"Wait, wait, you're saying my timing was off?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying!"
"It was clearly Ronan! I was following the original timing..."
"...No, Ronan was spot on tonight. His pitch, tone, and rhythm were flawless from start to finish. Don't avoid taking responsibility."
"What! What I heard was Ronan rushing the beat, okay?"
"Believe me! You made the mistake."
"Are you sure it wasn't your bass that messed up? And now you're blaming me? Your hands were shaking during the last song."
"Me? My hands shaking? Haha, that's the funniest joke I've heard all year. Do you even know who I am? I'm the technical wizard of our band, okay?"
"Technical wizard? I'm the most handsome in the universe! Cliff! Cliff! What do you think? Help me out with this, Maxim is trying to shift the blame onto me!"
"You only know you messed up, otherwise, why would you ask Cliff for help and not Ronan?"
Chirping, bustling, laughter, and banter.
The band members were flushed, passionately arguing about the details of tonight's performance while moving their instruments.
Although the response from the bar's audience had been excellent, indicating a successful performance, the band had not received such positive feedback in a long time, and their spirits were soaring.
Yet, they still needed to calm down and review their stage presence, identifying any mistakes and planning to avoid them in future performances. It was all part of the job.
However, the voices of Maxim and Ollie were ringing in Ronan's ears tonight, and the two of them could rival the power of a hundred flies.
Ronan's body was still a bit weak, the fever not entirely gone, and fatigue was creeping in after the excitement.
So, he listened quietly, a slight smile on his lips, observing Maxim and Ollie like cats and dogs in a playful squabble, thoroughly amused.
And what about Cliff?
Cliff was lost in thought.
For thirty minutes on stage, they had temporarily forgotten their troubles and returned to a state of simplicity, fully enjoying the happiness and joy the performance brought.
However, once they left the glamorous stage, the harsh reality and pressures returned.
Tonight's performance had earned them cheers and applause from the audience, but what came next? What was their future plan? They would eventually have to face reality.
Their joyful mood slowly settled, and the smiles on their faces gradually faded. However, when Ollie called out, Cliff's smile returned, temporarily putting his worries aside.
At least for now, they could enjoy the celebration of the night and worry about tomorrow's uncertainties another day.
"I side with Maxim, Ollie, you know, you made the most mistakes among the four of us tonight. That's undeniable," Cliff voiced his opinion.
"And what about the second most mistakes?" Before Ollie could respond, Maxim's provocative words left Cliff taken aback, clearly insinuating something.
Ronan watched the scene unfold with interest and a smile. All he needed was a bag of sunflower seeds and a bottle of beer.
"Hey!"
As Cliff moved forward again, a figure suddenly emerged from around the corner, wearing a cheerful smile. However, the sudden appearance without warning startled Ronan greatly.
Instinctively, he froze in place, not daring to move—based on Ronan's past experiences, sudden movements forward or backward could lead to chaos. Standing still was the best option to minimize risks, even if it couldn't eliminate them entirely.
Simultaneously,
Maxim jumped in surprise and took a big step back, bumping into the completely unfazed Ollie. Ollie, who was standing unscathed, ended up stepping on Maxim's foot and let out a surprised scream, causing him to take two large steps back. He nearly collided with Ronan, who was at the back.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry." Ollie quickly turned around to apologize. At first, he noticed Ronan's shocked expression and looked concerned, but then he saw Ronan recovering and waved his hand to indicate that everything was fine. His startled expression made Ollie burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
The hearty laughter seemed like an explosion, resonating through the eardrums and causing shockwaves of aftershocks. Maxim turned around with a startled expression, as did Cliff and the newcomer in front. They all glanced at Ollie, curious about what had just happened.
The scene had become chaotic.
In the end, Ronan was the first to regain his composure. From his vantage point, he could see everything, so he took the initiative to ask, "Who is it?"
By now, the band members had identified the "culprit" and turned their attention forward.
Duncan Turner, who had once again become the center of attention, looked slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
Duncan had no idea that his "ambush" would create such a commotion. He had never done anything like this in high school or college, but now, in middle age, he impulsively did so. He didn't even know the proper way to go about it.
"I...I just wanted to say, Tonight's performance was really amazing. I mean, really, really amazing." Duncan repeated the same adjective multiple times without realizing it, but his excitement and joy were palpable.
"Wow, thank you." Ronan's eyes crinkled as a genuine smile spread across his face. "It's an honor for us. It's been a long time since someone enjoyed our performance so much..."
At this point, Ronan corrected himself. "Well, it's been a long time for me, but maybe not for the band. So, let me rephrase that: It's been a long time since we almost lost confidence."
Ollie nodded enthusiastically. "Thank you for enjoying our performance."
Such a simple yet heartfelt response reignited Duncan's excitement. "You should believe in yourselves. We really enjoyed it, and we look forward to seeing more of your performances in the future. I'm serious." Duncan gesticulated with his hands, emphasizing his words.
"I mean, I've seen many, many performances, including those by great musicians, but very few can truly ignite the audience's enthusiasm. You should be proud of your performance tonight. I genuinely hope to see you on bigger stages in the future."
In just a few words, Duncan's genuine passion shone through.
Cliff, who stood face to face with Duncan, also smiled and said, "Thank you."
At that moment, a clear, vibrant voice came from behind, full of vitality and vigor. "We'll work hard to get to those bigger stages."
Following the sound, Ronan's resolute and bright eyes came into view, his smile blossoming.