The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 112



Only Noblemtl

112 Unexpected performance

* * *

On the train to Berlin.

“Seojin, did you hear? Did you hear? Our tickets are already sold out! I guess expectations are high for this gala show. I guess it’s because I’m the youngest winner, right? “Maybe so.”

Anna sat across from me and was busy reading German press articles.

Suyeon, who was sitting next to me, looked at me closely as if she was curious about Anna’s words, and I did the translation first.

After hearing the story, Suyeon nodded and patted my hand.

“As expected, my brother. Thank you for your hard work on the contest. “I feel proud because now it seems like people other than me are recognizing my brother’s playing.”

I chuckled when I heard that.

“So Sooyeon was the first to notice my playing?”

“of course! I told you this two and a half years ago. I’m sure my brother will be fine. I do not remember?”

“······ Sooyeon, do you remember what happened two and a half years ago?”

“brother. I have a good memory. My brother’s playing was great even back then. It’s still clear! how is it? “Now it’s proven that I’m right, right?”

“Sooyeon really turned out as she said.”

Su-yeon exclaims, “Ahem!” and looks happy.

He was a truly trustworthy younger brother.

Meanwhile, Anna was staring at us and grumbling a little.

I want to participate in the conversation, but why won’t they provide interpretation?

He was a little like an annoying little brother.

“joy. Just wait and see. Because I will study Korean too. “I guess there won’t be many days left for you to bully me like this.”

“okay. work hard.”

“Is that still going to happen?”

Seeing Anna’s cheeks puffing out, it seemed like she could be considered a younger sister than Suyeon.

There was no direct train from Ettlingen to Berlin, so I had to transfer once.

The second train was much more luxurious and had wider seats.

There were also minor differences.

“This train has a separate snack compartment. “Let’s go have fun!”

There is a space where children can enjoy snacks.

Anna dragged Suyeon and I to the snack section, and Louis joined us a little later.

There wasn’t anything great about it.

It’s about being able to eat ice cream and snacks that you can usually buy at the supermarket on the train.

All we could do was sit on a chair facing out the window and chat.

‘Still, it has its own romance.’

The ice cream eaten on the train while viewing Germany’s nature was well worth the price.

Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing, just looking at Suyeon with ice cream around her mouth while looking outside blankly.

After Sooyeon wiped her mouth with a wet tissue, I also joined in admiring the scenery.

Still, we talked endlessly about music and performances.

Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra.

In the past, it was called the Berlin Symphony.

After conductor Kai Hoffman became the principal conductor, it went through upheaval and became Germany’s leading orchestra.

They seem to have a strong sense of pride as an orchestra with a history and strong tradition.

A few years ago, it was said that the person who became the concertmaster also had the same personality.

“Alexandra Roden. Perfectionist movement. “He’s quite famous in Berlin.”

“Perfectionist?”

“When things get bad, he calls me until 3 a.m. I think I need more practice. Or how about changing the interpretation? He is also famous for bullying the conductor and members. “I heard there were cases where people were actually called out.”

“You are a great person.”

“Mr. Hoffman also shook his head. So, you too, be careful. Luis and I can just do the first part solo, but for the second part, you also have to talk to the concertmaster, right? “What would I do if I was called away at dawn?”

“I see. I have to work hard. “I need to be good at persuading people to play.”

“Hmm. For your information, since this is Seojin, I’m giving you special information. So please thank me.”

“······ Thank you so much.”

Anna raised the corners of her mouth and answered shamelessly.

“You just need to know. Wouldn’t you like to have one more ice cream? “I’ll buy you one.”

Even if you know it, you don’t know it.

As I didn’t have any change, I had to nod, and Anna repeated, “Be thankful.”

When I returned to my original seat on the train, I had a chance to talk to Anna’s mother. As she passed down the train corridor, she asked Anna to introduce me.

I’ve seen him a few times in passing in Ettlingen, but this was the first time we’ve exchanged formal greetings like this.

After exchanging brief greetings, a thought immediately occurred to me.

‘You are a very polite person. Unlike Anna.’

The way you speak and the way you act.

He was a very calm and polite person.

“It was a lot of hardship coming from Korea to Germany. It’s very difficult to come to an unfamiliar place and show off all your skills. However, I was really surprised by the wonderful performance. “Ettlingen, first place, my sincere congratulations.”

“thank you. I was able to gain strength because Anna helped me a lot. Thanks to this, she was able to live comfortably in Ettlingen.”

“really? really? Did I help you? “But why didn’t you tell me!”

“is that so. On the contrary, it’s nice to see that Anna has found a friend of her own. “If she ever comes to Munich to visit, please contact me.”

“huh! huh! “Please contact me unconditionally!”

“All right. “I will definitely do that if I get the chance.”

“is it so.”

“Seojin! Munich is much better than Berlin! “It’s so cool even in the summer!”

Anna’s parents said they run a hospital in Munich.

They are both doctors.

It’s usually hard to come see Anna’s performance because she’s so busy, but this time she took the time to come to Ettlingen because it was a large-scale competition.

“But this time, I plan to go back to Munich after seeing Anna’s gala show. “It’s been a while since I talked to Anna a lot.”

He also said that if time permits, he would like to treat me to a meal.

Anna hugged her mother and said, “Of course, mom is the best!” Let’s buy Seojin something delicious! There are a lot of delicious German foods. right? “Right?” she whined, and her mother stroked Anna’s head several times.

Anna was very excited until Anna, I, and Suyeon returned to our original positions.

“You’re human too, so you probably have time to rest. Let’s go to Munich together on time. How about coming to play with your family on vacation? I can also apply for a day off at the gifted center. You can stay at my house in Munich. Our house is spacious! “There are lots of rooms!”

“······.”

I looked at Anna quietly.

Anna tilted her head, not knowing why.

and.

I asked a question I thought I knew the answer to.

“Anna. “You’re an only child, right?”

“But why? “More than that, how did you know I was an only child?”

“No, I just think so.”

“······?”

What should I do with this immature child?

With that in mind, I spent some leisurely time on the train.

* * *

“It’s finally Berlin! “I missed you!”

Anna, who said she had been living in Berlin for only ‘two years’, began to take the lead by acting as a housewife.

Tomorrow will be my first meeting with the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra.

There was no schedule today other than personal practice.

It was the same when I left Ettlingen, but I had to say goodbye to several musicians.

Among them, the one who is looking at me intently.

Professor Max Richter continued his conversation calmly.

“If I had time, I would have loved to see the gala show, but I can’t help it. “I have to go to France this evening.”

“You said there was a recital.”

“okay. Since I had to think about my age, I had to practice for a long time. “Time has become a bit harsh.”

Dr. Richter said I could contact him at any time.

Anytime, no matter how trivial it may be.

Those words felt very warm.

Mr. Richter put the violin case down on the floor and gave me a light hug.

I once again told the teacher that I really liked Nocturne No. 20, which he played yesterday.

“I hope that helps you even a little.”

“Maybe so.”

“······ okay.”

Mr. Richter smiled kindly and left Berlin Central Station first.

It was a bit of a regretful parting.

I had that feeling, so I had to watch Professor Richter’s back a little longer.

As soon as I unpacked at the hotel, I headed to the practice room.

This is the practice room I used when I came to Germany this time, so there was no need to be guided again.

Nothing much happened except Professor Kang Yu-han who came to help me practice and left.

“oh! I guess it’s over now? Are you really practicing hard? I don’t think you need to go that far. “I’ve waited a long time!”

Just one thing.

Except for Anna squatting at the entrance to the practice room and waiting for me, nothing much happened.

I found out that Anna had been using this practice room from the beginning.

“How long have you been waiting?”

“About 50 minutes?”

“You are truly sincere too.”

“why! what! Are you funny? By the way, a promise is a promise, right?”

The promise Anna is talking about started from my words at the Ettlingen awards ceremony, ‘If you keep quiet, I will play hard with you one day.’

‘okay. ‘Because a promise is a promise.’

As I watched Anna following me around, I couldn’t help but smile.

So we decided to have fun until it got dark.

“You originally said it would be all day, right?”

“Children shouldn’t play out that late.”

“You’re a year younger than me?”

“That’s why kids shouldn’t play late.”

“tooth. “Only in times like this does he say he’s young.”

Anna eventually agreed.

Berlin is a famous tourist destination.

There was a lot to see, starting with the cathedral, the Reichstag Building, the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, museums, and art galleries.

If you do a little search, you will find this information.

Anna, who said she knew Berlin intimately, told me to just trust her, but there wasn’t much to it.

“shopping mall?”

“huh. “I also have something to live for.”

“I heard you know Berlin well?”

Anna surprisingly got to the point.

“You said you live in Seoul, right?”

“that’s right.”

“Then what is the most famous place in Seoul?”

“Maybe Gyeongbokgung Palace?”

“Palace? “Then how many times a year do you go there?”

“······.”

I’ve only been there twice in my entire life, not in a year.

Once when I was very young.

One time, Suyeon was just starting to walk.

I told Anna about it.

“look. In fact, if you live here, you won’t go to ‘tourist attractions’ as much as you think. Besides, you said you were curious about the places musicians living in Berlin go, right?”

“It did. “You’re surprisingly sharp.”

“······ Surprised?”

“no. sorry. “Keep going.”

“Hmm. To conclude, the course I am taking is better. In a word, it can be said to be the insight of a local person.”

“But you said you only lived in Berlin for two years. Can I consider you a local?”

“······ There is no need to listen so carefully to what Lewis says. okay?”

Well, whatever.

We excitedly started walking around the shopping malls in Berlin.

Anna was smarter than I thought.

Even though he randomly picked out clothes and asked if I looked good or not, he gave me plenty of time to rest when I looked tired.

They buy me food and drinks.

They even bought me a souvenir.

“A piano-shaped music box?”

“It’s traditional German music. “Make sure you have at least one.”

“But why do you keep buying me things?”

“just. “I only care because you are one year younger than me.”

“······?”

And finally we were able to arrive at our target location within the shopping mall.

“ruler. Is this a very cheap bookstore? You can buy it 30% cheaper than at bookstores in tourist areas. “Let’s choose sheet music or a book.”

“That’s amazing.”

“look. “You always benefit from listening to ‘Anna Becker’?”

“But can’t you use that tone? “I get surprised sometimes.”

“no. This is my identity. “You have to endure it.”

“······.”

Still, thanks to Anna, I was able to get some sheet music really cheaply.

I also chose two books related to music history, which seemed difficult to find in Korea.

“Seojin, can you read all of that? “It looks pretty difficult.”

“You can go to the dictionary and read it.”

“Uhm. okay?”

Anna took the book from me and glanced through it.

Then he quietly tells me.

“Well… if you don’t know something, ask me. “I’m worth reading.”

“It’s going to be quite a hassle, isn’t it?”

“Why don’t I study as well? Instead, when I don’t know something, I hope you can explain it to me.”

Anna glances at me slightly.

I smiled and answered that I understood.

“really?”

“Why would I even lie?”

“Is it true? “Then is it okay for me to call you on a regular basis?”

“Do whatever you feel like. But I didn’t even know your phone number until now. “What’s your number?”

“······!”

As soon as Anna received my smartphone, she immediately entered the number, and I immediately pressed the call button.

When Anna hears the bell, she is as surprised as a cat that found water.

Still, he can’t hide his bright smile.

After doing some basic shopping at the mall, we went to the alley where musical instrument companies were gathered.

Because I was feeling hungry, I bought a currywurst on the street. It is a representative German snack consisting of sausage and French fries topped with a mild curry-flavored sauce.

“how is it? “Isn’t it delicious?”

“and. Is it really delicious? “The sausage is different.”

“that’s right. This is the best restaurant in Berlin. “It’s my old favorite place.”

“So it must have been about two years?”

“······ huh.”

Akaksa Alley was quieter than expected.

There aren’t many people at this time on weekdays.

Thanks to this, I was able to look around comfortably.

As we left the alley, we came across a huge square.

There were benches here and there for people to sit, and there were a few musical instrument companies that looked a little old.

And on one side of the square.

“There’s a piano, right? “I think it’s a place where you can busk.”

As Anna said, there was a place where musical instruments were arranged neatly.

‘This place… was like Hongdae.’

It was set up so that band music could be played in addition to the piano, and judging from the musical instrument store’s name ⌜World Harmonia⌟ written on the huge placard, it seemed to be some kind of promotional tool.

Anna dragged me there without hesitation.

Then he goes into a musical instrument store alone, comes out, and sits in front of the piano.

An upright piano that looks a bit old.

Anna told me.

“I got permission to use the instrument. “Is there a song you want to hear?”

“suddenly?”

“I’m in a good mood today. “It’s because I somehow feel like I want to play.”

“then······.”

After thinking about it, I asked him to play any of Schubert’s songs.

Anna started playing right away without any hesitation.

A theme with a light wit appears on top of a soft melody.

The theme gradually expanded, showing both splendor and elegance.

The few people in the square stop one by one.

The sound of a piano that can be heard clearly even though it is not a grand piano.

Anna started playing playfully, but her skills were definitely amazing.

‘As expected, you’re good at it.’

A small song that lasts less than 5 minutes.

Anna’s Schubert was more pleasant than I imagined.

It was a performance that naturally made people laugh.

When the performance ended, the people watching gave loud applause.

Anna greeted the people lightly and then approached me.

And then he asks me.

“how was it?”

“Good. “I thought it expressed cheerfulness especially well.”

“You’re sharp, too.”

“I?”

“okay. You completely read my mind. Rather, are you not going to play? “A few audience members also gathered.”

Anna looks around.

I followed his gaze and looked around the square, and there were about 7 or 8 people watching us.

“I wonder if it’s really necessary.”

“Eight! Today, I showed you around Berlin’s famous sights. “Can’t you just play one song?”

“well. But wasn’t the place you showed me a famous place?”

“You bought the book and sheet music cheaply. “Then it’s a famous spot.”

“is it?”

Strangely persuasive words.

I nodded.

“Then Anna, is there a song you want to hear too?”

“uh? Are you really playing it?”

“briefly. “Just one song.”

“then······.”

Anna thought for a moment and left it up to me to choose the song.

It was a request to play an unexpected song.

“It’s a unique request.”

“Because today is a special day.”

“okay?”

“huh!”

I looked again at spaces where I could busk.

Before we knew it, the owner of the musical instrument store was also coming out and looking at us.

‘Anna has already shown me how to play the piano…’

I thought it would be okay to relax my hands after a long time.

After much thought, I settled down on a chair in the busking zone.

Then he picked up the acoustic guitar and started tuning it.

Anna, who was watching right in front of me, blinks.

“Seojin, do you know how to play the guitar?”

“any.”

“little?”

“I was so busy preparing for the competition that I barely got any results. There are also people I thought of yesterday. “I think this would be good.”

“······.”

After finishing tuning, I crossed my legs.

I put the guitar on the bridge and tried to sweep the strings.

A softly-sounding chord.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like I was dying.

The song to be played had already been decided.

⌜Don’t Look Back⌟ composed by Uncle Miller.

I have made many choices in my life.

This is a song with impressive lyrics that say that you didn’t make a choice you would regret.

After ⌜Live Forever⌟, it was Uncle Miller’s song that I liked the most.

Thanks to Mr. Richter, I remembered Mr. Miller a lot yesterday.

So, I just happened to want to play the guitar.

I started playing.

From E♭ to Cₘ.

From A♭ to A♭ₘ.

The gentle sound of an acoustic guitar echoes through the square.

Anna Becker is looking at me with wide eyes.

I sang the lyrics without paying attention to anything.

It’s been a while since I wanted to speak out in person.

The lyrics of ⌜Don’t Look Back⌟ flowed naturally from within me.

and.

I slowly closed my eyes.

.

.

.

A very beautiful melody.

A flawless and clear voice.

The two sounds mix together to create a strange atmosphere.

Seojin’s guitar playing seemed very comfortable.

The vocalization also seemed very natural.

That look.

A musician who closes his eyes and focuses solely on music.

It looked truly amazing.

‘What kind of person is he…’

Anna Becker was so surprised by the unexpected situation that she could not move.

I just stared blankly at the stage.

I was busy calming my pounding heart.

Seojin’s performance was short.

Before I knew it, people around me were cheering for Seojin.

They are clapping their hands.

Han Seo-jin left his acoustic guitar in its place and came over.

Anna Becker unconsciously took a slight step back, but Han Seo-jin didn’t seem to care.

Seojin smiled and asked a question.

“how is it. I don’t think I would have expected this at all. “It was an unexpected performance, wasn’t it?”

“······.”

Anna Becker could only nod her head without giving a proper answer.