….
Seren let out a warm laugh, shaking off the tension. "That's just a nice way of saying he is a pain, isn't it?
"...." Grace didn't respond, but her silence spoke volumes - because Seren wasn't wrong.
"Don't worry too." Seren added with a wink. "You will get used to him. If I can survive being his sister, you will be fine."
Grace stared at Seren in silence for a moment, her expression unreadable, before turning her gaze back toward the set.
Seren didn't let the quiet deter her. She had a knack for breaking through walls, no matter how stoic or reserved the person.
It was just a matter of time.
"But what is there in him for you to even feel jealous about? He is just a simple tin." Seren quipped, looking at Keanu this time.
"*chuckle…" For the first time a light smile escaped from Grace's mouth, which she soon covered up with her hand.
If Regal had seen it, he would have likely burst in between, accusing Seren of somehow influencing his actress.
But before Seren could push the conversation any further, a loud shout echoed across the set, cutting through the ambient noise.
"Alright." Regal's voice cut sharply through the air, his eyes locked onto the camera lens as he adjusted the shot.
"One, two, and ACTION!"
Seren glanced over at Grace, who, too, had fallen into quiet observation mode.
The camera rolled, focused on the actors, Keanu as Cobb, Andrew as Bill.
Meanwhile, Darren, having completed his report on the extras and confirmed the music track, took his place.
With no role in this particular shoot, he carried out Regal's instructions, playing the track on loop at low volume as the scene began.
….
The scene began with a wide shot of Cobb, played by Keanu, walking unassumingly and weaving through the thinning crowd.
He wore a striking black suit, drawing occasional passersby's attention, and similarly, Bill, played by Andrew, couldn't take his eyes off him.
Magnetism. It was the only word Bill could use to describe it.
The camera stayed tight on Bill's shoulder, capturing his subtle unease as he followed Cobb, silent but fascinated
As Cobb turned into a narrow street, the crowd faded away. The camera continued to track Bill, maintaining a close perspective as he pursued Cobb.
And then, as though proving Bill's paranoia, Cobb vanished at the alley's rounded corner, disappearing behind a brick wall.
Bill, his pace quickening, ran after him, the camera mirroring his urgency.
But when he turned the corner, he froze.
??The alley was empty.
The camera moved to a dutch angle on Bill as he scanned his surroundings, his breath quickening, the silence amplifying his rising tension.
?!Behind him.
Then, a faint shuffle behind him made Bill turn.
Just as Bill was about to react, a hand shot out, grabbing his arm and twisting it with brutalness.
THUD!
The camera moved to a close-up, zeroing in on Bill, his panic, confusion, and pain captured in vivid detail.
His face was pinned against the brick wall, the force of the impact pushed the air from his lungs.
The camera stayed over Cobb's shoulder(OST shot), capturing his silence looming in the foreground, while focusing on Bill, the face of desperation and raw vulnerability.
On the other hand, Cobb didn't speak.
He didn't need to.
His presence dominated the frame, his grip on Bill's neck unrelenting.
He leaned in close, his grip on the back of Bill's neck unrelenting, keeping him pinned to the wall.
The silence hung heavy between them, broken only by the frantic pace of Bill's shallow breaths.
"M-misunderstanding." Andrew stammered, as he tried to explain. "It's a misunderstanding, I swear!"
Keanu as Cobb didn't flinch, didn't blink.
He studied Bill like he was dissecting him, his cold gaze boring into him.
?!Andrew, caught in the intensity of the scene, felt his pulse quicken, not just as Bill, but as himself.
He had seen Keanu's focus during the read-through, but being on the end of fully receiving it, with the camera rolling, it felt like a completely different experience.
The coldness in which Keanu inhabited Cobb was something Andrew hadn't fully anticipated.
He had underestimated it.
After all, Andrew had spent two years training at a professional acting school, not the top-tier, but it was structured and formal.
He had the technical knowledge, the craft and the theory.
Meanwhile, Keanu?
A few theater gigs here and there, a bit of experience, but no formal film school background.
Andrew had always thought that made the difference. He justified it, told himself that he was the one who had put in the work, the hours.
But now, standing here, facing Keanu, was a performer who seemed to transcend the craft.
All those thoughts seemed hollow.
This wasn't just acting.
Keanu wasn't pretending to be Cobb. He was Cobb - for this second, for this moment.
For a brief, terrifying moment, the grip around Andrew's neck tightened, making it difficult to breathe.
Then, as if Cobb had decided to grant him a sliver of mercy, the hold loosened just enough to let him gasp for air but not enough to break free.
Bill's heart hammered in his chest, and for a fleeting moment, he thought there might still be hope.
A passerby's figure appeared at the far end of the alley.
Bill's mind leaped at the possibility, his voice cracking as he called out, strained with fear.
"Help... help!"
The stranger slowed, their eyes flickering between the scene and Bill's pleading gaze.
But there was no hesitation in their actions, only a momentary confusion followed by a dismissive shake of the head.
They turned and walked away, leaving Bill to face his fate alone.
His shoulders sagged, the realization settling in like cold stone, no one was coming. No one was going to save him.
Bill's breath hitched, the desperation coming through. "I-I was just observing! For research!"
It was a last-ditch attempt to explain himself, but the fear in his voice, the raw vulnerability, betrayed him.
Suddenly, Cobb's hand tightened for a fraction of a second, just enough to make Bill's breath catch, before releasing completely.
Bill staggered but didn't move.
And then, Cobb laughed. It wasn't loud, nor cruel.
"Haaa... haaa…"
It was soft, almost tender, but it carried a weight that made Bill's knees feel weak, echoing in the alley - a sound that chilled more than it comforted.
Andrew fought to reclaim the scene, his instincts pushing him forward. He turned, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and resolve, meeting Cobb's gaze head-on.
Keanu didn't relent.
His expression shifted ever so slightly, an almost imperceptible smirk, a flicker of amusement that sent a shiver down Andrew's spine.
This was no longer just a scene.
It was a battle.
Andrew gritted his teeth and leaned into the moment, pushing the desperation in his voice to the edge. "You don't understand. I wasn't following you-!"
Step, Cobb interrupted with a single step closer, closing the space between them.
The dominance was palpable, suffocating. But Andrew wasn't going to let himself be overshadowed.
Cobb tilted his head, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Do you know what happens to people who get too curious?"
Andrew didn't hesitate. His breath quickened, the fear mixing with defiance as he stared straight into Cobb's eyes.
With a shaky breath, he whispered. "I found out."
The tension in the air snapped, sharp and undeniable.
Behind the camera, Regal's hands tightened their hold, his heart fully excited from the performances.
Just as the scene reached its breaking point, the camera cut.
"Cut." Regal breathed, almost as though he hadn't realized he had been holding his breath.
Andrew exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling as the tension of the scene slowly began to ease. His body was still taut with the raw energy of the moment.
Keanu stood motionless for a beat, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he gave a small nod, acknowledging the end of the take.
Seren, standing off to the side, couldn't tear her gaze away. She also remained quiet, her thoughts swirling as she processed what she had just witnessed.
For Grace, however, even with her usual stoic demeanor, a glint of smug satisfaction crept into her eyes.
She glanced at Seren, her voice barely a whisper. "...You got the answer right?"
And Seren, finally breaking her silence, could only nod in agreement. "...I did."
Meanwhile, Regal jogged over to his actors, a satisfied grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Without hesitation, he leapt toward them, his hands landing on their necks with hearty slaps.
"That was fantastic, guys. Seriously, nailed it!" He said, his voice echoing with approval as he gave each of them a firm pat.
Click-!
From the sidelines, Seren instinctively snapped a photo of the moment with the camera in her hand. She wasn't sure why, it was just one of those candid scenes that felt worth capturing.
"Think we need another take?" Keanu asked, smirking as he tilted his head, partly to adjust under Regal's lingering grip.
"...Yeah, Director, what's the verdict?" Andrew added, his tone playful but ready to go again if needed.
Regal released a deep breath, stepping back to review the playback on the monitor. His eyes flicked between the screen and the actors before he finally spoke.
"Hmm… nope. We are good."
Keanu and Andrew exchanged grins, visibly relaxing as they rolled their shoulders, the adrenaline of the scene beginning to fade.
Regal clapped his hands together, his voice cutting through the fading energy of the set. "Alright, that's a wrap for today, boys! Go get some rest, you have earned it!"
The actors nodded, offering fist bumps before heading off, leaving Regal standing there with a satisfied grin and a glance toward Seren, who was still holding the camera.
"You took a picture?" He asked, arching a brow.
Seren shrugged, lowering the camera. "You looked less annoying than usual. Figured it was worth immortalizing."
Regal chuckled, shaking his head as he turned back toward the set.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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