Time Mansour - Chapter 25



Only Noblemtl

Episode 25: Thoughts of my sister

-You can send a message here. If you sing a song, they’ll help you with your homework. They’re usually very friendly.

A message sent to a group chat by my first customer, an elementary school friend.

After checking the open chat room, I find myself laughing without realizing it.

It was absurd, but on the other hand, it was kind of cute.

It’s not even a college assignment.

Another elementary school homework assignment.

Also from spring manufacturer White Soft.

I’ve heard that you’re somewhat of a Spring expert.

Even though I wasn’t a developer.

Because whenever an issue arose during development, they would contact me.

But now, he’s just sitting in the corner of the room helping the kids with their homework.

In some ways, it might make you feel bad.

I don’t know why I keep laughing.

Homework files and song files sent by students.

Touch the latter of the two first.

The download is complete.

A melody spreads through the narrow room.

The sound of waves rippled through the cell phone speaker.

Choaaaak~ Choawaak~

-Out there in the distant sea~

-I came running down to hit it hard~

-Tossing and turning while making the sound of waves~

-It turns into white foam and shatters into pieces~

-Scattered into the air~

-The night sky becomes a constellation~ It becomes a constellation~

It’s becoming a constellation. I find myself singing along, humming along without realizing it.

Nod your head to the rhythm.

‘You sing well. You should become an idol.’

Once a smile appears on your face, it never leaves.

Lie down in the frozen time and quietly surrender yourself to the music.

A song played for a long time from the cell phone that was thrown on the bed.

**

uh?

What is this?

After opening the homework file, I was so confused that I kept shaking the mouse.

The cursor sways wildly as if the wind is blowing.

Scratch.

It is said to be a simple programming language created for educational purposes for elementary school students.

“···”

I have never seen language like this in my life.

Coding is generally thought of as typing code on a keyboard.

This is a code that is coded by dragging and dropping codes entered with the mouse on a colorful screen.

It was more unfamiliar than any other programming language.

What should I say?

It was more dizzying than difficult.

“Wow. This is crazy. I can’t just do this.”

I can’t do anything about it because I don’t know the mechanism.

Take your hands off the mouse and find the lecture video on your phone.

-Scratch Lesson 1 that even elementary school students can easily learn.

An instructor who teaches at the eye level of elementary school students.

He explains slowly, speaking slowly.

I couldn’t stand it anymore so I uploaded the lecture video at 4x speed.

“Ah. I’ve done all sorts of things in my life.”

While spitting out all sorts of complaints like that.

At the same time, the corners of the mouth slightly rise.

**

I sweated more than I thought.

The world has really changed a lot.

It’s a language for educational programs for elementary school students.

‘If this continues, a language for dementia prevention programs will eventually emerge.’

Should I try making it first?

I pressed the send button while thinking about useless things in my mind.

-I sent it as an attachment with an explanation. If there’s anything you don’t understand, please contact me again.

-Wow! Thank you so much!!!

thank you

Even if you don’t mean it, it’s nice to hear.

-You sing well. Is it your dream to be a singer?

-No. I want to be a professor!

-Really? That’s great. Which professor do you want to be?

-Professor. Just a professor at Korea University!

“···”

I see

Hollywood idol.

And just a professor at Korea University.

really.

Suitable for the word dream.

That was the combination.

**

After receiving a call from Seongtae saying that we would go together sometime.

suddenly.

I came to Sayang-dong in a hurry.

After parking my car in a nearby parking lot, I climb the shallow hill with Seongtae.

Seongtae keeps giggling while holding a receipt next to me.

Looking at that figure, I am reminded of a certain character from a comic book I read as a child.

The comic book protagonist collected marbles.

1 star. 2 stars. 3 stars. 4 stars. 5 stars. 6 stars.

And as a bonus, up to a 7-star orb.

It is said that if you match the numbers on the beads, your wish will be granted.

A tall tale lingers in my head.

“I had a good dream.”

“Wake up.”

“It’s a dream about a pig. And a golden pig at that.”

Without even listening to my nagging.

How much is the first prize this week?

Seongtae searches on his cell phone.

Seongtae keeps looking at his phone while climbing the hill.

I asked a question to Seongtae.

“But why are we here?”

“Huh? You don’t know where this is?”

I know. I know very well. That’s why I clearly asked why you came···

The place we arrived at with Seongtae.

It’s Jong-in School.

A special school located in Sayang 3-dong.

It was a school located next to our middle school, on a small hill.

‘I’ve never seen students before.’

I heard that local residents were opposed to the school’s establishment.

Because the residents don’t want students with intellectual disabilities wandering around.

Commuting to school is by school bus only. Field trips are also by school bus.

So, you couldn’t find any disabled students on the streets.

The students’ traces were erased.

“I know. I know where it is. Why. Why. Why are you here?”

“Oh! Didn’t I tell you? We’re planning to hold a concert at the end of the month. The head monk of Wolgye Temple put me in touch.”

“Concert? Volunteering?”

“Oh. Right.”

Seongtae nodded.

That guy always moves his body first without any explanation.

I don’t know the exact reason, but maybe he brought me here…

I guess it’s because I know a little more about disabled children than others.

“This is my first time coming in here.”

“Well. I didn’t have anything to do.”

As he passes through the school gate, Seongtae looks around.

The playground and school building were no different from any other school.

“Wow wow wow wang wang.”

“Phew, phew.”

As you enter the building, you can hear children talking.

Most of the classroom doors were closed, but some were open.

So the sound of the children talking could be heard all the way down the hallway.

Seongtae turns his head towards me at the sight.

“Why is that classroom door open?”

“The teacher must have gone somewhere. The teacher from the other class has to look after both classes at the same time, so he left the door open.”

Because some children couldn’t go to the bathroom alone, the homeroom teacher often left the classroom.

My older sister went to a similar special school.

Since I heard this directly from the special education teacher there, it’s probably true.

So I walked through the hallway and arrived at the teachers’ office.

“Hello. You’re here.”

“hello.”

As if Seongtae had contacted us in advance, the teacher in charge of the event recognized us and greeted us.

A cute face and a small body. The special education teacher’s cheeks would crease whenever she spoke.

For some reason, Seongtae can’t look the teacher in the eye.

Ever since I came to the teachers’ office, I’ve been touching my head with my hands.

“You said you had something to say about the concert?”

“That’s right. Actually, this is the first time our school has had a band performance···”

“Is there any problem?”

I asked the teacher cautiously.

Actually, there was something that bothered me.

Our song was too loud.

It wasn’t a song suitable for playing at a regular school or special school concert.

“All the songs you sent me… are so loud. I’m really sorry. Are there any songs that are a little more calming?”

He glanced at Seongtae at the expected answer.

A slightly embarrassed expression.

All the songs were composed by Seongtae.

From birth, he was bound to be far from gentle.

It’s just next week.

Because I don’t have time to practice new songs.

I think this performance will be a bit difficult.

At that moment when you make up your mind and are about to reject something.

Seongtae answered one step ahead of me.

“Don’t worry. Music is like pounding a chopping board. It constantly leaves scars on your skin.”

“yes?”

“I will prepare a very calm and heart-warming song by next week.”

Then Seongtae sweeps his hair.

Are you crazy? I barely managed to hold back the swear words from spilling out.

Unlike me, whose face was getting darker.

On the contrary, the teacher’s expression brightened greatly.

“Thank you so much. Actually, I was the one who pushed for the band performance. I wanted to try other performances besides the classical and traditional Korean music that I always do.”

Then he holds Seongtae’s hand and shakes it gently.

Red flowers bloom on Seongtae’s cheeks.

Was Seongtae’s dream about a golden pig really a good dream?

When I saw the special education teacher’s bright smile, I suddenly had that thought.

**

“That song feels too rough.”

“Why not just change the lyrics?”

“Because Guk-yeong has a low IQ, he will never be able to memorize it until then.”

“Are you talking to me about intelligence?”

Instead of playing in the practice room, we discuss.

It’s a mess.

The discussion gradually degenerates into an emotional fight.

This is a team that has never played a soft, non-stimulating performance before.

However, I didn’t have enough time to suddenly practice a new song.

Even songs that have been performed for a long time keep getting played wrong.

When can I practice the new song again?

still.

I raised my hand and asked because it didn’t seem like a decision would be made until the practice room usage time was over.

“Hey, how about just pop songs? You know, the songs we practiced a few times before?”

“I disagree. We should sing our own songs on stage.”

Seongtae shakes his head with a solemn expression.

“It’s not a bad idea. To be honest, I don’t remember those pop songs.”

“Actually, me too.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just slightly touch up the existing song?”

Finally, Myeonggyu spoke.

Then everyone’s eyes turned to Seongtae.

With a look that said, “Can you do it?”

“Okay. Then I’ll remake it as ‘Oseam.’ I performed it recently, so everyone should be familiar with it.”

“Oh Se-am? Then I guess I’ll have to change the lyrics. After all, it’s about the kids dying at the end.”

This time, all eyes are on me.

Everyone was just staring at me blankly.

“Again? Me?”

I got irritated without realizing it.

My face automatically becomes wrinkled.

**

Knock knock. Knock knock.

Tapping on the keyboard.

Black letters appear here and there on a white background and then disappear.

Write and erase repeatedly.

I had no talent for writing.

To exaggerate a little, Java was more convenient than Hangul.

“It’s difficult. It’s hard.”

Since when did I become in charge of the lyrics?

Honestly, I don’t remember very well.

At some point, I just started writing lyrics naturally.

-The temple is quiet at night.

-Across the Milky Way.

-Sometimes a broken syringe will make your teeth hurt.

-Aquarius is broken and fragmented

no.

‘Broken’ and ‘broken into pieces’ are not allowed.

It is best to write sentences that are as warm and beautiful as possible.

Some people with intellectual disabilities would repeat words over and over again without even knowing their meaning.

I heard it from my sister’s attending physician.

‘You have to be careful with what you say in front of others, even in normal times.’

After hearing that from the doctor, I never spoke to my sister again.

Because I didn’t have the confidence to face my sister without getting annoyed.

I thought I did my best.

Looking back, I was definitely not a good younger brother.

Now that I think about it, my older sister has never heard me play before.

Because I thought of my sister’s face after a long time.

Also, a part of my heart feels numb for no reason.

I felt suffocated, as if something had been inserted into my heart.