The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

SHIR glanced lazily at the teenager.  He was actually about to say something sarcastic, like young people who didn't know their limitation and think they could do anything, but when he saw the boy's expression, his words didn't get past his throat.  Because the teenager was not only looking at him with a gaze full of determination but confidence as well.

He could tell that it was not simply blind confidence.  It was that kind of confidence that he truly believed that he could convince him that his decision was wrong and that he really was indeed the right person for the job.  Either he was delusional or he really did have a talent to back that confidence up.

Shir unknowingly smiled.  "Fine.  If you can prove to me right here, right now that I'm wrong, then I won't interfere anymore about your participation in the music video.  I will give you one minute.  Can you do it?"

There was a challenge in his voice.  As if saying 'if you couldn't do this much then don't act like you're such a great artist'.

Reas almost wanted to punch the guy when he heard that.  Although he's not that familiar with how things work during these kinds of situations, he still knew that one minute was simply not enough.  What could one show in that short one minute?  Did this guy just want his brother to stand there and do some unbelievable magic for a minute to convince him?

Miria and her agent were actually thinking along the same lines.  What could Astrid do in a mere minute?  To them, it seemed more like Shir just didn't want him to be part of the music video.

Only Astrid didn't have a change in expression.  "Okay," he agreed without hesitation.

Shir raised one of his brows.  He didn't expect that the kid would agree so easily.  In fact, if he asked for more time, he might have given it to him.  That one minute was just him teasing him a bit.  Who would have thought that he would take it so seriously?

Well, if that's the case, then the other might as well give him a convincing performance during that little time.  If not, then he could only reject his participation in the music video. 

[So, you better give me a good show, kid.] – he thought.

Astrid stood up and walked to Miria.  "Miria, can you stand beside me?"

Miria looked up.  She didn't expect that Astrid would suddenly ask for her cooperation.  Pulling her in whatever performance he was planning to do might just be counterproductive.  After all, one of the points Shir made earlier was her being outshine by Astrid.  If the two of them stood side by side together and Astrid did his godly acting, then that would definitely what would happen. 

That's why when the filming of the music video started, he would suggest to the director if she and Astrid could not be in the same frame as much as possible.  That idea certainly wouldn't clash with the theme of the song.

But seeing Astrid's determined look, she just couldn't say no.  And so, she stood up and walked beside him. 

"What should I do now?" she asked.

"Just stand beside me and look the other way.  Don't turn to my direction no matter what," Astrid said.

Miria could only nod.

Astrid then turned to Miria's agent.  "Miss Smith, can you please time me?  So, that everyone can know that I only used a minute?"

"Oh, okay!" Jenny quickly opened her Terminal, fumbled a bit, and then a virtual screen appeared showing a timer.

"Please, tell me once you started the time," Astrid said, closing his eyes, as of preparing himself.

Last night, Miria sent to him a copy of the song.  It was entitled – [Hopes for Tomorrow].  The song had two prevalent themes – desolation and a hope for a new beginning.  The two were very opposing themes and yet, in this song, they somehow perfectly melded together.

Astrid was very impressed by the song when he first heard it.  Not only was the lyrics good but the melody was beautiful too.  He could see that the composer of the song was very talented.  Now that he knew that it was made by Shir Atkins, he could only think 'no wonder'.  This song was already a testament to the other's skill as a composer.

Remembering the lyrics and the melody of the song, he slowly submerged himself to the feelings he felt when he first heard it.

Jenny did just that.  "In three… two… one… start!"

The moment she said that, Astrid opened his eyes and the atmosphere around him completely changed.  It's like the natural spotlight that was always on him suddenly disappeared and everything just darkened.  He still had the same face and yet everyone in that room, excluding Miria who wasn't looking at him, felt like the one in front of them was a totally different person.

The beauty that people saw immediately when they looked at him just vanished.  It's like the one standing in front of them was just someone ordinary.  Someone who was ravaged by time and countless suffering.  It was probably the gloom and helplessness in his eyes.  It shed away all the beauty that he had.  All that remained were the negative emotions filling him.

Then he turned and looked at the woman standing beside him.  A flash of light appeared in his dark eyes but it was quickly extinguished.  As if he knew that having hope at this moment wouldn't help him in any way.  But still, he couldn't help but yearn for that light.  Yearned that one day he could get out of this dark muck he was in.  And the one who represented all that hope was the person standing beside him.

He wanted to believe that in this endless futility, a ray of hope would shine down on him.  And that his tomorrow would be infinitely better than what it was today.

"T-time!" shouted Jenny who was still in a daze while watching.  If not for Astrid's brother to remind her, she would completely forget about the timer in front of her.

Astrid then closed his eyes.  The moment he opened it once again, he was already back to the beautiful and shining teenager who attracted everyone's attention.

He looked at Shir with a smile.  "Did I pass Mr. Atkins?"