episode_0145

In the second semester, Professor Baek Jung-eon was busier than ever.

His disciple, Siwoo, had hatched from his egg and started flapping his wings, and Yoon Ji-chang had suddenly started attending private lessons without missing a beat.

Song Sung-hyuk, who was already diligent, pestered Professor Baek even more than before, saying he wanted to reach higher places.

And now, even Chae Won was one of Baek Jung-eon’s disciples.

…However.

“What’s going on here?”

“Hello, Professor. It’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Yes, it has been about 5 years….”

Chae Won’s mother, Margaret Hebler, a pianist born in Austria.

She had come all the way to Han Ye-de to see Baek Jung-eon in person.

As someone who had learned Korean language and culture for a long time following her husband, Margaret bowed in a Korean manner to greet him.

“Thank you for teaching Chae Won. Did you come to see her lesson today?”

“No, I just have something to tell you.”

“What…? Oh. Is it about Chae Won’s education policy? If so, you’re welcome to discuss it.”

“Haha. No, it’s not that.”

A small box of red tea popped out of the tote bag Margaret was carrying on her shoulder.

“I brought this back from my trip to France. Shall we have a cup and chat?”

“Sounds good.”

“I noticed you seemed busy, so I was being considerate.”

“These days, my students are suddenly on fire….”

“Haha. Because of Chae Won?”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Putting off the main topic as much as possible, the two poured warm tea into mugs.

By the time the faint scent of black tea had spread throughout the room, Margaret spoke.

“Well… I’m not sure where to start, but…. Let me ask you one thing to begin.”

Baek Jung-eon, sensing that the story would be long, pushed aside the documents piled on the table.

Margaret was about to talk about something important. She must have flown a long way for this.

But if she showed signs of being busy due to work, she wouldn’t be able to talk comfortably.

“You’re like Siwoo’s father, right?”

“…Well, I think so. Siwoo may think differently.”

“Still, you’ve been taking care of Siwoo since he was young.”

“That’s true. Siwoo has seen our faces as a couple longer than my parents’ faces.”

“So….”

“The story I’m about to tell is a conversation for our children, who may become a couple in the future, as parents…. Can we think of it that way?”

Stroking her grass-like hair under the bright summer sun, Margaret smiled softly.

Siwoo is in a relationship with Chae Won.

Due to the messages they exchanged during their lessons, I couldn’t help but know even if I didn’t want to.

It’s a story about the future of the children.

Can I really intervene in this story?

Baek Jung-eon remembered his friends who had already gone to heaven.

And the words they left him in his dreams.

“Be Siwoo’s father.”

“Siwoo will be fine.”

Even if Siwoo doesn’t acknowledge it, Baek Jung-eon and his wife were like Siwoo’s other parents.

It wasn’t what they wanted, but they raised Siwoo at least without shame.

So, if it was an important story, as Siwoo’s parents, they had the right to hear from Chae Won’s parents.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Margaret relaxed the tension in her raised lips.

With a somewhat melancholic expression, she said, “Chae Won has a congenital illness.”

“…An illness?”

“Yes.”

“…She seemed so healthy though….”

“It’s an illness that doesn’t show on the outside at all.”

Without mentioning the specific name of the illness, Margaret didn’t even bat an eyelash.

“Modern technology cannot cure the disease. And no one can be sure when they will die. It’s such a rare disease that it’s not well known.”

“I… I see.”

“I understand your surprise. If a child who was playing happily suddenly dies. Even I wouldn’t believe it.”

Like someone prepared to accept any outcome, Margaret closed her eyes firmly.

“But Chaewon is like a candle in the wind. No one knows when she will die. Not even me, not even herself.”

At this moment, Baek Joong-eun was curious about one person’s intentions.

Did she really know everything?

Did she live so confidently even knowing?

“Chaewon… does she know about it too?”

Margaret smiled bitterly.

At the age of 5, after parting ways with Siwoo, Chaewon went through a confusing period with multiple personalities.

“Yes. I told her 3 years ago.”

“3 years ago… was that right before you started NewTube?”

“Yes. After knowing the truth, Chaewon chose to do that.”

Sighing heavily, Margaret said, “I want to leave behind the fact that I existed in this world.”

“But I don’t want anyone to be sad even if I die.”

“So…”

“I will live as a faceless pianist.”

“And disappear from the world with the end of my activities.”

“It’s all what Chaewon said.”

Baek Joong-eun’s hand trembled as she put down the teacup.

Clank, the cup and the table lightly collided.

The morning star that descended into the world of night turned into a bright cherry blossom tree on the ground.

The flowers blooming from that tree restored everything about Jungsioo.

Thanks to that tree, Siwoo could escape the darkness.

But that tree was rotting from the roots.

It was decaying, just not visibly.

With great difficulty. Very difficult.

Baek Joong-eun asked one question.

“So… does that mean Chaewon and Siwoo will eventually have to part ways?”

Margaret corrected Baek Joong-eun’s words.

“Couples are always destined to part ways. It’s just a matter of when.”

She didn’t come to declare Chaewon’s death.

“I… I just want the two children to be as happy as possible while they are together… That’s why I’m telling the professor this story.”

#

It was an extremely important day for Siwoo.

In his past life, he had approached the preliminary round with a rather arrogant attitude of ‘It’s just a small competition.’ But this time, it was different.

It was a time to showcase the music I had reinterpreted, not just copy the performances of masters.

Siwoo must have been quite nervous about that important day.

But on that important day—.

“… How long are you going to keep doing this?”

“Just stay still. I’m in the middle of something important.”

“You’re just holding me like usual.”

“Like usual?! It’s different!”

After the concours preliminary round, I was whining while hugging Siwoo at a café.

It was an inevitable and natural reaction.

I was anxious about what might happen next April, and I felt the despair and agony of the failed Min Chaewon.

If I let go of Siwoo here, it felt like he would leave me.

It seemed like I had to keep him by my side.

I felt like I had to continue to be by his side…

If I let go, it felt like everything would end as it was.

“Why are you so anxious…? What happened?”

And Siwoo quickly noticed my fluctuating emotions.

Because of my age, because it was me, he could sense the subtle emotional fluctuations that I never showed on my face.

“Just in case I get TSVID, what would you do…?”

Siwoo’s expression was truly surprised.

“Why all of a sudden?”

He asked me, looking at me as he got lost in thought.

“Ah… I wonder if it was transferred to the owner of that workshop?”

“It’s not a transferable disease.”

“We still don’t know. Everything hasn’t been revealed yet.”

“… That’s true.”

Siwoo smiled.

I know better than anyone that he wasn’t such an optimistic person.

“Then, it doesn’t matter if I catch it too, right?”

He was the Siwoo I knew, but at the same time, he wasn’t the Siwoo I knew.

He was a completely different person.

The tiny glimmer of hope that he possessed shone brightly.

“We already switched bodies when we were young. Back then, we felt like we had lost everything, but if we really end up switching genders due to TSVID. Just think about it then.”

His gaze towards the future brightened.

The dark future seemed even darker in comparison.

But still, the light didn’t stop.

I was someone who could emit such light.

I needed Min Chaewon to erase the darkness stained by the light.

I… I needed it.

Chaewon needed it.

“If only you change, that’s a problem too. Then… I become a famous pianist, earn a lot of money, and invest in TSVID research… somehow, it might work out, right?”

Even the disease that was considered incurable.

Is now bowing down under the feet of humans in the modern era.

Of course, rare diseases, incurable diseases, and terminal illnesses still abound.

But humans have overcome reality and paved the way for the future no matter how long it takes.

“… Fool. If that’s the case, just use my money, right?”

“That’s easier said than done.”

Siwoo hugged me in his arms even more warmly.

“I’ll be with you for the rest of my life. I won’t let anything stop me.”

I won’t say I love the changed me.

I won’t even say that’s what real love is.

I will find a way.

A way for us to love each other as we are.

What I desire.

A way to a happy future that Siwoo desires.

“Siwoo.”

I remembered Lady’s words.

Perhaps, the solution is surprisingly simple.

Maybe there’s no need to overthink it.

Fate can change with a small choice. We have already changed many situations, haven’t we?

Siwoo overcame his darkness.

And I am in a relationship with the Siwoo I longed for.

Our future may have already changed significantly.

Because we are together.

“Can I stay at your place for a while?”