In the following days, Gabi and Vivo threw themselves back into rehearsing.

Gabi spent hours tweaking their street organ, trying to find the perfect balance of traditional and modern sounds.

Vivo practiced his rhythm and notes until his paws ached, the rich tones of his melodies echoing through their home.

Yet, even as they worked tirelessly, there was an undercurrent of tension that neither could ignore.

One day, while taking a break from a particularly grueling practice session, Gabi voiced out the doubt that had been plaguing her.

"Vivo, do you ever feel like...like we're just not good enough?"

Vivo looked at her, taken aback by her question.

Gabi was always so enthusiastic and optimistic; to hear her express such doubts was concerning.

He hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

His eyes softened as he finally broke his silence.

Though his voice was barely audible.

"Sometimes...yes."

He watched as Gabi's shoulders sagged, a look of relief passing over her face.

It was clear that she had been carrying this burden alone for quite some time.

Vivo moved closer to Gabi, nuzzling his head against her arm in an attempt to offer some comfort.

He said to her quietly, "We're doing the best we can, Gabi. And that's all we can really do."

Despite Vivo's chirps of encouragement, the seed of doubt had been planted.

From that day forward, their rehearsals were fraught with tension.

The joy and excitement they once found in their performance were overshadowed by their insecurities.

***

The next day, Gabi and Vivo, carrying their newly upgraded techno street organ, approached their rehearsal space.

Gabi had spent the entire night working on the organ, adding features and tweaking the sound to get it just right.

Despite their disheartened state, she felt a small flicker of hope; maybe the revamped organ would give them the edge they needed.

Vivo, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves.

The changes to the organ were impressive, sure, but he was still unsure about their chances in the competition.

With every step closer to the rehearsal space, his anxiety spiked.

Would their performance be enough?

However, their internal musings were interrupted when they were intercepted by Ricky and Lola, the two salsa dancers they had met on the first day of rehearsals.

Ricky approached them, a friendly smile on his face. "Hey, Gabi, Vivo! We've been hearing so much about your practice sessions. Would it be okay if we get a little sneak peek of your act?"

Gabi and Vivo were taken aback.

They exchanged a glance of surprise before Gabi turned back to Ricky, managing a small, hesitant smile.

"Uh...right now?"

Lola nodded, her expression encouraging.

"If it's alright with you guys. It's always fun to share the process, you know. Keeps the competition friendly."

Gabi glanced at Vivo, who looked equally apprehensive.

Despite the pit of nervousness in her stomach, she nodded in agreement.

"Alright, but keep in mind we're still perfecting it."

Ricky's face lit up, "Absolutely! Just a friendly sharing session."

Gabi and Vivo set about to prepare their techno street organ, trying to shake off their nerves.

Yet underneath their determination was a layer of unease.

As they fiddled with their equipment and began to play, they had no idea that an unexpected incident was about to throw them into an even deeper state of doubt and insecurity.

***

As they started their performance, Gabi and Vivo felt the familiar thrill of creating music together.

The rhythm was vibrant, the melody captivating, just as they had intended it to be.

Vivo's nimble fingers danced across the keys, hitting every note with precision while Gabi, her heart pounding with adrenaline, manipulated the soundboard.

The music resonated through the air, each beat, each note, radiating the unique chemistry they had on stage.

Gabi yelled over the music, "Ready for the bridge, Vivo?"

With a nod, Vivo went with the change in the music, his own excitement matching Gabi's.

They were doing it.

They were proving to themselves that they could take this stage and make it theirs.

But then, it happened.

There was a sudden ear-splitting screech, a harsh sound that had the nearby spectators wincing.

Vivo winced, the melody distorted and off-key, making a clashing cacophony instead of the harmonious music they were aiming for.

Ricky and Lola exchanged surprised glances, their previous enthusiasm quickly turning into concern.

The nearby performers turned to look, curiosity and alarm written on their faces.

"Vivo, stop! Stop!"

Gabi's fingers moved frantically on the soundboard, trying to fix whatever was going wrong.

Vivo, seeing her panic, stopped.

He looked around, the eyes on them feeling like a spotlight too bright.

His heart pounded in his chest, a feeling of dread settling in him.

His earlier fears seemed to be coming true: their act was falling apart.

Gabi muttered to herself, "Come on, come on!"

She was turning a knob here, flipping a switch there.

But it was no use.

The organ gave one last high-pitched wail before falling silent.

The sudden silence echoed around them, each person staring at the malfunctioning organ and the two disheartened performers.

Ricky and Lola came to them with looks of concern.

Lola asked, "Gabi, are you alright, sweetie?"

Gabi, visibly shaken, stepped back, her eyes wide as she stared at the organ.

"I...I don't understand. It was working fine at home."

Ricky said, "Oh, it's probably just a couple of bugs. I'm sure you can fix it."

Although, Gabi didn't even seem to be listening.

Vivo, trying to regain his composure, could only look at Gabi.

Their eyes met, and without words, they shared a silent conversation.

They had put so much effort, so much hope into their performance.

They had believed that they had a chance.

But now, with their act literally silenced and the competition looming over them, that hope seemed to be dwindling.

What were they going to do now? Did they even stand a chance anymore?