"What's the situation?" Ronan pondered with a web of question marks swirling in his mind.
Clearly, the band now found themselves in a challenging predicament. Clues to their dilemma could be faintly detected amid the chaos following tonight's unexpected performance. It seemed to revolve around the band's very survival, exacerbated by internal differences of opinion that added complexity to the situation. It was becoming increasingly intricate.
But what was the exact situation? What was the specific problem? Ronan hadn't had the time to organize his thoughts.
Or, to be more precise, Ronan hadn't fully reconnected with reality yet. He remained immersed in the sheer joy of basking in the limelight once more, of being back on stage. He hadn't spared a moment to contemplate the situation. For him, there were even more pressing concerns.
Happiness had barely registered before the bitter hardships came rushing in, challenging Ronan to quickly establish his footing and adapt to the circumstances.
But... the situation remained shrouded in ambiguity. How should he respond?
Ronan had been careful not to speak rashly from the moment he had emerged, lest his feverish state and disarrayed thoughts betray him. Constantly explaining his condition with a high fever and a clouded mind wasn't a sustainable solution.
As Ronan became the center of his bandmates' attention, his brow furrowed in apparent distress. He seemed torn, hesitant, reluctant to readily voice his perspective.
"Seriously!" Cliff, growing impatient at Ronan's expression, interjected sharply. "Isn't it all crystal clear by now?"
"Even if we want to complete the tour, we're strapped for cash. What about gas, lodging, and daily expenses?"
"Fine, we can pay for it ourselves, but let's not kid ourselves—there's no green in our wallets, even if we scrounge along the way. Who's waiting for our shows? Bars don't care, drunks don't care, and music producers certainly won't. There's no hope, no purpose, no value, nothing. So, why are we pushing on? For what?"
"We've emptied our wallets just to complete a tour that lacks purpose, hope, conclusion, or impact. What comes next?"
"Nothing."
"This isn't the first time, and it won't be the last. Haven't we endured enough over the past five years? Haven't we faced enough similar setbacks? Remember how we got here? How did we start this second journey? It's not like we haven't put in the effort, but what's the outcome?"
"Tell me, why do you think Tristan did this?"
As Cliff spoke, his voice suddenly ceased. His fluctuating emotions and loss of control were evident in the rapid rise and fall of his chest. His flushed cheeks seemed on the brink of eruption, and his watery eyes betrayed embarrassment and confusion. He quickly lowered his eyelids to conceal his vulnerability.
Maxim remained silent, his neck stiffened, his gaze fixed in the distance. Yet the tension in his arms and shoulders revealed the turmoil within.
Ollie lowered his head in silence, surreptitiously wiping his eyes, then hurriedly turned his gaze away, revealing only the back of his head.
A heavy silence descended, punctuated by the distant croak of frogs and the gradually diminishing night-time clamor.
Tristan-Cuban.
This name flashed across Ronan's mind like lightning, jolting his scattered memories awake. It connected the fragmented pieces, echoed Cliff's words, and outlined the tangled web of events. At least now, he wasn't entirely in the dark.
King for a Day, originally formed in 2005,
Comprised of Ronan, Ollie, and Maxime, three UCLA freshmen. Originally, it was a mere hobby band – the kind countless North American high school and college students experimented with, a garage band meant for self-entertainment.
Upon entering their sophomore year, Maxim, by chance, introduced Cliff, one year their senior, to the world of music. Fate intervened, and Cliff joined the band as their guitarist, ushering in a new era. Slowly but surely, the band began to stand out among university campus performances.
Thanks to Cliff's extensive network, they secured more performance opportunities and earned the appreciation and support of an independent record company. The band members contemplated a formal foray into the music industry, finally reaching a unanimous decision. They took a hiatus from school, inked a record deal, completed their debut album, and geared up for their official launch.
But unexpected twists could occur at any time.
In 2008, the global subprime financial crisis forced the record company into bankruptcy. Despite the album being recorded, they couldn't produce it on a large scale, let alone distribute it across the United States. The Kind for a Day's debut plan was crushed at the last moment.
Desperate, the band members returned to campus to resume their studies while continuing to perform on the side. They sang at local bars, did commercial gigs, but a second chance never materialized. However, they refused to surrender easily. After graduation, all four members juggled multiple part-time jobs.
Ronan worked at gas stations and convenience stores, lending his voice to commercials. Ollie waited tables and did scaffolding work on construction sites.
Cliff dabbled as a real estate agent and spent nearly six months at an advertising agency. Maxim sustained himself by tutoring guitar and saxophone.
The bleak circumstances persisted until last year, in 2011, when a man named Tristan Cuban entered their lives.
Tristan was also an alumnus of the band members, but he was three years older than Cliff. He had graduated early and become a music manager. Thanks to Cliff's introduction, Tristan attended two live performances by King for a Day, conducted multiple evaluations, and ultimately decided to sign a contract with the band.
After three years of silence, the band was given a second chance.
Upon signing with Tristan, the King for a Day performance opportunities skyrocketed. They not only warmed up for small concerts but also opened for NCAA football games. Exposure was on the rise, and they continued to accumulate valuable performance experience.
On one front, the band garnered popularity and experience through commercial gigs. On the other, Tristan reached out to record companies, hoping to secure a chance for the band to record a new album.