Chapter 198 - June Stuff ... Talk Show and Sh*t (2) (SKIPPABLE FILLER)

(cont'd) ((AUTHOR's NOTE: Don't take Tayaw's opinions on women seriously.)

"Wow… That sure killed the room, huh…" Tayaw says to Aiden after looking around.

"Huh.. Sure did. HAHA!" Aiden tries to cheer himself up.

"Well. What do I know? Don't listen to me. I'm an idiot, AND a kid, who isn't even 20 yet. I know nothing." Tayaw shrugs while eyeing the same ladies who are giving him hostile gazes. He almost chuckles as he saw them get angered more.

"If that's how you think. Then you'd really have a hard time in the future once you finally decide to start a family." Aiden says.

"Maybe. And maybe, something will change my mind. But for now, I'm still young. I'd rather stay single than get together with the wrong person. I have a lot of fun things to do to be distracted by heartbreak." Tayaw says.

*applause* the men in the audience sympathize with Tayaw. 

"Then… how about just dating for the sake of being a musician and a director? Experiencing romance will give you inspiration in making romance films and romantic songs." Aiden says.

"Nah. Other people's experiences are enough for me for inspiration. Have you heard some of my songs, man? They're romantic. Even if you didn't, people who love country love them." Tayaw shrugs.

"Okay. How about making a romantic film?" Aiden asks.

"uh.. September Ninth?" Tayaw says.

"Nope… I remember clearly you saying that 'September Ninth' was not a romantic film." Aiden says, barely suppressing his smugness at trapping Tayaw in his own words.

"Well, whatever… I'm not planning on making a romantic film soon anyway. I'm just saying. I'm romantic enough by myself." Tayaw throws back a ridiculous reply.

*laughter* The audience find the double entendre amusing.

"I mean. I think that other men too are romantic enough by themselves." Tayaw adds *groan* *laughter* getting more reaction from the crowd, the ladies disgusted, the men are amused.

"Are you sure we're still talking about romance?" Aiden says, riding on Tayaw's joke.

"Psh. Yeah I'm talking about romance! Tell me, Aiden. Who do you think is more romantic? Men or women?" Tayaw asks.

Aiden's face freezes, familiar with the feeling of the path things will take once Tayaw starts asking questions back.

"Well. I think women." Aiden says, in caution.

"OBJECTION!" Tayaw slams the couch's arm, startling Aiden.

Then *groan* *ooohhh* the audience are caught off-guard by Tayaw's reaction.

"Jesus Christ. What was that?" Aiden says, catching his breath.

"I'm sorry. I just get so passionate sometimes." Tayaw says, playfully.

*laughter in the audience*

"Okay. How was I wrong then?" Aiden says.

"I'm not saying you're wrong. I just disagree, based on what I've seen. First of all, why do you think you're right?" Tayaw asks back.

Aiden rubs his eyebrows, preparing for another round of chaos.

"I don't know really. They're more caring? They consume romantic books and movies more." Aiden says, as rational as he can.

"Caring. True. Romance fiction consumption? True too. But I still disagree. I associate romance with love. And dare I say AS WELL, men love women more than women love men." Tayaw says.

*OOOHHH* *APPLAUSE* the crowd becomes divided at that.

"PUhah! W-what are you talking about?" Aiden's voice raises in laughter at Tayaw's ridiculous claim. 

"Let's talk about love songs. How do you know if a love song is written by a male or a female songwriter?" Tayaw asks.

"Hmm. I don't know?" Aiden says.

"Another question, and please answer honestly, do you prefer songs by male singers or female singers?" Tayaw asks again.

"I guess male singers' songs. I especially like 'I Only Want You' by Summer Alaska." Aiden says. 

"Hmm. Good song, right?" Tayaw says, approving of Aiden's taste in music.

"What does this have to do with your first question?" Aiden asks.

" 'hmm~ I'll be the mountain you can stand on, be the hand you can hold, when you get old…'" Tayaw sings a line of the song.

"That is written by a man. A romantic man." Tayaw says.

"Man, of course. Summer Alaska is a rock band of guys." Aiden says.

"yeah. But the subject, the idea. Male songwriters write more about sacrifice for a woman. They sing stuff like 'I'll climb a mountain for you' 'I'll leave my job for you' 'I'll catch a bullet for you'. Right?" Tayaw says.

"Yeah… Yeah, that makes sense." Aiden nods.

"How about female songwriters? 'Put your arms around me' 'Take my breath away' 'Take a chance on me'… Familiar, man?" Tayaw says.

"Uhuh… I see it…" Aiden immediately realizes what Tayaw is saying.

"Yes! While men write songs on how to GIVE GIVE GIVE their love for a girl, women write songs that WANT WANT WANT. IT'S UNFAIR! I have to give you something before you give something back? THAT's not love! That's being a child!" Tayaw says with fake anger.

*laughter*

"Girl, why do I have to climb mountains to make me love you? Why not chase me, too? I'm tired! Why do I have to catch a bullet for you? I'll be dead! You selfish asshole!" Tayaw continues riffing.

*laughter* *applause*

"Oh! OH! Another thing! How about sad love songs? Men write songs on how it's their fault, that they should have worked harder to love, that they're sorry, over and over and over again. How about women's love songs? They just talk about how they feel!

"Ooh. 'I feel hurt'. Ooh. 'I wish you heart break'. They rarely apologize man! ARE YOU A QUEEN? ARE YOU A SAINT? ARE YOU JESUS? What about ME? What about MY FEELINGS?!" Tayaw continues his comparisons in exaggerated passion.

*LAUGHTER* *WHOOO* *APPLAUSE* At this point, Aiden and the audience are almost unanimously clamoring in laughter, not because the comparisons are outrageously funny, but because Tayaw's passionate delivery. 

"Alright. Calm down, Isaac. I hear you." Aiden says, knowing that Tayaw is joking, but his words are effective in calming down the room again.

"It's unfair, you know?" Tayaw says, wiping his fake tears under his huge sunglasses amusing the crowd more.

Aiden seeing this, can only give up leading the show and instead act as an assistant for Tayaw's jokes and an arbiter. 

"I know. I know buddy. But those are just songs." Aiden says in fake consolation.

"BUT NOT JUST SONGS! IT's everywhere in the movies! Why do I have to chase a girl in an airport? Why do I have to make a spectacle just to propose? No, dude. If a girl sees how I love her, then she shouldn't make me go through all that stuff that might break my wallet or send me to jail." Tayaw starts once again.

*OOHH* *LAUGHTER* the men audience are riled up once again.

"That's just in the movies, buddy. It's not like that in real life." Aiden says in fake assurance. *laughter*.

"I know. But in real life, I think men love women more than the other way around though." Tayaw says. *ooohhh* "What makes you say that? My wife and I love each other equally." Aiden says. *oohhh*

"Good for you… But… I mean…" Tayaw takes a deep breath.

"Look. Say, in a relationship, a SERIOUS one, what happens after a break-up? If I may ask, what happened when one of your past relationsh.i.p.s ended?" Tayaw asks.

Aiden hesitates in answering but because he does not want to block Tayaw's flow, he obliges.

"20 or so years ago. I was in a relationship with a girl I met in college. We dated for three years but after graduation, it didn't work out." Aiden starts.

"A month after we broke up. I saw her with a new guy walking along ***** Boulevard and they were holding hands." Aiden says.

"I bet you were still dealing with the break-up?" Tayaw asks.

"Yes and it was miserable. BUT that's just me, and her. My thing doesn't apply to everybody." Aiden says.

"Yeah. Your story doesn't prove my point, of course. But, you're not the only man I know who had the same experience. According to what I've seen, and from the men I've made friends with, a man will take months, even years to recover. A lady will take what? Half? A fraction of the time a man does to move on. I therefore conclude that men love women more than the other way around." Tayaw says.

*WHOO* *BOOO* The crowd is now divided, *LAUGHTER* but find Tayaw's rambling amusing too as there is some truth to it. 

"Here's another thing I noticed. No, I really tried my best looking this up… In a young marriage, like a couple in their 30s or 40s… when a spouse dies, what happens?" Tayaw asks Aiden.

"… I don't even wanna know." Aiden says, dodging the question this time as the subject seems heavier.

"If the wife dies, the man would mourn, which is a given. After that, what happens?Half the time, they re-marry, half the time, they would never re-marry ever again. The stuff that belonged to their wife would bring back memories and the man would have a hard time throwing her stuff away. Right?" Tayaw asks.

"That kinda covers it, yes." Aiden says.

"What happens if the husband dies?" Tayaw asks again.

"The same, I guess?" Aiden says.

"Yes. But there's a small and important difference…" Tayaw says, pausing for three seconds to build up suspense which is effective as *murmur* the audience is brewing in anticipation.

"… there'd be … PUHAHA!" Before Tayaw can even conclude his comparisons, he bursts out laughter.

*Laughter* Aiden and the audience laugh with Tayaw too, but mixed with it, some nervousness.

"There'd be… Puhhhh.." Tayaw bursts out again.

"Man… I can't finish the joke. I'm sorry. *giggle* It's kinda messed up." Tayaw says.

*Laughter* The audience this time laugh in relief.

"Come on. You already set it up that long, what were you gonna say?" Aiden is curious.

"I was gonna say. If a young husband dies in a marriage, his widow will start a garage sale right after his funeral." Tayaw delivers finally. *OOOHHH* *GROAAANN* *giggles* The audience members are shocked but somehow cannot stop themselves from seeing the humor in the dark joke.

"Yeah. The guitar, his video game console, his signed baseball, his signed jersey. I wouldn't be surprised if she sold them for $20 each." Tayaw stretches his joke.

*LAUGHTER in the audience*

"PUHAHAhhaa. OHHH my GOD! Man, you're crazy!" Aiden loses it.

"I kinda am~! I told you I didn't want to say it. Now the pedestrians of Los Angeles are all shocked." Tayaw says.

"EUGHH..Jesus Christ. Let's cut this short to commercial break before you say something worse." Aiden shakes his head.

"That would be best." Tayw nods, feeling great at playing the room's emotions. The producers also sigh in relief, very unsure if they can even air the episode. 

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

"We're back with more of Isaac."

*APPLAUSE* The taping continues after a short break.

"We have a ten or so minutes left. Is there anything you want to talk about? I mean, when you're the guest, we really don't prepare, so we just have to go all the way in winging it." Aiden says.

"Hnn. I don't really know what else to talk about." Tayaw says, wanting Aiden to lead the interview this time.

"Well, is there anything else you're up to?" Aiden asks.

"Nothing really. I've spent a few months making a film and I think I need a break. Also, it's been a while since I released my first album, '18' and my country album 'On the Road' so I think it's time for me to write new songs again. I have to release an album called '19' while I'm still, you know, 19." Tayaw casually promotes his album and his future one.

"While I'd really LOVE to see more of your stuff, there's no rush for you. You're young with plenty of energy, but you also shouldn't work yourself so hard." Aiden says.

"Yeah. Maybe I should travel too. Is there a place you can recommend?" Tayaw asks.

"Ever been to Europe? Italy's a nice place." Aiden recommends having grown up with Italian-Americans.

"Ahh.. Ho passato un sacco di tempo in Italia gia." Tayaw says. (any Italian readers? SOrry. It's google translate.)

"…" This silences the studio.

"I don't know what you said, but I'm guessing you're skipping Italy?" Aiden says. "Yeah. Either way, I might decide to travel." Tayaw nods. 

"Mmm. By the way, you were so happy talking about singing in Grand Country Opera, but how come didn't play for us tonight?" Aiden asks.

*groan* The audience express their disappointment as they realize what they have missed out on.

"Well, I thought if I wanna play again for the show, I really wanna collaborate again with Da Bellum Burning folks, but because I only had yesterday as a heads up, I had no time to work something out with them." Tayaw tips his hat to the members of the house band. 

"Dude. We have a guitar and a drummer. You have all you need." Shaheed says with his mic, which he only uses for singing.

*applause* The audience love the idea followed by "SING! SING! SING!" an urging chanting.

"Alright." Tayaw, not wanting to disappoint the audience, stands up and walks towards the band with light steps.

*applause* the audience is pleased to see Tayaw happily oblige to their request.