Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Variable (2)
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The faculty meeting room was buzzing for the first time in a while. Most of the music department teachers had gathered to prepare for the exam scheduled for the next day.
"I heard Teacher Choi Je-hun from the Piano Department is pushing for this exam?"
"He just transferred here last year, so he's full of enthusiasm."
"The department head seems to eat right out of his hand for some reason..."
"It looks like the judging's gonna drag on forever. Cut us some slack, yeah?"
Choi Je-hun showed no interest in the chatter surrounding him.
As the murmurs grew louder, Han Yong-seong suddenly poked his head into the midst of the piano teachers.
He flashed a casual smile and spoke up.
"Ah, how do you old folks drink better than me?"
"Whoa, it's pianist Han Yong-seong! Or should I call you Teacher now?"
Kwon Se-hee, sitting across from him next to Choi Je-hun, greeted him warmly.
"Long time no see, Se-hee. I guess I have to set aside my pianist business card for a bit."
"I heard you came back to Korea. Have you been meeting with all the professors?"
"Don't even get me started. Feels like I've toured the whole country over the past ten years."
"How was Austria? That program last time was amazing!"
"Yeah, tell us more."
"How'd you end up teaching first-years this year?"
Led by Kwon Se-hee, questions poured in from the piano teachers. After barely finishing his answers, Han Yong-seong turned to stare at Choi Je-hun and extended his right hand.
"Teacher Choi Je-hun? I heard you started last year."
"Yes."
"Nice to meet you. You're the quiet type, huh."
The two men shook hands lightly.
Around them, conversations about the upcoming exam were in full swing. The loudest voices belonged to the teachers handling orchestra instruments.
"It's good for first-years to try all sorts of things. Solo instruments and concertos don't come around often..."
"I'm all for getting our kids together like this. It's imperfect, but they'll learn more than practicing alone."
Kwon Se-hee, who had been eavesdropping with perked ears, grinned broadly and tapped the desk quietly.
"Looks like a positive response? You worked so hard on the budget and proposal."
"I was just thinking about what my students would gain. I don't know much about other instruments."
"Oh, humility from you? That's not like you."
"I don't know the meaning of humility."
At his usual nonchalant reply, Kwon Se-hee shot him a sideways glance with an awkward smile.
Han Yong-seong, propping his chin on his hand while eyeing the grading sheet, chimed in.
"But why is the concerto part only worth 20 points? Isn't this a concerto exam?"
"We announced the orchestra groups today. Random selection."
"The day before the exam? That's fun."
"Fun... Anyway, we can't expect much from a last-minute orchestra."
Kwon Se-hee had always taken a healthy interest in Choi Je-hun's classes and exams.
But figuring the man himself was too boring to explain, she twirled her pen and continued.
"It's about giving extra points to students who blend better with the orchestra if skills are similar. Helps our piano kids gain experience too."
Han Yong-seong, who had been studying the grading sheet intently after her brief take, let out a snicker.
"Hmm, to me it looks like the guy who planned this exam is giving homework to the other teachers."
"...Homework?"
Brushing past Kwon Se-hee's puzzled expression, Han Yong-seong turned to Choi Je-hun.
"Right? It reeks of wanting to clearly separate the real deal from the fakes."
"Do teachers really prepare exams that elaborately?"
"Whoa, you'd have to apologize to teachers nationwide for saying that."
Stepping in for the evasive Choi Je-hun, he leaned toward Kwon Se-hee, who still hadn't caught on.
"Se-hee, something I realized again in Austria this time."
"What?"
Kwon Se-hee leaned in, eyes sparkling. He tapped the table with his index finger and teased slyly.
"Music doesn't need mere instrument technicians. Absolutely not."
Once the faculty meeting ended, most teachers hurried out. As the room thinned out, Han Yong-seong patted Choi Je-hun on the shoulder.
"Let's step out for some air."
At his invitation, the two men silently headed to the outdoor smoking area.
In the quiet hallway, Choi Je-hun spoke first, chuckling softly.
"You've gotten cocky while we haven't seen each other."
Only then did Han Yong-seong ease the tension he'd been holding.
"Hyung, come on. We're the same grade now—shouldn't you have told me? I had to hear it from our principal first?"
"Why would I tell you for someone else's sake?"
"That damn personality of yours..."
He let out a long breath and continued.
"I was so thrilled when I heard you were teaching at Ye-rim. You know that, right?"
"That was just you overreacting."
"Overreacting? You hurt? At least you seem focused and hardworking now."
"It's just temporary at the chairman's urging. Doesn't mean much."
As Choi Je-hun fiddled with his ear, Han Yong-seong retorted incredulously.
"Then all that fuss about quitting was real? No wonder the principal got mad. What nonsense is that?"
"Kids pay big money to come here. They should get something out of it."
"You talk like you don't know... Can't audit every class."
By the time they stepped outside, the sun was dipping low.
Han Yong-seong shook his head and handed Choi Je-hun a lighter.
"Anyway, we'll talk about that later. Semester's been going nearly two months—any interesting kids?"
"Baek Ji-ho, Lee Ha-yeon."
"I've known those two since middle school. Who's gonna deny their talent? I mean really interesting ones."
Choi Je-hun rolled his eyes and smirked faintly.
"You, who barely finished Mozart Sonata No.16 K.545 on shaky ground—how long do you think it'd take to nail Tchaikovsky Concerto perfectly?"
"Tchaikovsky? Which one."
"No.1, third movement."
"You tutoring kids on the side now? If they drilled just that piece to death, maybe half a year. Why?"
Han Yong-seong mumbled around his cigarette, words leaking out sloppily. Choi Je-hun fell silent for a moment before speaking heavily.
"Four weeks."
"What?"
"The kid who said he couldn't play Chopin Études because he lacked confidence has already mastered several flawlessly. Stably."
Han Yong-seong chomped down on his cigarette with his front teeth and pressed urgently.
"Which academy? One I know?"
"Where else? This school. You asked about the kids."
Han Yong-seong's demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed his arms, his playful eyes sharpening.
"Tell me more."
"Better to hear it yourself. Come to the exam tomorrow."
Choi Je-hun gazed vacantly at the orange sky.
"According to the kid, it's because he can hear everything."
"What does that mean?"
"And I quit smoking."
"What? Such a waste of money..."
Choi Je-hun tossed the unlit cigarette away, waved lazily as he walked off slowly.
"A pianist who evolves with the orchestra in every moment... Doesn't that just thrill you?"
Staring at Choi Je-hun's receding back, Han Yong-seong muttered blankly.
"Can hear everything... Good ears?"
An abstract image flashed and faded in his mind. The connections were loose, but a faint anticipation bloomed in Han Yong-seong nonetheless.
"Even so, four weeks is impossible."
"Too short."
"What is."
"Practice time. Honestly, what'll change just matching on the day before?"
Kim Ju-hee grumbled, sticking out her lips as she walked beside me.
We were heading to the small auditorium we usually used for our final practice. In my hand was the list of group members for the exam.
'Damn it.'
How hard had I memorized the names of the kids who picked Tchaikovsky for this day? To gauge our group's overall level in advance and make the short practice efficient.
The first names I spotted on the list: Kim Ga-eul and Lee Hyo-sang on trumpet 1 and 2. The perfect top-tier trumpet duo we could hope for.
'Up to then, I thought we'd have a dream team.'
Gone.
No one else was there.
Not a single name of the kids I'd marked showed up for the other instruments.
'Stars only on trumpet. The rest average or mostly below...'
A ridiculously unbalanced group had formed.
Whether she sensed my worry or not, Kim Ju-hee opened the hall door with a tense expression.
"Looks like everyone else is already here."
Irregular tuning sounds from countless instruments flooded our ears as we entered.
Kim Ga-eul, who was carrying a chair nearby, spotted us and came running over.
"Oh, Do-hyun! Same group—lucky, right? Who's next to you?"
"Kim Ju-hee, my friend. Same Piano Department."
"Yeah, hi..."
"Nice to meet you, Ju-hee! Gotta drop this chair off."
Kim Ga-eul whooshed by like a storm as usual, and Kim Ju-hee let out a soft sigh.
"Why so tense? She's not even a senior."
"...I'm a bit shy, okay."
"Shy? You?"
"What do you take me for!"
Like last time, she got shy in perfectly normal situations.
We had a bit of time before practice started. We found spots, scanning the kids holding their instruments.
'Memorized all the names, faces look familiar, but no matches.'
No need to memorize perfectly. Just remember by instrument.
"No time, let's match right away! Everyone tune to B♭ first!"
Kim Ga-eul took charge again today, signaling the start. Watching the orchestra settle in orderly, I thought.
'For the first run, just observe.'
Before my part, I needed to assess our group's true face.
A Piano Department friend nearby got picked first.
"Two, three..."
The performance started routinely: same timpani, brass, woodwinds, piano themes as always.
Our group's skill was exactly as poorly expected. The piano especially hard to view favorably.
The only standouts asserting presence were the two trumpets.
"The orchestra feels weaker than I thought... Can I do well there?"
Kim Ju-hee, standing beside me, brushed back her hair and murmured softly.
I recalled her occasional self-doubt or questions to me.
"Ju-hee."
"Yeah."
I kept my eyes forward and said briefly.
"Didn't you say on the day we met you'd play better than me?"
"...Hey, that was, whatever."
A rare snippy reply from her.
If not for exam prep, I'd tease her for a week, but now wasn't the time. Wasn't even meant to tease.
"Ju-hee."
"Ugh, what. Spit it out."
The first run had already ended unnoticed.
Feedback was underway center stage. Ignoring the noise completely, I said.
"I'll go next. Might do something weird."
"You're a bit weird normally."
"I'm serious."
"Me too."
Hey, come on. Hold off on backtalk when I'm trying to act cool.
"...Anyway, I'll tame the orchestra. Just follow my lead. Watch closely."
"What?"
I switched with the first pianist and stepped forward.
As I sat, a voice that made my eyebrows twitch rang out.
"Hey, isn't that the first-day kid? Do, Do... Do-hoon!"
"What? Him?"
Right, not just Lee Hyo-sang—that whole set was in our group.
A scruffy-looking horn player, still seeming dissatisfied, entered my view.
"It's Do-hyun."
"Right, Do-hyun. Sorry, sorry."
"What, did you rig the groups to ride our bus? Lucky you."
She argued a bit back then, so still grumpy? Even though she started it. Kids these days...
"Coincidence."
Kim Ga-eul, hugging her trumpet and glancing around, tilted her head.
"Huh? Something up?"
"Nothing. Let's start."
"Yeah. Let's go, Do-hyun!"
I nodded lightly, sat, took a breath. Reviewed the piano's role in this concerto calmly.
Silent tension.
Despite the cheerful 'Let's go!', nothing but clattering instruments sounded on stage.
"One request before we play."
I stared at the keys, then turned to the orchestra.
"For this exam, just follow the piano. No extra thoughts."
Everyone stared in bewilderment. I'd experienced those loaded gazes many times.
Of course, ideally, intense interaction with the orchestra via concerto would create harmony.
'But the situation's different now.'
Less than a day practice, makeshift members, no conductor.
In these harsh conditions, a firm central axis was needed to lead everyone. That was my conclusion after agonizing, and my role from now.
'Once the orchestra gets used to this, our piano friends will play much easier.'
The persistent horn, always displeased, broke the silence.
"Hey, like last time, is your head okay? No, it's weird."
"What do you mean? Follow you?"
"I don't know..."
Murmurs erupted everywhere, fueling his rebellion.
"What makes you act like hot shit alone? I don't get it. We barely have time to carefully sync up, and you're like, 'follow me'?"
This level of pushback was milder than expected. Could just bulldoze through.
'Chattering annoyingly.'
I half-ignored him, ear-picking, then slammed a low key hard.
"Hey, time's wasting. Try it first."
When flustered, slip in—that's the way. I drummed the piano body loudly, counting beats to prep.
"Two... Three!"
At that, everyone fixed on scores, gripped instruments. Overpracticed, mechanical reactions—amusing.
Timpani boomed immediately, strings and woodwinds welcoming piano.
I watched the slightly creakier orchestra, then unleashed the intense intro.
'Make it crystal clear—I'm the barometer.'
Early on, breaths mismatched predictably. Like piano tugging against orchestra.
Power struggles need pacing, but couldn't finish instilling etiquette this run. I pressed stubbornly without yielding.
"Ah...!"
Some instruments missed beats chasing my tempo. I ignored it.
More fiercely, leaving no room for other thoughts but following piano.
"Horn 2, forte on time!"
"Strings, flow over bowing—woodwinds, too fast!"
During piano rests, I stood, glancing at the full score for makeshift conducting.
Didn't know fine details, but gut pull of how our music should be compensated for clumsy gestures.
'Meshing more precisely.'
Seven-minute runtime was ample to set orchestra direction.
Even the weaker ones— this was Ye-rim Arts High School. Show the path, they'd follow without stumbling; talent overflowed.
'That horn kid's focusing hard, day-before exam.'
Nearing the end, instruments accustomed to piano's control delivered solid playing.
Proof: Kim Ga-eul's powerful trumpet leading with me. Stimulated, Lee Hyo-sang matched, forging fine brass resonance.
'Leads—true soloist position.'
Backed solidly by orchestra.
When I judged everyone grasped my intent, only one note remained on the score.
Twoong—
All players released instruments at once. Faint reverberations spread.
"...Insane."
"Crazy."
With those short exclamations, a bead of sweat trickled by my ear.
Feeling fulfilled exhilaration, I caught my breath, eyed the horn, and spoke.
"Just like that."