A dazzling morning.
As I descended the apartment stairs, I was recalling something I had read on the internet last night.
"I am trapped in the prison of school, confined in the cell of the classroom, serving the punishment of studying...," the post began.
A sentence that had made many people laugh, written by adolescents going through puberty, awkwardly wallowing in self-pity while comparing their lives to that of adults.
The reason I had stumbled upon that post was because I had searched, "Ah~ I really don't want to go to school, what should I do? Please save me."
Ahem.
In any case, I couldn't laugh at that post at all.
Because I'm already 12.5 years old!
If you add the 3.5 years I spent on the deserted island, that makes me roughly 16 years old!
And if you convert that to Korean age, I’d be 17—basically a second-year high school student.
So right now, I’m heading to a sixth-grade classroom with the mindset of a high school sophomore.
“Sigh.”
In this situation, it was impossible not to let out a sigh.
But what can I do?
I have to accept the “crime” of being a student.
Just as I was grumbling to myself, the soft, squishy little being holding my hand squeezed it and tapped me gently.
I glanced over and saw that my younger sister was putting on a surprisingly serious face.
"Oppa, I understand everything."
Suyeon was genuinely quite serious.
"...What exactly?"
"You're feeling miserable right now. You couldn’t fully enjoy your vacation because of the accident, and now school has already started. Honestly, how unfair is that? If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to sleep."
"Uh..."
"And I saw on the news yesterday that 80% of teenagers feel stressed about going back to school. You can’t be the exception, right?"
"...."
"But you don’t need to feel too down. These days, I’ve been watching TV with Dad, and it seems like everyone’s life is pretty much the same. So, you know..."
"...."
"Here, take this and cheer up. Fighting!"
"..."
I received a piece of candy from my younger sister. When I asked where it came from, she said she’d gotten it from kindergarten yesterday and had kept it until now.
"But why are you giving it to me? If you’ve saved it, you should eat it yourself."
"No. Mom said sweet things are the best for stress. So you should try it out."
"No matter what, how could I take my little sister’s candy..."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
"..."
Unable to resist Suyeon’s repeated urging, I finally unwrapped the lemon candy and popped it into my mouth. Hmm... Honestly, I did feel a bit better.
"How is it? Does it work?"
“It seems like I'm feeling a little better.”
“Hehe. I told you, right? See, there’s nothing wrong with what Mom said!”
“Yeah, you're right.”
Well, to be honest, I felt better thanks to Suyeon’s actions more than the candy.
I patted Suyeon’s head as she giggled, and we headed out of the apartment together.
We stood in the apartment parking lot, waiting for the kindergarten bus.
Suyeon started telling me all the little details about what happened at kindergarten.
A story about how A bit B, and somehow B ended up liking A.
A story about D, who was jealous of C for being praised by the teacher, and went around telling the other kids about C’s flaws.
A story about how the female teacher, E, acted all shy and fidgety only in front of the male teacher, F.
Listening closely, it seemed like Suyeon’s kindergarten was quite the place full of schemes.
“So, is kindergarten fun?”
“Yeah! I could probably write a whole novel about it later. That’s why I like it.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Oh, right. Suyeon, wait a minute.”
“Huh?”
I decided to give Suyeon a little reward for the stories she told me and the candy she gave me.
I pulled out a 5,000 won bill from my wallet and handed it to her. Since she’s such a smart kid, I don’t think she’d waste it.
“It’s your allowance. You can buy something tasty with your friends from the playground, or ask Mom to buy you a book. Or, you could even save it.”
“Gasp.”
But Suyeon didn’t take the money, instead her eyes widened in surprise.
“Isn’t this too much?”
“You sure didn’t hold back when you bought me ice cream the other day.”
"Back then, it was for your return celebration! But where did you get the money? You said last time that you spent all your money on a guitar."
"It just sort of came to me."
"...Is that even possible?"
"Exactly. You live long enough, strange things happen."
"...Oh?"
Suyeon hesitated for a while but eventually took the 5,000 won. Then she looked around a few times. She unzipped a deep pocket inside her kindergarten bag and hid the money.
"I've got a fortune now... Anyway, I'll use it well! Thanks!"
"Sure."
Suyeon seemed pretty excited.
Judging by what she said, she was probably going to buy another book.
My gloomy mood about heading to school also started to brighten up for no reason.
The kindergarten bus came quickly. After exchanging greetings with the kindergarten teacher, I handed Suyeon over. She waved from the bus window. I waved back.
The distance from home to the elementary school wasn’t far.
About a 10 to 15-minute walk.
I walked slowly along the road.
I saw groups of elementary school kids playing together. They were shouting something, but I couldn’t understand a word.
Something about the Cassiopeia constellation catching up to Twisted Fate, or a jungle gym appearing at the top.
The way kids talk these days was hard to follow.
Before I knew it, the school gate was in sight.
‘Is this a prison…?’
As I trudged forward, this time, the kids playing on the school jungle gym actually yelled out to me.
“Hey! It’s that guy!”
"Right? The immortal of Saebom Apartments!"
"Wow! Amazing! This is my first time seeing him this close!"
"He's so chic. We're making all this noise, and he doesn't even look. Did you see?"
"That's so cool. Is that what style is?"
"Wow, his coolness is off the charts!"
"..."
I was already feeling drained.
Was this how Harry felt when the Dementors sucked his soul in *Harry Potter*?
The crowd of kids surrounding me kept growing.
And I was struggling to fend off this hostile swarm.
In my mind, I kept chanting *Expecto Patronum*.
Somewhere in the chaos, I heard stifled laughter.
"Hi."
A girl greeted me from beyond the crowd and then passed by quickly.
It was Lee Ha-eun, a fellow student from the piano academy and a fellow applicant to Seolhwa Arts Middle School.
"..."
At least it's a relief that she's here, right?
I felt a bit reassured, thinking I’d have someone to talk to.
"Hey, are you sure you didn't break any bones?"
"Yo. Did you really fall out of a plane? For real? Not staged?"
"You look way too fine. You're not lying, right?"
"Hey! I’m in the same class as you! Say something!"
"Um... How about asking one at a time? First off, all my bones are intact. For the record, it wasn't staged. And how would I fake falling out of a plane? Try to use some common sense."
"Oooooh."
"Oooh~"
Elementary school kids were gasping in awe at my one comment.
Then, a teacher (or someone I assumed was a teacher) came running over from a distance.
Yeah.
Maybe... I had become the star of this school.
* * *
"... That's what happened."
"A rising star, huh..."
"Do you have any tips on how to live a normal school life? I really just want to stay low-key."
"Well... um..."
I'm at the piano practice room introduced to me by Professor Kang Yoo-han, the Korea Music Studio.
The part-timer there, seeing the look on my face, asked if I was troubled by something.
I honestly told her what happened at school, and the part-timer said...
"Isn't that a good thing? Being super popular sounds great! I’d love it if people paid attention to me."
She was an attention seeker.
She couldn’t grasp the point.
"How is that a good thing? I was just drinking milk during break, and the whole school crowded around me! I ended up spilling like a fifth of it on the floor!"
"Wow. They still do milk at school these days? Brings back memories. We used to mix it with Jetti powder too. Man, I kinda miss that."
"I'm not talking about nostalgia right now..."
"Oh, oh! Sorry. So, you're a school celebrity now, but you want to be a regular person again?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Then..."
The part-time job girl who had been holding her chin, lost in thought for quite some time, finally came up with an extraordinary answer.
"Well, you should graduate. You said you only have one semester left, right? From my point of view, that’s the only solution."
Of course, while it was a clever answer, it wasn’t exactly a solution.
"Sigh. I wonder if I’ll be dealing with this for the rest of my life."
"But before you mentioned it, I didn’t even realize you were the 'child of hope' from the AC 2505 accident. If you think about it, as time passes, won’t people naturally forget about it? I think it's already starting to happen to some extent."
"So, in the end, time is the answer?"
"Exactly."
The one relief was that the broadcasting stations had stopped looking for me. It seemed the favor I asked of Secretary Kim Sun-hee last time had worked.
However, people who’ve known me for a long time still immediately associate me with the AC2505 accident.
It happened at the piano academy, and it also happened at school.
'When things like that happen, you’re bound to suffer one way or another.'
It definitely seemed like I needed to be careful for a while.
That's why I wore a mask last Saturday in Hongdae.
After discussing various ways to solve the problem with the part-time job girl, we eventually gave up. It was a conversation with no conclusion. So, I decided to just play the piano instead.
I entered the practice room where the grand piano was.
"What are you going to play today?"
As she was about to close the door and leave, the part-time job girl casually asked me.
"Today, it’s Beethoven."
“Sonata?”
“No. ‘Rondo à Capriccio’. I think it’s about time I start preparing for the entrance exam pieces.”
“Oh, that’s right. You said you were getting ready for the entrance exam, right? But can you do it alone? What about your teacher?”
“I go to the academy three times a week to learn.”
“Is that enough? Back in my day, I had private lessons with my teacher every day of the week.”
“I asked for this because I feel like I need more practice time now. I use the time I’ve secured to practice here. By the way, noona.”
“Hm?”
I decided to throw a joke at the part-time worker who kept prying too much about me.
“You’re not Professor Kang Yoo-han’s spy, are you? Something feels a little off. You’ve asked me before what piece I was playing, how my practice was going, and even whether I was stressed.”
“...Huh? W-What? Of course not! Me, a spy? Haha, I was just curious! That’s all! Just curious. Plus, I’m not even a piano major! Why are you acting so weird~ You’re so strange~”
“Hmmm.”
“Keep practicing hard, just like always! Alright? You can do it!”
“...”
The part-timer hurriedly left the practice room. Because of what she just said and did, my suspicion only deepened.
I thought about it for a moment, but then I stopped.
Even if she really is Professor Kang Yoo-han’s close confidante, what could I do about it?
It was enough to enjoy this situation that had improved so much.
I began playing the beautiful white grand piano, which was nothing like the keyboard I used to play in Hongdae.
This sound.
For now, that was enough.
.
.
.
"Wow, this one is incredibly perceptive."
Hong Chae-yoon, a part-timer at a Korean music studio, let out a sigh of relief.
The truth was, Chae-yoon had been asked for a favor by Professor Kang Yoo-han.
As Seojin had mentioned, she wasn’t exactly the professor’s ‘spy,’ but she had been asked to discreetly report how much Seojin practiced each day and what pieces he was playing.
‘Wait, does that make me a spy? I’m just doing a favor…’
So today, she was in the middle of sending another message to the professor.
[Seojin says he's starting his entrance exam piece today. The piece is Beethoven's *Rondo a Capriccio*. It's a fun piece, right? And the general impression is…]
Chae-yoon leaned slightly toward the practice room.
The soundproofing between the rooms was perfect, but from the counter, you could catch faint sounds coming from the practice rooms.
Beethoven’s Rondo a Capriccio in G Major Op. 129.
The piece famously subtitled, “Rage Over a Lost Penny.”
It was a work that showed Beethoven's playful side.
Seojin was playing the piano faster and faster, as if trying to vent his frustrations about something that had happened at school.
Just like the marking allegro vivace (fast and lively), each note popped vividly.
The tempo was exceptionally fast, too. The piece, which typically took around six minutes, seemed like it would be finished in five.
Knowing Seojin’s situation well, Chae-yoon couldn’t help but chuckle a little.
Listening to his music, she added this to the end of her message.
[Playful like a child, yet full of life as if he really lost that penny. Today’s practice piece was another great performance, just like the last one.]
* * *
The Next Day.
At Saebom Elementary School, located in Saebom-dong.
In this vibrant place full of children, many problems existed.
First, the class time was too long.
"Now we’re going to connect the battery, wire, lightbulb, and switch to light up the bulb. The battery at your seat is 1.5 volts, so let’s discuss how we can connect them, okay?"
"......"
I feel like I'm going to die.
After quickly connecting them in series to light the bulb, I drifted off into thought.
My partner beside me scolded me for spoiling things, but I ignored it.
The events of last Saturday felt like a dream.
The happy days of spending my entire break fiddling with musical instruments were gone now.
Ah... those were the days.
"Everyone! This time, try connecting them in a different way..."
I connected the batteries in parallel.
My partner, having seen what I did, sulked. She even turned her back on me. Sigh. I used the method I learned from Suyeon and discreetly offered her a bribe (a candy). Her pupils wavered. She even smiled. She’s so easy.
We weren't allowed to use smartphones during class. That was a given. But even during break time, phone use was highly restricted.
To use my smartphone, I had to go to the homeroom teacher sitting at the front of the classroom, explain why I needed it, and ask for permission to retrieve it.
Maybe it was a desperate measure for elementary school kids who had trouble focusing.
I stared out the window during class. I could see dust blowing in from the playground, only to be blocked by the window.
'It feels so stifling...'
There was nothing I could do.
It wasn’t even like this on the deserted island.
Truly, this place was no different from a ‘prison,’ just like the Internet Prophet said.
‘Fu…’
For a moment, I almost blurted out a curse I learned from Uncle Miller. Calm down. It’s not even that bad of a situation.
Honestly, when I was on the deserted island, I didn’t feel this helpless. Partly because Uncle Miller was always by my side, but even without him, I wasn’t bored.
‘I went fishing, fetched water. Honestly, I was busy.’
On the deserted island, where the sun set early, Uncle Miller used to teach me music scores at night.
If not that, we’d compose music together. Sitting in front of a campfire, watching the flickering flames, we’d use the sandy beach as our notebook to create songs...
At that moment.
I saw the notebook on my desk.
And next to it.
There was even a pencil and a pen!
I had more than I thought.
‘Eu… Eureka!’
I glanced over at the homeroom teacher, who was busy conducting the lesson with full sincerity. But no matter how diligently they taught, it was all content I already knew.
In that case...
I looked back at the notebook on my desk.
Being seated at the back of the classroom was perfect.
There’s no rule that I have to just sit here and listen to the lesson.
This was a plausible moment of freedom.
I grabbed a pencil and quickly drew some lines on a blank notebook. Then, I began transcribing the MIDI composition I had been working on with my smartphone onto the paper.
Anyway, at school, I couldn’t play any instruments.
In this setting, even doing just this much was a decent deal.
No, actually, this place was perfect for composing.
"Hey, what are you doing? Not listening to class? You’re gonna get in trouble with the teacher."
My seatmate warned me.
It was a fair point.
But instead, I made him an offer.
I handed over everything I had to him.
"Then how about you keep watch so I can slack off a bit?"
And then he said,
"Oh~ You shouldn’t be doing this here~ Where did you even learn this stuff~"
He looked around and quickly pocketed a handful of candy.
It meant he had accepted my deal.
Composing a project during school lessons.
That was just the beginning.
