Meanwhile, from inside the car, Jay and the others looked toward the airport exit. They soon spotted Rownak, wearing a black cap, face mask, hoodie, and baggy clothes, pulling a small trolley.
He looked like he was trying to hide his face from anyone nearby. Rownak kept his head down, avoiding glances. For a while it worked. No one paid him any attention.
But, that changed when someone in the crowd gasped.
"Rownak! It's him!" a woman shouted in an excited voice.
She ran toward him, phone in hand. The commotion drew more people, their voices rising as they pushed closer.
"Rownak, look this way!"
Within seconds, he was surrounded.
He removed his face mask and waved at them. "Alright, one at a time. I'll sign for everyone."
The crowd only grew, pressing in closer. Rownak sighed.
"Should've brought my bodyguards," he said in a tired tone, giving another forced smile for a photo.
As he braced himself for more selfies, the noise suddenly died down. The crowd froze for a moment, then turned and walked away without a word, as if they had never seen him.
"What the…?" Rownak said, glancing around in confusion.
As he tried to process what just happened, a voice spoke in his head, 'Look to your right. Navy blue sedan.'
Rownak recognized his best friend's voice instantly. He followed the voice and saw Jay waving at him from the car window across the driveway.
He couldn't explain what just happened, but the same was true for the strange behavior of the crowd.
"Must be the jet lag. Or maybe the drinks this morning," he muttered, blaming it on the alcohol he had that morning and jet lag, and then dragged his trolley across and reached the car.
Jay stepped out and greeted him with an open hug. "Well, if it isn't our top action star, finally gracing us with his presence."
Rownak hugged him back, even firmer, and said, "It's all thanks to the martial arts I learned with you. Guess all those years as your training partner finally paid off."
Jay smiled but stayed quiet. He knew Rownak was being modest. His best friend had worked harder than anyone, pouring years of effort and passion into becoming one of the biggest action stars in the film industry.
Rownak pulled back from the hug and looked him over.
"Damn! I know you're jacked, but your muscles feel like metal. You training for MMA or something?"
Jay picked up his trolley and walked toward the trunk.
"You'll know soon. Get in the car."
Rownak grew curious but didn't press. He opened the rear door and saw Kay smiling at him.
"Welcome back, superstar," he said in a cheerful voice.
"Kay? Is that you? You look like a completely different person."
Rownak slid into the seat beside him and closed the door before taking a good look at Kay. He was no longer the pale and frail boy Rownak remembered. His body had gained lean muscle, and his skin had a healthy glow.
"I heard you recovered from Polymyositis. I'm really glad, man. If it weren't for the packed shooting schedule, I would've come back sooner to see you."
He leaned in for a quick hug, sharing in Kay's happiness. Rownak had practically grown up with them, so his joy was genuine.
He leaned in for a quick hug, smiling as he shared his genuine happiness. Having grown up with them, moments felt natural.
Jay returned to the front seat after putting Rownak's trolley in the trunk.
Rownak turned to Kay with a grin. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I feel overshadowed sitting next to you. You look so sharp now, even top models would pale in comparison. I have a brother role in my next film. Interested? I can set it up."
Kay gave a polite smile and shook his head.
"I'm not interested, and I'm not exactly cut out for acting. Besides, I've got enough on my plate with the Enterprise and the S.E.E.D tech partnership we're working on with FUTURE Conglomerate."
Rownak chuckled, then his eyes lit up as another thought struck him.
"Then how about a biopic? Your story would sell. Wrongfully accused, the justice system against you, corrupt higher-ups everywhere, yet you studied, became an attorney, fought the retrial, and took everything back. If that's not a comeback story, I don't know what is."
Kay only shook his head. "That was all thanks to my brother."
He didn't say more. He didn't bring up the kidnapping, the torture, or how Jay made everything possible. On his own, Kay's skills as an attorney wouldn't have mattered, not when the judge himself had been bought by the opposition. Without Jay, none of it would have been possible.
Rownak's curiosity grew. "Oh? What did Jay do? Come on, tell me. Don't leave me hanging."
Jay knew his friend well enough to know he wouldn't stop asking until he got an answer. Besides, Jay didn't plan to hide everything from him. The real reason he had called Rownak back early was because the Beta Program would begin after a day, and he didn't want his friend to miss it.
Jay gestured toward the driver's seat, where his sister sat quietly.
"But first, you need to hear a story. Qew, fill him in. Keep it brief."
Qew, usually chatty, had been silent ever since Rownak got in the car. Her cheeks flushed as she stole quick glances at him, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter.
Jay noticed and sighed quietly. Qew had always had a crush on Rownak, but she never confessed. Back then, with her legs paralyzed, she didn't have the courage or confidence to face what his response might be.
Now that she was no longer bound by her disability, there was hope. She had worked up the courage to finally face him, but the moment she saw Rownak again, her shyness took over. She couldn't even greet him, only watching silently as he talked with Kay.
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