Chapter 38: I Was Lucky
....
After exactly ninety-seven minutes and some seconds -
Clap! Clap!
- a single resounding clap filled the small room.
"That was amazing! Too amazing!" Stephen clapped and leapt from the couch the moment the credits rolled.
His excitement seemed to overflow as he dashed toward Keanu, pulling him into an unexpected hug.
It didn't matter that they had only met an hour and a half ago - Stephen's genuine admiration overpowered any hesitations.
"...glad to hear that, man."
Keanu was caught slightly off guard but returned the hug back with a genuine smile, the kind that reached his eyes.... almost slightly moistening his eyes but stopped.
Despite his outward confidence all these past few days, a part of him had been desperate for any sign that their work would be understood - that people would get it.
The weeks of harsh criticism and ruthless rejections from distributors had worn on him, no matter how much Keanu tried to mask it in front of Regal.
But hearing Stephen, a completely unrelated person's raw enthusiasm towards their film?