Chapter 4: Piano Room (1)

“Yaaawn…”

The next day, Saturday morning.

As I trudged towards the study room, yawns kept escaping me.

Yesterday, I’d gone out for a change of pace, then studied before bed. My sleep was way too short.

I wanted to catch a quick nap, but during that time, others would be underlining their textbooks. I couldn’t afford to slack off.

The school, seeming to understand this mindset, kindly closed the dorms on weekends when there were no classes.

Thanks to that, we couldn’t even enter the dorms from 9 AM to 3 PM. What a thoughtful school in so many ways.

I tried to catch up on sleep and barely made it out just before 9.

The study room, with partitions between seats, was the students’ hotspot. If you were even a little late, all the spots would be taken. I didn’t want to wander around looking for a place to study, so I had to hurry.

As I rushed towards the study room… my phone in my back pocket buzzed.

I pulled it out to find a KakaoTalk message.

The sender was Han So-yul.

My fake girlfriend, with who I’d exchanged numbers last night, or more accurately, early this morning.

What could she want so early? I yawned freely as I read the message.

[Good morning! Did you sleep well?]

…

I shoved the phone back in my pocket and kept walking.

Less than a minute later, my phone buzzed again.

[What kind of boyfriend are you, reading but not replying?]

Oh boy, seems the fake boyfriend’s reply was in demand.

If I hadn’t slept well, I would’ve said so. Would it kill her to figure that out on her own?

Grudgingly, I typed a reply.

[I said I’d only play along if it didn’t interfere with my studies.]

Her response came immediately.

[What are you doing now?]

[Packing up to go to the study room.]

[Oh, you’ve got plenty of time then. Quickly reply ‘Good morning to you too.’]

Now she’s giving orders.

What’s the point of getting a reply like this? I wanted to argue, but that would be even more annoying. It’d be less disruptive to just give her what she wanted.

[Good morning to you too.]

Again, her reply was instant.

[Hehe.]

…I seriously want to smack her just once.

I’d hoped she’d quiet down after I complied, but apparently she had more to say.

Before I could pocket my phone, it buzzed again.

[I’ve booked the piano room until evening, so I’m practicing alone. Want to come?]

What nonsense.

[What if we get caught alone together?]

[What are you talking about? Wasn’t the whole point of dating to do things we might get caught for?]

Well, she’s not wrong, but…

[I’m still not coming.]

[Really? It’s a golden opportunity to see my piano performance up close.]

[I’ll pass.]

After my flat rejection, So-yul seemed to give up trying to persuade me.

Her next message contained no words, just an emoji of a bear character folding its arms and turning its head away sharply. Was that meant to express that she was sulking?

Of course, that wouldn’t make me change my mind. I’d play the fake boyfriend role only as long as it didn’t interfere with my studies. I’d made that clear when I accepted So-yul’s proposal.

So I pocketed my phone and resumed walking to the study room.

And, naturally, there were no empty seats when I arrived.

I was already late, and then I’d wasted time texting So-yul. The study room was the only place for students kicked out of the dorms. It was nonsense to expect any seats left after arriving so sluggishly.

What now?

The only other option was the public seminar room. But chances were high someone had already claimed that space too.

I could study with earphones in, but many students disliked others intruding on their claimed space. I’d need to steel myself to enter.

Or I could ask the duty teacher to unlock a classroom.

But that would create a responsibility for the teacher to manage it, which they wouldn’t appreciate. Moreover, if anything went missing, I’d surely be blamed.

Well, there was one more place…

“Haah…”

I sighed deeply, then pulled out my phone from my back pocket.

Unlocking it revealed the conversation I’d just had with So-yul.

Below the sulking bear emoji, I typed a brief message.

[Can I study in the piano room?]

It didn’t take long for a bear emoji with a mocking expression to arrive in response.

◎

Needless to say, this was followed by nonsense like [I thought you didn’t want to come earlier? Did you change your mind?] and [Did you really want to hear my piano that badly?]

Of course, I replied, [I’m only coming because there’s nowhere else to study, so don’t talk to me.]

Come to think of it, wasn’t So-yul partly responsible for my late arrival at the study room? Talk about causing a problem and then offering a solution.

Having never had any connection to pianos in my life, I had no idea where the piano room was located.

When I asked So-yul, she said it was in the building mainly used by the arts track students. It made sense, as that’s where various club rooms and practice rooms for arts track students were located.

I entered the building and took the elevator to the fourth floor where the piano room was.

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, a cacophony of instrument sounds assaulted my ears. Violin screeches, jangling electric guitars, and even drum beats.

It was enough to make healthy ears ache.

If another student caught me in the hallway, I’d have no excuse. Now that I’d come this far, it’d be safer to quickly enter the piano room.

I squeezed past the various instrument sounds blaring from both sides and reached the door of the piano room at the far end.

I knocked without hesitation, and after the sound of an electronic lock, the door opened.

The person who emerged was, of course, So-yul.

She wore a crisp beige jacket over a white knit top, paired with tight jeans. Though it wasn’t an extravagant outfit, it looked quite stylish.

I’d seen her in passing in the classroom in uniform. I’d watched her play piano from afar at events. We’d even talked face-to-face in the dark.

But this was the first time I’d properly faced her under bright lights. Her distinct features and long amber hair were striking.

As I stared blankly, the corners of So-yul’s mouth turned up slightly.

“You really came?”

“What, did you think I’d come in spirit?”

“You seemed so prickly, I thought you’d never show up. I was just testing you when I asked earlier.”

I see.

Looking her straight in the eye, I retorted:

“I’m only here because there’s nowhere else to study. Someone kept sending useless messages, making me late.”

“Oh, is that so?”

So-yul snorted loudly, as if to make sure I heard. Fine. We’re even now.

Whether she meant the invitation or not, she apparently didn’t intend to turn me away now that I was here. Following So-yul’s gesture to come in quickly, I stepped inside the piano room.

Inside, there was a piano with a piano bench. Not just the piano, but even the bench exuded an air of luxury. Though I didn’t know much, they both looked quite expensive.

Beside it was a separate desk and chair. I wondered what they were for. Maybe a space to read and make notes on sheet music before playing?

Whatever the reason, I was grateful for it now. I sat down, put my bag down, and took out my writing materials and books.

After confirming I was seated, So-yul took off her coat, hung it on a hanger, and plopped down on the piano bench. She tidied her hair and placed her hands on the keys.

It seemed she was about to start practicing right away.

As I was about to take out my earphones to avoid disturbance, So-yul turned to me.

“Come to think of it.”

“What?”

“Won’t the piano sound disturb your studying?”

You’re asking that now?

“It probably will. I came prepared for that. I’m about to put my earphones in.”

“Earphones won’t block it out completely. The piano’s pretty loud, you know.”

“Is it?”

“Of course. Listen.”

So-yul then pressed some piano keys, playing a snippet of a classical piece I’d heard somewhere before.

Perhaps due to the small space, the piano sound resonated loudly. It didn’t seem like earphones would block it out. I could blast music at max volume, but that would be just as disruptive to studying.

“How’s that?”

So-yul asked, tilting her head.

I answered honestly.

“It would be distracting.”

“See?”

“But what can we do? I’m studying in a space you booked for piano practice.”

I was essentially a freeloader here. If the piano sound bothered me, I should leave and find somewhere else. So-yul had no obligation to accommodate me.

Yet, despite that…

“Then I’ll practice a gentler piece today. It’ll still be audible through your earphones, but it should be less disruptive.”

Saying this, So-yul put away the sheet music she had open and brought out different ones.

After taking a brief moment to compose herself, she began to play.

This time, it was a piece I hadn’t heard before.

One thing was certain though: as So-yul had said, it was gentle and likely wouldn’t be too disruptive.

Mentally thanking So-yul for her consideration, I took out my earphones.

As I was about to put them in… I found myself quietly observing So-yul playing the piano.

Her slender, snow-white fingers, disproportionately long for her small frame, glided over the piano keys as if dancing.

Her pink lips kept moving, either keeping time or reciting something to herself.

Her long eyelashes fluttered in tune with the mood of the piece – sometimes joyfully, sometimes happily, and at times as if lamenting.

It seemed the title of ‘piano prodigy’ wasn’t for nothing.

I knew nothing about this piece. To be honest, I knew next to nothing about pianos in general. I couldn’t even play “Chopsticks,” which is supposed to be easy.

But So-yul’s performance was incredibly pleasing to the ear. Even though I didn’t know the piece, nothing sounded like a wrong note. Moreover, her expressions and movements, as if she were acting, drew in the viewer.

Eventually, the tempo slowed, and finally, So-yul’s performance came to an end.

As I stared blankly at the scene, So-yul’s face turned towards me.

“How was it?”

So-yul asked with a playful smile.

Feeling oddly flustered, I answered:

“Seems like you played well.”

“Hehehe, right?”

Pleased by the compliment, she covered her mouth as she laughed. Though we weren’t fighting, I somehow felt like I’d lost. I added one more comment.

“Actually, I don’t really know. But since people call you a prodigy, I guess you must be good.”

So-yul responded without missing a beat:

“You were staring with your mouth wide open, though?”

“…Well, that’s…”

“Nevermind.”

As if refusing to let me make excuses, So-yul cut me off and started playing again.

Unlike before, however, her face was now filled with a broad smile.

She’s such a pain. I sighed deeply and turned my attention to the book open on the desk.

I thought I heard a soft “hehehe” laughing sound from beyond my field of vision.

—