章節 28: Blurring the boundary between real and illusionary

Rami stood behind the monitor, gazing at the tranquil silhouette of Renly. The sunlight seemed to slow its pace, gently landing on his shoulders, sweeping away the faint traces of sadness and loss between his brows. He remained quietly, just standing still. The sound of sand trickling down the hourglass echoed around him, even the rustling of the wind grew tender, afraid to disturb the tranquility of the moment.

An overwhelming surge of sadness washed over Rami unexpectedly. His eyes welled up with tears, and he awkwardly lowered his head, wiping away the hot droplets. But the tears kept flowing, unstoppable. The faint desolation in Renly's eyes was like an epic upheaval, shaking Rami's inner vulnerability. He almost couldn't catch his breath.

And Rami wasn't alone. Darin stood within the crowd, his gaze fixed deeply on Renly's figure.

The present Renly looked as if he had just been pulled from a swamp, reeking of filth. His features were almost indistinguishable under the bloodstains and mud on his cheeks, leaving only a glimpse of his deep eyes. Dim light rippled within them, revealing confusion, bewilderment, sadness, and numbness. His silence was as quiet as the darkest night, absorbing the warmth of the sunlight like a black hole. Despite the quietness, a tremendous energy burst forth, like a raging tempest, brutally colliding with Darin's soul.

Darin disliked Renly. There wasn't any particular reason, he told himself. It wasn't just because on the first day of shooting, he had tried to assert his dominance over Renly and ended up getting slapped. He just didn't like Renly's overwhelming self-confidence and composed demeanor. Shouldn't a rookie fresh out of the gate be more submissive?

Yet Darin couldn't deny that at this moment, in this peculiar instant, the energy emanating from Renly perfectly encapsulated the essence and ideology of "The Pacific". The survival earned by hands stained with blood, was it luck or torment? What was left in a shattered soul baptized by war? Faith, hope, perseverance, kindness—were they still intact or had they been lost? All of it, so cruel, so grand, so real, yet so delicate.

Darin could continue denying, he could deceive everyone, but he couldn't deceive himself. Looking around at the crew, every breath was held, everyone stared intently and seriously at Renly before them. Even though the scene had concluded, not a single sound was uttered, as if the mere sound of their breathing would disrupt this moment of peace. The delicate emotions danced upon fragile hearts, unfurling large, vivid crimson poppies—a poignant beauty.

This was no longer a mere performance. Renly had drawn the illusory scene from the frame and made it real, genuinely immersing everyone and compelling deep contemplation. That immense power transcended the boundaries of fiction and reality, ruptured through the dimensions of time and space, giving rise to a tempest of thoughts.

Carl Franklin moistened his dry lips. Despite David's praise of Renly in front of him, despite Tom and Steven recommending Renly for the role of Eugene, he had refused to believe that a newcomer, a rookie, could possess such skill. Despite talent, a rookie's ability to convey depth and substance was limited. But today, he realized he was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Carl looked around at the crew members beside him. He understood that his action would cruelly shatter this moment of serenity, but he had to do it. This was his duty as a director. "Cut!" he called out loudly.

Almost simultaneously, everyone looked in different directions—up, down, or outward. It was as if a gust of sandstorm had passed by, leaving their eyes covered in dust. They raised their palms to wipe away the grit from their eyelids.

Carl cleared his throat gently a couple of times, masking the fleeting disappointment within him. "Very well, that scene is fine. Next one!"

But Rami swiftly took a step forward, audaciously seizing Carl's arm. "Director, can we have a ten-minute break?" Carl looked at Rami in puzzlement, only to realize Rami's gaze was directed at Renly. "I think we all need a rest."

By now, Renly had released the extras in his arms. While they moved away, he remained kneeling on the ground, still sitting there dazedly. Lost and disoriented, he seemed as though time had come to a halt on his shoulders.

"Yes, ten minutes. I mean, we'll take a ten-minute break," Carl hastily nodded in agreement. The bridge of his nose felt slightly sore, almost as if it were losing control. He turned around in haste, fleeing from the scene.

Rami swiftly walked over, unsure of what to do. He softened his footsteps and crouched behind Renly. Observing his slightly stiff back and the desolation in his profile, a pang of heartache surged through him. Unfortunately, James wasn't on set today. His scenes had temporarily concluded, and he had accompanied the second unit to another area for filming. Otherwise, he would surely know how to console Renly.

"...Renly." After much hesitation, Rami began speaking, but it was merely a call, the weight of the words choking him.

Hearing the sound, Renly's head shot up suddenly, breaking the tranquility of his emotions in an instant. Fragments were scattered across his mind, a shocking sight to behold. "Oh... hey, big eyes." Renly seemed to quickly regain his composure. A warm smile graced his face again. "How was it? Was the filming just now smooth?"

"Smooth, everything went smoothly." Rami was actually somewhat uncomfortable with Renly acting so normally. After pondering for a moment, he cautiously inquired, "Are you... okay?"

"Hehe." A smile gently curved up from the corners of his lips. "I'm fine, I'm really fine." Renly nodded in response, but Rami wasn't ready to give up just yet. He stared intently at Renly, his large eyes almost trapping Renly, leaving him somewhat helpless. He knew that his reaction just now had been unusual. He hadn't even heard the call of "Cut." "I was just pondering some questions."

Renly paused briefly and lowered his eyelids gently. A hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes. "What is war really for? And what does faith truly mean? At the end of life, on the other side of death, is there truly nothing? And... amidst countless lies, how do we find the truth, at least our own reality?"

The words trailed off, becoming a vice around Rami's throat. He didn't know how to respond.

Soon, Renly lifted his gaze again, catching sight of Rami's conflicted expression. He couldn't help but smile. He patted Rami's shoulder. "These questions don't have answers, or perhaps, they are questions that require us to spend time seeking answers. Some people might never find them. I was just contemplating these matters earlier, so I got lost in thought. What I'm even more curious about is whether Eugene found the answers."

In real life, Eugene had passed away in 2001, so Renly could never get the answers from Eugene's own mouth.

Renly stood up and extended his right hand to Rami. This action left Rami momentarily puzzled. He looked up at Renly with a probing gaze, only to see Renly flash a radiant smile. "We need to prepare for the next scene's filming. I'm ready, how about you?"

Renly seemed perfectly fine, as if the fleeting desolation and loneliness from a moment ago had never truly existed. Rami scrutinized Renly's expression carefully, but he failed. Renly looked just as he usually did, as though these past few weeks hadn't happened at all.

Rami reached out and grasped Renly's right hand, using it as support to stand up. The two of them left the small wooden cabin and returned to the set, resuming filming. In the following scenes, Renly's performance remained exceptional, showing no signs of being affected. On the contrary, other actors seemed a bit off, causing the shooting progress to slow down. Originally scheduled to wrap at 5:30 PM, it continued until almost 7 PM, concluding a full day of work.

Renly was fine, genuinely fine. He hadn't lied.

He hadn't become so immersed in his role that he couldn't extricate himself. While Eugene's character was indeed challenging and demanding, it hadn't reached his limits. However, during the performance, to better convey Eugene's state of mind, he had genuinely been contemplating those philosophical questions—about war, life, faith, loneliness, and existence. These questions not only plagued Eugene but also Renly himself.

Experiences in two lifetimes had endowed Renly with much, exposing him to a great deal and reaping many rewards. Beneath this twenty-year-old vessel resided a soul that had experienced over forty years of vicissitudes. Everything he saw was beginning to look different, and the power of time had taught him how to think and contemplate.

Of course, as Renly had told Rami, these questions might not have answers for everyone. Time would reveal all. Renly had been lucky enough. He had a second life, a second chance to reexamine himself, pursue his dreams anew, and relish life once more.

Lifting his head, Renly gazed at the vast expanse of the southern hemisphere's sky. The profusion of stars turned the profound night sky into a breathtaking spectacle. Temporarily casting aside all his thoughts, he simply savored the tranquility. The clear and resonant sound of a guitar filled his ears, lightly strumming the strings of the night. It felt as if the entire world was leaning in to listen to that entrancing melody.

Involuntarily, a series of moving musical notes floated into Renly's mind. Although acting had always been Renly's dream, his dedication, music undeniably remained his closest companion. Since his rebirth, it had accompanied him through anxious days and nights. The deepest secrets within him were known only to the musical notes that danced on the staff.

"Rami, can I borrow the guitar for a moment?" Renly withdrew his feet, looking at Rami who was casually playing the guitar.

Without a second thought, Rami handed the guitar over to Renly. Only then did he ask curiously, "I didn't know you could play the guitar?"