A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 76

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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 76. Dream (4)

 

The left hand’s performance was gentle.

 

It was gentle and pure like the classical music I had heard.

 

Listening only to the left hand’s accompaniment, I could feel a breeze carrying the heat of midsummer.

 

Since it was slowly repeating the same notes, I began to feel a bit stifled.

 

It felt like I couldn’t breathe.

 

Ting- ta-da-da-dan-

 

But the melody was completely different.

 

It didn’t belong anywhere and was very irregular.

 

Like a restless flying insect, the right hand was moving across several octaves.

 

That melody was gradually becoming distorted like a storm.

 

It wasn’t bound to anything and kept breaking something.

 

I still had my eyes closed.

 

That’s why I could see it.

 

-You should send it to Mother. Shouldn’t you?

 

He always spoke kindly.

 

But the content of his words was always as chilling as a blade approaching my neck.

 

‘I shouldn’t have followed that person.’

 

I had just been happily tapping the piano keys.

 

I believed the words that came from ‘that person’s’ mouth about being able to live happily.

 

Away from the tavern that felt like home to somewhere unknown.

 

When time passed and I became able to think for myself.

 

– Can I go home?

 

My young self asked.

 

But there was no answer from him.

 

It was complete indifference.

 

I could feel all too well his intention of not caring about someone like me.

 

As time passed, I came to realize.

 

That he had been deceiving me.

 

– Mother is doing well. So shall we start composing?

 

Always, I always wanted to say it.

 

That I wanted to stop and go home.

 

That feeling had settled in one corner of my heart.

 

But I couldn’t say it.

 

He was always above me.

 

So I had to believe his words.

 

Even when they weren’t believable.

 

No matter how difficult it was, I stubbornly endured thinking that Mother was happy.

 

But even such a person had times when he thought of me.

 

– Shall we try it once?

 

That was the signal.

 

The signal to start making music now.

 

It was a command-like statement that I had to sit in front of the piano immediately.

 

Whether I was eating, sleeping, or doing anything else, I had no choice but to stop.

 

I clearly remembered the past when I had to stop even the hand that was writing a letter to send to Mother.

 

Crash-!

 

The storm had destroyed the house.

 

What remained were ruins.

 

Nothing was left.

 

Only a gentle breeze was wandering over the bricks.

 

“Hah…”

 

I let out a long sigh.

 

While playing the piano, I had unknowingly recalled something unpleasant.

 

It seemed better to catch my breath for a moment.

 

‘My hands…’

 

They were trembling.

 

Indeed, I still hadn’t escaped from the past.

 

Just thinking of that person brought back pain.

 

The countless pains that had tormented me.

 

I had decided to forget the past and make new music, but it wasn’t easy.

 

To make the music I wanted, there were still mountains to overcome.

 

“I need to face it…”

 

“What do you need to face?”

 

“Ahhh!”

 

At the sudden voice, I unconsciously let out a loud cry.

 

I hurriedly turned my head to look behind me and saw Aunt Sujin there.

 

‘Huh, when did she come?’

 

Seeing Mother standing at the doorway, it seemed they had come in together.

 

Mother had always knocked before entering ever since I started composing.

 

Since I usually started composing after dinner, it was late at night.

 

That’s why composing wasn’t easy.

 

There wasn’t that much time available for composing.

 

Perhaps knowing this, my parents didn’t suddenly open my room door.

 

‘Ah, Aunt doesn’t know about this.’

 

Sweat was flowing down Mother’s cheek.

 

It seemed like Aunt had ignored Mother’s words and burst through the door.

 

I was curious why someone who should be busy refining the lyrics I wrote last time and the recording with Mother was here.

 

‘Ah, wait.’

 

What if the reason Aunt was here was because she had completed the song?

 

With a hopeful heart, I asked.

 

“You’re back…? What brings you here, Aunt…”

 

“Hehe, Hee-seong! Aunt finished it all!”

 

“Really?”

 

Wait, she made it in just a week?

 

Making a song wasn’t easy.

 

Just looking at myself right now proved that.

 

Of course, it was the final stage of composition, but difficult was still difficult.

 

Aunt saying she finished it all meant she had brought the completed song.

 

“Let’s listen to it quickly!”

 

“Yes! Let’s listen quickly!”

 

Aunt and I immediately ran to Father’s studio.

 

“What, what!”

 

“Move!”

 

“What is it!”

 

“Father, please move!”

 

“Hee, Hee-seong?”

 

Father ended up being kicked out of the room just like that.

 

The patient should rest in the room.

 

We’ll handle the composing!

 

***

 

– My nights are always blue

 

Mother’s voice could be heard.

 

It was infinitely clear.

 

The voice I wanted was singing the lyrics I had written.

 

This was a blessing.

 

– A single streetlight stands lonely

 

The scenery I had seen and thought about was being painted.

 

When there was no voice, it was black and white.

 

But now it was a canvas with various colors scattered here and there.

 

Mother’s voice was that enchanting.

 

It was a voice that seemed like it would send your mind far away into the universe if you listened quietly.

 

“How is it?”

 

Aunt said.

 

It would be nagging to say more.

 

It was such an outstanding song.

 

Even without the voice, it was nice like walking down a quiet tree-lined street, but now it was even better.

 

“It’s incredibly good!!”

 

I said, putting strength into my stomach.

 

It was so good that I couldn’t lie about it.

 

Aunt ruffled my hair roughly and said.

 

“Right? Right?! Aunt is the best!”

 

“The best!”

 

“Aunt thinks Heeseong is the best too! Ahaha! This is the best song Aunt has ever made!”

 

Aunt didn’t spare her praise.

 

Since she seemed to have rushed over right after completing it, I could tell how much she wanted to let me hear it.

 

Aunt, who had calmed down a bit, said.

 

“Ahem, now I’m going to submit it to the competition.”

 

“Can you get that red synthesizer?!”

 

“Aunt doesn’t know about that either. But even if I can’t get the top prize, I can definitely get the next one.”

 

“I like anything! Since you made such an amazing song!”

 

“Our Heeseong is good with words too.”

 

Aunt smiled and gently touched my cheek.

 

I giggled at that touch filled with affection.

 

‘Fortunately, I’ve gotten over one big mountain.’

 

Honestly, I wanted to go to the recording site with Mother.

 

I wanted to vividly experience that recording scene and have a fun time, but I was disappointed that I couldn’t.

 

‘Mother must have been considerate, right?’

 

There was no evidence.

 

This was purely my intuition.

 

When I was absorbed in composing, there was always a small sound I could hear.

 

Creak.

 

I heard that very small sound made by hinges lacking oil every time.

 

But I didn’t react to it.

 

Because I knew that act of secretly watching came from worry.

 

‘She probably was being considerate.’

 

I was just grateful for Mother’s consideration telling me to focus completely on composing.

 

I looked at Aunt for a moment.

 

She was playing the completed song repeatedly, seemingly very pleased with it.

 

That was a bit funny.

 

‘Hmm, she’s similar to me. As expected of Aunt Sujin.’

 

Aunt Sujin was someone with a similar nature to me.

 

A person who enjoys music and finds happiness in the work itself.

 

But I wasn’t.

 

I felt like I had lost my way a bit.

 

Had it been a week since I started composing today?

 

I became a little anxious.

 

“But Heeseong.”

 

Aunt called me.

 

Thanks to that, I had to look at her without having time to think about my worries.

 

She was looking at me as I supported my left cheek with my palm.

 

Following her tilted eyes, I also tilted my head slightly.

 

“Why did you hit the piano so hard earlier?”

 

“Um…”

 

It was difficult to say anything.

 

I could have answered that I followed the song’s intention.

 

Because I could say that a huge storm destroyed the house.

 

‘That would be a bit strange though.’

 

She would probably ask what the child was thinking to imagine such a thing.

 

But it was also ambiguous to say there was no particular intention.

 

‘Striking the piano violently means being in a bad mood.’

 

That would be like expressing the difficulty of composing through the piano instead.

 

Because it would be the same as screaming through the piano because I was too frustrated.

 

Most people would interpret it that way.

 

On top of that, I was 5 years old.

 

Probably, since Aunt might worry a bit, I spoke in a direction that wouldn’t cause misunderstanding.

 

“I, I was composing!”

 

“Hmm~?”

 

Aunt made a nasal sound.

 

That reaction was somehow a bit scary.

 

Cold sweat dripped down as it seemed like she knew all my inner thoughts.

 

‘No? What do I have to be scared of?’

 

When I thought about it, there was nothing.

 

So I decided to go out confidently.

 

“It’s true!”

 

“What did Aunt say?”

 

“That’s not it, but…”

 

“Aunt didn’t think much of it since Heeseong does well on his own, but if you react like that, I’m a bit suspicious?”

 

“Su, suspicious?”

 

Oh no.

 

I had fallen into Aunt’s trap.

 

“Heeseong, is composing hard?”

 

“No! It’s not hard!”

 

“Really? Then, what’s your reason for composing?”

 

Aunt asked something fundamental.

 

My reason for composing.

 

Had I ever thought about this?

 

Not just passing thoughts, but I hadn’t really thought about it properly very often.

 

‘Reason…?’

 

At first it was because it was fun, then it was forced.

 

After that, it was for freedom.

 

My composition was like that.

 

I always wanted freedom.

 

In the end, it all came back to me.

 

‘Come to think of it, maybe it was somewhat ambiguous.’

 

My reason for doing music wasn’t clear.

 

Just answering that it was enjoyable felt like something was missing.

 

Did I need some other reason?

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t know.

 

In the past, I had no time to think, and in the present, I had far too much time.

 

“I’m not really sure.”

 

“You’re still young, so that’s understandable.”

 

I became curious in return.

 

Did Aunt, who asked me such a question, have a reason?

 

She probably did.

 

A more detailed reason than mine.

 

“What about you, Aunt?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes! I want to know!”

 

“Aunt does it to make money.”

 

Contrary to appearances, she was someone who liked money.

 

I was quite surprised by her answer.

 

She didn’t look like that type at all.

 

Of course, it was clear that she loved music.

 

‘She can’t fool my eyes. I’m certain of that.’

 

But I wanted to know why she answered that way.

 

I desperately wanted to know why Aunt Sujin said such a thing.

 

“Doesn’t music not make money…?”

 

It was a cruel thing to say, but I knew.

 

That arts and physical education don’t make money.

 

Only those who combined the greatest talent with the greatest effort could have their names spoken by people.

 

“Do you think Aunt can’t make money?”

 

And Aunt was that kind of person.

 

She had the right to say such things.

 

“No!”

 

“Right. You see, Aunt…”

 

“Right? Hehe…”

 

I giggled as I anticipated Aunt’s answer.

 

She’d probably say she made an incredible amount of money.

 

“Can’t make money.”

 

Huh?

 

I didn’t expect this?

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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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