Thursday night grew progressively darker, with the lights in thousands of houses outside the window gradually extinguishing, and the world settling into a deep quiet.
The Full Moon Party was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, leaving the One-Day King band with approximately forty hours of rehearsal time. "Rehearsing a song like 'Brand New Track'" wasn't initially part of their plan.
Maxim now understood Cliff's point and ceased his fervent outbursts. He slumped his shoulders in frustration but remained determined.
His gaze bore into Cliff, conveying his thoughts even when words failed him.
Cliff shared Maxim's sentiments but felt the weight of their current situation.
"I get it. Everything you've said is valid, but we have a lot to tackle right now."
"Tonight, we discussed renting a practice room for tomorrow. We all understand the importance of this Full Moon Party. Our performance has to be flawless. This might be our best and final chance..."
Cliff paused briefly before continuing, "We're running out of time, and we can't afford to take risks. Rehearsing a song in just one day? Neglecting rehearsals for our other songs? It's too risky."
Their situation was difficult but realistic.
Ronan felt conflicted. He longed to see his compositions performed on stage; it would undoubtedly be a memorable experience.
However, Cliff's words held merit, and he couldn't confidently argue otherwise.
"Do you agree?" Ollie's voice cut through the silence, capturing their attention.
Ollie had calmed down and, after careful consideration, displayed a resolute expression. He met his teammates' gazes with determination.
"What do we have to lose? What's holding us back?"
As Ollie posed these questions, Cliff contemplated a rebuttal but found himself at a loss for words.
Ollie didn't leave room for further interruption. After a brief pause and a moment of hesitation, he continued.
"Imagine we perform our original songs flawlessly. Would the Full Moon Party truly be different? We've played these songs countless times over the past seven years. I know Full Moon Parties are unique, with varying scales, audiences, and expectations, but fundamentally, they're the same."
Ollie noticed Cliff's inclination to counter, so he preempted him, emphasizing his point firmly.
"Even if we deliver a perfect performance, there's no guarantee this Full Moon Party will be exceptional. Cliff, you have to acknowledge that."
Ollie's tone was assertive, and Cliff began to speak but ultimately remained silent.
"Furthermore, this Full Moon Party was an unexpected opportunity. We never anticipated it, but now that we have it, instead of playing it safe due to concerns about risk, it's better to take a leap and give it our all."
"Cliff, do you remember what you said last night? If we continue down the same path, our future is predictable. Without the Full Moon Party, we might disband after the next five-bar tours. So, now that we have this opportunity, why not go all in? The worst-case scenario isn't so terrible."
"We've been holding back for years without taking risks. Maybe it's time to take a chance."
Ollie paused briefly, then continued, "We're all afraid of making mistakes, but the truth is, we have nothing to lose."
His words hung in the air, and Ollie turned to Ronan, smiling broadly. "I love Ronan's song, just as Maxim does. It captures our current emotions and situation. And I love the emotion Ronan conveys when he sings it; I can relate to it."
"We should be on that stage so that more people can hear this song."
This was the ultimate validation for Ronan. He felt a warmth deep in his heart, and his eyes welled up slightly, but mostly with happiness that his creations could bring joy and fulfillment.
He raised his right hand and initiated an elbow bump, conveying his gratitude and shared understanding.
Cliff sighed softly. "...But," he began, comprehending the reality of their situation, "we're running out of time. Weren't we just arguing about this? The arrangement isn't even complete. How can we rehearse?"
"Then let's start now," Ronan finally spoke up, standing tall and fighting bravely for his freshly created song.
From Maxim to Ollie, each of them had bravely stood up for what they believed in, and Ronan felt compelled to do the same.
Despite sensing Cliff's apprehension, Ronan's resolve remained firm. "Unless... you have any concerns about this song. I'm willing to listen attentively."
While not explicitly stated, the implication was clear: If you don't like the song, perhaps we should reconsider our discussion.
"No, absolutely not," Cliff hurriedly responded, waving his hands. "I love this song, Ronan. Believe me, I'm serious."
Ronan nodded in understanding and then declared, "So, what are we waiting for? Let's dive into the composition."
If they truly intended to perform this song at the Full Moon Party on Saturday, every moment was precious. There was no time for hesitation; they needed to seize every second.
As Cliff had rightly pointed out, time was not on their side. Arranging, refining, rehearsing, coordinating, and ultimately performing a new song usually took one to two weeks for a band. The intricacies of harmonizing different instruments and the limitations of their rudimentary equipment made the task even more challenging.
Now, they had less than forty hours.
Even time for debate and uncertainty had become a luxury. If they were committed to this, they needed to utilize every moment.
Without waiting for Cliff to respond, Ronan took the lead, determined to make the most of the time available.