The Taste of Vanilla
4. Chemistry Build-up
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INT. JOSH'S HOTEL ROOM - AT THE SAME TIME

Josh's phone buzzes. His father calls.

JOSH'S FATHER (V.O.)

You're late

Josh freezes for a second.

JOSH'S FATHER (V.O.)

Humidity reports were late

Josh looks at the paper in front of him, on a table. He spots the errors instantly, a clerical mistake, not his.

JOSH

I fixed the levels before I left

His father doesn't answer.

JOSH'S FATHER (V.O.)

Doesn't matter who did it. If this farm collapses, it will be your fault. Not mine, not Rico's. Yours

Josh nods, he absorbs it like he always do. A heavy weight put on him. 

JOSH

I'll go everything again 

JOSH'S FATHER (V.O.)

Good. We need excellence

He sits alone in the spacious hotel room. Alone.

A quiet frustration. He failed his father again.

A long quiet breath. 


INT. BOGOR CAFE - MORNING - THE NEXT DAY

Rico and Josh are enjoying their quiet morning coffee on the street cafe.

Josh looks frustrated and stressed. Rico notices.

RICO

I need a favor.

JOSH

How big?

RICO

Bali

JOSH

That's not a favor

RICO

You know if Dad ever finds out you've been changing shifts and fixing mistakes so he doesn't come down harder on the workers

Josh stiffens. A subtle blackmail.

RICO

He won't see it as helping.

JOSH

He'll see it as interfering

Rico nods, while slightly smirking. Josh knows it. He needs to go.

JOSH

As long as it's not one of your trickery to get me to women

Josh is skeptical.

RICO

I promise.

Josh's phone buzzes. He steps out to pick up a call.


INT. CASSIE'S APARTMENT - AT THE SAME TIME

Cassie hands Luna iced coffee.

CASSIE

Hey! Let's got to Bali next week. Just you and me. One weekend. Air, sun, freedom.

Luna hesitates. 

LUNA

Is this one of your tricks to get me to join you and become your third wheel again?

CASSIE

Who says anything about Rico? It's only you and me this time.

LUNA

What about Jac..?

CASSIE

(soft, not pushy)

Luna.. You are allowed to go out

LUNA

I gotta go ask mother first. Let's see if she needs a help around this weekend

CASSIE

I've done that

LUNA

Something's suspicious

CASSIE

There's nothing to be suspicious of. Besides, this is my birthday present for you

LUNA

My birthday is in one month

CASSIE

It's an early birthday gift. So don't ask me for another gift next month.

LUNA

Can we not go?

CASSIE

Then you'll miss the chance of seeing the traditional dance you'd always wanted to see

LUNA

Won't there be any next year?

CASSIE

There will be, but we never know where I can be next year. It's now or never

LUNA

I don't know what plan you have, but you better make it worth my time

CASSIE

I promise

LUNA

Nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary

CASSIE

Cross my heart

Cassie wraps her arm around Luna. 

Luna hesitates but Cassie’s positive energy is irresistible.

CASSIE

I know you want to. 

(beat)

Starry nights. All you can eat BBQs. The sound of insects. We’ll watch horror movies there.

(beat)

Besides, didn't you tell me you'd always wanted to go see Bali traditional dance?

Luna smiles. It's a YES. 

Luna leaves and goes outside the apartment.

Cassie takes a peak downstairs and check if Luna is really gone.


BACK TO:

INT. CAFE - CONTINUOUS

Josh is still on the phone. Away from the table.

Rico drinks his coffee. 

The phone rings: Cassie. Rico checks on Josh. Rico answers the phone.

CASSIE (V.O.)

The plan is on

RICO

Great! I'll make sure everything's ready


BACK TO:


INT. DANCE STUDIO - AFTERNOON

Routinity. Luna dances, not ballet. 

Her moves portray her strength and resilience. 

Sweat runs through her body, but she doesn't stop. 

She reaches for perfection in her body moves. She is in the zone.

Her phone rings. A CALL: Cassie.

She doesn't answer and a text comes in: "Don't forget to bring sunscreen, bug repellent, and other things you might need".

"Don't overwork yourself! Love ya".

Luna sets off from the studio.


INT. JAKARTA MALL - CONTINUOUS

Luna walks through the crowded mall. She walks fast and purposeful.

At a coffee stand, Josh spots her.  

He reacts without thinking, pays quickly, almost leaves his coffee behind. 

He catches up. 

JOSH

Fancy meeting you here

Luna slows down. Half-smiles.

LUNA

Likewise. Do you come here often?

Luna still remembers the feeling of guilt

JOSH

Only when I need good coffee or an excuse to walk really fast

Josh hands her a coffee.

JOSH

This one's for you.

LUNA

What about for yours?

JOSH

I'll survive.

LUNA

Much appreciated. 

They walk side by side. 

LUNA

About last time, I wasn't mad.

JOSH

You sounded like you were

LUNA

Habit

JOSH

What kind?

LUNA

I just... don't do well when people help me like that

JOSH

Help you stay dry?

LUNA

It sounds silly when you say it like that

Both giggles. Josh scratches his head

LUNA

We just met. I don't know how to repay your kindness.

JOSH

I wasn't expecting anything.

Luna sighs. She agrees and diverts the topic.

LUNA

What brings you here?

JOSH

Buying some stuffs for a trip

LUNA

Oh me too. Why don't we go together?

The two goes to a beauty drug store. 


INT. BEAUTY DRUG STORE - CONTINUOUS

Luna and Josh weave past the same shelves with bright bottles and travel kits. The two are clueless why they have the same needs.

Luna picks up the shopping basket and Josh walks beside her, hands in pocket. 

They stop at a SUN CARE section. 

At the exact moment, their hands reach for the same sunblock. 

Their hands graze and both pull back, shy. 

A tiny, awkward beat.

LUNA

Sorry

JOSH

You take it

He grabs another identical bottle right beside it. 

Luna raises an eyebrow.

LUNA

You're going to somewhere sunny?

JOSH

No clue either. Rico just said, "pack light, expect heat, and don't complain"

Luna smirks.

LUNA

Sound like him alright

Josh exhales through his nose.

LUNA

Why don't you ask?

JOSH

He said trust the experience

Josh glances at the sunblock in his hands.

JOSH

Do you think this one works? I burn easily

LUNA

(tilts her head)

You don't look like someone who burns easily

A tiny middle beat. Josh notices that Luna studies him.

LUNA

Do you?

Josh hesitates. A subtle vulnerability.

They walk through a travel kit aisle.

JOSH

No. Not really

She nods, accepting whatever Josh says. 

JOSH

Where are you heading?

Luna opens her mouth, then closes it.

LUNA

A place with sun.. and freedom

JOSH

Sounds like a good trip

They walk to the checkout counter.

LUNA

I hope so

Luna puts the items: sunblock, repellent, wipes, small travel bottles.

Josh becomes suspicious and notices the items Luna bought.

JOSH

Looks like we are preparing for the same climate

LUNA

(nods)

Maybe

Josh also pays for his sunblock and checkout is done.

JOSH

Have a sunny trip

The two walks off the opposite direction. Neither realizing that they'll be walking toward the same island in less than 24 hours.

3. Their Path Cross
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