"... how could we miss it?"
Maxim's excitement poured out in a torrent of words, unstoppable and burning like a volcano.
The promise they made to perform the bar tour last night faded into the background and was momentarily forgotten. If they needed to make a trade-off, it seemed there was no hesitation at all.
However, Ollie sensed disapproval in Maxim's words, and he voiced his concerns, "Maxim, that's a promise, a contract..."
The bar tour was a commitment they had signed up for. Even if there were scheduling conflicts, Ollie believed they should honor their promise.
It was a matter of principle, even if it meant passing up on a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like the Full Moon Party.
Yet, Cliff, perceptive of the emotions brewing in Ollie's words, intervened before Ollie could finish his argument.
"There won't be any time conflicts; the matter is settled," Cliff declared firmly. He shifted his gaze between Maxim and Ollie, using his eyes to convey his message.
Maxim, who was about to continue his argument, muttered to himself, his voice muffled and indecipherable. Ollie, on the other hand, laughed heartily and even patted Maxim on the shoulder in a friendly manner, effectively ending the brief dispute.
Cliff resumed control of the conversation, "Now, we have a band recommendation, but we need a bar recommendation. I'm not entirely sure, but perhaps Sam might be willing to help. One of us can talk to Sam..."
As he spoke, Cliff involuntarily glanced in Ronan's direction. It took him a moment to realize that he did so because he subconsciously noticed that Ronan's voice had been absent during the lively discussion. However, as Cliff's eyes settled on Ronan, his words faltered and came to an abrupt stop.
Sensing Cliff's sudden silence, Maxim and Ollie also shifted their attention, first to Cliff and then to Ronan in the direction Cliff was looking.
At that moment, Ronan was busy adjusting the size of his mouth, concentrating on the task of fitting an entire crayfish sausage roll inside and taking a bite from top to bottom, ensuring that all the fillings were enclosed in the roll before it entered his mouth. It was as though he was completely absorbed in this culinary challenge.
How could he achieve this feat?
Ronan carefully gauged the size of the bread roll, then moved his mouth again. His expression was one of absolute concentration, as if his entire being was focused on this endeavor.
"Interesting, there are actually sliced pickled cucumbers in it, which adds a bit of tangy and crunchy flavor," Ronan commented, his voice filled with fascination as he analyzed the roll's contents.
Suddenly, Ronan felt the weight of multiple gazes directed at him. Those intense stares were impossible to ignore, even if he wanted to.
Ronan paused, gently withdrew the roll, and closed his mouth slightly. He subtly shifted his body, adopting a defensive posture, and his gaze darted between the three band members.
"What's wrong with you guys? Don't you have your own meals? Why are you staring so intently?"
Ronan quipped, feigning indifference.
"I'm not a lizard. My taste buds can't detect the scent of the air, you know."
With a burst of laughter, Maxim couldn't contain himself any longer.
Ollie, still grinning widely, jumped in with curiosity, "Ronan, how is it? Is it as good as you expected? What's that aroma?"
Meanwhile, Cliff, who had literally choked on his saliva, struggled to regain his composure.
Ronan, maintaining his "defensive stance," didn't pay much attention to Ollie.
"Do you think I have the senses of a superhero? My taste buds aren't that extraordinary. I'm just enjoying my meal."
After a hearty laugh, even Maxim was startled. He felt like he could sense the laughter reverberating in his chest and head, echoing through his entire being.
The laughter was so infectious that it even alarmed the patrons around them.
Ollie's laughter seemed to penetrate walls, and even the ongoing performance on stage appeared to respond to this sonic wave.
Ronan, sitting next to Ollie, felt as if his eardrums were vibrating from the impact. He gazed at Ollie in astonishment.
Was this some kind of sonic weapon?
Seeing Ollie's infectious smile, Ronan couldn't help but join in the laughter.
Meanwhile, Cliff, sitting slightly apart from the three of them, remained uninvolved in their joviality. He silently reached for a cigarette, distancing himself as if he had nothing to do with those three.
After the laughter had finally subsided, Cliff exhaled a long puff of smoke and inquired, "Did you guys hear what we were discussing earlier?"
Ronan paused for a moment before responding confidently, "The most important thing right now is to satisfy my stomach. It's loudly protesting, and without sufficient blood sugar, my brain won't function. So, let's enjoy the performance and our meals. We can discuss everything else after dinner."
Cliff couldn't believe his ears.
"Didn't you remember Jeremiah's invitation just now? Are you suffering from short-term memory loss? Aren't you excited at all? A Full Moon Party doesn't even compare to a crayfish sausage roll!"
Baffled, Cliff tried to express his amazement, but Ronan had already moved on to his next bite. He took a mouthful of the crayfish sausage roll and closed his eyes, savoring it with profound seriousness, as if it were the most important thing in the world. Any notion of the Full Moon Party seemed to have taken a backseat.
Cliff's words got stuck in his throat, and he watched in disbelief as Ronan focused on his meal.
Ollie, observing Cliff's reaction, suggested, "How about we satisfy our hunger first and discuss this afterward?"
Cliff felt a sense of exhaustion but eventually nodded in agreement. However, he didn't immediately start eating. Instead, he took another deep drag of his cigarette, appearing somewhat resigned.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Cliff was about to put on a display of solitude and aloofness, but the exaggerated chewing sounds in his ears were too distracting, completely shattering the atmosphere he was trying to create. So, he took one final drag of his cigarette and decided to join the feast:
After all, there was still dinner to be had, and solitude could wait a little longer.
Cliff consoled himself with that thought.