Chapter 3

3. Gioioso (Joyfully) -2

The TV in the dining room.

The sound of the pressure cooker and the bubbling stew.

Father's face, which I hadn't seen in 20 years, looked really young. He was still in his prime, not even in his fifties.

When I saw Mother, it was the same; seeing Father greet me in his usual gruff manner made my eyes well up again.

Father had opposed my admission to the arts high school.

Like many fathers in 2009, he wanted me to become a civil servant or a white-collar worker.

But I loved the piano more than studying, so I entered the arts high school, and for 21 years, Father and I never reconciled.

"I'm back."

I repeated this simple greeting several times in my head before I could say it.

Father replied nonchalantly.

"Ah, you're back. Are you feeling better?"

His awkward concern almost made me cry again.

"Yes, it was just dizziness."

"You should eat well, you know."

Hearing the familiar nagging after 20 years, I hurriedly greeted him and headed to my room.

My quiet room, cluttered with things.

I cried silently there.

***

Honestly, I was doubtful, but it seems I really have returned to the past.

If it had been a dream or a flash of memories, I was prepared to wake up and be an adult again, but fortunately, that didn't happen.

This is reality.

I have really returned to the winter of my third year of junior high school.

But facing the present made me a bit scared.

The joy of playing the piano seemed to have disappeared, and practical problems crowded my mind.

"First, the registration fee."

The tuition for arts high school is enormous, on par with university fees.

I didn't want to see my parents' backs bent again because of me, so I set a goal.

To be one of the two students selected for their outstanding practical skills.

Or to be the top student in combined academic and practical exam scores.

"Right, I'll aim to be one of those three."

Only those three receive full scholarships at Mihyang Arts High School.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I can surpass Kim Min-ho and the girl who was always second.

So, my goal should be to be the top in combined scores.

Fortunately, my academic performance at Mihyang Arts High School wasn't that bad.

I just messed up the practical exam.

And honestly, my hard work in studies wasn't for a good reason.

"Basic skills not mastered."

"Student not serious about music."

"How did you even get into Mihyang Arts High School?"

These were the words that tormented me back then.

And they followed me like a shadow for three years.

Every time I played the piano, I heard these insults, which made me study to escape.

Looking back, I wonder why I was so disheartened.

If my basics weren't solid, I could practice more.

Facing music seriously means listening twice as much as others and practicing three times as much.

There was nothing I couldn't do.

"The problem is the registration fee for the first semester."

Now I know.

2.9 million won is not a small amount, and my parents, who were not well-off, saved and saved to barely manage it for me.

So this time, I wanted to somehow solve the first registration fee on my own.

But things like Bitcoin are for later, and I know nothing about stocks.

"And more importantly, the piano..."

I had no place to prepare for the arts high school entrance exam.

Go to the church after school? Of course, that's good, but playing at the church is too limited.

The only option is the grand piano used by the classical music club, but the club ends at 5 PM, and students must leave by 7 PM.

Practicing for just 2 hours a day is not enough to pass the arts high school entrance exam.

"Morning! Get up!"

"Yes~"

I got up when I heard my mother's voice.

The first semester registration fee and practice space.

I kept thinking about how to solve these problems as I ate breakfast and went to school.

- Music Room

After school, I was listening to the classical music club's ensemble while waiting to touch the piano for a moment.

"Hey, Seong-hyun! The bald eagle is looking for you."

A fellow classical music club member told me.

"The principal?"

The principal, who is interested in the classical music club, probably didn't like students who occasionally showed up.

"Yeah, go quickly. It seems urgent."

I headed to the principal's office with a puzzled look.

I opened the door and entered.

The principal, with his shiny bald head, was sitting in the center, looking at me.

Next to him was a familiar person.

"Jung-seok, teacher?"

I almost called him "senior" out of habit, but I quickly corrected myself when I noticed his expression.

"Seong-hyun, would you like to sit down?"

Jung-seok, who was immediately gentle, pointed to a seat.

I sat down, thanking him.

The principal, who seemed to have been waiting for me to sit, spoke.

"Do you remember the conversation we had about two months ago?"

I immediately shook my head at the principal's sudden question.

The principal frowned, seemingly annoyed.

"You told me during the career counseling that you were planning to go to a regular high school."

Now that I think about it, those who were on the classical music club list had a meeting with the principal as well as the homeroom teacher.

"Isn't it just a little over two months? You already forgot?"

Well, if I said 21 years and two months, what expression would the principal make?

I was really curious, but I couldn't say that, so I just stayed silent.

"Ahem, to get to the point, the pianist here asked me to persuade you to challenge the Mihyang Arts High School entrance exam."

I was surprised and turned to look at Jung-seok.

He recommended me despite hearing my terrible performance, which I couldn't understand.

But thinking that the fierce senior thought well of me, I couldn't help but smile.

"I don't doubt Pianist Kim Jung-seok, but I don't think Seong-hyun's skills are at that level."

"Basically, the principal wants to hear your performance."

Jung-seok, who summarized the principal's long explanation simply.

The principal, who has spent 30 years attending classical concerts and has connections with famous pianists, has a good ear.

The current pianist Jung-seok is proof of that.

"Hmm."

Actually, I didn't need the principal's approval.

I could have used that time to practice more and find a way to pay the first registration fee.

But just as I was about to reject the principal's offer, he added something.

"Do you know that I support half the tuition for students who get into Mihyang Arts High School with my recommendation every year?"

Half the tuition?

I almost snapped my fingers when I remembered.

Why didn't I think of that?

The support fund the principal offered to create Mihyang Arts High School students.

If I had that, the burden on my parents would be significantly reduced.

2.9 million won and 1.45 million won.

Just reading the numbers feels different, and 3 million won in 2009 was not a small amount.

"Are you confident?"

After I was lost in thought for a while, Jung-seok, sitting opposite me, said with a trusting smile.

His fierce eyes made me feel very pressured, but I nodded confidently.

"Yes."

***

The principal looks scary but is actually a bit of a bumbler.

He is so biased towards the classical music club that he is called "bald eagle" and mocked by students.

But he has a good ear, having spent 30 years listening to classical music.

It's natural that the principal doesn't trust my piano skills.

At this time, I was a person whose performance varied greatly depending on my physical condition and mood.

The principal must have heard my performance when I was at my worst.

"Seong-hyun, are you really okay with this?"

Jung-seok, standing next to me, expressed his concern.

He must be worried because of the unreasonable conditions set by the principal.

I am sitting in front of the grand piano in the music room.

In front of twenty classical music club members.

Moreover, the piece I have to play is not of my choice but a random piece brought by the principal.

It must have been scary.

To suddenly ask a 16-year-old, who has no stage experience and prefers to play alone, to perform a sight-reading in front of twenty people.

Especially since it's not an orchestra audition, the difficulty level is too high for a middle school student.

But not for me.

"Even if you make a mistake, stay calm, got it?"

Jung-seok, who patted my shoulder, still had a worried look.

"Don't worry."

I smiled sincerely at him.

A club member entered the music room with the principal.

(Chopin. Etude No. 1.)

The moment I peeked at the sheet music, I felt a sense of relief.

***

"Chopin's Etude No. 1 is too high a hurdle for a regular middle school student."

Jung-seok muttered to the club member who was passing the message to Seong-hyun.

The principal, standing next to him, looked at him as if to say, "What's the problem?"

"Even if it's a regular high school or an arts high school, it doesn't matter once you get in, right?"

"But if you start by killing their spirit, even the potential to grow will wither."

"I don't know why Mr. Kim is so harsh, but if he's the type to quit over something like this, it's better for him to quit now."

Jung-seok was frustrated.

Raising students in a Spartan way like this, no wonder they lack confidence in their performances.

Without confidence, their sound becomes weak, and that's why none of the classical music club members impressed Jung-seok.

Now he realized the cause was the principal.

What if Seong-hyun, after this performance, loses his spirit and gives up the piano?

The atmosphere in the music room was already the worst.

Some students were angry at the sudden interruption of their practice.

Some were lying down, and some were chatting with their neighbors.

How can anyone perform in such an atmosphere?

Especially Seong-hyun, who has no experience performing in a heavy atmosphere, would find it even harder to concentrate.

And to perform Chopin's Etude No. 1, a difficult piece, at sight.

"I don't expect a perfect performance. Just play through to the end, even if you make mistakes. If you do that, I won't hesitate to support you."

The principal spoke as Jung-seok looked dissatisfied.

But Jung-seok couldn't nod.

To ask a child who has only played the piano as a hobby to perform at sight in front of an audience.

Isn't it too obvious what the principal is trying to do?

'Please don't be discouraged by this.'

Jung-seok looked at the grand piano with a trembling heart.

At that moment, a deep and resonant sound echoed, drawing everyone's attention.

Dong-

Then, the explosive arpeggio of the right hand, rising from the bass of the left hand!

Seong-hyun played the arpeggio, which should be played without breaking the sound, as if it were natural.

The brilliant sound that bloomed from Seong-hyun's fingertips spoke.

Indeed, stage experience and music knowledge are no obstacle to a genius.

Jung-seok, delighted, opened his eyes wide and looked at Seong-hyun.

He couldn't help but gape.

Seong-hyun was playing without looking at the sheet music, his head bowed, focusing only on the keys.

'He memorized Etude No. 1?'

Jung-seok felt a chill down his spine.

He couldn't stop thinking that Seong-hyun was a performer beyond his imagination.

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