Chapter 78
Chapter 78
The lack of contact was the lack of contact.
But before that, let's go over what I'd additionally found out about Kim Sanho, step by step.
Below were the comments on a photo from a sasaeng fan sighting account.
Comments
―That's Kim Ha-rok's son
└Who's Kim Ha-rok
└You don't know the pianist...
└Yeah...
'Kim Ha-rok?'
I'd heard the name before. He probably ranked within the top three pianists in South Korea.
'They said Kim, so they must be talking about Kim Sanho.'
Unless there was some other family background I wasn't aware of.......
And fortunately, this fact was quickly verified.
The moment the comment about him being Kim Ha-rok's son was posted, people began digging up information at lightning speed, and soon a documentary that had aired on an educational broadcasting channel a few years back was unearthed.
And there, I was able to spot middle-schooler Kim Sanho.
[Production Crew: Does the youngest son like the piano~?]
[Not really.......]
[Production Crew: Your father looks cool playing the piano, doesn't he~?]
[.......]
[Narration: It seems even a pianist who has moved the world finds it difficult to win his own child's heart. Father, you'll have to try harder! Haha]
'Personality's the same.'
And he'd been tall since then, huh.
Since the pianist Kim Ha-rok himself was a towering figure over 190cm, it would be stranger if he were small.
Anyway, the production crew must have thought this scene was funny. This was the only part that had been clipped and uploaded to NeoTube.
Finding the full version was easy. All I had to do was click the 'Watch Full Version Now' link that was pinned in the comments.
But the scene I had just watched was the entirety of Kim Sanho's direct appearance.
However, I was able to confirm an additional indirect mention.
[The eldest plays the cello, the second plays the piano, and the youngest plays the violin.]
[Production Crew: Ah, all three brothers play different instruments?]
This was the segment where Kim Ha-rok introduced his family.
And I knew that Kim Sanho was the youngest in the household.
'Kim Sanho plays the violin?'
I'd seen him play the piano, but the violin.......
I'd never even heard him mention playing it, let alone seen him do it.
Anyway, I continued watching.
Soon, Kim Ha-rok's second son appeared.
[Father is extremely controlling. Ever since I started piano, I haven't done a single push-up. Ah, and San-ho (the third) isn't allowed to lift anything heavy at all.]
[Production Crew: Why not?]
[Because he might get injured....... And it doesn't make the sound pretty.]
'Hm.'
I searched it up, and there genuinely were articles stating that arm muscles could affect delicate performances, so music majors should refrain from weight training.
Could Kim Sanho's poor stamina really be because of his father's control?
......One might think so, but it probably wasn't related.
The weight training discussed among music majors seemed to be a separate issue from general stamina conditioning. Besides, if his stamina was poor, he wouldn't even be able to play an instrument in the first place.
'Well, noted.'
After finishing the nearly two-hour documentary, I closed the window.
So, how was I supposed to go find Kim Sanho now?
That was.......
'If I go to the apartment complex from this documentary.......'
It felt way too much like a crime. I knew that too.
So let's start with commonsense procedures.
First, I went looking for the President to see if Kim Sanho had left any emergency contact information.
For reference, the President was also aware of the current situation regarding Hyeon.
I also heard some additional background about Kim Sanho from him....... Apparently, Kim Sanho had been brought in by the President's nephew, and since he had said he had nowhere to stay right away, it started with them lending him the practice room.
As if he roughly knew the atmosphere of Kim Sanho's household, the President subtly said this to me as I was leaving with the contact info.
"Think about what you'll do if you can't get permission."
"......Yes, sir."
Once outside, I dialed the number I'd obtained without any hesitation.
The line was picked up quickly.
[Hello?]
The owner of the number was Kim Sanho's eldest brother.
Since the fact Kim Sanho had listed him as an emergency contact meant he was someone he trusted that much, I didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
After hearing the whole story, he sounded extremely shocked.
[San-ho......!]
"So, about that, could I get your parents' contact information?"
[.......]
It took a moment for the answer to come.
[I've... been estranged from the family for almost ten years now.......]
"......."
[I'm truly sorry I can't be of more help. I'll give you our second sibling's contact info, would you like to try reaching out that way?]
"Yes, understood."
[Hey, and, would it be okay if I saved this number? Please, let me know as soon as the matter is resolved. I haven't been able to look after San-ho ever since I got married.......]
"Don't worry."
Even though I said that, my own worry was multiplying by the minute.......
Anyway, a moment later, a message arrived with the older-younger brother's contact info.
Again, I called without hesitation.
[Ha, that damn household really never changes.......]
"......."
[I'm really sorry, but I left home too, so I don't know much about the situation there either. I think I might be able to find the number if I look, but I'll give you that for now. They probably haven't changed it. But... they probably won't be persuaded.]
"Yes......."
[Father... mm, San-ho, being the youngest, he never laid a hand on him, so the interference was the worst for him instead. ......That, no, I'm sorry. I truly hope everything works out.]
Something... I felt like I got the gist of it.
The eldest brother said he'd been estranged for about ten years, and in the documentary from about five to six years ago, the older-younger brother was a high school student.
'Meaning they all left the moment they became adults.'
And Kim Sanho hadn't left because he was still a minor.
So, that meant Kim Sanho, who had barely managed to run away and escape that household, had gone back there to get permission.
'Damn it.'
If the atmosphere was this bad, he should have said something.
As I irritably ran a hand through my hair, a message arrived.
It was Kim Ha-rok's contact info, sent by Kim Sanho's older-younger brother.
I glared at the number, but instead of pressing call, I went into the text history I'd shared with Kim Sanho.
[What happened (Three days ago)]
[San-ho (Two days ago)]
[San-ho (Yesterday)]
No reply.
The phone was completely off.
'If it's like this, calling won't do any good.'
It seemed like his phone had been confiscated entirely.
As if I could persuade a man coercive enough to seize a nineteen-year-old's phone through conversation.
"......."
Suddenly, the words Kim Sanho had said before he left came back to me.
―Please... please wait for me.......
Wait for what?
A man who didn't change even after two of his three children left home was suddenly going to turn over a new leaf in the span of a few days?
Or....... No, what I just thought was technically a swear about his parent, so I canceled that.
Anyway, it was ridiculous.
So this was an obvious decision.
'Let's go find him.'
Right now.
* * *
And so, the place I was at now was that very luxury brand apartment complex that appeared in the Kim Ha-rok documentary.
......Was not it.
It was the entrance of Green Forest City Apartment Complex 1, located in ◇◇-gun, Chungcheong Province.
Adjusting the glasses that felt slightly awkward because I hadn't worn them in a long time, I looked around the ordinary, quiet neighborhood and thought.
'If I think of it as a summer vacation... it's nice.'
First, I should explain why I came here.
While gathering information on Kim Ha-rok to know the enemy in detail before confronting him, I discovered a post on about the 31st page of the search results.
[Pianist Kim Ha-rok has moved into our complex]
...There was a time when the piano was Kim Ha-rok himself. How could such a person now be my neighbor.^^ Befitting the protagonist of an elegant performance like Nabi, he is so very gentle and cool... (View Full Post)
That was all the content visible in the preview, and I clicked the post to view it in full.
On the stark white screen, only one single sentence was written.
This post can only be read by verified members of the [◇◇-gun Green Forest City Apartment Complex 1 Resident Group] cafe.
Thanks to that, there was no need to read the post any further.
The search radius narrowing down from the entire country of South Korea to 'an apartment complex 1' was more than enough.
Having set my destination, I caught a taxi, worried that a sighting account of me might spread.
The President and the manager were so busy with the current company work they didn't have a moment to spare, Han Neuti had to prepare a cover video, and Kim Yuri happened to have a prior engagement today.
As for Jeong Sowol... she wanted to come, but I left her behind because I figured she wouldn't be much help.
In the first place, bringing anyone along would have made things difficult.
And finally, I arrived at my destination.
The time was 4 o'clock.
I walked through the neighborhood alone and thought.
'Alright, now then.......'
What should I do?
I'd been mulling it over the entire trip here, but I still didn't know.
I didn't even hope for a miraculous encounter while wandering around aimlessly. If something like that really happened, wouldn't buying a lottery ticket be the priority before taking Kim Sanho with me?
'Still, I thought Kim Ha-rok would be easy to find since he's famous.'
Once I actually got here, I realized a celebrity was just like any regular person unless they came out in person themself.......
Our Town Orchestra!
Harmony with the renowned pianist Kim Ha-rok
Add classical music to your daily life
Inquiries: Maru Church
"......."
Right, it meant he didn't become a celebrity for nothing.
I took out my phone, snapped a photo of the map drawn in the corner of the banner, and headed for the church.
'If I actually run into him... what do I really do?'
The side effects of coming here recklessly kept surfacing.
But what could I do? I didn't have any plan that came to mind.
I'd already imagined kneeling and begging for his permission. The problem was that it didn't seem like it would work.
However, as if all my effort to worry was futile, Kim Ha-rok was not inside the church when I arrived.
Only a woman who appeared to be from the church was there by herself.
"Who is it?"
A puzzled voice asked for my identity.
First, it would be rude in front of an adult if I didn't take off my mask.
"Hello. I......."
"Ah!"
It was the exact moment I lowered my mask and bent my waist to bow.
"Looking at how tall and handsome you are, are you Mr. Kim Ha-rok's son?"
"Pardon?"
"No?"
"Yes, that's right."
I knew one of my flaws.
When I reached a dead-end situation, I tended to lean into a... 'what will be, will be' kind of mindset.
But the fact that I hadn't fixed it until now meant that I somehow managed to get by just fine living this way.
Just like now.
"They said you were handsome, and I really recognized you right away. You're here looking for your dad, right?"
"Huh? Yes......."
"Go into the walking trail over there, keep going straight, and when you exit at the first gate, you'll see Building 107 right away."
"Ah, um, thank you."
Was a celebrity's personal information normally this flimsy?
......Since it's come to this, can I even ask for the unit number?
But I held back. Because asking for the unit number, no matter what, seemed like it would draw suspicion.
Instead, I threw out a different question.
"But, um, did my father ever say... that his son was coming?"
"Mhm, that's all he ever says. He told me to tell his son to go straight home if he ever came by. So why did you come so late! Your father has been waiting so anxiously......."
"......Did any other sons... besides me, not come yet?"
"Hm? No, no, your youngest came by a little while ago too. Wait, so are you the second son?"
"Yes."
"You must be upset that you're shorter than your younger brother......."
"......."
This would make me feel sorry toward the older-younger brother.
Anyway, thanks to her, it was confirmed that Kim Sanho had been here.
After sincerely expressing my thanks, I headed toward the entrance of the walking path as she had instructed.
'She said Building 107 is the one you see right away at the first exit.'
Then the building I was seeing now must be the back side of Building 107.
If I waited endlessly at the entrance of this apartment, even at the worst, I'd run into him within a day. Whether it was Kim Sanho or his father.
As I walked while blankly looking up at the apartment building, I suddenly ducked my head in a hurry at a window that burst open.
'.......'
And then I lifted it back up.
"Hey!"
A height of roughly the 5th floor.
There, the man who had opened the window was taking a stance as if he was about to jump out at any moment.
"What are you doing......!"
It was Kim Sanho.