episode_0077
by adminMausoleum.
A woman stared silently at a box containing ashes.
“…Appa, even after death, you live in such a small place.”
Her tone was stiff, as if devoid of emotion. But it also sounded as if she was suppressing her emotions to the extreme. The strands of hair illuminated by the lighting of the space rippled with a golden hue.
Her name was Ham A-yoon.
The size of a school locker, Ham A-yoon handled the box containing the ashes as if she felt no particular emotion.
“Pathetic.”
It had been quite some time since Ham A-yoon’s father had passed away.
She had dreamed of playing the piano while watching her father, and she had practiced diligently. But Ham A-yoon had little affection for her father. Because his piano skills were insignificant and he was poor.
In that situation, Ham A-yoon’s existence was like salt.
An outstanding appearance with no resemblance to her father, and a natural talent. It was right to see it as heaven having given a miracle.
But that wasn’t the reason.
The reason Ham A-yoon had no particular feelings for her father wasn’t because his piano skills were insignificant or because he was poor.
Only.
She still couldn’t understand the words he had said.
─A-yoon-ah.
─Playing to the end isn’t everything.
─Do you think you played well just now?
─No. Not at all.
Ham A-yoon still couldn’t understand its meaning.
She also couldn’t understand why her father had never praised her, even though he wasn’t as good at playing the piano as she was, nor did he have any awards.
Winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition. First place.
It was Ham A-yoon’s achievement, and no one else’s.
Achieving it required strenuous effort. She always practiced busily as if someone was chasing her from behind, and in the end, she always succeeded. But her father always rebuked her for it.
─A-yoon-ah!
─You’re playing like that again!
─It doesn’t sound good to Appa at all!
But why?
What do you know, you who have never been recognized by anyone? I have reached the level you could not reach, so why aren’t you celebrating?
Jealousy or inferiority complex. Was it just those kinds of emotions?
“Appa, I’m acting now.”
Ham A-yoon said briefly.
She had reached the level she wanted to achieve as a pianist, and she is currently pursuing a new dream as an actor. She is different from others who rest for the rest of their lives after reaching the peak in one field.
Because she is first-class. Because she must always shine.
If life is a musical score, Ham A-yoon wanted to fill her life to the brim. It’s right to fill it with shining melodies until the end. Only then can her life remain as a perfect piece of music.
“I’m different from Appa. I’m going to live grandly, sparklingly.”
It was then.
“A-yoon! A-yoon-ah!”
Ham A-yoon snapped out of her thoughts at her manager’s urgent call.
“Yes. What’s wrong.”
A-yoon is somewhat awkward with Korean. Because she has lived abroad for a long time.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re seeing your father, but the situation is so urgent! I think I need to tell you this right now!”
“Speak calmly. Don’t tremble.”
“That’s…!”
The manager said, sweating profusely.
“Director Go Tae-min! The Kim So-hee role in ‘Crescendo’ starting tomorrow! He wants to use someone else instead of you! The production team is also wavering, so I think we need to go right away!”
“…What?”
Ham A-yoon narrowed her brow.
It was the first time her brow furrowed on her flowing blonde hair, her face which had been as serene as a work of art.
After that, she dashed to the van.
Ham A-yoon spoke first.
“What’s going on? What is this?”
“I don’t know. Is he thinking of lowballing your appearance fee, A-yoon? Is it even possible to suddenly bring up a rookie and say they’re going to give them the Kim So-hee role?”
Pretending that the competition is fierce in order to lowball the appearance fee for a role. This was surprisingly common in the industry.
It’s a natural and effective tactic. Anyone would be in a hurry if they heard that someone else coveted the role they were about to take. They would eagerly take it even if it meant receiving a lower price.
But Ham A-yoon soon shook her head.
“Director Go Tae-min. He’s not that kind of person.”
“…Then that means that rookie is amazing enough to push you out? That makes even less sense, doesn’t it?”
“Let’s go. Let’s go and confirm.”
A-yoon said that and leaned her head against the window.
In Ham A-yoon’s life, there was only one goal.
Sparkle.
She will definitely live a sparkling life.
‘I have to shine twice as brightly as others. I have to be twice as busy.’
Because that’s what first-class is.
Because she doesn’t want to live pathetically like her father.
In that sense, she had to participate in Director Go Tae-min’s work. He was a renowned director, and the Kim So-hee role was suitable for utilizing her specialty, her piano major.
─It’s not important to play to the end.
─Do you think your performance is great?
Even now, that voice sometimes tormented her.
Ham A-yoon soon shook her head.
Father. You were wrong.
Unlike you, I’m desperate.
◈◈◈◈◈
Soo-a arrived at Director Go Tae-min’s studio.
A well-decorated space befitting the nickname of a meticulous master, actually closer to a music exhibition hall than a studio. There were instruments placed here and there, and above all, it was sophisticated.
“…Huh?”
However, Soo-a was soon shocked.
Because she was faced with such an unexpected scene.
First of all, the conference room was very noisy, and the atmosphere didn’t look good at all. The woman who couldn’t hide her face, which was red despite wearing a blue ball cap, was proof of that.
With the production team of ‘Crescendo Starting Tomorrow’ and Director Go Tae-min in sight, the woman wearing a hat raised her voice loudly with the blonde woman behind her.
“Director! Wasn’t Kim So-hee confirmed as A-yoon?”
“Listen to me first.”
“No, if it’s right, say it’s right. If it’s wrong, say it’s wrong. All you have to do is answer, Director! Wasn’t A-yoon supposed to play Kim So-hee? Isn’t that a story that ended a long time ago?”
Soo-a immediately realized.
‘Does the person named A-yoon also want the Kim So-hee role?’
Soo-a and Kim I-seo were watching the situation while holding their breaths, but the people inside the conference room weren’t even aware of that fact. Because the situation inside was so urgent.
Then, at some point, Director Go Tae-min’s gaze, who turned his head as if he was in trouble, reached Soo-a’s side.
“Ah, Soo-a-ssi. And CEO Kim.”
Go Tae-min soon sighed deeply and approached.
Kim I-seo asked immediately.
“Director, what’s going on?”
“I failed.”
“Failed?”
“Yes. I couldn’t convince the people who wanted to cast Ham A-yoon as Kim So-hee in the end. People who supported Soo-a-ssi started to appear, but the opposition maintained such a strong attitude….”
Soo-a realized around this time.
‘So that’s why movies aren’t made alone.’
There seemed to be people in the production team who strongly opposed it, so even the director couldn’t push it too hard. Go Tae-min continued with a voice that seemed apologetic.
“They even contacted the people involved directly, so they came straight to the studio. That blonde is Ham A-yoon-ssi, and the woman wearing a hat is her agency’s manager.”
“Is there a fact that the Kim So-hee role was tentatively set for Ham A-yoon-ssi?”
“Of course not.”
Go Tae-min shook his head.
“I have never expressed any opinion. A significant number of people on the production team are just deeply impressed with Ham A-yoon-ssi, and Ham A-yoon’s side is well aware of that fact.”
“…I see what’s going on.”
Kim I-seo nodded.
The director didn’t give a definite answer, but Ham A-yoon’s side was confident that she would get the role because a significant number of people on the production team wanted Ham A-yoon. It was a common occurrence in the industry.
It was then.
“Who are you talking to? Is that the rookie?”
The woman wearing a blue ball cap stared at Soo-a with fierce eyes. Soo-a carefully examined the other person’s face. Her face was already stained with tremendous anger.
Meanwhile, the members of the production team moved their bodies.
When she came to her senses, there were people who stood on Soo-a’s side, while there were also people who approached Ham A-yoon’s side. In terms of ratio, there were far more people on Ham A-yoon’s side.
Soo-a immediately understood. It’s a faction.
It must be a sight divided into people who support Soo-a as someone who is suitable for Kim So-hee, and people who support Ham A-yoon.
“…You’re going to use someone like this as Kim So-hee?”
The woman wearing a ball cap said, as if she was dumbfounded.
“You’re going to play Savant Syndrome with such a fierce face? Does that make sense? Does she even have hidden piano skills?”
Soo-a didn’t bother to answer.
No, in fact, she liked that misunderstanding.
Well, she looks too capable on the outside. And since she looks smart, it’s natural to think that it would be difficult to play Savant Syndrome. The level is too high, that’s the problem.
[ …? ]
Meanwhile, the woman wearing a hat soon raised the corners of her mouth.
“No, it’s better this way.”
It was while tapping on the grand piano in the center of the conference room.
“Actions speak louder than words. Let’s decide for sure who will play Kim So-hee at this meeting today. It’s not difficult. The answer will be decided once we listen to A-yoon’s performance one more time.”
Ham A-yoon quietly nodded and sat down.
And soon the piano performance began.
Da-da-dan─
Splendid.
Everyone’s impressions must have been similar. As soon as the performance began, the woman wearing a hat folded her arms as if there was nothing more to see. It felt as if the outcome had already been decided with just this.
It was only a moment before the production team members’ mouths dropped open.
But something was strange.
“….”
Soo-a frowned without realizing it.
Because she felt a very subtle flaw in Ham A-yoon’s performance.
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