Chapter 96 – D-Day (2)

My phone suddenly buzzed in my back pocket just a few steps after leaving the auditorium.

The vibration didn’t stop after one pulse. It seemed like an incoming call.

Who could it be? I didn’t need to waste time guessing. I immediately pulled the phone from my pocket.

The name on the screen was… Han So-yul.

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

So-yul should be waiting backstage right now. Her friends would be around her, and her mother had probably just gone to find her. Was it really safe for her to call me so casually?

With these doubts in mind, I pressed the answer button.

“…Hello?”

“Hehe. Hello?”

When I carefully greeted her with the phone against my ear, So-yul responded in a tone filled with laughter.

As if she had no intention of lowering her voice or being careful about not getting caught.

While I was relieved she seemed calm before her performance, this created another concern. Keeping my voice down unlike So-yul, I whispered:

“Is it really okay for you to call me right now?”

“What? Why wouldn’t I be able to call my boyfriend?”

“No, I mean, other people must be around you…”

As I mumbled my explanation, So-yul chuckled for a moment, then:

“I’ve been secretly dating my boyfriend for almost a year now. Do you think I wouldn’t be at least this careful?”

Then, in a proud tone as if listing her accomplishments:

“It’s fine. I told them I was going to make a quick call to my boyfriend.”

“…”

No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t sound like someone being careful at all.

While I was opening and closing my mouth in disbelief, So-yul added with a playful “hehe”:

“I’m kidding. Actually, I just finished changing clothes and getting my performance makeup done earlier than expected. I told my mother I was still getting ready and slipped out for a bit.”

“Even lying outright to your mother. You’ve got some nerve.”

At my joking remark, So-yul just laughed with a “huhu” and said:

“I’m going to do something much bigger later. This is nothing.”

Well, she had a point.

Looking back, before I was even serious about her, So-yul had taken the initiative to create opportunities for us to meet.

Going to the piano room that first time, enjoying an outdoor date with So-yul—all of it happened because of So-yul’s persuasion.

So there was no need to talk about nerve or courage now. So-yul had always been this kind of person.

Anyway, So-yul’s performance would surely be the last one.

There was still considerable time until the show began.

So that probably meant what So-yul was about to say…

“So? Why did you call?”

I quietly asked, already anticipating her answer.

To my question, So-yul replied in a voice so sweet it could have tasted like sugar:

“…Would you like to meet and talk alone until the performance starts?”

Just as I’d expected.

◎

Behind the main auditorium building, there was a secluded space.

Surrounded on all sides, the only entrance was a single door in the corner of the auditorium. Since few people passed by there, it was perfect for a private conversation.

With just one drawback—it could be seen directly from the upper floors of the arts track building.

Fortunately, today’s charity concert had been designated as mandatory for all students.

The orchestra club members were all gathered in the auditorium. The rest of the arts track students would need to come here soon as well. This meant there would be no one in the arts track building right now.

That space was where I’d agreed to meet So-yul.

I carefully made my way there, avoiding the eyes of others.

Finally, I arrived at the large metal door in the corner of the auditorium.

After hesitantly looking around, I noticed that everyone inside the auditorium seemed uninterested in this area.

For which I was grateful. Without further delay, I turned the doorknob.

And there… stood someone who looked like a princess from a faraway kingdom.

A frilly one-piece dress in a lovely pink color that exuded adorableness.

A hint of makeup that added an enchanting feel to her pure-looking face.

Sparkling eyes gazing at me and a vibrant smile drawn on her lips.

I stared blankly, unable to look away from the moment I laid eyes on her.

The princess who had been quietly watching me covered her mouth and laughed softly, then:

“…You came? Boyfriend.”

She greeted me with the same words as always.

Though not drastically different from the usual So-yul, she looked especially beautiful today.

She wore one-piece dresses like this from time to time. The makeup was just a slight touch-up. Her gaze as she looked at me and her joyful smile were the same as always.

So-yul had always been pretty and cute, but with just these small changes, she had transformed into an unbelievably gorgeous beauty.

It was a moment of realizing an obvious truth anew.

“…How do I look?”

Unaware of my thoughts, So-yul asked in a playful tone.

My answer was already decided.

“Like a princess.”

“W-what?”

Perhaps my compliment was a bit cringeworthy, as So-yul trembled all over, then:

“T-then are you trying to be a prince?”

“I don’t know. If I’m a prince and you’re a princess, wouldn’t that make us siblings? That gets more complicated, doesn’t it?”

“What are you talking about? You’d obviously be a prince from another country.”

“Oh, is that the setting?”

Well, perhaps we really did come from different countries in a way.

So-yul, Korea’s most promising piano prodigy. Me, just passing my days focused on studying without any particular direction.

We who should never have crossed paths had met and reached this point together.

Perhaps because she herself had started calling us princess and prince, So-yul’s cheeks were now tinged with red. Her eyes looked slightly moist too.

Seeing my girlfriend become shy and blush bright red was always nothing but cute.

Besides, wanting to tease the girl you like is also part of a man’s nature.

So, barely hiding my embarrassment:

“Then, Princess, may I pat your head?”

“…W-what are you saying? Really.”

So-yul reacted with surprise to my playful words.

She was so embarrassed that, at a glance, she almost looked terrified.

But So-yul wasn’t one to just take it without giving back.

After a moment, as if she had made up her mind, So-yul looked straight at me and said:

“Of course you may.”

Then, placing her hand on her chest and taking a deep breath:

“My handsome prince.”

“…”

I was suddenly at a loss for words.

Finding myself on the receiving end made me feel incredibly embarrassed. I decided to stop teasing her and cleared my throat. My plan was to continue the conversation while pretending to be as calm as possible.

“Pfft. You’re the one who started it, and now you’re embarrassed?”

How did she know?

I nodded in surrender.

“Alright. I’ll stop now. …But is it really okay to pat your head? I noticed your hair seems nicely styled.”

As I said this, I examined So-yul’s hair.

Long, straight hair cascading down just like usual. But it was somewhat neatly arranged. If my hands messed it up, it might look disheveled during her actual performance.

I asked out of this concern, but So-yul just smiled brightly and said:

“Hehehe. What does it matter?”

“Well, since it’s an important performance, wouldn’t it be better to look your best?”

When I asked worriedly, So-yul shook her head from side to side. Her hair swayed gently, like feathers. A faint sweet fragrance tickled my nose.

Then, looking directly at me with wavering eyes:

“It’s okay. …I’ve already shown it to the person I wanted to show.”

She returned such an endearingly sweet remark.

How could every single thing about her be this cute?

Joy and adorableness bloomed at once, and I finally couldn’t hold back anymore and reached out toward So-yul.

Then I gently stroked her hair.

Each time my palm touched her, a smile gradually blossomed on So-yul’s face.

Her hair might get a little messy… but this was one way for me as her boyfriend to give her strength. I believed it would ultimately help So-yul’s performance.

While continuing to stroke her hair, I asked:

“You’re wearing a coat over your dress, but aren’t you cold? Do you want to borrow my jacket?”

“I’m fine. I thought I’d be cold before coming out, but somehow it’s warm today.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Now that she mentioned it, the weather was indeed quite mild today. Not because of any illusion of warmth between So-yul and me… It genuinely felt a few degrees warmer than yesterday.

“Then you won’t make mistakes because your hands are cold. That’s good.”

“What?”

So-yul tilted her head slightly while still having her hair stroked.

“Who makes mistakes playing piano because their hands are cold from the weather? The indoor temperature is regulated anyway.”

“Oh, uh…”

Well, I’m completely ignorant about pianos, so I wouldn’t know.

“But last week, didn’t you say you made mistakes because your hands were cold?”

At my response, So-yul blinked her large eyes repeatedly, then:

“…Eep.”

She flinched as if suddenly realizing her mistake.

It was something So-yul herself had brought up last week. That she was always left unsatisfied during practice. That she made frequent mistakes because her hands were cold, so she’d like me to hold them and warm them up.

Of course, her intention was simply wanting to hold her boyfriend’s hand, but So-yul had denied it until the end.

Until just now, when she inadvertently contradicted her own claim.

“…I don’t know.”

Though her intentions had been transparent from the start, So-yul hung her head like a child caught in a lie.

She probably wanted to hide her embarrassment by concealing her face. But what could she do? Her ears, visible through her hair, were already bright red.

Though I had already seen through her, I teasingly asked:

“Do you want me to warm your hands today too?”

So-yul, with her gaze still lowered, barely managed to give a tiny reply:

“…Y-yes.”

And so I ended up stroking So-yul’s hair with one hand while firmly holding her hand in my pocket with the other.

Hoping my touch would give her strength. Hoping she would deliver a magnificent performance without any mistakes, and a powerful counterattack.

Suddenly, a voice came from inside the auditorium.

—Ah, ah, one two, mic test.

It seemed the MC had begun testing before the show started.

“Looks like they’re getting ready.”

“Mm-hmm. It’s almost 3 o’clock.”

When I spoke quietly, So-yul lifted her head and responded.

Despite considerable time having passed, a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.

“So the day has finally come,” So-yul said, as if filled with emotion.

The meaning contained within those words was far from trivial.

This was the day So-yul, who had always obeyed her mother until now, had decided to stand up and fight for the first time.

Along with that, our future could also be completely turned around.

If we succeeded in changing So-yul’s mother’s heart, So-yul would be able to put down her heavy burden and live a happy life. I, too, would be able to enjoy warm daily moments with my girlfriend.

If we failed to change her heart…

“I’ll be fine,” So-yul said with a faint smile, as if reading my thoughts.

“Whatever happens, I’ll be okay.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I have no regrets. I’ve always done my best. I couldn’t have done any better than this.”

So-yul spoke in a whisper and gave me another gentle smile.

Though I was the one stroking her hair, somehow I felt like I was the one being comforted.

So-yul was right.

Whatever future awaited us, we had always done our best. There was no reason to regret or feel disappointed.

We had tried hard not to let our relationship be discovered.

We had worked to resolve the issues with So-yul’s mother.

To avoid breaking down in difficult and burdensome situations, we had been great pillars of support for each other.

Because we had never given up and kept going no matter what, we had finally reached this point.

Whatever future awaited us, useless regrets should be cast aside.

As I was nodding quietly, something like raindrops suddenly fell on the back of my hand.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt it, as So-yul immediately looked up at the sky.

“Oh? It’s snowing.”

At her sudden comment, I quickly looked up as well.

From the sky… pure white, beautiful snowflakes were slowly falling down.

“You’re right. No wonder it felt especially warm today.”

The weather warms up right before it snows. I had learned this but hadn’t recalled it. Come to think of it, it was already late November, so it was about time for snow to fall.

So-yul, also looking up at the sky, asked:

“Is this the first snow of the year?”

“I think so. I haven’t heard of snow falling this year yet.”

“Hehehe. I see.”

So-yul let out a small laugh as if something amused her, then:

“…Then, I’m experiencing the first snow of the year with my boyfriend.”

She said this with a fresh smile.

Snow is inherently unpredictable. Even for ordinary couples, experiencing the first snow of the year together is never easy.

For us, who could barely meet, to be granted such a miracle.

Perhaps it was a small blessing sent from heaven, I thought.

So-yul silently looked up at the sky, watching the falling snow.

She cupped her hands to catch the snowflakes. She looked disappointed when they melted from her body heat.

Each gesture was so innocent, like a child, that I couldn’t help but smile.

Hearing my laughter, So-yul looked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, why are you staring at me like that?”

So-yul asked again, tilting her head as if confused.

As I hesitated over how to answer her:

I finally had an interesting thought and, with a loose smile on my lips:

“…I think I’ve fallen for you at first sight.”

Hearing my response, So-yul poked my cheeks with her finger, saying it was such a cringey line.

A moment later, So-yul began checking her phone.

I thought I’d heard a vibration sound from somewhere; it seemed So-yul had received a message.

“Ah, sorry. I think preparation time is over. I should go quickly or my mother might catch me.”

“Alright. Be careful on your way back. I should head to my seat too before I get demerits.”

If you weren’t in your seat when the performance started, you’d receive demerits. They even checked for empty seats during breaks, so while you could doze off, you had to at least be sitting in your place.

Just as I was about to send So-yul off:

For some reason, So-yul firmly grabbed my sleeve.

When I hurriedly met her gaze, I saw her wavering eyes.

“…Hey.”

So-yul began in a voice as shaky as her eyes.

Then, biting her trembling lips slightly to calm herself:

“Do you think I can do well?”

She asked this brief question in a frail, delicate tone.

A single sentence that seemed to reveal the fear she had been hiding all along.

This was a matter that affected her relationship with her mother. It was natural for her to worry. It wouldn’t have been strange for her to tremble and be afraid.

In such a situation, what I could say to her was truly simple.

“You’ll do great. Your boyfriend believes in you.”

“…Do you think so?”

So-yul smiled with her eyes and tilted her head slightly.

Though she knew what answer would come, she deliberately asked for a response, believing that even this much would be a great source of strength.

Finally, looking at me intently:

“Then watch me closely so I can do well.”

“Of course. I’ll watch you even if you tell me not to. I’ll cheer for you even if you say you don’t like it.”

“I don’t dislike it, so please watch me. And please cheer for me too.”

“Alright. Don’t worry.”

Having received my assurance, So-yul finally seemed satisfied and smiled:

“Okay. I won’t worry.”

Leaving behind these admirable words, she turned away from me.

I simply stood there, watching So-yul’s retreating back.

The back that had always looked small and fragile now seemed to be surrounded by a firm dignity.

As if timed perfectly, the school announcement flowed from the speakers:

“The orchestra club’s charity concert will be held in the main auditorium shortly, so we ask all distinguished guests in the school to…”

It was a signal that our counterattack was about to begin.