Chapter 8 – What’s been going on so far?

Abián and Rayco are very comfortable around each other and see each other every day, both on and off the factory floor. As they’re trying to head home together after work one day, Joan intercepts them and ropes them into going out for dinner. After an exercise in old-school masculinity and one too many boomer takes, Abián and Rayco finally manage to get some time alone. In the middle of a spontaneous, heated moment in the car, Rayco suddenly gets inside his own head, stops, and suggests that Abián has feelings for Jara. The conversation ends there, and they head home.

When they’re alone, Jara points out to Rayco that Abián fits the exact profile that tends to make him jealous and controlling. Rayco admits that he’s getting overwhelmed by the idea that Abián might get bored of him and leave him at any moment.

On Thursday, Rayco manages to intercept the lab results Abián had requested weeks earlier. As soon as the operator discovers that the source of the quality issues is the raw materials, just as he’d been arguing all along, he goes up to the engineer’s office to accuse him of being a traitor and taking advantage of him. Abián quickly flies into a rage at the accusations and the contempt shown for his work. The argument ends with Abián accusing Rayco of playing the victim, and Rayco taking back what he said about wanting to see him outside the factory. They both spend the entire weekend working, Abián documenting the case, and Rayco producing additional units of good parts.

Rayco ends Sunday crying alone in the factory parking lot.

Abián

32 y.o. || 191cm (6’3″)|| 11 November || Scorpio ♏︎

A PhD engineer in charge of the coupling phase.

Stoner and a chronic wanker, sure. But he does damn good work.

Rayco

33 y.o. || 186cm (6’1″) || 25 April || Taurus ♉︎

Team leader for the coupling phase.

Toxic and constantly making shit up in his own head, sure. But damn, those pecs.

Supporting characters

Jara – Head of engineering. She’s getting tired of her best friend’s romantic track record, and has no problem telling him so to his face.

Joan – Quality engineer. He kept his promise to buy sandwiches for everyone.

Ale – Preparation-phase engineer. She can read your cards at weddings, baptisms, communions, and family barbecues.

Carme – Post-processing engineer. She has a talent for hitting a nerve.

Abián’s Father – Professor at the university where Abián also worked. He forced Abián out of the university under pressure from his former daughter-in-law.

His son is his greatest source of pride, but he is old-fashioned and does not tell him nearly often enough.

Atteneri – Abián’s ex-fiancée. Highly demanding and ambitious. It took Abián a long time to get her to agree to a first date, but in the end he lived up to her expectations. She has convinced her former father-in-law to push Abián out of the university for good.

Conchi – Abián’s next-door neighbor. She has a dog named Calabacín.

She has a knack for being in exactly the right place at the right time to help Abián and Rayco’s relationship move forward.

Rob – A worker on Rayco’s team. He’s a bit slow on the uptake, but he’s really nice.

Anna – A worker on Rayco’s team. Probably a bit of a fujoshi.

Zucchini – Conchi’s dachshund. Her favorite show is “Vice and Lust Among Volcanoes.”
She’s really into her new neighbor.

Frank and Xavi – Workers on Rayco’s team. Willing to do whatever it takes for a free mortadella sandwich.

Popi and Crunch – A human sorceress and a half-orc barbarian who occasionally team up to earn some coin. They met years ago during the Papitas Arrugadas Rebellion. Crunch does 200 burpees every day at 5:30 a.m. He does it as consistently as Abián reminds you that he has a PhD.

Brisa – Rayco’s younger sister. She calls Rayco “Chichi.” Hyperactive and loud, like all the women in the family.

Chichi’s mother – Hyperactive, shameless, and loud. She will not hesitate to steal the cake you made for your boyfriend if that boyfriend is her son.

Chichi’s dad – A very gentle, ficus-like father. He does not talk much because his wife and daughter never give him the chance.

Dácil – Abián’s best friend since school. A scruffy hippie type and a passionate tabletop RPG fan. She’s been left dealing with a lot of the messes Abián caused by running away, but hey, that’s what years of friendship are for.