episode_0032

I was in a good mood, but everything went downhill.

Today’s mood graph was truly a rollercoaster ride.

The low point when I woke up in the morning.

Meeting Yoon Ji-yu hit rock bottom.

Hitting a high point while playing the piano, then meeting Yoon Ji-chang and hitting a low point again, only to plummet further after finding out Yoon Ji-yu took a video there.

Learning Chaewon’s style and experiencing a significant rise.

Song Seong-hyuk’s appearance leading to a drop, followed by a rise with a drive and flower crab soup.

And finally, another drop.

While others smoked cigarettes, I played the piano.

“…I really crave playing the piano.”

While others talked about their girlfriends, I played the piano.

“Ah, I want to play the piano!!”

The taxi driver, perhaps startled by my passionate voice, chuckled and struck up a conversation.

“What, something bothering you?”

The taxi driver was kind again today.

Since he seemed surprised because of me, I decided to engage a bit.

“Yes…”

“Oh dear. But, are you a student who plays the piano?”

“Yes.”

“Very impressive.”

With a twinkle in his eye and a soft smile beside his thin eyebrows, the taxi driver pointed to a photo on the dashboard.

“Our daughter, she recently got interested in that pianist, Son Ah-reum, right? After watching her video, she suddenly got obsessed with playing the piano. So, we sent her to an academy, but she came back crying, saying the teacher was too scary. The teacher praised her talent, though. Haha.”

One should compliment how cute that is right away.

For some reason, I felt worried for the first time.

If my daughter is truly a prodigy.

At nineteen, even with considerable investment until high school, most end up giving up without seeing any significant results.

Because of the circumstances, tutors or academies rarely say, “You have no talent, so quit.”

If this meaningless investment continues, parents will eventually bear the burden.

“If she’s scared, she should just quit.”

—The bad words almost slipped out, saying it’s time to quit.

“At what age did you start playing the piano?”

“I started at six.”

“Our daughter started around that age too. They say early education is crucial. But even if not, learning something like the piano at a young age can be useful in many ways… It’s good for a child’s emotions too.”

Seeing the joy on the taxi driver’s face, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything and swallowed my words.

That’s just how it is.

A seasoned senior can give sharp but sincere warnings to newcomers entering the industry, even if it’s just me being frustrated.

Honestly, it’s not an easy industry to break into.

Even I, who was being groomed by my professor to become the best pianist, never won a concours after becoming a high school student.

Always placing third or fourth, domestically, and tasting defeat in the first or second rounds internationally.

“I may not earn much and fall short as a father, but I must do my best here. I should let my child do what she wants.”

Through the rearview mirror, the taxi driver’s gaze conveyed respect.

“That way, she’ll grow up splendidly like a student. Coming all the way to the West Sea in the middle of the night to eat something delicious, then shouting about wanting to play the piano again, she’ll become someone passionate about something~.”

Thud.

A tear dropped.

“Oh, oh my. Did I say something wrong?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

I know it wasn’t a praise for the human named Jung Si-woo.

But those few words from the taxi driver just now swept away the dark clouds of melancholy in my heart like a typhoon.

Professor has never heard of it even once.

Recognition of ‘You are an amazing person.’

I didn’t expect to hear that out of the blue.

I handed him the business card that Kang Hwi gave me after asking him to park the car on the roadside for a moment.

“I don’t operate there, but I can give you a recommendation.”

“Oh, what’s this?”

“So. If your child… if. If they have the will to continue and truly want to walk this path. Please contact me once.”

“Oh, you don’t have to give me this.”

“No, please accept it. What is your child’s name?”

“Well….”

I know that this foundation is a place made up of Chaewon’s dreams and hopes.

“But why did you really establish the foundation? It wasn’t to sponsor just one person like Jung Siwoo, right?”

“Yes.”

As a classical artist following in the footsteps of his mother Margaret Hebler, who couldn’t walk because she was separated into 25 parts.

“Miss, weren’t you actually wanting to become a pianist? You never told me properly….”

“Saying you hate classical music.”

“Hmm….”

He must have been looking for someone to walk that path for him.

“It’s not true. I’ve known you for a long time. The foundation was established when you were 5 years old, right? At that time, you were playing the piano.”

“That’s… true.”

And I was told to live as I pleased.

As long as I didn’t do anything bad.

“Even if it’s a few years later, please think seriously and contact me.”

“Oh, thank you so much. I never dreamed I would receive something like this while driving, hehe.”

“No.”

So, if there are friends who lose their way and wander in the future.

I must help them make decisions about their future.

Because I want to create a second, third Jung Siwoo hope story.

“I’m the one who should be thankful.”

I, who had been speedily washed in the maid washing machine in the morning, collapsed on the bed.

“I’m tired….”

Even though Song Seonghyuk helped with Reilka’s walk, the fatigue was overwhelming due to using a lot of energy all morning and afternoon.

“Did you have a very enjoyable time today?”

“No. It was a completely unsatisfactory day.”

“Really? You look like you had fun.”

Even though I rode the roller coaster like crazy.

Still, it ended on a high note somehow.

Thanks to that, I felt a little better.

To the point where I didn’t have to play the piano.

— Me: Fitting session next Wednesday ㄱ

— Song Seonghyuk: ㅇㅇ

I knew exactly what kind of guy Song Seonghyuk was.

I had set up the build-up with Yoon Jiyu just right.

Although it was a mistake to let Yoon Jichang know about Aclertra, it was fortunate that the true fan knew about it.

‘Siwoo….’

What worries me is Siwoo.

Is he eating well at home?

Did he secretly go to school with an anxious heart?

I should probably ask Kang Hwi to assign surveillance personnel just to be safe.

‘Actually, it doesn’t matter if I’m by his side….’

I don’t know if my feelings changed after Chaewon’s condition worsened.

But I started to think if there was a reason to treat Siwoo the same way as three years ago.

‘Anyway, if Chaewon liked someone, it would be me or Song Seonghyuk….’

Song Seonghyuk will continue to meet me whether he wants to or not.

What if it was me he liked?

It would be awkward to go against Chaewon’s feelings.

Fairness or whatever, it’s right to take care of Siwoo.

What’s wrong with falling behind in rank?

No, it’s better for me, a senior of 3 years, to fall behind.

I should accept and take care of it as an adult.

If Siwoo doesn’t listen on the day he dies?

Then just tie him up with a rope, block him with your whole body so he can’t go. There are plenty of ways.

‘… I see.’

Just as Number 0 said to do it on their own, they pretended not to know and whistled.

I wonder if she’s also worried about leaving Siwoo alone?

If that’s the case, she should just tell me who it is.

I wonder why she’s being so persistent.

Number 0 ran away without answering.

I’ll let it slide for now because it’s cute, but if she keeps doing this, I might really lose it.

I’ll just go ahead and marry Jung Siwoo.

“I’ll go out tomorrow too.”

“Again?”

“Yeah.”

Kang Hwi smiled contentedly and pulled up the blanket.

As she pushed her arms into the blanket up to her neck, her hand gently stroked my forehead.

“To be honest, I was a bit worried.”

“About what?”

“I noticed that Miss 26 seemed flustered. The other ladies didn’t seem so tense when they bathed.”

I felt like a piece of cloth for the first time in my life.

“She seemed lost. I was worried if she was okay.”

“There were many disobedient maids.”

“That’s right. That’s why I was more worried after seeing that.”

“Is that so….”

There was a moment of hesitation, but the roller coaster ride of the day had set the direction.

The path to take and everything I wanted.

One. Save Jung Siwoo.

Two. Get satisfying revenge on Yoon Jiyu.

And most importantly, three.

‘Help me escape from being the Black Pianist.’

I thought about many things all day.

Considering the characteristics of Jung Siwoo as a human being and the characteristics of Jung Siwoo’s ego pressed into Min Chaewon’s body.

There is no more certain and perfect way than this.

“I. I will become K-Mazepa.”

“K… Mazepa?”

Min Chaewon walks the extreme of classical music pursued by Siwoo in her own color.

Of course, at the end is Siwoo’s goal piece.

There is Mazepa by Liszt.

“Yeah. It means the best person in Korea to play Mazepa.”

Jung Siwoo admires Min Chaewon, who has become K-Mazepa.

If the rookie copycat Jung Siwoo, he will surely be able to imitate Min Chaewon’s color perfectly.

That is the answer I have come up with.

Kang Hwi laughed and pinched my cheek.

“Miss, aren’t you A-Mazepa?”

“No! K! K!”