A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 9

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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 9. In an Unknown Land (4)

“Um… so this happened before Hee-seong was born.”

Father’s calm voice blended with the classical music, making the car feel a little warmer.

I quietly listened to Father’s words.

He said that Jeong Mi-rae was a genius.

She followed the so-called elite course, and at that time she was 16 years old.

“Everyone was surprised when Young Teacher appeared on TV.”

Though she became known late in Korea, overseas she was called the reincarnation of Mozart.

Along with grand titles, her name could easily be seen in newspapers, magazines, phones, and so on.

A year after becoming the talk of the town, she reached her peak at an international piano competition.

The 17-year-old young girl beat all participants and won first place.

As Korea’s first winner, at the youngest age ever.

She proved her skills and proudly told everyone.

“She probably said something like, ‘I have overcome prejudice.'”

Jeong Mi-rae opened up about her hardships.

During her study abroad, she received no support and had to overcome everything on her own.

Days when she had to endure and overcome countless discrimination and harsh words.

“Wow… Young Teacher was really amazing…”

I was genuinely impressed.

I could understand why Aeyeon praised Jeong Mi-rae so much.

Even in the past, making your name known to the world wasn’t easy.

Even in a small village, having your name mentioned for your skills was tremendous honor.

And Jeong Mi-rae accomplished that. At the young age of 17, no less.

For the next 2 years, she worked hard.

She appeared on broadcasts, participated in interviews, and held solo and joint performances.

“She gained countless fans during that time. Dad was one of them too. Of course, Dad is Mom’s passionate fan. You know that, right?”

Father winked at me through the mirror.

I laughed knowing this was behavior in case Mom might find out.

“Haha. But Young Teacher had her last performance and then disappeared. That was probably… November 23rd.”

“…You remember that?”

“Because that’s the day Dad first bought a piano. Of course I have to remember.”

“Wow… Dad’s memory is amazing…”

“Right? Dad’s amazing, isn’t he?”

I stuck out my thumb in admiration.

“We couldn’t know Young Teacher’s whereabouts after that. But Dad has a doctor friend among his close acquaintances.”

“Really?”

“Of course? Dad was quite popular back in the day, you know? Anyway, my doctor friend told me. That Young Teacher had come to the hospital.”

“Was she badly hurt? That would be terrible…”

I spoke sincerely.

From listening to Father’s words, I could naturally deduce.

That some kind of accident had happened to her.

Whether it was a big or small accident, I’d know from hearing Father’s words.

“Um… she was really hurt back then, but she’s fine now! That’s why she’s at the preschool to teach Hee-seong, right?”

“Phew… that’s a relief.”

“Dad was also incredibly surprised when Young Teacher’s name came out of Hee-seong’s mouth. I had only heard that she was injured.”

While I was inwardly impressed, I realized that Father wasn’t telling me the whole truth for my sake.

I didn’t know what kind of accident it was, but she had definitely experienced a serious accident.

However, Father seemed not to know what happened after that either.

He must have searched on the internet, but couldn’t get any information.

He was incredibly surprised when Jeong Mi-rae’s name popped out of my mouth.

I looked out the window and fell into thought once again.

‘I should ask tomorrow.’

What’s the fastest way to get information?

Nothing is more certain than asking the person directly.

I swayed my legs and arms to the flowing music while imagining talking with Jeong Mi-rae.

However, noise that disrupted the melody came from the front seat.

“Oh no! I have to go to the mart! I’m going to get scolded by my wife again.”

…The image of me talking with Jeong Mi-rae became a little blurred.

Father’s memory also seemed to be getting a little blurred…

***

The next day, I went to the still unfamiliar preschool.

“Son, Dad will be a little late today. You can stay without crying, right?”

“Yes.”

Because I had pestered Father to go early, I was still sleepy.

Due to that, I answered in a half-asleep state and entered Moran Class.

Was it because I came too early? There were no children in the class.

Oh, just one.

“Hi, Hee-seong.”

A child with long straight black hair, droopy eyes, wearing cute overalls was sitting there.

I plopped down next to Aeyeon, who was holding a doll and pouting about something, and greeted her as well.

“Yawn… Hi. You came really early?”

“Mom is busy.”

“Ah. What are you doing?”

“Watching the teacher.”

Aeyeon briefly told me what she was doing.

Observing the teacher, she was just watching.

This kid is really unique too.

“Oh, right. Dad said Young Teacher is really amazing.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Aeyeon quickly turned her head and spoke.

Her sulky expression disappeared and she opened her eyes wide, seeming to shoot lasers.

It was as if she was saying, ‘Right? Now you know too?’

And that was actually correct.

“Right. Young Teacher is really amazing.”

“She plays the best in the world. Really amazing.”

I respected her, and since Aeyeon’s role model was Jeong Mi-rae.

We two spent time constantly talking about Jeong Mi-rae.

Then other children started coming in one by one.

“Hey, hi everyone…!”

Some of the children mustered courage to greet us.

Well, since it would be good to have more friends, I also greeted the children.

Aeyeon next to me didn’t seem to want to, so she half-heartedly returned the greetings.

When the last child entered the class, Teacher Yu-ra said.

“Alright! Everyone. Today we’ll also play piano with Young Teacher and have snacks! Are you excited?”

“Yes!”

The children answered energetically.

After waiting a bit, Jeong Mi-rae entered the class, and just like yesterday, we waited a little then lined up at the door.

“Aeyeon, let’s stand in front!”

Hearing my words, Aeyeon smiled and nodded.

Standing in front meant we could talk with the teacher.

I ran to the door faster than anyone and got in line.

In any case, since Jeong Mi-rae was also a teacher, she led the children.

She said things like “Be careful on the stairs!” or “Did you eat breakfast?” to me and Aeyeon who were at the front.

While we were heading to the music room like that.

“Teacher! Teacher!”

“Hm? Did Hee-seong call me?”

I told Jeong Mi-rae what I had wanted to say since yesterday.

“What’s the song you’ve listened to the most, teacher?”

The song listened to the most.

This was important.

Usually people would ask what your favorite song is.

However, favorite songs change very easily.

If you discover a song you like more than the one you were listening to, that song immediately becomes your favorite.

But songs you’ve listened to a lot don’t change easily.

Even if there’s a song you’re currently obsessed with and listen to frequently, it can’t become a song you’ve listened to for a long time.

Therefore, listening to something a lot was like looking into the past.

Getting lost in memories of the past, or feeling peaceful or excited when hearing that melody.

Because it had been accumulated over a long time, the memories contained in that music were countless.

I was curious about that.

‘What might your memories be.’

I was curious about what memories you had while listening to music, and what feelings you had while playing piano.

I also wanted to know the story contained in your right hand.

After thinking briefly about my question, Jeong Mi-rae said.

“I think I’ve listened to a piece called ‘From Foreign Lands’ the most. Were you curious about what songs teacher likes?”

“Yes! I want to hear that song too!”

“Me too!”

Aeyeon who was next to me also answered.

She seemed to want to talk with Jeong Mi-rae, so she kept watching for her chance before starting to ask questions she wanted to ask.

While the 5-year-old girl was asking questions typical of a young child and questions that any piano-playing child might ask at least once.

I became lost in thought.

‘Schumann… From Foreign Lands.’

The piece she mentioned was one I already knew.

It was a collection of 13 short pieces called ‘Kinderszenen’ published in 1838 by a composer named Robert Schumann.

The short pieces here refer to brief and simple compositions.

In other words, they were pieces that beginners could easily learn.

From Foreign Lands was the first piece in Kinderszenen, so it seemed like a piece Jeong Mi-rae had listened to often.

‘But why has she been listening to that song until now?’

I was curious.

Why she had listened to this piece the most.

I wanted to ask what memories and stories this piece might hold.

“Now, everyone! Come into the music room in order! You can sit in the same seat as yesterday or sit with a friend!”

As soon as Teacher Jeong-ah finished speaking, the children rushed to the pianos.

Aeyeon and I sat in the seats we had occupied yesterday.

“Hee-seong, what are you going to play?”

“Um…”

I pondered Aeyeon’s question.

I rested my chin on my hand and turned my body.

I could see Jeong Mi-rae, and she was gently waving her hand, calling me over.

“I’ll be right back.”

After telling Aeyeon, I approached where Jeong Mi-rae was.

I admired the magnificent grand piano once and sat on the chair.

Jeong Mi-rae looked at me with a slight smile and said.

“What piece would Hee-seong like to play?”

“Um, I’m thinking about it.”

“Really? You must have learned piano.”

“That’s right! My dad taught me.”

Jeong Mi-rae asked me various other things too.

What music or genres I liked, when I started playing piano, when I usually played, what pieces I was playing recently, and so on.

I answered her questions sincerely.

After Jeong Mi-rae finished her questions.

When she said “Shall we try playing now?”

I also asked her a question.

“Teacher, why did you listen to that song so much?”

“Hm? You mean From Foreign Lands?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“Well… It used to be a piece for warming up my hands, but at some point it became the song I’d listened to the most.”

Jeong Mi-rae kindly explained.

A performance done to warm up the hands.

That was also a performance ingrained in the body.

It was a kind of routine.

An action to purify the mind and create better pieces.

I also had one such piece.

Let me talk about this piece later.

Right now, matters about Jeong Mi-rae were important.

“Then, teacher, how do you feel when you hear this song?”

“Well… Let’s do well today? Why is Hee-seong curious about this?”

“Uh… I want to do it like teacher too!”

“Hehe! Really? Hee-seong wanted to be like teacher?”

I nodded my head.

I wanted to say more to her, but since there were still other children around, I stopped asking questions.

I looked straight ahead and gently placed my hands on the keys.

And I thought.

Memories and recollections, old music.

I traced through the keys as if searching within them.

The bewilderment when first hearing a certain piece, the tingling in my fingertips and the emptiness of times when no one believed in me.

And Jeong Mi-rae now.

Had she also lived carrying the same pain as me?

I don’t know.

However, a musician’s hands are, ultimately, that person’s life.

So what memories I would perform with.

– Ding-♬

Was already decided.

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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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