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“Babe, i’m sorry, I can’t make it today.” Manon heard Sophia say on the phone.
Sigh.
KATSEYE had to take quick promotional videos for Jollibee today after rehearsals. Jollibee had become one of Manon’s favorite fast food chains since Sophia got it door dashed every single week. The sweet spaghetti, once Manon found an atrocity against her European roots, eventually grew on her. It was hard for Manon to admit that she craved jollispaghetti from time to time. Yes, her girlfriend specifically asked her to call it ‘jollispaghetti’ otherwise it was appropriation and threatened to cancel Manon’s daily cuddle sessions. It was that serious so naturally, Manon obliged.
“Well, that kinda sucks, baby. They said, Jollibee’s mascot will be here and we’ll have a mukbang. You sure you want to miss that for a meeting with Son?” Manon asked, tone a bit sheepish. “I sure wouldn’t want to.”
“Baby… if I had a choice, I’d already there. But missy said I cant miss this one and it still hasn’t even started yet.” Sophia reasoned out.
Manon hummed, nodding as if Sophia was there to see it. “Too bad then. I’ll save you a yumburger and peach mango pie if you tell me all the tea from that godforsaken meeting though.” A smirk curved on the side of Manon’s lips.
“You know what? I like how you think. You got yourself a deal, Bannerman.” Her girlfriend said. Manon could hear her smile.
“Yeah yeah I know you’re fond of me alright,” Manon chuckled. “I gotta go now though.” Sigh. “They already have everything set up.” Said Manon, her mouth watered slightly at the spread in front of them.
“Have fun! Don’t forget our deal.” Sophia’s laugh rang through the phone. “See you, baby. Love youuuu.”
“I wouldn’t even dare. Love you more, babe.”
“That’s my girl. But I love you more though.”
“Lies. I love you more.”
“Oh please. I love you a whole lot more.”
“No way. We both know I love you more–”
Megan snatched the phone right out of Manon’s hand, “You guys are annoying!” she yelled into it, but glaring at Manon. “Spare us of this—”
Manon laughed but quickly retrieved her phone from the younger girl, “Sorry not sorry.” she told Megan and went back to Sophia. “Laters, babygirl!” She heard Sophia laugh before they’d hang up.
Megan glared at Manon playfully, “Thank god that is finally over.” She said, shaking her head. “You guys are the worst.”
Manon smirked, “Awww maybe I should ask Yoonchae to—”
Megan shot her a panicked look because Yoonchae’s timing was so perfect she was already standing behind Manon.
“Ask me what?” The youngest asked.
It was Megan who answered, “Nothing! Nothing! Something about Sophia—”
Manon couldn’t help but laugh.
So they started filming. It went smoothly. The entire menu of Jollibee was spread out in front of them, quadrupled the quantities. They filmed 4 different videos – 3 little comedy skits and 1 where they actually ate.
And as promised, Manon set aside her portion of yumburger and peach mango pie for Sophia.
They continued (or at least tried) to finish their food after filming. The rest of the crew also joined the jollibee feast.
Once everybody was full, the not so fun part— Manon was dreading this, started.
Manon was minding her business, happily sipping her pineapple quencher, when the red and white giant bee with an enormous ass walked in, waving at everybody like some kind of politician on a campaign running for office. Manon stiffened at the sight of it. It was not a secret that she disliked mascots. Just afraid of them. Not even Sophia could convince her the Jollibee mascot was cute and funny whenever it danced to some trendy TikTok music. Nothing could change her mind on this take. Mascots should not have been invented in the first place.
While everybody else was cheerfully waving back at Jollibee as if he had made the discovery for cancer cure, Manon stayed quietly in her seat with her lips pursed into a tight smile.
Dont come near me. Dont come near me. Dont come near me, Manon silently prayed to all the gods in the universe, practically swearing that she’d do anything as long as Jollibee didn’t notice her.
It was impossible not to notice Manon though. Megan had already began teasing her, Lara joined the fun by waving Jollibee to come up to them, Daniela was cracking the fuck up, Yoonchae was filming them.
“Guys… I swear to god…” Manon muttered under her breath.
“It’s okay, Manz. He won’t hurt you.” Daniela encouraged her. Nice attempt but it didn’t work.
“Okay let’s start the filming!” One of the crew said. Manon looped her arm with Dani as Megan and Yoonchae started dancing Touch with Jollibee.
Manon watched from a safe distance, impressed by how this mascot nailed the choreography.
Then Daniela and Lara followed, they did a proper promo video for this one. It took them exactly 15 minutes to wrap it up.
Now it was Manon’s turn. She wished her Filipina princess was there to film with her. They would’ve been paired for this content.
Manon sat on a stool while Jollibee stood behind her. Some untouched leftover food laid on the table in front of her.
“Just act natural…” The guy taking the video said.
Act natural, as if there wasn’t a six-foot something bee breathing down her neck.
Manon smiled at the camera, barely. The music from the trending audio kicked in, upbeat and annoyingly cheerful. The phone panned back and forth with expertise.
Manon risked a glance at Jollibee who was standing way too close for her own liking. Her eyes narrowed just slightly, side eyeing the creature. The oversized head tilted at her, as if it knew she was uncomfortable. As if it was enjoying the fact.
Nope. Absofuckinglutely not.
She leaned subtly forward on the stool, trying to create distance without making it too obvious.
Then, Jollibee suddenly moved. A giant gloved hand landed on her shoulder.
Manon froze. Her entire body forgot how to move. Her back went straighter than usual unlike her sexuality. Eyes widened. She was ready to go home. Forget the whole thing even happened.
“Okay okay, that’s good!” the cameraman said, undoubtedly amused by the scene unfolding in front of him. “Give us a little interaction, Manon. Play with the mascot.”
Play?
She slowly turned her head towards the giant bee, forcing a polite smile. The root word was force.
“You’ve got to be kidding me….” Manon muttered under her breath.
Then, Jollibee waved at her. Manon waved back with a LOT of hesitation. Time to question her life choices because how the fuck did she end up here?
The thing waved again. More enthusiastically this time. It took Manon all her strength not to physically recoil or scream or both.
However, it wasn’t even done yet. Because it began shimmying its shoulders. Yes. It shimmied. Then, it wiggled. A whole body wiggle. Manon genuinely wondered if the person inside it was okay. She was actually deeply concerned now. So much that her own fear faded from her mind.
She barely noticed when Jollibee leaned closer and a muffled yet very familiar voice said, “Hi baby.”
Time stopped. Wait. This couldn’t be—
Manon’s eyes widened so much they almost hurt, “SOPHIA!?”
The mascot stepped back. Then casually, in an almost terrifying way, reached up and lifted the ginormous head of Jollibee from its body.
And there she was.
Hair flattened in the most tragic way, cheeks flushed and her entire face glistening of sweat, grin wide and criminally proud. “Surpriiiiiiiiiiise!” Her high pitched voice echoed through the room.
Manon gasped, her thoughts were still processing everything, barely catching up.
“What the heck?”
Everybody else in the room erupted in laughter. It basically hard not to when Sophia’s body was basically jollibee’s. The disproportion was taking out everyone.
“You…” Manon pointed at Sophia, then at the head Sophia had tucked on her side, “you’re JOLLIBEE???!!!!”
Sophia nodded unapologetically, grinning.
“What about the meeting?” Asked Manon.
“Oh it was over when i called.”
Huh.
“Do you know exactly how ridiculous you look right now?” Her eyes scanned Sophia from head to jollyshoes.
Sophia just smirked, “UnBEElievably so?”
Manon let out a disbelieving laugh, hands coming up to her face before dragging down slowly. “You are such a dork.”
“I know.” Grinning widely, Sophia added, “Admit it though, that was such a good one.”
“A good one? Babe! I almost had a heart attack! You touched me!”
Sophia gasped dramatically, “Oh my god, i touched my girlfriend? Scandalous!!!!”
“You touched me as a bee…”
“That’s even BEEtter.”
The other girls were losing it. Megan was doubled over, Lara and Yoonchae’s phones were up and recording everything, Daniela clapping like she just witnessed the greatest plot twist of the century.
“I hate you.” Manon said softly now, trying to suppress her smile.
“No, you don’t.”
Sigh.
“…I really don’t.” Manon admitted, letting herself smile now. “That doesn’t mean Im not going to get you for this.”
Sophia smirked, stepping closer, “Oh… then i’ll BEE looking forward to it.”
“Shut up—“
“Make me—“
“Im not going to kiss you when you’re 80% Jollibee.”
Sophia pouted, which definitely helped her case, but still—
Then Sophia continued theatrically, “Wow, what an unBEErable thought. I am BEEginning to think you don’t love me anymore. How am I going to survive this BEEtrayal—“
That’s it. Manon grabbed Sophia’s collar — or Jollibee’s collar, whatever, and kissed her hard and deep. She felt Sophia smiled against her lips and kissed her back with as much tenacity, her gigantic jolly hands finding Manon’s waist.
Manon melted despite the peculiarity of it all.
When they pulled back from the kiss to catch their breath, Manon smiled, cheeks tinted red. Her forehead pressed on Sophia’s.
“So…” Sophia whispered, “Does that mean you would still love me if I was a bee?”
Manon chuckled, placing her hand on Sophia’s cheek, “Abzzzzzolutely.” She grinned.