Chapter 1: Deviation (2)

This school only admits those who’ve shown exceptional talent in a specific field. With such high standards, it’s no surprise that the students here are far from ordinary.

International Olympiad medalists eat lunch in the front row, while poets who’ve published collections in elementary school walk beside me. It’s a place brimming with extraordinary individuals.

Even among this crowd of exceptional students, there’s one who stands out above the rest.

Of course, it’s Han So-yul.

She’s a famous prodigy pianist, constantly featured in articles highlighting her promising future. I’ve heard she’s won so many national and international competitions that it’s hard to keep count.

I’ve even witnessed reporters interviewing her on campus from time to time.

Add to that her striking looks, and it’s no wonder she catches everyone’s eye.

I never expected to find someone like Han So-yul sitting out here at this hour.

While I wasn’t exactly shocked, it was certainly enough to make me curious.

“Why are you…”

“Who are you?”

She cut me off before I could finish my question.

Judging by how tightly she was clutching her clothes, she was still pretty wary. At least her voice had stopped trembling, which was a small relief. I decided to answer quickly before she mistook me for some kind of prowler.

“Min Woo-jin, second year. We have morning classes together.”

“Ah…”

Her tone suggested recognition.

“Do you remember me now?”

“Yeah. Now that I look closely, I think I’ve seen you in passing a few times.”

I was grateful she remembered. Sure, we shared some classes, but our fields were different, so we’d never really interacted. Still, my name had been called out in class plenty of times, and we’d crossed paths in the classroom a few times. We weren’t complete strangers, at least.

I snorted and sat down at the edge of the bench. So-yul scooted away to the opposite side.

Then, with drowsy eyes, she murmured:

“So? What brings you to this secluded spot at such a late hour?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Aren’t you being a bit hypocritical?”

“Why should I be?”

“Because you’re out here at this hour too.”

“I was wondering if you came out for the same reason I did.”

I see.

Well, the answer was pretty obvious. I wanted to ask if there could be any other reason. After clicking my tongue, I replied:

“Why else? I came out because I felt suffocated inside.”

“Really?”

She leaned forward, as if trying to read my thoughts. Due to her small stature, she had to tilt her head up to look at me. Her amber-colored hair flowed down her shoulders.

I had nothing to hide. I met her eyes directly and said:

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…”

So-yul let out a small sound that almost got lost in the night air, then returned to her original position.

“Then we’re the same,” she whispered.

That was unexpected.

I wasn’t the only one who found this school stifling. With all the restrictions placed on students, it wasn’t uncommon to hear complaints.

But I never thought So-yul would feel the same way.

With all her competition appearances and outings, I wondered if she even had time to feel confined.

Besides, if she really hated this school, couldn’t she just transfer somewhere else? Someone like her wouldn’t need this high school’s reputation to secure a bright future.

It seemed silly to argue when she said that’s how she felt. Deciding not to dwell on it, I laced my fingers behind my head and looked up at the sky. The night was clear, and the stars were twinkling unusually brightly.

So-yul then spoke softly, almost whispering:

“There are so many things we’re not allowed to do here… As a pianist, it’s really suffocating.”

I asked without much thought:

“Don’t you usually just follow the sheet music when playing piano? Is there any particular reason it feels suffocating?”

“What? What are you talking about? Piano is freedom.”

Well, I suppose…

“I guess with n keys, there are 2 to the power of n possible combinations…”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. With 10 fingers, it’s like choosing 10 out of n without repetition…”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

She shut me down immediately.

So-yul clicked her tongue and continued:

“The pressure you use, the subtle timing adjustments, which notes to emphasize, when to breathe, and most importantly, what emotion to convey. Do you have any idea how much each of these factors can change a piece? Do you?”

“…I didn’t know, but now I do.”

“As long as you understand now.”

Well, that’s a relief. I must have unknowingly offended her pianist pride. It was my mistake. I was worried she might lash out in anger.

Anyway, I guess a free spirit like her feels trapped within the school’s confines. Come to think of it, even I feel stifled studying exactly what’s written in books. It’s not hard to understand.

Keeping my gaze on the night sky, I moved only my lips to speak:

“Do you come out here and sit every night?”

Her answer came quickly.

“Not every night, but pretty often.”

“Hmm.”

She must have come out quite a few times, even if not daily. It’s somewhat reassuring that she hasn’t been caught yet. While the security guard rushes over the moment we approach the school gate during the day, I guess surveillance must be more relaxed at night.

“So you come out occasionally and imagine playing the piano with your eyes closed?”

“That’s right. If only there was a piano in the dorm, I could at least play that.”

“If you played the piano in the middle of the night, I don’t think you’d hear anything pleasant.”

“Exactly. That’s why this school is so frustrating.”

I don’t think that’s the school’s fault…

As I was debating whether to point this out, So-yul continued:

“But this is the first time someone else has caught me. I occasionally see others who come out briefly and go back in, like you.”

“I see.”

It’s quite impressive that she hasn’t been caught sitting out here so openly until now.

Then again, who would expect someone to be sitting in a place like this? Plus, the sky was particularly clear tonight, which might be why I noticed her so easily.

Whatever the reason, this unexpected encounter led to a longer conversation than I’d anticipated.

No matter how lax the security might be, the longer we stay outside, the higher the risk becomes. I’ve had my mood refreshed, so it’s probably better to head back and study.

Time to go back in.

I unclasped my hands and stood up. So-yul, still intending to stay, remained seated and looked up at me.

“Are you going back?”

“Yeah. Are you staying longer?”

“Well, someone interrupted my performance.”

Oh my, how inconsiderate of me. I laughed it off and turned around.

“Oh, right.”

Before I could take a few steps, I heard her voice behind me.

I turned my head slightly to look at her from the corner of my eye, and So-yul met my gaze once again.

“What?”

In response to my brief question, So-yul smiled slightly and said:

“I’ll be out here again tomorrow.”

…?

What was I supposed to do with that information? I couldn’t figure out why she’d told me that. I had no idea what kind of response she was looking for.

After a moment’s hesitation, I finally said:

“Oh, okay. Be careful not to get caught by the security guard.”

With that, I turned back around and headed towards the dormitory.

The return journey was the exact opposite of how I’d come.

Opening the iron door, from the first-floor exit, past the second floor, through the third, to the fourth floor where my room was.

Then back through the machinery to exit the machine room.

The corridor I returned to after my brief escape was still dim.

Light still seeped from under each door, and except for the hum of machinery, everything remained eerily quiet.

However, having completed my little adventure, I returned to my room with a slightly elevated mood, unlike before.

And so, the first mischief So-yul and I committed came to an end.

—