Gravity

Chapter 2

Savannah

Two weeks. It's been twc weeks since I talked to Jake about the sideline he told me. I found out that I will only play twice a week and the time given to me by the management of the Restaurant is only two hours and they will pay me 500 pesos per day. I thought, maybe it's not bad, at least we have 1000 pesos added to our budget every week. I also decided to apply at a somewhat closer call center and I also met in Makati, so after my session right now here at the restaurant, I will go straight to my training in the new call center that I will attend. Even though team leader is the position I applied for, I still need the training for me to know the product. My schedule here at the restaurant is 7 pm-9pm, just right because I go to the call center at 10pm.

"Savannah, its your turn. Just play slow songs, ok?" the store manager Emily told me.

"yeah, sure. I'm ready." I answered. So I stood up and head to the main dining area and to the center where the piano was located. When I reached the piano I glance at the people around and do some sets of breathing and sit down in front of it. I started pressing the keys of my first song and sing.

I'm nothing special infact

I'm a bit of a bore

When I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before

But I have a talent, a wonderful thing

'cause everyone listens

When I start to sing

I'm so grateful and proud

All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say thank you for the music

The songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it

I asked in all honesty, what would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we

So, I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me ...

This is my first song, and after that I sing different kinds of slow songs, but, I notice that while I am singing there's a guy sitting three tables away from me keep on staring at me, so the moment I ended my last song, I stood up immediately and went straight to the employees locker room, but before I reached the door, "excuse me, miss." Someone called from my back. I turn around to check out who's calling who and I found out that it's the guy who stare at me and he is definitely catching my attention.

"What can I do for you, sir?" I asked him.

He came nearer and took out his hands, "I'm Justin Collins."

"Savannah Lewis." And I shook his hands with me. "So ??" I asked again.

"I just wanted to offer you something" he said.

"Offer me what ??" I asked curiously.

"Look, I am going to open a restaurant some place near here and I badly need a female vocalist to sing for the band that's performing every night." He answered.

"a live band?" I asked again, because as far as I know that if I sing on a live band there is a possibility that I'll be singing on a bar or worst a disco house, and I never dream of myself being on that place.

"yes, a live band." He confirmed.

"Well then it's a nice offer, sir, but, no thanks ..." I told him honestly. "now, if you excuse me I still have another job to attend to." I added, then turn around without even letting him to utter any word.

I head straight towards my locker and get my bag. I went to the female comfort room to change my white knee length dress into jeans and t-shirt but then I found out that all the cubicles are occupied and there are still waiting for their turn, I don't have much time to wait for my turn and change so I decided to just go to my training with the dress that I am wearing. I go straight to the guard on duty for my bag to be checked, the moment that he checked it and found out that its clear, he let me leave and sign my time card.

As I cross the parking area, I saw Justin beside the gray Toyota innova, I pretended that I didn't see him and continue to walk straight towards the area where some taxi cabs are passing through. I am planning to take a cab going to Salcedo village where the call center that I'm going to work with is located.

"So, I talked to your manager." Well, who do you expect? That's Justin, again, calling my attention from behind

I turn to him and ask, "about what?"

"I asked her about your rate. And I found out that you are earning One Thousand five hundred pesos for two hours of your session and you are scheduled during Monday and Friday. Plus another information is that you're having your first day of training as a team leader in some call center here in Makati. " He said. Wow! That's a lot of information. I wonder what he did to my manager to get that information.

"Why do you ask my manager for those information?" I asked him curiously.

He come near me and look into my eyes, “Because first, you turn your back on me that I never got the chance to ask you, and, second, I need to know those information for me to know what to do in order for you to say yes to my offer. "

"I already said no to your offer Mr. Collins." I said as I look away.

"oh, please. Don't call me Mr. Collins, that's my father." I don't know if it's just my imagination but he sounded like he's begging.

"I'm sorry. But, like I said, I'm not going to sing in a live band." I said.

"can you please tell me why?" he asked.

"because, I don't want to be surrounded by drunk people" I answer him honestly.

He look amazed at my answer, he smile and said, "So, you're thinking that my business is a disco house or a bar. Well, to tell you honestly, Savannah, I own a disco house and a bar in New York , but its because of my best friend's choice. He's always my partner in doing business. But then, this one is my own idea and my best friend doesn't have any say in this because he's not going to be my partner this time, I started planning on this restaurant while I'm still in New York without letting him know about it and he is about to run a different kind of business here. So, right now, I'm offering you to be the lead vocalist of our band with the rate of Five thousand pesos for two hours every night, 7-9pm and I need you to say yes. " Wow! I think I am lost in his eyes because it is so blue.

But, "Look, I really can't do this right now, because I'm going to be late at my training." I said, after I found out in my risk watch that its already 9:35 pm.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but may I have your phone number so-"

"No. I'll have your phone number and I'll call you tomorrow. I'm going to think about it tonight." I interrupt him because I can't just give him my phone number because I just met him tonight. And no matter how good looking he is, I'm still not that easy.

"Okay I understand." He said and then give me he's number, well, atleast he understand.

He help me take a cab, and when we found one I say, "thank you" to him.

"Well. It's the least that I can do since I know that you're not going to let me take you to your office." He said and winked at me.

I smile and say, "Bye, Mr. Collins."

"Oh, puh-lease !!!" he said.

"I'm kidding ... Justin ..." I said smiling.

He seemed shocked at my statement. He look at me in the eye and smile, "and now, you're kidding, seems like a good sign to me." He said and then open the door of the taxi and let me in, he call the driver's attention and say, "please drive safely, I need to see this fine lady hopefully tomorrow." He wink at me "see yah" and then he close the door.

Justin

I've been with lots of girls before. I really fancy girls, beautifully hot girls. But, I've never felt so amazed and so curious in any of them, not, until this girl whom I asked to be part of our band. Everything I see in her was different from any other girl. And it makes me wanna call my best friend and inform him about this gorgeous lady that I met and I don't care if he's about to start on running the Telemarketing Company that his family assigned to him. I really want to tell him now, since he is the only friend that I have here in the Philippines. God! I felt so happy when he told me almost three weeks ago that he's coming here because that is also my plan and I didn't tell him that because I wanted to put up a business that is quite different from the business that we've made in New York. Those bars and disco houses was my best friend's idea because he loves that. I took my mobile phone outside my pocket and started dialing Steven's number while getting into my car.

Steven

As I walk outside the elevator I heard my phone ring, I took it out while crossing the lobby of the tower here in Makati where the Telemarketing business that Millicent's husband and John put up 10 years ago. I checked the screen and found out that its Justin. 'and what could it possibly be now? Isn't he out somewhere having a good time with some girls he just met? ' I tap the answer icon in the screen of my phone, "Having a good time, buddy?" I asked.

"Men, I just had the best day of my life" he announced cheerfully.

"Dude, you always have the best day of your life" I told him frankly. He always says that every time we're having a good time and he's really really drunk.

"yeah, when I am drunk, but that's the difference my friend because I am not drunk tonight I am completely sober" he explains. Honestly, he didn't even sound a bit tipsy.

"okay, spill it man. Because I still have a work to do tonight."

"I just met the girl who could make me drop on my knees while asking her to marry me" he said.

That statement makes me cough, "Now, I think you're drunk. You can't tell that you wanted to marry the girl that you just met. What if she took advantage of your money? You don't know Filipina women, most of them are just getting into a relationship because of the convenience and money. "

"Hey, easy dude! Well, with the way she looks, I don't think she's the type who's after the money, because she looks so sweet and innocent. And I also didn't think that she is a Filipina, well, maybe she is but not full blood. " He said.

"looks can be deceiving, Justin. You don't know them." I told him.

"And you think you know them? Dude, you left this place 19 years ago, and you were just a kid that time, you can't tell me that I don't know them. Because I am willing to get to know her . " He said and hung up before i can even say a word. Seriously, when did he become such a douche bag? I think I should meet that girl and find out what she really want from my bestfriend.

I took out the cigarette and lighter from my pocket.

"Anong petsa na ang baklang Sav MIA padin ... Did she text you ???" I heard someone talking in a gay manner on the other side of the entrance. I watch their group, there were six of them, one definitely gay, two guys, and three girls.

"Nagreply na sakin," the short girl with a long hair said. "Malapit na daw sya, nakataxi." she continued. The two guys were busy smoking and the other two girls are busy texting.

"Anyaman ni bakla !! Nakataxi" replied the gay with them. It was just fun to look at and watch their group. Do they get along? The two with them look like straight men, but how can they enjoy being with a pure woman and it looks like two more gay because they are also waiting for gays.

"May raket kase sya sa isang restaurant, Monday and Friday sched nya dun. Wala daw kase dumadaan na jeep dun" Said the other guy smoking who dress like a korean.

"Oh, andito ka pala ??? I thought we were the only ones here." Another woman with them said that she looked like the youngest of them.

"Hala ka! Ang may sariling mundo nagsalita ... Akala ko kase si Trixie lang kasama ko. Kanina ka pa kase busy jan sa kakapindot sa cellphone mo." The gay said. Well, he's not a cross dresser but he talk and act like a gay.

"Do you have a new girlfriend?" asked the woman who had talked to the gay man earlier.

"No, no, it's just my textmate."

And suddenly a cab parked infront of the building. "O eto n yata si bakla." Said the gay, he was referring to the person who walked out of the cab.

As I look at the person from the cab, my jaw literally drop. Did I just miss something? I thought they are waiting for their another gay friend ... this person is definitely not a gay. I know that because she dress like a girl, walk like a girl, and act like a sweet and innocent girl. She really looks like an angel with her white dress.

"Ikaw na te !!! San ang binyag ???" says the gay, they all laugh, including the girl or gay, I'm confused, who just arrived.

"Wala na kase ako chance magpalit. Blockbuster ung CR ng restaurant kanina." She said. And now, with her voice I am certain that this gorgeous lady is not a gay. What's wrong with them? Why are they calling her 'gay'?