Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Hide or Reveal (1)
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She'd said it with some grand resolve, but Lee Ha-yeon's reaction wasn't particularly dramatic.
"Huh? Practice?"
"Just for a bit."
It really was the perfect opportunity, being alone with her like this. Asking outright in the classroom would feel a little embarrassing.
The issue was whether Lee Ha-yeon would even agree to such a sudden request...
"Sure, no problem."
"What? Really? You're okay with it? For real?"
Surprisingly, Lee Ha-yeon gave an immediate yes.
"...Was it something you didn't have to do?"
"No, I do. I absolutely have to."
She brushed past me with light steps, heading into the practice room first.
I stood there frozen, lost in thought.
'Did that Lee Ha-yeon just offer to help me with my piano practice?'
This couldn't be happening. No way.
I couldn't contain my shock and joy, but I poured all my effort into calming my excitement. If I started jumping around like an idiot, she'd probably never spare me another glance.
Forcing myself to act natural and cool, I followed her back into the practice room.
"Were you practicing alone?"
Lee Ha-yeon glanced around, lightly running her palm over the piano as she spoke.
I suppressed my elation and answered with effort.
"My friend had something come up."
"Ah, your friend..."
She eyed the sheet music and phone on the piano stand.
"You haven't done any music... all this time, right?"
Good. She hadn't completely forgotten about me. This would make things go faster.
"There were some circumstances. But I'm starting again now, see."
Lee Ha-yeon smiled faintly and murmured something softly. I didn't press her to repeat it.
She turned to me.
"You wanted help with practice. What exactly?"
I desperately wanted her to teach me everything from one to ten.
But taking up too much of her time wouldn't be good. The value of that time was beyond what I could afford.
I should ask about things that were hard to figure out on my own or practice methods I could do alone.
"First, let me play that piece from class earlier again. Listen."
"The Mozart one?"
"Yeah."
Under Lee Ha-yeon's watchful eye, I started playing right away.
She sat quietly on the simple chair beside me, watching intently. Her deep eyes gleamed clearly.
"Go back to the first measure."
As soon as I finished, she stood up swiftly and leaned in close. A whiff of shampoo scent tickled my nose.
"Relax your shoulders and let your wrists drop fully over the keys."
"Drop them?"
"Don't strike the keys—keep it light overall."
Lee Ha-yeon corrected my hand movements directly, explaining gently. Being this close made it easy to grasp the proper technique.
Maybe because we'd both started piano at the same academy, our basic frameworks were similar, so it applied smoothly.
"...Fast. Much more relaxed than before. Practice like that."
"Really? Must be because my teacher's great."
"It's not that."
Praise from Lee Ha-yeon—even if flattery—made me feel like I could float away. Practice suddenly felt fun.
"Hold on."
She gestured briefly and checked her watch by rotating her wrist.
I wanted to ask about handling accidentals too, but that seemed greedy.
"You have to go? Sorry for holding you so long."
"Yeah, no, it's fine... Already this late?"
Sure enough, over 30 minutes had flown by. I'd lost track of time in my focus.
Lee Ha-yeon raised the corner of her mouth slightly, stood, and grasped the door handle.
Then she whipped her head around, locking eyes with me.
"I have a question."
"Yeah, ask away."
I'd tell her my bank PIN or resident registration number if she asked.
Come to think of it, I was still too young to even have ID.
"Earlier, how did you keep playing through it?"
"Earlier?"
"When that kid played the MIDI."
'That kid'—she seemed to be from Ye-won too.
So she really wasn't the type to pay attention to people around her.
"Honestly, no big thought."
Should I say I just didn't want interference? It was a new feeling today, but having my playing disrupted felt seriously annoying.
I confessed honestly.
"I wanted my playing to be filled with just my sound. The interruption pissed me off."
Lee Ha-yeon gazed at me steadily, then spoke with slightly curved eyes.
"I heard it well. Your playing."
She opened the door and added,
"It hasn't changed at all from back then."
"..."
Lee Ha-yeon vanished in an instant. I was left alone in the practice room again.
It felt like a storm had blown through and died down just as fast, leaving me dazed.
'Hasn't changed at all from academy days.'
Compared to then, I'd lived nearly 30 more years—I should've changed tons.
Was I not acting my age?
The next morning, early before homeroom.
Cream cheese and blueberry jam on toast woke my brain, and heading to school felt refreshing.
My neighbor Lee Seong-hyuk was humming as he prepped his textbooks.
"Math, Korean, Korean history... what else?"
"Integrated social studies."
"Ah, the social studies teacher wakes you if you doze... "
When he asked about yesterday's practice, I brushed it off with "did fine on my own."
If I said Lee Ha-yeon helped, this guy would lose it.
'Peaceful.'
Sitting and gazing out the window felt serene.
Far off, cars crawled through dense evergreens, spring flowers budding and swaying in the breeze.
A slow scene, like this moment could last forever.
Maybe because the school was near mountains, birdsong and insect chirps felt close and novel.
Distant honks and chattering students made great background music.
'Relaxed tempo—nice.'
I blended the sounds into a theme melody.
The soft early-spring chill on the desk, dust tickling my nose, sunlight piercing cloud gaps. These sensations formed a great motif.
I synced the melody to a leisurely mental metronome. Fingers tapping the desk mimicked keys earnestly.
'Not bad.'
It fit the current laid-back vibe.
Piano alone might bore, so add drums. Jazz arrangement could be fun.
Left foot as kick, right as snare—I layered percussion mentally. I didn't know drums, but this felt right.
'Trumpet or strings would perfect it.'
Getting into it, my shoulders swayed freely.
Is this why composers create? It's pretty fun.
Above all, capturing this moment's feeling in sound right away was thrilling.
"Hey, why are you shaking your leg like that."
Suddenly, Lee Seong-hyuk grabbed my shoulder, yanking me back to reality.
I was mid-climax buildup, and this guy...
"You're possessed."
"...You can be so oblivious sometimes."
"Working out?"
"Forget it."
Mood killed, the melody evaporated. I'd try it on piano later.
Yawning lazily to kill time, the classroom gradually buzzed.
Today featured afternoon major practical class.
I'd endure general subjects thinking of that. All familiar content anyway—boring as hell.
'Lively buzz—nice.'
Propping my chin, I drowsily scanned the room.
Voices flowed in one ear and out the other, repeating for a bit.
"Wonder if our Ye-ri's practicing well lately."
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice grazed my ear.
The snarky speaker: a girl with cat-like upturned eyes, pretty brown curls.
She leaned on the desk backward.
"We will see our Ye-ri in Class A next semester too, right?"
She flashed a sweet smile.
Polite tone, but thorns underneath.
Following her gaze, Seo Ye-ri stood frozen, flustered.
"Hey, what do you mean by that."
A sharp voice shot back. The girl chatting with Seo Ye-ri laughed bitterly in rebuttal.
"What do I mean? Just cheering her on. Don't misunderstand—I'll be hurt."
"Why pick on Ye-ri when she's just sitting there."
"Pick on? That's too harsh, girl. Doesn't Ye-ri have a mouth? Why stay silent?"
The sudden quarrel tensed the air.
Poor Seo Ye-ri, caught between them, looked like a deflated mouse, head swiveling with groans.
'...Why's it getting so hostile all of a sudden.'
The snarky girl snorted dismissively, staring at Seo Ye-ri and her neighbor.
"You're in high school now—aren't you embarrassed? Know when to quit."
"Teacher's here..."
She smiled sweetly at Seo Ye-ri and straightened up. Seo Ye-ri hadn't mustered a proper retort.
"That girl's crazy, seriously..."
"Don't engage, Ju-hee. I'm really fine."
Seo Ye-ri bustled calming the fuming Ju-hee, flapping hands insisting she was okay.
"Why are they like that? No one dislikes Seo Ye-ri."
"Something... I forget. They're on bad terms."
Overhearing whispers: they'd had a big fight back at Ye-won Arts Middle School. Details unknown.
If he didn't know, neither did I—no use wondering.
'Seo Ye-ri fighting with someone? Hard to picture.'
No need for me to intervene, so I tuned it out quickly.
"Good morning! Everyone looks cheerful today?"
Soon the bell rang; homeroom teacher entered beaming.
Cheerful? Royalty ignores the people's plight; teachers ignore students'.
"Adapting well to school life?"
Formal greetings passed; teacher got to the point.
"We're electing class rep quickly. Any volunteers first?"
Class rep. Right, high schools had those power players.
With different majors and even same-major classes separate, was it necessary? Maybe.
"Anyone want to be class rep?"
Mid-row, a hand shot up—the back of the head from earlier commotion, Jeong... whatever.
"Teacher, can we nominate?"
"Nominate?"
"I think Seo Ye-ri's perfect for it."
Jeong-whatever spoke; instantly, glares from Seo Ye-ri's friends. Why drag Ye-ri into your filthy mouth again?
Others, uncaring, started clamoring.
"Figured Ye-ri'd do it again this year."
"Of course it'd be Seo Ye-ri..."
Volume swelled, drowning everything.
"She suits class rep—kind, popular."
"Gets along with other instrument kids too? Perfect."
Wanted or not, Seo Ye-ri was admired and respected.
I observed her amid floating speech bubbles. Awkward smile, responding to clamoring friends.
Was that smile just humility? Hard to say.
Teacher checked roster, face lighting up at the chatter.
"Oh, Ye-ri was class rep for three years at Ye-won? Help me out—thanks."
No objections, no other nominees. Awkward to step up now.
Seo Ye-ri raised hand shyly, smiling brightly.
"Yes, teacher. I'll do it. Please take care of me this year."
Voice steady and poised.
She bowed; teacher clapped happily.
"I'll look after you despite different instruments—no pressure. Swing by office later?"
"Yes, teacher."
Class rep decided; light applause rippled. Kids gazed admirably, eyes shining.
I watched Seo Ye-ri wave smilingly, then looked away.
'Four years straight...'
Event over, another massive yawn escaped.
Boring general classes passed. Finally, major practical.
First A-Class group session.
Not sure how it'd go, but feeling part of it puffed me up.
'What'll we do first class.'
Hard to picture group piano lesson.
That's why evaluation schedule matters—sets direction.
I headed to listed major classroom with Lee Seong-hyuk. Inside resembled placement test room.
"Exciting, right."
Waiting for teacher, he grinned.
Exciting—yeah. Heart thumped steadily since earlier.
This school sparked more thrills since arriving.
"Hey, something's coming."
Front door creaked open long; grunting sounds followed.
Reveal: people and instruments.
Two boys sweated hauling huge ones.
'Timpani and drums?'
Percussion in piano class? Massive ones too.
Lee Seong-hyuk and I exchanged baffled looks.
Boys placed them by piano, left like job done.
"Percussion majors joining?"
"Not first class, probably."
Choi Je-hun was unpredictable.
Nothing to do till announcement.
But piano with percussion nearby felt complete already. Richer sound—better.
Kids whispered curiously. No one knew details yet.
Purpose of percussion? As I pondered, nearby chair scraped.
'...?'
A girl bolted up, heading front.
I watched her arrogantly flick hair from collar.
Familiar vibe...
"Ugh, she's at it again."
Her seatmate shook head sighing.
Glancing at podium—yep, Seol Yu-jin.
Seol Yu-jin approached percussion, eyes gleaming mysteriously. Overlapped with entrance ceremony piano intrusion.
Percussion this time, though.
'Drumming today too?'
I was glued to her moves. She picked up drumsticks on snare.
Swallowed hard, watching.
Gripped sticks, crossed then uncrossed hands, tapped kick drum...
'You have no idea how to play drums!'
She dropped her head.
Disappointment plain on her face.
'Why go up if you don't know how?'
As Seol Yu-jin stood glum with sticks, Choi Je-hun entered front. New female teacher and the boys followed.
"Seol Yu-jin, what are you doing."
"..."
Seol Yu-jin's brazen face—zero guilt—clashed gazes with Choi Je-hun.