'School starts again next week.'
After several trips back and forth to the piano academy, the vacation was already nearing its end.
Aside from going to the Star Live House concert this Saturday, there wasn’t much to do during the break.
This well-behaved 12-year-old had already finished all the vacation homework ahead of time. I was also steadily preparing for the entrance exam for the arts middle school.
Teacher Park Ha-seon also said that if I just keep practicing like this, it would be enough. She said the arts school entrance exam would go smoothly.
I did wonder, "Can I really do this at this level?" But considering that my teacher has run a local piano academy specializing in entrance exams for over 15 years, it seemed right to trust her judgment.
'If the teacher says it's enough, then it must be enough.'
Thanks to that, I had some free time.
Aside from practicing piano or guitar, I started trying out other things little by little.
At the moment, I was staring at my smartphone in real-time, painstakingly creating melodies.
It was none other than a composition program.
In truth, I wanted to try using a "proper" composition program that was available on PC, but it wasn’t cheap.
So, as a second option, I downloaded a composition app on my smartphone and was testing this and that.
Except for the occasional ads and a few limitations, I thought there wasn’t anything better for practicing MIDI composition.
'Though, I’ll have to buy a MIDI program eventually.'
If I ask my parents nicely, they might just buy me a composition program worth about 500,000 or 600,000 won.
They might even generously upgrade my sluggish computer to a brand-new, high-performance one.
However, that just didn’t suit my personality.
I had a pretty good understanding of my family’s circumstances from a young age.
My father works in publishing, and my mother runs a small flower shop in the neighborhood.
After debuting as a novelist through the *Dongseo Ilbo* New Year's Literary Contest, my father was someone who focused solely on writing when I was little.
But it's never easy to make a living as a novelist.
To make matters worse, my mother also won a New Year's Literary Contest and became a poet, so anyone could imagine what kind of life the two must have had, even without seeing it firsthand.
Growing up watching them directly, I had no choice but to understand it even better.
In the end, both of them compromised with reality and changed their careers. Especially since Suyeon was born in the meantime, they probably had no choice.
I think I was around 8 or 9 years old when I accidentally overheard them talking about money.
They were meticulously calculating my art school and music academy tuition, lesson fees, and future expenses for Suyeon, along with our living costs.
Even with all that, it seemed like things were pretty tight because they had to repay the loan on the store.
At that point, I couldn’t ask my parents for more money.
But on the other hand, I realized something deeply when I bought a guitar at Hongdae this time.
I also realized it when I looked into the costs of music-related programs.
And that is, it costs an incredible, incredible, incredible amount of money to do music.
If I wanted to do what I wanted, I had to earn money myself.
But since I’m not legally allowed to work, there was no way for me to get a part-time job.
‘What would be a good alternative?’
Should I try entering a competition and see if I can win some prize money?
Or should I start YouTube?
Uploading performance videos on YouTube seemed like a decent idea. The only problem would be how long it would take to actually make money.
I kept fiddling with my smartphone, lost in various thoughts.
Right now, I wasn't transferring the song I had composed on the deserted island. Instead, I was experimenting by adding sessions and trying to create a new song.
'It’s actually quite fun.'
Even without playing the instruments myself, I could create a song just by inputting the MIDI in time.
I could add drums, and I could add bass.
I could even use string instruments like the violin or cello.
The composition app I was using for the first time felt like a toy to me, and though I was playing with it little by little, the song was gradually taking shape.
My first song made with MIDI.
It didn’t seem like it would take too long to complete.
Then.
– Riiing! Riiing!
An alarm went off from my smartphone, right on time. I got dressed and slowly started getting ready to head out.
This alarm was set to go off when it was time for Suyeon’s kindergarten bus to arrive.
It wasn’t a big deal; it was just a small task I volunteered for to help out my parents during the vacation.
After roughly finishing my preparations, I put on my shoes.
At that moment, the phone rang again.
This time, the lyrics of "Live Forever" started playing from my smartphone. It meant I was getting a call. I checked the name on the screen and immediately pressed the call button.
“Yes, Dad. I was just about to leave to pick up Suyeon.”
– Oh, it’s not that. I was thinking, how about we have a family dinner today? Could you maybe take Suyeon and head over to your mom’s shop? I’ll be there soon.
“Right now? It’s not even dinner time yet.”
– We’re closing early today. It’s good to have days like that sometimes.
"Well... that's true."
- Dad's almost done cleaning up too, so I'll see you later. Son.
"......"
It’s just my guess, but it seems like something good has happened.
His voice is about half a tone higher than usual.
After answering that I understood, I quickly left the house.
The muggy weather was telling me that there was still a long way to go until summer was over.
I lightly ignored the heat and kept walking.
A family dinner out after a long time wasn't something that could be interrupted by a bit of heat.
* * *
At a shopping mall.
“Wow! That was amazing! It was so touching!”
Suyeon was in high spirits after watching the movie. She was busy holding onto my arm and bouncing up and down.
At first, just by looking at the title, I couldn’t understand why a sparrow needed to lock its door, but the story turned out to be quite good.
Above all...
‘The OST was incredible.’
The way the music was placed to match the scenes stood out in particular.
The technique of changing the atmosphere by arranging the same melody differently was also fun.
I thought it was a movie worth watching again if I had the chance.
Our family headed to a franchise pizza place on the floor right below the movie theater.
It felt like it had been a really long time since I'd gone out with my family.
It didn’t seem like I was the only one who was excited.
Suyeon went on and on about the movie. She’s always liked books, so it wasn’t surprising to see her completely immersed in the story.
"Was it really that fun?"
"Yeah. All the books I've read recently were gloomy, but this movie had a happy ending, so I liked it."
"What books have you read recently?"
“The Three Kingdoms. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and even Zhuge Liang, all of them die."
"...."
"When Zhuge Liang died, I lost interest. I struggled to finish it."
"Yeah, I can imagine."
"Oh no! Wait, have you read The Three Kingdoms? Did I just spoil it for you?"
"No, I read it around your age too. It's fine."
"Phew! That's a relief then."
My parents chuckled as they watched my sister and me chat.
After calling a waiter and smoothly finishing the order, my mom asked about my recent activities.
"So, how's the preparation for your entrance exams going these days? Not feeling too stressed?"
"It's pretty much the same as usual. By now, I'm so used to it that I don't feel stressed at all."
"Hmm~ just the same as usual? Really?"
"What?"
"Hmm~ I see~"
"...."
While I was still trying to figure out the nuance of my mom’s words, this time, my dad joined the conversation.
"Yeah. I don’t know much about piano, but when I watch you practice, I can sense that something has changed."
"…You can sense that something has changed?"
"Should I say the sound has changed somehow? That's what it feels like."
"Um... When I was at my parents' house, I used to play the piano with a headset on. How on earth did you hear my performance?"
"Ahem! Still, you can feel it, you know? The feeling. Don’t you get it?"
"...?"
What is this? What’s with these two sly people?
My mother, smiling brightly at me.
My father, casually giving me a thumbs-up.
And then...
"Yeah. Oppa, you’ve definitely changed. These days, you smile when you play the piano. And you’ve become much kinder than before. I like the current you more."
"..."
Even Suyeon, who had been intently staring at the Sparrow’s Door Lock poster, chimed in.
Because of this strange atmosphere, I couldn’t help but ask my father a question.
“Is something going on? Like... Is there some good news? Did you win the lottery or something...?”
At my logical guess, my father laughed once more.
"It's something even better than that."
"...!"
Could he have found some forgotten bitcoins?
Or stocks?
If so, that would truly be a jackpot.
But, unfortunately, all my guesses were wrong.
Just as the drinks were being served at our table, my mother finally revealed the truth.
“Teacher Park Ha-seon said she wants to introduce you to a professor. Did you know about that?”
"Excuse me?"
"See? I knew you didn’t know."
Is this the first time I'm hearing about it?
My mother continued speaking.
"She’s never said anything like that before. But yesterday, she personally contacted me. Seojin, she said your skills have improved a lot recently, so she mentioned you to a professor."
"To a professor?"
"Yes, Professor Kang Yoo-han from the Korean Music University. Do you know him?"
Kang Yoo-han...
That Kang Yoo-han?
I immediately knew who he was.
A seasoned musician who started as a pianist and more recently conducts from time to time. It would be impossible for any classical music major not to know him.
"Of course, I know him. But are you saying that someone like him wants to meet me?"
"Yes. Teacher Park Ha-seon personally recommended you. It seems like everything went well."
"..."
If that’s really the case, this is an incredible opportunity.
It’s hard to put a value on it, but usually, just one lesson from an ordinary music university professor easily costs hundreds of thousands of won.
Let alone if it’s Professor Kang Yoo-han?
It would be beyond imagination.
Besides, even having money doesn’t mean you can easily receive lessons from him.
Usually, only students who win at major competitions or a few talented individuals recommended by other musicians get a rare chance to meet him ‘once.’
If you can’t even do that, the only option is to get admitted to his university.
However, of all places, Professor Kang Yoo-han happens to be at the music department of Korea University.
In short, there was no easy way forward.
I don’t know how Teacher Park Ha-seon explained it, but this wasn’t an opportunity that came easily.
"Our son has done well. You worked hard all this time, right?"
My mother tapped my hand lightly, which was resting on the table.
My father, after quietly observing me, finally spoke.
"Yes, you've worked hard all this time. In the arts, you don’t always get the results you deserve, no matter how much effort you put in. But it seems like you, Seojin, have managed to achieve that."
"......"
"You’re amazing, my son."
"......"
Suddenly, memories of my father’s past, which he had shared with me long ago, came back to me.
The story of how, during his college years, he made his debut through the New Year’s Literary Contest in the Dongseo Daily. But then, how he went through tough times as his works repeatedly struggled with poor sales at the publication stage.
Still, my father wasn’t one to give up easily.
Even as he compromised with reality, he kept writing.
The day before yesterday, yesterday, and likely today, too, he would have written something.
Through his persistence, my father has published more than seven books.
I also know that, recently, his sales have been gradually increasing.
I began to think that perhaps my own perseverance is largely influenced by my father.
But at that moment—
"Excuse me~ Here’s your Super Rich Mozzarella Gold Combination Family Size Pizza, loaded with gold crust!"
The waiter, unaware of the atmosphere, came in with the pizza and, noticing our expressions, seemed to flinch slightly.
Due to the unexpectedly funny situation, my family couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
However, Suyeon didn’t understand the situation, so she tilted her head a few times in confusion.
* * *
The next day.
I headed to Korea University with my parents by car.
My father was in the driver’s seat, and my mother was in the passenger seat.
And Teacher Park Ha-seon was sitting in the back with me.
The teacher and my mother chatted about various things the entire way.
As it turned out, the two of them had gone to the same university.
‘I can’t believe I didn’t know this until now.’
No wonder, despite there being so many piano academies in the neighborhood, we specifically chose this one for a reason.
Like Uncle Miller said, it seems that academic connections are just as strong as family ties.
“Wow, the school has changed a lot, hasn’t it?”
“Right? I was also shocked when I came back this time. It feels like a completely different world. Can you believe there are robots serving coffee now?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’d be fun to take a separate tour later. Seojin’s father, would that be alright?”
“Of course.”
While the two college alumni giggled away, the car we were in came to a stop at a parking lot in front of a building.
Only then did I stop looking at the sheet music.
There was a list of pieces Teacher Park Ha-seon had suggested I practice, and I had been going over it during the drive.
The school building was quite massive.
It was a building so large that the height of the first floor was almost equivalent to more than three floors.
However, despite its size, the number of students seemed remarkably small.
Almost no one was around.
“Did the professor ask to see Seojin here?”
At my mother’s question, Teacher Park Ha-seon shook her head.
“That’s not it. He’s in the middle of a class right now. He said it’s okay to observe during the class. Just for Seojin to gain some experience.”
“Oh my, we really appreciate him taking such care.”
“That’s because Seojin worked hard. Let’s go quickly.”
Before we knew it, we had arrived at a massive door.
It must have been heavy, as Teacher Park Ha-seon used her whole body to push the door open.
As soon as the door opened, the sound of piano music filled the air.
A concert hall.
The place we arrived at was the concert hall of Korea University.
There, one person was playing the piano under the spotlight.
In the darkened audience seats, people who seemed to be college students sat in complete silence.
Teacher Park Ha-seon looked back and put her index finger to her lips. Then, she quietly tiptoed forward.
As we entered the hall, a rich wooden scent filled the air. In the light, floating specks of dust were visible.
But...
I wasn’t distracted by any of that.
My eyes and ears were solely focused on the person playing the piano.
Intensity.
A flawless performance, almost suffocating in its precision.
A countless number of notes pouring down all at once.
Yet, an incredible person who makes each and every note shine.
The star of the stage, who is unbelievably 72 years old, is...
none other than pianist Professor Kang Yoo-han.
