Chapter 207 - A bad chapter. Sorry. I am totally off today.

August 9, 2013 – Friday 5PM – Iron Stone, East Ouigab

*YAAWNN* The members of the Percussive Corrections filter one by one to the house, all tired after having a long day.

"OH! I miss you baby!" Bay-an does a jogging start to the living room before diving body first to the comfortable couch.

"…" The band watch in amus.e.m.e.nt at Bay-an's new habit, still finding it funny after witnessing it every day for five straight days, every time they come back to the house after work. The rest of the members also take their own spots on the couch, except for Jenna. "I'm gonna go change first." 

It has been a week since the school break started for Northwestern University and other Teungebian higher education institutions. The band, just like the February break, did not go home to their respective hometowns after successfully getting hired again by the company they interned for previously. Unlike last time however, they are not assigned back to Biongo but instead are given office duties in Ouigab. 

Jenna after changing to her house clothes goes back to join the boys in the living room.

"…" She however notices that the boys are still in their office clothes, their attention on their own electronic devices.

"Guys…" Jenna calls out.

"'Sup?" Bay-an asks absentmindedly.

"You guys aren't gonna change?" Jenna asks.

"Give us a minute." Ike says.

Jenna stays silent and the sounds from the guys' phones are getting louder to her ears.

*stack* *stack* *Crrrrrggghh*.

"Guys…" Jenna calls out again after a minute.

"One more round, and I'm done." Inson says.

"*SIGH*" Jenna does an exaggerated sigh to express her frustration, hoping it will get the boys' attentions. The boys however are either used to Jenna's habit, or they just do not care. 

Another minute later, none of the boys have left their spots, with still no signs of doing so.

"GUYS! PRACTICE! WEDDING TOMORROW!" Jenna finally loses it, startling the guys.

"Alright. Sorry. Sorry." Ike is the first one to react and immediately turns off the screen of his phone. The rest of the guys also follow.

"Guys. 'Quad Blocks' is fun, but does it really deserve this much attention?" Jenna asks.

"Eugh. I don't know what's with this game…" Bay-an shrugs.

"Me, I'm just irked by Tayaw's tweet. 'Hey punks! Try beating my score.' What's up with that?" Ramil says.

"It's not even addressed to specifically to you but to his fans. It's just a bait to play the game." Hoon says.

"If you think it's a bait, why are you playing the game too, Hoon?" Jenna asks.

"Like you said. It's fun." Hoon shamelessly admits.

"Still. Jenna's right. I should go easy playing this game. When I stare at an empty wall, I'm seeing quad blocks. It's not a good sign." Inson says.

"…" The rest of the guys look at each other.

"… You guys too?" Inson asks, surprised.

"I see it in the ceiling before I sleep." Ike admits.

"That's nothing. I dream of it." Hoon says.

"Ugh. Whoever made that game is evil. Even my mentor is playing it at work!" Jenna says.

"Tell that to Tayaw." Ramil shrugs.

"Tayaw? Why?" Jenna asks in confusion.

"I don't know if he bought the rights of it from someone, or programmed it himself, but he's the only one listed in the credits of the game." Inson says.

"He can code too?!" Jenna is dumbfounded.

"I wouldn't call it coding. It's basic and easy to make. He just thought of a fun idea and ran with it." Bay-an says, having some knowledge with the game engine that Tayaw used. 

"The important question though… How much is he going to make from this again? The guy just can't stop making money." Ike chuckles.

"True. It already has 3 plus million downloads in the play store. It's ridiculous. He's only advertising the stuff he has his hands in. What if he also opens the ad space to other people? Good lord. I wish I can come up with an addictive game too…" Bay-an says in slight jealousy. 

"Dude. The guy's rich. He's famous… I can't believe he still talks to us." Ramil says.

"hAHa! Dude... I know, right? It's so weird when he calls. Hey… Maybe he's so rich he actually forgot that this is his house. He hasn't visited in a while…" Hoon says. 

*Ring* *Ring* Jenna's phone interrupts the band's chat.

"Unknown caller." Jenna notes, her hesitance in answering it showing on her face.

"Another prank call from a fan?" Bay-an asks.

"I just changed my number though… But it's an unknown number." Jenna says.

"Alright put it on speaker. Let's blast the joker." Ramil says. Jenna nods at this. 

"Hello? Who is this?" Jenna answers.

/Hello Jenna. It's Jouny. We met last year in Clambu City. Do you remember?/ Jouny greets.

"Oh! Oh! Of course!" Jenna and the guys are surprised by the unexpected caller.

/Okay. Are the boys with you?/ Jouny asks.

"Hello Mrs. Yalen! We're gathered here!" Ike says.

/Okay. Guys. I'm making a film and I'm on a time crunch to catch the Clambu Film Festival. I was thinking of casting you guys for some minor roles. / Jouny asks.

"…" The group is stunned. 

/Okay./ Jouny misinterprets the group's speechlessness with hesitation.

/I talked to Chala and he said you guys are probably working the summer in an office? Don't worry, I can have our filming schedule accommodate for you guys to finish your parts in just a weekend or two./ Jouny says.

~~~~~ 

10 AM – Montecito, Santa Barbara, California

[[[*Montage start*

*Jessica goes to prison*

*Jessica writing letter*

*Jessica's voice over*

"Dear Ronnie. If you're reading this, then I'm thankful. I was never a good person. I never committed a crime, but the things I've done? I'm more than deserving of that label. All along, I knew. So, I had to get away.

Then I met you, someone who do not know who I was and the things I've done. For a terrible stranger, you risked your life.

What we had in Australia is something special. Was it a passing attraction? Or was it real? All I know is that you brought out the good in me. 

What I did to you in return is an unspeakable crime, and I'm sorry. To me, my prison sentence is not even enough to pay for what I did to you and to the other people I have wronged.

For those I will spend the rest of my life earning my worth to be forgiven. One day I hope you forgive me and by then, I have become even a fraction of the person you are.   

Jessica."

*Montage Start*

*Ronnie Voice over*

*Ronnie celebrates with friends after the trial*

*Ronnie with a psychiatrist*

*Ronnie writing at his dining table*

/Jessica. 

Jimmy said I should not write back, but after months of healing, I finally felt like I can, and should. I do not know if I can ever forgive you. You betrayed me and along with it, you also took a part of my sanity.

With time, I know I will eventually heal fully and learn from this lesson. But for now, I still feel angry at what you put me through. However, I feel hopeful that you are sincere in your intentions of becoming a better person. While you are in that journey, I will also start mine towards learning to forget looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. 

I know that we will never see each other again, but if we somehow do, I hope we've both changed as people, for the better.   

Best wishes, Ronnie."

*Ronnie with a smile, begins a pilgrimage journey in Europe to continue his healing*

*Fade to black*

*Acoustic Music intro*

*Credits Roll*

*A New Beginning by Isaac starts playing* (based on 'Brand New Day' by Joshua Radin)

"I fell asleep beside you, on a bed of tall grass.

When I woke up, I can see clearly now. 

It's a new beginning,

the sun is shining,

it's bright morning,

for the first timein a long time,

I know~~, I'll be okay~ ]]] 

*APPLAUSE* *APPLAUSE* *CHEERS* 

Gary's home theater room erupts in celebration as the 30 people, made of the main cast and crew of 'Australia' finished watching the final cut of the film.

"Congratulations Gary."

"Congratulations Xiao Song."

"Congratulations, Helena."

"Congratulations…" All sorts of congratulations rain upon the brain children of the film.

"Thank you. Thank you all. We couldn't have done this without you all. Thank you." Gary says, sharing his compliments.

"SPEECH! SPEECH!" The room start chanting, urging Gary and Xiao Song for a speech.

"No. That was my speech. I'm reserving my real one for Toronto!" Gary says.

*APPLAUSE* *APPLAUSE* The room loves Gary's positivity.

"Oh! Let's not forget Isaac. Let's give him a hand! I don't how we can make the film so beautiful without him." Xiao Song passes the attention to Tayaw.

*APPLAUSE* *APPLAUSE* The cast and the crew oblige gladly.

"No. It was all you guys. All I did was sit in front of my computer. You did all the work." Tayaw says.

"Dude. We're all professionals here, so we're not idiots. Man. How did you even think of starting the film in the court room? Those are the last scenes we shot! You made use of the events in Australia as the characters' memories!" Xiao Song's geek side comes out, forcing Tayaw back in everyone's attention. 

"It was just a trick. I intended to it use for Gold, Blood, and the Deer, but I decided not to.." Tayaw says.

"…" The room is silenced by the mention of 'Gold, Blood, and the Deer'.

Tayaw, seeing this, feels like he said something wrong so he continues his words.

"I just played around with it for 'Australia' but Gary here liked it better than my first final cut. In fact. I only managed to do it because of the color contrast of the Australian scenes and the court room scenes. It would have not looked as good if it wasn't for that." Tayaw says.

"Ah.. that's Xiao Song's style." Gary says.

"AH! I changed the color scheme as the mood of the film turned… I didn't think you can use it like that!" Xiao Song is enlightened as a feeling of pride pours over him.

"PUHHAHA! Trick or an innovation, It made our film even better! You two managed to come up with a great storytelling tool." Gary says proudly, hiding a hint of jealousy with his loud cackle. 

"Man. The song at the end, that was your own song, Isaac?" Damien asks.

"Yeah. How was it?" Tayaw asks.

"It was… it was great. It tied all the emotions I had for Ronnie." Damien says, moved, relating most with the character.

"Then I'm glad… Anyways. Great job, everyone. If you guys don't even receive a nomination from this, I'll sh*t on Toronto Film Festival." Tayaw says, with that he manages to remove the attention away from him and brings back the excitement in the room.