Forever Agape [FS#1]

UNTOUCHABLE

C h a p t e r   9

I did what I told him, I helped him in the second revision of their final research paper although I don't think he needs my help on this one. It's flawless, well, based on my knowledge on making a study. I'm impressed with how he put up all of these, his mind is just superb that I feel like I can't keep up.

Naalala ko tuloy noong mga unang araw namin dito, ang inis at galit ko sa kanya ay hindi kayang pantayan. But these last few days were just different, I feel like he can really tame the lioneds in me that I, myself, can't even tame.

Now, we're both here in our room. Nakahilig ang aking likod sa headboard ng kama habang siya ay nakaupo sa harapan ko, kunot noo kong tinitignan at binabasa ang paper nila through his Macbook.

In Vitro Assay: Potential Antagonist effect of Bacillus subtilis against Escherichia coli, that's the title. Water Management is the reason why the researchers thought of doing this study.

Escherichia coli is a water-born pathogen and it can be seen in human feces or even in animals. For instance, ang mga slaughter houses na itinatapon ang dugo ng mga hayop sa mga ilog o irrigation canal, maiinom iyon ng mga isda, and then later on those fishes can be eaten by a human. It's a dirty process that can cause diarrhea or food poisoning.

So they did an inoculation wherein in a one petri dish, may tatlong dot ng E. coli sa gitna at tatlo ring dots ng subtilis sa gilid surrounding the e coli, It's in a triangle form by the way. As it was said in their paper, if the E. coli didn't grow while the subtilis grew, it only means that it suppresses the growth of e coli. In 24 hours, the bacteria will then react, but they waited for two weeks to see the final results.

"Ah, I'm sorry for keeping you awake. Marami bang mali?" Sandali ko siyang tinignan, I can't believe him! Hindi niya alam kung gaano ko siya pinupuri ngayon sa aking isipan.

"Hell, it's the other way around. I can't find anything to revise on this, I've been reading your Review of Related Literature. The conceptual sentences and related studies are excellently stated. Foreign and local, right?"

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili sa bandang iyon, tumaas ang gilid ng kanyang labi kaya naman kaagad akong nag-iwas at ibinalik ang tingin sa screen. I cleared my throat, I know I can't hide my admiration towards his work anymore!

"The chapter four, can you check it for me?" Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi, of course, I have to do it for you to bring back the favor you did for me!

Binasa ko iyon katulad ng sinabi niya, I know he's already staring at me ngunit hindi ko napigilan ang paghikab. Not because I am bored, but because I can't find flaws.

I became a Panel once in the pre-defense of Grade 11 STEM Students, I was asked by our Practical Research Teacher together with the other commendable Grade 12 students of STEM. Those kids did a quite good job on their paper and it can be proven in their responses to our questions, but then on this research, para bang nabobo ako.

"Akin na, let's stop."

Nagulat ako nang biglang agawin sa akin iyon ni Hell, nagtaas ako ng kilay at akmang kukuhanin iyon ngunit kaagad niyang iniharang ang braso kaya naman iyon ang nahawakan ko. God, his bicep is quite good.

"Why? I'm not yet finished," Binitiwan ko siya kaagad, he closed the Macbook and smiled a little.

"Did I distract you from thinking about what can ruin your peace?" Sandali akong napakunot habang pinoproseso ang narinig, but then, when I realized it, I just rolled my eyes and he just giggled.

All this time I was stressing about revising his work, iyon naman pala ay sinusubukan niya lang na tulungan akong iwasan ang pag-iisip ng kung ano-ano!