….
[January 15th, 2011]
….
"Hey, Seren!"
Keanu's voice boomed from the hall, loud enough to Seren's room, as she worked on an outfit design.
"It better be something important…" She muttered, her tone dripping with annoyance.
Still, she didn't ignore him.
Setting aside the tolls, she made her way toward the hall, a measurement tape still hung around her neck.
Her irritation was evident as she stepped into view, and asked. "What is it?"
Keanu, seemingly oblivious to her mood, pointed the TV remote at the screen and turned the volume up.
"How confident are you in your brother's capabilities in something other than being a direction?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Seren winced, instinctively covering her ears as the sudden blare of the TV filled the room. "Are you trying to get us kicked out by the neighbors? Why are you turning it up this much?" She snapped.
"Just answer the question." Keanu insisted, unfazed, his eyes still glued to the screen.
"What are you—" Seren started but stopped mid-sentence when Keanu, without a word, pointed his index finger at the TV.
With a sigh, she walked closer, her curiosity piqued despite herself.
Turning to see what he was pointing at, she barely got a glance at the screen before the sound hit her ears.
Her expression shifted immediately.
That voice.
She knew it instantly.
On the TV, a young man stood confidently, addressing the camera.
His voice rang out clearly, introducing himself to the audience.
"I am Regal Seraphsail." He declared in a monotone expression.
??Seren froze, her grip tightening around the ladle. Her eyes widened as realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
"You have got to be kidding me." She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, already feeling the weight of impending embarrassment.
Her eyes darted between the TV screen and her boyfriend, making sure she is not imagining things. Without thinking, she dropped the ladle, the metal clinking on the ground as her hand flew to her forehead.
"Oh my gosh. He is going to embarrass me to death." Seren groaned, the scenario playing out in her mind.
She could already see it, her brother's face on the screen, utterly making a fool of himself, and her trying to distance herself as if she had never known him.
"From today onwards, he has nothing to do with me." She mumbled to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.
A thought hit her like a slap to the face.
"Wait... What if people find out I am his sister?" Her voice cracked, the weight of secondhand embarrassment heavy in her words as the consequences started to sink in.
She turned to Keanu, eyes wide with panic, her face flushed in a mix of mortification and dread. "This is it. I am doomed."
Keanu, who was comfortably lounging on the couch, gave Seren a long, confused look.
He honestly couldn't understand this brother-sister dynamic.
One minute, they were the best of friends, practically inseparable, and the next, Seren was acting as if the mere thought of being linked to Regal was a curse.
But through trial and error, Keanu had learned one invaluable lesson when dealing with Seren's emotional rollercoaster.
Don't comment.
That was the key.
If he said anything, no matter how supportive, it could easily be twisted against him. He knew if he spoke out of turn, he would be the one in the hot seat, even if he was trying to back her up.
The best thing was to stay silent, nod, and let the storm pass.
So, Keanu did exactly that.
He leaned back, silently observing her meltdown, waiting for the storm to calm.
Meanwhile, on the screen, Regal continued to speak, his voice calm yet confident, almost as though he was owning the entire stage.
Even with all the grumbling, Seren couldn't tear her eyes away as he introduced himself.
Keanu, however, raised an eyebrow.
From what Seren had just 'described' about Regal, he didn't exactly seem like someone who had the talent to make it far in a show.
Yet, here he was, clearly in the spotlight.
If Regal had made it this far in the show, there had to be something to his talent.
There was no way the management of LA Got Talent, the popular reality show, would let someone untalented get to this stage of the competition unless they had something to offer, something that stood out enough to be worthy of a spot in front of millions of viewers.
Not with their reputation on the line.
Keanu wasn't blind, he had seen enough reality shows to understand the ruthless mechanics behind them.
This show was no different.
The show thrived on talent, numbers, ratings, and fan support.
But more than that, it thrived on the truth. If someone didn't have the chops, it would be clear soon enough, and the audience, along with the producers, wouldn't hesitate to show it.
No one could fake their way through to the top without genuine skill.
But then again, Keanu considered, rigging was reserved for the privileged.
The ones with influence, the ones who held the reins.
Regal, as 'far' as Keanu knew, was still a newcomer to the industry.
He had no power, no connections to pull strings behind the scenes.
Keanu looked back at the TV, his eyes narrowing a bit as he observed the judges and anchor.
They seemed to not recognize Regal yet, which didn't surprise him at all.
Keanu understood the game all too well.
For people like Regal and himself, success didn't mean instant recognition, at least not the kind that made you a household name.
No, they were still far from being real celebrities, far from the kind of status that would get them instant recognition from the people around them.
They had climbed one step, but the mountain ahead was still steep and demanding.
It wasn't about humility, it was about reality.
They weren't there yet.
Not by a long shot.
Keanu leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen, his thoughts shifting now toward what was coming next.
This moment was critical, and there were two things he was really curious about.
First, how would the audience react?
The judges, too, and all those watching from the comfort of their own homes.
They had no idea who Regal was, not yet.
What would happen if they found out the person performing on stage was the same Regal Seraphsail who made a massive splash with his debut film [Following] just a few months ago?
The fact that Regal had made waves with his movie meant something, but the public had a funny way of forgetting.
Time and distance dulled memories if no one was actively keeping them alive.
But Keanu knew the first time wasn't a waste of time.
The second time around, Regal would be remembered more easily.
The effects of his debut would linger a little longer. And by the time he made his next move, it would be a lot harder for people to forget who he was.
Each time he stepped into the limelight, it would be easier for him to stay there, his name sticking in the minds of the audience.
It was all about building momentum.
And Regal was in the perfect position to capitalize on that.
….
"So this is what he meant when he said… I have got a brilliant idea to put the name of my next project out there to the people, huh?" Gwendolyn murmured, watching the semifinals episode air.
"Please wipe that smug look off your face, Gwen. It is actually kind of irritating." Maggie shot back, clearly annoyed. She, too, was stuck watching 'something special,' as per her boss's request.
"Now, now, don't get jealous on me… One day, I will get a wonderful partner for you, too. Well, maybe not as amazing as Regal, but close." Gwendolyn teased with a smirk.
That only seemed to rile Maggie up even more.
…
"Haaa... That kid did it again." Muttered an elderly man in an armchair, his hand clenching the handle of the chair tightly under his grip, staring at the TV screen with an amused expression. "I knew he had been too quiet for too long."
He continued watching the show, his smile growing as the final revelations came on. The episode wrapped up in a matter of minutes, leaving him to reflect.
"That was quick… but it was fun. I can't wait for the day that kid shakes things up in this industry. Maybe he will bring something entirely new to Hollywood one day."
He leaned back, almost nostalgic. "I should have dinner with him sometime… It's been way too long since I had cup noodles for dinner."
…
"That bastard must be laughing his ass off right now…" Another person muttered under his breath, eyes fixed on the final sketch drawn by Regal on the screen.
"...And that brat, too. He was so forward about trying to get into my good books last time, but he still has the nerve to sketch that idiot of all people?" He sighed, frustration evident on his face.
He picked up his phone, dialed a number, and spoke with a serious tone. "Find out about the person involved in the movie coming out the same week as [Death Note]… And also, check on someone named Liam. Or whatever else you can find related to this. Got it?"
With a sharp click, he ended the call, his mind already racing ahead to his next move.
….
Regal stared at the floating notification, his eyebrows slightly furrowing.
"…Sigh… This system is up to something weird again." He exhaled, rubbing his temple.
He had long since gotten used to its sudden, often cryptic pop-ups, but it never failed to make him feel like he was missing some fine print somewhere.
His eyes scanned the screen.
•-------[NOTIFICATIONS]-------•
Ⓘ LA Got Talent (Participant/Semi Finalist)
→ [Collect Rewards:] [Y/N]
•-------------------------------•
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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