A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 62

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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 62. The Distant Beyond (2)

 

“Hee-seong, could you stay here for a moment after class?”

 

The principal said that.

 

I nodded at those words and went back to sit in my original seat.

 

“Alright, everyone! That’s all for today. Everyone practice once, okay?”

 

“Yes!”

 

The children answered energetically and began returning to their respective classes.

 

But I didn’t return to class and approached Jeong Mi-rae and the principal.

 

The principal seemed to know I was coming and turned her head.

 

An unmistakable joyful smile was spread across her face.

 

Why?

 

I couldn’t understand the reason for her happiness at all.

 

“So, Hee-seong. You want to compose?”

 

“Uh… Yes, I want to.”

 

“Heh, ahaha!”

 

The principal started laughing like a crazy person.

 

Her sudden laughter made me scared without realizing it.

 

“Hee-seong! You’re a talent!”

 

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

 

The principal grabbed my shoulders and said.

 

Her eyes were gleaming and wide open, not like the usual principal.

 

‘But she’s such a kind person…? Is she originally like this?’

 

As I was flustered, Jeong Mi-rae stepped forward and pulled the principal away.

 

“Principal! Hee-seong is getting scared.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“Sigh, Hee-seong. Let me explain first.”

 

“Y-yes…”

 

Jeong Mi-rae left the principal and approached the blackboard.

 

I also followed her and stood in front of the blackboard.

 

She wrote the word ‘consideration’ while speaking to me.

 

“Hee-seong, do you know what consideration means?”

 

“Yes! It’s making other people comfortable!”

 

“That’s right, correct. You’re really smart. The competition we’re entering also has consideration for the performers.”

 

She tapped the sheet music I was holding with her chalk.

 

“Providing the music is consideration to let you focus on performing.”

 

“Consideration?”

 

“That’s right. It means don’t worry about choosing music and focus more on practice.”

 

“Then I can’t compose?”

 

I wanted to compose.

 

But if I couldn’t, I didn’t particularly want to force it.

 

Rules should be followed.

 

I looked at Jeong Mi-rae.

 

After hearing my answer, she shook her head.

 

“You can compose.”

 

“Then I can do it?”

 

“But there’s a reason people don’t do it.”

 

“What is it?”

 

What could it be? I tried to think about it in that short moment.

 

However, no answer came.

 

Jeong Mi-rae spoke to me as if giving me the answer.

 

“Because there’s no need to take risks.”

 

“Risks?”

 

“Right. Playing predetermined music is comfortable and easy to evaluate.”

 

“It would be easier to get points too.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

What did this mean?

 

In short, she was telling me not to do it.

 

What if the composed piece doesn’t match the judges’ taste?

 

The score would literally plummet to rock bottom.

 

But I didn’t want that.

 

Not doing something because it’s dangerous didn’t match my temperament.

 

“Hee-seong seems to have different thoughts?”

 

Then the principal, who had calmed down a bit, approached.

 

She placed her hands on her hips with a triumphant expression.

 

It was as if she was telling me to leave everything to her.

 

“Hee-seong wants to compose?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“It’s all over your face. The teacher can tell!”

 

“How…”

 

I spoke while putting strength in my eyes.

 

I had no idea what she was thinking.

 

Was she encouraging me to compose?

 

I wanted to ask her.

 

“For Baegeun, as far as I know, there are 3 judges. Right? Teacher Mi-rae.”

 

The principal turned to look at Jeong Mi-rae as she spoke.

 

Jeong Mi-rae nodded and spoke to confirm if her words were correct.

 

“That’s right. Two of them will probably change, but one person is…”

 

“Yang Do-gyeong. Right?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Phew… He’s still there. This time I can do it.”

 

What could she do?

 

I just had to stand there blinking at a conversation I didn’t understand.

 

As if feeling indignant about something, the principal’s face was gradually turning red.

 

Then when our eyes met, she started fanning her face with her hand.

 

I asked out of curiosity.

 

“Who is Yang Do-gyeong?”

 

“Well, he’s a conductor.”

 

“Really? Wow!”

 

A conductor.

 

A person who coordinates the order of music.

 

A person who thinks about the composer’s intention and unfolds connected sounds to create a single stage.

 

I knew such people well.

 

Meticulous, suspicious, and self-centered people.

 

“There are two top conductors in South Korea.”

 

“Really? Who are they?”

 

“One is Yang Do-gyeong whom I just mentioned, and the other is a wom…”

 

“That person’s judging is difficult.”

 

The principal cut off Jeong Mi-rae’s words and spoke.

 

At the mention that judging was difficult, my attention was drawn there.

 

If the person judging me was the type of person I knew well, it seemed like it would be a bit interesting.

 

“That person is… sigh. He’s a really scary person.”

 

“Why is he scary?”

 

“He’s never given a score higher than 5 out of 10.”

 

“Gasp.”

 

“And he speaks really harshly to the children.”

 

The principal made a disgusted expression.

 

That made it seem even more interesting.

 

It would be thrilling to break down such a picky person.

 

“Anyway, this time a different person is coming instead of that scary conductor.”

 

“I see…”

 

“Of course, Conductor Yang Do-gyeong isn’t someone who gives generous scores either.”

 

“Then, if I make a good song, I might get a higher score than other children?”

 

After hearing my words, she raised the corners of her mouth and smiled slyly.

 

Her eyes seemed to say she was proud of me.

 

According to what she said, it seemed doable.

 

‘I thought they’d disqualify me for playing a different song, but this seems manageable.’

 

So the purpose of this competition was this:

 

‘If you’re not confident you’ll do well, just stick to what’s assigned.’

 

The principal bent her knees and made eye contact with me.

 

I could see myself reflected in her pupils.

 

“So I have a proposal for you, Hee-seong. Would you like to perform a song you composed at this competition?”

 

“Is that okay?”

 

“Of course! If Hee-seong isn’t interested in winning prizes, you don’t have to play the assigned pieces.”

 

“I’m not interested in prizes.”

 

“Really? Then, if Hee-seong performs a song you composed at the competition, I’ll grant you one wish.”

 

“Really?”

 

Then there was no reason to refuse.

 

I originally wanted to compose anyway, and on top of that, she’d grant me a wish.

 

It would be stupid not to do this.

 

But aside from that, I was curious about something.

 

“But why is the principal going this far?”

 

At my question, she seemed a bit flustered.

 

Looking at Jeong Mi-rae’s reaction behind her, it seemed like there was some unknown reason.

 

I quickly said.

 

“Oh, you don’t have to tell me!”

 

If it was something difficult to tell a child, there was no need to force it.

 

I was curious, but composing was more important than that.

 

The principal looked at me and said.

 

“Hee-seong, you’re really kind. You’re just like an adult.”

 

As she said that and patted my head, her expression looked sad for some reason.

 

I didn’t know what was going on, but it didn’t seem necessary to bring it up.

 

“But the teacher has never heard a song you composed, right?”

 

“That’s… right?”

 

“Young Teacher told me a lot about it, so I knew. That’s why I want to hear it too.”

 

My answer was naturally decided.

 

“Yes!”

 

This seemed like it would be quite fun to compose.

 

I should compose as soon as I get home.

 

***

 

Late at night at Hansul Preschool after the children had gone home.

 

The principal was spending her time busily catching up on work that had piled up.

 

She was preparing for the competition and looking for good educational materials for the children.

 

All of her time was focused on the children.

 

Knock knock.

 

Then there was a sound of someone knocking on the principal’s office door.

 

She tilted her head and said.

 

“Who is it?”

 

Instead of an answer, the door opened.

 

“I brought coffee.”

 

“What? Didn’t you leave work?”

 

“I need to prepare for the competition too.”

 

“Hey, it’s the end of June though?”

 

“That’s why I’m preparing in advance.”

 

Jeong Mi-rae placed rooibos tea in front of the principal who was working.

 

Their relationship was long enough for her to know her favorite drink.

 

That’s why she could somewhat guess what she was thinking.

 

“You’re thinking about the competition, right?”

 

“No? I was thinking about Hee-seong.”

 

“Since Hee-seong is participating in the competition, you were thinking about the competition anyway.”

 

“Why has this kid changed so much.”

 

“I was always like this.”

 

Jeong Mi-rae said while sipping her chocolate drink.

 

This wasn’t the Jeong Mi-rae who had been struggling until recently.

 

Her right wrist still hurt.

 

But she didn’t have to endure the pain while shedding tears like in the past.

 

She still felt pain, but even so, she could play the piano.

 

All of this happened after listening to the performance Hee-seong had played for her.

 

The playful girl’s appearance could be said to be Jeong Mi-rae’s original personality.

 

“Hee-seong is really special.”

 

“Why do you think so?”

 

“First of all, he’s very talented.”

 

“Right?”

 

“And whether it’s a song the child performed or composed, it moves people’s hearts.”

 

Jeong Mi-rae recalled Hee-seong’s performance.

 

A familiar piece that suddenly became unfamiliar.

 

‘From an Unknown Country’ that Hee-seong played had changed like that.

 

Not a performance by a 5-year-old, but simply a performance by one person.

 

A performance that allowed her to face a scene from the hospital room that had taken away her past in a different way.

 

“So it’s like he makes you see past memories differently?”

 

“What’s that.”

 

“It’s hard to explain.”

 

“Okay, I understand.”

 

Jeong Mi-rae quietly became absorbed in Hee-seong’s performance like that.

 

The child’s performance naturally came to mind when she closed her eyes.

 

Like a broken speaker, it was full of noise, but there was no problem listening to it.

 

Since the speaker was in her head, it didn’t matter whether it was loud or quiet.

 

“I know Hee-seong’s performance is that amazing. I heard it too.”

 

“But?”

 

“I’m not sure about composition. Composition isn’t easy.”

 

“That’s right. Chord progressions that people find pleasant to listen to have already been done.”

 

Music was something very ancient.

 

Music had existed from long, long ago and continued to exist even now.

 

That’s why chords had been developed to the point where they could be.

 

Jeong Mi-rae thought so too.

 

Until she heard Hee-seong’s performance.

 

“But Hee-seong is different. It’s clearly a song I’ve heard somewhere before, yet at the same time it feels unfamiliar.”

 

“The song Hee-seong composed?”

 

“Yes. That’s why the principal made that suggestion to Hee-seong, right?”

 

“Well… that’s right…”

 

The principal trailed off.

 

She had personal reasons, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell Jeong Mi-rae.

 

But even without saying it, someone who could understand those reasons was sitting in front of the principal.

 

She suggested in a very quiet voice.

 

“Try talking with Hee-seong a lot.”

 

“With Hee-seong?”

 

“Yes, sometimes when I listen to Hee-seong talking with other children, he doesn’t seem like he’s the same 5 years old.”

 

“That’s true, right? He seems somehow more mature than other kids.”

 

“That’s exactly it. If it’s Hee-seong, maybe you’ll be able to communicate well with him?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

The principal pondered.

 

She wondered if it would be okay to do that.

 

But if it was Jeong Mi-rae’s words, she could trust them.

 

The principal nodded and said.

 

“Alright, I’ll try talking with him once.”

 

At those words, Jeong Mi-rae smiled and said.

 

“You won’t regret it.”

 

Her words were unwavering.

 

It meant she trusted Hee-seong that much.

 

***

 

And so the next day came.

 

30 minutes before the children would go home.

 

The principal was taking a walk near the kindergarten.

 

Because she was troubled.

 

‘Am I placing too heavy a burden on Hee-seong?’

 

She was worried and sorry that the child might find it difficult.

 

It was while she was walking around the kindergarten, sighing deeply.

 

“Oh my, teacher. Do you have some kind of worry?”

 

She heard a warm dialect.

 

When she turned around, an old man was sitting on the bench in front of the main gate.

 

It was Garam’s grandfather, Choi Man-bok.

 

He smiled gently and said.

 

“What could it be that has you sighing so deeply?”

 

“Oh, Father. Well, it’s…”

 

She opened her mouth then stopped.

 

She couldn’t easily share this kind of worry.

 

It felt like something that pricked her conscience.

 

Then Choi Man-bok handed her something.

 

It was red ginseng candy with eye-catching red packaging.

 

“You must be busy preparing for the competition, so have this while you work.”

 

Since Choi Man-bok was Garam’s guardian, he knew about the competition’s existence.

 

So he thought the principal was worrying because of the competition.

 

The principal accepted the red ginseng candy and said.

 

“Thank you, Father.”

 

“Not at all. I’m the one who’s grateful. Thank you so very much for taking good care of Garam.”

 

The principal waved her hands dismissively at Choi Man-bok who was bowing his head in greeting.

 

And she thought.

 

‘Would it be okay to ask about this?’

 

Choi Man-bok waited for the troubled principal.

 

The principal, having finished her deliberation, opened her mouth.

 

“Um, Father…”

 

The principal began to gradually share her worries.

—————
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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