It was a lively Monday when Eunice get to work. But what surprised her is the note on her computer: ‘This seat was long vacated. Don’t leave it empty again.’
She roamed her eyes around and guessed who could have put it there. However, they are so focused on their tasks, that no one has noticed her observing them. Hence, she has just paste it back to be her daily reminder.
“Someone really looks so blooming today, isn’t she?” one asked.
“I think so, too. What do you think happened during her leave?” another replied teasingly.
She blushed as she realized she was the one being referred to. Eunice pretended to be busy and heard nothing.
“Everyone, please stay focused,” the Head halted the commotion, to which she thanked inwardly.
“And Eunice,” he then called. “This is for you.”
She stared at the brooch he gave her and checked her workmates’. “Thank you, Sir!”
She remembers it. Euvy used to wear it, though she left it before their mission, as her sorry for the team.
Looking at her reflection on the screen, she put it on her uniform. With her hair down and eyeglasses on, she really looks like her. Thus, she braided it to make her look less likely to Euvy.
“You are already pretty when your hair is down. But I think you look better in that style,” the woman in front her praised.
“Thank you.”
Their serenity was replaced by turmoil when a man entered, looking for Deallo. The man seems to be troubled, and only their Head can help him settle whatever that problem is.
“What is it?” the Head comes out of his office, looking at the pieces of papers the man has in his hands.
“I need to talk to you in private.”
The members of the team started to buzz like bees as the two left. She glanced at her monitor to see the updates she missed, but seen nothing to be worry more about.
“That must be it.” She heard one stated.
“Let us hope that it is not. That would be a serious concern,” another one spoke.
They once again interrupted when they heard loud voices that seemed to be in an argument.
“No. I have already told you. No one of my team will be sent out there. Not anymore.” Their Head came back as the man run after him.
“But we cannot send one of them. She is pregnant. Sir, please.”
The two looked at each other: one looking pleadingly, and one who looks decided.
“I have already told you. I always inform you, I will no longer allow anyone from my team to get involved in such missions.”
“Sir—” Hopps raise his hand to say something, but was cut off by him.
“No one of us is going! Do you understand? Go back to work!”
Just by that, they faced their monitors again and continued working. At the end, the man left without receiving a positive response from Head Deallo.
“What was that again?” one of them asked him.
The old man looked around and see them wondering as well. Much more when his eyes met hers. Eunice stared at him cluelessly.
He breathes out and smiled. “Everyone, the black hole is not the problem this time. It didn’t change its size.”
“What is the issue then?” the woman followed up.
“Nothing serious. Just chunks of asteroids.”
“Like the ones that the anonymous team had blasted?”
The man nodded. He did not show any emotions, but Eunice knows how a big deal it is. Though, her workmates felt relieved upon his confirmation.
The clock chimed—lunchtime. Everyone stood up and left their corners, except for her. She knocked on their Head’s door after she prepared two sets of snacks.
“Come in.”
“Sir.” She smiled and showed him the tray she is holding. “Do you mind?”
“Oh no. Please have a seat.” The man sat down straight. “Is there something you need to tell me, that you have to skip your lunch?”
She hemmed and pretended to be awkward, to which succeeded. He put aside the documents he is facing and rested his chin on his fist.
“Go ahead. I will be listening.”
“Sir, I was actually thinking if it is just okay if there are days that I will not be able to come to work.” She placed her palm in her tummy.
“Oh, I see. Is that the reason why you have been coming to office late recently? Morning sickness?”
“Yes, Sir.” She gulped as she lied. There is no way that she will be a mother, of course.
The man pulled his drawer and get something placed in a box. “I have prepared this for something like this. But as you can see, aside from I am not hiring young ones in my team—I rarely hire, I should say, the other members are all already seniors.” He laughed.
“What is this, Sir?”
“Picked one of the rolled papers.”
Though wondering, she did what she was told to do. He then took out another box. This time, it is white.
“Now take a peek at what is written on it,” he persuaded.
“It is a SHE.”
“Oh, a SHE!” he exclaimed. “Now get one from these.” He separated the blue ones.
Eunice took a deep breath and chose one again. Her fingers trembled as her hand touched the rolled papers. The Heads’ eyes fixated on whatever written on the one she picked up. He looked at her for a while and gave it back.
“That name reminds me of my failure as this team’s Head, Mrs. Zimmerman. Nevertheless, that name too was the reason I constantly strive to be a better Head. Read it later,” he instructed.
—
She parked her car in front of the house of the person they have visited. She is just thankful that after convincing Marco and waited for her pregnancy test that is expected to result negative, he took the offer and in span of two years, he will be way. Somewhere in a State where internet connection doesn’t work—rarely does.
“Whose house is that, Mommy?” Sofia asked and pointed at the one in front of them.
“The doctor I told you is working on wonderful things you are interested in.”
“Doctor Dean?!” the kid giggled.
Eunice nodded and covered her mouth. “Shh, he doesn’t know that you know. Now, pretend that you don’t know about him, neither his line of work. Okay?”
“Copy!”
She took a lungful of air and held her daughter’s hand; squeezed it gently and intertwined their fingers as her little one wants.
“Hello!” she called and tiptoed.
Dean came out: as usual, just got home from his farm. His face lightened up as he sees her, that he has forgotten about his pretensions and walked normally.
“I thought you will be busy this week? Oh, who are you with today?” His eyes roamed around and saw the girl beside her. But creased his forehead when he noticed the suitcases. “Come, get inside.”
“Is he mad, Mommy?”
“He is not. He was just surprised that we are here, darling.”
The man opened the door quietly and headed to the dining room to get some snacks for them.
Sofia looked around, seems to be searching for something. He held on to the hem of her mom’s shirt to get her attention.
“Where is the laboratory room?”
“Shh. He has a sharp sense of hearing. He might hear you.”
“Oh, okay.” The girl smiled widely as she pointed the door leading to the room she is looking for.
“So, would you mind telling me what is this, Eunice?” Dean queried with a deadly warning face; smiling yet obviously wasn’t delighted to see them seemingly run away and get there without giving him a notice. “Here, have some biscuits—”
“Sofia, Sir. I am Sofia.” The girl stood up and shake his hands before getting some cookies and served herself a glass of juice.
The doctor raised a brow, amused, but he did not mention. Instead, he gazed at her and threw her a questioning look.
“Well, my husband—her dad, is currently out of the country, and I am kind of busy with my job as well. I have actually planned to leave her in my parents’ care. But the thing is, they are so far away, and it will take us a whole day to get there.” She turned to her daughter to ask for some explanation, as she can already feel being rejected.
“Can I stay here for a while, Sir? I promise I will help you with the chores. Will not go outside, sleep on time, will not talk back and—”
“Why it sounded like those are the things you will exactly do, hmm?”
“Mommy.” Sofia looked at her.
She celebrated inwardly as she praised her daughter’s acting skills. She rubbed her back and pat her head.
“It will not be long. Please.”
The man saw the chessboard on the corner of her bag. He took a deep breath and glanced at the ball he had hanged on his wall.
“Do you play chess, then?”
“Oh, I love playing chess, Sir!”
“How about ball games?”
The kid was taken aback and blinked her eyes for countless times; thinking what answer will please the old man.
“I am not a boy. But I can learn. Do you perhaps play basketball?”
“I used to. Well then, having a kid for weeks will not be that bad. Your room will be the one there before the last one.” He showed to the door just facing the other entrance to the laboratory room. “Go ahead. Check it out. But I am already telling you. It is a boy’s room.”
The girl then run and excitedly opened the door. Her eyes glistened as she saw a lot of toys—things related to science.
“Is that your son’s room?”
“It is.”
“She seemed to like it, Doctor Dean.”
“I hope so. But I think I have to hide his toys for now. So, going back to you. What is this task you are working on, that it is necessary for you to left her here?”
She shrugged her shoulders and watched Sofia run around the room, jumping in the bed and rolled when she got tired.
“Like what I have said last time, we are working on—”
“The black hole. Are you one of the selected individuals who will be sent to explore it?”
“Nope. I am not.”
He creased his forehead and frowned; not convinced that she really did not insist on going to the space. Dean then looked away and gave her a nod.
“Good to know. And in case you think of changing your mind, think of your daughter. Don’t let her have sleepless nights and lonely days.”
“I will always remember that. Sofia!”
The girl came back barefooted, carrying a book about heavenly bodies. “Mom, look! Grandpa has many books like this in that room!”
“Don’t make any mess, okay? Fix everything you use. And always listen to Grandpa Dean.” She sat down on label with her. “Mommy will be back. I don’t him to be complaining anything when I do.”
Sofia nodded, understand her assignment. She pulled her daughter closer and showered her face little kisses and rest her forehead on hers.
“Mommy loves you always.”
“Sofia loves you more, Mommy.”
“Mommy knows, baby. I always knew.”
Doctor Dean shifted his eyes from the two to the view outside. That is what he hated about leaving. If only he had listened to her son’s plea back then, he might have not lost them out of his sight.