EPISODE 5: Waiting Outside
1169 Words
EPISODE 5
“Waiting Outside”
CONVENIENCE STORE – EVENING
Jenny scans items carefully.
Her uniform is neat despite her exhaustion.
Her eyes still carry softness from recent days.
The door chimes..
Herlie enters casually.
Jenny looks up — surprised.
JENNY
Herlie?
Herlie smiles warmly.
HERLIE.
Hi.
Jenny finishes scanning the customer’s items quickly.
JENNY
What are you doing here?
HERLIE
Buying something very important.
She places a single candy bar on the counter..
Jenny stares at it.
JENNY
You walked here for this?
HERLIE
Yes.
Jenny laughs softly.
It’s a small sound.
But genuine.
Herlie notices.
HERLIE
She really did smile that night.
—
"You forgot, I'm off today" (✿^‿^)
CONVENIENCE STORE – LATER NIGHT
Jenny exits after her shift.
Herlie is waiting outside, sitting on a bench.
She stands when she sees her.
HERLIE
Finally.
JENNY
You waited?
HERLIE
Of course..
They walk slowly together.
HERLIE
So…
(trying to sound casual)
How was your experience at the bar?.
Jenny looks down, shy.
JENNY
It was nice.
HERLIE
Nice?
JENNY
Your colleague was kind..
Herlie hides her smile.
HERLIE
Kind?
JENNY
She made me feel comfortable.
(quietly).
I forgot my problems for a while.
Herlie watches her carefully.
HERLIE
Will you come again?
Jenny hesitates..
She doesn’t answer immediately.
But her expression already reveals it.
Yes.
She wants to.
She just doesn’t understand why.
—
BAR – SAME NIGHT
Carol stands behind the counter.
Talking to regular customers.
But occasionally—
She glances at the door.
Without realizing it.
Chanel notices.
CHANEL
Expecting someone?
Carol looks back at her.
CAROL
No.
But something in her expression betrays curiosity.
Just a little.
On the way to the boarding house...
HERLIE
“Jenny… can I ask you something?”
She looked at her. “What?”
“How’s your dad?”
The smile on her face slowly faded.
They kept walking, but her steps felt heavier.
“I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.
“We haven’t really talked since that night.”
Herlie sighed.
HERLIE
“You’re still mad.”
JENNY
“I’m not just mad,”
her voice trembling slightly.
“He sold the house, Herlie. The day after Mom died. It’s like… he erased her.”
Herlie stopped walking and turned to her.
“He didn’t erase her.”
Jenny looked down. “It feels like he did.”
Herlie gently touched her shoulder.
“Parents grieve differently. Maybe he couldn’t stand staying there without her.”
Jenny swallowed.
“But that doesn’t mean your pain isn’t valid.”
Herlie’s tone was firm now — protective.
HERLIE
“You lost your mom. You lost your home. And you’re still working two jobs like nothing happened.”
Jenny blinked quickly, trying not to cry.
“I don’t want to depend on anyone.”
“You don’t have to,” Herlie said softly. “But you don’t have to carry everything alone either.”
Jenny looked at her, eyes glassy.
“I promise you,” Herlie continued, “I’ll support you as much as I can. I’ll help you.
I’ll make sure you smile again — the real one.”
Jenny finally let out a small, broken laugh.
JENNY
“You’re so dramatic.”
HERLIE
“I’m serious,” he said. “You deserve to be happy again.”
For a moment, Jenny believed her.
CAROL’S BAR – VIP AREA – SAME NIGHT
Music pulsed through the air. Lights reflected off polished floors and crystal glasses.
At the center of it all — Chanel.
Wearing a bold, fitted top that left little to the imagination, she leaned over the pool table confidently..
Minhu and Jisu cheered dramatically behind her.
“Channel the heartbreak!” Jisu yelled jokingly.
“Shut up,” Chanel laughed, striking the cue ball perfectly.
Across the room, Carol stood behind the bar counter, reviewing inventory reports on a tablet. Focused. Unbothered.
Chanel’s eyes drifted toward her.
Still working.
“Why is she always working?” Chanel sighed.
“Because she owns this place,” Minhu replied.
She placed the cue stick down suddenly.
CHANEL
“I’m making her coffee.”
Minhu blinked. “You? Making coffee?”
CHANEL
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Chanel walked toward the bar’s private counter area, rolling up her sleeves slightly.
She knew exactly how Carol liked it.
Strong. No sugar.
Jisu whispered to Minhu, “She’s been in love since college.”
Minhu nodded dramatically. “And still suffering.”
Chanel ignored them, focusing carefully as she prepared the cup.
Her movements were deliberate.
Intentional.
When she approached Carol, she placed the cup beside her tablet.
CHANEL
“For you.”
Carol glanced up.
“Thanks.”
Chanel leaned casually against the counter. “You should take a break. It’s my birthday week, you know.”
Carol gave a faint smile. “You’ve been celebrating since yesterday.”
CHANEL
“That’s because you’re always busy.”
Carol took a sip of the coffee.
It was perfect.
“You didn’t have to,” Carol said.
Chanel’s expression softened for a split second.
“I wanted to.”
Across town, Jenny laughed softly at something Herlie said.
Inside the bar, Chanel watched Carol drink the coffee she made.
Two very different worlds.
Slowly moving toward each other.
- Writer
