Jack Of Arts

January 14, 2012 – Saturday 11 pm – Nasiri, Nabla

"Pleasure doing business with you." Tayaw thanked the former landowner of the lot he just purchased. "Likewise. I hope you make something of it." The man replied. "Would you like to go to lunch? I'll treat you." The landowner invited Tayaw and the lawyers with them. Tayaw, after spending millions, would not refuse a free lunch.

When Tayaw came back to Ouigab a week ago, Tayaw immediately explored Nasiri and found out that it is still very bare. Aside from an organic chicken farm and some warehouses, there's nothing else. He also found a great location on the side of the hill that faces away from Ouigab, having a good view of the North Teungeb Mountains instead.

He then decided to purchase a group of vacant lots, contacted their owners, and convinced them to sell to him. In the end, he is now the owner of a total of 530m x 530m (approx. 70 acres) land, basically 15% of Nasiri Hill, for the price of 38 million BGC.

Tayaw shook his head at the price. Even though Nasiri is not rural, he could not believe how low the price of the land is.

Even if things will go differently this time around for Ouigab, and that Nasiri will not be a rich neighborhood in the future just like it was in his past life, Tayaw would not feel that it's a waste. Having a big land all to himself, after all, offers him great privacy. With his enhanced body, he can play around as much as he wants and no one will see his oddly superhuman physical abilities.

If he will not use it as his playground, Payew can use it for his farm. If Payew refuses, Agew can use it to be his workshop and future base of operations for his craft business. If not, then Tayaw can develop the land himself.

-

After the lunch with landowner, Tayaw drove to another restaurant to continue his lunch. It would look bad for him had he actually eaten his fill on the landowner's dime, especially if his fill can feed five people.

"Yeah. That's all. Hmm. Don't worry, I haven't eaten in 24 hours." Tayaw said to the server when he saw the server's uncertain face about the amount of food Tayaw just ordered. After ordering his food, he pulled out his laptop to browse his recently-made e-mail.

Last week, when he visited Clambu, he did not have a way to contact screenwriters, so he just visited famous spots in the city. What he did instead was to buy ad spots in Clambu's local newspapers to post notes about him looking for a script. He also posted in job websites like how he did when he was looking for a book agent.

Over the past few days, there were forty or so people who have sent him the summaries of their scripts but none could compare to the story lines of the movies he received from the giant roulette. He wants to check his e-mail nonetheless to see if a good movie premise came up.

"Why do they all have to be about sports?" Tayaw read some of the new submissions. "Another knight in shining armor tale. They're not even fresh ideas." Tayaw shook his head that he's seen these premises before, only in different skins, and immediately scrapped them.

"Oh. This one looks good." Tayaw said as he saw one submitted by a [email protected]

[[In a small city, an office worker woke up one day and went to work just as usual. The next day, however, he found something was strange. Because of his habit of watching the TV while eating breakfast, he realized that the morning news was covering the same news he saw the morning the day before.

The day got stranger when he was on his way to work, he saw his neighbor painting his fence just like the day before as if the paint was undone, the same cab driver picked him up, and it was the same person that served him coffee on his favorite coffee shop.

At work, the pretty receptionist was wearing the same clothes and greeted him the exact way she did the day before. When he arrived at his desk to check the work he did the day before, he found out that the work he did were all undone as if he didn't even start doing them.

The man continued to waking up to the same day for three consecutive days so he finally accepted that he's in a time loop. He then decided to live his life like it's his last. He started gambling, indulging in the company of p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.es, and picking fights.

One day, when he picked a fight with the wrong man, he was killed. Still, he woke up finding himself in the morning of the day he's stuck in.

Realizing that not even death can stop him, he continued to indulge himself every time the day resets. After exploring the city and traveling as much as the day would allow him, he grew tired. He's repeated to do things enough that he grew tired of them and he wanted out.

Like how the time loop saved him from death, it also prevented him from taking his life as a way out.]]

Tayaw found the script fresh. Even if he didn't receive the filmmaking skills from the roulette, as a casual viewer of movies, he found the script revolutionary.

While waiting for his sumptuous order, Tayaw called the phone number that the screenwriter attached to his e-mail. After a few rings, the screenwriter picked up.

"Hello? Jouny Yalen?" Tayaw asked, using the screenwriter's e-mail to address the person. "Yes. May I know who this is?" Tayaw heard a woman's voice from the other side of the line. "Hello. I'm Tayaw Dagem, the person who you sent the summary of your script." Tayaw said.

"OH! How did you find my work?" Jouny asked, hoping that Tayaw brings good news. "Ms. Yalen, I like the premise very much. I would love to talk to you in person." Tayaw said. Jouny stayed silent for a few seconds before replying. "May I know first if you're interested in making it into a movie?" Jouny asked.

"I can't promise you that yet, Ms. Yalen. I have to see the entirety of the script first." Tayaw replied. He heard Jouny sigh from the phone. "Alright. Where do I find you?" Jouny asked.

"I'm based here in Ouigab. So, if you're ready, you can call me through this number." Tayaw said. "Okay. I'll be there tomorrow." Jouny said. "I'll be waiting."

-

The next day, Tayaw went to the bus station to pick up Jouny. Tayaw was about to go out in his usual hoodie and jeans outfit but realized that to make things easier, he has to appear more business-like, so he wore his three piece suit.

While sitting at the waiting area, holding up a sign with Jouny's name on it, he saw a couple walk towards him. The lady, who looks to be in her late 30s, has the physical features of a regular Teungebian woman, but looked skinny and pale as if she has was not shined on by the sun for years. The man, in strong contrast to the lady, is tall, a little overweight but muscular, and his skin is shiny and dark, kissed by the sun.

"Hello, young man, I'm Jouny." Jouny introduced herself and her husband, Ongki. "Pleasure to meet you two." Tayaw introduced himself as well. "My ride is this way." Tayaw said, saving the pleasantries for later as the bus station is too crowded and too smoky for his liking.

Tayaw and the couple then jumped into his truck and left the bus station. As Tayaw drove the couple to a nearby restaurant, Jouny could not help but ask "Young man, can you tell me something about Mr. Dagem?" "Ah. Ms. Yalen, I'm Tayaw Dagem." Tayaw said to the surprise of the couple.

"Ah. It's nice to meet you. I didn't know you are so…" Jouny was hesitant in finisher her sentence. "Young? I get that a lot, Ms. Yalen." Tayaw chuckled. Ongki who was silent all the way looked at Tayaw in interest. "Where are we going, Mr. Dagem?" Ongki asked.

"You two have not had your lunch yet? Yes? You also sat on the bus for what, five? Six hours? Let's go to my favorite restaurant. My treat." Tayaw said. "Then we thank you in advance." Ongki accepted gladly, but Jouny elbowed him with a glare. Ongki just shrugged. Tayaw who caught the couple's interaction in the back seat, was amused. They behave a lot like his parents.

A few minutes later, Tayaw and the couple entered the same restaurant Tayaw had his lunch the day before, the waiter who served him greeted him with a nod and escorted the trio to a table. "Hey. I'll take this.. that.. and this. Mr. and Mrs. Yalen, you can order what you want." Tayaw said. He also looked at Jouny "You don't have to be polite." He added as a signal to Jouny to let Ongki eat to his satisfaction.

Looking at the couple wearing what looks like three layers of clothing, Tayaw figured that the couple does not visit mountain cities that often. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you two from?" Tayaw started a small talk while they wait for their food.

"I'm a native of Clambu and my husband here is originally from Kangpan." Jouny answered. "Hmm. I moved to Clambu when my wife and I were dating." Ongki said, perhaps a little too much information. The trio continued to talk about mundane things until Ongki suddenly brought up an important matter.

"Mr. Dagem, how long have you been making films?" Ongki asked. Jouny is also interested. "I have not made a single film." Tayaw said to the disappointment of the couple. "However, I regard myself a film critic. I know what a good movie is and what is not." Tayaw clarified. He's not telling the whole truth of course. While he does not have an experience making films in this world, he has the skills of a filmmaker from another world.

"Speaking of good films, I think your script has the potential to be one." Tayaw said, finally bringing up the script.