Chapter 63

063. Memory (2)

"It's not bad, but..."

Director Park Dongjin added in a voice like a sigh.

After a long period of contemplation, he rolled the pen and looked at screenwriter Song Eun-hye.

"What do you think?"

"I think it's important how well it blends into the story. We need to consider whether to add a new episode or find a way to fit it into the current storyboard. I need to think about it a bit more. Since the latter part of the filming is still left, it's not impossible, but it won't be easy..."

Director Park Dongjin, who seemed to be deeply affected by something, cleared his throat.

Screenwriter Song Eun-hye, smiling, asked:

"What do you think, Director?"

"It seems like a good idea. I think it could work well even if we put it in the end credits?"

"Oh, like a curtain call?"

"Exactly. Now that you mention it, it feels just right. A curtain call."

"Then it would definitely be less stressful. Even though it's in the end credits, if we show an epilogue a few years later, it won't deviate from the story..."

Their lively eyes met, and the word 'chorus' gradually took shape and became more solid.

I watched this with a curious expression, as if observing a motif turning into a melody. At the same time, it reminded me of the old days when musicians would debate a theme all night.

Thus, it was a strange feeling.

At that moment, Director Park Dongjin turned to me.

"Seoho, but, do you think you can do it? You have a lot of additional compositions to work on, and you must be quite busy. As a competition winner, you have recitals and other commitments. Choral compositions are also more difficult to write, and there will be a lot of post-production work."

With a voice filled with concern, I lowered my gaze for a moment.

A blank sheet of staff paper lay there.

But the ideas and inspirations that came to mind while watching the rough cut were not empty.

The inspiration and motifs that had accumulated while watching the rough cut were clear and precise, like mathematics.

...

"I think I can manage it."

If I were to hold a pencil right now,

I could fill it with notes.

#

Meanwhile, the employees of Sound Film Studio were suffering from an unexpected bout of the flu.

It wasn't that the company was in crisis, as it had been last time,

but rather the opposite.

While it would be natural for film companies to avoid commissioning OSTs from a company that had been involved in a scandal, the situation began to normalize after receiving investment from the SJ Group.

Sound Film, which had quickly become a major music studio, gradually increased its staff and took on more commissions.

However, the commissions suddenly started pouring in.

Precisely from the moment Han Seoho returned to Korea.

The intentions of the film companies were obvious.

"JJ Films? Ah... Just a moment. Is the CEO... Han Seoho? I know he's still busy with the soprano project and has many other schedules, so it's hard to give a definite answer. Yes, yes. I'll make a note of it. Thank you."

—Click.

The employee put down the phone and sighed.

"Another call for Han Seoho?"

"Yes. How many calls do they get in a day, asking to commission the OST?"

"Since Han Seoho composed the OST, mentions of the soprano have doubled. Everyone seems to be envious."

"True. Right now, Seoho is the best choice for film music."

Team leader Kim Yun-ju, entering the office, agreed.

Some employees' eyes sparkled. They were the most recent hires.

"So, he's coming to the studio today?"

"Probably? After the M&ACT meeting, I guess. Oh, by the way, this is your first time meeting him, right?"

Their heads nodded vigorously.

Team leader Kim Yun-ju smiled.

"Well, he's become so famous in just two months that even I find it amazing. I can only imagine how you feel."

"I thought we wouldn't see many celebrities since we're a film OST company, but it feels like we're seeing a celebrity."

"Me too. He's so popular these days, and he's also very handsome."

"He's even more handsome in person."

Team leader Kim Yun-ju added casually.

One of the new employees asked her:

"Didn't you used to come to the company almost every day after school? Now you'll see him often, right?"

"Do you want to get closer to him?"

"Hehe, yes. Being called his junior would be a great honor. I'm a big fan."

Team leader Kim Yun-ju responded with a skeptical look.

"You might not see him as often as you think."

"Why?"

"Wait and see."

"..."

Soon, the automatic door opened, and an alarm sounded. Many employees were out on assignments, and many composers were working, so they were doing their tasks without much thought. Suddenly, Han Seoho in his school uniform appeared before them.

"I'm here!"

His energetic greeting.

Team leader Kim Yun-ju and the employees sprang up to welcome him. The new employees followed closely behind.

"You seem taller?"

"Yes, a bit."

"Must be over 180 cm now. You look like a model!"

"Hehe, not that tall."

"Really? How was the M&ACT meeting?"

"I went with high expectations, but it was a shock."

"Hmm? Why?"

"I watched the rough cut, and it was already so well done."

"Oh, I see. Director Park and screenwriter Song seem to have put a lot of effort into this. Hearing your story makes me even more curious."

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."

Team leader Kim Yun-ju smiled and nodded. Then, as she introduced the employees, she added:

"And these guys have been waiting for you."

"Me?"

His eyes widened as he looked at the unfamiliar employees.

"Hello!"

"Wow, you look amazing in person..."

"I'm a fan. I watched all your competitions without missing a single one. You were truly amazing."

Han Seoho, who was not immune to compliments but had become accustomed to such situations, smiled lightly.

"Thank you."

Watching this with a pleased expression, Han Seoho asked Team leader Kim Yun-ju:

"Is my father and Team Leader Park in the recording studio?"

"Yes, they probably won't be out today. You have a lot of work to do, right?"

"Yes."

Han Seoho smiled.

Team leader Kim Yun-ju chuckled and clicked her tongue.

"Phew, he's a workaholic. Maybe even more than the CEO."

"Then, I'll go in and get to work~."

Han Seoho, laughing, greeted the other employees and disappeared. His light steps didn't quite match his purposeful work.

Team leader Kim Yun-ju looked at the new employees and added:

"Now, he won't come out for a while."

Opening the door to the studio, the unique smell of wood filled the air.

It felt like a form of therapy, relaxing the body.

He threw his bag on the sofa and sat at the table.

This place was really...

the same.

The dust-free table and neatly arranged staff paper hinted that his father had occasionally come in to clean.

"..."

After a long moment, he reached out and pulled a sheet of staff paper toward him.

He took out a pencil and began to draw notes.

One sheet, two sheets, three sheets...

The staff paper, filled with notes, began to pile up on the opposite side.

It was not a finished piece but a rough sketch of a melody.

He drew two vertical lines at the end of the score, completing it.

Thud—Screech—

He opened the can he had brought and drank it greedily.

After quenching his thirst, he stood up.

He walked around the studio, clearing his mind, which had been absorbed in inspiration and motifs, and picked up the score he had just drawn.

Then, he entered the booth.

The Steinway he hadn't seen in a long time.

He sat in front of it and opened the lid.

"..."

It felt new. It had been two months since he last pressed the keys. He ran his palm over the still-lustrous surface.

He was very happy to see it again, but...

He couldn't anthropomorphize it like "It's been a while," "How have you been?" "What have you been up to?" or anything like that.

Shaking his head, he placed his hands on the keys.

Just before playing, he continued his thoughts.

But as Thomas Broadwood once said, if the piano really has a soul and remembers all the performances of the player...

It could be surprised.

Over the past two months,

how much its owner had grown.

#

While I was steadily working on the background music,

Director Park Dongjin, after several meetings with the production team, decided to proceed with the choral composition simultaneously.

Upon receiving this news, I was overjoyed.

Composing a choral piece!

It might feel like I'm using the film "Soprano" to do something I want to do, but since the production team is okay with it, I decided to focus on the work. The goal is to create a good piece.

With school about to go on break, I'll have more time to work. I can also proceed with recording while composing the choral piece... Hmm?

While thinking this, the snack stand auntie was looking at me closely.

For a moment, I thought she recognized me, but I quickly regretted that thought.

"Take your change, student. Everyone is waiting behind you."

"Ah, yes."

My face turned red with embarrassment.

Lately, so many people recognize me that such misunderstandings happen. Ha... It's just an excuse. What am I doing, acting like a celebrity, Han Seoho?

After taking my change and turning around, Chae I-yeon was standing there, holding a banana milk, looking dazed.

She asked me with a pretend stern look:

"Why were you so spaced out?"

"I was just thinking about something."

"Thinking about the choral piece, right?"

"Hehe..."

"Be careful. It's dangerous to do that outside."

She then inserted a yellow straw into the banana milk and started to drink it.

Soon, a fragrant smell spread.

"Then, we'll all gather soon to practice the choral piece you composed?"

"Sure."

"Sounds great... amazing... I'm so envious..."

I smiled and teased:

"Isn't the lead role a bit greedy for you?"

"That's not the point... Of course, getting the lead role is a great opportunity... but..."

Chae I-yeon drooped like a laundry line.

"I know it's a good role and a great opportunity for me, but I feel a bit disappointed."

"What about it?"

"Maybe the lead role was just mediocre in both singing and acting. I worked hard, but I'm worried I might have let Senior Han Se-kyung down... or something like that."

I wanted to say that your standards are high, but since I can fully empathize with wanting to do well in something you love, I swallowed my words.

"It's just the first step. How many lead roles will you play in the future? Don't worry so much."

"...But, what if I never get to play a lead role again? Why are you so confident?"

"You can tell just by looking. You have a voice that's made for singing."

Thanks to this light joke,

the dark cloud on Chae I-yeon's face cleared.

"...Sweet."

"Huh?"

"The banana milk tastes especially good today."

Her face, which had been clouded with low self-esteem, was now as clear as a sunny day.

So clear that it made me smile too.

We entered the classroom, laughing, and Lee Ho-ik, who had his head on the desk, greeted me.

Or rather, he greeted the cream puff I had bought.

"Thanks, underage boy."

This is not a minor.

Chae I-yeon, standing next to me, burst out laughing.

...Ugh.

At the age of thirty, I'm being teased for watching an R-rated movie.

#

"Why did you call us?"

At a filming location in Namyangju.

After the filming was over, Director Park Dongjin gathered the supporting actors.

The actors, who had no idea why they were called, waited with curious expressions as Director Park Dongjin was busy with the wrap-up.

"Is there a reshoot?"

"Hey, I just thought of that."

"Good. We'll get paid more for a reshoot."

Then, the most experienced middle-aged actor said:

"Money is one thing, but I want to reshoot the singing part. It's only one verse, but I really wanted to do it well, and it's a bit disappointing."

"I think all of us supporting actors feel the same way. At least you got one verse, but I didn't even get that."

"But I can understand why they assigned it that way. The lead actors are so good at singing. I thought they all came from music schools. Especially Senior Han Se-kyung... Wow, just thinking about it gives me chills. How can such a voice come from that body?"

"True, we all might need to sing together to match that volume."

The actors nodded at this.

At that moment, someone knocked on the waiting room door.

The youngest actor ran to the door and opened it, then suddenly stepped back in surprise.

"Ah!"

The actors, who thought it was Director Park Dongjin, started to stand up but froze in awkward positions.

"What is it? Why are you so surprised?"

The actors, puzzled, looked over the youngest actor's shoulder.

"..."

There stood a male student in a school uniform.

Someone very familiar.