Asking for a signature

Feeling the rhythm rushing through his blood, feeling the beats pounding on his eardrums, feeling the restlessness jumping on his feet, feeling the scorching heat dancing on his skin, feeling the emotions swirling in his mind... Every oxygen molecule in the bar seemed to be afflicted with hysteria. Under the powerful and vigorous musical notes on the stage, a wild dance unfolded, displaying vibrant colors and shimmering lights.

Everyone in Al's Bar was like that, immersed in an indescribable state, relying solely on music to enjoy every moment of madness. This was a true celebration for music enthusiasts, just like those large-scale rock music festivals where all rock fanatics gathered together, appreciating top-notch and professional performances, unleashing the energy within themselves, and allowing themselves to reach one peak after another with the rhythm of the music.

Hugo felt like he was suffocating multiple times. It wasn't just because the air in the bar was nearly depleted of oxygen, but also because his pounding heart in his chest was squeezing out every bit of oxygen, causing his breathing to become rapid. However, Hugo didn't want to leave; this was his world.

One band followed another, with each band having an average of fifteen minutes of performance time. By the time all the bands finished performing, it was already half past ten in the evening. In fact, Rock Night at Al's Bar could be considered a small-scale rock music festival, albeit on a smaller scale. The fame of the guests was limited to the underground rock music scene on the West Coast, but it didn't diminish the beauty of this night. The reason the performances ended at half past ten was mainly to leave the remaining time for all the enthusiasts and performers to freely mingle, enjoying a lot of joyful moments with a bottle of beer or a glass of whiskey at the bar.

Although Green was accompanied by the bar owner, Greene, it wasn't easy to get close to the performing guests tonight. At this moment, there were already at least thirty people gathered around Green Day, making it impossible to squeeze in. In contrast, there would be fewer people around The Cranberries, but a group of about a dozen people was still considerable. After weighing the options, Hugo decided to approach The Cranberries first.

Holding his guitar and the marker pen he had just borrowed from Glen, Hugo stood outside the small circle with excitement and nervousness, waiting for his chance. His eager appearance caught the interest of the other people. Pepe was fine since he didn't know that Hugo was an actor; he was just curious about why Hugo was so excited. However, Glen and Neil clearly knew that Hugo was the up-and-coming actor who had recently been promoting his movie on various television shows. Yet, at this moment, Hugo seemed like an ordinary fan, anxiously awaiting a meeting with his idol.

"Hugo, are you sure you want an autograph?" Neil looked at Hugo with a mix of curiosity and incomprehension. He could understand Hugo's love for the band but couldn't comprehend the significance of seeking an autograph.

"Of course!" Hugo didn't even turn his head and continued to eagerly gaze at Dolores, the lead singer of The Cranberries. Dolores wasn't the kind of stunning beauty that amazed people, but she had a petite and adorable figure combined with a powerful and forceful voice that surprised people. Her round baby face carried a hazy and ethereal temperament, which was complemented by her short hair, less than an inch long, exuding a cool vibe.

Until this moment, Hugo confirmed his guess with his own eyes. He stood in front of The Cranberries, in front of Dolores to be precise. This feeling was truly wonderful. Although Hugo had always told himself not to get overly excited every time he saw a "celebrity", and he had made progress in the past year, not embarrassing himself on the set of "A Few Good Men" at least, seeing his beloved band after ten years of his rock music career, Hugo couldn't help but restrain his excitement.

Watching Hugo in this state, Glen let out a laugh. "I thought you also believed that autographs have no real value, that it's just an ordinary person writing their name on a piece of paper. The so-called autograph, besides a check, doesn't hold any significance apart from what others imagine, right?"

"Of course, that's exactly what I think. Autographs are one of the most foolish souvenirs in the world," Hugo replied straightforwardly, leaving the three people next to him stunned. Pepe couldn't help it and burst into laughter. "Think about it. Many times, artists just sign their names on a piece of paper, which we might end up losing or they might sign in meaningless places. Those incomprehensible signatures have no value compared to a hug or a photograph."

"Then why did you come here eagerly expecting an autograph?" Pepe didn't hold back his mockery. He was laughing uncontrollably, finding Hugo so amusing. Even the broken belt Hugo had just had wasn't as hilarious as this.

Hugo shrugged his shoulders. "Isn't that the trajectory of our lives? Perhaps in ten or twenty years, we will look at these foolish signatures, laughingly telling friends, family, and future generations how many stupid things we did to get these autographs. It's a mark that records our lives. I plan to keep the autographs on this guitar and collect the signatures of all the bands I like. Then, many years later, maybe when I become a lawyer or an accountant and sit in an office, I can look at this guitar and reminisce about those times."

There is no absolute right or wrong in life. Autographs are like tattoos. Many people impulsively tattoo their loved ones' names on their bodies during the peak of their passionate love. But when love fades and emotions cool, or even when things end unhappily, the pain brought by that tattoo can be deeply memorable. However, as time passes and we reflect on those moments, we realize how much we have wandered and experienced in our lives.

Perhaps tattoos will one day be washed away, and autographs are far from immortal. The idol's once treasured autograph and the lover's tattoo will eventually become just a name after many years. But that "name" no longer represents the person, it represents that memory.

Hugo's casual words were somewhat amusing, making the first reaction of others to want to tease him: a lawyer or an accountant? That's really mismatched, but his words touched them nonetheless.

"Then why don't you ask me for an autograph?" Pepe, straightforward as always, asked directly.

Hugo looked Pepe up and down with a disdainful expression, making Pepe quite uncomfortable under his critical gaze. Fortunately, Hugo didn't dwell on it for long and quickly continued, "If you perform in front of me, conquer me, then I'll ask for your autograph." As soon as he finished speaking, Glen and Neil burst into laughter, and Pepe had a defeated look on his face.

Today, Hugo conquered them. As for their skills, at least for now, they were not enough to impress Hugo.

Just then, Hugo saw an opportunity and immediately approached Dolores. He said to her, "Hey, Dolores, I really, really love your songs. "Dreams" and "Linger" are my favorites."

An expert can distinguish themselves with just a few words. Hugo clearly knew a lot about The Cranberries. He didn't need to say much, but his words immediately made Dolores' eyes light up. "It's great that you can enjoy them. How did we perform tonight?"

"The first song made it evident that you were quite nervous, especially in the first half, which was not up to your usual standards. But believe me, you were outstanding. Staying true to yourself is the most important thing," Hugo replied without blindly praising, expressing his own opinion. Dolores' face immediately lit up with a smile.

In fact, Dolores' singing style was quite unique, even within the underground rock scene. This put immense pressure on her, as she worried about whether her singing would be accepted by the audience and affect the band's development. Therefore, although she didn't know Hugo personally, receiving recognition from a genuine fan who truly loved their music was extremely important.

"Oh! Thank you, thank you. You have no idea what your words mean to me," Dolores smiled, her round face radiating a hint of sweetness. Dolores was not someone who smiled often in public. More often than not, she maintained a low-key and cool demeanor that didn't match her appearance. But today, Dolores smiled, indicating her elevated emotional state.

"Can I ask you for your autograph? You can write it on this guitar," Hugo quickly handed her a marker pen and raised his guitar with eager eyes fixed on Dolores.

Dolores looked at Hugo with surprise because most of the people present tonight were insiders, and the focus was primarily on interaction rather than autograph requests. However, seeing Hugo's radiant smile, she nodded and said, "No problem." She then took the pen and signed her name on Hugo's guitar case, being the first one to do so.

The same situation occurred during Hugo's conversation with Billie Joe, the lead singer of the band Green Day. Billie Joe also seemed not to understand Hugo's request for an autograph. His first words were, "What the hell, why sign some damn name? I'm not fucking Kurt Cobain." This made Hugo burst into laughter, but in the end, Billie Joe still signed Hugo's guitar, making it a fulfilling rock night for Hugo.

Hugo had conversations with several performing bands, and of course, many people recognized him, approaching him to discuss guitars or "Kill Your Heroes". Such joyful moments quickly slipped away through his fingers, and when Hugo finally realized it, it was already a quarter past eleven.

Neil and Pepe planned to leave because the main event of the evening was over, and the time for drinking and revelry had arrived. They knew their limits with alcohol, so there was no need for them to stay.

"Please let my car escort you back," Glen said friendly with a smile. "Tonight, as the host, I wanted to provide some convenience, but unfortunately, apart from music, there's not much I can do. So please don't let me miss this opportunity."

"Music surpasses everything, doesn't it?" Hugo's words made everyone laugh.

"Getting a taxi at this time is not so convenient, so let my car be of some use," hailing a taxi in Los Angeles wasn't as easy as flagging one down on the street. You had to call a taxi company in advance for a reservation. Therefore, Glen's help was indeed timely.

Hugo, Neil and Pepe glanced at each other and smiled. "Why not? This way, I won't have to constantly worry about my lousy jeans falling down," Hugo remarked.