Chapter 7, Confronting the Illusion (3)

Chapter 7, Confronting the Illusion (3)

Jong-woo couldn't believe it.

No, he refused to believe it.

That geniuses don't exist.

“......”

“......”

“......”

That's why he couldn't help but feel confused.

Especially as the boy's small recital came to an end.

‘He really is a beginner...’

When he entered the boy's small house, he could feel it even more.

The boy's circumstances were not affluent enough to afford classical music lessons.

Furniture with various scratches and stains.

Walls barely free of mold and an old TV.

According to Sang-gil, the boy had lost his father at a young age and lived with his mother alone.

Was that why?

Why he had grown so mature at such a young age.

“Wait a moment. I'll bring some tea.”

“A, no.”

“It's fine, Hyun-woo.”

“You are a guest.”

The boy, smiling brightly, headed to the kitchen to make some green tea.

On the floor, the newspaper he had been reading before they arrived was still scattered.

『Job Listings』

In the job listings section of the newspaper, items like milk delivery and newspaper delivery were marked with slashes and circles.

Typical jobs for impoverished teenagers.

‘Good heavens.’

He couldn't help but lament.

That such a talented child had never seen the light of day.

Just because of these circumstances.

“Here’s your tea.”

Yet, the boy was smiling brightly. Despite his situation and circumstances.

On the contrary, he was so filial, even looking for ways to help his mother.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, Hyun-woo.”

Sang-gil and Jong-woo felt similar emotions as they lifted their teacups.

Sip.

The teacups seemed to contain the boy's years.

So deeply, it was hard to believe he was only 15 years old.

The heavy emotional expression the boy showed during his performance was not a coincidence.

‘Geniuses are not just born.’

Ludwig van Beethoven, who lost his hearing.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born into a commoner's family, not nobility.

Frédéric François Chopin, who had a life far from smooth.

Their passion and genius were proportional to their deficiencies, one could say.

The boy's deficiency was,

poverty.

“Did I pass the test?”

Sang-gil and Jong-woo looked at each other for a moment and then nodded together.

“Yes, Hyun-woo.”

“You can start next week...”

The two unfolded the documents they had brought and, before explaining the details, looked for a guardian.

“Do you have your mother's permission?”

“She will probably be off work soon.”

Indeed, would any parent refuse the opportunity for their child to receive gifted education?

Even though the two didn't take it seriously, they still explained the remaining terms.

The boy's objection came when they mentioned the boarding terms.

“Boarding would be difficult.”

“Pardon?”

“Is there a specific reason?”

From Seoul, where the arts foundation is located, to this remote part of Gyeonggi Province, it takes at least two hours.

If there are transfers and complex routes, it could take three hours or more.

Logically, commuting back and forth would be very inefficient.

He would be exhausted, and the transportation costs would be wasted.

Is it because he doesn't want to leave his school friends?

Jong-woo chuckled. Finally, he saw a typical reaction from the boy.

However, the boy's answer was unexpected.

“If I go to the boarding school, my mother will be left alone.”

And he was resolutely firm.

“I don’t want that.”

“......”

That was the reason of a 15-year-old boy.

Surprised, the two nodded. They asked again, just in case,

“Commuting to Seoul would be tiring...”

“It’s fine.”

The boy's answer was as expected.

“If you give me the transportation fees, I will go to Seoul myself.”

His filial piety.

Yet, his eyes were burning with a strong passion for the piano.

* * *

They also revised a few other terms.

Continuous management of the wrists and medical diagnosis.

Of course, such measures are not usually necessary for a 15-year-old, but...

I am different.

My wrists, which were constitutionally weak, began to deteriorate before I turned 20.

The earlier the management, the better.

The contract, signed by his mother, was placed in the drawer,

and she still hadn't put it down.

“What’s this, what’s this, really...”

She repeated the same words as if possessed by a parrot.

“Gifted education...”

“Mom, it’s not that big a deal.”

I deliberately downplayed the scale of the project to calm her down.

Still, her excitement didn't subside.

“You’ve never even learned the piano... Is our Hyun-woo really a genius? A genius?”

“Mom...”

“Chicken! We should cook some chicken! Let’s have a chicken soup, Hyun-woo.”

“Where are we going to get chicken?”

“There’s some in the fridge, right?”

After scanning the contract several times, my mother, as if reverently placing it in the drawer, hurried to the kitchen.

Seeing her excited and elated, I couldn't help but smile.

It had been so long since I saw her this excited.

‘I’ll make sure this life is filled with joy for you.’

The chicken soup, cooked by my mother, was hot. I bit into a piece of the steaming thigh.

The taste was bland, but

it was so comforting.

* * *

Chirp—

Chirp—

The air of my childhood mornings is clear and cool. The wind is refreshing.

The chirping sparrows announce the start of the day like the crowing of a rooster.

A refreshing feeling that is hard to experience in the heart of Seoul.

That's why, after returning, I developed the habit of starting my day in the yard.

At that moment, a familiar voice flew over as if waiting for me.

“Hey, big brother!”

“What brings you here?”

“Just... I came out to get some fresh air.”

“You?”

A kid who never did that before?

I was puzzled, but Chae-won changed the subject without answering.

“Not tired?”

“Yeah.”

After deciding to participate in the project, I spent a lot of time in the attic.

Chae-won would visit at night, but when it was time to sleep, I always sent her down first.

Then I would spend a few more hours practicing alone before locking the attic door.

Fortunately, my mother and Chae-won's parents understood,

‘It’s not enough.’

Hobbies and passion are different.

Until now, it wasn’t necessary, but from now on, it won’t be enough. I need to pour everything I have into it.

“Huh.”

Chae-won muttered, looking up at the sky.

“School starts tomorrow, right?”

“...Yeah.”

Chae-won is a first-year middle school student,

and I will be a second-year student.

The day that was just around the corner was tomorrow.

“No matter how I think about it, it seems difficult to go to and from school after it ends.”

This kid...

Chae-won, who had heard from her uncle, has been showing more concern for my affairs lately.

She seems to have a lot of affection, and it feels like having a younger sibling, making her endearing.

“Well, he said he could give us a ride sometimes.”

I insisted it was fine, but Sang-gil firmly said he would take me to the foundation when he had time.

For the protection of the participants, or something like that.

Then the front door opened, and a gentle voice flowed over. It was the aunt.

“Chae-won, did you get some fresh air~?”

A mischievous tone. What is it? Is there something to tease?

When the aunt said the meal was ready, it seemed to be a signal for the kid to come in, and she hurriedly greeted me.

“Hey, hey! Big brother, I’m going in.”

“Okay.”

The two people heading inside seemed to be muttering something.

—Was the air refreshing?

—Yeah.

—Why did you suddenly want to get some fresh air when you never did before~?

—Just, it was refreshing...

—Hehe, hehehe...

—What, what? Why are you laughing!

—No, nothing~

—Mom-!

I couldn’t hear their conversation clearly, but they both seemed to be having a good time.

I headed for the stairs.

To wake my mother, who was enjoying a rare, honey-sweet day off.

* * *

The thrilling new school year.

...Rather, it felt like moving one short car to the back of a long train.

Since I had no particularly close friends, the piano was always my only companion.

Perhaps the piano was my only friend.

Still, the memories that brushed by evoked a considerable sense of nostalgia.

The young face of the teacher, whose memory had faded, and the noisy children.

The vibrant atmosphere brought back memories of the old preparatory school.

I wasn't completely without friends.

‘What are they doing now?’

Jung-woo and Seon-woo.

Coincidentally, our last names were the same, and we were often referred to as the "Three Woos."

It was common for someone to ask who Jung-hyun-seon was.

Is there a person named Jung-hyun-seon?

We were as well-matched as our strangely mixed names.

‘I’ll see them again, won’t I?’

The grateful friends who came to see me off.

We won’t be classmates again, but they will surely continue to make music.

If we keep making music, we will surely...

Ding-dong—

The final class ended, signaling the end of the day.

The problems to study were at a middle school level, and since I was already a part of the foundation project, I would easily receive support for the preparatory school's admission fee.

I just need to maintain a decent academic performance.

The important thing is what comes next.

The foundation, where Sang-gil will take me, is the place to rebuild my dream.

* * *

A finger cast a black shadow on the car window as it approached.

Knock-knock—

“You’re here.”

“Did you wait long?”

“No, not long.”

Sang-gil spoke brusquely and looked at the boy's face. It felt so familiar.

At such times, he really looks like an innocent child.

“Big brother!”

The nephew waiting in the back seat jumped out, and the boy blinked.

The nephew, who was waiting to surprise him, looked disappointed at his indifferent reaction. Such a cute kid.

“...Are you coming with us?”

“Yeah, I’ll take you back anyway. He said he wants to see Seoul.”

“He said he wants to eat something delicious too!”

For a moment, a different expression appeared on the boy's face, which usually wore a small smile.

“Something delicious?”

“Yeah, beef!”

Sang-gil saw the boy's throat tighten and then relax.

The boy maintained his indifferent attitude without showing any reaction.

‘He’s still a kid, hehe.’

It felt like going on a field trip, but Sang-gil couldn't shake off his tension.

Especially as they got closer to the foundation, the tension grew.

The two geniuses the boy would meet today, Han Ye-geum and Yoo Seong-woo.

How would the three geniuses, who instinctively learn and internalize, synergize?

What would they say about each other's performances?

“We’ve arrived.”

After shifting the gear and looking at the back seat, Sang-gil could finally relax a bit.

The boy's face was not tense but full of adventure.

He jumped out of the back seat with excitement.

Like Columbus taking his first step on the new continent.