FADE IN

INT. OFFICE - AFTERNOON

TEXT: 31 days before d-day; magsa-slash ang d, magiging b para maging "b-day".

Nakamalaking hoodie si Adri at pants. Simpleng pananamit, mej antok pa, nakatali ang buhok into a messy bun. Bagay sa kanya ang damit, hindi siya "ugly" looking. Comfy lang talaga.

Nagta-type siya sa office laptop niya, pasilip-silip kay Lee na nakatulala sa sariling office laptop.

He looks bored. 

Nag-panic si Adri on the inside when Lee stands up, naglakad. Some girls, napatingin pa rito. And then, pumasok ito sa pantry.

Adri is anxious, hindi malaman kung susunod ba kay Lee o hindi. She looks at MJ, nag-thumbs up ito, nag "game face on", at sumenyas na sumunod na.

Adri stands up. Hawak ang coffee cup na binigay ni Chan, she walks toward the pantry area. Bago pa makapasok sa loob, muntik silang magkabanggaan ni Lee. Siya papasok, si Lee palabas.

Tumalikod na ito sa kanya, pabalik sa workstation. Medyo nag-alinlangan pa si Adri when she sees Chan sa malayo, may kausap na ka-work. Pinigilan ni Adri ang paglakad ni Lee.

ADRI
Uhm, Mejares, can we talk?

Lumingon si Lee sa kanya. He smirks.

LEE
Finally.

Pumasok ito sa pantry, sumunod si Adri. Nakatitig lang si Adri sa likuran ni Lee, naguluhan sa sagot nitong 'finally'.

Sa kalayuan, makikita si Chan na nakangiti sa mga kausap pero nawala rin pagtingin sa camera, kung nasaan pumasok sina Adri at Lee sa pantry.

THE PANTRY

Dumiretso si Adri hanggang counter at sumandal doon, humarap kay Lee.

ADRI
Can I ask what do you mean by finally?

From leaning on the wall, Lee walks toward Adri while saying:

LEE
You've been staring at me all day, Ms. Sandoval. You want something from me.

He reaches out for a spoon behind Adri kaya ang lapit nila sa isa't isa. He is almost whispering when he said:

LEE
I wonder what it is.

Nagtitimpla ng kape si Lee while they are talking.

ADRI
Two things. One, ang lapit mo
(Side step para lumayo).
Two, I guess MJ's right, you're perfect for this role, huh.

Napaisip si Lee.

LEE
MJ? Mica June?
(Beat)
She's pretty.

ADRI
She is, but she won't like it kapag tinawag mo siyang ganyan.
(Laughs)
I'll be straight to the point na. Will you help me seduce someone?

LEE
Seduce who?

ADRI
A guy na hindi mo kila–

LEE
Ah, the manager.

ADRI
How did you–

LEE
I observe.

Lee smiles. Sinubo niya ang spoon na pinanghalo sa kape.

LEE
I'm in.

ADRI
AGAD? What's the catch?

Nagkibit balikat si Lee.

LEE
Nothing. I'm bored, you're a pretty distraction.

ADRI
Hindi nga, walang kapalit? Imposible yan. Do you want me to hook you up with MJ? Kaso hindi ko sure kung papatu—

LEE
Nah. I can do that on my own if I want to.

Napabulong si Adri sa sarili ng, "yabang". He's perfect for the job.

LEE
I'll ask for a favor kapag may gusto na ako. Happy?

ADRI
Happy! Hindi naman delikado yang favor mo?

LEE
Mukha ba akong kriminal?

ADRI
Uhm?
(Laughs)
So long as kaya ko, game. Deal?

Adri reaches her hand for a handshake. Before pa magsabi si Lee ng 'deal' and reaches for his hand, pumasok si Chan sa pantry.

Nagulat si Chan na nakita niya ang dalawa, nakatingin siya sa kamay ni Adri na naka-reach out kay Lee. Hahawakan sana ni Lee ang kamay ni Adri pero agad nagbaba ng kamay si Adri.

Sinadya ni Lee na naka-hang sa ere ang kamay niya for a shakehand, magmukha siyang ewan, and smiles. Naiisip niyang, "ah, ganito pala dynamics nila. This is interesting". 

He touches Adri's arms.

LEE
I'll see you after office hours, Ms. Sandoval.

Lee exits the pantry, sipping through his coffee.

Chan reaches out to Adri. Touches the arm Lee touched.

CHAN
Okay ka lang?

Adri nods, smiles.

FADE TO:

INT. OFFICE - EVENING

TEXT: 30 nights before d-day; magsa-slash ang d, magiging b para maging "b-day".

Nagsisialisan na ang mga nagtatrabaho. Same with MJ na nagmamadali dahil may concert na pupuntahan.

Lumapit si Chan kay Adri, mga ilang metro ang layo, asking if sasama ba ito sa dinner but Adri declines, tatapusin muna niya yong tinatrabaho niya.

He asks if she needs him to wait. She says no.

Chan's eyes linger on Adri, busy with what she's typing at the laptop.

Then he looks at Lee.

From his eyes, the camera pans to Lee, sinusundan ang paglapit ni Lee at paghawak sa balikat ni Adri.

Natigil ang tingin na ito nang hinatak si Chan ng mga kasamahan. Napakunot ang noo niya. Gusto niyang mag-stay pero hinihila na talaga siya ng mga katrabaho, nagsasabi ng, "party party na, manager!" "libre to ni manager, wohoo!".

Tumalikod na si Chan sa dalawa.

Nanahimik.

Focus ulit kina Adri. 

Hawak ni Lee ang balikat ni Adri. Tinulungan ito mag-straight ng likod.

LEE
What you need is confidence. Start with your posture.

Nilapit ni Lee ang mukha sa tainga ni Adri. Parehas silang nakatingin sa computer / laptop na nakabukas. Adri is typing something, pero natigil dahil sa hawak ni Lee.

LEE
(Seductively whispers)
Breathe in,
(Breaths)
out.
(Beat)
Relax.

Hindi lumingon si Adri. Nakatapat lang ang tingin niya sa harap. She knows na kapag lumingon siya, magiging corny ang sitwasyon nila ala cliche romance. She knows better.

And so, while typing, she said:

ADRI
(Whispers)
Kailangan ang lapit mo?

Lee laughs. That's his cue para lumayo. He sits on the chair beside Adri.

Dahil sa paglayo ni Lee, naging hudyat ito for Adri para linungin ang katabi.

He smirks.

LEE
Class starts now.

CUT TO:

End of Episode 2
"class starts now"

series:
every after office hours

🍺☕

Lee?

Chan?

Penny for yer tots? :D

☕🍺

official hashtag:
#eaoh
#everyafterofficehours

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