"So, what exactly do you mean?"
Pedro, deep in thought, suddenly blurted out the question, startling Hugo and Neil mid-conversation. Both froze for a second, then burst out laughing.
"You're still thinking about that?" Hugo teased, amused. He had thought Pedro had already figured it out, which was why he and Neil had moved on to chatting about the new wave of British rock bands that had emerged over the past two years.
Pedro hadn't taken a sip of his beer. He looked straight at Hugo and said seriously, "Of course I am! Can you show me what you mean?"
Hugo chuckled helplessly. "I told you, I don't play the bass."
It was the classic case of being too close to see clearly. If Pedro could listen to a recording of his own playing and then compare it with the original version by Pink Floyd, he'd instantly hear the difference.
Seeing Pedro's conflicted expression, Hugo patiently explained, "Pedro—"
But Pedro immediately frowned and glared. "I don't like being called that, especially by friends."
Hugo blinked, then nodded. "Right, Pepe. You're a great bassist I've told you that before. You just lack experience performing not only in public, but especially with a band. If you join more performances, you'll slowly realize what I mean. You've got the talent; what you need now is mileage."
Worried Pedro might not believe him, Hugo gestured toward Neil, who was sitting innocently on his right. "If you don't believe me, ask Neil. He was thinking the same thing."
Neil rolled his eyes dramatically, clearly unimpressed with Hugo's attempt to drag him into the conversation, but he still nodded.
"Yes, Pepe, I agree with Hugo," Neil said, then added, "Actually, whether it's guitar or bass, both exist to serve the band that's something Hugo told me just now."
That earned him a speechless look from Hugo.
Neil continued, "So, practicing and performing with a band is the best way to improve. Didn't you already have a band?"
"Yeah the one you played with at Rock Night last time, remember?" Hugo chimed in. "Those guys were your bandmates, right? You all should practice more."
Pedro shrugged helplessly. "We did have a band, but it was more of a hobby. Now that we're all about to graduate, everyone's worried about their future. We haven't practiced together in a long time."
Hugo and Neil immediately understood. Pedro was still a college student — unlike Hugin, who studied music professionally. Pedro played only as a hobby, and with graduation approaching, he had to face the pressures of real life.
"So what about you? Don't you plan to find a job?" Neil asked, following up naturally.
Pedro looked even more conflicted, not bothering to hide his feelings. "I haven't decided yet. Honestly, I want to stay with the band, but life's not that simple, is it?" He scratched his head in frustration, then looked at the two men with a hint of hope. "What about you guys? How did you choose your paths?"
Neil smiled faintly. "I perform on the streets and I've got a part-time job on the side."
Apparently, he was still chasing his dream, even if it meant living with constant uncertainty.
Pedro frowned. "And your end goal? Are you planning to just keep doing that?" Street performing didn't sound like a promising future, so he pressed for more.
"Well," Neil said casually, "I'm saving up money. My plan is to travel across Europe and play at different music festivals meet new musicians. I'll keep going until one day, I can't anymore. Maybe then I'll stop and find a stable job, join the millions of ordinary people just getting by."
His tone was light, but his words carried a sense of quiet defiance. Both Hugo and Pedro looked at him with admiration. To throw away the safety of routine and pursue true freedom — it was a dream many shared, but few had the courage or endurance to live it.
Seeing their expressions, Neil quickly waved his hands. "Don't envy me. The price of freedom and dreams is high. My spiritual life is rich, sure but financially, I'm barely getting by." He chuckled. "I don't even know how long I can keep this up. Maybe tomorrow, I'll just quit."
That made Hugo and Pedro laugh. Neil turned the question back at Hugo. "What about you?"
Hugo blinked, as if surprised by the sudden turn. "Me? I'm an actor. Pretty simple. I thought you guys already knew. I'm disappointed."
Pedro's eyes widened. "Really? You're serious?" He turned to Neil, looking for confirmation.
Hugo chuckled. "Looks like I still need to work harder on my reputation."
Neil nodded, confirming the truth. Pedro looked Hugo up and down with curiosity. "Well, now that you mention it, you do look a bit like an actor. I just don't know if you can actually act not that I'd know, since I barely watch movies."
"Your life's been completely taken over by rock music — of course you don't have time for movies," Hugo said, and Pedro nodded firmly in agreement.
"So, you just gave up on music then? It's just a hobby now?" Pedro asked with renewed interest. "Your songwriting and guitar skills are amazing. It's a shame if you're not doing music."
Hugo didn't answer right away. He stayed silent for a moment, then sighed softly.
"Honestly, I'm just like Neil — holding on with nothing but passion. I don't know when I'll have to stop maybe tomorrow, maybe next year."
He didn't specify whether he meant acting or music but both Pedro and Neil understood that for Hugo, it was about persistence.
Pedro assumed Hugo was just another struggling actor in Los Angeles — where tossing a brick down Sunset Boulevard could hit two out-of-work actors at once.
Neil, however, grew thoughtful. His eyes drifted to the dartboard hanging near the bar counter — one of his own darts still stuck in the target.
Hugo took a deep breath and quickly adjusted his mood. He'd carried this weight for too long; it was part of his blood now. No point brooding over it. Instead, he grinned and said playfully, "Actually, the reason I came to Al's Bar tonight was to test my luck — see if any bands are looking for a guitarist. Joining a band doesn't sound too bad."
It was a strange decision for him — he'd only ever played with Glory Or Death, the band he'd founded with his childhood friends. Joining a new one would be a huge change. But ever since arriving in Los Angeles in 1992, Hugo knew everything in his life would have to start anew.
"Why join someone else's band though?" Neil asked curiously. "As an actor, won't it be hard to match rehearsal schedules?"
He clearly knew about Hugo's acting career the Golden Globe double nominee who had recently hit a slump. Neil understood that Hugo was at a low point, but that didn't mean he'd stay there forever. After all, someone with that much talent and drive wouldn't stay down for long.
Hugo curled his lips in a faint smirk, about to reply, when Pedro suddenly chimed in.
"You could always start your own band," he said eagerly. "Find a few friends you know well. Bands work best when they're made up of friends — people who share the same musical vision and goals."
"Yeah," Hugo nodded in agreement, "that's definitely one of the options. If I can find friends who share the same passion for music, that'd be ideal. The only problem is…"
He was about to explain that he didn't really know many rock musicians in Los Angeles, but then he paused halfway through and smiled.
"Uh, what if we form a band ourselves?"
"You mean me and Neil?" Pedro lifted his hand and pointed at Neil in surprise.
"It's just a suggestion," Hugo said with a wide-eyed grin, half-joking, half-serious.
In truth, Hugo had only met Neil and Pedro a few times before. Apart from sharing a love for music, they knew almost nothing about each other not their personalities, habits, or interests. But that didn't matter much. What mattered most for a band was that its members shared a common musical direction. As for personal chemistry, that would have to work itself out naturally.
Even as Hugo spoke, he wasn't sure whether this was a good idea. It just slipped out of his mouth and he hurried to explain himself.
But to his surprise, Pedro's face lit up instantly.
"Wow! That that's perfect!" he exclaimed excitedly. "You and Neil are both great guitarists, and you, Hugo, can write songs too. That's incredible!"
Hugo was a little taken aback by how easily Pedro agreed. Things were going much smoother than he'd expected. "Neil?" he asked, turning to him.
Neil smiled slightly, but his tone was more composed.
"Hugo, I just want to know — if you form this band, what's your goal? Are we talking about a casual hobby, or are you aiming to really make something out of it?"
Hugo thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "Neil, we can just start and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, we'll call it off. But if it does maybe we can go on tour someday and become a real band. Of course, we'll begin with rehearsals, then test ourselves by performing on the streets. That's probably the best way to start."
They didn't know each other well, and no one could predict whether sparks would fly or what kind of sparks they'd be. It was also uncertain whether their personalities could truly coexist within one band. Because of that, Hugo chose to stay realistic and not make grand promises.
Neil nodded in satisfaction at Hugo's answer. There was no blind optimism or exaggeration — just steady, practical steps. "Then I'm in!" he said firmly.
....
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