Confessing his weakness

Dante gave a long face back to Hugo letting out an exasperated sigh.

'' I found it boring.''

'' Huh?''.

'' I found the performance boring, so I left halfway,'' Dante replied while playing with the locks of his hair, which made him look charming from the sides.

'' Boring? How dare you call that boring?'' Hugo walks up to his side to stand in front of Dante.

'' Cause that's the truth.''

Hugo's eyes went wide as he felt the anger and rage within him come to the surface. Without realizing he grabbed onto the collar of Dante's shirt.

'' What did you say? My performance is boring? And what makes it boring to you?'' he yelled at him.

Dante glanced over at his hands, then replied,'' Cause, you were not giving it your all there. It was a lame-ass performance. You could do better than that right?''.

Hugo's grip on Dante's collar was starting to weaken. He adverted his gaze away from him.

'' Why are you averting your gaze away from me? Did I hit it right in the spot?''.

Hugo backed away from Dante.

'' Why were the crowd even paying for that lame performance of yours? Did you feel bored singing? Or were you exhausted? Or...was your mind in some other place?''.

'' But let me tell you one thing, If I was in your place, I wouldn't have performed in front of the crowd like that. Did the famous Hugo Lost his touch or something?''.

'' No, no, no, that's not true,'' Hugo yelled.

He sat down on the floor right away.

He covered his face with his hands not wanting to face Dante.

"I haven't lost my touch....." He was murmuring so slowly that it sounded like utter rubbish to Dante.

He kept glancing over him.

Dante's P.O.V

When he asked me that, I could only tell what was in my mind. I don't make his hopes up and disappoint him. Truth is better than a sweet lie.

Now that I look at this guy, he only makes me remember my past self. The way I was after my dad left.

I feel very much pity for him. At this rate, he's gonna be destroyed soon. By something out of ordinary. Or by himself. He's gonna destroy his career this way.

Unless he faces his weakness then he will become a beast inside out. But I should have said it gently instead of stating it in his face. But he left me with no choice.

He stopped murmuring a while after that. He looked at me with scary-like eyes.

"I haven't lost my touch. I can still perform songs which touch people's hearts," he yelled at me.

Saying that he got up back on his feet again. "You thought that I am a coward? I can't make songs which touch people's hearts huh? That's not the truth here. I am Hugo Lawrence because I have worked hard to create this image of mine. Got it?".

I am feeling angry from the inside out. He's so cocky that it's making me mad. What did he say there?.

"You don't understand what I told you a while ago?'' I asked.

"Your performance was boring because you were not giving it your all. What happened to Hugo Lawrence who used to perform and sing with all of his heart? Did he also die along with the coward living inside you?".

I think this will help him to conquer his weakness.

But nothing went through his head, that's the kind of face he made.

I saw how he clenched his fists and lowered his eyes. All of a sudden he gritted his teeth and glared at me.

"Every one of you is just saying the same thing. You love to tease me by saying that I am a useless singer who can't sing with his whole heart right? Is this what you are trying to say?'' Hugo yelled.

'' Marcos too, every one of you just wants to make fun of me. How can you underestimate me?''.

I was able to feel the sadness from within him come back to life. He has been angry for real this time. But why's he so angry at himself? Just because he can't sing well? Or is this the truth, that he can't sing anymore?.

I stayed calm and cleared my voice.

''Sing for me.''

He became quiet right away.

'' Sing for me, so that I will be able to understand that, your performance is not boring after all. Sing for me.''

He backed away when asked that. I was thinking, seeing what kind of a man he is he's gonna take up my challenge to prove me wrong. But that wasn't happening.

He touched his throat, his expression changed.

''What's wrong?''.

'' I have no confidence in my voice anymore. I don't believe that my voice and songs can reach the hearts of others anymore. It's hard to admit myself, but that's the truth.''

'' You must find it funny go on laugh at me. I am a loser who can't even sing well for the people who come to hear my songs. After all, I am a failure anyway,'' Hugo sat down right away saying that. Covering his face with his hands, he didn't want to see anyone now.

But, I am assured to say the fact after seeing this guy confess his weakness to me, he's honest. A little bit weird but he's not bad at heart.

'' I am just a failure, nothing but a failure. Don't talk to me go away. Yeah, I'm boring, my performance and songs are boring. Don't talk to me,'' Hugo kept murmuring on his own.

I took a deep sigh and stared at him. Then crouched down in front of him with my knees folded.

'' Sing for me, I want to hear you again.''

'' Even if it's bad or boring. Sing, I want to find out how worse it is.''

Hugo grunted at me. '' You called me boring, I won't sing for you. My songs are boring to you.''

I was patient all this while. But I can't be patient any longer. I'm done with him.

'' Here I am kind enough to give you criticism out of my kindness. You don't want to sing because I called you boring? If you are so cocky then get out of here,'' Dante yelled at him.

He didn't expect him to be so loud. All this while he was talking very much calmly.

Seeing this Hugo comments,'' So even you can get mad huh?''.

'' Yeah, of course, I am human after all. How long can a person listen to the ranting of a grown-up man? Are you a kid? Can't you hear I am telling you to sing?''.

'' Sing,'' he held Hugo by the shoulders making him look straight into his eyes.

'' Nothing more is necessary for me other than seeing your smile,

I want nothing more than your heart baby,

Everything is changing, but we will remain the same.

Ah, why's everything such a pain for me...''

'' Stop,'' Dante interrupted.

'' The first line should be created with more impact. The latter half should have something like a smooth melody, making your voice a little sweet. Modify it and sing again.''

'' Ah alright.''

Nothing...

'' Not enough, you aren't giving it your all. Do it from the scratch again.''

'' What? It's the second time,'' Hugo complained.

''So? Do it again.''

When they were practicing the lyrics the door was knocked by someone from outside.

'' It's me, Maria, Dan, people are gathering outside the shop. What should I do? Let them come in to buy bread?''.

Dante realized right away what was happening there.

'' Don't open the door,'' Dante yelled opening the door right away. Only to find the owner not there.

'' Oh no.'' Dante's face went pale seeing that.

'' What's wrong?''.

'' It's because of you,'' he replied glancing back at Hugo.

'' Sorry for keeping you all out. I'll open the door right away,'' Maria was about to insert the key and open the door.

Right before that happened Dante called,'' Don't.''

Maria glanced back to meet the eyes of Dante.

'' Don't open the door.''

'' But why? The crowd wants to taste my tasty bread. Let me open the door for them.''

'' They aren't after your bread. They are after something.''

'' What?''.

'' Him,'' Dante pointed to the corner.

Hugo came out of there scratching his cheek out of embarrassment.

'' He? Who's he- wait....that face....are you the most famous singer at the moment? With lots of girls fawning over him?''.

'' Am I that popular? I don't believe it.''

'' But how do you know Dan?'' Maria asked.

'' That's a long story for now. You know any way to leave from the shop aside from the front door?''Dante stepped down the stairs.

'' Well....yeah, but can't we hide him somewhere for now? You have my room right?''.

'' It's not possible to hide such a big person like that. Where's the other door?''.

'' Well, that's right too. The door is in the back, go straight from my room. You'll see it. Come and meet us again sometime Boy,'' Maria said with a smile to Hugo.

'' S-sure.''

'' Come,'' Dante dragged him by the hand away from there right away.

'' What are those boys doing together when they belong to a completely different world?'' Maria watched how the crowd was about to break open the door in an attempt to see Hugo