Flood of Messages and the Jazz Horizon
Government-supported project Seoha set her phone down on the desk. Ever since the recording, KakaoTalk notifications had been nonstop. They were from people she'd met while wandering around Hongdae in her wild days, but replying once or twice was one thing—now she was utterly exhausted.
"Don't they have anything better to do?"
That day, when Gyeosik oppa and his crew left the studio, she could tell they were upset. It was obvious they'd been crushed by Suyeon's talent. She didn't like them much anyway, and their rudeness didn't help, but... she didn't think it warranted that level of hurt.
That's what she'd thought, at least. But those feelings vanished completely after that day.
She had no idea what they'd been blabbing about to everyone, but why were they bothering her like this?
Right on cue, her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it—another KakaoTalk. She tried to ignore it, but this one was from a close oppa, so blowing it off felt wrong.
"Agh!! Stop sending these already."
To messages she didn't even care about, Seoha mustered her social skills and fired off a reply. From the flood of texts pouring in, she could roughly piece it together: they'd been shocked by Suyeon's skills that day and blabbed to everyone.
The problem? They'd blabbed way too much, and now texts were coming at Seoha from all directions. And among them, shady ones like:
'But honestly, it's fair to feel walled off.'
Seoha recalled first meeting Suyeon. Just a few months ago. The girl had shown her what "heaven beyond heaven" really meant, humbling her sky-high arrogance.
If even Seoha, with her minimal practice time, felt that way—what about everyone else? No matter that she'd been taught by Seo Myeongjeon; it was an incomprehensible talent. The kind that turned self-proclaimed prodigies into total amateurs...
'Her mean streak is a bit much, though.'
This incident, and others too. When she and Suyeon first met, Suyeon had later admitted she'd done it on purpose because "you were so full of yourself back then, I wanted to knock you down a peg." Sure, it had straightened her out, but... wasn't that a tad excessive?
Well, she had been a brat. And Gyeosik oppa had been rude too...
Hmm...
'Wait, aren't I older, though?'
Lost in thought, Seoha suddenly realized. Suyeon was a second-year high schooler; she was third-year. In teens, a year's gap was huge, yet Suyeon had treated her like an equal from day one.
But imagining Suyeon suddenly going all "Seoha unnie~" like Iseo, clinging sweetly...
"Eugh."
It filled Seoha with a cosmic dread. That just couldn't happen. Somehow, she missed Iseo...
"I'll hit the department store then hang at a nearby café. Text when you're done."
"Got it."
To Myeongjeon's curt reply, Hyein playfully tickled her side. Watching Myeongjeon grit her teeth to stifle a laugh, Hyein giggled and headed off to the store.
'She's getting more playful by the day...'
Thoughts like what does she take a grown man for were pointless. Objectively, she was her daughter now. After a few months, it even felt like she was adapting.
Myeongjeon mulled such trivialities as she approached the building ahead. Recording studio on the second floor, right? A 2% session today—after effects fees, she'd pocket about 300,000 won.
"Oh! Suyeon, right on time."
"Hello. Good to see you again."
Entering the studio, Chae Hogun welcomed her warmly. They shook hands, chatted about recent happenings. Recording wouldn't start for a bit, but Myeongjeon had arrived early to talk music with him—they clicked on that level.
Sipping coffee, they dove in: old bands, psychedelic rock. Where prog rock and prog metal should head next, could you call Pink Floyd prog? The little debates only music nerds from back then would get.
The chat ended when someone burst in with a greeting.
"Professor Chae! You here?"
"Ah, PD Park. Long time no see."
A middle-aged guy, average build, wearing sunglasses indoors—his personality was obvious.
"And this is...?"
"Ah, the guitarist doing session for this album."
"Nice! Park Hwisek."
His business card read Park Hwisek, Music Director. A major label too.
"Pleasure. No card on me... Ha Suyeon."
"Ooh... Ha Suyeon? Rings a bell."
Hwisek tilted his head at her name. Hogun chuckled, "Seo Myeongjeon's disciple."
But that wasn't it.
"Heard it somewhere... Ah! Director Kim! That high school girl guitarist he scouted then told to scram."
"Huh?"
Hogun blinked. Talk really traveled fast.
Myeongjeon sighed lightly and recapped: first session gig, Kim Jaehun dismissing her, what happened next.
"Haha, that was gold. Heard about it. Kim Jaehun's skilled, but he's got drama... Deserved a reality check."
His words tried for neutrality, but his grinning face betrayed he hated the guy.
"Hello."
"Hey there~"
Time flew; others arrived. Chat over—time to record.
After hours of recording, a break for the weary session players. Myeongjeon stretched her left hand descending the stairs. Craved a smoke, but couldn't. Regret the ban, or gratitude for quitting?
She bought a canned coffee from the convenience store, cracked it, chugged. The studio had premium brews, but she loved this stuff. Nostalgia? Something like that.
"Great playing."
Voice from behind. Park Hwisek.
Myeongjeon shrugged modestly instead of replying.
"Was agonizing over the guitarist. Professor said he had someone killer. Skeptical, but no exaggeration—maybe undersold. You crushed it."
"Thanks."
Grateful, but suspicious. Random praise? Rare at his age.
"So, wanna do an OST recording?"
There it was. Good opportunity, though. OST. What angle?
No vocals shown—just guitar, looks, and punking Kim Jaehun.
That it?
"What kind?"
"Drama. Session it, shoot a making-of vid."
Bingo. Slap together a track, hype "high school girl guitarist!" for clicks. Fine by her—pays.
But money aside, she had priorities.
"Recording's fine, but..."
"Yeah?"
"Not solo. With my band."
"Band? Tricky..."
Hwisek frowned—wanted solo Suyeon buzz. No convincing; she showed a QR code.
"What's this?"
"Our live QR. Watch when you can. Call if interested."
"Heh..."
Leaving his awkward chuckle, she headed back up. He'd call after watching. Had to. Solo girl guitarist? Cute. Four high school girls? Goldmine.
Myeongjeon's hunch hit dead-on.
"Alright, let's do a band track."
Next day, post-school call. Hwisek said he'd watched the vid last night, pondered all day.
"Adventure for me. No band track originally. But we'll slot one in."
"I see."
Sounded like he felt shortchanged. Whatever—don't sass clients. Even in Seo Myeongjeon days; more so as Ha Suyeon.
"So..."
His proposal left her—despite her years—saying, "I'll think it over."
"Classic/jazz band vibe...?"
Iseo echoed her shock; Myeongjeon nodded. No mistake.
"Scene and mood details later... but track should feel that way."
Since possessing Ha Suyeon, Myeongjeon had confidence in composing/arranging. Blues, rock... metal, pop even. Doable.
Classic? Jazz? She'd held a nylon guitar for session classical tones, not expertise. How compose what you don't know?
"Sounds tough, right?"
"Yeah, but... gotta discuss with the band. It's a group thing."
Talks leaned toward no... then silent Hyeona spoke.
"Why not try?"
"Huh?"
"I think we can. Not full-on, but jazz/classical-infused band music? I'm okay at jazz composing—not pro, but... with Suyeon-ssi and others helping."
From left field. Iseo jumped up, hugging her.
"Whoa! Baby Hyeona~ Best unnie ever!"
"Eek, Iseo-unnie's heavy."
"That's the point."
Hyeona wriggled free from the size-mismatched hug, caught her breath.
"Not pro jazz or anything. Just flavored band music. I can lead; Suyeon-ssi and rest help."
"Hmm."
Myeongjeon crossed arms, eyed the ceiling. Hyeona's skills unproven. Confidence there, but results? Could flop, miss deadline, tank rep.
But hey, navigating screw-ups was life's fun. Can't nail everything first try.
Plus Ha Suyeon's talent—frame it right, they'd craft something solid.
"Alright, let's try. We have footage, schedule's free... Hyeona leads this project."
Accepting with that in mind. If it worked, huge for the band's sound.