Chapter 2: Meet the Employees, Part 1

Doesn't this just beat all?

First thing I knew… I should've crossed the spiritual boundary.

And the next thing I knew… I'm in some apartment owned by a loving couple.

But then…

I can see the enlivening aura that prevails in their abode.

I can see the honesty being shown as they are doing their morning rituals.

I can see the sincerity in their eyes as they are serving me my first decent breakfast after quite some time.

Maybe, just maybe…

They might be the key to really turning my life around, which is one thing I can't do on my own, sadly.

If they are successful in doing that, that's when I can formally give my eternal thanks.

***

I can see the glow within Aurora's eyes as we watch her happily munching on her breakfast.

As for our breakfast, it's just a simple combo of a hotdog, garlic fried rice, and a sunny side-up egg.

Five minutes pass, and we're all done with our breakfast.

"I'll go wash the dishes," Aurora volunteers.

"Thanks," Leigh complements. "Good thing you're willing to lessen our burdens."

"Because I have to do it."

The next thing we know, we're just watching some boring TV, and no sooner does Aurora join us on the couch we both sit in.

To be specific, the "boring TV" we're watching is some show that was originally shown a decade ago but had its plug pulled after just one season due to its dismal performance, ratings-wise.

"Doesn't this just beat all? Your tastes in TV shows are… bland," she reprimands in a hushed voice.

I facetiously counter, "Well, what else will we watch? There are thousands of channels out there, and browsing through each of them can be a chore."

"Well then," she then shifts her tone to that of a graceful princess. "I bet you haven't seen this show yet. It's one of my favorite shows growing up, and I never regret picking this as my all-time favorite."

She then reaches for the remote, punches in a sequence of numbers…

...and we're now being taken to a Spanish-language channel focusing on classic telenovelas.

"¡MALDITA LISIADA!" (YOU DARN CRIPPLE!)

We just drop our jaws as a woman, in an insane fit, tries to subjugate a young woman in a wheelchair.

Based on the little Spanish we've learned, that woman is clearly a villain out to destroy the life of that "darn cripple".

And as the telenovela cuts into a commercial break, Aurora explains everything.

"I loved the heck out of that scene, even though I know it's too melodramatic. But that's the charm of telenovelas like these."

Leigh comments, "At least… you have good taste."

"Yup, I can appreciate the classics. To tell you the truth, my family doesn't have enough money to buy DVDs or even Blu-rays of my favorite telenovelas, so I just rely on reruns on channels like this."

I happily weigh in, "Well… this quirk of yours… makes you look cute!"

"W-WHAT?!"

She just blushes heavily as she diverts her face away from ours.

Leigh coos, "Don't worry, darling. I know you're nice to others and to me, so your choice of language is so you."

Aurora just turns her head back to us, her face still beet-red, as she sputters…

"Y-You just called me… cute. Well… I appreciate that."

We just spend the rest of the day watching that telenovela and more.

This girl… Aurora…

Maybe she'll be the catalyst in strengthening my already-strong romantic bond with Leigh, my one and only girlfriend and reliable partner of five years.

Night now falls, and Leigh and I are both getting ready to perform as Brave Ad 65 once more.

Aurora's inquisitiveness prevails once more as she requests…

"Uh… Fred… Leigh… I'm curious as to how you actually sing on stage."

Leigh has an answer ready, "Well, we just train our voices to synchronize… to harmonize... with each other. That's what we do as a duo."

"Oh, I see. It's because… I want to actually see you perform!"

Whoa! That early already?

Oh well, we saved her last night, so we can't just leave her alone and destitute on the streets of Atlanta again.

Besides, having her get acquainted with the many friends we have, the employees of the country bar we perform at, is a nice bonus.

And thus, I affirm…

"Alright. You can go with us. Just have a shower and a change of clothes. Leigh will pick the clothes for you, OK?"

"Thanks!"

Mushy Baby's Drift Country Bar and Restaurant.

7:30 pm.

We three arrive earlier than usual, so as to introduce Aurora to the buddies we have before we actually perform on stage exactly an hour later.

Since we three already ate before we left, all we have to do is to have her get all chummy with each employee, and Leigh and I will act as her support.

First, we have Vic Montemayor, the bouncer.

At exactly seven feet with a muscular build and a face so calm, he's the quintessential gentle giant.

But anger him enough and it's a one-way trip to Suplex City for you.

Good thing all the patrons here are well-behaved, so he has yet to do that.

He just flashes an honest smile as he sees Aurora's face for the first time and introduces himself to her.

"I've heard in the news that you've rescued her, right? Looks like my heroic tendencies rubbed off on you."

Yes, Vic performed some heroic acts himself, like that one time when he caught an arsonist about to set fire to the establishment right next door.

Since he wants to get acquainted with the girl right away, he narrates an incident not long ago on how he engaged with a broke guy who admittedly only had $1 with him.

"He mistook this establishment for a disco club, when everyone knows that disco is, of course, dead. So when he handed me that dollar bill, I did what I had to do.

"I brought out a flashlight and shone it on top of him, acting as the disco ball.

"I also had to improvise my beat-boxing to serve as the substitute for the DJ.

"And well, he danced to the beat. Pretty cheap of me, you know, but I didn't want to let him down."

She just giggles before she reacts, "You're indeed a gentle giant. But I know you'll use the body you've worked so hard for to protect someone someday."

"Of course. I just didn't build my muscles for nothing. Now then, Miss Aurora… welcome to this humble establishment. Have a good time with Fred and Leigh, you hear?"

"Thanks."

Up next is Simone Rundgren, one of the bar's five waitresses.

The other waitresses, whom we also know by heart the same way as the other employees, are named Sabrina Misora Palbrook, Angeli Cuenca, Arcadia Ashford, and Stephanie Gonzales.

Out of the five waitresses, Simone's the shortest, at 5'5", while the others are at 5'6" on average.

And befitting the country theme of the bar, each waitress wears a short leather vest on top of a white dress shirt, plus a pleated long skirt displaying autumn leaves, secured by a leather belt.

And of course, who would forget the mandatory ten-gallon hat?

This dress code is implemented this way, as the bar itself caters to not just adults, but also children and teens, provided they bring their parents and/or guardians with them.

"Aw, you've brought a cutie with you! Now I'm feeling jealous," Simone gushingly remarks.

"'Cute'... may be overstating it," I jest, knowing how that word alone overpowered Aurora herself hours ago.

But then...

"But I have some traits that others will definitely regard as cute," Aurora insists. "Even Leigh will wholly agree with me. Riiiight?"

Just now, I can feel a minute heartbeat skip right from my girlfriend's own body, since she and I are holding hands ever since we entered this establishment.

Whatever that feeling is within her, I never feel a hint of envious jealousy. Ever.

"Oh well, different strokes for different folks, I guess," she resigns. "Now to ask the obvious. How'd you two meet her?"

I confidently answer by narrating everything to the letter everything that happened last night.

"Ah, I see. Good thing she's no accident fatality statistic."

"NOT just a statistic," Leigh cuts in. "There's a life behind it, you know."

"Yup, yup, whatever you say."

We can then hear a voice from the kitchen.

"Miss Simone! Please head to the kitchen immediately! We need to restock on lettuce!"

She then apologizes, "S-Sorry if I'll cut off our conversation like this. We still have work to do before the bar formally opens. Alright then… ciao!"

No sooner does she dash towards the kitchen like a certain blue hedgehog.

Oh well, we still have ample time to introduce our fair lass to the others.

***

Doesn't this just beat all?

In a positive way, that is.

I was saved by Fred and Leigh, learned they are country singers in a country bar…

And now… they're introducing me to their fellow employees, who are as amicable as them.

I now realize…

Things would turn out differently if I went ahead with my original plan, and they would not be pretty at all.