As the final applause faded and the theater lights began to warm the dim interior, a theater staff member walked briskly to the front of the venue, whispering something into a crew member's ear. The response was immediate — the screen curtains slowly drew closed, and the host for the night took the stage, microphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the cast and crew of *City of Stars*!"
The audience erupted again.
Adrian stood slowly, his heart pounding. Jom gave him a quick slap on the back, while Kai nodded with a wide grin. The three of them made their way to the front, joined by the film's lead actress and actor, along with the core crew members. As they stepped onto the stage, the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Bright lights bathed them in gold as camera shutters clicked from all angles. Critics, reporters, bloggers, and fans stood scattered across the theater floor, each waiting for a turn to ask a question or throw a compliment.
"Mr. Rivera!" a young reporter called out. "How does it feel seeing *City of Stars* premiere like this — and with this kind of reception?"
Adrian took the mic, trying not to let the rush of emotions crack his voice. "It feels surreal. We made this film with nothing but passion and a dream. Seeing people connect with it like this... it's everything."
A veteran film critic raised her hand. "The movie felt deeply personal. Were any scenes drawn from your real life?"
Adrian nodded. "Yes. Many of them, actually. I think every filmmaker leaves a piece of themselves in their work. *City of Stars* was my way of processing a journey I once thought was over."
The audience leaned in closer.
A younger critic chimed in. "The rooftop scene — it's been trending online already. Can you tell us how you pulled that off on such a limited budget?"
Kai stepped forward, chuckling. "We scouted for days. Waited for just the right sky. And we prayed the weather cooperated."
Jom added, "Also, we were broke. So it had to be perfect in one go."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
"Did you ever think this movie would reach this level of emotional impact?" asked another journalist.
Adrian paused. "I hoped. But seeing how it's moved so many tonight... I think it's bigger than I imagined."
The actress stepped forward next. "Adrian made a safe space for us to bring real emotion to every take. That's rare. That's why it worked."
More applause. Cameras continued to flash.
Then the host returned to the mic. "We'd like to thank everyone for attending this beautiful premiere. The cast and crew will be available for brief interviews outside. And once again, congratulations to the *City of Stars* team!"
---
**Later That Night...**
Rina Velasco sat quietly in her condominium, the glow of her television illuminating her otherwise dark living room. Her own film had premiered last month with decent success and was now rolling into its second week in theaters.
But now the media buzz was shifting.
Every entertainment outlet was now headlining *City of Stars.*
*"A Fresh Voice in Filipino Cinema: Adrian Rivera's Debut Hits the Heart."*
*"Poetic, Honest, Beautiful — City of Stars Wows Audiences"*
She bit her lip.
Flashes of the movie ran in her mind. That rooftop scene. The rain monologue. The silent goodbye.
She took a deep breath.
"He's not just lucky," she murmured. "He's actually good."
---
**A Few Days Later...**
Billboards went up.
Trailers played in malls.
Social media lit up with rave reviews.
*City of Stars* opened nationwide.
Lines wrapped around cinema lobbies.
Students. Couples. Families. Even senior citizens.
Inside one theater, a group of college friends sat with popcorn in their laps. As the movie began, they laughed at Jom's witty lines, sighed during the romantic montages, and fell silent during the monologue scenes.
When the credits rolled, one of them whispered, "Damn. That... that was art."
Another leaned back and wiped his face. "I didn't think I'd cry over a movie tonight."
In another cinema, a group of influencers left the screening filming themselves live.
"Just watched *City of Stars*! Masterpiece. Literal goosebumps," one said.
"Philippine cinema is finally rising," another added.
Some bragged online:
> "I watched *City of Stars* before the hype. Y'all late."
> "Cried in the theater. Twice. Adrian Rivera, you mad genius."
> "Whoever hasn't seen this is missing out BIG TIME."
\#CityOfStars and #AdrianRivera trended by the end of the week.
---
**Meanwhile...**
Rina's film, while well-produced, began to feel the effects. Screenings that were once packed now had fewer seats filled.
Her boss called her in for a meeting.
"We need to do a PR push. The box office gap is widening. *City of Stars* is eating up our demographic."
She nodded, but internally, she knew.
They weren't just losing money.
They were losing *attention.*
---
**Box Office Battle**
Week 1:
* *City of Stars*: ₱14.8 million
* Rina's film: ₱12.3 million
Week 2:
* *City of Stars*: ₱24.6 million
* Rina's film: ₱16.1 million
Week 3:
* *City of Stars*: ₱35.2 million
* Rina's film: ₱18.5 million
The headlines shifted:
*"Newcomer Dominates Local Box Office"*
*"City of Stars Reaches ₱35 Million in Just Three Weeks"*
Adrian sat in a café, sipping black coffee as he scrolled through the numbers.
He exhaled, then smiled.
Beside him, Kai chuckled. "You seeing this?"
"Yeah," Adrian said. "But it's not just the numbers."
"What is it then?"
"It's that people are watching stories that *mean* something. Stories with soul."
Kai clapped his back. "And you're leading the charge."
---
Adrian would still act. He would still direct. And now, more than ever, he was certain:
He wasn't just chasing a dream anymore.
He was *living* it.
And the world was finally watching.(End chapter)