Being an Effects Pedal Loner Is Never Something to Brag About
Being an effects pedal loner was never something to brag about. It also wasn't an excuse to skip saying thank you. Suhyun, who had decided he didn't want to be the kind of person who only ever received, arrived at the club room a little earlier than planned and fidgeted with the gift box tucked inside his pocket. It wasn't anything special, but it was still a gift, so it ought to look decent. That morning he'd prepared fresh wrapping paper and, feeling like an elementary school kid again after years, carefully cut it with scissors. A green ribbon ran across the center of the red paper. It wasn't professionally done, but it looked neat and pretty enough. He hoped Hana would like it... Even with Juyeon's seal of approval, Suhyun's hands still trembled. Maybe it wasn't the contents that embarrassed him so much as the simple act of giving a gift.
He swallowed hard, nerves tightening his throat, when the door clicked open.
"Hey."
Her voice was a little dry, carrying no trace of a smile. Maybe something had put her in a bad mood. Hana dropped her pedal board bag onto the sofa and flopped down in her usual spot.
"Hi."
Suhyun's already stiff posture grew even more rigid.
"Where were we last week?"
He glanced up, trying to read her expression. Today Hana seemed... oddly businesslike. Like a part-timer dealing with the last customer of the shift. Even so, the way she swept her hair back was enough to make any guy's heart skip.
"Ah. We... got as far as the cutting practice."
Suhyun decided to stay quiet for a bit and watch how she reacted.
"Then let's focus on alternate picking today."
Hana opened the textbook. She was acting stiff to hide her feelings. She'd thought a walk in the gentle spring breeze would lift her mood, and until she stepped inside she'd felt okay, but the moment she saw Suhyun's face her temper flared again.
"By the way, Hana."
"What."
"This."
Still holding his guitar, Suhyun pulled something from his pocket. A tiny question mark seemed to float above Hana's head as she stared blankly at the textbook.
"What's that?"
"A present."
"A present?"
"Yeah."
Her fingers reached out carefully and picked up the small red box resting on Suhyun's hand.
"Why are you giving me this?"
Hana looked confused by his behavior. Yesterday he'd acted like he was trying to isolate her, and today he was suddenly handing over a neatly wrapped gift?
"Just... you've been teaching me guitar and looking out for me in all sorts of ways, so I wanted to say thanks..."
Suhyun trailed off, suddenly awkward now that he was actually giving it.
Hana lifted the box to her ear, wondering what was inside. She gave it a light shake with a flick of her wrist. A soft rustling sound came from within, like tiny grains rolling around.
"Can I open it?"
Still unable to guess the contents, she asked Suhyun.
"Sure. Go ahead. But don't get your hopes up too much."
"Like I'd get my hopes up over you."
The words came out rude, but her lips had stopped moving properly a while ago. Don't smile, Yoon Hana. You look like a weirdo. Even she thought it was strange. She'd been radiating icy wind just moments earlier, and now she was grinning over a single gift. The thought that she looked pathetic yesterday and today kept circling in her head.
Because both of their guitar-playing fingernails were kept very short, Hana managed to peel the tape off after a few tries. What appeared from behind the wrapping was a rather crude toy for a girl's gift. Still, nothing could have suited Hana's tastes better.
"An SG?"
Her lips parted slightly. At the same time, a delighted gasp escaped her. Suhyun cheered inwardly, realizing Juyeon's plan had worked.
"Yeah. The moment I saw it, I thought of you."
"Ah..."
Her ears burned. Her body temperature had definitely risen. Yet at Suhyun's words, her heart began a steady, rhythmic exercise. Hana's head drooped. She still couldn't let go of the box in her hands.
"...Thanks."
"You like it?"
"Yeah."
The frustration she'd felt over being ignored yesterday melted away like snow on a clear day. Hana stared quietly at the box printed with a block that looked just like her guitar. Embarrassed for no reason, she snapped at him.
"Hey, something this small is gonna hurt your eyes when you're putting it together."
"Huh?"
She'd seemed to like it, but complaints followed right after. Suhyun was confused by her reaction.
"I'm gonna need a magnifying glass to build this."
"Th-then should I exchange it for something else? I kept the receipt."
When Suhyun started rummaging in his wallet for the receipt, Hana snatched it away in one quick motion. She checked the price, then tore the receipt to shreds.
"It's fine, you dummy. Thanks for the gift, but we still have to practice."
Her chair scraped back. Hana stood, crouched in front of the sofa, and pulled out her beloved pedal board to connect it to the amp.
"Weren't we doing alternate picking?"
"Canceled. Teach me how to use the effects pedals today."
Since Suhyun had given her a present, Hana wanted to give him something he wanted too. He'd mentioned being curious about the pedals ever since he visited last time. To most people they might look like expensive scrap metal, but she figured Suhyun would understand how amazing they really were.
Zziiing
When she pressed the amp's power button, the raw, unaffected tone came through.
"Ahem... ahem...!"
After clearing her throat, Hana called Suhyun over as if to say "pay attention."
"Do you know the different types of effects pedals?"
"No. Not really."
Suhyun had been so focused on playing that he hadn't paid much attention to gear.
"Then listen carefully."
Hana pressed each pedal one by one with her foot and explained. Suhyun listened with bright, attentive eyes.
"This one's a delay. When I step on it—"
Zziiing—zziiing zziiing zziiing zziiing zziiing
She'd only strummed once, yet the amp kept repeating the chord she'd played.
"It echoes back like that, over and over."
"Whoa. So songs like 'Deadly Heaven' are made with stuff like this?"
"Pretty much. Though they probably mixed in other things too."
Since it was a song she knew, Hana demonstrated the chorus riff right there. The repeating effect layered over the sharp metal sound created a unique texture. It had been one of the first songs she'd played after buying her delay pedal, and she'd practiced the riff quite a bit.
"Pretty cool, right?"
After finishing the demonstration, Hana wore an expression that clearly said "I did good, didn't I?" Suhyun nodded vigorously. He wasn't joking—he really thought it was awesome.
"Can you teach me?"
"This? This song?"
"Yeah."
"Of course. It isn't that hard, so you'll probably pick it up fast."
They switched places. Suhyun held the guitar while Hana watched over him.
"Memorize this first. 3 0 0 5 0 0 3 2 0 5 3 2 0."
Hana called out the finger positions one by one. Suhyun moved his fingers clumsily to match.
"No, no. You have to change strings there. You can't just keep going straight."
"Like this?"
When he lifted his hand, the open string rang out bluntly.
"No, you idiot."
It seemed there were confusing parts since it was his first time playing the song. If only they had sheet music. If words weren't enough, she'd have to use her hands. Hana slipped behind Suhyun and bent down.
"Here. Watch."
Her golden hair slid down toward the floor. Her warm palm covered the back of Suhyun's hand. Like a puppeteer, she guided his left hand.
Zziiing
Hana played the riff once, very slowly so even a beginner could follow, then whipped her head around to check if he'd understood.
Something felt off. Suhyun's face had turned bright red, like a ripe persimmon. Before she could even wonder why, the heat seemed contagious—her own cheeks bloomed with a faint pink. They were close enough that another small movement would bring their noses together. Still, she thought she should say something, so she opened her mouth.
"Y-you remember it now, right?"
A hiccup escaped her lips as she jerked away like she was fleeing.