"Truthfully, I don't"
Ronan said, his words understated, devoid of sensationalism or strong emotions. Yet, they carried an heavy tone of firmness and persistence. Those emotions were intertwined within his words, slowly seeping out, revealing hidden wisdom. They easily resonated with his teammates.
His eyes, almost unconsciously, focused on Ronan, and he noticed the faint smile on Ronan's lips. It exuded warmth from within, creating a cozy atmosphere. The cold night wind seemed to calm down, and the turbulent mix of emotions settled.
"Haha, at least for us, this journey is meaningful."
"Maybe, after the tour, our band career will officially conclude..." Ronan's words were cut off by Maxim's call "Ronan!"
Clearly, Maxim wasn't ready to let it end.
Ronan turned his gaze to Maxim and continued without hesitation, "Perhaps, after these five performances, we'll return to our initial purpose and find the purest, simplest happiness. Maybe during this final journey, we'll discover that the world is vast, filled with countless possibilities."
Maxim was left momentarily speechless, his expression tinged with sadness.
"Perhaps, we won't discover anything new and will simply embark on a new path peacefully."
"But regardless of the outcome, we should complete this tour. We should give our years of persistence a proper farewell. We shouldn't let all our hard work end in vain."
Ronan's eyes traversed the faces of his teammates, Maxim, Cliff, and Ollie.
Cliff stubbornly averted his gaze, frowning in resistance. He couldn't accept the notion of "finally."
Even thinking about it made him uncomfortable. Yet, Ollie was the first to break the calm.
"I agree!"
His enthusiastic words ignited excitement. Ollie remained the same—steadfast and unwavering. His clear eyes sparkled with anticipation, and he seemed ready to continue the journey, a bright smile gracing his cheeks.
Ollie tilted his chin upward, a silent message to Ronan, saying, "I'm loyal to you, no matter what."
Ronan's eyes crinkled with a smile, and he turned his gaze to Maxim.
Maxim hesitated for a moment, feeling the gaze of Ronan and Ollie. It was a mix of emotions, touching, bittersweet, joyful, and sad. They had started with an argument about the tour, but in the blink of an eye, they were contemplating the end of the band. It was a whirlwind of emotions that was hard to express.
Maxim didn't want it to end, but Ronan's words made sense. Regardless of what the future held, they should at least conclude this tour successfully. They could leave the rest to time.
Taking a deep breath, Maxim exhaled slowly, suppressing the turmoil in his chest. He smiled at Ollie and Ronan. "Count me in."
Finally, all eyes turned to Cliff, making him feel a bit self-conscious.
He turned around and said with a fierce expression, "You three have clearly made up your minds. Do you still need my opinion?"
Despite his stern demeanor, the anger had dissipated from his eyes. Ollie leaned over and playfully patted Cliff's ribs with his right elbow.
He teased, "Come on, aren't we just asking for your opinion now? Huh? What do you think?"
Cliff, interrupted by Ollie, couldn't maintain his composure. His expression crumbled, but he still tried to put up a facade.
Ronan asked eagerly, "For the curtain call?"
Cliff couldn't help but be amused by Ronan's wink. He finally nodded. "For the curtain call."
"Great!" What had initially been a somber moment turned joyous thanks to Ollie's enthusiastic cheer. Laughter filled the air, and the atmosphere lightened.
No matter what lay ahead, they were determined to finish this journey and avoid any regrets.
But the excitement was short-lived, as they quickly returned to reality. Cliff inquired, "Have you asked your brother? What did he say?"
Brother? Ask?
What was happening now?
They had just clarified one question, and now another had surfaced. Was there no time to catch their breath?
Ronan looked at Cliff, perplexed.
Fortunately, Ollie came to the rescue, immediately reaching out to grab Cliff's neck and placing him in a chokehold. He clamped down on Cliff's throat, effectively silencing him. "Finally, I've calmed down, you jerk! Can't you calm down for a bit?"
Ollie was a tall, burly man, standing at 185 centimeters and weighing 80 kilograms. His broad shoulders and strong muscles were striking. In contrast, Cliff was on the "slender" side, measuring 176 centimeters and weighing 60 kilograms. Faced with Ollie's sheer force, Cliff was like a twig, unable to resist.
Ollie's chokehold easily subdued Cliff. Cliff had no choice but to protest feebly, slapping Ollie's arm. "I was just asking. Is that not allowed? Can't I ask questions? The problem doesn't vanish if I keep quiet. I'm just concerned, okay?"
He slapped Ollie's arm again, but this time, it was a judo move, an admission of defeat. His earlier words, full of indignation, had little effect in the face of Ollie's overpowering strength.
Maxim and Ronan, standing nearby and watching the scene, burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Cliff's forlorn voice echoed from behind. "You two have no loyalty!"
Back in the room, the corridor resonated with Cliff's struggles. Ronan and Maxim exchanged glances, then turned around in unison, as if nothing had transpired, and reentered the room, chatting and laughing.
Cliff's anguished cries continued from the corridor. "You traitors!"
After the laughter subsided a bit, the atmosphere slowly settled. Ronan contemplated the question that Cliff had raised earlier. He furrowed his brow in thought, but Maxim interpreted it differently.
Unable to hold back, Maxim finally asked, "Ronan, you mentioned that this might be the end. Have you thought about a way forward if it really does come to an end?"