Chapter 116 - Celebrity Promotion

June 6, 2012 – Tuesday 8 pm – Nasiri Hill

*THUNK* *THUNK* *THUNK* Tayaw just nailed five 2 in x 8 in x 16 ft lumber together. He just finished leveling a part of his land where he is going to build the foundation for his fairly large cabin, and the lumbers he just merged along with three more will be the four support beams. The rest of the 2''x8''x16' will be used on the floors. For walls and the roof on the other hand, he will use the logs he will make out of the pine trees he will cut down from his land.

He decided to work in the darkness of the night hours because he does not want anyone seeing him carrying the heavy materials alone. With this physical prowess, he might be able to finish his cabin in only 5 days.

'Dad said you can retire if you want to.' Payew's words a few days ago actually stuck with him and reminded him of his previous life. In his previous life, Tayaw was always busy with his job, but being in demand, he could not refuse the opportunity to earn for his future wedding. Even if he never got married, he was still saving for retirement.

He always dreamed of retiring early, buying a parcel of land, and settling down in a cabin in the woods. He will be able smell the pine trees in the breeze every morning and the smell of burning firewood every night. If he can't retire in the woods of Nabla, he will retire to a place like La Prudencia. He can wake up to the sound of seagulls, and fall asleep to the sound of the waves of the sea.

*ding* He was interrupted from his thoughts by a notification in his phone. /Package received by … /

---

Kansas, Missouri – Strawberry Front tour bus

/What on earth is happening?! *Music*//Good day so far? //Today, tomorrow, what's really the difference? //I'm stuck in this day!//I've been shot, burned, ran over by the truck god but I'm fine! I'm an Immortal!//What do you do?//What's the point of living?//I just have no choice but to live on.//No. I'm getting out of this. //So, what do you do? //I just have to embrace that nothing really matters.//I can't keep doing this. I can't keep waking up here.//Every day, you'd forget about us… It's meaningless.//At least I have you, someone who'd listen.//*Music*/

"Shiiiittt. Are these real people?" Bobby said after watching the movie trailer that Tayaw sent them. They just received a box of movie posters and a flash drive containing 'September Ninth' movie trailer and an exclusive copy of the movie.

Tayaw asked the band to promote his film, offering pay, but Strawberry Front, always feeling grateful to Tayaw, didn't want to accept Tayaw's money.

"They look like they are, but they have to be acting." John said, attempting dry humor. "Didn't he say he won some international award from this? I get it." Rez said. "Can we watch the movie now? The English over-voice does not sound awkward at all." Aaron said. "Alright. I'll plug it in."

---

Nashville

/Good morning honey.//Good morning to you too.//*Music*//*Credits Roll*//

"Hmm.. That was… an experience, Donald." Walter said. "It was. It's just a shame he didn't find me to invest." Donald said. "Haha. Everything that kid touches turn to gold. Our internet show, those boys from Blackbird, and now a film." Walter said.

"I'm surprised that Isaac actually sent you a copy of it. I'm however, disappointed. 'Microwave it after watching'? The kid doesn't trust us? He even had it encrypted or something. Why burn it?" Donald said. "Hah! I'm not sure if he doesn't trust 'US' exactly. I think he just sniffed you out, Donald! Hahahahaha!" Walter laughed heartily at Donald's expression. "Alright. I was going to send it to my friends but that's it. It's not like they'd spread it." Donald just chuckled.

"Sure but one can't be too sure. Hey Mary-anne! Come, take this thing and burn it in the microwave." Walter called for a maid. "Why would you want to microwave a pendant, sir?" The maid asked after receiving what looks to be a pendant, confused at why she is to burn a silver pendant. "That's not a pendant. It's that something you plug in a computer." "A flash drive?" "That's what it is." "Alright sir." The maid said finally understanding.

"Wait. You're not at least going to keep it?" Donald said, finding it a waste. "Yes, Donald. He already trusted us, OR ME, by sending us an early copy. Why not just do the honest thing, huh?" Walter replied.

"Well. Your loss. This is the first time I've seen you like a movie in a very long time. You don't have to wait for the theater release it to see it again. If you keep it as a personal copy, you can watch it again and again." Donald said.

"That… didn't occur to me. HEY MARY-ANNE!" He called out once again, this time louder. "Yes, Mr. Strickland?" "Did you burn the thing already?" "No. I just thought I don't want to trash a microwave so I'm thinking of burning it along with the other trash in the incenarator later." "Oh thank the lord. Give it to me." "Here you go sir." The maid did not ask questions.

"So, may I borrow it for so-" "No! You can come over and watch, but it's not leaving the house" Walter said, nipping any of Donald's ideas about the flash drive. "Hey. I was just saying. Anyway, he's not asking for a favor is he?" Donald asked.

"No. He didn't even cash in the favor I owed him. That's why I don't just treat it as a film, but a gift." Walter said. "You weren't this … sentimental, Walter." Donald shook his head at how much Walter valued the film copy.

"Well, if you get to my age, kid, you'll understand. Sure, nice cars, a nice house with nice things are important, but someday, those things won't matter. Why else would your father become so loving only AFTER you graduated college? It's not just because he was proud that you changed from being a punk. He realized what's truly important." Walter explained.

"Whatever you say, Walter." Donald said, not liking cheesy stuff. He likes affection, but he only wants to see it and feel it, not to say it out loud or hear it.

---

"Do we really have to burn it?" Rez asked. They were also just done watching their copy of Tayaw's movie. They were not fans of romance and romantic comedies but they found Tayaw's movie more than just a romance movie.

"Should we? Can't we just keep it? We won't show it to anyone. Plus it actually looks nice like an actual necklace." Aaron said. "John should just keep it. He's the one who knows gadgets stuff." Bobby said. "Thank you." John gladly accepted. *Ring* *Ring* John's phone suddenly rang.

[John! It's Isaac. I just received an e-mail that you received my package.] The band heard Tayaw say. "Oh. Yeah. We picked it up in the post office in Kansas. Your movie was great by the way." John said. [Thanks. You're offline. Can't connect to the web?] "Yeah. The bus' internet has no internet. What's up?" John said.

[Can you give me the biggest names among the ones looking for me? There's a LOT of e-mails here from Nashville.] Tayaw's words confused the group. "Sure. There's Teddie Collins, the agent of Kit Moore.." The band started telling Tayaw the names of the people they know.

"You've dodged them for months. You need an agent or something?" Rez asked. [No. I don't need an agent for now. I'm selling songs, man.] Tayaw replied, to the surprise of the group. "Good for you! If you had songs, why didn't you release them yourself?" Aaron asked. [I have some for myself. These songs don't fit me, but they sound good.] "Cool. Why don't we buy some?" John said, jokingly but got glares from his band.

[I'm not selling for money, but for favors. My movie needs more promotion.] Tayaw explained. "OH! That's… sometimes you make people feel bad." John said. [What's wrong?] Tayaw's clueless tone made the band almost laugh.

"Nothing. Good luck on the movie. We have to get back to practice. Hey, Nashville isn't just about country, just want to remind you." Bobby said. [I know. There are plenty of pop stars that came from Nashville. Alright, I've bothered y'all enough. Good luck, gentlemen.] Tayaw ended the call.

"Are we sure his songs are good though?" John asked his band. "Probably. I mean, all the songs he gave us, while not all of them are hits, are all good." Aaron said. "It's been what? Four? Five months since he gave us his songs. Imagine how much more songs he made. Adding to that the songs he made before he went to Nashville." Rez commented. "Wasn't he busy with his movie? But I get your point. I think he still has a lot of songs." Bobby said.

"Well. My point is that it's really discouraging that someone can make a lot of good songs but we – " John sighed. "We've been grinding and here comes someone who makes it so easy." John continued.

"Well. Not the first time happening. How many younger folks blew by us over the years? Hm? But Isaac is different man. He's an actual genius. Don't you feel it's better to be … outshined by someone who actually deserves it?" Rez said. "That's true. How the hell did that Kirk kid become famous by the way? He can't play for sh*t, and he can only sing a little." John started gossiping.