Pitbabes2, Chapter 4 pg10

 pg10

   CHARLIE:

   Today’s another day I’ve been holed up in the lab since morning. I actually planned to bring Babe along, but he had a prior meeting with Phii Alan. Something about an activity for X-Hunter they’re planning between seasons. Ever since Sonic came back, it’s like the team regained its creative spark. Phii Alan’s been more energized about promotional plans, and Babe’s had to go along with it. He might grumble about it being a hassle, but when everyone’s set on doing something, even Pitbabe can’t say no.

   This morning, I had a meeting with the research team to review the latest results. The summary is that the drug still isn’t stable enough. It can suppress the sensors’ functions, but only temporarily, averaging about five to seven hours. Plus, the side effects are too much for a test subject like me. Honestly, it feels like a constant hangover, which isn’t exactly a great outcome. Compared to the first drug I tested two years ago (when I was hiding out with Uncle Rewat), that one was pretty effective. It had almost no side effects and could fully stop the sensors’ functions. The problem was it was too limited—or as Phii Touch called it, “a picky drug.” It only worked on certain sensors, which didn’t meet the project’s objectives.

   “When’s Babe coming back?” Touch asks.

   “Not sure,” I reply, scanning the research summary carefully again. I’m not an expert like the others on the team, so sometimes my understanding can be off, which is dangerous. We could waste time if I don’t fully grasp the research.

   “Team got work?”

   “Yeah, promotions, finding sponsors, stuff like that.”

   “Ooh! So there’s gonna be a launch event, right?”

   “Probably.”

   “Let me come!” Touch raises his hand excitedly. “I wanna see Team X!”

   “You can, but Babe banned you from getting near his car.”

   “What! I just wanted to take a pic with it!” The researcher brother protests. He’s always in the lab, but Touch is quite a racing fan. Uncle Rewat said part of why he agreed to join this project was because I’m a racer and a member of Team X.

   “Because last time you spilled ice cream on his seat.”

   “Oh…” Touch’s voice softens, and he gives a sheepish grin, like he just remembered his crime. “But I cleaned it!”

   “I’m the one who cleaned it. You just made it worse.”

   “Sigh… no wonder Babe keeps baring his teeth at me.”

   The diehard X-Hunter fan slumps, looking pitiful. I feel for him, but asking Babe again might annoy him. When it comes to his car, Babe’s word is law. I got scolded a lot early in our relationship because I didn’t know what was okay or not. But now, I’d say I’m an expert. No way I’d slip up and get scolded easily anymore.

   “Oh! Meant to tell you yesterday but forgot,” Touch says. “My nephew’s coming today.”

   “The one who’s gonna help?”

   “Yeah. Since you said you’d be here, I told him to come today too, so you can meet.”

   “Cool, okay,” I nod. “What time’s he coming?”

   “Dunno.”

   “He hasn’t told you yet?”

   “Didn’t ask,” Phi Touch replies nonchalantly, patting my shoulder before heading upstairs. I have a ton of things I want to say to him, but I decide it’s better not to.

   The first-floor lounge falls quiet again with just me left. I try to make sense of the research team’s ongoing process. Of course, it’s not easy for someone like me with no background in this, but it’s not impossible to learn either. It’s not that I don’t trust my researchers enough to study it myself, but I believe if I don’t dive in fully, this project won’t succeed. Whether it’s the most complex issue or something so minor it seems unimportant, I want to understand it all. Part of it is to ensure the project turns out the best it can, and part is to satisfy my personal need to know everything.

   While I’m focused on the lengthy research results and analysis, my phone rings. The screen shows “Babe” with a white heart and a background of the namesake making a dramatic pout, almost a half-circle. He made that face because I accidentally said he was like a grumpy stray cat, and he got upset, retorting, “You’re like a temple dog the monk doesn’t love.” His expression was so funny I had to snap a picture. Babe hates this photo, but I love it and want to see it often, so I set it as his contact image. (After we made up, Babe admitted it was funny and let me keep using it.)

   “Yes, Babe,” I answer, my eyes still scanning the documents on my laptop.

   (What’re you doing?) Babe asks in a calm voice, with constant chatter in the background. No need to guess—he’s probably with the whole crew, and Phii North and Phii Sonic are likely bickering as usual.

   “Reading work stuff,” I reply. “What’s you up to?”

   (Chilling.)

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