2. Koi no yokan - when you meet someone and know you are destined to fall in love (Japanese)

Valentine's Day, 2003

"It's time to select our partners, and as the most eligible bachelor at the office, I will begin."

Pam couldn't believe Michael managed to get whole office all the way to Wilkes-Barre for an indoor mini-golf singles mixer. There were many things she couldn't believe about Michael Scott, even after working for him for nearly a year.

"I will pick Kathryn," Michael said with a grin. Pam glanced over to the tall brunette, who rolled her eyes before reluctantly walking over towards Michael. Kathryn was one of the two customer service representatives, Pam didn't know her well since she worked in the back. All she really knew was most of the office men thought Kathryn was attractive, especially Michael, who had been unsuccessfully trying to woo her since before Pam started at Dunder Mifflin. At least that's what Jim told her.

Michael announced it was Dwight's turn, and he selected Kelly, who also rolled her eyes as she slowly made her way towards Dwight.

Next was Jim. "Let's see," Jim said, mock-studying all the office women. "I'll pick Pam."

Pam tried not to smiled too much as she walked to the lanky, floppy haired salesman, who by far was the coworker Pam best got along with.

"Good job, dummy, you picked someone already married," Dwight said.

"Engaged," Jim quietly corrected.

"Still, used goods," Dwight retorted.

Pam stopped and glared at Dwight, ready to outline the ten different ways that comment was offensive, but Jim spoke first. "Pam herself said on the way here she wanted to be paired with the best mini-golfer, so it was kind of my obligation to select her." Pam felt her disgust morph into amusement; Jim was always good at defusing Dwight.

Dwight scoffed, "Really, you think you're the best mini golfer?"

Jim shrugged, but before Dwight could protest, Michael interjected, "Okay, Jim, Dwight, you two can measure your golf clubs later, that's what she said. Kevin, it's your turn."

"Why would 'she' say that?" Kevin asked in his usual slow tone.

"Why would who say what?" Michael replied.

"Why would 'she' say 'measure your golf clubs later'?" Kevin asked again.

"Wow, just pick someone before this places closes. Okay?" Michael half-yelled.

After hemming and hawing for a moment, Kevin selected Angela. Stanley tried to pass before selecting Phyllis, and Creed picked Meredith. That left Oscar with Toby, which made Michael giggle wildly. As Michael handed everyone their game balls and scoring cards, he said something about a prize being awarded to the couple with the best score. When asked what the prize was, Michael simply said "A surprise." Jim whispered to Pam that that meant Michael had no idea, and likely wouldn't come up with one before everyone finished the course.

Despite the fact that Pam couldn't even remember the last time she went mini-golfing, she felt like she was doing well, taking two or three strokes per hole, smiling broadly as Jim said, "Nice!" or "Well done, Beesly!" after she sunk each ball. They took their time, chatting and laughing on the green, observing their coworkers. Toby and Oscar were plowing through the course, while Michael was still near the start, groaning loudly every time he didn't sink the ball.

After Pam finished up hole 18, she stood in front of Jim as he tallied their points. "Alright Beesly, Looks like I'm the clear winner, 50 to 89."

Pam's jaw dropped, "What?! I definitely did not average 5 strokes on every hole."

"Scorecard doesn't lie." He held up the paper, "Hole #7 was the real turning point."

Pam snatched the paper and her eyes scanned the small tick marks, "10 on Hole 7? Really?"

"It's okay, mini-golf isn't your thing," Jim said with a shrug.

She grabbed the pencil out of his hand, "Here's what I think of your score-keeping abilities." She flicked the small yellow pencil, and it hit his chest and fell to the astroturf.

"Okay, that is assault," he said, leaning over to pick up the pencil. "I will be keeping this as evidence." He slipped it into his pocket.

"Yeah well I'm reporting you to the mini-golf gaming commission. Hope you enjoyed this round, Halpert, it's your last before they ban you from the sport forever!"

"Not the commission!" Jim tried to say dramatically but he couldn't stop grinning.

They laughed until Pam's sides hurt, and she looked over to the arcade area not far from the end of the mini golf course. She could see Toby and Oscar already taking their frustrations out on a shooting game, then her eyes scanned the different games and she gasped. "Oh, photobooth!" She took a couple steps towards the arcade before turning to see Jim was still at the end of the 18th hole. She walked to Jim and took his elbow, "C'mon!"

They entered the booth and Jim drew the curtains behind him. "I used to get these done all the time, I have an album full of these," Pam said, taking a seat on the bench. She then remembered her purse was in a locker at the front. "Oh, shot, I don't have any cash."

"No worries," Jim said, digging into his pockets. "It's on me." He slipped the first quarter into the slot, "I've actually never done one of these." He turned to Pam's surprised face and laughed, "I really haven't."

"Okay, well, once you drop that quarter in, we have to hold a pose until it flashes, then do the next pose."

"Thanks, I am familiar with the concept of photography," Jim teased, smiling when Pam lightly punched his arm. "So how will we pose?"

"I'll shout it out," Pam said. "Just drop the quarter."

Jim chuckled, "Alright, let's do this." The coin clanged down the slot and the booth started to hum.

"Okay, Dr Evil!" Pam shouted, snapping her pinky up to her lip.

"Oh my God," Jim muttered.

"Do it!" Pam said before pursing her lips.

*Flash*

"Scream queens!" Pam called out, opening her mouth in a fake scream, trying not to laugh as she could see Jim in the corner of her peripheral vision, his eyes wide and his hands up to his mouth like he was biting his nails.

*Flash*

"Vogue like Madonna!" She framed her face with flat palms, a smile tugging at her mouth when Jim made a light spitting noise as if he was going to burst out laughing.

*Flash*

"Hug!" Pam put her arms around his neck and pulled his cheek to hers. The flash went off and she turned her face towards him, not thinking much about how they were so close his nose brushed hers when he turned his head.

He quickly looked away from her, his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. "So, now what?"

"We wait for the photos outside," Pam said.

Jim exited and stood next to the booth, his hands shoved into his pockets. He gave a nod to Pam as she step out of the booth, then watched the dispenser. Pam couldn't quite say what but something was different, he seemed a little nervous. The photo strip fell into the dispenser and Pam let Jim do the honors. He grabbed the small rectangle, smiling as his eyes traveled down the strip to each picture. He held it to her, "I think that'll be a fine addition to your collection."

"No, you should keep it," Pam said. She smirked, "To commemorate your first time." Pam instantly felt her eyes grow wide as that came out in a more flirty tone than intended.

Jim's eyes also widened slightly and he let out a nervous chuckle. "Here, you take it and we'll make a copy when we get back to the office."

Pam took the photo strip and nodded, satisfied with the compromise, and they walked over to watch Oscar and Toby play their shooting game.

It was nearly four o'clock when the group returned to Dunder Mifflin, and everyone rushed to their computers and phones, hoping to get an afternoon's worth of work finished in an hour. Except Michael, who bought a children's mini-golf kit made of foam and plastic and was now hitting an orange foam golf ball around the office.

By the time Pam had written down all the voice messages and sorted and distributed faxes, it was past five. She sat back down at her desk and saw Jim already getting ready to leave.

"How are you already done for the day?" Pam said as Jim walked to the coat rack.

"Because I learned after last year's laser tag singles' mixer I need to get all my work done in the morning on V-Day," Jim said smirking.

"Thanks for the heads up," Pam said in a sarcastic tone, but smiled as Jim gave her a shrug.

"If there's any way I can help..."

Pam thanked Jim for his offer but said she was fine, and he wished her a happy Valentine's Day and headed for the door. Right when the door slammed shut, she gasped, remembering the photo-strip in her purse. She retrieved the small paper rectangle and glanced to the copier, seeing the entire accounting department was huddled messing with the settings.

She looked at the photo strip, deciding she would make a copy first thing Monday morning. She studied the last photo, trying to remember what possessed her to wrapped her arms around his neck like that, to press her cheek to his. He really was very cute, that brilliant smile, those bright eyes. Maybe all the office men thought Kathryn was hot, but Pam was pretty sure all the office women had a crush on Jim. She knew she would, if she wasn't engaged of course. She narrowed her eyes at the last photo, it was hard to say since it was so small and black and white but Pam was positive his cheeks were darker as if he was blushing.

"What's that?" Pam spun around to see Roy leaning at her desk, and for a second she thought about shoving the pictures in the drawer.

"Oh, um, Jim and I got paired up at mini-golf, we were just hanging in the arcade while waiting for everyone." Pam replied, unsure why she was so nervous.

Roy reach out his hand and Pam reluctantly handed him the photo strip. "Oh man, he's a goofy-looking kid, isn't he?" he said with a laugh.

"No he's not, he's just making funny faces," Pam said quietly.

Roy didn't seem to hear Pam's comment. "Hey remember at prom like eight of us trying to fit into one of these booths?" Roy said, his hand with the photos reaching out towards her, "and Jerry Romano got in trouble for flipping the bird."

Pam took the photo strip from Roy and smiled uneasily as Roy laughed. She didn't remember it being quite that funny. "Yeah, that was crazy," Pam said, setting the photos by her keyboard. "So, um, I'm probably going to be at least another twenty minutes."

Roy sighed, "Really?" Pam shrugged, refraining from reminding him she had waited around for the warehouse to unload and inventory late afternoon delivers plenty of times. "Alright, I guess I can go fill the tank, I'll should be in the parking lot when you're done."

After Roy left, Pam grabbed a stack of document to fax out, her eyes falling onto the small black and white photos again. She smiled a little; she would never admit it out loud, especially to any coworkers, but she actually had a lot of fun at Michael Scott's Mini-Golf Singles' Mixer.