Chapter 52

052. Final (4)

At the Monthly Audience office.

The editor, who had been watching the final all night and had just taken a brief nap, quietly slipped out.

A few reporters were still in the office, dozing off.

Naturally, he checked his wristwatch for the time.

7:00 AM.

It was around 1:00 AM local time in Russia.

"It's about time for the results to come out..."

"By the way, the chairman of the association just came out."

"Really? I hope he doesn't give another hour-long speech before announcing the results like last time."

"Come on, that won't happen..."

Even as the employee said it, he looked uneasy. The editor, passing by the employee, approached the water cooler and prepared for a long wait by making coffee.

Meanwhile, an employee who had dozed off and then snapped back to attention looked at the rapidly updating chat window and said,

"More people are staying on the internet broadcast than I thought. In this room alone, over a thousand people are clamoring for the results."

"Exactly. They just need to tally the votes, so why is it taking so long?"

The grumbling editor.

An employee, anxiously checking his phone for local news, spoke up.

"Maybe the voting results are ambiguous... Oh, they're out. The results."

"R-really?"

The editor, who had been stirring his coffee, suddenly perked up. The other employees were the same, all turning their heads at once.

"The violin results were just announced."

"So? What place did Han Seoho get?"

"Just a moment. What's taking Kim so long...?"

"Is it a photo session? If we can't reach him, try Choi."

At that moment, the employee shouted,

"Han Seoho is in second place!"

"Aww! So close!"

Almost simultaneously, sighs of disappointment erupted.

It wasn't just the editor; the other employees also typed away, expressing their regret.

The tension had already dissipated.

"Then, the first place must be Leo Duboschel, right?"

"Uh... No? Leo Duboschel is also in second place..."

"Then, who's first? Who is it?"

Tap-tap-tap.

The employee, tapping his phone, raised his voice again.

"There isn't one! This year's violin category is 'second place without a first place'!"

#

- Next, we will announce the piano category.

The performers who had come forward for the violin results turned their bodies at the chairman's words.

I was about to turn as well, but then I thought...

'Ah, I should stay here.'

I straightened up and blinked.

Why are they all moving so slowly?

Thanks to this, I'm getting a solo shower of flashlights. Haha, someone might think I won.

Finally, the piano category participants lined up on both sides. Naturally, the seat next to me was empty, and Kim Sejin stood there. It seemed the other participants had made room for him, as he was also Korean.

Anyway.

During this time, cheers in various languages filled my ears.

Among them were the familiar German, Belgian French, Russian, English, and even Korean.

"Seoho, fighting!"

...There was such a cheer.

A combination of a Korean name and English, with a French accent.

Sure enough, Leo, holding a bouquet in both hands, was waving.

His height stood out even among the many people, and his voice was loud.

People burst into laughter.

However, his actions weren't just funny; people's faces also wore warm smiles.

- It's a beautiful sight.

The chairman added a comment, and the laughter subsided.

He cleared his throat briefly and, as with the violin, began to make various remarks.

Flattering words for the announcement of the rankings.

Each word subtly conveyed how significant it was to win an award at the Tchaikovsky Competition.

And finally.

- Now, I will announce the results.

The rankings were revealed one by one amidst the incessant flashes and cheers.

The announcement was so smooth that the anticipation that had built up was instantly washed away.

- Sixth place, Yang Zhao, fifth place, Yuri Gagarin, joint fourth place, Finn Jo, Daniel Müller...

- Third place, Francis May.

Each time a name was called, the hall filled with applause.

Now only second and first places were left, I thought, when the chairman spoke.

- Second place, Sejin Kim.

Cheers erupted from the back.

I also clapped, but soon had to awkwardly stop my hands.

"......"

The called Kim Sejin turned his head and looked at me, a faint smile on his face.

Not only him.

All the participants... no, everyone in the hall, seemed to have an unspoken agreement and turned their gazes toward me.

I tried to maintain a calm expression and looked at the chairman. But it was no different there. The chairman also gazed steadily at me and continued.

- And the prestigious winner of the piano category in this Tchaikovsky Competition is...

Honestly, could it be me?

Unless there's no first place like in the violin category.

Now, only one person hasn't been called.

And...

- Han Seoho.

Finally, my name was called.

-!

Thunderous applause and cheers.

And flashes so bright they almost blinded me.

I didn't need to go out just because my name was called. This was just for the announcement of the results.

The real award ceremony is tomorrow, at the gala.

"Haha..."

I was in a daze. I just smiled, my hands awkwardly raised in a self-applause.

The other participants started to laugh at this, and the photographers continued to take pictures.

Suddenly, I remembered the question Choi Seong-ryeong had asked just before I came out to hear the violin results.

What would it feel like to win?

I was curious too. Winning first place would naturally feel good, but I wondered if there was something else.

But now, I think I can say for sure.

'...There isn't.'

There's nothing more significant than the first place result.

That's all there is.

It wasn't disappointing.

It wasn't that first place was nothing special.

As they say, a myriad of emotions cross your mind.

The entire process up to this point came to mind in quick succession. It felt so natural that I accepted it without thinking.

I could feel the time I spent preparing, practicing, learning, and performing.

...And then, back to reality.

Amidst the continuous applause and cheers, I smiled.

The result of winning, now in my hands,

shone because of all that.

#

<There was no first place in the violin category. Han Seoho is joint second place, 'second place without a first place'>

<Han Seoho first, Kim Sejin second. The Tchaikovsky Competition's crown jewel, the piano category, dominated by Koreans.>

<Koreans swept the Tchaikovsky. All four placed! One gold, two silver, three bronze!>

Lim Jin-gyu was browsing domestic portal sites with a pleased expression, a beer in one hand.

As you can see, Korea is in an uproar.

In the past, classical music news rarely made the main page, but now it not only dominated the main page but also topped the real-time search rankings.

"Good reaction, huh?"

"Amazing."

"Indeed, if a participant won both first and second place in a competition... even if it were in Russia, it would have caused a stir."

Pavel's comment made the middle-aged man across from him laugh.

"Same in the US or Germany, I bet."

Andrey, the conductor of the Svetlanov Symphony, who had shared the stage with the finalists of this Tchaikovsky Competition, nodded.

Pavel nodded and, looking at Lim Jin-gyu, recalled something he had once said.

"Maybe what you've always wished for will come true this time."

Realizing what he meant, the corners of Lim Jin-gyu's mouth curled up.

"Indeed. It might cool down quickly, but this time, it feels different."

Classical music had always been a niche in Korea.

But maybe...

This could be the turning point.

Just a hope?

Lim Jin-gyu smiled, saying it was unknown.

Andrey, who had been drinking in the cozy atmosphere, spoke up.

"Still, your country must be disappointed. If there had been a first place in the violin category too, you would have seen a victory in both categories."

"That's true. Many are disappointed. But, in fact, achieving joint second place in an international competition after only one and a half years of study is an incredible achievement..."

Pavel nodded at Lim Jin-gyu's words.

"That's true. It's already an incredible achievement. When I think back to what I was doing after one and a half years of studying the violin..."

Pavel laughed heartily, saying he was throwing tantrums because he didn't want to learn.

Lim Jin-gyu, thinking of Pavel's older brother, comforted the young Pavel, saying, "You must have been scolded a lot."

And Andrey...

Thud.

Dropped his fork, unable to join the conversation.

"......One and a half years?"

#

Messages flooded in from the morning.

It was already afternoon in Korea, but they had calculated the time difference and sent messages.

Through these messages, I could feel how much my situation had changed.

The real-time search rankings, captured by Lee Ho-ik, had my name at the top, and the main page was filled with numerous articles.

[Lee Ho-ik: And if you're curious about the content, don't search for it; ask me. There might be hate comments!]

I chuckled at the message and the accompanying photo.

Sure enough, he was born to be a manager.

Smiling, I left the room, and in the living room, my father was on the phone with someone.

I immediately recognized who it was from the conversation.

"Ah, Seoho is here. You want to change it right away? Isn't that a bit much? You're treating your students differently, why are you shouting in my ear... Alright, I'll change it."

My father, jokingly teasing, handed me the phone.

I took it with a smile.

"Yes, Professor."

-Did you sleep well?

"I passed out as soon as I lay down."

-You deserved it. There's still no air conditioning there, right?

"Yes. I was drenched after the performance."

-What's that about? It must affect the performers' skills.

Recalling his own experience, Professor Yun clicked his tongue and added,

-Anyway, congratulations on winning and coming in second. I never imagined this would happen in my life.

"Heh, thanks to Professor's help. Thank you."

-What did I do... Hmm.

Professor Yun cleared his throat and asked in a slightly higher tone,

-So, now only the award ceremony and the gala are left, right?

The question made me feel excited.

Even though I already knew the results, it felt different.

A stage to highlight the winners' honor.

A place where many people come to watch a performance, not a competition.

Being at the center of it was definitely a great honor.

"......Yes."

I glanced at the time.

There was still plenty of time, but I needed to start preparing for the gala rehearsal.

After hanging up with Professor Yun, who said he would watch the live broadcast, I started getting ready.

I quickly washed up and changed into comfortable clothes for going out.

I took the new tuxedo prepared by Yang Gaho, in exchange for returning the Guarneri.

I also took the score and left the hotel.

"I'll go ahead. Take your time."

I said goodbye to my parents, who had followed me to the hotel corridor, and got on the elevator.

The image of my parents waving and smiling widely was blocked by the door, and I felt a sense of weightlessness as I watched the numbers decrease.

Ding!-

Finally, the elevator doors slid open.

As I slowly walked out into the lobby, I felt a sense of familiarity.

The reporters waiting in the lobby quickly picked up their cameras.

And they started moving busily.

This was definitely... the first day I arrived in Russia.

The exact same scene I saw right here.

...Except this time, all their gazes were on me.