Chapter 5 – What’s been going on so far?

Abián finds out that Friday is the most important event of the year at PROYPAL: the summer kick-off party. The only rule is that everyone has to wear a colorful, patterned shirt, and Rayco offers to lend him one so he won’t try to get out of it.

Meanwhile, Atteneri has been promoted at work. Instead of going out to celebrate with her friends, she goes to the university to clear out Abián’s office, to stop her ex-father-in-law from throwing everything away.

At the company party, it turns out that every year Ale and Rayco battle it out for the title of “number one in ping-pong.” Since Abián is pretty good with a racket, he joins the competition, but loses to Rayco by just one point.

During a quiet moment on the beach promenade, when they find themselves alone, Rayco tells Abián bluntly, with no beating around the bush, that he wants to see him again outside of work. Abián feels the same, and the two of them leave the party together and head back to Abián’s place.

Abián

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

A PhD in engineering in charge of the coupling phase. Way more uwu than you expected in week one.

He’s really good at ping-pong. He jerks off in public restrooms.

Rayco

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

Team lead for the coupling phase. Just as blunt and unfiltered as in week one, but knowing how to dance bachata.

He’s even better at ping-pong. He doesn’t jerk off in public restrooms.

Supporting characters

Jara – 42 years old. Head of engineering. She loves Latin music and dancing.

She convinced Rayco to sign up for dance classes because they got a discount on the registration fee.

Joan – Quality Engineer. She has to buy mortadella sandwiches for six people.

Ale – Preparation Phase Engineer. She leaves more decisions to the tarot than she probably should.

Carme – Post-processing Engineer. She’s been working at PROYPAL for 25 years. Makes really delicious cakes.

Abián’s Father – Professor at the university where Abián also used to work. He’s sent a mysterious letter to her son.

Atteneri – Abián’s ex-fiancée. She’s a lawyer and was just promoted to a very important position at her firm. She’s handling the breakup with a lot of grace.

Conchi – Abián’s next-door neighbor. She has a little dog named Zucchini. According to her, she could tell from the very first minute that Rayco and Abián were hooking up. Which is impossible, but who’s going to tell this lady otherwise?

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. She’s confirmed her suspicions that her boss is involved with the new engineer.

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.