Chapter 58
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Ten Things I Already Know (2)
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Thanks to the students' overwhelming enthusiasm, the remaining class time was turned into self-study. Teacher Choi Je-hun's mocking expression at their unprecedented show of academic zeal was something I'd never forget.
I quickly wrapped up my summary of the third evaluation, and with not much time left, the end-of-class bell rang before I knew it.
"Let's go."
"Ah, I can't decide if I should practice piano or study this weekend."
"Do both."
"Hey, Do-hyun!"
I was tucking my notebook under my arm, getting ready to stand, when a shadow suddenly blocked my view, filling the space around me.
Along with an awkward voice calling my name, one I'd never heard before.
"...?"
I slowly looked up, and there were several faces staring down at me. Piano Department students had crowded around my desk in a bizarre standoff. They were all just familiar faces—no hellos, no nothing. Distant acquaintances at best.
"What's this, a group ambush?"
"You... you know all those assigned pieces, right...?"
"Could you explain them to us? Please?"
"There's so much I don't know. It'd be easier if I understood before my lesson."
"You really studied a ton, huh? How'd you figure it all out? I'm impressed."
Guys and girls alike swarmed me, jostling and pleading like a marketplace brawl.
I scanned the bewildered scene, making eye contact with each one. Awkwardness, embarrassment, anticipation, desperation... a flurry of emotions crossed their faces.
Finally, I stood up fully and pushed my chair in.
"I don't think that's gonna work."
There are only two reasons people grant favors: mutual benefit, or because they're noble enough to endure the hassle.
This offered me nothing in return, and I'm definitely not the type to go around meddling and handing out help like some saint.
Being on the receiving end of vague expectations is a real drag.
"Huh, yeah?"
"...You're saying no?"
They looked stunned, like they'd expected me to reluctantly nod and agree. How sheltered had they been, living in some fairy-tale utopia?
And among the crowd was a guy who'd snorted derisively and laughed at me plenty when I got placed in Class A.
Petty? Narrow-minded? Holding grudges? Not at all. This was pure rational judgment.
Probably.
"Just Google it. It'll come up quick. Figure it out yourself—it's easy."
"Uh..."
"Hey, hey, let's just go."
"Sorry, Do-hyun. That was sudden, huh? Good luck, ace the test."
They flashed awkward smiles a few times before vanishing from sight. I let out a shallow sigh and nodded at Lee Seong-hyuk to get moving.
Being ignored outright would've been worse, sure, but it still irked me. They weren't even people I'd exchanged morning greetings with.
"That was satisfying as hell, right?"
Lee Seong-hyuk was humming cheerfully, more excited than I was—the one who'd just turned them down.
"What's so funny?"
"Think about it. Back at the start of the semester. Then during the second eval, it felt like we were kinda hanging out, and now they're asking for favors? Isn't that hilarious?"
"Funny for you, maybe. I need to be the one laughing."
"We're in this together, fate-bound buddies."
"Gross. Ugh, get off me or die."
I shoved Lee Seong-hyuk away as he leaned in and finally started walking. Halfway down the hall, my other shoulder felt empty, so I asked him.
"Where're Ha-yeon and Ju-hee?"
"They went with Ye-ri."
Seo Ye-ri... She needed to score well this evaluation too. She'd been doing okay until she bombed the last one hard.
'Guess I finally have some bandwidth to worry about others.'
The situation was amusing enough that I chuckled. Heading down the stairs back to class, I spotted a familiar face.
"Gaeul, long time no see."
Kim Gaeul was leaning against the hallway window, staring blankly outside. She lit up with a big smile when she saw me.
"Do-hyun...! There you are."
But the smile faded fast. She marched over, her expression turning stormy as she laid into me.
"Well, if it isn't the king of lameness, icon of betrayal, backstabber extraordinaire—the guy who ditched us for fancy steak alone after saying 'let's all grab some meat'—Kwon Do-hyun..."
"I've been apologizing all last week. Cut me some slack. And I told you, a senior treated me."
"Ow—."
I flicked her forehead with my palm, and she staggered back dramatically.
In the end, that mishap wrapped up with me explaining for days that I hadn't meant to ditch them.
"Where were you headed? Class? Who's the guy?"
"You're Kim Gaeul, right? The trumpet girl? Hi, I'm Lee Seong-hyuk, Do-hyun's best friend..."
Lee Seong-hyuk intercepted my question, buzzing with excitement.
Clearing his throat as he stepped forward, he looked like a warrior charging into battle without a care.
"How do you usually practice to play so well? When did you start trumpet? You skip lessons and classes a lot, right—is that true? And you're still top of the trumpet department? Oh, I heard Tchaikovsky during the second eval too..."
I knew this would happen. I hung back a few steps, flustered, watching his enthusiasm blaze.
Just as I was about to intervene—isn't that overkill for a first meeting?—I caught Kim Gaeul's mouth splitting into a massive grin. Her lips twitching, she twisted her body coyly and said,
"Heehee, yeah, I'm pretty good, huh? Ask away—I'll answer everything!"
I'd forgotten she wasn't big on humility either. Reduced to a bystander, I could only watch their interview-turned-fanmeet awkwardly.
Once he'd filled his notebook enough, Lee Seong-hyuk bowed repeatedly with thanks, retreating with a satisfied grin. His chin-jerk toward me—like, "your turn now"—rubbed me the wrong way.
"That guy's cool, Seong-hyuk. Doesn't seem like the betraying type."
Kim Gaeul planted herself boldly in front of me. I'd just wanted a quick chat, but she'd eaten up all my time.
"Oh, right. Do-hyun, did you get the evaluation notice too? Trumpet's was last week~. Mine's midterms, so I'm skipping. Gotta practice trumpet instead."
Kim Gaeul seemed as far from studying as anyone. In arts high, though, academics mattered especially for piano majors.
Conveniently, she brought up what I wanted to ask.
"How do trumpet evals usually go?"
"Dunno, super boring. Always basic technique, scales, arpeggios, and lame études for assigned pieces."
Made sense for first-years—simple format. But compared to piano's dynamic evals, it felt oddly plain. We'd done all sorts, even dragged in a percussion senior midway.
"Nothing else?"
"Nah, second eval was weird though. Even brass seniors said they'd never done anything like it as first-years."
Weird... Da-eun sunbae's guess that the second eval was a full music department thing for piano flickered in my mind.
A sudden question popped up, so I gave her a quick rundown of the third piano eval. Her eyes widened, and she whined enviously.
"I'm jealous... Sounds fun! Why don't we get that? We're orchestra instruments! Shouldn't we get even bigger-scale tests than piano?"
Tell me about it.
I watched her rationalize her lesson-skipping as "tests are boring anyway," then bid her a casual goodbye.
The question lingered. Why was piano the only department with such varied, special evaluations?
"Is our principal a pianist maybe?"
"Nah, conductor."
"Then shouldn't orchestra instruments get more love? Or maybe the music dept head's piano?"
"Nope, conducting too."
Lee Seong-hyuk's knowledge of the dept head's major didn't surprise me anymore. I'd asked because I figured he'd know.
"Huh, weird."
Whatever—better than tossing a couple assigned pieces and saying "practice." At least it was fun. I'd be kicking myself if I hadn't made Class A.
The breeze was refreshing.
Not too cold, not too hot. Embroidered greenery swayed, rugged granite and abstract sculptures dotted the vast central garden of Ye-rim Arts High School.
Weekend. No way was I holing up in the dorm in this weather, so I'd grabbed my laptop and headed out.
Quiet. Only distant car engines and rustling leaves in the wind.
'Ye-rim—arts forest? Explains all the trees.'
Midterms weren't fully over, but I had some breathing room. Even on a test-weekend, I could ditch studying for third eval prep.
My laptop screen had short notes on the ten assigned pieces' features—based on experience. I planned to relisten to everything, add new insights, and make a summary to share just with my close friends. Strangers could fend for themselves; my people were my responsibility.
'First up... Mazeppa.'
I was plugging in my earphones when my pocket buzzed.
Call from Kim Ju-hee.
"Hey, Ju-hee."
[...I realized something.]
Heavy topic for a sunny weekend afternoon. Her unusually calm voice felt off too.
"Realized what?"
[Eating walnuts won't suddenly make you smarter or ace tests.]
"...What?"
[Seong-hyuk said so too. So I'm done with them. Almost all fat—makes you gain weight.]
"Hey."
I gripped the phone tighter against my ear, hands frantic.
"Hey, no. Rethink it. Bring walnuts now. Put 'em in your mouth. You... you could win a Nobel if this pans out."
[What're you talking about. Heading to study.]
"Hey, Ju-hee! Kim Ju-hee!"
The call ended as abruptly as it started. My last plea echoed into the void.
I stared blankly at the "Call Ended" screen.
'...Maybe I should eat some walnuts.'
Stunned by the debunking of my trivia, I felt footsteps nearby. A couple strolling the garden, chuckling at me.
"That's the jazz kid, right?"
"For real. Fight with his girlfriend?"
Casual clothes made it hard to tell, but probably seniors. They recognized me from YouTube.
I gave an embarrassed smile in reply. They waved and walked off.
"Loved the video~."
"Come back on sometime! It was fun."
No big fangirling, so not instrument majors probably.
YouTube appearances might have more reach than I'd thought.
'...Back to the music.'
I grinned watching videos of the first theme's five pieces. As a performer, my skills were growing—things I hadn't noticed before stood out now.
Like subtle technique differences per player, or common mistouch spots revealing performance challenges.
In other words, my performer's eye was opening. Details invisible without that perspective were revealing themselves.
'Am I finally broadening my horizons...?'
The thought filled me with pride. I ditched the summary and headed straight to a practice room.
Door swung open to an empty room. I pulled up Mazeppa's score and propped my phone to record.
"Whew... fingers hurt."
Time flew in my excitement.
Not exactly a performance, but it felt good. Right after regression, I couldn't even touch it, let alone finish—completing it was progress.
I sent the recording straight to Lee Ha-yeon.
[Me: (video)]
[Me: How's this?]
[Lee Ha-yeon: Huh?]
[Lee Ha-yeon: This...]