"Again, Charlize? Are you serious?" Hugo looked helplessly at Charlize standing across from him. Charlize pursed her lips in a half-apology, though her expression showed little genuine regret. Hugo could only roll his eyes, say nothing, and lift his glass—downing the entire beer in one go.
The truth was, Hugo's tolerance for alcohol wasn't great. He got drunk easily. Though his body had recovered somewhat after months of training—no longer weak like when he'd first kicked his addiction—his foundation was still fragile. So after just a few drinks, sweat was already beading on his forehead. But tonight was meant for celebration. Hugo hadn't really cut loose all year, and now, on the last night of 1992, he'd decided to finally let go—to laugh, drink, and go wild with his friends.
After finishing his beer, Hugo turned the glass upside down on his head to prove it was empty. The crowd around him erupted—cheers, whistles, hands pounding the table. Hugo hiccupped and slurred, "Charlize, you did that on purpose, didn't you? Just now… you were hitting every bull's-eye, but the second Leo and I made a bet, you lost all your aim."
"Don't blame a lady," Leonardo said, clearly tipsy himself. His flushed cheeks gave him away.
Charlize ignored them both and turned to her opponent, Tobey. "Hey, guys, how about another round? This time, we drink ourselves. Look at those guys—they're about to fall over."
Hugo, though slurring slightly, was still remarkably clear-headed. The more he drank, the sharper his mind seemed to get. He knew the rules—they were playing a darts game in teams of two. Four teams in total: one threw darts, the other drank. After each round, the three lowest-scoring teams had to drink.
Hugo and Charlize were one team; Leonardo and Tobey another; Joseph and Kal formed the third; and the last team was Hugin and Alex. Hugin, the designated drinker, looked composed but was sweating buckets, his steps noticeably unsteady.
"Hey, Leo," Hugo said with a grin, his words warm with the lazy pleasure of intoxication, "don't underestimate Charlize just because she's a woman. Look—she thinks you can't handle another drink."
"Who says that?" Leonardo shot back instantly. He hadn't drunk as much, but Tobey turned out to be a surprisingly strong competitor—he'd won the last round, forcing everyone else to drink. Fired up, Leonardo shouted, "Fine! Another round—this time, we bet two beers!"
Hugo chuckled. "Looks like we're not ending this game until someone throws up. Alright, how about three beers next round? Let's see who gives up and runs to the restroom first." He turned toward the designated drinkers with a teasing look.
Hugin nodded calmly. "But we can't be the only ones drinking forever. After this round, we switch—you throw darts, and they drink. Deal?"
"Great idea!" the crowd roared, pounding the table again in excitement.
Hugo pretended to protest. "Hey, that's bullying! Sure, we treat Charlize like one of the guys when she's throwing darts but when it comes to drinking, come on, her stomach's half the size of yours! Totally unfair!" His exaggerated reasoning sent everyone bursting into laughter.
Charlize rolled her eyes. "I don't mind drinking—but Hugo's dart skills are so terrible, he's basically setting me up to get wasted!" Her complaint broke what little composure the crowd had left; the entire bar was laughing now.
"Then just win this round," Hugo slurred good-naturedly. "Make them drink a few extra rounds. Once everyone's drunk, my chances of winning go way up!"
Alex and Kal immediately shouted back, "Hey! Don't underestimate us, Hugo!"
Hugo waved them off like swatting flies. "Show 'em what you've got, girl! Let's go!"
Charlize looked at Hugo—his flushed cheeks, his bright, slightly unfocused eyes that gleamed with freedom and mischief. Her amber eyes sparkled like starlight, and she broke into a bold grin. "Fine. Let's show them what I can do."
"Woohoo!" The crowd roared in approval, laughter and cheers filling the bar until the place was bursting with noise.
Just as everyone was gearing up for the next big round, someone tapped Hugo's shoulder. "Hey, Hugo!"
His mind was clear, but his reactions had slowed. He turned his head sluggishly and found himself staring at a girl with golden-blonde hair and a bright, open face. She had the sweetest smile, and her deep blue eyes shimmered like the Aegean Sea.
"Hey, Jennifer!" Hugo broke into a wide grin, his eyes curving warmly as he spoke her name.
The girl looked startled—then delighted. Her mouth fell open in surprise. "You—you know who I am?"
That caught Hugo off guard for a moment. Of course he knew her. Though she still looked young, a little inexperienced, her outfit simple and modest with a hint of small-town charm—he'd recognize that face anywhere. Jennifer Aniston.
Yes—the Jennifer Aniston. The woman who would one day become America's sweetheart thanks to Friends. One of Hugo's all-time favorite actresses.
Jennifer Aniston's career would eventually reach its peak with the ten-year run of Friends and her high-profile marriage to Brad Pitt. Though she never achieved the kind of box office dominance Meg Ryan once had, Jennifer found her greatest success on television. And while she never won an Academy Award like Nicole Kidman or Julia Roberts, her Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series was proof enough of her talent.
No one could deny Jennifer's charm. She was optimistic, adorable yet mature, exuding an easy warmth that never faded even under the spotlight. Despite years in the entertainment industry, she remained genuine and grounded — a kind of beauty and grace that was impossible to resist.
After Friends, Jennifer transitioned to the big screen, enduring a long and difficult adjustment period. Most of her later works were light comedies, but whenever Hugo had the chance, he always watched them. Maybe they didn't have the depth of art-house dramas, but the effortless joy they brought was irreplaceable.
So, when Hugo saw Jennifer standing before him, his first reaction came out naturally and without hesitation. But her surprised question made him suddenly realize — he wasn't supposed to know her yet.
"Uh—yeah, yeah, of course," Hugo stammered, slurring slightly. "I've… heard about you from a friend."
"Alex! It must be Alex," Jennifer said quickly, saving him from the awkward pause. Hugo exhaled in relief and nodded enthusiastically. "Right! Exactly!"
Jennifer beamed, her smile bright as sunlight. "Wow, Alex told me you two were good friends, but I didn't really believe him. Seeing you in person—it's like a dream come true."
"Oh, God," Hugo chuckled, his voice still thick with laughter. "I just hope I don't look too disappointing in real life."
Jennifer laughed warmly. "No, not at all. You're just as charming as I imagined." Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. "Listen, I just wanted to tell you that I really love your work. I had to come down here and say it myself."
She'd heard Hugo was here, and without a second thought, she had run down from the second floor just to meet him. For Jennifer, seeing Hugo in person was the highlight of her night. "And… if it's not too much to ask, could we take a picture together? Or maybe… a hug?"
Hugo laughed. "A picture might not work — the lighting here's terrible, you probably wouldn't see a thing. But a hug? I'd be honored."
He genuinely admired Jennifer, not just as an actress but as a person. Even if she hadn't asked, Hugo would've been happy to give her a hug. After all, Friends that shining ten-year legacy would forever hold a special place in his heart.
Jennifer smiled and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a quick but heartfelt embrace. When they pulled apart, she looked radiant, almost speechless with excitement. Just then, a loud cheer erupted behind them — the dart game had reached its finale. Realizing she was interrupting, Jennifer quickly said, "Oh, don't let me keep you. Go on, continue!"
But Hugo didn't turn away immediately. Instead, he grinned and said, "I just hope it doesn't mean more drinking for me." Then, after a brief pause, his tone softened. "Jennifer, you're… really something special. Believe in yourself — your moment will come."
Jennifer blinked, momentarily taken aback, then nodded with a smile. "You're right. If you miss out on this role, there'll be another one. I'm sure the director's the one making a mistake — he'll regret it."
Hugo immediately realized what she meant. The rumors about The Firm had clearly spread through Hollywood that night. It wasn't exactly a secret anymore. Still, he couldn't help but find the situation amusing — especially since it was Brad who had landed the role. The irony wasn't lost on him, though the joke was one only a time traveler like Hugo could truly appreciate.
He burst out laughing. "Thank you for the encouragement."
Jennifer couldn't help but laugh too, her smile lighting up her whole face. Just then, Hugo turned back toward the dartboard and shouted, "Did we win?"
A woman with a ponytail — strong and full of energy — nodded excitedly, then dashed toward him. She threw her arms around Hugo, and the two began jumping up and down, shouting and laughing together. Hugo's voice rang out above the noise, "Three shots! Three shots!"
Watching him so full of life, Jennifer couldn't help but smile again. With a lighthearted step, she turned and disappeared back into the crowd, ready to enjoy the rest of her New Year's Eve celebration.
.....
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