episode_0132

“What do you think, oppa?”

“What, what do I think?”

“Our kids, do you think they will like music?”

“…Of course they will. They’re our children, after all.”

There was a strong conviction.

If both parents were musicians by profession, then it was only natural that their children would also pursue music as a career.

And there was this determination.

Just like their own parents did. If their children wanted to do something, they would actively support them.

“Is the violin difficult?”

“Do your fingers hurt at first?”

“Dad, I want to play the piano like mom!”

“Ask mom to teach you. She will like it.”

“I’m not sure…”

“Saebyeogi. It’s okay to take your time and decide while watching your older siblings. It’s okay not to do it if you don’t want to.”

The children loved music.

Prenatal education was done through music. They sang songs with violin and piano on birthdays. And sometimes, they even invited friends to duet music concerts to enjoy music together.

The couple completely immersed the environment in which their children lived in the music they loved.

“Dad, I got an A!”

“Well done. Our daughter is amazing.”

“Is this good?”

“It’s really good. Don’t say that in front of other friends.”

“I like the piano…”

“I’m glad you like it. How about trying another piece?”

However, the lives of children who blossomed in music from a young age.

“It’s the fourth stage.”

“We can perform the surgery. However, the chances of survival are very low… Think about it, and when you are ready, let us know.”

The tree that shielded the hot midday sun began to wither and oxidize under the intense ultraviolet rays.

“How do you feel about having the surgery?”

“The chances of survival are slim… but still, when I think of the kids… huh?”

Despite repeated persuasion.

In the end, the man could not bend to his wife’s will.

“If you’re going to do it, you should do it now. What if something happens suddenly and you die? How will you explain it to the kids?”

“….”

“Maybe, since there’s about a month left. It might be better to spend time with the kids and prepare for the farewell…”

“But, honey…”

“Yeah, I know. I know what you’re trying to say…”

The man who tried to gloss over difficult words to explain to the kids, and the woman who insisted on resolving it through conversation and understanding before parting ways.

Just like when they hit a wall in their past relationship, this time, too, the opinions of the two sharply clashed.

But just like back then. The man was destined to lose.

He could not stop his wife. No, he did not stop her.

Conversations that narrowed down the differences in opinions with his wife always worked.

There was no reason to ignore the kids just because they couldn’t understand if he didn’t explain it properly.

Growing up under the shadow of their parents, the kids were already their own individuals. They might be shocked in their young hearts, but whether it was passing with a lie or properly talking and moving on.

It was obvious what would mentally stabilize the kids in the future.

“I will miss you, mom…”

“Hu… Hu… Nuna… Hik. I’ll wait for you… Hu. Hiiing.”

“………..”

The kids who learned the truth were in agony.

It was natural. It was a harsh truth for the kids to accept.

The sudden disappearance of a mother who always seemed like she would love them unconditionally was a tremendous trial that the children, who were barely 10 years old, could not even articulate.

But even if they were still immature individuals.

“Jichang and Saebyeogi, I will take care of them.”

They humbly accepted death and knew how to walk calmly into the future.

It might not be good for emotional education. Some might say that such a choice is too harsh for a child.

However, aren’t they the children born from their blood? If we don’t believe in those children, who else can we believe in?

“Mom, please watch over us from there. We will show you how amazing we can become…”

Cha Haneul, who was holding back tears that were about to burst out until just before bringing up the story, finally broke down in tears at the comforting words of her mature eleven-year-old daughter.

“Take good care of the kids. Honey.”

“……..”

“We had dreams, remember? Don’t get too obsessed with them.”

“…………….”

I hope our children will love music just like we did.

I hope our children will play the violin and piano, just like we did.

“If the kids say they can’t play music after I die.”

Even after their mother, who was the essence of their music, passed away. Can that dream still come true?

If the kids can’t handle it and give up on music. What should the father do then?

“Should I cleanly give up…? Life isn’t just one path.”

Giving up is the right thing to do.

If the kids play music and remember their mother.

If they can’t let go of the sadness and emotional pain.

Until they can turn the memories of years of playing music into cherished memories.

They needed to be comforted and reassured.

But.

“Did you just hit me?”

“Ah, sorry dad. I just… suddenly thought of mom……”

To Yoon Jichang, who was playing a solo.

“Oppa, won’t dad be upset if he finds out…?”

“It’s okay. He didn’t say anything when he heard it before.”

To Yoon Jichang and Jin Saeyeok, who were duetting.

“Help me with my practice. It feels empty without mom’s music.”

“Leave it to me!”

To Yoon Jiyu and Yoon Jichang, who were duetting.

His wife’s fantasy kept appearing, and he saw himself happy by her side.

It was strange. The kids quickly got up and tried to become great musicians by recalling their mother’s music.

He couldn’t bear to watch it.

It was agonizing. It was difficult to suppress the urge to stop the performance.

His wife’s words about being able to give up if they couldn’t play music.

…slowly twisted and distorted into a different meaning in Yoon Kwancheol’s mind.

Stop it.

“Why are you suddenly…?”

Stop it….

“I don’t want to….”

Stop it…!!

“Should I…?”

Please stop.

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

As his wife’s music played, Yoon Kwancheol’s mind deteriorated.

Cha Haneul was dead. His beloved wife had turned into a handful of ashes.

But in the house, Cha Haneul’s piano music continued to play incessantly.

Yoon Jichang added his own touch to the memories with his mother and made a mess of it.

Jin Saeyeok played a precarious performance, eager to follow her mother.

If they were going to keep playing, they should have played perfectly like his wife.

Then it would have been less painful.

Why, how.

Is everyone so reckless like this.

Can’t just stand by and watch.

“Yoon Jichang.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you want to play like mom?”

They had made a promise not to touch the kids’ music, as it belonged to the kids.

“Yes. I want to play like mom.”

I’m sorry, honey.

I don’t think I can keep that promise———.

***

“My mom said my dad ran away after giving birth to me.”

She reached out with trembling hands and embraced Yoon Kwancheol, who was bowing his head.

“But my dad dressed me nicely, fed me delicious food, showed me great things, even paid for mom’s medical bills.”

“To me, my dad is just my dad.”

The tension that filled the living room dissipated rapidly.

Tears of repentance stained the carpet. The spreading water stains seemed to reflect the anxious hearts of those watching.

“I… Of course… I think kicking you out of the house was… too much. I mean, you weren’t really family, so it shouldn’t have mattered to kick you out, but… do you have no intention of canceling it now? I keep thinking of my sister and brother…”

In the dawn breeze that blew without a care, her sister and brother gritted their teeth.

It was far from a touching family reunion; there were many broken and twisted things.

Both Yoon Ji-yoo and Yoon Ji-chang thought that an apology from their father would be necessary for forgiveness.

… Perhaps it wouldn’t have been. The chain of hatred that started with Yoon Kwan-cheol seemed exaggerated and magnified due to the lack of communication.

“Dawn, please. Don’t ask for things like that.”

“Right. We should definitely take what we can get! We’re in this together now!!”

As the siblings added a word or two to Dawn’s words, it still seemed difficult for them to suppress their emotions.

But they had to move forward. What they wanted had been consistent from the beginning.

They wanted to become someone who played music that their mother would like.

They wanted to achieve something that would make their mother in heaven happy.

… They wanted to show their mother a harmonious family.

“So, what should we do then?”

Grabbing both of their father’s shoulders as he sat on the floor.

The siblings choked up as they spoke.

“… Let’s make him apologize in front of Mom.”

“Of course, we have to make him apologize to Mom.”

With Yoon Kwan-cheol being supported by his children as he sobbed, he was led into a room that had been firmly closed and never opened.

As Dawn followed after them, she turned back and said to me.

“Um… Can you wait for a moment? We have some family matters to discuss…”

It was the first time I didn’t see a single drop of sadness in Dawn’s smiling face.

“There’s a family discussion that needs to happen…”