Ethan stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting his shirt for the hundredth time, as if the fabric itself could somehow smooth out the knots in his stomach.
His reflection stared back at him, but for a moment, it felt like someone else—someone more confident, more composed.
"I'm going on to an audition," he muttered.
He wasn't sure what had him more rattled: the fact that he was about to audition for a role that could change his life, or that Riley was outside, bouncing on his toes like a man on the verge of a caffeine overdose, waiting to drag him out the door.
He couldn't blame Riley, he was just as excited as Riley if not more. Finally, after months, he finally had some motion, even if it was with the help of a supernatural entity.
[Artificially evolved specie]
"Whatever,"
[You are a child]
"….."
He wasn't exactly sure what to do with a system that sassed back. He sighed, and glanced at his calendar, his fist balling as he did, he needed this motion to make waves.
He looked the mirror, staring at his very average look. Having not being blessed with the prettiest of faces, Ethan had always had a hard time as an actor, many indie movies were romance or thrillers, and he didn't exactly have the look for romance unless he was playing the role of the grabby pervert.
God knew how many times he had played the role of a perverted hobo. His faces twisted touching the crooked nose he got from that those fucking loan sharks.
Man he hated his life.
[I would advise the host to refrain from any more attempts to cease their existence of life]
"…."
"Well, can't get any more handsome than this," he smiled, a bright cheery smile that reached his eyes and made those limpid eyes of his very vibrant.
This was his best feature, his bright smile, he had been told very often by directors that it was charming and contagious.
Suppose you can't have all failures.
"Looking dashing, Cole, looking dash," he said to his reflection this clicked his tongue than struck a pose with his taking the position of a gun.
"Man, what the hell are you doing there? Wanking off before an audition isn't the best ideas!" Yelled Riley from outside the toilet.
Ethan sighed, rolling his eyes before leaving the toilet. "I was spiffing my look up you ugly troll,"
"Ah, looking as ugly as always, Cole, looking as horrendous as always," Riley fired back with a scrunch of his nose. "Why do you even have a full length mirror in your bathroom?"
Riley Kim was a half Asian man who had a tendency to speak before thinking, which often led to him getting into trouble or, in this case, making Ethan wish he could just live in silence for five minutes.
He had a lean build, his casual, effortless style making him seem like the kind of guy who could walk out of a fashion magazine without even trying.
His black hair, a little too long and messy, always looked like he had just run his hands through it—probably because he did.
His dark brown eyes sparkled with a mischievous energy, the kind that made you either laugh or roll your eyes, depending on your patience level.
He wore a grin that never quite reached his eyes, though—more like a smirk that said he was in on some joke that you weren't.
He had a light, athletic build and a voice that was always just a little too loud, always on the edge of enthusiastic chaos.
And, as much as he annoyed Ethan at times, there was an undeniable charm in the way he could turn any situation into a moment of laughter—or disaster, depending on how you saw it.
Riley's mother was friends with Ethan's mother and they had been friends since Ethan thought it was a good idea to swallow a slug during a dare in middle school and Riley screamed in horror and told on him.
"Because," Ethan drawled, stepping out of the bathroom and into the cramped room, "I'm trying to cultivate some level of self-respect. You know, since you and everyone else seem intent on crushing mine."
Riley, who was now jumping up and down in excitement, barely seemed to register the sarcasm. His eyes were wide, his grin as bright as ever, a clear sign that his energy level could probably power a small city.
"Well, I'm here to help you keep your self-respect, buddy," Riley said, clapping Ethan on the back a little too enthusiastically. "But first, we need to make sure you're ready. And by ready, I mean… looking halfway decent. You're still not going to outshine me, though."
Ethan snorted, tossing Riley a sideways glance as he grabbed his jacket from the chair.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Your ego couldn't handle it if I did."
Riley grinned like the smug bastard he was. "You're right, it wouldn't. But you're not gonna steal my thunder, not even with your 'charming' smile. So—how do you feel? Nervous? Scared? Shitting yourself?"
Ethan grimaced. "All of the above." He paused, glancing down at the old sneakers he'd yet to replace. The same ones that had seen better days—and better auditions. "It's a big deal. You know, I've been in this business long enough to know the odds are stacked against me. But this role… it's something else. I can feel it."
Riley's smile faded slightly, replaced with a genuine look of support. "Yeah, man, I can feel it too. You've got this. You've just gotta nail it. Don't think about the hundred other dudes trying out. Just focus on being you—just the 'you' that's good enough to make them remember."
Ethan met his best friend's eyes. "Come on, loser, let's go."
Riley shot him a mock salute, grinning like a madman, before grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair. "Hell yeah! I'm gonna be there to make sure you don't trip over your own feet, buddy. But no promises on not laughing if you do."
Ethan shook his head, smirking. "You're a real gem, you know that?"
"Hey, I'm a gem with a front-row seat to your success. It's a privilege." Riley winked, practically bouncing on his heels again as he marched toward the door. "Now, enough chit-chat. We're going to make you a star, Cole! Or at least, the kind of star who doesn't completely embarrass himself on his first audition."
Ethan chuckled, shaking off the tension that had been coiling up inside him. He threw his shoulders back, feeling something flicker—almost like a spark of the confidence he'd been missing. He wasn't going to let this moment slip away. Not when it was the only shot he had.
"Alright, let's do this." He grabbed his keys, pushing past Riley toward the door. "And if I do embarrass myself, you better not post it on social media."
Riley threw up his hands. "No promises, man. I'm a sucker for blackmail material."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna regret this."
It didn't take long for them to get to their destination, Ethan hadn't even gotten down from the cab before spotting the skyscraper with the huge signboard that said HollyMedia, you could be the next star.
"Holy shit its HollyMedia?!" Ethan yelled.
Riley nodded with two thumbs up. "Right, you imp, as your agent I can finally die happy when you get this gig, HollyMedia man!"
"Jesus Christ, fuck,"
"No, cussing man,"
Ethan rolled his eyes. I'm fucked. It's Holly freaking Media! The largest Entertainment company in America! What kind of start was this?
Hey system, the other scripts, we're they projects by HollyMedia as well?
[Starlight Cable, WebFlix, Arcane Media, Titan Films]
Ethan felt like he was dead again! His scalp tingle! What?! These were all giant companies! How was this even possible?! Normally he couldn't even smell the front doors of such a company let alone get an audition for a speaking role!
[I am one of a kind, host]
He could basically feel the system preening in pride.
Ethan's stomach twisted into knots as he stared up at the towering HollyMedia building. The glass windows reflected the bright, unforgiving sun, making the entire structure look like some gleaming fortress. He couldn't decide whether he felt like an imposter or a deer caught in headlights. Maybe both.
The entrance was a sleek revolving door, surrounded by polished marble floors and walls lined with gold and chrome accents. The lobby stretched out before him like the interior of a five-star hotel, with high ceilings and a massive chandelier that shimmered like it had been plucked from the heavens.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, but his body refused to cooperate. His palms were sweaty, his heart racing in his chest. He wasn't even sure if this was a dream anymore, or if he was just too tired to recognize his own misery.
"Come on, Cole! We're going in!" Riley slapped him on the back, a little too enthusiastically, nearly sending him stumbling forward into the lobby.
"Hey, relax," Ethan muttered, rubbing his shoulder where Riley had struck it. He glanced around, trying to act like he belonged here even though he felt like a fly in a glass of champagne.
Riley, however, was practically bouncing with excitement. His eyes were wide, his smile so broad it looked like it might crack his face in half. "Dude, this is it. The big leagues. You're gonna make it."
Ethan didn't answer, too busy looking at the luxury that surrounded him. The floors were gleaming so bright that you could see your own reflection in them. Plush chairs lined the lobby, some with people already seated, talking quietly on their phones or flipping through scripts. There was a soft hum of activity, yet everything felt so still, so polished.
A receptionist behind a marble desk smiled brightly as they approached. She was immaculate—blonde hair, tailored suit, makeup that didn't even hint at a flaw. She looked like she'd been born to hand out coffee and probably a few dreams on the side.
"Welcome to HollyMedia, gentlemen," she said with a practiced smile. "How can I assist you today?"
Ethan barely managed to swallow, his mouth dry. "Uh, I'm here for an audition… Cole. Ethan Cole." His voice cracked, betraying the nerves he couldn't quite hide.
The receptionist's smile didn't falter, though her eyes flicked to a tablet in front of her. "Ah, yes. Mr. Cole. Right on time. You're auditioning for A Love Remembered, correct?" She tapped the screen, confirming his name on a list before looking up again. "Please, take the elevator to the 19th floor. Room 1903. You'll be greeted there by the casting director."
"Thanks," Ethan muttered, barely able to form words. He turned to Riley, who was practically vibrating with energy.
"I'm gonna wait here," Riley said, clapping Ethan on the back again, "but don't screw this up, alright? I've already imagined your Oscar speech."
Ethan gave him a half-hearted smile before turning back to the receptionist, who gave him a polite nod and a smile that said good luck.
Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the elevator. His shoes made quiet, hesitant clicks against the marble floor as he approached the door. The whole building felt like a mausoleum of ambition, each step closer to the elevator feeling like a deeper plunge into the unknown.
The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped inside. The soft hum of the mechanism filled the silence as he pressed the button for the 19th floor. As the elevator rose, Ethan's thoughts bounced between the absurdity of the situation and his growing dread.
The numbers above the door blinked as the floors ticked by one by one, and with each passing second, the knot in his stomach twisted tighter. He was really doing this.
He hadn't even realized how much he was holding his breath until the doors opened with a soft chime.
The 19th floor didn't look much different from the lobby—modern, sleek, and sterile, with more soft lighting and minimalist decor. A young woman wearing a headset stood just inside, ready to direct him. She motioned for him to follow her down the hall, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she led him to a door marked with the words Audition Room 1903.
Ethan stepped inside, trying to act natural, but every inch of his body screamed imposter. The room was large, with bright lights and a simple setup. Two casting directors sat at a table with a camera pointed directly at them.
"Mr. Cole, please have a seat," one of the directors said, gesturing to the empty chair across from them. He didn't even glance up from his notes. The other director gave him a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Sure." Ethan cleared his throat and sat down, trying to remember that he was supposed to be here, that this was his chance. His hands were clammy, but he wiped them on his pants before leaning back in the chair.
The director who hadn't spoken yet adjusted his glasses and looked at the sheet of paper in front of him. "I see here you're auditioning for the role of Elliot Parks in A Love Remembered. How familiar are you with the premise of the script?"
Ethan swallowed. "I—uh, I've read it. A few times."
According to Riley the audition was meant to be done without any script.
The director nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"Good. Whenever you're ready, Mr. Cole. Take your time."
And there it was. His chance. His heart thundered in his chest, and for a moment, everything went quiet. He wasn't sure if it was nerves, the pressure, or the fact that this was the first real audition he'd had in what felt like forever, but something in him clicked.
He took a deep breath, stood up, and prepared to do what he had to do.
This was his shot.