Chapter 68
Kim Junwoo, 14 years old. He was of average height and had a clean, attractive face. A boy who was always popular, a good student, and a piano prodigy who swept various national competitions. Junwoo, a hardworking genius who studied and practiced from the moment he woke up until he fell asleep, was on his way to Soo-hyun's house.
'It's strange.'
A while ago, Junwoo had admitted Soo-hyun's superiority after watching him practice. It was a shame to have to find satisfaction in being slightly better at math, but once he accepted it, his inferiority complex disappeared and he began to see him as someone to learn from. They became friends, walking to and from school together and studying languages at Soo-hyun's house.
However, after it was decided that Soo-hyun would participate in the Beethoven Competition, he began to act strangely.
'Jooyoung says he's half-asleep during class. His eyes are open, but his mind is elsewhere. Even during piano class, when he should be most excited, the same thing happens. It seems like he has no energy, but that doesn't mean he's been neglecting practice, because Professor Lee Chan-ho says he's playing incredibly well. I often stop by his practice room to watch him play. A perfect performance. But Soo-hyun, who performs it, looks like he's dying of sleep deprivation.'
'What are you doing, practicing all night? That's cheating. Do you practice at night? Soo-hyun's house doesn't have soundproofing. Even if it did, the piano vibrates. Practicing all night is impossible.'
"Electronic piano?" Junwoo shook his head. 'You can practice with headphones, but the action is different. A student preparing for a competition would never do that. Besides, Professor Lee Chan-ho hasn't supervised Soo-hyun's practice since this week. He's doubled my lesson time. If he made that decision, it means Soo-hyun no longer needs his guidance. What kind of exercises are you doing? Who are you learning from?'
Junwoo was walking, lost in thought. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of him. He almost collided with it and stopped. It was a woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else."
"…"
The moment he saw her face, Junwoo felt as if time had stopped.
'A white face. A prominent nose. Pretty lips. She is an impressively pretty girl with round, beautiful eyes. Even though she's wearing a tracksuit, she's incredibly pretty.'
"Ah…" he blurted out. 'I felt like hitting myself in the head.' He couldn't think of what to say. "I-I'm sorry…"
Just then, a familiar voice came from above.
"Jaehee, where are you going?"
Junwoo looked up and saw Ji-ye on the fourth-floor terrace.
"Oh wow, is Junwoo here too?"
"Ah, yes…"
'Wait! Jaehee? That girl in the disheveled outfit that didn't let you see her eyes?'
Junwoo looked at Jaehee in surprise. She quickly looked away.
"You… you…"
Jaehee stared at him. Just looking into her eyes seemed to take his breath away.
"Jae… Jaehee? You?"
She nodded. Junwoo pointed to himself.
"Do you know me?"
She nodded again. 'Of course I know you. We've run into each other several times.'
"Oh, hello?" he waved awkwardly. 'What an idiot! What the hell am I doing?'
At that moment, Ji-ye's voice was heard again.
"Soo-hyun, Junwoo is here. Is Jaehee down there too?"
Jaehee's face flushed, and she looked up at the fourth floor with anticipation. Junwoo followed her gaze and saw Soo-hyun appear.
"What are you doing there? If you're here, come up," Soo-hyun said to Junwoo. Then he looked down at Jaehee. 'Are you disappointed because he isn't talking to you?' Jaehee's eyes trembled. Then, Soo-hyun's voice was heard.
"Jaehee, where are you going? I have to print some sheet music. Will you be back late?"
Joy filled Jaehee's eyes. Her already pretty eyes curved like crescent moons as she shook her head.
"Very soon?"
Nod.
"Are you running an errand?"
Nod.
"Going to buy some side dishes?"
Nod.
"Then wait. I'll buy you a snack. Junwoo is here too. Let's stop by the supermarket together."
Soo-hyun's head disappeared. Jaehee clasped her hands and wiggled her body, full of anticipation.
'Do you like Soo-hyun? No, tell me you don't.'
"Excuse me…" Junwoo said.
Jaehee looked at him as if to ask what was wrong. Her gaze was completely different from the one she had when she looked at Soo-hyun.
'As expected, my thoughts were correct.'
Junwoo shook his head.
"No… nothing."
Soon, Soo-hyun, dressed in a tracksuit, ran in front of them. His face still looked sleepy.
"I just woke up and I'm dizzy."
'What time do you go to bed?'
Soo-hyun took the lead.
"Come on, the supermarket is close."
Jaehee stood still, signaling for him to go first. Junwoo walked alongside Soo-hyun.
'It would be better to talk to the quiet Soo-hyun.'
"What time did you sleep?"
"Ah, that's what happened. Ha, I'm so sleepy."
"Are you sick?"
"No, I'm just tired."
"From what?"
"Well, it's because I'm practicing."
"Is it okay to play the piano at night in your neighborhood?"
"No."
"Then, isn't the amount of practice similar to mine?"
Soo-hyun's eyes widened and he looked at Junwoo.
'Should I tell you everything? You won't believe me even if I tell you, ugh.'
Soo-hyun shook his head and kept walking. Junwoo looked back and saw Jaehee smiling at Soo-hyun. He frowned.
'You envious bastard!! With those skills and that appearance, did you really have to take everything?'
"Hey, if you could meet Beethoven, what would you do?" Soo-hyun said, as if acting.
"What are you talking about?"
"Just think about it."
"Why? It's something that will never happen. It's a waste of time."
"Oh, just think about it. What are you going to do?"
"Well, I guess I'd ask him to teach me."
Soo-hyun looked back, scratching his head.
"Jaehee, you? If Paganini were in front of you, would you ask him to teach you?"
She nodded.
"What if Paganini had a really bad personality, was always shouting and throwing sheet music?"
'Huh?'
"What if Beethoven had diarrhea and during a lesson, got irritated and ran to the bathroom?" said Soo-hyun.
'What the hell is this guy talking about?' Junwoo sighed. "I'd still have to ask him to teach me. If I endure for a moment, I can learn from Beethoven. What's the problem?"
Junwoo looked at Jaehee.
"But it's not that."
'It may seem like useless chatter, but Jaehee seems to like everything Soo-hyun says.'
"Ha, please let today end an hour earlier," Soo-hyun said with sleepy eyes.
"What?"
"No, let's buy some snacks. Junwoo, you choose too. I'll buy you something."
Junwoo randomly chose a snack and waited at the counter. But it took a long time for Jaehee to arrive. Junwoo saw Soo-hyun standing by the counter, looking at the supermarket lady, who was winking and nodding repeatedly.
'What are they doing?'
Soo-hyun sighed deeply, put his hands in his pockets, and headed towards the snack display.
"Ha, there he goes again."
After a while, Soo-hyun's voice was heard.
"You look pretty today."
'Huh? What does that mean?'
And Jaehee, who hadn't arrived despite having waited so long, was seen following Soo-hyun with two snacks in her arms in less than 10 seconds.
'Damn it, you're a bad boy. You say you like such a pretty girl, but what's with that expression? That's an expression of boredom, that's all! Smile for me at least! It's even more annoying when you make that kind of expression when you have everything!'