….
[December 31st, 2010]
….
The filming of [Death Note] was finally completed exactly two days ago.
Regal took a total of 72 days for filming the whole movie - an astonishingly small number, but pretty understandable for those who experienced his efficiency during sets.
….
Today was the last day of the year.
Undoubtedly, a special day.
However, for Zack Barg and his family, it was a bit more special than usual - because today was his youngest daughter's third birthday.
Naturally, Regal had been invited.
And, of course, Zack didn't make it easy for him to refuse.
The man had pulled out all the stops to ensure Regal's attendance - even resorting to a bit of blackmail, casually reminding him about the upcoming editing work they were scheduled to start in a week or so.
Left with no choice, Regal finally relented.
And obviously, he asked Gwendolyn to accompany him.
….
"Glad you could make it, Regal." Zack greeted him with a broad smile, wrapping him in a warm hug.
"...Well, you didn't leave me an option." Regal grumbled over his shoulder, his voice flat with mock irritation.
"Haa, you're still on about that." Zack chuckled, unfazed by Regal's grousing.
He knew Regal was just acting coy - grumbling more out of wanting to pull his leg than genuine annoyance.
And it was pretty understandable for Zack too. After all, Regal's plate was already full, with the pre-production looming over him. But despite everything, Zack had still wanted him to be here today.
Because, in truth, this wasn't just about the birthday party - it was also Zack's way of expressing his gratitude.
A lot had changed ever since Zack collaborated on Regal's debut film, [Following].
The film's unexpected success had turned into a major turning point in Zack's career.
Suddenly, offers had started pouring in, and now, Zack was no longer just a freelance editor. He had become a full-time professional, even managing to fully upgrade his studio.
In just the past four months, he had worked on two more feature films - of course they are simply indie films too, but nonetheless it was almost a distinct achievement for him a year ago.
And now, he was ready to dive into Regal's next project, genuinely excited to get started.
Because he knew - none of this would have been possible without the chance Regal had given him.
His wife knew it too.
....
As they entered, Regal could already hear the faint sounds of laughter and chatter filling the house.
The gleeful shrieks of children playing games echoed through the hallways, paired with the occasional burst of adult conversation.
The party itself was small and intimate, mostly made up of a few relatives and neighboring children running around with carefree abandon.
Nonetheless, the house was brightly decorated - filled with colorful balloons, streamers, and fairy lights, creating an unmistakable festive ambiance.
….
Upon reaching the lounge area, Regal and Gwendolyn were immediately greeted by Zoe, Zack's wife.
Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted them. "You made it!" Zoe exclaimed warmly, pulling Gwendolyn into a tight hug before turning to Regal with a bright smile.
"You too, Regal. It's good to see you."
"Likewise." Regal nodded politely, the corner of his lips tugging slightly upward.
Before long, Zoe eagerly whisked Gwendolyn away to help with the finishing touches on the food and drinks.
For a moment, Regal's eyes followed them, mildly amused.
The two seemed to be getting along unusually well.
In fact, he noticed a faint pink dusting Gwendolyn's cheeks as they conversed - a rare sight, considering her usual composed demeanor.
Seeing Gwendolyn, of all people, flustered under someone else's influence was… unexpected.
Regal made a mental note of it, momentarily intrigued by whatever conversation had taken place between them.
But the curiosity faded quickly, and he dismissed the thought.
….
Just then, Zack leaned in slightly, nudging him with a low whisper. "Regal, that's Andrew. The guy I mentioned."
Regal followed Zack's line of sight.
And there he was.
Exactly as Zack had described - but still, Regal found himself slightly surprised to actually see him in person.
Walking into the area was a tall, lean young man, somewhere around Regal's age, with a mop of messy blonde hair and sharp, angular features.
However, the man looked like he had been completely claimed by the kids.
A three-year-old girl was perched comfortably on his shoulders, her tiny hands tugging at his hair with gleeful abandon, as if it were her personal playground.
In his arms, another little girl clutched an ice cream cone, which had clearly just collided with his shirt, leaving an obvious smear of sticky chocolate across the fabric.
And clinging stubbornly to his leg was yet another girl, dressed in a sparkly princess costume, her arms latched around him with no intention of letting go.
Despite the clear chaos around him, Andrew seemed entirely unfazed.
If anything, he was handling it with surprising ease, as though he had long since accepted his fate as the human jungle gym.
….
Regal's gaze lingered for a moment before he casually walked over.
Without hesitation, he bent down slightly and patted the princess-clad girl's head, careful not to mess up her neatly styled hair.
"Happy birthday, princess." He wished softly, mustering his most saccharine tone.
The little girl blinked up at him, her eyes briefly searching his face before she giggled out an unstructured thanks, flashing a bright, toothy grin.
Her entire face lit up with genuine delight, making Regal's lips curve slightly at the sight.
After sharing the brief moment with her, Regal's attention shifted back to the young man.
"Andrew Garfield, right? Zack mentioned about you."
Andrew, still balancing the tiny human on his shoulders, glanced over.
He quickly adjusted the little girl so she wouldn't slip before nodding with a friendly but slightly surprised smile.
"Yeah. That's me."
Without wasting time, Regal placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Come over to the studio once. We will test things out."
For a brief second, Andrew seemed caught off guard. But then his expression softened into a genuine smile, his eyes flashing with a mixture of relief and excitement.
"Thank you, sir."
Regal gave him a brief nod, wordlessly satisfied.
And with that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
….
Almost immediately, he heard Zack sigh behind him.
"...Guess he failed to impress you." Zack muttered with obvious disappointment, rubbing the back of his neck.
He let out a short breath, clearly deflated, before adding softly. "It really could have been a perfect opportunity for him though."
Without turning around, Regal responded flatly. "I didn't say anything though."
Zack narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yeah, yeah. You didn't." He muttered, his tone dripping with mock irritation, though it was clear he wasn't particularly bothered.
Regal didn't bother acknowledging Zack's smugness.
The man clearly took pleasure in seeing through him, but Regal let it slide without a second thought.
His focus was still on the young man he had just met.
Andrew Garfield.
And no - this wasn't just some random Andrew who happened to share the last name Garfield.
No.
This was Andrew Garfield, the same man who had once donned the suit of The Amazing Spider-Man in his past life.
But oddly enough, the opportunity Zack had referred to earlier - the one he had been pushing on Regal - wasn't about acting.
It was about voice acting.
Apparently, this Andrew Garfield was actually Zack's nephew, his sister's son, who had been working as a voice artist for the past few years.
Regal had only learned about this when Zack casually mentioned Andrew's name after finding out Regal was looking for a voice actor for a character in his upcoming [Death Note] film.
And since Regal was visiting today, Zack had asked Andrew to drop by, hoping for a chance to introduce him in person.
At first, Regal had been puzzled.
Voice acting? Not acting?
True, he had heard that before Andrew became a full-fledged actor, he had originally started as a voice artist. But still… the idea of him auditioning for a voice role rather than a live-action part felt… unusual.
Almost counterintuitive.
In the end, Regal agreed to hold auditions, but Zack, now observing their plain interaction, could already sense the outcome.
He could see it written all over Regal's expression.
Not outright rejection. But not approval either.
There was something else lingering in his eyes, something that Zack couldn't quite place.
It was disapproval, yes… but also not.
There was an undercurrent of consideration, something far less dismissive than Zack had initially assumed.
Whatever it was, Zack chose not to press the matter any further.
….
By the time the party was finished, and Regal and Gwendolyn.
The city streets were nearly empty, the neon glow of streetlights casting long, flickering shadows across the asphalt.
Regal gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his other resting on the gear shift as he drove through the quiet night.
Gwen sat beside him, her gaze occasionally drifting to the side mirror, lost in thought.
Ahead, the traffic light flicked from red to green. The pedestrian crossing signal dimmed, signaling for stragglers to clear the road. Seeing the way open, Regal pressed the accelerator, maintaining a steady speed.
Then—
A dark figure lurched into the road.
"Shit!" Regal's reflexes kicked in, his foot slamming the brake. Tires screeched, the car jerking forward before coming to a hard stop.
Outside, the man, disheveled and unsteady, stumbled and collapsed onto his knees.
Regal exhaled sharply, his pulse spiking. His jaw tightened as frustration bubbled up. What kind of idiot jumps in front of a moving car at this hour?
Luckily, he had the dash cam on.
Unbuckling his seatbelt in one swift motion, he pushed the door open and stepped out, his expression dark. Gwen followed right after, her brows furrowed with concern.
As Regal closed the distance, the air carried a distinct scent, sharp, unmistakable. He narrowed his eyes.
The guy was drunk.
Regal clicked his tongue. "Seriously?"
Every part of him wanted to just walk away. But he couldn't.
"Regal… no." Gwen said beside him, arms crossed, seeing right through his irritation. "You can't just leave him like that."
"Yeah, I know…" he muttered, exhaling.
With no better option, Regal grabbed the man's arm and hoisted him up. The guy was barely conscious, swaying with every step, but Regal managed to guide him to a nearby bench and ease him down.
He patted the man's pockets, checking for a phone or anything that could help identify him. Nothing. No wallet. No ID. Not even a damn coin.
"Great." Regal mumbled. That was about as much as he could do. If the guy had someone to call, they'd never know.
Just as he turned to leave -
"Hic! Hic!" - the man hiccupped, loud, pathetic, and persistent.
Regal sighed.
Gwen didn't even have to say anything this time.
The expectant look on her face was enough.
"I will go and fetch the water bottle from the car." Regal said.
"Okay…" Gwen added.
Regal trudged back, grabbed the bottle, and returned. He uncapped it and held it to the man's lips, forcing him to take a few gulps. The hiccups eventually faded.
"Done?" Regal asked, already stepping back.
But before they could leave, a sharp gust of wind cut through the night. Gwen instinctively hugged herself, then turned to Regal with another look, hopeful this time.
Regal rolled his eyes and shrugged off his jacket. "Take it."
Gwen didn't hesitate, draping it over the man. Finally, they headed back to the car.
Regal let out a long sigh as he settled back into the driver's seat.
The moment he shut the door, he turned his head toward Gwen, who was already fastening her seatbelt.
As they drove off, Regal glanced in the rearview mirror. The man stirred slightly, pulling the jacket closer to himself. The water bottle lay on the pavement nearby.
Regal's gaze flickered to Gwen, who was looking out the window, a faint smile on her lips.
She thought she had been subtle, but he had seen it, the bit of cash she had tucked into the jacket pocket before they left.
He didn't say a word.
And she didn't have to.
Regal exhaled through his nose.
"I already put some in." He muttered.
"Then you should have said so instead of pretending like a jerk." Gwen shot back without missing a beat.
Regal scoffed but didn't argue. Instead, he focused on the road ahead, pulling away smoothly.
A few minutes later, Gwen stretched her arms above her head and leaned back against the seat.
"He should be okay right?"
Regal kept his eyes on the road. "You say that dude build right? I bet even in that drunken state he could take on ten people before he would drop to the ground."
"....Huh.. He looked like a nice guy…" She said simply.
Regal tapped his fingers against the wheel. "For real?"
"Yes. For real…"
Regal glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Gosh… are your eyes working the way they should?"
Gwen grinned. "Yep."
"I don't think so…."
She hummed, and looked out the window. "Well these were the same eyes that chose you too… My Boyfriend."
Regal didn't respond. Instead, he just kept driving.
.
….
[To be continued…
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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