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Chapter 6 - 6. “The First Taste”

INT. FLAT –

FLORENCIA'S ROOM – NIGHT

 

Florencia

flops onto her bed, smiling faintly.

 

FLORENCIA

(muttering)

That was

actually fun…

(She places

her hand in her pocket)

Good thing I

took a pic—wait, my phone's not in my pocket!? My phone!?

 

She rushes

downstairs to find MRS. KELINZA holding her phone.

 

MRS. KELINZA

This yours,

Florencia?

 

FLORENCIA

Yes.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Explain this.

(Shows her the picture)

 

FLORENCIA

It's just a

picture.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Of you and my

boy.

 

FLORENCIA

Isn't this

what you wanted?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Huh?

 

FLORENCIA

You started

it. And I guess I'm grateful.

 

MRS. KELINZA

This wasn't

how things were supposed to end up. You've only met for five days. This isn't

some romance anime.

 

FLORENCIA

Yeah, I also

found that… weird.

 

MRS. KELINZA

It's crazy…

and his face expression… it's priceless.

 

FLORENCIA

Huh?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Does this mean

he's really into you?

 

FLORENCIA

What do you

mean?

 

MRS. KELINZA

His face.

 

FLORENCIA

What's wrong

with his face?

 

MRS. KELINZA

He's

embarrassed. He's shy. He's… blushing.

 

FLORENCIA

Isn't That

normal.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Not for

Leniel.

 

FLORENCIA

Huh?

 

MRS. KELINZA

That's the

first time he's made such a face. Did you seduce him or something?

 

FLORENCIA

No.

 

MRS. KELINZA

That wouldn't

have worked anyway.

 

FLORENCIA

What's going

on?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Lemme explain.

Ever since I adopted him, he's always had this emotionless expression. Doesn't

care about anything.

When I began

teasing him and having fun with him, he began smiling and laughing. I tried so

many things to get him embarrassed or shy, but nothing worked.

But you did it

within five days. I've failed as a mother…

 

FLORENCIA

Uhh… Please

don't !

 

MRS. KELINZA

How did you do

it!?

 

FLORENCIA

I guess we're…

kinda the same.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Huh?

 

FLORENCIA

I've never got so embarrassed until now.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Then why—what

do you see in him?

 

FLORENCIA

I don't really

have anything specific.

 

MRS. KELINZA

How far are

you planning to take this ?

 

FLORENCIA

(blushing, covering her face)

I dunno…

 

MRS. KELINZA

Now I get it .

 

FLORENCIA

Huh?

 

MRS. KELINZA

 these groceries were his?

 

FLORENCIA

Yeah. I think

we swapped our stuff. Why does he like meat that much?

 

MRS. KELINZA

It's a long

story. Wait, I'm confused.

 

FLORENCIA

About what?

 

MRS. KELINZA

You left here

at exactly 8:16 in the morning and came back this late. What the hell were you

two doing!?

 

FLORENCIA

Nothing! Just

talking!

 

MRS. KELINZA

(sighs)

Wow .He can

sometimes be insensitive… but please understand that he's never done this

before.

 

FLORENCIA (confused)

Okay…

 

MRS. KELINZA

Don't tell me

this is your first time.

 

FLORENCIA

Yes, it is.

 

MRS. KELINZA

(smacks her face)

This is going

to be difficult…

 

Florencia runs

to her room.

 

MRS. KELINZA

You left your

phone again.

 

Florencia

rushes down the stairs, grabs her phone, and goes upstairs. She stares at

Leniel's room door.

 

FLORENCIA

This is…

(enters)

 

MRS. KELINZA

I wonder what

Tybeast would do if he found out.

INT. TYBEAST'S

MIND – NIGHT

 

TYBEAST

What happened?

 

DEVIL T

You sure took

a long nap and you were too late. They were getting along very well.

 

TYBEAST

Well, it's

your fault.

 

DEVIL T

I hope you

know I am just in your mind. You did that on your own.

 

TYBEAST

So I'm too

late?

 

DEVIL T

Yep. (gets

stabbed in the back by the angel spirit)

Ah! How the

hell are you still alive?

 

ANGEL T

You should've

finished your target. Damn dog.

 

DEVIL T (dies)

 

ANGEL T

It's never too

late, Tybeast.

 

TYBEAST

He's right.

I'll just kill her.

 

ANGEL T (slaps

Tybeast)

Don't be more

stupid than you already are.

 

TYBEAST

You're right…

 

ANGEL T

You have to

fill in the gaps that she hasn't filled, thet she cant fill.

 

TYBEAST

Like what?

 

ANGEL T

How should I

know? Figure that out yourself.

 

DEVIL T

Just make sure

they don't get time to talk. Even better—make them hate each other.

 

ANGEL T

When will you

ever say something positive.

 

DEVIL T

Shut up,

angel!

 

TYBEAST

I think I

might have a plan.

INT. BOYS'

DORM – NIGHT

 

Leniel lies on

the bottom bunk, staring at his palm. Nayoka is on the top bed, eavesdropping,

sweating.

 

LENIEL

Is it just me

or I can't stop thinking about her. I've never felt this way. It's strange… my

mind won't stop forming images of her.

 

Nayoka slowly

grabs his phone, typing in a group chat.

 

NAYOKA

(texting)

Guys, I think

Leniel's thinking about someone. To be specific—it's a girl. He's been going on

and on about her since he came back from shopping.

And weird

part… he picked vegetables.

 

KAYA

You really

think you can fool us with that?

 

NAYOKA

Gimme a sec.

 

Nayoka records

audio.

 

LENIEL

(recording)

What's she

doing right now? Why am I thinking about her… I can't get her out of my damn

head! (kicks bed)

 

NAYOKA

(sending audio)

This should be

enough.

 

FIONA

Are you sure

that's Leniel?

 

KOTAN

That's his

voice all right.

 

KAYA

Is he sick?

Call his mom or something.

 

NAYOKA

He's fine.

 

FIONA

Are you sure

it's not some fake Lee?

 

NAYOKA

100% original.

 

KOTAN

We'll talk

about this tomorrow early morning.

 

FIONA

Yeah . good

night

 

KUNYA

I don't think

I can sleep after hearing that?

 

MIDAS

Naaa, I'll

sleep just fine.

 

Leniel

receives a text.

 

TEXT (FROM

FLORENCIA)

Hi, it's me,

Florencia. (message deleted immediately)

 

LENIEL

(texting back)

How did you

get this number?

 

FLORENCIA

From your

room.

 

LENIEL

You're in my

room?

 

FLORENCIA

Yeah. Do you

wanna talk?

 

LENIEL

I can't sleep

anyway. So sure.

 

INT. CLASSROOM

– NEXT MORNING

 

Leniel is fast

asleep at his desk. Kotan gives a signal. Nayoka and the others rise

simultaneously and head to the door.

 

TEACHER

Um?

 

KOTAN

It's urgent

council work.

 

TEACHER

Okay…

 

KOTAN

Thank you.

(closes the door)

INT. COUNCIL

ROOM – SHORTLY AFTER

 

Nayoka places

his phone on the table. They kneel before the boss chair.

 

KOTAN

(bowing) We

have arrived, Your Highness.

 

The chair

spins. It's MRS. KELINZA with Tybeast on her lap.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Good morning.

Please cut the jokes and get up.

(stands)

Before we begin, I'd like to apologize.

 

MIDAS

For what?

 

MRS. KELINZA

I was the

cause of all this.

 

NAYOKA

How?

 

MRS. KELINZA

(flashback)

 

FLORENCIA

(V.O.)

…I love you!

 

(back to

present)

 

MRS. KELINZA

And that's how

it started.

 

KOTAN

I see.

 

KAYA

But this means

Leniel took that seriously.

 

MRS. KELINZA

I'm as

surprised as you are.

 

KAYA

And here I

thought that monster was incapable of emotions.

 

FIONA

Same here.

 

MIDAS

And weird

thing—they've only known each other for 5 days…

 

KOTAN

Six days, to

be precise.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Yes.

 

FIONA

But I have a

feeling Leniel's not serious. Maybe she…

 

MRS. KELINZA

I just sent

you all a picture.

 

Everyone

checks their phones. KOTAN and MIDAS fall to their knees.

 

FIONA

Woah!

 

KAYA

Are you sure

this wasn't generated?

 

MRS. KELINZA

100% real.

 

FIONA

They look so

cute like this…

 

MRS. KELINZA

I know, right?

It's like he can't even look straight.

 

NAYOKA

And he doesn't

have his expressionless face on.

 

MRS. KELINZA

This was

supposed to be a good thing. But it's not.

 

KOTAN

So what's the

plan, Your Highness?

 

MRS. KELINZA

We have to

stop this relationship at all costs.

 

KAYA

What about

Hydrion?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Oh, don't

worry. We'll have his full cooperation, right, Nayoka?

 

NAYOKA

About that…

not really.

 

MRS. KELINZA

What?

 

NAYOKA

He's not

interested in Leniel's private life.

 

MRS. KELINZA

You really are

useless.

 

NAYOKA

I'm sorry.

 

MRS. KELINZA

You'll have to

make up for him then.

 

NAYOKA

I know.

 

KOTAN

So you're

saying there's no way of getting through to him?

 

NAYOKA

He won't

listen to me.

 

MRS. KELINZA

It's not a

problem. So here's the plan—and just in case that one fails, I have seven more.

 

MIDAS

Seriously?

Eight plans?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Even eight

isn't enough.

 

KAYA

Lesson from

experience?

 

MRS. KELINZA

I've gotten an

achievement in best relationship breaker. After all, I was the one who ruined

Kotan & kaya's rom-com, Nayoka and—

 

MIDAS

I don't think

you should be proud of that.

 

MRS. KELINZA

There's no

relationship I can't break.

 

MIDAS

What about

that with Professor Williams and Mrs. Lelith?

 

MRS. KELINZA

That one…

 

MIDAS

If you had

broken that one, none of this would've happened, dummy.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Dummy, huh?

 

MIDAS

That wasn't

supposed to come out.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Tybeast,

please teach him a lesson.

 

MIDAS

Violence isn't

the answer. I'm really sorry!

 

Tybeast

attacks Midas.

INT. CLASSROOM

– LATER

 

TEACHER

You sure took

your time.

 

KOTAN

Sir, please.

Your period is over.

 

TEACHER

Really…? Who's

the next teacher?

 

KOTAN

The Queen.

 

Mrs. Kelinza

walks in wearing sunglasses.

 

STUDENTS

Good morning,

Your Highness!

 

FLORENCIA

Your Highness?

 

MAXI

So you heard

it too.

 

KELTON

Yeah, it seems

she owns the school.

 

MAXI

She does?

 

MRS. KELINZA

Morning,

students. And please, call me Mrs. Kelinza for the time being.

(sits) Today

we'll be reading some books I wrote yesterday evening for literature.

 

FLORENCIA

Huh?

 

MRS. KELINZA

First one is

called… "People Don't Fall in Love Within 5 Days, You horn Dog!!!"

 

FLORENCIA

(blushing hard)

 

Leniel sleeps

unnoticed.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Now class,

before we begin reading, let's hear everyone's view on the title.

 

Everyone

raises hands.

 

FLORENCIA

(V.O.)

This is bad…

15 MINUTES

LATER

 

MRS. KELINZA

That was a

nice book. Onto the next one… (clears throat)

"What Were You

Doing in His Room?"

 

FLORENCIA

(V.O.)

Someone kill

me.

20 MINUTES

LATER

 

MRS. KELINZA

And for the

final one—

 

KOTAN

Mrs. Kelinza,

it's 10 minutes past our break.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Huh?

 

KOTAN

It's time for

our break. (sweating)

 

MRS. KELINZA

What do you

have after break?

 

KOTAN

Maths.

 

MRS. KELINZA

I'll be sure

to be there then. You can leave.

INT. CLASSROOM

– CONTINUOUS

 

Students chat

and walk out. Mrs. Kelinza stands between Leniel and Florencia's seats.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Leniel?

 

MIDAS

He's been

asleep.

 

MRS. KELINZA

For how long?

 

MIDAS

Since morning,

I guess.

 

MRS. KELINZA

Is that so…

and you didn't bother to say anything?

 

MIDAS

He wouldn't

listen. And even if he woke up he wouldn't be bothered by your books

 

MS.KELINZA

Guess you have

a point there

 

Mrs. Kelinza

leaves. Florencia shakes Leniel awake.

 

FLORENCIA

Wake up.

 

LENIEL

(yawning, stretching)

Did I miss

something?

 

FLORENCIA

(V.O.)

(He really

slept through the entire class…)

No, you

didn't. Can we talk somewhere?

 

LENIEL

Sure, after I

take a quick nap.

 

FLORENCIA

No. We're

doing this now.

 

LENIEL

(resisting)

Nooo…

 

FLORENCIA

I'll buy you

some chicken on the way.

 

LENIEL

(immediately standing)

Let's go.

EXT. SCHOOL

GROUNDS – UNDER TREE – DAY

 

Florencia and

Leniel sit under a large tree. Leniel eats fried chicken from a paper bag, eyes

lighting up with each bite.

 

LENIEL

This tastes

different.

 

FLORENCIA

So you

noticed?

 

LENIEL

It's crunchy,

has a well-fried color, smells great—and the taste… it's addictive.

Only Mom can

cook something close to this.

 

FLORENCIA

So you like

it?

 

LENIEL

I do.

 

FLORENCIA

(blushing)

 

LENIEL

I guess you're

the one who cooked it?

 

FLORENCIA

Yes. After the

incident of us swapping our stuff, I thought I should try it.

 

LENIEL

You mean when

you stole my chicken?

 

FLORENCIA

Don't put it

that way!

 

LENIEL

So did you

just bring me here to enjoy your home cooking?

 

FLORENCIA

No. I wanted

you to confirm something for me—and please be honest.

 

LENIEL

Sure.

 

FLORENCIA

Your dog,

Tybeast… what is he?

 

LENIEL

(pauses)

(She's already

figured that out?)

No, he's just

a sub-Hydrion project. Think of him as hydrions pet

 

FLORENCIA

And is Nayoka…

Hydrion?

 

LENIEL

I can't say

anything about that. But… (stands up) You're very good.

 

FLORENCIA

(smiling)

Thanks.

 

LENIEL

Is that all?

 

FLORENCIA

Can I tell you

something?

 

LENIEL

Huh?

 

FLORENCIA

I was friends

with Hydrion… but that was when I was little.

 

LENIEL

Really?

 

FLORENCIA

I don't know

why, but I used to call him "Lever."

 

LENIEL

(thinking)

Weird name…

 

FLORENCIA

Yeah. Um,

Leniel… if I told you that something's gonna happen tonight, and you might and

up hating me…

 

LENIEL

I won't hate

you. I anticipated something like this would happen.

 

FLORENCIA

How?

 

LENIEL

Mom told me

Rodan called your boss. He said your boss found out Nayoka is Hydrion—so I

should expect something bad to happen…

But I should

stay out of it.

 

FLORENCIA

Huh… so she already

knew?

 

LENIEL

Yep.

 

FLORENCIA

So what are

you going to do?

 

LENIEL

I'm going to

have a quiet, long sleep.

 

FLORENCIA

You're not mad

at all?

 

LENIEL

Nope.

(leaving)

Hope I get to

see you later.

 

FLORENCIA

You don't get

it, do you? After tonight… I might not see you again.

 

LENIEL

Then can you

do me a favor?

 

FLORENCIA

What is it?

 

LENIEL

Can you fry

some more of these for me?

 

FLORENCIA

You've got to

be kidding me.

 

She grabs his

hand and they both run off.

EXT. SCHOOL

PERIMETER – MOMENTS LATER

 

Kotan watches

them leave and snaps a picture.

 

KOTAN

(texting)

They just left

the school.

 

FIONA

(texting)

Just like

that?

 

MRS. KELINZA

(texting)

Don't lose

them.

 

KOTAN

But Your

Highness, it's against school rules to leave without permit.

 

MRS. KELINZA

May I remind

you who owns the school?

 

KOTAN (V.O.)

(I almost

forgot that.)

 

Kotan runs

after them but pauses at the crossroad.

 

KOTAN

Which way did

they go!?

 

NAYOKA

You take left,

I'll take right.

 

KOTAN

Thank goodness

you're here.

 

NAYOKA

You owe me

one.

 

KOTAN

Sure.

INT.

FLORENCIA'S HOUSE – DINING ROOM – NIGHT

 

Florencia

finishes setting the table. She takes off her apron and sits beside Leniel, who

eyes the food eagerly.

 

LENIEL

Can I dig in?

 

FLORENCIA

No.

 

LENIEL

Then why is it

in front of me?

 

FLORENCIA

I'm also in

front of you.

 

LENIEL

I prefer the

chicken.

 

FLORENCIA

What about me?

 

LENIEL

I would still

take chicken.

 

FLORENCIA

Why?

 

LENIEL

I seriously

don't know.

 

Florencia puts

a chicken nugget in front of him. Leniel reaches for it, but she blocks him.

 

FLORENCIA

Open your

mouth.

 

LENIEL

I'm not a

baby, you know.

 

FLORENCIA

Then I guess

you don't want this.

 

LENIEL (sighs,

gives in)

Fine. (opens

mouth)

 

She feeds him.

They talk and laugh until there's only one nugget left.

 

LENIEL

Can I have the

last one already?

 

FLORENCIA

If you want it

that bad…

 

She places a

part of it in her mouth, holding the rest with her lips.

 

LENIEL

What are you

doing?

 

FLORENCIA

If you want it

that bad, then take it with your mouth.

 

LENIEL

I'm not doing

this.

 

FLORENCIA

It's the only

one left.

 

Leniel closes

his eyes and leans in. Just before he bites, Florencia pulls back the

nugget—and kisses him.

 

LENIEL (eyes

open in shock)

This taste…

EXT. KITCHEN

WINDOW – NIGHT

 

Nayoka and

Kotan are watching—and recording.

They stare at

each other. From outside the kitchen window

 

 

NAYOKA

What…

 

KOTAN

…the hell…

 

Meanwhile,

Dinna watches from the stairs, taking a photo.

 

DINNA

(wow) Didn't

see this coming.

 

Back inside—

 

LENIEL

(faints)

 

FLORENCIA

That was my

first too, you know…

EXT. SHORELINE

– NIGHT

 

Three massive

ships land on the shore. Soldiers march off and form ranks. A tall woman (THE

BOSS) steps down from one ship, chewing gum.

 

BOSS

(looks around,

blows and pops bubble gum)

Let's get this

done with.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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