A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31. Banana Pancakes (2)

A cafe located not far from Hanseol Preschool.

Jazz music flowed through the two-story shop, creating quite a nice atmosphere.

“Since I suggested coming here, I’ll pay. What would you like to drink, Ye-eun?”

“Oh, no. I should…”

“I’m buying as a gesture of friendship, so don’t feel burdened.”

“Then… I’ll have an iced americano.”

“Got it. Kids, what do you want to drink?”

Lee Ye-eun, who had little experience going to cafes with parents similar to herself, ordered awkwardly.

She felt somewhat sorry for suddenly receiving a treat.

Hee-seong and Aeyeon thought for a long time before speaking.

“I’ll have a smoothie!”

“I want the same thing as Hee-seong.”

“Alright. Hee-seong, take Aeyeon and Ye-eun upstairs. You know our usual spot, right?”

“Yes!”

Lee Ye-eun tried to carry the drinks herself, but before she could, Hee-seong took both their hands and led them upstairs.

‘I wondered who Hee-seong takes after, and it’s his mother.’

Seeing how he blocked her path at the park last time to protect Aeyeon, and how he takes the lead like this now.

Rather than being proactive, he seemed to genuinely like people themselves.

She thought she understood why Aeyeon followed Hee-seong.

“Here it is.”

“Thank you. Do you come here often with your mom, Hee-seong?”

“Yes! We come three times a week. You can play piano here.”

“Piano?”

Looking where Hee-seong’s hand pointed, there was a small piano.

It didn’t look very expensive, but it seemed quite decent.

Lee Ye-eun examined the piano while asking Hee-seong a question.

She was curious about how her daughter was living at preschool.

“Do you play with Aeyeon a lot, Hee-seong?”

“Yes, we’re together all day. She plays piano well, so she’s popular with our friends!”

“Really? Aeyeon is getting along well with other friends.”

“Aeyeon teaches piano to Garam and Ajin too! Oh, they’re friends who play with us.”

“I see. Aeyeon was doing good things. Could you tell me a bit more?”

Hee-seong told her about how Aeyeon was spending her time at preschool.

As the story continued, Aeyeon’s face turned red.

Even for a quirky and prim child, this kind of thing seemed embarrassing.

Watching her daughter, Lee Ye-eun smiled warmly.

At the same time, she felt something.

‘He speaks incredibly well, doesn’t he? He doesn’t seem like a child.’

When listening to children talk at preschool, their pronunciation would slip or the topic would drift elsewhere.

But Hee-seong didn’t do that.

Though his pronunciation slipped slightly at times, he spoke clearly about what he wanted to say.

He seemed mature beyond what you’d expect from a 5-year-old child.

“It’s nice to see everyone having such an enjoyable conversation!”

Shin Ji-eun approached the three people who had been talking for a while.

On the tray she was carrying, besides drinks, there were pancakes topped with lots of bananas.

Seeing this, Lee Ye-eun quickly got up from her seat to take the tray.

“Wow!”

“Looks delicious, right? The pancakes here are really good.”

“Yes…!”

Aeyeon, who had been sitting quietly with a red face, opened her eyes wide when she saw the pancakes.

True to Aeyeon’s usual love for sweet foods, she showed an intense reaction.

‘This much should be okay.’

Though they had to eat dinner soon, Lee Ye-eun thought just a little would be fine.

“Mmm! Mmmmm! It’s really delicious! Hee-seong, try some!”

Aeyeon showed an unusually excessive reaction.

Curious about how good it tasted, Lee Ye-eun also took a bite.

“Wow! It really is delicious.”

“Right? I’m glad I brought you here.”

“Next time, I’ll pay. I can’t just keep receiving treats.”

“I brought you here because I had something to discuss, so don’t feel burdened.”

Shin Ji-eun said with a smile.

At that smile, Lee Ye-eun felt her unconsciously guarded heart melt away.

Lee Ye-eun sipped her americano and said.

“So… what did you want to discuss?”

“It’s nothing too big.”

“Okay.”

“What do you think about what the Principal and Young Teacher said earlier?”

Despite the light atmosphere of the cafe, it was a question that could be considered heavy.

But perhaps because of who asked the question.

Despite her heavy heart, Lee Ye-eun was able to open her mouth cautiously.

“I think we shouldn’t do it.”

“Because you’re worried the children might find it difficult. Is that what you think?”

“Yes… that’s right.”

“I thought so.”

Right after, both women maintained silence for a moment.

Lee Ye-eun was trying to figure out what she should say, and Shin Ji-eun was waiting for her.

In the silence, only the sound of Shin Ji-eun sipping her hot cafe latte could be heard.

“Mom.”

“Yes? What is it, Hee-seong?”

“Can I play piano with Aeyeon?”

“Sure. Should I listen if you have a good song?”

“Okay. Aeyeon, let’s go.”

With good timing, Hee-seong gave them space.

Lee Ye-eun somehow felt that Hee-seong had deliberately given them privacy.

Though Aeyeon licked her lips while looking at the banana pancakes.

Apparently wanting to play piano with Hee-seong, she squeezed her eyes shut and hurried toward where the piano was.

“Did you know that Aeyeon goes to academy?”

Lee Ye-eun slowly told her story.

About losing her husband and sending Aeyeon to various academies.

About recently realizing her child’s true feelings, having a conversation with her child, and quitting several academies.

And she told her that Hee-seong was at the center of it all.

She wondered if this was appropriate to discuss with someone she’d just met, but still thought it had to be said.

Children should live happily.

Whether it was competitions or whatever, if her daughter found it difficult, she didn’t want to do it.

‘I realized that too late. Was it thanks to that child?’

Lee Ye-eun looked at Hee-seong.

He was sitting quietly next to Aeyeon, who was playing piano, teaching her various things with his fingers.

He looked like a boss teaching something to a subordinate, which made her chuckle.

“The children are cute, aren’t they?”

“Yes, he’s a child who can smile like that, but he was gloomy while attending the academy. I realized it too late.”

“Doesn’t he attend anymore?”

“No. He only attends one piano academy now. It’s all thanks to Heeseong.”

“What could our child have possibly done? He’s just an ordinary child who likes music.”

At those words, Aeyeon’s Mother chuckled softly.

She wondered if Shin Ji-eun would believe that children’s favorite music had changed her.

“But you must have struggled paying for all those academy fees.”

“Um… I think I did. But these days I don’t work overtime.”

“Really?”

“Yes, instead I’m spending more time with my child.”

“Then isn’t that good enough?”

“Pardon?”

Aeyeon’s Mother said in confusion.

It was something she hadn’t expected to hear, so she didn’t know how to react.

Shin Ji-eun just smiled and shared her own story.

“My husband and I realized our child’s talent on the day we went to the kindergarten for an admission consultation.”

“Did you take an aptitude test? I remember seeing that. I was there with Aeyeon.”

“The children’s connection must have started from then. That’s when we learned about Heeseong’s talent.”

“How so?”

“Um… Heeseong played the piano so purely. Like a 4-year-old child playing like an adult.”

The Principal’s words from that time struck both of them like a blow to the head.

‘There’s no need to take the test.’

Those words that expressed the child’s talent in one go actually shook Shin Ji-eun and Yoon Young-hoon.

Because he was a child with outstanding talent, they wanted to raise him diligently.

Though that feeling came first, gradually a different feeling grew larger.

‘Let’s let our son do what he wants to do.’

Shin Ji-eun and Yoon Young-hoon put into practice that feeling any parent would have.

That’s how they were able to come this far.

No, they had just done what they always did.

“So you’re saying you realized Heeseong’s talent belatedly?”

“Actually, it wasn’t even late. I think we overthought it, ahaha…”

“Just hearing the story, it does seem like unnecessary worry.”

“Right?”

“Yes. …Oh! I’m sorry! Was I being too honest?”

“Not at all. I actually like that you’re honest.”

The two women talked harmoniously.

About things they liked and worries about their children.

Like any parents, they chatted for quite a while.

The sun was gradually setting, and it was about time to go home.

“Well, now we should ask the children.”

“About what?”

“Whether they want to join the Special Class.”

Aeyeon’s Mother hoped her daughter wouldn’t have a hard time.

Even if it was for the child’s future.

Shin Ji-eun wanted her son to do what he wanted to do.

Even if it was difficult work, as long as he could do it with a smile, she was ready to support him without reservation.

The two women soon got up from their seats.

“Son.”

“Daughter.”

The two women’s questions were directed at the small children.

***

I opened my eyes drowsily and looked at the two people.

Mother and Aeyeon’s Mother were chatting excitedly like people spending time with friends.

‘Since I need to think about composition too, is this better? Ah, I won’t be able to think about composition for a while.’

Rather, thoughts about the ‘Special Class’ occupied about half of my mind.

“Heeseong, how about this?”

“Good. Oh, it’s better to play re instead of do there.”

“Mm. Like this?”

“Right.”

Aeyeon played the piano as usual.

As Aeyeon’s classical music blended with the jazz flowing from the store, quite a nice melody was created.

How should I put it.

Sweet banana and rich pancake…

Yes, it was a sweet melody like that banana pancake on the mothers’ table.

It was like music that made you fall into it without realizing.

‘Jazz and classical… Should I try it later?’

It was quite a good idea.

I should write this down quickly.

But since I didn’t have paper or pen in my hands, I just kept repeating it in my head.

It was then that Aeyeon, who was playing the piano, spoke to me.

“Heeseong, are you going to do that?”

“Huh? Do what?”

“The Spe… cial Class? What Young Teacher was talking about earlier.”

“Ah.”

At the child’s words, I also fell into contemplation.

A class aimed at competitions.

In other words, a place where you had to play piano to participate in contests.

Whatever pieces you played, they were all practice for competitions.

‘If I join the Special Class, I can play any piece?’

That is, until the competition, I could freely play any piece I wanted to play.

I had played various pieces so far, but most of them were other musicians’ pieces.

But now I wanted to seriously practice my own pieces.

‘I need to regain my sense before composing with Aunt Sujin. I need to recall what my past self was thinking too.’

Of course, I plan to practice only when adults aren’t around.

It would be fine to let the children listen.

It would be even better if I could hear their reviews.

But aside from the thought of practicing my pieces, I was excited.

‘Heh, hehehe. I can play my pieces with the grand piano’s magnificent sound…’

There were many pieces I couldn’t play properly because of the short piano lesson time.

There were also many pieces I wanted to play while seriously immersing myself in the atmosphere.

But I felt great difficulty in the space where children all played together.

Thinking of the grand piano’s melody and appearance, I unconsciously drooled.

“Hee, hehe. Piano…”

“Heeseong is we, weird.”

“Huh? What is?”

“Never mind…”

What? Did I do something wrong?

Anyway, my opinion was to join the Special Class.

“Daughter.”

“Son.”

Mother and Aeyeon’s Mother approached us, having finished their conversation.

From the atmosphere, it seemed like something serious.

Mother looked into mine and Aeyeon’s eyes as she spoke.

“Mom and Auntie have something we really want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Do Heeseong and Aeyeon want to join the Special Class?”

“Yes! I want to do it!”

My answer was too light compared to Mother’s question.

She seemed to have spoken seriously earlier, but she looked a bit flustered because I answered so easily.

However, unlike me who answered immediately, Aeyeon’s response was a bit slow.

But I wasn’t worried at all.

If it was Aeyeon, she wouldn’t give up on piano.

“If Heeseong does it, I want to do it too. I want to join the Special Class!”

The child said she would follow me, but the answer that followed seemed like the child’s true feelings.

Because she properly said what she wanted to do.

“Alright. Mom will tell Young Teacher about it.”

Aeyeon’s Mother answered with a smile.

The heavy atmosphere from just before had all been unnecessary.

We returned to our seats to pack our things to go home.

“Can I eat all of this?”

Aeyeon’s appetite was completely unpredictable.

At the child’s unexpected words, everyone burst into laughter.

I’ve thought about it many times, but Aeyeon was truly an unpredictable child.

***

A week had passed since that day.

Today was the long-awaited first lesson of the Special Class.

Everything was good.

Aeyeon, Garam, and Ajin were next to me.

It wouldn’t matter if there were children I didn’t know, but it was even better having children I knew like this.

However.

“…Wh-what are you looking at!”

Park Bom, wearing a chick hair clip with twin pigtails, was also next to me.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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