The punch card
Perforation number 5
The working days passed. Now their communication was no longer as light and warm as it used to be. What happened between them over the weekend (and in what context it happened) was gone from the paradigm. Dwight and Angela were no longer exchanging jokes and pleasantries. Rather, they avoided being around each other, eating lunch in separate companies, sitting farther away in the conference room. They only furtively cast heavy glances at each other. It was reminiscent of the bond they'd had during Jen's leadership, but now their relationship was limited to the last fifth meeting.
On Friday, Dwight received a text message, "Need to discuss meeting details. Out of office. No movie crew."
A few minutes later the reply came back, "Rat poison store on Price Street, 5:30 p.m."
Angela entered the store hall at the appointed time, which was lined with rodent traps, boxes of poison and posters with caricatured rats. She noticed a coworker choosing a mousetrap and decisively moved towards him.
- Are we really going to have this talk HERE? Couldn't you do any better? - she was indignant.
- Be quiet, woman! I know the owner of the store, he will give us a staff room for a while. Nobody can hear here!
- I guess so," the accountant said doomedly and rolled her eyes.
Schrute went to the cash register, exchanged a few words with a guy in a trademark sweater and got .
- How do you know him? - Angela inquired.
- Well, he's been a client of mine for years. Also a great squirrel hunter. What a nice guy!
The couple entered a close space. A dresser, a small kitchenette, an old sofa, probably brought from parents' house, and two folding chairs near the rolling table.
Angela sat down on the edge of the chair, carefully smoothing out the creases in her clothes.
- Some tea? - Dwight asked.
She only looked at the unassuming mugs on the rusty wire stand.
Dwight sat down across from her, a businesslike expression on his face. The blonde pulled a punch card out of her bag.
- Do you want it here? - He asked in confusion. What he hadn't expected was that she'd want to get this over with as soon as possible. Oh, he didn't even realize there would be a sofa in the room!
- No, how could you... - Angela was outraged. But softened after a moment and added: I really do want to talk. And I need you to listen to me.
- I am all ears.
- We have one last meeting left. In the time we've been trying to make a baby, I've actually thought about you more than usual. And I'm really sorry for the way things were going before. Don't get me wrong, we were good together. But this dreadful duel!" the woman exclaimed with horror. - How could I put you and Andy against each other? What if one of you got hurt and the other went to jail? - her tone of voice trembled.
- I sure as hell wouldn't get hurt. And I wouldn't go to jail, no way! I would have gone to Argentina and lived there under an assumed name! - Schrute objected.
- So. And two years of a secret love affair? You know, when I was engaged in front of all the office, I saw that nobody realy cared! A new couple is nonsense for the first week, but people get used to it so quickly. And you even had to quit work temporarily to keep our secret.
- Then you probably had your reasons.
- It seems crazy now. And...Angela took in a lungful of air, preparing to say such unbelievable words to herself.
- I'm just saying, I think I fell in love with you again. In which case, raising a child with a man who doesn't want me is going to be unbearable.
- But, Monkey..." Dwight couldn't believe it. Was she really slipping up on him again?
- So," she handed him the card with the last number unpunched, "it's up to you. If you punch it, we're done. It's hard, but I'll know I can move on. I might even change my job for it. Or ... you give it back intact, but then we'll have a normal human relationship. Without the hiding and playing all the games. Answer by Monday".
Angela stood up abruptly, picking up her handbag and heading for the door before he could say anything.
She stopped in the doorway. - For the record, I haven't thought about Andy since the duel. It's not the same with you. Good night.
-Goodbye", Dwight exhaled, looking at the tabletop.
He was too shocked to move, much less follow her. The sight of Angela admitting her mistakes, accepting that he might not like her, was unbelievable. He fought the impulse to drive to her house right now. Besides, her words reminded him of the pain she was causing him. But he's a Schrute, with special genes that allow him to endure any suffering.
Also (and this thought pierced him) - he's just an average human. Not a cyborg, not a bear, not a spaceship captain. And like any human being, he can be weak and needy. Including in the love - an imperfect woman that makes mistakes in turn.