The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 1

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

Life doesn’t fall apart from one wrong choice. It only starts to crumble when you flip bad cards one after another.

Like me.

What was my first bad card?

When I couldn’t be there for my mother’s final moments? When I decided to quit piano and pursue composition?

No.

The starting point of it all.

The tinnitus that began one day. The very moment I started losing my hearing. That’s when it all began.

At first, I thought it would be temporary.

The tinnitus that started suddenly one day only got worse. The hospital couldn’t find any particular cause and said it was probably sudden hearing loss.

I tried every treatment possible, but nothing worked.

And finally, I lost my hearing.

For me, a pianist and aspiring composer, it was like a bolt from the blue. It felt like my world was collapsing.

‘But still… I couldn’t give up.’

Even after going deaf, I kept writing songs. Whether it was attachment or obsession.

Pathetically prolonging my life by relying on a friend’s goodwill. It was ridiculous.

When I turn my eyes, I see the sophisticated living room that takes up the entire view. Cozy indirect lighting, high ceilings, luxurious marble countertops, and bright curtains. It’s just like a magazine spread.

The only regrettable thing is that none of this belongs to me.

It never has been mine, and never will be.

The owner of this house is,

Mun Ah-rin.

A composer who can never be left out of K-POP history, a guaranteed hit maker.

My proud and precious friend.

‘…Can I still call her a friend?’

I’m not sure these days.

Mun Ah-rin extended her hand to me when I lost my hearing and all motivation. Thanks to her, I’m living as a freeloader in this house.

Mun Ah-rin said I didn’t need to do anything, but I tactfully took care of various household chores in her house.

Ah-rin often said this to me:

-I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you. What would I have done without our Seol!

But the reality was closer to being a housekeeper than a roommate.

‘Still, it’s better than a semi-basement.’

I shouldn’t complain when I’m well-fed. I should be grateful for this much.

“Right? Nuri.”

Meow-.

Even though I can’t hear the sound, I can tell by the shape of her mouth. That Nuri answered me.

“Your owner seems to be late again today. She must be busier these days.”

The yellow tabby cat, Nuri.

Since Mun Ah-rin is busy and often away, I’ve been taking care of her almost entirely. Now she feels like my cat.

Mun Ah-rin found Nuri cute when she was young, but once she grew up, she said Nuri became ugly and doesn’t even look at her anymore.

‘…Right, she’s busy. She can barely come home.’

I made excuses for her.

Meow-.

“Huh? Nuri. Where are you going!”

That’s when it happened.

Nuri suddenly turned around and slipped into the room next door.

“Hey! I told you not to go in there!”

Of all places, it was Mun Ah-rin’s studio.

This damn cat!

“You know Ah-rin is sensitive about her composition equipment~. She said absolutely never enter the studio, even if other places are okay. What if you go in there. Nuri, come out quickly!”

I called desperately from outside, but Nuri never walked out on her own. I stamped my feet in frustration.

If she damaged any expensive equipment, she might really kick Nuri out.

“Ugh, seriously. Sorry, Ah-rin. I’ll just go in for a moment. Really just a moment!”

Why did she leave the studio unlocked today when she usually keeps it locked?

I grumbled for no reason and gently opened the studio door.

“Nuri~. Where are you~.”

Maybe Nuri meowed in response to my words. But since I can’t hear, I had no choice but to rely entirely on my vision.

Without realizing it, I glanced around Mun Ah-rin’s studio.

“Wow.”

The space packed with cutting-edge equipment was truly like a dream.

The latest audio interface, synthesizers, and even pad controllers. Every single one was from incredibly expensive brands.

I wasn’t trying to look, but the computer screen was on with a project that was being worked on displayed.

Just as I was trying to look away.

“…Huh?”

I stared intently at the screen.

Familiar chord progressions. Track names, chord notations, and even rhythm patterns…

It’s too familiar.

“This is… my song.”

I moved the mouse with trembling hands.

When I clicked on the audio clip, a waveform appeared. The length of the waveform and the positions of the rests matched mine exactly.

My ears may be deaf, but I can still read sheet music and waveforms with my eyes.

So I could be certain.

This was my song.

Even after losing my hearing, I couldn’t give up my dream of being a composer and kept writing new songs.

And I would ask Mun Ah-rin for her evaluation. Her reaction was always the same.

Whenever I played a song for her, Mun Ah-rin would make a troubled face and mumble, ‘Hmm, it’s not bad, but…’

I couldn’t dare argue with the evaluation of Mun Ah-rin, a successful composer.

But now. The MIDI tracks listed on the monitor were overturning everything.

‘Wait. It can’t be just this song…?’

When I turned my gaze, I saw a bundle of sheet music scattered on the desk. The moment I picked up the first page, my eyes widened.

‘This too. This too. And the one behind it!’

With each page I turned, my songs continued one after another. With only the title and composer’s name changed, contract copies and music release schedules were attached.

I became short of breath.

All the strength drained from my body and I naturally swayed. I leaned against the desk, half-collapsing to avoid falling.

Crash!

Various items spilled onto the floor.

Among them, the most noticeable was a white pill bottle.

The lid opened and yellow capsules rolled out.

‘That’s the supplement Ah-rin used to give me.’

It was exactly the supplement that Mun Ah-rin said she had difficulty obtaining and gave me one pill a day.

A chill ran down my spine. I picked up the pill bottle.

Mun Ah-rin always smiled and said:

-You’ve seemed to lack energy lately. You’ll feel better if you take this.

At that moment, words printed on the side of the pill bottle caught my eye.

Warning: Long-term use may cause inner ear and auditory nerve damage

My heart sank. I stood there speechless, dumbfounded.

My mind was a mess.

But in my complicated mind, various puzzle pieces were fitting together one by one.

Mun Ah-rin, who had been my only friend since childhood.

Mun Ah-rin, who used to look at me with concern as I was losing my hearing.

Mun Ah-rin, who would carefully prepare my supplements while asking if I was writing songs well these days.

And….

《Composer of the Year Award – PRISM》

Composer: Mun Ah-rin

-Thank you. To everyone who loved my song, thank you so much!

Even that brightly smiling face that filled the entire screen.

Ah-rin. Was it really you who did this?

I swallowed the unreachable question inside.

I didn’t want to believe it. All those smiles you gave me, those gentle words, that voice whining about how hard things were. Was all of that, everything, a lie?

Meow-.

Something soft brushed against my ankle. Startled, I looked down to see Nuri rubbing her head against my leg.

That wasn’t all.

A long shadow stretched across the floor. Not mine, but a shadow cast from behind me.

“….”

I slowly turned around.

It was Mun Ah-rin.

She was leaning against the studio doorframe, looking at me. Her face was so calm it made this situation feel like a dream.

The scattered sheet music and the pill bottle in my hand. Mun Ah-rin glanced at them and smiled faintly.

I unconsciously swallowed.

The Mun Ah-rin I had known until now completely crumbled, and a new person stood in her place.

Mun Ah-rin, who had secretly been feeding me drugs.

Mun Ah-rin, who smiled behind me while watching me suffer from hearing loss.

And Mun Ah-rin, who stole my songs to build wealth and fame.

My grip turned white.

How.

How could you do this to me.

My memory was hazy about whether I actually said those words out loud. It was because rage had risen to the top of my head.

I couldn’t hear any sound, but her lip movements were clear. With her lips curled up in a gentle smile, Mun Ah-rin answered like this.

You found out?

It seemed like I could hear the sound of something collapsing.

Even though my ears had long since stopped hearing anything. I definitely heard it.

The sound of my life crashing down.

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