Gravity

Chapter 1

Savannah

Half past twelve in the afternoon. Here I am, staring at the picture of a beautiful woman I love the most. The woman who taught me everything. The woman who stands by me all the time. The woman who never fails to tell me how beautiful I am. The woman who was so full of life even if everything falls apart. Now, that woman is lying there, beside the picture I am staring, and inside a rectangular box I am never prepared to see her laid on.

Mom died in leukaemia. It was too late when we found out about it. And she's been hiding it from me and my brother Matthew. I know and I believe that she hid it because she doesn't want us to worry. Knowing mom, she never entertain tears and sadness, she always wanted to see us smile. She always wanted us to remember that God has a wonderful plans for us and we just have to keep the faith in Him. Ever since High School, every time I am leaving the house, there is a verse in the bible that she keeps telling me. A verse that I am carrying everywhere I go, so that, I won't be able to go on the wrong path and regret everything. Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will" We've always recite that verse whenever I went out of the house, since High school until I graduated in college and got a job.

Mom raised us by her own, my dad left us when I was five and Mathew was two. Hindi alam ni mom na nagkabalikan na pala si dad at ang dati nitong asawa nung bumalik ito sa Pilipinas when I was two years old. He stayed with us for five months and then went to New York again. He has a business there and he just visits us every after five or six months. One month after my fifth birthday, dad left again to New York and a week later, an American woman came to our house looking for mom. That conversation that mom had with that American woman changes everything. Dad never came home. Mom was so upset but, she still manages to keep it. Until we found ourselves in a Christian Church, me attending a Sunday school in that church where my Spiritual life was moulded.

Yes, my dad is an American, and that made me and my brother half Filipino and half American. Yes, the American woman is his wife. And that made me and my brother illegitimate children of my dad, Sean Lewis. And we are carrying his name, me, Savannah Mendoza Lewis and my brother Matthew Mendoza Lewis.

People started to approach, giving their condolences and sympathy to us. Some are mom's friends and officemates in Manila city hall and mostly are our church mates. I glance around the room and saw the Praise and Worship Ministry coming to me. I am a keyboardist and a worship leader in our church, and these people are my best buddies.

Grace, one of our worship leader hugged me. "I'm sorry, ngayon lang ako nakapunta ha? Pinadala kasi aq ng company namin sa bundok eh. Alam mo na, di aq pwedeng tumanggi kundi kick out ang beauty ko."

" It's ok girl" I answered, "at saang bundok ka naman pinadala ng company nyo?" I asked, habang kumakalas sa pagkakayap nya.

"Cebu. Kailangan ng promodizers dun eh." Sagot nya habang nakatingin sa kapatid ko na kasalukuyang nakaupo parin at malalim ang iniisip. Matt was so affected and sad at mom's death. Well, I am too, so much, but, I need to be strong for me and my brother, just like mom always told me.

Grace came to Matt and everyone followed. They all greeted and hug him and suddenly, Matt burst into tears again. And seeing my brother that way even if he was taller than me makes me weak. He was so dependent on mom, and he was such a baby when mom's around. He never had a relationship at his age of 22 now. He always said that he wanted to find a woman just like mom. "Oh God, give me enough courage and strength to carry this heavy weight on me, I cast all my cares on You Lord, be with me always" I whispered a short prayer. I used to do that every time I feel like I can't handle everything.

********

I am now in my room. Kahapon lang ang libing ni mom and now I am thinking where to start. I am the only one who should provide for me and Matt. And Matt is still in his final year in Civil engineering, and his tuition fee was high. We have bills to pay. Buti nalang sarili namin itong bahay at hindi kami nangungupahan.

I'm really hoping that my salary from the call center that I'm working with in Ortigas would be enough for our expenses. I need to have another source of income.

I was about to fall asleep when an idea came to my mind. I remember Jake, our Praise and Worship Ministry Head told me that there is a first class fine dining restaurant located at Rockwell Makati who needs a singer-pianist. I think I should try it.

So I got up and started dialling Jake's number on my cellphone. After three rings, he picks up.

********

Steven

New York City. I love this place. I've lived here since I was nine. And I never wanted to get back to the place where I've been. Living here made me the person that I am now... full of life...

I spotted Justin, my best buddy. We enjoy doing different things together, mostly stupid things. We always dare each other and we never gave up proving that we can do everything (except those things that is against the law, we are still a Law abiding citizens of New York) especially when it comes to girls. I pull the car in front Justin whose currently kissing a girl I didn't know. Nah! I'm sure he just met the girl just now. I blow the horn to get their attention and I succeed. They stop what they're doing and look at me.

I stop the engine and started to go out of my car, while Justin ask the girl politely to go inside the disco house and promised that he'll find her, which I doubt he wouldn't do. After the girl leave, he turn to me while I am leaning outside my car.

"Seriously? You made me wait for an hour. What kind of friend are you?" Justin said walking his way to me.

"I'm sorry, man. I fell asleep when I got home from my aunt's fundraising" I answered.

We both enter the pub that Justin and I both owned.

"The bosses just came in!!!" announces the DJ and the crowd starts to yell.

We head to the bar and Nick the bartender give us our usual drink, when a woman came to me and wrap her arms around me.

"Lia!!!" I hope its her name.. I forgot her name, but I'm pretty sure that I've been with this girl, I just can't remember when because I've been with lots of girls.

"Its Brianna." She said annoyingly.

"yes, Brianna...I was just kidding that I don't remember you.. How could I forget you... you are the most amazing girl that I've ever met." I hope she bought it...

She look at me intently, ok, I think she's not buying it. She smile suddenly and kiss me. She broke off the kiss and say. "You are still the same adorable and sexy Steven that I've met."

"And you certainly know how to turn me on." I said and I pull her closer kissing her again.

"Ok, get a room people." Said Justin and we broke off the kiss. We started drinking, chatting and partying all night. And this Brianna girl never left my side all night. Well, I think I have some company on my bed tonight.

********

I tried hard to open my eyes and check on the clock in my bedside table. Its 8:45 in the morning and someone is banging my front door... Seriously? Who in the earth would disturb me in this early in the morning???

I check on the woman sleeping right next to me. What's her name again?? Ah, Brianna, right.

And the person outside my front door keeps on banging it along with the doorbell. So, I got up and find a bath towel to cover my lower body and went outside my bedroom and go straight to the front door.

I look into the peep hole and I saw John, my adoptive father.. yes, He adopt me 19 yrs ago and took me here in New York. He and her sister are the people I love most...

And what could possibly be the reason of Him coming by this early in the morning? I'm sure its something serious. So, I immediately open the door and let him in.

"We need to talk." He said while entering my unit. And suddenly the woman in my bedroom came out and it catches John's attention and he frown. "And when I say we need to talk, I mean, we need to talk, ALONE" he added looking at Brianna.

I look at Brianna who seems to be waiting for me to say something, and when I'm about to tell her I'm sorry because it's a Family matter and I can't refuse John's order. John interrupts us. "young lady you really are beautiful but when I say something, I really mean it. I really need to talk to my son alone, so, if you don't mind, go get dress and leave now." Yeah, he is a very straightforward person he always say what he wanted to say. Especially when he doesn't like the person he is talking to.

I just shrugged my shoulder while looking at her informing her that I can't do anything when John says a word, he's my father and I always follow what he says. So, she immediately dress up to leave without saying a word and I don't care about it, because its always best to be this way, I never wanted a commitment with anybody as well.

As soon as Brianna left my unit I turn to John whose sitting now at the couch in my living room. "What is it, John?" I asked.

"It's your aunt, she wants you to do something for her and she never got the chance to tell it to you yesterday because she was so busy and you left the fundraising yesterday as soon as it finished." He answered.

"You know that I can't say no to her. I love her so much that I would do everything she ask me to. Tell me, john. What is it?" I asked again.

"She wants you to go to the Philippines to-"

"She's sending me back to the place where she got me?" I interrupt him.

"No, its not like that-"

"She knows very well that I would never want to go back there, what did I do that makes her want me back to that place again?"

"I never wanted you to go back to the place where I get you!"

John and I turned to the woman speaking from my door. Its my aunt, Millicent. She came to me and cupped my face saying, "Honey, sending you to Philippines doesn't mean that I'm sending you back to the place where I get you. That's not going to happen, ok?" she assured me.

She let go of my face and sit down on the couch across her brother. "We just thought that its about time for you to be more mature and responsible, that's why I'm sending you there to take charge of the company that my husband and I has raised." She explain.

"I am matured. And what makes you think that your husband who rejected me wanted me to take care of your company?" I asked.

"Well, talking to us with just a towel on makes you matured huh? Nice." She said sarcastically. "and my husband rejecting you to be our son doesn't mean that he doesn't like you, and I don't want to talk about it now." Her voice cracked while talking which alerted me and makes me come to her.

I suddenly kneel in front of her, hold her hand and apologize, "I'm sorry if I brought it up. I'm so stupid not to think about what you might feel, I love you so much, that I would never wanted to upset you."

She look at me in the eye, "wouldn't you say sorry for talking to me with just a towel on?"

That question made me smile, "Nope" and I stand up and head to my bedroom to find something to wear.

They both followed me to my bedroom, "So, what's your decision? Are you going?" john ask while entering the bedroom.

"May magagawa pa ba ako?" I said while wearing a boxer shorts.

"Steven, you are talking Filipino in front of us again!" aunt scolded me. She hates it when I'm speaking tagalog in front of them because they can't understand me. That makes it hard for me back when I am new here in New York, people talk to me in American language thinking I'm American because of my green eyes and quite blond hair. Well, I'm also confused about it but I think that it doesn't matter at all.

"I'm sorry. I just said that, it just seems that I don't have any choice, so, yes. I am going." I explained. Well, maybe its about time that I pay them back for all the things that they did to me. Even if going back to the Philippines would remind me of all the horrible things that happens in my childhood. I look at both of them, and they look really happy for my answer. And seeing them happy makes me happy too