….

  …We? - Stephen Jr. opened his mouth again, the wetting stu his throat.

  He should have known something was off - the old man had been watg the same movie clips over and over since yesterday, as if possessed by some obsessive madness.

  And as if ohe window rolled up with quiet finality, shutting down any ce for further discussion.

  ….

  Knowing he had no choice, Stephen Jr. exhaled and climbed into the fro of the car, shooting Christopher and Anne a relut but goodbye nod.

  The car began to move smoothly.

  Stephen slouched in his seat, pletely uo this type of situation.

  Behind him, his grandfather sat like a statue, hands resting on his e, as if he were the ruler of this small, mobile domain.

  "Where does this young director live?" His grandfather asked suddenly.

  Stephen Jr. felt more trouble brewing ihat casual question.

  However, he at least firmed something by now.

  If you liked the movie that much, you should have just said so. Why drag everyone around like we are on leashes? - He cursed silently.

  "Not far." - yet there was no such harshness as he answered.

  "Let's go." His grandfather ordered, as if the matter was already settled.

  Stephen Jr. sighed inwardly. "...Okay."

  He gave the driver, seated beside him, a few quistrus, and the car smoothly ged dire.

  Just as they were five minutes away, Stephen Jr.'s phone vibrated in his pocket.

  He pulled it out and g the s - [Chris].

  He answered. "What is it?"

  His tone was whispery, pressing his hand over the speaker to muffle the sound, wary of his grandfather overhearing.

  ["I just got Keanu's number from Grace. Turns al's out for dinner with him a his pho home."] Christopher cut to the chase.

  Stephen Jr.'s heart plummeted at that. "S-so you are saying he isn't at his office right now?"

  ["Obviously."] Christopher replied ftly.

  Stephen muttered under his breath. "...I am dead."

  ["Wait. Don't tell m–!"]

  Christopher started, but his realization was cut off by the driver's interje from the other side.

  "Should I take a right here, Sir Jr.?" - the driver asked for dires.

  Stephen Jr. yahe phone away, his head snapping toward the driver. "Yeah, yeah—no, wait, take the left here." His words tumbled out, all over the pce.

  The driver nodded, and the car smoothly veered left as instructed, and Stephen Jr. returhe phoo his ear.

  "Okay, text me Keanu's number. I will call you ter." He cut the call and shoved his phone bato his pocket.

  His grandfather's eyes were locked onto the windows, gazing at the moving surroundings.

  Still, he felt an imaginary sweat sliding down his neck.

  Trying to distract himself and break the tensiouroward the window-!

  ?!However, his gaze caught on something.

  Wait… is that? Stephen Jr. thought of eg the figure's structure he remembered, and immediately he ordered. "Stop here."

  Heading his call, the driver's foot hit the brake, and the car slowed, pulling over to the side of the road, stopping just in front of a venieore.

  Stephen Sr. in the back remained silent, but his sharp eyes bore into the younger one, silently demanding an expnation.

  "I am hungry." He blurted out, reag for the door handle. Without hesitation, he ya open. "I will grab something from the store."

  Before his grandfather could utter a word, Stephen Jr. was already out of the car. He didn't look back, didn't pause to see the other's rea.

  He was taking the risk - on his own now.

  His feet moved quickly, his heart thudding in his chest, praying he was right.

  Just moments ago, as the car had been rolling, a fsh of movement caught his eye. A familiar figure is stepping out of the venieore.

  Please… let it be him. He thought and quied his pace.

  He wasn't sure if it was luck or fate, but either way, he couldn't stop now.

  ….

  Meanwhile, Regal was having his peaent with his sister and her boyfriend, pletely oblivious to the tension simmering - their brief outing had created chaos in the lives of the three people.

  "So this is what you meant by dinner? A venieore meal?" Seren shal a pointed look with sarcasm as they walked out of the venieore.

  Regal shrugged. "Hey, little sis, I am saving your money."

  Seren's eyes narrowed into slits, but before she could unleash a retort, Keanu wandered over, carrying a pstic bag overflowing with instant noodle cups.

  He grinned. "Good news, they had the spies left!"

  Regal nodded in affirmation. "Hu-hum…"

  Seren pihe bridge of her nose, her patieeetering on the edge. "Why am I even here?"

  And just then, in the distaephen Jr.'s eyes zeroed in on Keanu - relief washing over him as he spotted the familiar face with two others.

  Immediately, he broke into a run in their dire.

  He has found him!

  His stride only quied at that as his gaze locked firmly on Keanu, not because he was the most important person, but because he was the only familiar fa the group.

  "Stephen?" Keanu blinked in surprise.

  At that, the group also turoward him, fused by someone's abrupt arrival.

  Stephen Jr. came to a halt just short of gripping Keanu's shoulders. His voice broke, carrying an edge of frustration. "Do you have any idea what kind of mess you have ily caused me?"

  Keanu frowned, clutg his bag of instant noodles. "What mess? I was just grabbing dinner."

  Before Stephen Jr. could respond, Seren stepped forward, pg herself firmly betweewo. "I don't know who you are, but kiddo, you are being really rude."

  "For once, I have to agree with you, Seren." Regal chimed in, stepping up beside her.

  Young Stephen Jr. flinched slightly, taken aback by the sudden interruption, but he didn't argue. "I… I apologize. I didn't mean to e off that way. I am just in a rush."

  With a deep breath, he turned his attention back to Keanu, regaining some sembnce of posure. "Where is your friend Regal? Is he with you?"

  Wasn't he supposed to be with you? He thought as Christopher informed him they were together.

  Keanu, still fused, pointed zily over his shoulder. "...well, that's him. Regal."

  Stephen Jr.'s gaze followed the gesture, nding al, who raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled."You were looking for me?"

  "Probably caused some trouble again…" Seren murmured under her breath with a teasing torying to pull her brother's leg.

  Regal shot her a brief, almost imperceptible look.

  "Read the room, girl." He muttered, as if dismissing her ent.

  Stephen Jr., now face to face with Regal, pushed forward with a calm but direct approach.

  "I am Stephen." He introduced himself, his hand in a brief handshake.

  Regal accepted the handshake, not showing aion. "I take it you are the one who watched my movie at the sierday?"

  Stephen didn't linger on the small talk. He cut to the chase. "Do you know Stephen Hawking, the actor?"

  "Of course, I would know him." Regal finally chuckled at that, showing some emotion - clearly finding humor in the question.

  Even Keanu, and surprisingly, Seren - who had little i in movies - khat name.

  Was there anyone who didn't? Especially an aspiring director like him?

  Now that would be a crime.

  Stephen nodded. "Well, here's the thing... it's a bit absurd, but he is my grandfather."

  "...." - "...." - "...."

  For a brief moment, the three of them simply deadpa the young boy as if spouting utter nonsense.

  However, Regal's thoughts were immediately overe as he used [Insight] on Stephen Jr.

  And just like that, a flicker of surprise rose in him.

  But it quickly faded, as he merely nodded. "Okay..." - He wao know what he was supposed to do with that information.

  "He watched your movie clip..." Stephen pressed on, still unsure whether the other party believed him yet. "Not just that, he liked it a lot and wao meet you."

  Regal was now fully piqued by Stephen Jr. responded. "Okay..." - with the same answer, now wanting him to tinue.

  Stephen Jr. leaned in with finality. "He is currently waiting in the car behind."

  "...." - "...." Keanu and Seren exged looks, trying to digest what they had just heard.

  Stephen Hawking - the two time Oscar winning actor.

  Was he actually waiting fal in a car?

  Or was this some eborate joke? A scam? A setup?

  They couldn't quite their heads around it and struggled to piece together the strange versation.

  her of them could make heads or tails of it, and the sheer absurdity of it all left them momentarily speechless.

  What oh was going on here?

  But Regal tinued his unfazed act - which the duo could all well reise.

  "...so what now?" He asked.

  "...." - "...." Keanu and Seren almost stumbled and simply wao facepalm at his ckluster response.

  Even Stephen Jr. fli Regal's ued response - unsure whether the guy ying it cool, was actually unfazed by the bizarre turn of events, or was simply treating him like he was a fool.

  But for now, Stephen Jr. just decided to push forward. "If you don't mind, could you e with me to the car and have a versation with my grandfather? This could also be helpful for you guys."

  "...." Regal paused for a sed, looking in the distance, his expression thoughtful. "Huh… I don't think that's possible."

  Stephen Jr. blinked, fusion creeping across his face.

  He hadn't expected that response - was it the absurdity of the situation that made Regal hesitate? Asking someoo get into a car with a plete stranger was already pushing the boundaries of normal.

  So, Stephen Jr. could uand the hesitation, but that doesn't mean it sat right with him. But what he was unaware of is that the reasal didly reject him. And soon enough, he would uand why.

  "Because…" Regal smirked ever so slightly, an almost knowing glint in his eye. "It won't be necessary."

  Stephen Jr. was about to ask what he meant but stopped, notig Regal's focus was elsewhere - on something or someone across the street.

  His figure emerged from a sleek luxury car, leaning on a e, and every step he took seemed to and attention.

  Stephen Jr. was now fully surprised as his grandfather soon reached their spot while his gaze fixed directly al, unwavering and sharp.

  Regal, uurbed by the intense scrutiny, met Stephen Sr.'s stare with the same direess.

  ...this is iing. He thought pletely amused by himself about the luck he had today.

  ===

  [Name:] Stephen Hawking. Senior

  [Traits:] Work Driven, Perceptive, Dominating

  [Ag Grade:] SS -

  [Unique Skill:] Fht

  ===

  Regal took a step forward, but there was still some respectful distaween him and the other, who stood motionless.

  "Wanna talk?"

  However, there wasn't anything formal as Regal asked and casually gestured towards the venieore behind him. "It's a det pce. Trust me."

  Feeling no disrespect from the young star, Stephen Jr. nodded in affirmation. "Sure. Why not?"

  However, junior Stephen, standing a few feet away, couldn't hide his shock - his jaw practically dropped as he processed the exge.

  He had no idea what was going on - how e they seemed like this was not the first time they were meeting.

  As, there wasn't even time for him to figure it out, as the moment the two of them walked in the sink towards the venieore.

  ….

  .

  [To be tinued…]

  ★─────??★??─────★

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