Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

…..

"Hey, Gwendolyn, pull over to the side here for a second, will you?" Regal said, leaning slightly forward in his seat.

Gwendolyn glanced at him, her hands steady on the steering wheel.

"The convenience store? Why?" She asked, already easing off the accelerator as she reached for the gear shift.

"I want to pick up some refreshments for the next few days." Regal replied casually, motioning toward the small store ahead.

"Huh? Okay." She shifted the car into park.

Regal opened the door and stepped out but paused mid-motion. "You can wait-"

Before he could finish, Gwendolyn unbuckled her seatbelt. "Nah, I will come with you. Sitting in the car sounds boring."

"Suit yourself." Regal said, closing the door behind him as Gwendolyn stepped out as well.

The two walked toward the store.

As soon as Regal stepped through the door of the convenience store, Jordan, the store clerk, leaned casually against the counter, a smirk spreading across his face.

"Got kicked out already?"

Regal didn't respond, his expression carefully blank as he walked past Jordan and headed straight for the aisles.

He methodically filled his basket with instant noodles, bread, and canned goods, the items piling up quickly, enough to last at least a week.

Trailing behind at a more leisurely pace, Gwendolyn let her eyes wander over the shelves. Her brow lifted slightly at the sheer volume of food Regal was stuffing into his basket, but she didn't say anything.

Instead, she drifted toward a display of novelty items near the counter, her fingers lightly brushing over a few trinkets as her interest lingered.

"You seem familiar with the owner." Gwendolyn remarked, her voice light but probing, her gaze flicking toward Jordan.

The man was slouched behind the counter, exuding the energy of someone who had long since mastered the art of doing nothing.

The store was quiet, amplifying her words enough for Jordan to catch them.

Jordan chuckled, the sound slow and amused, his grin widening as he propped his elbow on the counter. "Oh, that brat? He used to work here part-time until a few months back."

Regal shot him a dry, unimpressed look over his shoulder but didn't bother to reply.

And as he expected, Jordan kept going. "Don't let him fool you, lady. He used to sneak snacks when no one was looking."

Gwendolyn's lips twitched with the hint of a smile as she turned to Regal, who was now plucking a few more cans off the shelf.

With his basket nearly overflowing, Regal strode to the counter and dumped his haul down with a clatter. "You are still going on about that? I left because I had better things to do. Like not working here."

Jordan smirked, his eyes flicking between Regal and Gwendolyn with newfound interest. "So, who's the lady?"

Gwendolyn's eyes lit up with playful mischief as she leaned slightly against the counter, turning her attention to Jordan before Regal could cut in.

"Actually." She began smoothly, her tone casual but deliberate. "I used to be his girlfriend. But he dumped me."

Regal froze, one hand mid-air as he reached for his wallet.

His other hand instinctively smacked his forehead in a classic facepalm.

Jordan, eyebrows raised in genuine surprise, broke into a grin. "Man, you got some balls of steel to dump a lady like her."

Regal let out a dry laugh, shaking his head as he finally pulled out his wallet. "Do you really believe her? She is messing with you. I mean, look at her, does she seem like someone in their right mind would dump?"

Gwendolyn's lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes narrowing as she tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Oh? Is that what you really think, Regal?" She leaned forward, her gaze sharp and teasing, her tone laced with mock challenge.

"Tsk, alright, alright, stop flirting in front of me!" Jordan groaned with exaggerated exasperation, waving his hands dramatically. He handed over the bag of groceries, shaking his head. "Take it outside, lovebirds."

Regal rolled his eyes, grabbing the bag with an air of feigned annoyance. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get jealous."

Gwendolyn chuckled, leaning on the counter as the banter continued. "You know, I think I like this place. Nice atmosphere, good snacks, and a great sense of humor behind the counter. You have got good taste in former workplaces, boyfriend. Oh, sorry, ex-boyfriend."

Regal cast her a sidelong glance, his lips tugging upward as he struggled to suppress a smirk.

Yeah, he wasn't going to let that slide. Time to do something about it.

The door jingled as they stepped out, Regal walking ahead as Gwendolyn followed, her laughter trailing behind them.

Jordan shook his head, leaning back against the counter with an amused grin. "Man, that guy's life must be one wild ride."

….

Regal stopped a few steps from the car, the bags in his hands shifting slightly as he adjusted his grip.

His gaze flicked toward Gwendolyn, who had also come to a halt, standing just a short distance away.

The streetlamp above cast a soft, golden glow over her, catching the loose strands of her blonde hair as they shifted in the breeze.

For a moment, he forgot himself, his attention lingering on her.

She was beautiful, just as he remembered from their college days, maybe even more so now.

His chest tightened, but he forced himself to snap out of it.

Memories of her antics, the playfulness, and the questions she left unanswered, came rushing back.

His expression hardened, and his grip on the bags tightened.

Enough was enough.

"Alright, Gwendolyn." He said, his tone even but unmistakably edged. "What's your deal?"

She tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "My deal?"

Regal sighed, the tension in his jaw momentarily easing before returning as he continued.

"I don't know what you are trying to do. But... I need to say something." He paused, shifting his stance, as though steadying himself for what was about to come.

"My whole life, I have managed not to fall for anyone." He admitted, his tone quieter but steady. "Sure, I would appreciate their looks or whatever. But I always kept a line. Never let it go beyond that."

He hesitated, then added with a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I kept it that way because… I never had the guts to actually say how I felt. So, I figured it was easier to just shut it all down, less messy that way, you know? Less chance of wasting emotions on someone who might not feel the same."

His eyes dropped for a brief second before meeting hers again, determination flickering in his gaze. "And you know what? That worked. For years, it worked. Until now."

Gwendolyn's smirk softened, her expression unreadable, but she didn't interrupt.

Regal exhaled, the words tumbling out now. "What I am trying to figure out is... am I imagining this? Or are you hinting at something between us?" He paused, glancing away briefly before adding with a hint of wry humor.

"Because if I am wrong, I swear I will die of embarrassment. You won't see me for a week, but after that, I will be back to my usual self, I promise." He half-smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

There was a long pause.

"...." Regal.

"...." Gwendolyn stood just as still, like she had turned into stone.

Over the years, Gwendolyn had heard her fair share of confessions: the sweet, the awkward, the dramatic, and even the weird ones.

But this?

This was definitely the weirdest of them all.

That was saying something considering the high bar that had already been set.

Yet, somehow, she hadn't seen it coming.

Not from Regal. Not so suddenly.

They had started working together a couple of months ago, just a handful of weeks spent in late-night brainstorming sessions and countless hours fine-tuning the book launch.

She had felt as attached to the project as he had.

It was their shared thing.

Their baby.

Over that time, the back-and-forth professional banter had become their usual routine. The kind of dynamic that, after a while, left her feeling as though life had become monotonous, especially in the past few weeks.

But then, something shifted. Gwendolyn noticed the small details, the way Regal's tone would change when he spoke to her, the way his eyes would linger just a moment too long when he thought she wasn't paying attention.

It didn't take long for her to put the pieces together.

Regal had once had a crush on her during their college days.

Strangely, she felt elated by that realization, but it was fleeting. The elation quickly turned into disappointment. She could tell he had moved on from that old attraction, and it left her feeling oddly deflated.

But she hadn't given up.

No, she had been pushing him, teasing him, trying to coax whatever feelings he might have buried back to the surface.

In hindsight, maybe she had gone too far today.

The way she had teased him, playing her usual games without considering how it might affect him.

Now, here they were. Regal, standing in front of her, waiting for a response.

"Like I said." Regal began again, his voice a little more awkward now. "If it's a no–!"

"No!" Gwendolyn cut him off, her voice firm but laced with something else - an edge of vulnerability. "It's not a no, you dummy junior!"

The words hung in the air.

Regal didn't wait for another moment.

The bags slipped from his hands with a soft thud, and in one quick movement, he pulled her into his arms.

Gwendolyn froze, surprise flooding her system, but as his arms wrapped tightly around her, the warmth felt oddly comforting.

Her face rested against his chest, her ear just above his heart, where she could hear its frantic rhythm.

Regal's grip loosened slightly, but he didn't let go.

Gwendolyn's fingers curled instinctively against his shirt.

Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out. "So what now? A kiss, then?"

Her eyes widened in horror, heat rushing to her face. 'Oh God, why did I say that?'

She cursed herself inwardly. Her heart pounded as she scrambled to recover. "I didn't mean that! I just–"

But Regal wasn't embarrassed.

Instead, he smiled, a lopsided grin that made his face light up. Gwendolyn's mind short-circuited.

She bit her lip. She had always prided herself on keeping her cool, but in this moment, she felt like an awkward teenager again.

Before she could think too much, Regal closed the gap between them.

Her eyes fluttered shut as his breath caught, and without a word, they met halfway.

It wasn't rushed, but it wasn't hesitant either. A soft, tentative kiss, fragile.

She could feel his warmth, the hesitation in his kiss, as if he was waiting for her to pull back if she needed to.

But she didn't.

As the kiss continued, all the awkwardness, all the nerves, started to melt away.

When they finally pulled apart, neither spoke at first. Gwendolyn opened her eyes to find Regal staring at her, a mix of wonder and disbelief playing across his features.

"So." Regal said, his voice quieter now. "Does that count as a yes?"

Her voice dropped, playful but certain. "Yeah, it does. And you are stuck with me. For the rest of your life."

Regal's grin returned, his confidence coming back in waves. "Noted."

Before the moment could stretch on any longer, a loud voice pierced the air, sharp and commanding.

"Hey, you two!" Jordan's voice boomed from the store's entrance, his frame blocking the doorway as he crossed his arms, glaring. "Take your lovey-dovey nonsense somewhere else! This is a store, not a movie set!"

Regal turned, irritation flashing across his face. "Mind your own business. You are just bitter because your wife left you, old man!"

Jordan raised an eyebrow, his expression unimpressed as he stepped forward. "Oh, yeah? What was that? Care to repeat it, kid?"

Regal rolled his eyes and waved him off like a pesky fly, stepping closer to Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn stifled a laugh with amusement as she offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. We will leave now."

She turned to walk away but paused midway, glancing back with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, and for the record, I am not his ex anymore."

With that, they have walked off.

Jordan muttered something under his breath, throwing a grumpy wave as he retreated into his store.

Regal sighed, turning to Gwendolyn as a sheepish grin replaced his earlier frustration. "That was just rubbing salt on him, Gwen."

"That wasn't my intention." She replied truthfully.

He just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, anyway. I will drive."

Gwendolyn nodded, handing over the keys, and within moments, the car was on the road.

The air inside felt lighter, freer now.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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