Super Star System Awakens

"Liam, when are you going to stop being a little idiot!" David shouted across the phone.

Liam moved the phone away from his ears and frowned at his dad's rude comment.

"Dad, you know that this is my dream. I won't stop doing this until I achieve it, you won't change my mind no matter what," Liam replied, his voice firm as he ignored his dad's taunts.

"You've always been like this, a stubborn little brat!" His dad taunted again.

"Look at your brother, he had gotten a job in an office. He makes around four thousand dollars a month, he is also planning to get a house for himself and his fiancee soon." He continued, "Meanwhile, you are too busy chasing nothing but a fantasy."

"GROW UP!" He shouted again.

Liam gritted his teeth but decided not to talk back.

"Dad, I'm happy for Jack. In fact, I'm very proud of him."

"He pursued his dream, went to university and achieved what he desired. But I am not happy for him just because he can make a lot of money." He stated.

"Also, it's a real low blow for you to bring up my brother's achievement and compare his with mine,"

"I'm doing this so you can wak-" His dad rebuked, but was interrupted by Liam almost immediately.

"Doesn't matter dad, I know you are doing this to 'wake me up'. I've heard this many times already, it's not the first time you did this."

"But please, just leave me do what I want, why are you so worried about the job I want to do."

"I assure you that I will come back to our little town when everything fails, but for now I'm enjoying this."

After saying that, he hung up the phone and sighed.

"He keeps calling me every week, asking me if I got a job in my so-called acting career." He muttered to himself, as he put his phone down.

"And every damn time, I tell him no, no and... no." He said as his emotion built up from the constant reminder of his failure.

...

"Why did you say that to him, David?" Carmilla's voice was soft, though concern was etched in her tone.

"You keep pushing him to give up on what he loved, ever since he was young."

David leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "He needs to hear it, Carmilla. Your son has chosen one of the hardest paths out there."

"I call him every week for three reasons."

He held up a finger.

"The first is to test his resolve."

"His resolve?" She repeated as a frown appeared on her face.

"I mean he is pretty determined, considering that he moved to Los Angeles." 

David shook his head, as he continued.

"You know as well as I do, Hollywood chews people up. Depression, burnout—it's everywhere. If I sense that he's breaking, if he can't handle the rejection and ridicule, I'll fly to Los Angeles myself and pull him out of that mess. I won't let him destroy his future chasing something he won't be able to keep."

Carmilla sighed but listened intently. "And the second reason?" she asked.

David's gaze softened, as he exhaled deeply.

"The second reason..." He hesitated, then continued with a faint smile.

"I keep hoping he'll change his mind. That he'll come back home, find a stable job, settle down, and give us a chance to spoil some of his grandkids."

Carmilla's lips curved into a smile, but her eyes stayed clouded with worry. "You only want what's best for him," she murmured, "But I fear that he will hate you and cut you off for it."

"Maybe he will, but if he does hate me for it then I failed at two things. The first is his upbringing, the second is not convincing him."

She nodded her head, worry still etched in her expression.

"I will go heat up the food for us." She said as she left the small living room.

"Thanks, honey," He muttered, as he watched her leave.

'As for the third reason, it's because I miss him.' David thought as a wry smile crept on his face.

...

Six months later...

"Excuse me, can I have a latte please," A woman ordered.

"Right away," Liam responded with a smile, as he got to work.

'It's tomorrow,' Liam thought, as he served the customer her latte.

"Thank you for dropping by, enjoy your latte." He smiled, as he handed it over.

"Thank you," She nodded, as she headed to her seat.

A small sigh escaped his mouth, as he cleaned the machines, it was almost the end of his shift and tomorrow was a big day for him.

"Tomorrow, I will do an audition." He muttered silently, as his replacement arrived at work.

"Thanks, Liam. I will handle it from here, you can go home now," The man said, as he put on his apron and headed into the working space.

Liam nodded and said goodbyes before leaving the store.

As he left the store, a familiar face stood in front of him.

"Uhm, hi." She said, as her hands fidgeted behind her back, her gaze on Liam's face.

"You are the girl from before, the one who ordered the latte?" He said, his voice slightly unsure.

The girl nodded her head like a little chicken.

"Yup, that's me."

"I see, well how can I help you?" He asked his tone evidence of his confusion.

"Uhm, I... was wondering if, you know, I can have your snap maybe?" She said, as her legs started fidgeting along with her hands.

"My snap?" He asked, with some confusion.

"Yes, your snap." She nodded.

"Why do you want that?" He asked, still confused.

"Well, you know. I want to get to know you," She responded.

"Oh, I see." 

It finally clicked, the girl seemed to be interested in him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you it for two reasons. The first is that I don't have snap to begin with, and the second is that I'm not ready for any relationship right now,"

The girl became flustered hearing his reasoning, she almost burst out at him.

'You don't have snap? Who doesn't? Are you a caveman?' but she held herself, as she heard the second reason.

'So he just didn't want to hurt my feelings,' She thought, as she listened to him continue.

"I see, well I'm sorry for bothering you and making it awkward." She said as she hurried to leave.

"It's okay, it's not awkward at all." He shook his head.

...

Arriving in his small apartment, Liam took a quick shower and headed to bed.

"Tomorrow is my chance, I can't fail anymore. The money I had saved before has slowly run out in the past few months, and the money I'm getting as a barista isn't gonna cut it off. Failing is not an option."

"Tomorrow is gonna either make me...or break me," He muttered, as he remembered his dad's words.

'Maybe he was right, I should have focused on graduating and getting a stable job.'

...

The next day arrived, and Liam barely had any sleep.

'Damn it, I'm going to be late for the audition.' He thought as he hurried to enter the small recording room.

His audition was at 10:00 am sharp, it's already 10:00 and he still hasn't arrived.

"Next, participant... Liam West!" The judge shouted as he waited for the next participant to enter.

"Liam West!" The judge shouted again, making sure his voice was loud and clear just in case.

"I think this person isn't here it's already 10:02 am, let's call for the next participant." A second judge concluded.

The third judge seemed conflicted as he glanced at his watch.

"Alright, let's call for the nex-"

"I'm here, sorry judges for the delay," Liam said as he caught his breath from the running he had been doing.

The first judge raised an eyebrow and said.

"Although this is already a bad first impression, I think we should still give you a chance," He said, as he glanced at the other judges.

"What do you guys think?"

The other two judges nodded, agreeing with him.

"Alright, we will give you 2 minutes to catch your breath then perform."

Liam nodded, as excitement built up inside of him.

As he entered the studio, he received something that made him think he was hallucinating.

[Super Star System has chosen you as its host.]

[The host will be able to gain skills from the roles he acts in.]

[Newbie Gift: Basic Acting Skill]

As Liam received the basic Acting skills, he realised that he wasn't an amateur Actor in any way shape or form, he was nothing but a mesh of different characters he watched as he grew up.

'To think, that I awakened a system. I will surely be able to rise now!' He thought as he caught his breath.

Performing on stage

The small recording room was dimly lit, with a single spotlight on Liam as he stood on the slightly raised platform in front of the judges.

The judges sat at a long table that had a red top, their expressions showed indifference and curiosity.

Liam adjusted his stance, his breathing finally calm after his mad run to the audition.

"Alright, Mr. West," the first judge said, flipping through some papers.

He had a sharp face and thin glasses perched on his nose.

His nameplate read Simon Marlowe. "You've got three minutes to perform. Convince us it was worth waiting for you."

"Good luck," the second judge, a middle-aged woman with curly hair and an encouraging smile, added softly.

Her nameplate read Grace Thompson.

The third judge, a younger man than the other judges dressed in a sleek blazer with his arms crossed, remained silent.

His expression was that of scepticism and that said enough.

Liam nodded, his fingers trembling slightly as he clenched them into fists at his sides.

"Thank you for giving me the chance. I'll be performing a monologue from The Broken King."

Simon raised an eyebrow. "A bold choice," he muttered under his breath, but he gestured for Liam to proceed.

The room fell silent as Liam took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes, letting his new skill overtake him. When he opened them again, they carried a persona that wasn't there before.

"Do you think this crown makes me a king? Never, it's merely a physical object, while my royalty is absolute." Liam's voice, deep and resonant, filled the space.

He slowly raised an invisible object to his head, the imaginary crown.

The judges' gazes slowly sharpened as interest in Liam built up.

Grace leaned forward slightly, her smile fading as her eyes widened with interest.

"I was a king before this piece of gold ever touched my head!" Liam's voice cracked with anguish.

His hand shook as he brought it to his chest, his body hunched forward as if carrying a burden that overwhelmed him.

"It wasn't the crown that made them kneel—it was the fear. It was the blood they saw staining my hands!"

The third judge who had been slouched slightly, straightened up, his previous sceptical expression replaced with a contemplative frown.

Liam turned sharply, his expression dark and conflicted.

"And now, they call me mad? After I've sacrificed everything for their peace? After I drank blood for their sake?" He let out a bitter laugh that echoed in the room. "No… I am not mad. I am broken."

"Broken from their hypocrisy and fakeness, they want to act righteous now? Where was it when I saved the kingdom from being razed to the ground? Where was it when I annihilated poverty?"

The imaginary crown fell from his hand as he stared at it with a mix of hatred and despair. "But I swear, that I will destroy this kingdom… even if it means destroying myself."

The monologue ended with Liam collapsing to his knees. The room was silent for a beat.

Then two.

Simon leaned back, his hand on his chin as he studied Liam.

Grace glanced at her fellow judges, her expression a mix of surprise and interest.

"Well," Simon finally said, tapping his pen on the table, "that was… unexpected."

Grace broke into a smile, her earlier encouragement now replaced with genuine warmth. "You brought that character to life. I could feel his pain and his conviction."

The third judge, whose nameplate read Ethan Cross, unfolded his arms as he said.

"It was good," he said simply, his tone calm. "But I wouldn't say perfect. Your emotions were raw, but they teetered slightly."

Liam's jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded. "Thank you for your feedback."

Simon tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze sharp. "You said you were performing from The Broken King, but your interpretation didn't feel like you were just copying the play. You added something personal to it. Where did that come from?"

Liam hesitated, unsure how to explain the system's skill without sounding insane. "I've… always connected with roles like this. I guess I put a bit of myself into the character."

Grace tilted her head, her curiosity evident. "Have you performed before? Maybe in theatre or smaller productions?"

"No," Liam admitted, his voice steady. "But I have trialled out on an audition before."

Grace nodded, as she handed the talk to Simon.

Simon scribbled something on his notepad.

"Alright, Liam West. You've got potential, that much is clear. But raw talent isn't enough."

"This industry doesn't just chew people up, it spits them out without a second glance. If you want to make it here, you'll need to refine keep improving."

Grace chimed in, her tone softer. "I think you have what it takes to grow into something great, Liam. But Simon's right. Are you ready for that?"

Liam met her gaze with a firm nod, his back straightening. "I'm ready. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."

Ethan smirked, his earlier scepticism replaced with a hint of approval. "Then welcome to the real world, Liam West. Let's see if you can survive it."

Simon tapped his pen one last time before setting it down. "Congratulations. You've made it to the next round."

The words hit Liam like a truck, but he kept his composure. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline running through his veins.

As he left the room, the faint sound of Grace murmuring to her fellow judges reached his ears. "He's rough around the edges, but there's something about him…"

Simon's reply was quieter, but firm. "Let's see if he can hold onto it." 

I am not a junkie

Upon leaving the studio, Liam let out a shrill of emotions.

"hahahaha, finally. I passed the first audition!" He shouted, as he couldn't control his emotions.

He had been in Los Angeles for around one year now, he had been working daily in that coffee shop that became his second home, life in Los Angeles wasn't for the weak.

He persevered until the end, just as he was about to finally quit and go back to his little town with his head lowered, he awakened a magical system.

"I will really become a super star," He muttered.

..

"What is wrong with this guy? Is he okay?" A girl said to her boyfriend as they walked past.

"Shh, I know these types of people. They call them crackheads or junkies. I heard that you can experience any kind of life you want if you take one single pill, I think he did that." He said, with a low tone as if Liam didn't already hear it.

"Oh, I see." His girlfriend nodded in understanding, as she looked at Liam with disgust.

".."

"Hey! I am not a junkie, what the hell man. Don't accuse me, or I will sue you for defamation." Liam said as he glared at the man.

"See? He thinks he is something big that he can even sue me for defamation, hahaha." The guy laughed, as he walked off with his girl.

"Damn, this blue-haired little rodent, who does he think he is?" Liam spat.

"Just because I let out my emotions, doesn't mean I'm a junkie." He kissed his teeth, as he started heading home.

They told him that they would contact him when the second round began and he couldn't wait.

...

Liam stepped into his modest apartment, the air was still and quiet, the usual.

He placed his keys on the table and walked to his closet, humming a tune softly.

"Baby, baby, baby... ohhh. I can't wait for my role."

For the first time in months, he felt happy, his smile didn't feel forced.

Sliding open the closet, he grabbed a pair of comfortable grey sweatpants and a clean white t-shirt.

As he headed to the bathroom, the tiles were cold under his bare feet, he chuckled softly.

"A system," he muttered, shaking his head. "I've actually got a system."

The bathroom slowly got filled with steam as hot water ran down from the showerhead.

Liam stood under the stream, letting the warmth wash away the exhaustion that had been clinging to him for the past year.

He closed his eyes, his mind drifting back to the last year.

"The daily grind at the coffee shop."

"The countless rejections."

The doubt crept in like an unwelcome guest, whispering that his dad might have been right.

He hadn't had the skills for this—below even an amateur, as his auditions painfully revealed. But he had held on, clutching his dreams tightly even as they slowly destroyed him. And now, here he was.

"God rewarded me for my patience," he said softly, a small laugh escaping.

The idea of the system still felt unreal to him.

To gain skills from the roles he played? It was an actor's dream—a cheat code to success.

He imagined himself mastering roles effortlessly, becoming a master driver from one role, or a medical doctor or maybe...

"I can become the king of Hollywood," he whispered, his voice tinged with excitement.

"A superhero!" He shouted in excitement, "I wouldn't be surprised if that's possible, after all, it's a system."

The water-cooled, snapping him out of his reverie.

"I forgot that my hot water is limited, I'm not rich enough to do that... at least not yet." He smirked.

He turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry himself.

The smile never left his face as he changed into his fresh clothes.

As he walked into the living room, his phone buzzed on the couch.

The ringtone echoed through the room, a jaunty tune he had set months ago but had only heard when his dad called.

He picked it up and glanced at the screen. The number wasn't saved and looked unfamiliar.

"Hello?" he answered, his tone curious but light.

"Liam West?" a man's voice responded, professional and calm.

"Yes, that's me."

"This is Paul from Stardream Casting Agency. I'm calling to let you know that the next round of auditions is scheduled for next Friday at 11:00 a.m. sharp. You'll be performing in front of a larger panel this time."

Liam straightened up, excitement ripping through his chest. "Thank you so much for letting me know! I'll be there."

"Good. Make sure to prepare thoroughly. We'll send you the script by email tomorrow morning. Best of luck." The line clicked before Liam could respond further.

He lowered the phone slowly, his pulse racing. "Next Friday," he murmured, his grin widening.

Liam paced around the living room, the thought of performing again, this time in front of judges and people, made him nervous.

He stopped by the window, staring out at the city lights from his spot.

"Dad, I know you doubted me," he said aloud to himself, "but I'll show you. I'll show everyone." His reflection in the glass smiled back at him, a man who, for the first time in a long while, believed in himself.

Plopping onto the couch, Liam picked up his laptop and opened his email, eager to see if the script had arrived early.

It hadn't, but the anticipation only made him more excited.

thirty minutes later...

"Still not here, huh." He muttered.

An hour later...

"Seems like they really aren't sending it now," He thought, as his eyelids slowly became heavy and he drifted to sleep.