episode_0046

For someone who has lived as a Korean for 23 years, it’s not easy to accept being told, “You’re Austrian!”

Occasionally, the piercing glances that come my way are so uncomfortable that I muttered in self-defense.

“Oh, come on. Maybe I could become Korean eventually. If my stay here gets longer, right? I could even acquire citizenship. I don’t think I’ll be leaving Korea anytime soon.”

Listening quietly, Song Seonghyuk spoke up.

“Your parents…”

According to the guidebook provided for me as No. 26, Chaewon’s parents are always ready to come to Korea for me.

“If I decide to settle here, would they follow? My mom loves Korean food so much.”

Perhaps he thought there was merit in my words, as Song Seonghyuk didn’t offer any further objections.

I breathed a sigh of relief and recalled what he had said earlier.

‘The professor…’

It’s quite a persistent connection by chance.

‘Even if I were in a different body, would the professor recognize my playing…’

The professor’s teaching style has been consistent from the beginning.

He never forced me to practice excessively or memorize specific pieces against my will.

During lessons, I played the assigned pieces, and the professor gave me the opportunity to reflect on them.

The conclusion always ended with ‘lacking color,’ which was the problem.

The professor believed in my autonomy but also hoped I would break free from the bland, cookie-cutter performances.

‘He taught me for 17 years… When I said I would give up, he understood right away.’

It must have been disappointing, but he respected my decision because he knew it would be more painful for me.

But why did he hold on for 17 years?

It was because it was an important task that was crucial to the professor’s life.

I wonder if there was something between my unknown parents and the professor that kept pressuring him.

‘Although it’s something to be grateful for…’

Did Chaewon graduate from high school?

Having lived a tiring life with multiple personalities since childhood.

I doubt she had the energy to attend school.

She’s only 19 now.

Ordinary kids are just high school seniors at this age.

“Would I meet the admission requirements?”

“Since you’ve passed the elementary and middle school curriculum abroad, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“I see.”

Thankfully, she graduated.

Did she at least finish half?

‘But going back to the piano department from the first year…’

I never planned to attend school after getting revenge on Yoon Jiyu.

Although it’s true that once our professor takes a liking to someone, he pursues them until the end to train them as disciples. But this is a bit too much.

And if I become the professor’s disciple, there’s another problem.

Daesahyeong Jung Siwoo, who shares the same department and mentor, might be mentally overwhelmed.

Even though I had no intention of pressuring her, Chaewon’s unique performance might make her feel inferior.

…After all, they are acquaintances of Professor and Conductor Min Seokhyun.

If they wanted, couldn’t they just relay the message through Chaewon’s parents? Why did they have to go through Song Seonghyuk?

Did they forget that they have a daughter named Min Chaewon?

It’s been 14 years, and if the Min Seokhyun couple raised Chaewon in secret, it’s possible….

“I’m not interested. I have no thoughts about it.”

Although Song Seonghyuk’s expression was as stoic as usual.

A subtle sense of satisfaction was faintly visible in the slightly curved corners of his mouth.

“If I meet the professor, I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you for that.”

“And if you’re going to play the piano at school in the future, let me know. I’ll lend you my student ID.”

Whether it’s him or her.

You shouldn’t lend your student ID.

Do you really want to see a principled person break down like this?

“It’s fine. Besides, by the weekend, the house renovation will be finished, so I won’t have to go to school anyway.”

“What do you mean? Is there something you want to say?”

“Never mind. Just focus on driving properly.”

At my teasing tone, Song Seonghyuk suddenly burst into laughter out of the blue.

“Did you injure your head when you had a traffic accident before?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You seem different these days. You almost seem like an old man who has seen everything in the world.”

Song Seonghyuk was quite accurate.

Living on borrowed time and still not having a sense of ‘my life’ yet, that must be why.

I always live hoping that Chaewon will come back in 3 years.

The stay may be prolonged, but I believe it won’t last forever.

“You’re the one who seems like an old man.”

“You keep forgetting your nationality, that’s why.”

I am Korean!

…I shouldn’t shout that out loud or I’ll look weird.

I swallowed my words quietly.

“Honestly, Chaewon is more Korean than me.”

She writes Korean fluently, and she eats spicy food that foreigners can’t handle without any problem.

When was it?

It was a few weeks before going back to Austria, on a rainy day when we ate spicy ramen together at the convenience store. Chaewon drank less honey water and milk than me.

After eating, while I was panting, she drank soda with a very relaxed expression.

Drinking soda while your mouth is burning with spiciness.

It was definitely something that couldn’t be done with ordinary guts.

“Yeah. Song Seonghyuk.”

“…What?”

“If we happen to run into each other at school, pretend you don’t know me.”

“Why is that?”

I knew that Chaewon’s only potential groom was Jung Siwoo. But I hadn’t told him yet.

I’ll tell him after April 9th, 3 years later.

Until then, if I stick with Song Seonghyuk for no reason, Siwoo will feel inferior.

So, we are strangers at school.

It’s also a secret that we work together for Aclerct.

“Do it.”

“….”

“Just pretend you don’t know. There’s a reason why you should do that.”

Song Seonghyuk nodded slowly after letting out a snort.

He’s a kind person.

If Song Seonghyuk was really my older brother, I might have gone through many tests to marry Chaewon.

Would this guy take on the role of an American dad waiting for his daughter’s boyfriend with a shotgun?

Even though he looks gentle, he’s a guy who harbors madness inside.

***

Dragging on and on with time.

“Ah, it’s really hard to see. Our Chaewon, isn’t it?”

I met Yun Jiyu again just a week and three days later.

During that time, Professor Baek Joong-eon’s number called me four times.

Everyone wanted to know why I was doing that, but I held back.

“H-hello….”

I cautiously took a step towards her, who was waiting in the middle of Baek Joong-eon Hall.

My hesitant movements were inspired by the protagonist of the girl band animation ‘Hitorilack,’ Hikikomori guitarist Hitori, recommended by Yoon Jichang.

I failed to reproduce the outfit due to Kang Hwi’s opposition to sending me out in training clothes, but at least I mastered the behavior enough. I could now perform a more complete timid girl act.

“You really have a talent for making people wait. You’re so cute I could die.”

“Uh, uh.”

Yun Jiyu grabbed Chaewon’s precious cheeks.

It’s clear that she’s trying to make herself look like a sagging grandmother.

“Sit down. We can’t see each other often anyway. I’m busy too. Aren’t you lucky?”

I smiled widely, showing my emotions without reservation.

In response, Yun Jiyu looked at me with sharp eyes.

“Hmph.”

Recalling the female protagonist Hitori, she covered her mouth with both hands and jumped up, saying it wasn’t meant that way.

“T-that’s not what I meant.”

“Stop acting like a fool. Come on, look at the sheet music quickly.”

“Uh, okay.”

Without saying anything, she moved on.

Yoon Jiyu must have started treating me like an easy-to-handle fool by now.

I always had to force my younger sister to sit at the piano and ask her to accompany me. How happy she must be now that she doesn’t have to do that because of me.

“How long will it take?”

“Just a moment…”

There are more bean sprouts than I thought.

… I thought as I looked at the sheet music on the iPad.

‘Etude No. 6?’

An etude arranged by Liszt, a passionate fan of Paganini, based on Paganini’s violin piece “Caprice No. 24,” but arranged for piano.

Originally published in 1838 as “Grandes études de Paganini,” it was criticized for its difficulty that humans couldn’t play, so Liszt rearranged it as “Études based on Paganini’s themes.”

The sixth and final piece in the series. The music called Paganini/Liszt Etude No. 6 was displayed above the iPad in the form of sheet music.

‘Why is this here.’

By the way, my favorite La Campanella is the third etude included in this hellishly difficult grand etude series.

It raised the musicality and lowered the difficulty.

Even now, the 6th etude is notorious.

Jumps, arpeggios, octaves, endless scales, etc.

Emphasizing that it is the final etude in the series, this piece is one that even those who have mastered all the tricks of the piece must give up if their stamina does not support them.

‘… Why on earth?’

I glanced at Yoon Jiyu.

Without saying a word, as if urging me to read the music quickly, she just tapped her chin.

If I refuse here, the concept will be ruined.

But why she’s doing this, why she’s demanding performance instead of accompaniment, seemed like something I had to figure out and move on.

“Is this… a piano piece?”

Yoon Jiyu smiled slightly, then, for a very brief moment, shifted her gaze towards the audience seats in the back of the theater.

It was just a moment, but following the direction of her gaze, I could see.

It looked like a dark wall behind the audience, but something was sticking out a bit. It was a panel that looked exactly like the wall used to hide actors coming out from behind the stage, often used when performances are held in the theater department.

Yoon Jiyu had heard about Min Chaewon and was so interested in her that she wanted to evaluate her even if she had to hide.

Isn’t it obvious who it is?

Professor Baek Jung-eon.

He deliberately canceled his lesson with Song Seong-hyuk and came to listen to my performance.