Gravity

Chapter 6

Savannah

Training ends at 6am. I'm here now at the house preparing breakfast for Matt. Nasan na nga pala yun?? Kanina ko pa sya ginising, until now hindi pa bumababa. Its 8:05 am already at 9am ang first class nya... Sa San Sebastian pa sya sa Manila papasok.

"Matt, bumaba ka na dito. Mag almusal ka na muna before ka pumasok. Bilisan mo na at malelate ka na. Babyahe ka pa." Sigaw ko, habang inaayos ang pagkain sa lamesa... Maya maya naman ay narinig ko ng bumababa ng hagdanan si Matt.

"Ate, hindi ako papasok." he told me while he approach the dining table and pull his own chair.

"What? bkit?? Anong gagawin mo??" I ask. Hindi sya pwedeng magloko ngayon sa pag aaral nya dahil lang wala na si mommy. Last year na nya sa college. Alam ko na nahihirapan sya sa pagkawala ni mommy pero pareho lang naman kami at kailangan naming maging matibay para sa isa't isa.

"Relax, ate. Mag aapply lang ako for part time job. Mag aaral parin naman ako hnggang sa makatapos ako." he explain as he started to eat his breakfast.

I sat beside him. "Matt, hindi mo naman kailangan mag apply eh. Kaya ko naman" I said. I know masyado kaming gipit ngayon pero hindi parin ako sang ayon na magtrabaho sya habang nag aaral. Baka maapektuhan masyado yung pag aaral nya. Graduating na sya at dapat mas focus na sya sa studies nya ngaun.

"Ate, kailangan kitang tulungan. We have a lot of bills to pay. 2 months na akong hindi nakakabayad ng tuition, alam kong sagad na yung savings mo, dahil sa mga nagastos sa hospitalization ni mommy. I needed to pay my tuition fee para makapag exam ako next week. At nararamdaman kong wala ka ng mailalabas dahil hindi ako manhid." he said and then he hold my hand and look at me. "Ate, please, let me help."

"Pwede ko bang pag isipan muna??" I asked. Honestly, Matt was right, the only savings that I have in my account is only five thousand pesos, and one thousand five hundred pesos cash on hand. We have expenses everyday and bills thats waiting to be paid.

He smile at me and said,"Ok. its up to you."

"Thanks. Please, go to school today." I told him, and then hold my cup of coffee.

"Sure. I'll just get my things upstairs, but, first.." he rose up and took the cup of coffee from my hands and pour the coffee on the sink.

"Hey! Thats my coffee..." I said in shock.

He turn to the refrigerator and open it. He get the cold fresh milk and pour it on a glass. "You shouldn't drink coffee when you're about to sleep." he handed me the glass of fresh milk. "Here, drink your milk."

"You're not mom, you know?" I said as i took the glass from him.

"I know. but not because mom's not here, doesn't mean that you can drink coffee anytime you want." he said.

"I'm the one who's supposed to be looking out for you." I remind him.

"yeah. and I'm the one who's supposed to be looking out for you." he said and then head to the stairs and up to his bedroom.

Five minutes later he came back down. "Ate, alis na ako. In-on ko na yung aircon sa kwarto mo para malamig na pag pasok mo." he informed me.

I turned to him and said, "Matt, you don't need to open the aircon I can sleep without it."

"Ate, you need to sleep well. Sobrang init kaya ngayon. Mahihirapan ka lang makatulog." I'm about to say something but then he said, "Hep!!! Wala ng pero pero pa. Matulog ka nalang dun."

"Haist, sige na nga... kumuha ka nalang ng ng 300 sa wallet ko" sabi ko sa knya habang inaayos ko na yung mga pinggan sa sink.

"No need, ate. I still have money left." he refused.

I turn to him again."Matt!! Lagi ka nalang naka kontra sa sinasabi ko."

"Hindi no! ayoko lang maging pabigat sayo, may pera pa naman ako hindi ko na kelangan kumuha ng pera sayo." pilit nya.

"Hindi ka pabigat sakin, ok." I said as I turn to the dishes again.

"Ok. pero hindi na ako kukuha ng pera sa wallet mo dahil may pera pa ako." he said, he kissed me on my head and walk away. "Bye. Don't forget to lock the door before you sleep."

"yeah. I won't"

*****

I've decided to check on Justin's offer. It would be a big help for us. I took out his calling card from my wallet and started dialing his number on my cellphone.

With just one ring, he picks up. "Please be the person that I'm

dying and waiting to call" he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I think I should just text before I called." I said. "I'll just text you Mr. Collins, bye.-"

"Wait! Savannah??? its Savannah, right??" he said.

"Yes. You remember me??" I can't believe he remembers me and recognize my voice over the phone.

"of course I remember you. I've been waiting for your call." he said honestly. "So, have you finally decided to accept my offer??"

"Yeah. I think I should try." I answered.

"Really??? oh, thank God... you really made me happy" he said. Well, I think, I'm going to enjoy his company.

"So, what am I supposed to do??" I asked.

"Well, I'll just send you the address of the restaurant and please come over at 7pm so you can meet my bestfriend whose going to play guitar also in the band. You're just going to show him your skills and he might ask a few questions but it won't affect your sort of audition. I'm still the one who do the deciding." he explained.

"ok. I guess I'll see you tonight then." I said.

"Yeah. I'll wait for you"

"I'll be there. Just send me the address." I said.

"Sure. I will." he aswered.

"Thanks. bye." i was about to end the call when he say something.

"Hey, Savannah. Just so you know, you still sound great even on the phone." he compliments me... haist... wala ng ginawa tong lalaking to kundi maging nice sakin.

Speechless tuloy ako.

"Thanks. bye." yun nalang nasabi ko... and then I end the call the moment he said 'bye'

******

I woke up at 4:30 pm. Matt was already in his bedroom infront of his PC. I checked what he's doing and saw that he's seriously doing some projects...

Matt told me that he already prepared something for me to eat. Kaya eto ako ngayon sa kitchen, eating his ginisang corned beef and egg... how thoughtful!!!... alam ko nmang walang ibang kayang lutuin si Matt kundi de lata eh. So, I started eating and then prepare myself... I decided to wear a blue skinny jeans and pink hanging blouse paired with my white doll shoes. It was 6:10 pm when Trixie arrived. I texted her earlier, para samahan ako sa audition/interview ko with justin's band. I ask Justin din naman knina if I can bring my friend with me nung sinend nya ung address ng restaurant and I found out that it was located at Greenbelt 5. Wanna know what his answer is??? he said 'whatever your condition is Savannah. Just don't back out, ok?'

It is 7:05 pm when we arrived at Greenbelt 5 and we easily found the justin's restaurant, but its not open yet. So, I've decided to dial Justin's number to inform him that we are outside.

Again, with just one ring, he picks up. "Hey! where are you now" he asked.

"We're outside the restaurant." I said while looking at trixie.

"ok, I'll be there in a sec. I was just inside the office."

"ok"

I waited for him to hung up but he didn't and I heard that he talk to someone 'hey, buddy. She's here, get off the floor and please put on your shirt, I don't want her to think that we're gay here' I smiled at what I've heard and hung up. one minute later he's outside the restaurant.

"Hey, how are you doin'?" he asked as he approach us.

"I'm fine. It doesn't took us a hard time to find this nice place of yours." I said smiling.

"wait until you see the inside." he said.

"Ok, before I forget. Justin, meet my friend and officemate trixie. Trixie, this is Justin my future boss, well, if his bestfriend would agree about me being on their band." I introduced them to each other and they shake hands then Justin turn to me.

"Savannah, I told you. I'm still the one who would decide here." he reminded me.

"I know. but he's your bestfriend. And you just met me last night." I told him then tucks my hair behind my ear.

"Oh, really?? I felt like I've known you all my life." ok, that was one cheesy pick up line right?

I heard trixie almost squeeled but she's holding it. "I think we should get inside?" thats all I could say.

"Yes, please..." he said, and he open the door for us leading us inside the very neat and relaxing ambience of the inside of the restaurant, it has a stage with musical instruments just near the bar, but definitely no dance floor.

He open another door beside the stage and we follow but then I bumped into Justin when he stops.

"What the..!!! Dude, didn't I told you to get off the floor and put your shirt on??" he told the person inside. And as I follow his gaze I felt my heart beat fast... Am I being haunted here??? or Am I just imagining things???.... There, lying half naked with his chest on the floor while reading something was Steven.

"Steven??" I muttered his name and... confirmed... It was really him as he look up to me.

"Savannah..." he said in shock.

Then he immediately get off the floor.