Chapter 12 – Hollywood's Darlings
The morning after the Oscar nominees' dinner brought an unexpected frenzy.
The dinner, which should have been a low-key affair, became one of the most talked about topics in the world.
Gustavo and Fernanda had conquered Hollywood.
On entertainment websites, headlines were filled with their names:
"Gustavo Salles and Fernanda Torres shine at the nominees' dinner!" – Variety
"Brazil has conquered Hollywood: everyone wants Gustavo and Nanda around." – The Hollywood Reporter
"If the Oscars were about charisma, Gustavo and Fernanda would have already won!" – Entertainment Weekly
Backstage footage from the dinner began to leak onto the internet.
Timothée Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, Ariana Grande, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, Mikey Madison… Everyone loved the Brazilian duo.
But one detail in particular caught everyone's attention.
On Twitter, an insider revealed an unusual nickname:
"At dinner, everyone referred to Fernanda Torres as 'Pikachu' because Gustavo calls her that. And now all of Hollywood does too."
The name Pikachu quickly rose in the trending topics.
Brazilian fans began spreading memes:
"Gustavo and Nanda dominating Hollywood and still spreading random nicknames? I love it!"
"If I see Timothée Chalamet calling Fernanda Pikachu at the Oscars, I'll freak out!"
The website E! News mentioned the nickname in an article:
"Fernanda Torres is now known as 'Pikachu' among Hollywood stars, thanks to Gustavo Salles. It seems that in addition to being nominated for an Oscar, he also creates trends!"
The repercussion was so great that, the next morning, Ariana Grande posted a photo of Pikachu on Instagram and tagged Gustavo and Fernanda.
Gustavo couldn't believe what was happening.
He and Fernanda were on the hotel balcony, having coffee, when he showed her his cell phone.
"Did you realize what we did?"
She put on her sunglasses and took the phone from him.
"I'm a cultural icon now, Gustavo."
He laughed, shaking his head.
"I just wanted a quiet dinner. Now all of Hollywood calls you Pikachu."
She sighed dramatically.
"You created a monster."
They both burst out laughing.
The truth was that they weren't just Brazilian Oscar nominees.
They had become Hollywood's darlings.
And the world was loving every second of it.
Chapter 13 – On the Eve of the Oscars
The clock struck 7:30 p.m. on March 1, 2025, and the ballroom at the exclusive Château Marmont in Los Angeles was packed with some of the most powerful figures in the film industry.
It was the pre-Oscar dinner, a backstage event where the nominees gathered, away from the pressure of cameras and interviews, to celebrate their journey to this point.
The mood was light, but the energy in the air was electrifying. Everyone knew that in less than 48 hours, they would be at the Dolby Theatre, ready to find out who would leave with the golden statuette.
Gustavo entered the ballroom accompanied by Fernanda.
Unlike the previous dinner, he no longer looked like a dazzled newbie. He felt like he belonged there now.
His time in Hollywood had shaped his style. Now, Gustavo was letting his beard grow a little longer, which further accentuated his mature appearance. He wore a fitted black suit, no tie, with the collar casually open.
As he walked into the room, he heard his name called from a nearby table.
"Hey, Gustavo!"
It was Timothée Chalamet, smiling as he raised a glass of wine.
Standing beside him were Monica Barbaro, Mikey Madison, and Ariana Grande.
And Gustavo joined them without hesitation.
The group of young actors soon fell into animated conversation.
Mikey Madison, holding a drink, leaned toward Gustavo.
"So… have you decided to grow a beard now?"
Gustavo laughed, running his hand over his face.
"I thought it would help me look older, since everyone is always surprised by my age."
Ariana Grande joked:
"Sorry, but it's no use. You're still the baby at the table."
Timothée laughed.
"But an Oscar-nominated baby."
Everyone laughed and toasted to that.
Monica Barbaro, who was watching Gustavo, commented:
— You don't just look young. You're mature. That's rare.
Gustavo smiled.
— I think it's because I've always been surrounded by older people in my career. I've learned to listen more than I talk.
Timothée nodded.
— That's the best quality an actor can have.
The group continued talking, sharing stories about their careers and the challenges of growing up in the spotlight.
Gustavo felt right at home there.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Fernanda Torres was in a different circle of conversation.
She was chatting with Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana and other veteran actors.
Demi, elegant in a black dress, held a glass of wine and looked at Fernanda with a smile.
— So… You and Gustavo have become the highlight of this season. How has this experience been for you?
Fernanda laughed, taking a sip of wine.
— I've been through a lot in the movies, but I've never seen anything like this. Gustavo has this natural magnetism. He wins people over effortlessly.
Zoe Saldana smiled.
— And the most interesting thing is that he doesn't act like a kid who's impressed by everything. He's down to earth.
Demi nodded.
— Exactly. That's rare.
Fernanda looked across the room and saw Gustavo laughing with Timothée and the others.
She smiled.
— He deserves all of this.
Demi nodded.
— Yes. But can I tell you something?
Fernanda turned to her.
— What?
Demi smiled.
— I think he's going to win that Oscar.
Fernanda was silent for a moment.
Then she toasted Demi.
Because, for the first time, she also felt that it was possible.
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