Here's an extra chapter for the holidays!
Happy New Year 2026 everyone! :D
***
Days pass.
Aahmes made it a daily habit to ask me about my DOME and the D.O.M.E project.
I'm beginning to wonder what made him so interested in the topic. Then again, I did promise to tell him everything about my past.
I had no choice but to tell him everything while we sat in the lab, sipping his freshly brewed coffee. It's basically just how an abused young omega decided to fight back. In the end, we just decided to share some of our notes about dominant omegas. We went back to our normal, everyday lives after that, until Louie decided to pester me once again.
I was at work in the lab back then, taking a short nap on the pantry sofa, after spending two consecutive nights checking the latest blood test results, when Aahmes shook me awake.
"Professor, your phone has been ringing for some time now." He handed me my cellphone.
"Hello?" I mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"Good evening," greeted a female voice on the other line, "Is this Mr. Eric Antonio?"
I looked at the number on my phone.
It was an unlisted number.
"Who's this?"
"Sir, this is Ivaniez Verde, I am calling about Atty. Louie del Mirasol." I frowned at the phone. "He is here with us right now..."
I quickly sat up from the sofa.
"Is this a threat?"
I must have talked out loud, since Aahmes looked back and started to walk towards me.
The first thing that came to my mind was the troublesome case that Louie told me about. The one with the death threats. I was suddenly worried.
"What did you do to him?"
"Please, don't worry," said the woman, "Atty. Del Mirasol is fine, there was just a small incident and he went into rut earlier..."
"He what? Are you sure about that?" my voice got higher.
"That's right, Sir, he was affected by my boss..."
"He got affected by an omega?" I was almost shouting now. "Are you sure? Where are you?!"
The woman gave the address of a hotel. I took my lab gown off and prepared to leave.
"Okay, I'm on my way."
"Sir, is there something wrong?" I was surprised to see Pedro behind me, a look of concern on his face.
"Did something happen with your niece?" asked Pilar from the doorway.
"Not Mercy, but my idiot brother-in-law. It seems he got into a rut because of some omega..."
"We should hurry, then," said Aahmes who also took his gown off.
"I'm going alone," I told him, "There's no need for you to accompany me."
"I'll drive you there, it's faster."
"Don't bother, you're needed here to check the blood samples for the SGT kits."
"Pedro and Pilar can do that, but only I can drive you," he insisted, pulling my arm towards the exit. "Besides, it's already 9 pm, we can work on the rest tomorrow. Let's go."
There was nothing I could do but let Aahmes accompany me.
"Habibi, you really are so stubborn!" I nagged at him as we made our way to the parking lot. "I want you to leave as soon as you take me to the hotel. Got it?"
"I can help give your brother-in-law a check-up."
"Don't bother. It's just a rut."
Aahmes stared at me as we got in his car.
"Really, professor, you worry too much," said he. "If you are worried that I might fall in love with your brother-in-law..."
"Who said anything about falling in love?!?"
"Exactly. I am a DOME, such things will not affect me like the way it affects other omegas," he continued. "Besides, have I not proven that the fated pair myth is only an overdose of pheromones to the brain?" he added. "I would gladly look for my fated pair, just to prove that my hypothesis is correct."
"Okay, okay, so fated pairs are just your pheromones tripping... but still..."
I couldn't say what was in my mind.
Because it's true.
I'm afraid that Aahmes might meet an alpha whom he cannot live without.
I know that I said years ago, that I would gladly let him go as soon as he meets his fated alpha. That I would even thank him for humoring me and staying by my side.
But now...
"Professor, you're thinking too much."
Aahmes' cool voice broke my chain of thought. I look up and saw him frowning at the road as he drove.
"You're right," I touch his leg and sigh. "I just can't help but think how fucked up it would be, if you end up falling for my idiot brother-in-law..."
"And why would I fall for him, when I already have you?"
Damn!
I felt my face burn upon hearing such a cheesy line!
"I am taking you to your brother-in-law," he insisted. "I am going to check him up and this omega you said that caused his rut, and I will show you that you're just being silly about everything."
The address broughtt us to a 5-star hotel in the heart of Makati. Both of us entered the hotel together, leaving the parking to the hotel valet. I called Ivaniez Verde back and was heading for the concierge, when a guard in a suit blocked my way.
"Sir, are you currently staying here?" he asked, looking at my faded shirt and the slippers on my feet.
"We were called here by a certain Ivaniez Verde, regarding Atty. del Mirasol's condition," said Aahmes.
"Are you a doctor?" the guard asked Aahmes. "You may go in, but I'm afraid your driver can't enter since we have a strict dress code in this hotel."
"I beg your pardon?" Aahmes' voice rose in indignation. "I will let you know that this is the esteemed Prof. Eric Antonio of Universal Laboratories!"
"Aahmes, that's enough, I'll just call that woman again," I hushed Aahmes as I scratched my back. I really need to take a bath when we get home.
"Professor, you cannot just let him look down on you!" Aahmes insisted.
The guard looked at me from top to bottom.
I looked at the faded 'Mami Sinigang Mix' shirt I was wearing, the frayed puruntong shorts that have lost its checks, and the thinning slippers on my feet.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid that I can't let him in..." the guard repeated.
Before Aahmes could explode, a tall, elderly Caucasian gentleman approached us in a hurry.
"You must be Prof. Antonio and Dr. Abdel! I beg your pardon, I should have been the one to welcome you in!"
He looked at the nervous looking guard.
"I'll talk to you later," he whispered aloud as he led us into the luxurious hotel.
"Your staff seem to lack respect," Aahmes said coldly.
"Let him be, he was just doing his job," I told them. "Right, mister...?"
"Ronald Dhallia, at your service." The gentleman gave us a curt bow. "I am the general manager in this hotel, Prof. Antonio, Dr. Abdel. We are most privileged that you have graced our halls with your presence."
"At least you know who we are," said Aahmes, still sulking.
"Of course, Dr. Abdel, it is part of our job," Mr. Dhallia replied.
"We were asked to come here by a Ms. Ivaniez Verde, she told us my brother-in-law is here?" I asked.
"Yes, Prof. Antonio, our young master had a little accident earlier this evening, they are in his room right now."
Mr. Dhallia gave a signal to one of the bellboys by the lobby.
"Paul, please accompany them to Young Master Safiro's penthouse," he said, handing the bellboy a black key.
I guess this is the Safiro client Louie mentioned before. I didn't know he was an omega. Or perhaps they have an omega friend with them? But then again, Louie is a dominant alpha like his son. He can't be easily affected by an omega's pheromone. Besides, I just gave him a new batch of alpha suppressants!
I was still pondering when we reached the 77th floor which was the very top of the hotel. The doors to the elevator opened and we were welcomed by a...
Wait... is this a woman?!?
She's huge!
She's even taller than me and twice my breadth!
"Mr. Eric Antonio?" she asked Aahmes, "My name is Ivaniez Verde..."
"I'm Eric Antonio," I corrected the female steamroller.
"Ah!" She looked at me, then at Aahmes, then at me again. "I-I beg your pardon, I thought –"
"Don't worry, I'm used to it," I replied. "This is Dr. Aahmes Abdel, my colleague. So, where's that idiot brother-in-law of mine?"