EPISODE 2- Running on Empty
2000 Words
“Running on Empty”
CONVENIENCE STORE – EARLY MORNING
Fluorescent lights. The faint hum of refrigerators. 6:42 AM.
JENNY, wearing a convenience store uniform, scans items quickly. She looks tired but focused.
A CUSTOMER taps impatiently.
CUSTOMER
Miss, can you hurry up?
JENNY
I’m sorry, ma’am.
She bows slightly. Her eyes are swollen — she barely slept.
Her phone vibrates inside her pocket.
She checks it secretly.
8:15 AM
Her eyes widen.
JENNY (whispering)
I’m late…
SMALL RESTAURANT – LATE MORNING
The kitchen is chaotic.
Plates clatter. Orders are shouted.
Jenny rushes in, slightly out of breath.
RESTAURANT BOSS (MR. CHOI)
(shouting immediately)
Kim! What time do you call this?!
JENNY
I’m sorry, sir! My other job—
MR. CHOI
I don’t care about your other job! When you’re here, this is your only job!
Customers glance over.
Jenny bows repeatedly.
JENNY
I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.
MR. CHOI
If you’re late one more time, don’t come back!
He walks off..
Jenny grips her apron tightly. Her hands tremble — but she doesn’t cry.
She just whispers to herself:
JENNY
It’s okay… It’s okay…
RESTAURANT – NIGHT
It’s closing time.
Jenny wipes tables slowly. Her back aches.
She checks her phone.
Three missed calls — HERLIE.
Jenny smiles faintly.
She calls back while walking outside.
STREET – NIGHT
Cool air. Streetlights glow softly.
HERLIE
Finally! You’re alive!
JENNY
(laughing softly)
Barely.
HERLIE
Come meet me at the bar tonight!
Jenny stops walking.
JENNY
Bar? Herlie, I don’t have money for that.
HERLIE
Relax! Just come. I’ll handle it. You need a break, Jenny.
Jenny hesitates.
She hasn’t relaxed in weeks.
JENNY
Just for a little while.
HERLIE
That’s my girl! See you in thirty!
Jenny hangs up.
She looks up at the night sky.
JENNY
Maybe… just tonight.
She starts walking toward the bar.
She has no idea her life is about to shift.
SMALL BAR – NIGHT
Warm lights. Soft jazz music plays in the background. The atmosphere is cozy, alive.
CAROL PARK wipes glasses behind the counter, laughing with customers. She moves confidently — relaxed but magnetic.
CAROL
(grinning)
Another drink, or are we pretending to be responsible adults tonight?
Customers laugh.
Carol winks and slides a drink smoothly across the counter. She moves like she owns the room — effortless charm.
The door chimes.
Jenny enters.
Still wearing her restaurant uniform. Hair slightly messy. Eyes tired.
She pauses near the entrance.
Her world is quiet.
Carol’s world is loud.
Carol notices immediately.
Their eyes meet for half a second.
Carol smiles.
CAROL
(cheerful)
Hey there, first time? Come in, don’t just stand there like it’s a museum..
Jenny blinks, caught off guard, then gives a shy smile.
She walks slowly toward the counter.
JENNY
Um… hi. Is Herlie here?
Carol pretends to think.
CAROL
Ah. Herlie’s doing some back tasks. Inventory stuff. She might take a while.
Jenny nods.
JENNY
Oh… it’s okay. I can wait.
Carol tilts her head slightly, studying her.
Up close, she notices:
— The faint redness around Jenny’s eyes.
— The exhaustion she’s trying to hide.
— The way she clutches her bag like security.
Carol softens.
CAROL
I can entertain you while you wait.
Jenny looks surprised.
JENNY
Oh— no, it’s fine, I don’t want to bother you.
CAROL
You’re not bothering me. That’s literally my job.
Jenny sits carefully on a stool.
JENNY
Just water, please.
Carol pauses dramatically.
CAROL
Water? Wow. You’re really starting wild tonight.
Jenny blushes.
Carol chuckles and grabs a glass. She pours water with exaggerated bartender flair — spinning the glass slightly before placing it down.
CAROL
There. Premium vintage water.
Jenny can’t help but smile.
CAROL
(leaning slightly closer)
Rough day?
Jenny hesitates.
Then sighs softly.
JENNY
Something like that. My boss yelled at me… and I might lose my boarding place soon.
Carol’s teasing expression fades into something gentler.
She doesn’t pity Jenny — she respects her.
CAROL
That’s heavy.
(beat)
Want to trade? I’ll take your problems, you take my bar bills.
Jenny lets out a small laugh.
JENNY
No deal.
Their eyes meet.
There’s something there.
Quiet. Curious.
Carol grabs a small plate and places fries in front of her.
CAROL
On the house. Fries heal all wounds.
JENNY
(smiling softly)
That’s not true.
CAROL
Maybe not.
(soft grin)
But it’s a start.
Jenny takes one fry.
It’s the first real smile she’s had all day.
Carol watches her — not in a creepy way — but in quiet fascination.
This girl is different.
Not loud. Not flashy.
But warm.
The music softens in the background.
Jenny looks around.
JENNY
This place is nice.
CAROL
Yeah?
JENNY
It feels… safe.
That hits Carol unexpectedly.
She clears her throat casually.
CAROL
Good. That’s the point.
Jenny looks at her again.
JENNY
How long have you worked here?
Carol smirks slightly.
CAROL
Long enough.
Jenny nods, unaware.
From the back hallway, Herlie peeks and gives Carol a subtle thumbs up.
Carol ignores her.
Her attention is fully on Jenny.
Warm lights.
Soft jazz.
A tired girl finding comfort.
A confident woman finding curiosity.
Neither of them knows this is the beginning.
OUTSIDE - BAR
T
he cold night air hit Jenny’s face as she stepped out of the bar, her head slightly dizzy—not from alcohol, but from everything she had been holding inside.
“Hey, wait.” Herlie followed her out, slipping his hands into his pockets.
“I’ll walk you to your boarding house.”
Jenny blinked. “No, it’s okay. I can manage.”
“It’s already late,” Herlie insisted. “You think I’ll just let you walk alone?”
Before Jenny could argue again, the headlights of a sleek black car slowed in front of them.
The window rolled down..
It's Carol.
Her sharp eyes landed first on Herlie—then slowly shifted to Jenny.
“Herlie,” she called calmly, though there was something unreadable in her tone.
“Where are you going?”
“Oh, Ms. C,” Herlie said casually.
“I’m just walking Jenny to her boarding house.”
Carol’s gaze stayed on Jenny a second longer than necessary.
“Get in,” she said. “I’ll drive you.”
Herlie scratched the back of his neck. “It’s okay, Ms. C. My house is just near. Maybe, Jenny only?”
Jenny immediately shook her head. “No, no, it’s fine. I don’t want to bother—”
“You’re not bothering anyone,” Carol cut in smoothly. “It’s late.”
Jenny hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She wasn’t used to this—kindness from strangers, especially someone like Carol.
Herlie leaned closer and whispered, “It’s okay. Ms. C is kind.”
Carol raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting.
Jenny swallowed. “T-Thank you so much, Ms. C.”
A small smile curved on Carol’s lips. “Get in.”
Herlie stepped back, giving Jenny a teasing grin. “Goodbye, Jenny. I’ll message you later.”
Jenny nodded, heart beating faster as she opened the passenger door.
-- The door closed softly.
Jenny sat stiffly in the passenger seat, hands resting neatly on her lap.
She didn’t know why, her heart still beating faster.
Maybe it was the silence inside the car.
Maybe it was the way Carol’s perfume filled the air.
Or maybe…
It was the way Carol kept glancing at her.
----
The inside of the car smelled expensive—clean leather and a subtle hint of Carol’s perfume.
Carol started the engine.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The city lights flickered across Jenny’s face as they drove, shadows dancing along her soft features.
“So…” Carol finally said, one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel. “Did you enjoy tonight?”
Jenny blinked, slightly startled. “Yes… I mean—yes, Ms. C. I did.”
“Ms. C?” Carol smirked faintly.
“You don’t have to call me that outside the bar.”
Jenny flushed. “I’m sorry… I just thought—”
“I’m joking,” Carol said gently, glancing at her.
“You can call me Carol.”
Jenny hesitated.
“…Carol.”
The way her name sounded in Jenny’s soft voice made Carol’s fingers tighten slightly around the wheel.
Silence again.
But this one felt different.
Not awkward.
Just… heavy.
“You don’t look like someone who usually goes to bars,” Carol said.
“I don’t,” Jenny admitted with a small laugh. “It was my first time.”
“Really?”
Jenny nodded. “Herlie invited me.”
Carol hummed. “And what did you think?”
Jenny stared outside the window for a second before answering.
“It was loud,” she said honestly. “But when I talked to you… it didn’t feel loud anymore.”
Carol’s eyes shifted toward her and smile.
Jenny realized what she had said and quickly looked down. “I mean—you were easy to talk to.”
Carol smiled—slow, giddy smile.
“You’re different,” Carol said quietly.
Jenny looked up. “Different?”
“Most people try too hard in places like that.” Carol’s gaze softened slightly. “You don’t.”
Jenny didn’t know how to respond to that.
Her heart was beating faster than it should.
They stopped at a red light.
Carol turned slightly toward her.
“You live far?”
“No… just two streets ahead.”
Carol nodded and continued driving.
After a few minutes, Jenny pointed nervously. “There… that blue gate.”
Carol slowed the car and parked in front of the small boarding house.
It was simple. Humble. Very different from Carol’s world.
For a second, neither of them moved.
“You’re staying here alone?” Carol asked.
Jenny nodded. “Yes.”
Carol studied the place quietly. Then she looked at Jenny again.
“Message Herlie when you’re inside.”
Jenny smiled softly. “I will.”
She reached for the door handle, then paused..
“Thank you… for driving me.”
Carol tilted her head slightly. “You’re welcome.”
Jenny opened the door but before stepping out, she turned back.
“Goodnight… Carol.”
This time, she said it without hesitation.
Carol’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
“Goodnight, Jenny.”^_^
Jenny closed the door and walked toward the gate. She didn’t look back.
But Carol didn’t drive away immediately.
She watched.
Until Jenny disappeared inside.
Only then did Carol lean back against her seat, exhaling slowly.
“…Cute,” she murmured to herself.
And for the first time in a long while—
Carol smiled differently.
- Writer
