The next day at lunch break, while Tayaw was having lunch at the campus cafeteria, Jenna joined him at his table out of nowhere. "Hey Tayaw! How do they look?" Jenna asked Tayaw as she showed off the almond colored sneakers he gave her. Matching with Jenna's white jeans she folded at the hem, the shoes were displayed fully. "It looks great. I'm relieved it fit." Tayaw replied. "That's what I was thinking! How did you know my shoe size, you creep?" Jenna asked in jest. "Oh. I'm good at estimating. One time, when you were wearing your running shoes, I thought it was my little brother's shoes. So with that, I bought your shoes according to my brother's shoe size." Tayaw explained. The muscles on Jenna's nose flexed when she heard that. "How old is your brother?" Jenna asked which she shouldn't have. "11 years young. Why?" Tayaw replied flatly and honestly. "Then your brother must be a very big 11 year-old." Jenna huffed. "Oh. Don't be like that. You are blessed with youthful spirit. Be thankful." Tayaw chuckled. While they were chatting, Tayaw's phone rang.
"Sup, boss? Looking for a musician?" Tayaw answered. Jenna's ears also perked up when she heard Tayaw. "What, are you free? I'm one performer short. Anyway, that's not why I called. There are people looking for you since yesterday evening." Rudy said. "Hm? What do they want? It's not like I've been around much." Tayaw replied. "Oh, you don't know them. They don't look like bad people either, trust me I know. It's just that they were adamant on talking to you after they saw you perform the night you brought your brothers here. They said they'll be here tonight. Are you available?" Rudy explained. "It's Monday though?" Tayaw said. "We are. I closed the New Year's Eve because there barely any customers so we're catching up today, again." Rudy replied. "Alright, I'll be there." Tayaw said, curious of the people looking for him. "Good. Can you also fill in tonight?" Rudy asked. "Sure, but I'm opening. I can't stay late." Tayaw accepted. "Okay. I'll see you tonight." Rudy said as he hung up.
Tayaw then looked at Jenna from across the table. "Wanna go out on a date tonight?" Tayaw asked. Jenna is a popular pretty girl so she knows if a guy is interested in her therefore she also knows that Tayaw is not. "Where?" Jenna coolly asked back. "To where I hang out sometimes. Today's the first day of classes this year so I'm pretty sure we won't be taking any homework tonight. Wanna come along?" Tayaw invited. Jenna nodded. "Alright. I've been going to the same places anyway. I want to go somewhere new." Jenna accepted the invite. "You want to bring someone else along?" Tayaw asked. "No. They might get a different idea when they see us." Jenna replied. "Okay then. I'll pick you up at 5:30 in your dorm." Tayaw said. The school bell also rang.
5:20 pm. Tayaw and Jenna started early on their way to ROH Factory. "You're playing tonight?" Jenna asked when she saw the instruments in their cases in the back seat of the vehicle. "Yep. I wouldn't had the boss of the bar did not ask for me." Tayaw replied. A few minutes later, they walked in ROH Factory's bar room. "Had your first drink yet?" Tayaw started a small talk while they took a table. "Yeah. When I was 16." Jenna answered proudly. "Huh?" Tayaw raised his eyebrow at this. "Come on. I've been drinking on occasion since I was 16. I'm also sure you already drank a few times even if you're not 18 yet." Jenna said. Tayaw, in his current life, had not had alcohol yet. Even in his past life, he did not drink until past 18. If Liboo was a drinker, then Tayaw would have engaged in underage drinking too. "That's true." Tayaw nodded.
As Tayaw saw the bar's clock struck 5:45 as he signed at a waiter to start a tab on him. The waiter, despite knowing that Tayaw is still a minor, started the tab anyway. "Okay. Order whatever you want, on me. I, on the other hand, will have a gig to do." Tayaw excused himself and carried his guitar and stomp box to the green room. "Alright. Good luck."
"Boss. They're not here yet?" Tayaw asked Rudy as he walked in Rudy's office. "Nope. They'll probably here by the time you start your gig." "Alright. Who will be the line-up?" Tayaw asked and started to prepare for the night.
Meanwhile in the bar room, Jenna was quite surprised at how huge the bar room is. She figured the bar could also be a restaurant during the day as it has over 40 tables that can each occupy four people and around 20 smaller tables that may be used by couples. She figured that such venue do not hire just any musician, so her impression of Tayaw's musical skills improved. She also noticed that the walls all have sound insulation, which blew her mind. She does not know how much it is to have a room sound-proofed but she knows it's expensive. Looking at the huge bar wrapped in sound insulation made her head spin at how much it costs.
She was then distracted by the sound from the speakers and looked at the stage. There she saw Tayaw already setting up his guitar and an instrument she has never seen before, but could guess what it does basing on the pedal. After Tayaw was done preparing, he nodded her way and she gave him a thumb up.
Tayaw then started his usual guitar intro to welcome the customers. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to ROH factory. Our regulars may have already seen me before, but to our new patrons, my name is Tayaw and I will be your opening act tonight. It's actually been a while since I've regularly performed here so I'm feeling a bit nervous. Because of that, I need your support." Tayaw introduced himself and received a welcoming applause from the crowd. Still playing his guitar, he continued to present tonight's line up. "Tonight's line-up will be opened by me, Miss Amelie ..."
Jenna, while watching this had her anticipation increase by the moment. She also clapped enthusiastically for Tayaw while saying "That's my friend!" which also influenced the customers of the tables beside her to do clap as well.
"Count the steps
past the cramped and cowardly walls
I feel sick when I catch the handle
where are we walking now where did he go?
Sofa and cat
which new island I had to calmly face the anxieties
I filled the empty cup. Maybe I'll fall asleep a little."
While Tayaw was playing his first song, Jenna could not help but sway along with the slow plucking of the guitar and the beating of the stomp box. Tayaw's singing with his smooth but husky baritone voice also soothed her ears and slowly lulled her into immersion.
"I'll just hold you
Stand at the end of the day
when opening a closed door
Home sweet home"
Jenna while watching the entire set, forgot that it is her friend in the stage and just saw him as a good musician playing, playing to people's hearts.
"That's my set everyone. Thank you." Tayaw said as he swept his thumb for the final strum. The crowd also gave him a big applause as Tayaw was unplugging his instruments.
Tayaw then stepped down the stage but was confused as three men; all in their 40s followed him on his way backstage. "May I help you?" Tayaw asked the three. "Oh you must have heard about us from the owner." One of the men replied. Looking closer, Tayaw noticed that the three felt like office workers or professors with their casual suits and leather shoes.
"Yes. I was informed by the owner this noon. What can I do for you, gentlemen?" Tayaw asked, curious of their business with him. "I'm Richard Caluz, this here, is Professor Ariel Dinaw from Northwestern University's Music Department, and this here, is Professor Lopas Gitse from Ouigab College of Music." Richard introduced himself and his companions as he shook Tayaw's hand. "That was a good set there, Mr. Dagem." Professor Dinaw complimented and he also shook Tayaw's hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Dagem." Professor Gitse smiled at Tayaw, also shaking Tayaw's hand.
Tayaw, on the other hand is confused as to why the professors are acting polite. Only Richard is acting normal. "It's a pleasure to meet you gentlemen. I'm sorry. Let me put away my instruments first and let's look for somewhere to talk." Tayaw nodded as he left his instruments to the care of the other musicians he knows in the green room. After putting his guitar away, the three headed to the bar's storage where it is quiet enough to talk.
"I'm sorry gentlemen for our 'conference room'. It's the only quiet place here aside from the alley." Tayaw said, not really feeling sorry. "It's quite alright. It has a great atmosphere instead." Richard said, actually sincerely while looking around the storage room. "Indeed. We should have set up a place instead." Professor Gitse said.
"Anyway. What made you gentlemen look for me?" Tayaw asked the three. "Let me go first. We actually saw you perform in the evening of Christmas Day Observed when we three hung out together here. I'm looking to recruit you as a guitar player after I saw your skills. Tonight's set even reinforced my impression of you." Richard said. "May I hear about the job first?" Tayaw asked. "I just started a recording studio in South Ouigab and I need a resident guitar player. I've seen many guitar players but there is barely anyone with your skills. I can pay you 75BGC an hour. That is if you record flawlessly." Richard offered. Tayaw remembered in his previous life that his band friend, Hoon, was a session musician for a while and because of his great skills, he was paid 100BGC an hour. Richard, offering him a generous wage proves of his appreciation of Tayaw's skill. "Have you informed of the owner of the bar about your needs? There are plenty of skilled guitar players here." Tayaw asked. "I did. But none of them are as consistent as you. I also noticed that you improvise a lot, which is the main reason I was looking for you." Richard said. "I will take it into consideration. While the offer is generous, I also have school. It's going to be finals by the end of the month and I also have to maintain my grades." Tayaw did not immediately accept. "That's fine too. I'll make do with other musicians for now. Here's my card, you can contact me if you're available. The address of the studio is also there." Richard nodded in understanding as he handed Tayaw his business card. Tayaw pocketed the card while considering giving it to Hoon after Tayaw assesses Hoon's current skills in the guitar.
"Regarding your studies, I can offer you a guitar scholarship." Professor Gitse spoke next.