All Clear, Attorney

QI

2021

"HERE IN THE laboratory, we use code names instead of our real names. What would be yours?"

Her eyelids fluttered as questions swirled inside her mind.

Code name? Why is there a need for such? This organization that absorbed her is. . . weird and uncanny.

Someone just offered her a job after her thesis won at an international research congress. She proposed a product that would prevent the release of toxic chemicals, and the panels found it helpful, especially in burning wastes.

May ibang isla na walang dumpsite, so some of them ended up throwing their trashes at the sea dahil pinagbabawal ang pagsusunog. That gap led to the creation of her product, and its patent registration is still on the process until now.

And now, she's here-sitting in front of a man with gentle blue eyes. He looks like he's in his mid 30s, and he's wearing a lab coat.

Code name. . .

Her mind succumbs into the memory of her very first thesis in where she experimented the effects of roots on respiratory health.

The roots of. . .

"Aster," she replied in a low voice.

"Aster," bigkas niya ulit sa malakas na boses at saka tumingin sa kaharap.

Nakatitig ito sa kanya, at nang marinig ang kanyang isinagot, unti-unting sumilay ang ngisi nito sa mga labi at tumango-tango.

"Aster, huh. Great choice."

Napangiti na lang siya sa narinig. He started to discuss about her contract, and when everything was clear, inaya na siya nitong tumayo upang libutin ang. . . workplace nila.

He began to tour her around the laboratory, explaining how things work and so on. They have an advance technology, bagay na ikinagulat niya. Do'n pa lang, alam niyang international ang technology suppliers ng mga ito, but the question is. . . if they're this great, how come she hadn't heard of them?

Isa pa, the laboratory is located. . . under a mansion. At sa mansion natutulog ang mga trabahante. Everything is for free. The electricity, food, and all.

The laboratory is too hidden as if they don't want anyone to know that this kind of laboratory. . . exist. Does the reason have to do something with the government?

Ipinilig niya ang kanyang ulo upang alisin ang mga naglalaro sa kanyang utak. She found that weird. . . and she's trying so hard to shrug that feeling off.

Pakiramdam niya, kapag pumasok siya rito, hinding-hindi na siya makalalabas. Pero imposible. One year lang naman ang kontrata niya rito because they want her help in making a certain project.

Pagkatapos no'n, pwede na siyang umalis.

"Do you have any questions?"

Her mind snapped back to reality when she heard him speak. Napakurap siya at tiningnan ito saka tumango.

"When can I start the project, Dr. Bernoulli?" agaran niyang tanong dito. She knows that was just his code name.

Bernoulli.

Napatitig ito nang ilang sandali sa kanya bago ngumiti nang maliit. "Tomorrow. I will explain the details to you. Would that be fine?"

Tumango siya rito at ngumiti nang tipid, and that was the end of their orientation. He guided her back to the mansion, at kaagad naman siyang pumanhik sa itaas kung saan ang kanyang. . . kwarto.

The room was cozy, and it has a queen-sized bed in the middle. Pakiramdam niya'y nasa isang hotel room siya. The warm lights give the room a luxurious effect.