The Greatest Showman #1405 – Surprise Party

The taxi pulled to a stop downstairs, and the cool, damp air after the rain felt refreshing, heightening the stillness of the late night. There was something unsettling about the quiet, an undercurrent Renly couldn't quite place. It wasn't until later that he realized Matthew's lights were off. He had just texted him, and clearly, Matthew wasn't asleep. But in his tired state, the discomfort was fleeting, dulling his senses.

Nathan's frantic voice crackled through the phone, as if he didn't expect Renly to leave Radio City Music Hall on his own. Renly couldn't help but laugh. "Nathan, you should take a page from Andy's book. This isn't the first time, and it won't be the last. Why do you sound so surprised?"

"No… Renly, I mean—no, I mean…" Nathan stammered, at a loss for words.

Renly's smile deepened, teasing, "Nathan, you're a little off tonight." As he spoke, he reached for the apartment door. When it swung open, the darkness was so complete, it felt as if the night had swallowed everything whole. For a moment, his mind raced—did he forget to close the curtains before leaving?

Instinctively, his hand found the light switch, and as the chandelier flickered to life, a flood of people swarmed into his sight, faces blurring in the soft glow.

"Bang! Boom!" The sound of fireworks—paper ones, bursting one after another—filled the air. A rush of heat hit his face as the calm of the night was obliterated, and the quiet turned into a loud, vibrant chaos. His heart skipped, gripped by the sudden jolt of surprise.

This was a complete shock.

Renly stood frozen, unable to move, as he took in the scene. Matthew Dunlop, pretending to sleep. Rooney Mara, who should've been in Boston. Paul Walker, supposedly vacationing in Hawaii. Ryan Gosling, filming in Canada. Jack Gyllenhaal, recuperating. The Coen brothers in LA for a meeting. Donald Glover, usually unreachable due to scheduling conflicts. Bill Skarsgard, still on his way to New York tomorrow. Alexander Skarsgard on vacation in Miami, and Felicity Jones rehearsing in London. Gal Gadot and Jordana Brewster. Scarlett Johansson, who had been missing for a while.

Then there were Neil Tucson and Stanley Charlesson, who were working that night. Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford preparing for pregnancy in the Caribbean. Justin Timberlake getting ready for a concert. And George Slender, who had become inexplicably busy. Even the Crosses, who hadn't been in touch for months…

Edith had shown up with Chris Evans. Not to mention Eaton, Andre, and Arthur.

One by one, the "lies" of the past weeks and months flooded back. It was as if every friend, consciously or not, had somehow woven their lives into his. This was not just a party—this was everything. The ties between them all, invisible and unspoken, had now come to life in full force.

Renly had thought he was alone. He had thought things had changed. That being at the top meant distance. Like Leonardo DiCaprio after "Titanic," who had retreated into his own world, losing touch with those around him. But now, standing in front of all these people, Renly realized he had been wrong. He had made a mistake in doubting his friends, in doubting everything. Even after the distancing choices of Chris Hemsworth, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Eddie Redmayne—he should've kept his faith.

A sincere heart was enough.

"You did it! God, you actually did it!"

"Hey, big star! How are you? Not going to say something?"

"I knew you'd sneak out early! Haha, I told Nathan, but he still didn't block it."

"How about it? Surprise?"

"You deserve it, but that's all there is to it. No pretensions in front of us."

"EGOT is EGOT! Friends are still friends, I don't care."

"Well, now what? Are you going to retire?"

"Should we double the ticket prices for movies with Renly in them?"

"Come on, come on! Sign this! I'll treat it like a family heirloom!"

"Hurry! Let me take a photo! This is too rare—Renly looking so stunned! I'll blackmail you with this later!"

The crowd swarmed around, chattering and laughing. The energy was electric, and the noise hit Renly like a tidal wave. He could feel his eyes welling up, the embarrassment mixing with something deeper. But he didn't hide it. He didn't want to. The mask he'd worn was gone, and he opened his arms to embrace it all.

A true confidant, no regrets.

In this second life, after being reborn, he had found his tribe—friends who respected him, understood him, and supported every decision. They walked beside him without faltering. It was an honor.

Tears welled up as Renly stood there, lost for words. He raised his right hand, about to speak, when everyone suddenly closed their eyes in unison. Scarlett's voice, teasing, rang out: "Shh! The first person in Hollywood is about to speak."

That joke made Renly laugh out loud.

He looked around, finally resting his gaze on Tom Holland. "…Aren't you just at the awards ceremony?"

Tom immediately became the center of attention, flustered and scratching his head. "As soon as the party ended, I sneaked out. Andre arranged for a car to pick me up."

"Wait," Renly raised an eyebrow, "You mean someone was watching the entrance at Radio City Music Hall? Besides Nathan, there were two more people keeping 'insurance' for tonight's surprise party?"

Andre became the center of attention. Under Renly's gaze, he started to panic. "Sending the car was Andy's idea! Not mine! And Arthur! It was Arthur's idea!"

"Don't pin this on me!" Arthur immediately retorted. "It was Edith! Edith is the mastermind behind everything!"

Renly shot Edith a meaningful look, and her eyes widened in mock disbelief. "Me? How could it be me? If I had that much intelligence, I would…" She paused, realizing she was about to say something she shouldn't, and quickly shut up.

From the side, Chris Evans puffed out his chest, looking a little guilty but steadfast, as if protecting Edith from blame.

Renly smiled knowingly. With a small gesture, he turned to the group. "Alright, if you want to take a picture, do it now. After I go to the bathroom, you won't get another chance."

He didn't shy away. In fact, he welcomed it, laughing at himself in the process. That was Renly in his truest form.

Renly had always been willing to give his sincerity, to show his true self, in exchange for genuine friendships. He was no gentleman, but he was decent. And that was enough.

So, he opened his arms wide, embracing the moment. The party, the love, the warmth—it was all his. The night at EGOT was even more beautiful than he had imagined.