As I stood here, in the middle of glimmering lights and endless chatter, my mind still wandered to the hall I'd been inside a few hours ago. I could still hear echo of words calling out my name, people cheering and my fellow colleagues congratulating and some even pat my back as an encouragement. Even when I was standing on the stage, microphone ready, a cold hand trophy in my hand and a single lights shone my face. 

"Hello, I am Wren Klauzen," I introduced myself as I did when the first and second time I recieved the award. 

To be able to hold and stood there for the third time was amazing and an experiance that I would never forget.

Artists mingled in this after party together with industry players. Most of them are big names. 

Right now, I am on auto pilot. Greet when called, chat when in group, drink when thirsty and took a little bite when I see something appetizing. Yet my head is on cloud nine. My life as an actor once again acknowledged though the other nominees were heavy contender too.

I don't know high I can go next. Maybe with this winning money I can ask Lucas to donate for improvement the facilities of animal shelter he always went to when he was taking a break.

"Earth to Wren," a voice snapped me back to reality.

"Uncle Lucas! Where's Nelson?" 

Realizing that my manager had gone and the CEO of Loft Entertainment is standing beside me in a nice black suits. A refreshing look from his normal everyday jumper and sweat pants he always wore to office. Nobody would recognize that he is the CEO of a leading actor agency in the country. 

"I asked him to go back and have a date with his girlfriend. I can take care of you tonight."

It must be nice to have someone who is willing to cross the sea to see you. Nelson has been with me at San Angelica for six months and would continue to be here until the end of the year for <Eugene pt 4> before we can go back home. To know that Nelson's girlfriend is here to meet him, that man has been giddy to meet her.

"What about you? Auntie doesn't follow?" I asked and sipped a cold champagne. 

Lucas's face turned overcast at the word 'auntie'. I raised my eyebrows. "I thought both of you finally working things out. Is something not going to plan?"

"It's complicated."

I nodded sarcastically. "You both are grown adults. Complicated are for those age like mine."

Lucas laughed then he mellowed out. "Maybe she's bored of me already. It's been ten years we live together."

I rolled my eyes. Well, for someone like me who has lived lives so many times, love and relationship is not something that I can say with confidence but at least I have experience. "Tell me dear uncle, why do you think my auntie suddenly acted like that?"

"She's usually chirpie in the morning or that she would hug me when we go to sleep but one day after we got back from meeting our friends, she changed."

"Friends?"

"Recently our friends-this couple, got a newborn. She was very excited to meet them, then we got back and she suddenly feels different. There's time where she just attentive when we're eating, sighing..."

"Um, uncle... have you tried discuss with her about marriage?" I asked carefully.

"We did discuss. She said she wants to focus on her dream."

"When?"

"A year after we move in together."

I sipped my champagne feeling frustated with Lucas. Sometimes, as a man, I too questioned why we are a species built which such simple mindedness. Hints are everywhere yet, man like Lucas need a guide with 'your girl wants ring in her finger' sign. Maybe my auntie might be regretting not saying in detail of how long should Lucas wait for her. 

I am one to talk. In many reincarnations, love never taste sweet as honey for me. It's either too tragic to remember or just straight up sadistically painful to forget. Some lives just me, myself and I that I could just wish my friends happiness while I wallow in loneliness. 

Even in this super successful life, having handsome face and chiselled body means nothing when it feels like I have an invisible love repellent. I sighed in my heart. "So, to treat your doubtful heart, you ran away 10,000 kilometers from auntie, is that it?"

"I wish that was true... Your auntie could care less when I said that I have to come here."

Should I help him a little? He looks so sad. Maybe I could hint it by walking in front of jewellery shop.

"I'm on a special mission tonight," Lucas whispered. His eyes turned left and right searching for something or someone for this matter. In this small space and so many bodies under the dim light, I could barely see the person that Lucas tries to search.

"Who?" I asked while stretching my neck. Should I stand up instead? 

"Sit down, don't make it too obvious." Lucas swatted my hands.

It's not like anybody cares. We're in a corner space where less people come and mingle. "Who?" 

"My nieces. To be precise, my nephew's freshly high school graduated daughter and my brother's son," he said dejectedly. 

I scrunched my eyebrows. "I thought you cut ties with your family."

Lucas looked at me with half smile. "It's a long story kid. Too muddy to tell."

I stared at Lucas not satisfied with his answer. This old man have been avoiding telling me and auntie about his family for a long time. It's hard to ignore when he practically make that kind of face. A face that begging for people to ask 'why muddy?'

"Okay!" Lucas gave up. "You do remember that one time you asked me to find 25 million in a week?"

I listened intently. "So?"

Lucas sighed a long sigh. "The reason I could get that money was because of my nephew. He's not particularly a nice guy but he's someone you can depend on hard times. So, when I asked him for help, he said that he could help me with strings attached."

"You know how plutocracy family works right? Especially when it comes to love and marriage. So, he asked me to find this woman for him. Turned out it was someone I know. It had been a long time since I last saw her too. With that, I promise my nephew to search for her," Lucas continued. His shoulder sagged.

I remember there was a period of time when Lucas got the money together with the good script, I signed a contract with him. Back then, Lucas was very busy. Thankfully, Adam was there to take care of things when Lucas was not around. 

"It took me 4 years to find her. She's on a deathbed in some remote hospital with a daughter left alone in a house. That big sister used to be all smile and full of energy. Imagine the day I found her, she's all bones and no will left to live. I don't know what happened to her after she left my nephew but... She's miserable but she's holding on because of her daughter."

"The day I found her was the day she finally let go of her live. She asked me to take care of her daughter and I frantically went to her house... took that small frail body and my nephew took over her. I regret to this day as to why I did not fight hard for that girl."

I patted Lucas shoulder. It's muddy alright. And it's just a fraction of the whole story, I bet. "Then you're here to meet her?"

Lucas shook his head. "Not really. I'm here to look after her. She's still a minor and my nephew have zero trust on that boy who's dragging his daughter here there." 

"Your brother's son?"

"Ding dong deng! Well, I too don't trust that scoundrel. Scoundrel is a nice name compared to how he actually is. One thing for sure, everyone know of that he's after this girl inheritance."

I blinked my eyes a few times listening to Lucas anger. "Then why your nephew let him be with her?"

"That's the thing! It's because his daughter cannot officially inherit a company when her name is not legally in a family tree. It was such a mess, I sometimes wish I could bang my head on the floor," Lucas exasperated. "I'm sorry you had to listen such a twisted family story, Wren. It's your night to celebrate. Not sitting in a corner."

I laughed a little. "It's okay. So, what are you going to do now? But, why are they here in the first place?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? The company that invest in your movie <Heart Rescuer>, is her investment company, Noble investment. Though it's the sub of that investment company that she's actually own. For now. I think. Anyway, the production company must have invited her. That too must be the reason the production have enough money to run for this Millain campaign."

I nodded half understand what he said. There's must be a lot of story where that comes from. Though I did not expect part of the reason I could attaind this award was because of her. It made me feels thankful for it. 

Lucas suddenly jumped on his feet, face turned bright. "That's her. She looks exactly like my naphew. I gotta go. Call me if you want to go back to the villa."

And he ran off not waiting for me.

"Uncle..." I want to follow too. I want to see Lucas's nieces. After what he told me, it would be alie that it did noy pique my interest. Listening to the story, it made me feel like I was watching an afternoon drama that my grandmas love to watch. 

Just as I about to go search for Lucas, Donnavan tap my shoulder. "Here you are Wren!"

"Director!" I called his name in suprised. Donnavan was the director for <Heart Rescuer> and looking at his cherry cheeks he must have bit of fun while I was taking a rest. Of course he would be like this, he just won an award for Best Director among many other awards that we got tonight. 

"I've been searching for you! There are so many people who wants to meet you. Especially, this good friend of mine. He had this project that he really want you to be in. Is that okay if we go and talk?"

I smiled at the prospect of new possible work for me but... I looked over my shoulder, scanning for a familliar silhouette. Near the dance floor, where a lock of clean cut business suit men and women are standing and chatting, I saw Lucas approaching his nieces. 

"Why? Do you have prior engagement?"

With dim lights, I could barely make out of the situation. But I had a feeling that Lucas can handle the situation maturely if anyproble arise there. Maybe it would better he meet them later. "No," I replied.

Currently I am more intrigued about Donnavan's friend. "What kind of project does he has in mind, director?"

Donnavan chuckled. "So, he's been thinking about this drama he wanted to do. Something about mystic beings with long lives."

"Mystic beings? You mean like vampire?"

He made a raspberries. "Vampires too mainstream now."

I think for a brief moment and while on the way, I asked for a new glass of water to clear my head. Things like this need to be think througly. "Then... gods?"

Donnavan clapped his hand timidly. He too took a glass of cold water. "I don't know much of a detail but he needs your opinion. He's been writing the script for many years. He might get the script done because of you. There."

I looked at a person whose been standing alone on a cocktail table with a tablet on his hand. From the way he's been dressing, he doesn't look like he came here to party. 

"It's hard to get him out of the house except for shooting dramas. Recently, since I told him many thing about you to him, he's been interested to know your world view."

My world view... If it's about mystical beings, I have a lot to say since it's practically beings that I saw in my many previous lives. Now, I'm more interested in this director's script.