(Phone conversation)

THU AT 12:20 PM

Harry:
Hello, baby.

Jia:
Hello to you.

Harry:
Took you a while to answer. Nagsuklay ka? (chuckles)

Jia: 
(laughs softly) Of course. Akala ko, video call, eh. So... bakit hindi video call?

Harry:
I just stepped out from a meeting. 

Jia:
Meeting? Sa Lab? But it's lunch.

Harry:
(clears throat) Lunch meeting. But not at the lab.

Jia:
Oh... I thought we could eat together while on video call. 

Harry:
I'd love that but... sorry. (sighs)

Jia:
Everything okay? Are you too busy tapos ang kulit ko?

Harry:
Hm. (Pause) You're being too cute, I'm distracted. (chuckles)

Jia:
Should I stop?

Harry:
Naku, 'wag. Sayang. Nacha-challenge nga ako, eh. 

Jia:
What? (laughs softly) Nacha-challenge kang magpa-cute din?

Harry:
'Wag na po ba, Aling Jia? Wala na bang hustisya kung ang guwapo ko na, ang talino ko na, tapos ang cute ko pa? Sorry na agad kung ang charming ko. Hindi ko naman sinasadya. (laughs)

Jia:
Ang bigat ng bangko, baby. 

Harry:
'Yan. Tumawag lang talaga 'ko para marinig 'yan. Paulit nga, pampagana lang.

Jia:
Alin?

Harry:
'Yong endearment. Come on. Handa na 'kong kiligin uli. 

Jia:
(laughs) Do you really need to hear it?

Harry:
Hindi lang ako. Okay lang kahit marinig din ng iba. 

Jia:
(Laughs) Kinukulit mo lang ako, eh.

Harry:
I really want to hear it.

Jia:
That I'm calling you baby?

Harry:
That you're calling me yours.

Jia:
Gosh... (laughs a little nervously)

Harry:
Hingang-malalim ka lang, babe. Alam kong nakakakilig talaga 'ko.

Jia:
(Laughs) Ang bigat ng bangko!

Harry:
Baby?

Jia:
Yeah. Ang kulit mo, baby. And I miss you.

(Pause) 

Harry:
I miss you. (Sighs) 

(Muffled sounds)

Jia:
Are you going to be busy all day? 

Harry:
Yes. Pagbalik ko sa meeting⁠—

(Pause) (Muffled sounds)

Jia:
Harry? Are you still there?

Harry:
Sorry. Baka gabi na 'ko makabalik sa lab. I would like to go home to you tonight and eat what you cooked for me, but it's not possible.

Jia:
Oh... (Sighs) Well, it's not that I'm expecting you to always come home. Hassle. Saka busy ka. 

Harry:
Gusto kong umuwi sayo lagi⁠—kung puwede na at kung puwede lang.

Jia:
I like that, too. But don't let me distract you too much.

Harry:
A little lang. (chuckles)

Jia:
Of course. I have to distract you from time to time or else you'll work too intensely. You need breaks.

Harry:
I know, alagad ng humanity.

(Muffled sounds) (Car honks)

Jia:
What are those... uh... sounds? Parang nasa labas ka? Are you outside a resto?

Harry:
Ah...  yes. 

Jia:
Well, I'm taking too much of your time.

Harry:
You're allowed to take all of my time.

Jia:
Nope. You got things to do.

Harry:
(Laughs) Yes, we have work to do, too.

Jia:
You're just trying to be cheesy.

Harry:
(Laughs) Bawal po ba, baby? Kina Vina na lang ba 'ko maging cheesy, para mag-resign silang lahat? 

Jia:
No. You're only allowed to be cheesy with me.

Harry:
Noted, Aling Jia. Bigyan kong memo ang Trolls na bawal na silang maglambing sa 'kin at kahit ma-miss nila 'ko, hindi na puwedeng maging cheesy. (Laughs) 

Jia:
(Laughs softly) Okay. You're allowed to be cheesy with them.

Harry:
Kay Helga po ba, puwede rin? Bigyan ko na ba ng memo si Bunso na kay Ash na lang niya ibuhos ang lahat ng mayro'n siya? (Pause) Kaso iinit ang ulo ko. (Laughs)

Jia:
I can't stop you from being cheesy with H! Ano ba?!

Harry:
(Laughs) See? You're cute. 

Jia:
Yeah, right.

Harry:
And I love you. 'Wag kang masyadong cute, baka iwan ko ang lab, pumunta ako sa 'yo, tapos wala na 'kong trabaho. Willing naman akong maging house husband pero ayokong ikaw ang mapapagod sa pagtatrabaho para sustentuhan ako. (Laughs heartily)

Jia:
You're the one being too cute. Can I visit the lab tomorrow?

Harry:
Ipaglalaban mo na ang pag-ibig natin kay Vina? 

(both laughs)

Jia:
Yes. I want to surprise them. Gusto ko ring mapandilatan ni Vina kahit minsan lang. 

Harry:
Sige, babe. Pakidalaw ako sa lab bukas para masiguro natin kung gaano ka-willing si Vina mag-resign. 

(both laughs)

Jia:
Shall I cook something?

Harry:
Yes. Pakisamahan ng maraming pag-ibig 'yong lulutuin mo.

Jia:
I'll put in just enough para hindi ma-choke si Vina. 

Harry:
Don't worry about her. Maghahanda ako ng tubig para sa kanya. 

(both laughs)

Jia:
Macho-choke na talaga si Vina kung nagla-lunch din siya ngayon. I better let you go now.

Harry:
'Wag, baby! Ipaglaban mo ang pag-ibig natin!

Jia:
You know that that's not what I mean!

(both laughs)

Jia:
I shouldn't keep you.

Harry:
You should. (Laughs)

Jia:
Babe! Hang up na!

Harry:
Mas malakas makakumbinse 'yong isang endearment. 

Jia:
Baby, hang up na.

(Pause)

Jia:
Harry?

Harry:
Teka lang. Kamamatay ko lang sa kilig, Aling Jia. Give me a few minutes to resurrect.

Jia:
Ang kulit mo, Kamahalan! (Laughs)

(both laughs)

Harry:
I should go back to what I'm doing. I'll see you tomorrow.

Jia:
You don't have to answer my messages later. Just focus on what you have to do and rest properly after. Okay?

Harry:
Yes, baby.

Jia:
Good, baby. 

Harry:
Yieeeee.

Jia:
Harry! Hang up na! (Laughs)

Harry:
(Laughs) Okay. Bye, baby. Enjoy your lunch.

Jia:
You, too. I love you.

Harry:
I love you. Yieeee.

Jia:
(Laughs) What the! I'm hanging up!

Harry:
(Chuckles) Love you.

(Call ends)