The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 91

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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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As I pushed open the door to the old practice room, dusty air greeted me first.

In the dark space with the lights off, bright light was seeping out from far away.

As I approached, I saw Park Hee-jae concentrating as if absorbed in his laptop screen.

Disheveled hair, fully dilated pupils, and his upper body hunched forward toward the screen.

“Hee-jae.”

I called his name, but there was no response.

“Park Hee-jae.”

When I called once more, Park Hee-jae startled and pulled off his headset.

“Oh, Seol noona.”

Park Hee-jae looked at me with round eyes.

“You came? I thought you weren’t coming today.”

“I was busy with assignments. You seemed pretty absorbed too.”

“Yes. There are so many second-year assignments these days. Quite a few final exams are being replaced with assignments too. It’s difficult trying to do mine along with yours.”

Looking at Park Hee-jae’s grinning face, I smiled faintly.

“Ah-rin performed again today. With your song.”

“Really?”

Park Hee-jae’s face brightened.

“I guess it’s really being recognized! How was my song? No, Ah-rin noona’s song.”

He corrected himself and laughed sheepishly.

“All the professors praised it. Ah-rin noona loved it too.”

“Right. Everyone was surprised. Especially the modulation was good. Suddenly switching to G major.”

“Ah, that part! Right. I put a lot of thought into it. I was worried it might sound awkward. I’m relieved.”

Park Hee-jae seemed genuinely happy.

I touched the broken piano keys a few times with my fingertips, then tilted my head.

“But you know.”

I asked casually.

“Haven’t you ever thought about wanting to stand in front?”

“In front?”

“Yeah. The thought of wanting to show your songs directly to people yourself.”

Everyone dreams of that thrilling moment. I naturally assumed Park Hee-jae would have that inherent desire too.

But Park Hee-jae smiled bitterly and shook his head instead.

“Nah, forget it. My hands shake terribly whenever I go on stage.”

He fidgeted with his headset cord with his fingertips.

“Standing on stage, greeting all those people, presenting. I really can’t do that stuff. Unlike Ah-rin noona.”

Whatever Mun Ah-rin had done to him. Park Hee-jae seemed even more withdrawn than when I saw him last time.

“Besides… if I said it was my song, people would think differently, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Appearances matter more than you’d think. Even with the same song, wouldn’t people prefer Ah-rin noona presenting it rather than me?”

Park Hee-jae muttered while looking down.

“If people knew someone like me wrote the song, they’d start disliking it too…”

A brief hollow laugh passed by.

“I’m perfectly fine with how things are now. It’s also comfortable hiding in a place where I’m not noticed.”

An old voice overlapped somewhere in my mind.

-Seol, there’s a year-end party today. Want to come with me? I can bring one partner!

-Mm. No. What would I do going to a place like that.

-Why~. You’d just be hanging out with me. There’ll be lots of delicious food too!

-Forget it. I’m more comfortable just staying home. Go with another friend.

-Tch. You always say that. Fine!

Before my regression, watching Mun Ah-rin who was a rising star composer, I felt similar emotions.

Because if I went out, I’d obviously be compared to Mun Ah-rin.

What’s she doing hanging around such a nobody, she’s just leeching off her friend, I want to live like that too, I’m jealous…

The snide comments from people around me made my insides fester.

At some point, I stopped taking even one step outside my home except when doing what Mun Ah-rin asked me to do.

‘I thought that was okay though.’

That this suited me. That it was much more comfortable.

I had been deceiving myself.

What was the ending that followed after that.

‘My voice was stolen, my name was erased. I was even killed.’

Even before meeting that miserable end, I truly believed that was the right place for me.

Just like Park Hee-jae in front of me now.

“…Really?”

I asked briefly.

“Is that really enough for you?”

“Yes.”

Park Hee-jae didn’t hesitate at all.

“Really. Ah-rin noona can be the one who shines brightly.”

“I see.”

I let out something between a sigh and a hollow smile.

“I understand.”

When someone believes this firmly, they can’t hear anything you say from the side.

I knew this even better because my past self was like that.

“If you ever change your mind, tell me anytime.”

“Yes, I will.”

Park Hee-jae answered with a bright smile. I couldn’t smile back at him.

***

Walking down the corridor lined with practice rooms, I found one place. Opening the door and entering, someone was looking through sheet music.

It was Mun Ah-rin.

“Huh? Seol, what brings you here?”

Since I already knew she had reserved this practice room today, it wasn’t hard to find.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

At my voice, Mun Ah-rin made an expression like a startled rabbit. She seemed to sense that the atmosphere was unusual.

I went inside and closed the door.

“Is something wrong? What’s the matter?”

Mun Ah-rin looked worried.

“Is it about what happened during the day? The kids were a bit harsh with their words. I definitely warned them though…”

“I’m coming from seeing Hee-jae.”

“…Huh?”

“Park Hee-jae. The first-year in our department.”

At my answer, Mun Ah-rin blinked.

After seeming to assess the situation for a moment, she soon saw my unwavering gaze and chuckled.

She realized I wasn’t just testing her with suspicions.

“Oh, really? So what?”

“So what? Is that all you have to say?”

Mun Ah-rin still had a smiling face.

“Hmm… Is there more to say?”

Her nonchalant response left me speechless instead. Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly watching me just opening and closing my mouth.

“What’s wrong? Anyone watching would think I forcibly stole Hee-jae’s song.”

“….”

“You’d know if you talked to her. Hee-jae has stage fright. She doesn’t really want attention either. She was the one who asked me to remove her name first.”

“….”

“I asked her many times too. If she was really okay with that. And she said it was enough just to have her song widely known to the world.”

Mun Ah-rin studied my expression, then added in a cheerful tone.

“So I just did what she wanted. Is that a problem too? We simply divided the roles.”

“…Role division.”

“Yeah.”

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly.

“We each do what we’re good at. Hee-jae writes songs, and I show them to people. Is that so strange?”

“That’s….”

I held my breath once before barely managing to speak.

“How could that be acceptable.”

“Why?”

“It’s not right.”

Mun Ah-rin tilted her head slightly.

“That’s strange. I thought Seol would understand.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Mun Ah-rin’s eyes curved gently.

“You were like that too. Saying you hated being the center of attention, that it was stressful. That it was hard. That you felt suffocated like you might die.”

“…!”

I had definitely said that before. When my parents died in an accident all at once, and that rumor spread throughout the school.

The following gazes were disgusting and gave me chills.

“Isn’t Seol the person who understands Hee-jae’s feelings best?”

Mun Ah-rin picked at past wounds with her gentle voice.

“Thinking of you back then, I couldn’t just pretend not to know. Even if others don’t understand, you should, Seol.”

Step, Mun Ah-rin took one step closer.

Without realizing it, I stepped backward.

Then Mun Ah-rin’s lips curved up just a little more.

“Or….”

A low laugh spread.

“Could it be that you’re secretly disappointed?”

“What?”

“No. The kids these days only talk about me. The professors too. The praise was always yours, Seol. But it was taken by me in an instant. I thought that might be a little upsetting.”

Her words had a nuance of complete understanding, but her eyes didn’t.

Her gaze was full of mockery, as if saying ‘Of course. What makes you any different?’

“You can be honest with me, Seol.”

Mun Ah-rin whispered playfully.

“The other reasons are just excuses. Now that I’m getting more attention, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Heat rose as if I’d been slapped across the face.

Whether it was humiliation or disillusionment.

Something nameless surged up from within 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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