Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

…..

Tring-!

Tring-!Tring-!

Keanu stood at the doorstep of Regal's home come office, his finger pressing against the doorbell constantly.

"...."

A few seconds of silence passed.

And just as he was about to reach for the button again -

"Calm down, why are you in such a hurry?" Seren's voice chimed in his ear, laced with impatience as his actions.

Look at yourself before saying that, Keanu shot Seren a sharp look, biting back the obvious retort.

Her breathing was slightly uneven - a clear sign of how fast they had rushed over. The so-called urgency of the news they carried had propelled them here without a second thought.

Even so, her words made him pause.

His pulse was hammering, sweat on his forehead, but beneath the adrenaline was something bigger - something too overwhelming to contain.

Excitement.

Relief.

Pure, unfiltered joy.

And he needed to share it with the one root cause for all of this.

Creak–!

"REGAL! We did-!"

Keanu barely got the words out before Seren yanked him back by the collar and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Because the person who had opened the door wasn't Regal.

More precisely - it was a woman with her blond hair tied up.

"Good morning, Gwendolyn." Seren greeted smoothly, ignoring Keanu's muffled protests and restless fidgeting. "Is Regal home?"

Keanu, momentarily stunned by the interruption and yanked by his neck, tried to mumble something under his breath.

"Fuc-!" He was about to murmur a curse.

"Language, Keanu." Seren warned lightly, removing her hand just as he straightened up, pretending he hadn't said anything at all.

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly against the doorframe.

Her gaze flickered between Keanu's barely-contained excitement and Seren's more composed, if not slightly breathless, demeanor.

One thought crossed her mind - they look cute together.

"…Yes, morning, Seren. And, Keanu." Gwendolyn greeted them with a knowing smile.

Momentarily, her eyes flickered briefly to the newspaper clutched in Keanu's hands - and just so she understood what this was about.

"He is sleeping." She added, stepping aside to let them in.

"…Sleeping?" Keanu echoed, confused.

?!!

But the realization hit him almost immediately.

From the time he had come to know Regal, he had always and only talked about either scripts, cinema… or occasionally food.

He had barely seen him sleep for six hours a day - committing himself into every aspect of the film.

Even last week was the same - movie promotions, proposing ideas, monitoring every detail, and making sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

He could guess that Regal had done his best until the very last moment and had only stopped yesterday when the film finally hit theaters.

Of course, he would be exhausted.

Keanu hesitated, unknown guilt creeping in.

He knew how much Regal needed this rest.

But the success, the recognition, the praise they are finally receiving - he wanted to share all this excitement.

….

Keanu, Seren, and Gwendolyn settled outside Regal's actual flat - the same room that was used for reading the sessions of the movie.

They had decided not to disturb him.

Seren's gaze drifted to Gwendolyn, who had just returned with three coffee cups on a tray, handing one to both her and Keanu before taking one for herself.

While taking one for herself.

Despite the fact that she was already informed of their dating, it was only yesterday that Seren had officially met Gwendolyn - her 'big brother's' girlfriend.

She still found it a bit of a spectacle… How did he, of all people, manage to rope in someone like her?

That being said, she wasn't particularly surprised to find Gwendolyn here.

If anything, it made sense.

Meanwhile, Keanu took a sip of his coffee, letting the warmth settle his nerves before carefully unfolding the bundle of newspapers with anticipation.

"Sooo… excited about something?" Gwendolyn was the first to break the silence, her face half-hidden behind her coffee cup.

"...Yeah." Keanu replied, his grip on the paper tightening slightly. "The movie got some good reviews, so I wanted to see them with Regal."

Gwendolyn hummed knowingly. She had been doing the same, scanning every article, lurking in forums, keeping track of any discussion surrounding the film.

"Huh, only with Regal? You are not going to share it with me?" She teased, flashing a grin.

"It isn't like that, Miss Gwen–!"

"Just Gwendolyn. Or I wouldn't mind if it's Big Sis too." She corrected him smoothly, cutting him off before he could finish.

Keanu hesitated for a second. The words big sis felt way too foreign. Especially considering he had only met her for the first time yesterday.

But Gwendolyn had a way of getting close to people a little too fast if she wanted to.

He conceding with a quiet mutter. "…It isn't like that, Gwendolyn."

"*cough…" Seren's very deliberate fake cough made them pause.

Unfortunately, Gwendolyn wasn't one to let an opportunity slip by.

"Aww, don't get jealous, Seren." She turned her attention to the other girl with a sly smile. "You can call me 'big sis' too. In fact, you are the first one to me."

"...." Seren blinked.

She considered herself an extrovert in every sense of the word, but even she had to admit she couldn't quite match the woman sitting in front of her.

So again, how did this woman end up falling for her not-so-extroverted and unruly brother?

Before Seren could dwell on that thought any further, Gwendolyn suddenly stood up from her seat.

"Well then, let's see what these so-called critics are saying."

With no further warning, Gwendolyn effortlessly settled, squeezing into the space between them, eyes flicking to the newspaper as if she had been part of this conversation from the very start.

====

Rex Reed – New York Observer:

"A masterstroke of psychological suspense - every frame drips with unease."

Rex Reed praises the film's intricate storytelling and the way it immerses the audience in a world of paranoia and deception. He highlights how the film plants subtle clues about Cobb's true form, making it a rewarding experience for keen-eyed viewers.

Keanu Reeves, in his striking debut as Cobb, is especially mesmerizing.

His performance exudes effortless charm, making his character all the more unsettling upon rewatch. The way he plays someone both dangerously persuasive and utterly intangible is nothing short of remarkable.

"With its razor-sharp writing and hypnotic tension, [Following] solidifies itself as an unforgettable psychological thriller."

"But beyond the film itself, it's impossible to ignore the impact of Stephen Hawking as its presenter. His long-awaited return adds a level of prestige, making this debut from an unknown cast and director feel like an instant classic."

====

"…'Mesmerizing' and 'remarkable,' huh?" Gwendolyn mused, reading aloud another excerpt while shooting Keanu a teasing glance.

She turned the page, scanning it briefly before reading out a few more highlights. Keanu and Seren both leaned in slightly, their eyes following the paper as Gwendolyn continued.

"Um-hum, it looks like you really have been making waves and getting praised from all directions."

Keanu coughed lightly, pretending to focus on his drink. "I-It's just one review."

"Haa… don't be shy."

====

Richard Roeper – Chicago Sun-Times:

"A rare colorful noir style masterpiece - tense, gripping, and filled with jaw-dropping reveals."

He specifically applauds the cinematographer's balance between realism and paranoia, making the audience feel just as trapped as the protagonist.

====

Gwendolyn nodded at that, her eyes scanning the review.

He is right, she thought, remembering the incredible cinematography. It really did make her feel trapped.

====

Peter Travers – Rolling Stone:

"An electrifying mind-bender that will make you question reality itself."

Peter Travers celebrates the film's ability to reward multiple viewings, calling it one of the most cleverly crafted psychological thrillers of the decade.

The layers of deception woven into Keanu's performance make Cobb a character you think you understand - until you don't.

As for Grace, the female lead, Travers commends not only her beauty but also her spot-on performance.

"Few films pull off a twist that redefines everything before it, but this one does with surgical precision."

====

Manohla Dargis – The New York Times:

"A mesmerizing descent into obsession, deception, and fractured identity."

Manohla Dargis praises the film's meticulous pacing, allowing tension to build with each scene.

"The final shot will leave you reeling. But beyond its storytelling, this film is a statement - a debut that proves its young director and actors are forces to be reckoned with. It's rare for a film with no established stars to feel this gripping."

====

David Ehrlich – IndieWire:

"A thriller that dares you to rewatch it - and rewards you for doing so."

David Ehrlich focuses on the film's narrative structure, highlighting how each scene is filled with clues that only become obvious upon a second viewing.

"The fact that this is a debut film is almost shocking - there's a level of detail I only noticed on my second watching that was nothing short of astounding. The hints were right in front of the audience from the start, yet no one noticed them because of the brilliance of the cinematography. A particular mirror shot during one of the brawls was so obvious, but every moment felt deliberate. While the director and actors certainly deserve immense credit, let's not forget Stephen Hawking's contribution. His involvement added a level of prestige that elevated the entire project."

====

Just then the door to the room opened.

Creak—!

The door swung open, revealing Regal walking out from the room, looking like he had barely gotten out of bed.

His hair was a mess, his hoodie slightly askew, and his eyes carried the unmistakable haze of someone who had been glued to a screen for way too long.

Keanu's eyes lit up immediately.

"Regal!" He started, his voice brimming with emotion, before cutting himself off.

Regal blinked at them, eyes shifting between Keanu's barely contained enthusiasm and Seren's exasperated sigh and Gwendolyn sitting between the both of them.

"…You two are here?" He finally asked, feeling all the fatigue wash away.

.

….

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★

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