The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 148



Only Noblemtl

148 empty seats

* * *

Singapore National Hospital lobby.

“friend?”

“huh! When I came to my senses, I found out that I had become friends with one of her older sisters. “Did you do well?”

“······?”

Suyeon slightly raises her head as if she is triumphant.

He was our younger brother who was loved wherever he went for his unique friendliness.

Suyeon explained to me what happened in the lobby a little while ago.

I became close with her by teaching her how to play the piano, and later we decided to exchange emails.

Since neither of them had a cell phone, they decided to exchange pen pals.

“But did Suyeon have an email?”

“Mom made it right on the spot. I already sent an email to my brother. “Check it out.”

“To me? mail?”

I checked the email Suyeon sent me on my smartphone and immediately burst into laughter.

– Thanks to learning piano from my older brother, I was able to teach him the chopstick march. I guess this is the fun of teaching. Thank you, brother! –

“But where has she gone now? “Did she go back first?”

“ah! right! That older sister came all the way here to ‘secretly’ play the piano! I was really surprised!”

“stealthily?”

“huh. So her mom came and drove her to her ward. Yes?”

My mother, who was listening to our conversation, nods.

“It did. The nurses said they were very surprised. “You’ve been looking for it for a long time.”

“You must have had a hard time.”

“It’s no big deal. “On the contrary, Su-yeon had a hard time.”

“Ahem. “Mom, I did my part today, didn’t I?”

“Tsk tsk. okay.”

Suyeon continued to boast.

I communicated well with her in English and taught her how to play the piano well, but by the time we parted ways, she even asked me if I was a pianist.

“Sooyeon is amazing, isn’t she?”

“Hi-Hi. “It’s all thanks to my brother.”

“But how did you come up with the idea to teach me how to play the piano?”

“Ah, that’s it”

Suyeon was the first to mention that her sister was wearing a patient gown.

So I thought it was my sick sister.

It seemed like she wanted to play the piano, so even though I didn’t know much about the piano, I helped her play to the best of her ability.

Su-yeon said that she wanted to support her sister no matter what.

I repeated several times that I hoped my sister would get better quickly.

After listening to the story to the end, I looked into Suyeon’s eyes and patted her head.

Really… He was such an amazing younger brother.

“Suyeon is already a pianist. “It’s still difficult for you.”

“I? Hey, no. I can’t play as well as my brother. “I just wanted to support my sister.”

“Those are the thoughts and attitudes a musician should have. As of today, Suyeon must have been a pianist to her. She did so well. awesome. “Our Suyeon.”

“Is that so? Hearing those words from my brother, who is a real pianist, made me feel a bit… “I’m embarrassed.”

Suyeon grabbed her bangs as if pinching them and swept them forward.

Then he secretly asked me a question.

“But did she really have strength?”

“I’m sure it was. “What did you say your name was?”

“Emma Wood. “He said he was two years older than me.”

“And yet you became friends so easily?”

“Hi-Hi. “I guess this is the power of music.”

Emma has been in Singapore for a little over 6 months.

I listen to Suyeon…

I prayed for a moment for the child to get better.

.

.

.

9th floor ward.

“really! “Do you know how surprised we were?”

“······ sorry.”

“What if that happens while I’m away?”

“······ sorry.”

“Whew. so. Are you good at playing the piano?”

Emma looked at Lynn’s eyes and smiled slightly.

“yes! “I even tried playing it!”

“play?”

“My friend told me about it. Have you ever heard of the Chopstick March? I could play with just two fingers. “It’s so simple!”

“······.”

The child suddenly became very bright.

Emma smiled brightly and waved her finger in the air.

Lin looked at that and took a deep breath.

‘okay. Having this mindset will give you much more strength than just getting a test. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

So rather than scolding Emma further, Lynn asked a question.

“Did you have fun?”

“So much! I want to get discharged quickly and learn to play the piano. “I think I can do better if I practice.”

“okay······. “It will definitely happen.”

“of course! So from now on, I will study hard by watching videos. “I also watch a lot of videos of pianists playing.”

Emma began watching pianist Seojin Han’s video again on the tablet she received from her mother.

You might get tired of watching the same video, but Emma’s expression was very bright.

Lynn left Emma in the hospital room and went outside to talk to Emma’s parents.

About the future schedule.

I also asked her not to scold Emma too much.

While the two parents went to settle the bill at the hospital, Lin went back into room 907.

The child is still watching the same video on the tablet.

Emma said, looking at Lynn.

“You said Mr. Lin would also go to see this pianist play, right?”

“That’s it. “I have a connection with that child.”

Emma expressed her envy by making a bright noise that she did not usually make.

“and. Envy you. “I also wanted to hear the pianist play in such a large concert hall.”

“You can do that after you’re discharged from the hospital.”

“right. “That would be fine.”

“And that kid. He said he would also perform a charity concert at our hospital, so I can see him in person then, right? right?”

“yes. I think that will work. He’s such a beautiful performer. I definitely think the pianist is a good person. So I’m looking forward to it. “He is probably a warm-hearted person.”

Lin nodded, remembering Seojin, whom she had briefly met at a meeting a while ago.

“He’s a really kind-hearted kid. Let’s look forward to each day until the day of our performance. Understand?”

Emma smiled wider than ever as she answered that she knew.

“I will do that. “I will wait with happiness every day!”

* * *

The Marina Bay Music Festival was slowly starting.

A music festival showcasing a variety of music.

This festival, which does not discriminate between specific music genres, has been one of Singapore’s representative festivals for over 20 years since its inception.

During this period, people busked freely or performed on outdoor stages, making it easy to listen to music even on the streets.

A city center with a slightly excited atmosphere.

I left that place behind and caught a taxi.

“Could you please go to West Coast Park?”

“West Coast Park is a very long park. Where can I go there?”

I thought it would be quicker to show it rather than explain it, so I took a picture of a point on the map on my smartphone and showed it to the driver.

“How long will it take?”

“I’ll be there in about 20 minutes. But that place has nothing to do with music festivals. There are not many people during this time. “Are you sure you showed me this map correctly?”

“yes that’s right. I’m only going to stop by for a moment. “Please.”

The taxi left immediately.

After the second rehearsal at Esplanade, instead of going back to the hotel, I secretly took a taxi.

Like ‘that older sister’ I heard about from Suyeon, I might be doing something similar.

The taxi driver explained everything along the way.

Since Singapore is a famous tourist destination, it seems like you had a lot to talk about.

“Actually, the Marina Bay Music Festival used to be a festival held in July and August. However, when the period was moved to December and January, it actually became more popular. “The number of tourists has also increased significantly.”

A fact I already knew.

The driver also asked me if I knew the reason.

I nodded slightly.

“is it so? “It seems like he was a customer who was very interested in Singapore.”

“You can find a lot of things on the Internet. “I ended up looking for it several times.”

“haha. “I am so grateful for your interest in Singapore.”

The taxi driver told an old story.

The story is that about 10 years ago, an AC162 plane crashed near here.

Since the incident took place in August, the Marina Bay Music Festival was moved to the end of the year to commemorate that time.

There is even talk of music festivals becoming more popular as it worked out well.

I looked out the taxi window at the coast of Singapore and listened to the driver’s explanation.

I opened the window.

A lukewarm wind blows into the taxi.

As the car sped up, the wind turned a little colder.

The taxi driver kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

About 10 minutes had passed like that.

“uh! if······!”

The driver recognized who I was.

“In Singapore, more people recognize me than I expected.”

“oh my. no. I should have found out sooner, but I feel sorry. He was a ‘child of hope’. “You came here because there was a performance this time, right?”

“That’s it.”

“But it’s West Coast Park… Now I understand a little bit. no wonder. “I was wondering why I would go to a place where not many people go.”

I smiled calmly and asked the driver.

I hope you don’t have to tell other people that I went there.

He said he hoped he would go quietly and return quietly.

Fortunately, the driver nodded.

“Of course you should. In my opinion… “You seem to be doing something truly grateful, and I will help you leave quietly and return.”

“thank you.”

Some time after that.

The taxi stopped and I paid the fare in cash.

I opened the car door and got out.

This place, located at the end of West Coast Park, was an impressive place with an open space.

The coast of Singapore was visible at a glance, and thanks to the sun that had just begun to set, the sunset shimmered on the sea.

I took a step.

There was a large information board not far from the entrance.

Memorial Ground in West Coast Park.

This was a memorial site for the casualties of the AC162 accident.

The AC162 accident 11 years ago, in which there were no survivors.

It was written that after the accident, safety rules for pilots were strengthened, and inspection details began to be more detailed overall.

so.

Thanks to this, no one died in the AC2505 accident.

Seeing that there was a mention of the ‘AC2505 accident’, it seemed to be a recently created information board.

I passed the large vacant lot behind the information sign.

At the beginning of the downhill cliff, a long horizontal marble slab was erected.

Several names were written on the sea side of the marble tablet.

“Aisha Walker.”

“Payton Mitchell.”

“Nam Yeon-ho.”

“Wangwon.”

“Werui.”

······.

I don’t know what order they were written in, but I read them all out loud.

And when you read these names halfway through.

“mark······. Miller…”

I was able to find the name I wanted.

I reached out my hand and touched the name.

Intaglio engraved on marble.

The name is…

It was very cold.

I sat down in front of him.

“Fortunately, the name was engraved so that the sea was clearly visible. It’s a place with nice scenery, too. Yes?”

There was no answer.

“at that time. When I just came out of the desert island, I was out of my mind. I never thought a place like this would exist. And a lot of things happened to me during that time. That’s why I came a little late.”

I continued speaking.

“Well, there’s a guitar we used well, right? I found the owner. He worked on a song with me, and now he has become a very famous singer in Korea.”

“I also sang a song? Of course, we also ranked first in Korea. Maybe I’m growing faster than you? It took you a long time to get to first place. “Of course, that’s America.”

“I also participated in the Ettlingen Competition.”

“I also met your friend, Mr. Richter.”

“however······.”

I looked at the sky.

“I came here to Singapore because I had a lucid dream like you. Even though I went to the hospital in my dream, I couldn’t see or feel anything. In that case, I… “What on earth were you expecting?”

“I wonder if I hoped to meet you, even if only in my imagination. Or maybe he wanted to see it with his own eyes. Or maybe he wanted me to know what the humming he heard from me was. Even though it’s my opinion, I… I do not know.”

“Will I be able to find out if I perform? Esplanade. and performing at the Singapore National Hospital. “Maybe you’ll notice something at the end of that performance.”

I ended up laughing bitterly while talking to the man.

“It’s just as you said. Even after many years, I’m still a child. Even after 10 years, I will still look young to you. Because I still think like this. “I’m just a child imagining various things.”

As I was watching the sunset, an uninhabited island came to mind.

The sight of Yunseul sparkling on the sea that I saw there remained in my memory.

“I once made a wish at the fountain in Ettlingen.”

I spoke honestly here.

“I wish you would show me your face at least once. You don’t have to say hello. I still want to see it… So I made that wish. and······. “I sincerely hoped that you would truly find peace.”

“So that’s what we’re going to play here. So that you and everyone can find peace. “I will play it so that the rescue team and medical staff who saved me can feel peaceful.”

“mister. Uncle Miller.”

I looked at the setting sun.

“Isn’t it too shameful to see this scene alone every day?”

“This······. “It’s such a beautiful scenery.”

“therefore.”

“As long as I’m here, I see the same scenery.”

“And please listen to my music.”

“For Mr. Miller, who has never heard me play the piano…”

“Because this is how I came here in person.”

“So, you have to grant me this favor.”

“That’s fair.”

“Right? mister.”

I stood up and looked out over the sea for a while.

I promised to come here again…

I returned to the park entrance.

however.

A taxi driver was waiting for me there.

What on earth were they thinking, waiting for me like this?

Would you have thought that I, a person who was involved in the AC 2505 accident, would be filled with emotion while looking at the Memorial Ground for the AC 162 accident?

Or was it just that they were considerate of me because I was a ‘child of hope’?

Fortunately, the taxi driver didn’t ask me anything.

When I arrived, I spoke to the driver, and he remained silent and drove.

Darkness began to fall on Singapore.

The road has already become dark.

The streetlights come on and illuminate the surroundings.

Was the schedule a bit too much after coming to Singapore?

Practice and rehearsal.

Meetings and conferences.

Meeting many people.

The resulting fatigue seemed to come all at once.

For some reason, I felt warm, as if someone was covering me with a blanket.

In the dark taxi, I closed my eyes for a moment.

A very short but very sweet sleep was waiting for me.

This alone…

I thought it was a good thing I came to Singapore.

.

.

.

“mister! mister!”

“why?”

“Do you know what I will do after I win the competition?”

Uncle Miller smiles at me.

“You said you wanted to stand on a big stage. I’ve heard it 20 times already. “You said you wanted to show your music to a wide audience.”

“that’s right. That’s definitely true. “What if I stand on such a big stage?”

I confidently declared.

“I’ll give you the best seat as a gift. “So that you can listen to great music.”

“To me?”

“yes. Only then will he be able to properly evaluate my music. However, the ticket price will be quite expensive… “I’ll only do that occasionally, when it’s the most important performance.”

“It’s salty? Are you salty a lot?”

I was a person who argued about things.

“You said that. They say that you can only truly appreciate a performance if you buy the tickets in person. Still, I will give Mr. Miller the most consideration. You are a true teacher who made me truly understand what music is. “I’ll give you some special favors.”

Uncle Miller laughed to himself and patted my head.

Even though I try to avoid Him, He doesn’t care.

“I’ll have to work harder to save up money to go see all your performances. However, for now, we have to get out of here first. Don’t forget to memorize the scores I gave you whenever you have time. If you don’t know something, ask me at the time. got it?”

“all right. And wait and see. Because I will show you a touching performance on a truly amazing stage. You might be surprised later. So you can’t forget it. “I said I would give you the best seat as a gift.”

“okay. I get it. I will never forget your words. “I will always look forward to your future.”

* * *

On the day of the performance.

Esplanade, Singapore’s representative concert hall.

Many people gathered here to watch a boy perform.

Even though there was a long time left until the performance started, the concert hall was already full.

People crowded into the 2,000-seat auditorium.

however.

One of the middle seats on the first floor of the concert hall was empty.

Seeing that particularly noticeable appearance, the person in charge of the concert asks a colleague.

“Why is that seat empty? “Has the audience arrived yet?”

“well. “I think that’s because there’s still a lot of time left.”

“Uhm. “Because it was a performance of ‘Child of Hope,’ most of the audience came early.”

At that time, a person who was familiar with the facts gave them an answer.

“That seat was purchased by ‘Hope Child’ herself. “They said they bought it right when the tickets went on sale.”

“Oh yeah? “So is he trying to invite someone himself?”

“that’s right. But they said the audience who would be sitting in those seats might not be able to come. However, on the other hand, he could come at any time, so he asked me to leave that seat empty.”

“iced coffee. Then you will understand.”

“It could be because some of the masters are very busy.”

“okay. “Because it happens often.”

Those involved in the performance who had doubts soon began to get busy.

The start time of the performance is getting closer and closer.

The audience was conversing with each other and expressing their expectations for the performance.

Only the empty seats on the Esplanade remain silent.