for taking me with you, Professor. Thank you for all your help. I can never repay you for everything you have done for me. I’m so glad that we were able to meet again.”

  “Yeah, whatever... now go on your way,” replied the professor who looked away with a frown.

  “Please inform me as soon as Nathan wakes up.” Reubert turned back to Nathan, and leaning closer, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.

  “Well, Habibi, I guess it’s just the two of us again,” said the professor with a sigh. “I hope Nathan wakes up soon so I can give him a piece of my mind!”