IOB Ch 3

“You worked hard coming here.”

How long had it been since I let someone who wasn’t family into my home? The sight of a lanky giant standing tall in my entryway felt unfamiliar.

“Hello.”

Woo Seonrim bowed his head with a nod. He’s surprisingly polite, I’ll give him that. I gestured to Woo Seonrim, trying my best not to show that I was nervous.

“Come in. The slippers are over there.”

“Yes.”

Woo Seonrim was wearing an outfit similar to the one I had seen him in a week ago. A short-sleeved t-shirt with a red plaid shirt over it. Black slacks that were too short for his long legs. Worn-out sneakers. It was beyond plain, it was tacky. But when you took in his face along with the whole package, he looked decent.

He looked like a college student on his way to the library to study for an exam. He was around that age, after all. If he had gone to school, he probably would have been popular. As expected, looks are more than half of fashion.

From what I had found out so far, Woo Seonrim hadn’t even graduated from middle school. After the age of 14, his records within South Korea had literally vanished. No data could be found for any cards, bank accounts, or academic records under Woo Seonrim’s name. Even his cell phone was something he had only recently activated.

Was he abducted by aliens and then returned? I even had such a ridiculous thought. Until I met Woo Seonrim again, I had thought he was missing or dead. Not that a missing person report had ever been filed for him, though. In any case, he was a puzzling fellow.

As I walked toward the kitchen, Woo Seonrim quietly followed behind me with heavy steps. I glanced at Woo Seonrim and said.

“I heard you hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so I made something simple.”

“Ah.”

“I just need to plate it, so go wash your hands first. The bathroom is that way.”

Woo Seonrim headed to the bathroom without a word. He’s so blunt. If he had even a little bit of social grace, he would have squeezed out some kind of affectionate response, even if forced, when I told him I had made food. A tall guy with a low voice who was also a man of few words just seemed so stiff.

What did I find so appealing about him that I made four dishes… I was suddenly overcome with skepticism as I stared blankly at the kitchen. Caprese salad, chop steak and ganache, and two kinds of pasta. I had made them quickly with just the ingredients in the fridge, but for some reason, it felt unfair. I should have just ordered jjajangmyeon.

No. How could I trust the quality of delivery food? And what about the hygiene? He needs to eat a hearty meal to give a good performance. Thinking that, my mood instantly improved, and I quickly arranged the food on the plates. In the face of Woo Seonrim’s music, I became completely soft. I wondered if this was what it felt like to be a fan.

From time to time, gifts for the agency’s affiliated celebrities would arrive. When an actor went out for a shoot, fans would send a coffee truck or a snack truck to the set. To be honest, I never understood why they did such things. Spending their own money, really? Now I think I get it. You just… want to feed them well.

Just as I finished setting all the dishes on the table, Woo Seonrim came out from washing his hands.

“Come and sit.”

“Yes.”

Woo Seonrim slowly approached and sat down across from me, then scanned the table with a curious expression. Did I put too much effort into the plating? Feeling needlessly awkward, I spoke in a grumbling tone.

“I don’t know if it’ll suit Mr. Seonrim’s taste, but even if it doesn’t, eat it deliciously. Because my effort went into it.”

“I eat everything well.”

“Then I’m glad.”

“Thank you.”

Look at this. He’s so polite again. I rested my chin on my hand and stared at Woo Seonrim. Woo Seonrim seemed to ponder for a moment, then slowly picked up his fork. His first choice was the chop steak. He must like meat. I naturally stored the information in my head.

I didn’t take my eyes off Woo Seonrim until he put the food in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed. Without seeming to notice my gaze, Woo Seonrim then served himself some pasta onto his individual plate. Only after silently and thoroughly chewing and swallowing a few bites did Woo Seonrim look back at me and say.

“It’s delicious.”

“…Really?”

The tension left me, and I relaxed the hand that had been cupping my chin.

“Aren’t you eating, Director?”

“I should eat now.”

Only then did hunger wash over me, and I picked up my fork. Even though I made it in a hurry, it fortunately tasted quite excellent. Seeing Woo Seonrim eat without stopping, his comment about it being delicious must have been sincere. Right, as long as he eats well, that’s what matters. Even without honey-tongued, affectionate compliments, as long as he silently empties his plate, the person who cooked is bound to be happy.

Woo Seonrim was a very slow eater. I intentionally slowed down my eating pace. And I observed Woo Seonrim from time to time.

Woo Seonrim’s hair was longer than when I last saw him. His overgrown bangs naturally parted and swept to the side, and the hair in the back reached halfway down his nape. If it grew just a little longer, he could probably manage a small ponytail. I imagined it, and it wasn’t bad.

He was ridiculously tall, but if you looked at just his facial features, he was a surprisingly delicately-featured beauty, so long hair would suit him well. It wasn’t stiff, straight hair either; the texture was very soft.

While some people look messy or like a delinquent with long hair, Woo Seonrim would probably look rather elegant. An innate classiness. The public goes crazy for this kind of thing.

It’s an occupational hazard. I was naturally picturing Woo Seonrim standing before the public, all marketed and polished. The concert posters would come out with an amazing atmosphere. He had the looks to make it not only in Korea, but overseas as well. And he has the physique for it.

You can’t survive in the performance world with looks alone, but if you have both skill and looks, success falls quickly into your lap. Woo Seonrim was indeed a talent too precious for me to monopolize. Han Yeseo had an excellent aesthetic sense, didn’t she also drool when she saw Woo Seonrim?

Ha, what should I do with him? Where did something like him come from, really. How should I entice him to become a star? Watching Woo Seonrim peacefully munching on pasta noodles, my hands and feet tingled.

Then, perhaps bothered by my excited gaze, Woo Seonrim’s eyes met mine. He just stared at me blankly without saying a word. I felt a needless pang of guilt and hastily blurted out whatever came to mind.

“By the way, I heard you worked a part-time job today too, Mr. Seonrim? What did you do?”

Woo Seonrim finished chewing the food in his mouth, took a sip of water, and only then did he leisurely answer.

“I was a helper at a store opening event.”

Is this guy even Korean? How can he be so nonchalant? I nearly passed out waiting for his answer. And when I actually heard the answer, I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t breathe.

“What, did you go and dance or something?”

“No. I just handed out flyers.”

“Does doing that help with your living expenses?”

“It’s quite fun.”

“Life would be more fun if you lived on the living expenses you get from me.”

Woo Seonrim neatly set down his utensils and fell silent for a moment. Then, in a rather firm voice, he continued speaking, enunciating each word.

“I believe a person should earn money through labor.”

Ah, he’s getting on my nerves again. I tried to suppress the rising heat. Strangely, when I talked with Woo Seonrim, my self-control seemed to run out faster than usual.

“What an upright young man you are. But the world doesn’t recognize you for living uprightly, Mr. Seonrim.”

“The performance fee you suggested last time is also too excessive. I will accept payment calculated by the average hourly wage.”

“Excessive? The only things that are excessive right now are Mr. Seonrim’s stubbornness and my wealth.”

“Still, you should use it sparingly.”

“I’m making a value investment after seeing Mr. Seonrim’s potential, so why are you playing so hard to get?”

“Receiving support is burdensome.”

“Have you been burned by a sponsor before? Is it because I scared you last time? I’m not a scary person, Mr. Seonrim.”

“I know. If I thought you were a scary person, I wouldn’t have come to your house, Director.”

The feeling of being rejected even when I’m shoving bundles of money at him is truly fucking shitty. Is this why the chaebol male lead in Cinderella-story dramas gets so antsy over the indifferent female lead? I used to scoff, thinking those dramas were so unrealistic, but maybe it’s an accurate portrayal.

It’s unfair. I’m not asking him to date me like the protagonists in those dramas, I’m not asking him to sleep with me, I’m just asking him to play a little. Just to occasionally record it and release an album, that’s all. What’s so difficult about that?

Woo Seonrim finished saying his piece, articulating clearly, and then went back to slowly eating his pasta. After a while of doing so, he glanced at me and said quietly.

“It’s delicious.”

With that one phrase, I felt my energy drain away. It feels like I’m being played by Woo Seonrim.

“Yeah, eat a lot…”

I answered weakly and gave up on pushing him further. It seemed that changing Woo Seonrim’s mind would require a lot of time and various efforts. One thing was for sure—he couldn’t be persuaded by logic. Wouldn’t it be better to get close to him on a personal level, build a rapport, and appeal to his emotions?

I leaned back against the chair and waited for Woo Seonrim to finish his meal. Woo Seonrim was eating very slowly, but he was steadily emptying almost all the plates. The food must really suit his taste.

If I cook for him often from now on, will he open his heart to me? Nobody hates a person who gives them delicious food. But is he a Korean food person or a Western food person…

I was lost in such thoughts while idly watching Woo Seonrim eat. Just then, Woo Seonrim seemed to have finished his meal, put down his fork, and met my eyes. I couldn’t for the life of me read what emotion was contained in his black gaze that pierced straight through me.

For a long while, we just stared at each other in silence. Is he trying to start a staring contest? For some reason, my pride wouldn’t let me be the first to look away, so I put strength in my eyes and stared back at Woo Seonrim.

At the end of the strange silence, Woo Seonrim opened his mouth.

“By the way, Director. You seem to trust strangers easily. You called me to your home right away.”

A dry laugh escaped me reflexively.

“Why. Mr. Seonrim, did you have bad intentions toward me?”

“There’s no guarantee that I don’t. We don’t know each other well.”

That might be true for you. I, on the other hand, have had you investigated every time you crossed my mind. I swallowed my inner thoughts.

In fact, I had already tasked Choi Geonyeong with an additional investigation. From the moment Woo Seonrim got a cell phone and started his economic activities, some records must have been left somewhere. I had asked Choi Geonyeong to find everything about Woo Seonrim’s recent activities, in addition to his contact information and address.

‘Hey, little bro. You owe me one for this, you know?’

I recalled Choi Geonyeong’s smug expression, acting as if he had caught an interesting case. He must be busy cleaning up after my eldest brother and President Choi all the time, but the fact that he readily accepted my request clearly meant he was planning to get a big payout from me later.

Although I was worried about the future, for now, I wanted to know even a little bit more about Woo Seonrim. Every single part that Woo Seonrim had no intention of telling me.

Hiding my sinister inner thoughts, I purposely spoke in a bright voice.

“Right, we don’t know each other well. Then would Mr. Seonrim care to introduce himself?”

“…”

“What school did you go to? What about your family?”

Woo Seonrim, with his blunt face looking sulky, opened his mouth.

“Do I have to be the only one to introduce myself? What about you, Director?”

“I even gave you my business card, all nice and neat. Haven’t you looked me up? Just type my name in a search bar and it’ll pop right up. Feel free to check there as much as you want. Because I’m curious about Mr. Seonrim, you see?”

“…I live separately from my family. As for school, I attended until middle school and then dropped out.”

“Is that all? You didn’t go to high school?”

“I went abroad right away and worked.”

This was new information. …That can’t be right, though. Is he lying?

I had already looked through Woo Seonrim’s departure records a long time ago. No evidence of Woo Seonrim having gone abroad had been found at all. That’s why I naturally assumed he was in the country.

Of course, I couldn’t question him now and ask if he was lying to me. If I did, he would find out that I had been doing background checks on him for a long time, and Woo Seonrim would probably be in a foul mood. He might even be creeped out. I would be, too. To entice Woo Seonrim into debuting, I had to avoid doing anything that would damage my credibility.

“Where in a foreign country did you live?”

“Here and there.”

“Have you ever learned music professionally? Your fundamentals are solid.”

“I just did it as a hobby.”

“…Mr. Seonrim, you’re really suspicious. What if you turn out to be a really bad guy?”

Woo Seonrim stared at me silently. What is this. Is he trying to intimidate me? A normal person might be overwhelmed by Woo Seonrim’s aura and get scared.

But I, Choi Yisak, am a man who grew up getting beaten by his gangster-turned-father and received etiquette lessons from his father’s old gangster lackeys. On top of that, I was an illegitimate child who was like a scarecrow in the house. It was an environment where I couldn’t help but become strong-willed. There was no way I would get chicken-hearted just because a guy younger than me was giving me a meaningful glare.

“Well, whatever your past was, it doesn’t matter. I like Mr. Seonrim’s performance.”

“…”

“Do you have a criminal record by any chance? That might be a bit problematic.”

Because it would make it difficult to appear on broadcasts.

“I have no criminal record.”

“Then that’s fine.”

I can just find out the rest of the information myself. It was as I expected, but Woo Seonrim was still reluctant to reveal his personal information. The more he acted this way, the more my curiosity grew.

“But what if I really was a criminal? What would you have done then?”

“What do you mean, what would I have done? I would have just thought, ah, so that’s how it is.”

For reference, President Choi had also been in and out of prison several times. Among our family’s attendants, there were plenty with criminal records. As if going to prison is something to brag about.

“Besides, I could probably beat most guys in a fight. Even if I fought you, I’d probably be stronger.”

“I don’t think so.”

“What?”

My heart, which hadn’t wavered at any of his words, suddenly lurched.

“You’re really bruising a man’s pride all of a sudden?”

“That wasn’t my intention. I just thought I would win.”

“…Ah, this is pissing me off.”

I gulped down the remaining water in my cup in one go.

I hate to admit it, but I honestly take after President Choi’s temper a bit. Blood is thicker than water, I guess. In fact, I, the illegitimate child, was more similar to President Choi than my cool-headed and rational older brother was.

Proud, stubborn, can’t stand losing to others, pretends to be cultured while putting on a show of bravado on the outside, and crazy about money… My hot temper was definitely inherited from President Choi. My mother was the most timid person you could imagine.

They say when you look into an abyss, the abyss looks into you. I am the tragic case of hating President Choi so much that I became him. Anyway, my pride was extremely wounded right now.

“What are you talking about? Mr. Seonrim is just tall, you look scrawny. Can you even put up a fight?”

Ever since I was young, due to President Choi’s nagging that a man must be strong, I learned all sorts of martial arts like Taekwondo, Hapkido, Judo, and Kendo. I was actually naturally strong, so I learned them quite well.

Besides, I still go to the gym every morning. I can’t stand letting my body go because of a lack of management. I believe managing one’s body and appearance is also a necessary part of being a businessman. Since there’s nothing to lose from having a bad impression.

Lately, I had been increasing my weights and had become quite confident in my body, so being dismissed like this was absurd. Moreover, Woo Seonrim had a body that looked like he had never set foot in a gym. Though his natural frame was solid and large, so trainers would probably drool if they saw him.

“No, Mr. Seonrim. I’ve worked out for a long time, so I know. I can tell just by looking. What, you wanna arm wrestle or something?”

“Right now? What will you do if I win?”

“You won’t beat me.”

“What if I win?”

“Let’s go, then talk.”

“What will you do if I win?”

Woo Seonrim really seemed to think he could win. It grated on my nerves.

“What. What do you want? From a guy who said he won’t take money even if I give it to him.”

“…Um. Grant me one wish.”

“Okay, fine. Instead, if I win, you quit all your part-time jobs immediately.”

“Yes. Understood.”

He said he would never quit, but he agrees this easily? It makes me even more pissed off, feeling like he’s looking down on me that much. That guy looks like he’s nothing but skin and bones if you touch him. Leaving height aside, if we’re just talking about body mass, aren’t I more solid?

As always, Woo Seonrim wore a placid, blank expression. It’s a talent, to be able to turn a person’s insides out every single time with such a calm face. I wondered if he had separately researched a special way of speaking that subtly pisses people off.

I tried to control my surging temper and rolled up my shirt sleeves.

“Hey, let’s go.”

۶ৎ

This can’t be happening.

“Hnngh.”

I took a deep breath and poured strength into my hand and forearm. The muscles tensed up, making the shirt fabric taut, and veins bulged on the back of my hand. I was straining this hard, yet Woo Seonrim’s arm was stopped at an ambiguous angle, holding on without touching the floor.

Meanwhile, Woo Seonrim had an infuriatingly calm expression. He didn’t show a single sign of exertion. It was as if he was mocking my body, which I had cultivated through a perfect workout routine. This was probably my victim complex, but anyone facing those unmoving eyes would get as heated as I was.

“No, shi…”

A curse slipped out of my mouth without me realizing.

Did I underestimate Woo Seonrim too much? He had a model-like lean build, so I thought he wouldn’t be strong. I’ll admit, his bone structure itself was naturally thick. Still, judging roughly by his silhouette, his body weight should be about the same as mine. I had no idea where this strength came from. Is it like they say, dry firewood burns well?

Since he’s a pianist, his grip and arm strength are bound to be good. Especially since Woo Seonrim has a style of playing that’s like he’s pouring his strength into striking the piano. Sometimes, his performance even produces sounds you would only hear from percussion instruments.

Still, I never imagined I’d be pushed this far by a guy who looked like he’d never lifted a single dumbbell at the gym. A crack formed in the pride I had held for my strength for thirty years.

“Director, just give up.”

“Ha.”

His voice was placating, as if he was letting me win. My forehead flushed hot. So he has more than enough strength to slam my arm down, but he’s going to stay all high and mighty and just wait for me to back down first?

I wanted to win so that Woo Seonrim could focus solely on his music. The truth is, arm wrestling requires a bit of technique, so it wasn’t like there was no way to win. While Woo Seonrim was maintaining a moderate amount of strength and letting his guard down, if I twisted my wrist angle and pushed through…

No, that’s not right, I might startle his precious hand. Every single tiny muscle in his hand affects his playing. He’s the Woo Seonrim I’ve searched so hard for. I should be taking out an insurance policy on that hand, so if I use a trick just to win a bet, I’d be putting the cart before the horse.

Does Woo Seonrim even know how much I care about him? If he were human, he should feel at least a little bit touched. But since he’s a guy who’s far from being a normal human, I can’t even expect that.

A flare of anger shot through me. To draw out every last bit of my strength, I opened my half-closed eyes and looked at Woo Seonrim.

Our eyes met, much closer than I had expected. We were in the middle of an arm wrestle, but even taking that into account, wasn’t this excessively close? It was a distance that felt slightly strange.

Looking at him from here, Woo Seonrim’s eyes were closer to an ink-black than a pure, clear black. A color with a strangely low saturation, as if mixed with impurities. The more I looked, the more my strength seemed to drain away.

Still… they’re pretty. A pure thought arose.

His long eyelashes, long enough to make me suspect he had gotten extensions, cast a shadow over his eyes. The shape of his eyes, which stretched long to the sides, was deep, and his double eyelids were smooth and beautiful, as if drawn meticulously with a fine brush.

I lost myself without realizing it. I was taught to always concentrate my mind when sparring. It was a moment that made a mockery of the teachings of the masters I had learned from while crushing various dojos since I was young. However, I can say with confidence that the lapse was for a mere instant. I quickly righted my mind so as not to lose my grip.

The problem was that Woo Seonrim was a craftier guy than I had anticipated.

He acted dazed and didn’t even answer my questions. His default expression was one that made me doubt if he had any passion for life at all. And yet, the moment my concentration faltered, Woo Seonrim didn’t miss his chance and played dirty.

Ssssk. Goosebumps erupted on the hand that was tightly clasped with Woo Seonrim’s.

Ssk, ssssk. Woo Seonrim scraped the back of my hand with his fingertips.

“What, what are you doing… ugh.”

Was this a provocation? Is this bastard looking down on me right now? What kind of stunt is this?

It was when I, flustered by the tingling sensation accompanied by a tickle, unknowingly relaxed my arm. Thud. Woo Seonrim gently pushed my arm down to the floor.

“I won.”

As I stood speechless with disbelief, Woo Seonrim kindly informed me of the result.

“Mr. Seonrim, this is cheating.”

“Pardon?”

“You used a trick.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No, you scratched the back of my hand!”

“I did? The back of your hand? When?”

I was suddenly reminded of my adolescent years when I would play dumb and act like a question mark murderer every time I talked back to President Choi. Is this karma? But talking back to President Choi should count as self-defense!

Hey, you little shit. Stop with that, that punk-like act of playing dumb and asking back. Shit, are you determined to make your old man’s blood pressure rise? My head is about to split open because of you. President Choi’s words were starting to make a little sense. My head really did hurt.

“I was purposely going easy so I wouldn’t hurt Mr. Seonrim’s hand. How could you do this?”

“You were going easy? I didn’t know. I don’t think you needed to.”

Ah, my blood pressure. Having him talk back to me so persistently with that elegantly beautiful face and slow, gentle tone was making my head spin even more.

“You suddenly lost strength, Director, so I just seized that timing and pushed. It’s possible I might have accidentally scratched your hand while putting strength into my own.”

“No, it was intentional.”

“Did I scratch you that hard? Are you hurt, by any chance?”

Woo Seonrim pulled my hand toward him and examined the back of it. Of course, there wasn’t a single mark. It was closer to a light tickle than a hard scratch.

“It looks fine.”

“Your ability to play dumb is a work of art, Mr. Seonrim. Why don’t you try acting instead of the performance world?”

Woo Seonrim let go of my hand with a thud and gave a faint smile.

“I think acting would suit me even less.”

“You seem to have a talent for it, what a waste. You have an actor’s face, too.”

“Just because someone is handsome doesn’t mean they all act.”

“So you know you’re handsome?”

“I have eyes, too, and a thing called a mirror exists in the world.”

“Yes, yes, you’re so great. What on earth is the wish you’re going to ask for? Going so far as to cheat?”

“If you continue to doubt the legitimacy of the outcome, Director, shall we have a rematch?”

“…”

“Let’s consider the last round null and void and do it again.”

Faced with his very calm and logical flow, I was at a loss for words. The truth was, whether Woo Seonrim had scratched, pinched, gently rubbed, or even licked the back of my hand, it wouldn’t have had a major impact on the outcome. I had already intuited that I was no match for him in terms of pure strength anyway.

A rematch would obviously have the same result. The only things that would increase would be the scratches on my reputation and pride, and it would only affect my blood pressure levels.

I’m pissed, I’m pissed, I’m pissed… I thought my can’t-stand-losing personality had died down a bit by now. As expected, it seems human nature doesn’t change easily.

An excessive competitive spirit only makes a person look pathetic. I tried my hardest to put on the skin of a mature adult.

I used to think that when I turned thirty, I would become a tremendous adult, but that wasn’t the case. It’s probably the same for everyone else. Inside, a wild, untamed self still runs around, but because they’ve learned how to not express it on the outside, they swagger around as if they are adults.

They say everyone has a point in time when they feel their age has stopped, and for me, it was around eighteen. Usually, I had no trouble walking around wearing the mask of a thirty-year-old. However, being with Woo Seonrim, who had caused one of the biggest commotions of my eighteenth year, made it difficult to quell the wild child in my heart.

Calm. Calm.

I recited a prayer in my head. A guy who doesn’t even believe in God, what’s with the prayer? you might think, but that’s actually why it’s effective. When I recite a prayer, I naturally think of church, which leads to thoughts of President Choi who forced me to go there, and all my irritation is redirected to President Choi, and in the end, I become more lenient toward the problem at hand.

I hid my hand, which for some reason had been feeling hot for a while now, behind my back and said.

“A rematch, what… forget it. Are we kids?”

“I do think that making an arm-wrestling bet was a bit childish from the start.”

“Aargh, enough. Just hurry up and tell me what your wish is.”

Woo Seonrim didn’t open his mouth readily and just stared at me for a moment.

What on earth was he going to ask for that he was dragging it out like this? To never ask if he’ll debut again. Something like that would be quite troublesome. I looked at Woo Seonrim with a slightly anxious heart. I had a rather violent thought, an impulse to crack open his head.

I had never met a person whose inner thoughts were as hard to guess as Woo Seonrim’s. And this was despite me growing up reading people’s faces and having the experience I’d gained from doing business. It felt more overwhelming than dealing with the sly, snake-like middle-aged and elderly men I met at business gatherings. At least they had the common desires of money and honor, making them a layer more transparent than Woo Seonrim.

Woo Seonrim seemed like a person who lacked desire itself. Sometimes he felt like an enlightened old man who had already accepted his day of death, and at other times he seemed like a child with an empty head, without a single thought.

Woo Seonrim, who had been thoroughly parching my insides with suspense, opened his mouth.

“My wish, can I postpone it until next week?”

“You seem to think I’m a reservation-only restaurant. No.”

“But I feel like I’ve already gotten everything I wanted today.”

“What did you get? I haven’t even given you the money yet.”

“The money was a secondary thing anyway.”

“You say things that make life seem so easy. It’s because you haven’t truly tasted money, Mr. Seonrim. What else is there to gain from my house besides money?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

He’s not going to answer.

As expected, things went as I predicted. Woo Seonrim just kept his mouth firmly shut with a faint smile on his face. The corners of his mouth were turned up, but his eyes were the same, so it didn’t look like a smiling face. It was artificial and creepy…

“My wish for this time will be for you to grant my wish next week, Director.”

“Where did you learn a trick like that? Are you a con artist, Mr. Seonrim?”

“Who knows. But when you actually hear what the wish is, you’ll probably feel let down. It’s really no big deal.”

Woo Seonrim unhurriedly laid out his words and then stood up from his seat. Feeling uneasy, I just glared at Woo Seonrim crookedly. However, my gaze, filled with distrust, couldn’t help but soften soon after.

“Where is the piano? I’ll play now.”

It was because as soon as the words of him playing came out of Woo Seonrim’s mouth, my heart began to pound like crazy. It felt like I was having an arrhythmia. Anyone would think I had a crush on Woo Seonrim. My mood was going back and forth and making a fuss over his every word.

I feigned a calm expression and stood up.

“Follow me.”

“Yes.”

I led the way, extremely conscious of Woo Seonrim following me. I led him to the soundproofed performance room, which I had spent an enormous amount of money on solely for a single grand piano.

I had barely played it myself, so I had wondered if it was a pointless act. To think I would bring Woo Seonrim into this space. You never know what will happen in life, so when you’re debating whether to do something or not, you really should just do it.

Upon entering the performance room, Woo Seonrim stood tall right in front of the door and quietly looked around the room. A three-person sofa, a bookshelf filled with sheet music, and a grand piano. That was all there was to the space.

“A bit stark, isn’t it?”

“There’s no sign of use. It’s like a new room.”

“I don’t have much reason to come in here.”

“Isn’t this a room you made for yourself to play in, Director?”

“It was. But when you’re trying to make a living, you get busy and don’t have time.”

“I’d like to hear your performance too, Director.”

“Why should I? I’m the employer.”

“If you don’t want to, then never mind.”

He was staring right at me as he spoke, so I thought it would be troublesome to press him further, but Woo Seonrim backed down without any lingering attachment. Was he just being polite? It’s getting awkward.

Woo Seonrim probably didn’t know me. We might have crossed paths a few times at competitions, but since we were in different participating groups, I didn’t think he would remember me. Of course, I could always vividly recall the Woo Seonrim of that time.

Woo Seonrim was a strange being back then, too.

When you’re preparing for classical music entrance exams in Korea, you tend to hear names and rumors through the grapevine, but there wasn’t a single kid who knew Woo Seonrim. It wasn’t even known which teacher he was taught by.

One day, Woo Seonrim suddenly appeared as if he had sprung out of nowhere. What must Woo Seonrim’s first competition rivals have felt? Like they had encountered a natural disaster?

If it were me, that’s how I would have felt. Shocked by the bizarre prodigy, I could naturally imagine myself trembling backstage, knowing it was my turn next. And yet, not wanting to miss a single note of that performance until the very end, I would have stood my ground and listened.

“It’s a fine instrument.”

Woo Seonrim had already approached the piano and started to examine it here and there. His fingertips traced over the piano, which had been maintained to be spotless, without a single speck of dust.

For some reason, I felt suffocated and stepped back to sit on the sofa. He didn’t seem like the twenty-six-year-old Woo Seonrim with whom I had been having a pointless squabble just a moment ago. To think that my heart would pound like this just from Woo Seonrim touching my piano.

I quickly covered my lower body with the blanket I had prepared nearby. It would be a problem if I got an erection before he even started playing. It suddenly occurred to me that I was a very strange person, but that wasn’t a new development, so I decided not to worry about it.

Woo Seonrim opened the keyboard lid, sat lightly on the piano bench, and then looked back at me.

“What piece should I start with?”

“Whatever Mr. Seonrim wants.”

“You’re the employer, Director.”

“Today, just play as your heart desires, Mr. Seonrim. From next time, I’ll tell you in advance if there’s something I want.”

“Yes. As long as it’s not sight-reading. I can play tolerably well from the second time.”

“I feel like you’d be good at sight-reading too. You would be. You can do anything.”

I gripped my knees tightly with my hands. I was so overcome with emotion that I spoke like a follower without realizing it. A follower… Well, it wasn’t a completely incorrect expression.

Our Teacher Woo Seonrim played Chopin at the age of 6 by making a piano keyboard out of leaves, and at the age of 10, he conquered the world with Liszt’s Sonata… In my current emotional state, it wouldn’t be strange for me to blurt out such nonsense.

“You really seem to like my playing, Director.”

“Yes, I do.”

I answered reflexively without a second of hesitation. I felt no shame at all. Because it was the truth. Instead, it was Woo Seonrim who paused for a moment and then said.

“…Really?”

“Yes. If you need any sheet music, just say the word. Should I turn the pages for you?”

Woo Seonrim’s hands moved toward the keyboard. I was so full of anticipation I felt like I was going to pass out. My heartbeat quickened to the point I was worried my heart might burst, and my body temperature soared.

“I don’t really need sheet music, for today.”

“Right, right. As you wish. As your heart desires, Mr. Seonrim.”

That’s a relief. If I stood next to him, he might find out I have an erection. As expected, our Teacher Woo Seonrim must have all the sheet music in his head. What kind of program has he prepared?

What I had requested of him was to stay at my house until at least midnight. It didn’t matter how many pieces he played. I didn’t particularly want to step in and place restrictions on Woo Seonrim’s playing either. I just wanted to hear Woo Seonrim play the piano freely.

The world he instinctively pulled up from his mind. His own sound…

“You’re a very strange person, Director.”

As I was barely suppressing my excitement and just waiting for him to start playing, I heard those absurd words. If we weren’t in the performance room, I would have said, ‘Hearing that from a truly strange person really makes me feel like shit, Mr. Seonrim.’

However, from the moment Woo Seonrim sat at the piano, I had transformed into an ardent fan, so I didn’t bother picking a fight. I just put strength into my lips and held back many words. Yes, yes, I guess so. I’m strange and Mr. Seonrim is normal. I get it. I get it, so just hurry up and start playing. Just hurry and warm up your hands…

I gripped the blanket covering my lower body tightly. As I was suppressing my ragged breaths, Woo Seonrim, without even warming up his hands or checking the piano’s sound, suddenly began to play.

…Bach?

The Prelude²) from Bach’s Partita for Solo Violin No. 3 rang out. A famous melody that everyone who has learned the violin would know, and that many people who haven’t learned music would find familiar upon hearing. It was the piano version arranged by Rachmaninoff.

Personally, I thought it was an unexpected choice of piece. Would Woo Seonrim do Bach justice? I had always found playing Bach to be the trickiest. The foundation and essence of music. It demands deep interpretation, where deceptions created with technique don’t work.

I remember the commotion that erupted when Woo Seonrim first appeared at a domestic competition. The judges’ reviews were split between two extremes. He was a kid who showed clear signs of never having prepared for a competition for entrance exams.

When you listened to Woo Seonrim’s performance, everyone couldn’t help but agree that he was born with musical power. However, opinions were divided on whether his performance met the judging criteria enough to win an award. It was a debate that arose over the interpretation of the piece. There were people who judged that the original song was distorted because the performer’s color was too strong. No, there were quite a few.

I, for one, was captivated by that rebellious and prodigal performance. But I also understood the negative reactions. And also that there were those who felt a sense of rejection and were wary of Woo Seonrim’s emergence. The reviews were particularly extreme when he played Bach’s pieces at competitions.

But the Bach of the 14-year-old Woo Seonrim and the Bach of the 26-year-old Woo Seonrim are different.

I swallowed dryly and stared intently at Woo Seonrim as he played. Every note is alive. Not a single note escapes wastefully and enters the ear. That’s not to say he plays with the same dynamics. It feels like the notes are clearly embedded in the places they should be.

And yet, the sound is not heavy. It moves as if bouncing lightly, but it’s a performance that clearly recognizes why that note exists in that place. It is unique and witty but does not lose its perfectly constructed framework.

Hah. I swallowed the dry laugh that was about to burst out. I didn’t want to add unnecessary noise to the performance.

Woo Seonrim had evolved.

I don’t know where he was or what he did for 12 years, but his music had returned, having grown deeper. Now, with this Bach, even those who gave him harsh reviews would change their minds. It wasn’t a performance that relied on instinctual feeling. That was a state of having completely understood the score with reason by disassembling it.

Woo Seonrim’s fingers danced, pressing the keys lightly but precisely. Woo Seonrim, who was always pale, was now surrounded by vitality. A face of pure enjoyment. The corners of his mouth naturally curled up. The slow, placid Woo Seonrim of usual was gone.

Along with the melody that gallops forward, dodo-do, Woo Seonrim is also frolicking. The Woo Seonrim right in front of me felt incredibly distant. It’s natural. Because he is in another world right now. He must have already dimensionally shifted into the music created by his own fingertips.

I am standing beyond the wall of that dimension, looking at Woo Seonrim. Chasing after the traces of the world he left behind.

Yes, this is it. The music I wanted was you, after all.

Strangely, I felt a surge of emotion. I had regained something I thought I had lost forever. I felt like I might even cry. Because I loved Woo Seonrim’s Bach so much. Ah, I felt like I wanted to beg him to please, please never disappear again. Please, please. To remain on the stage. If he suddenly disappears again, I’d have to somehow catch him and lock him up or something…

At this moment, as the feelings of a pure and devoted fan were boiling over with emotion. I wanted to purely savor this moment, but my eyeballs weren’t the only things trying to squeeze out water drops. My dick also stealthily wanted to cry and was making its presence known.

As expected, as was natural, I was erect. I was glad I had covered my lower body with a blanket beforehand. My groin felt heavy as my genitals swelled.

In the presence of the ever-so-sacred music of Bach, what is this… The time for such skepticism had in fact long passed. Getting excited while listening to a sacred piece just doubles the feeling of transgression, that’s all.

How did he choose this as the first piece? Woo Seonrim has an excellent ability to create a program. He’s a genius who knows how to break the audience’s expectations while still satisfying their needs. As expected of Teacher Woo Seonrim, who made a piano from leaves at the age of 6…

I tried to think of nonsensical thoughts to calm my breathing. My clenched fists trembled. It seemed I would have to go to the bathroom during the intermission to take care of things down there. If I endured in this state, my sanity would surely fly away, and I might even give Woo Seonrim the wrong idea.

Ah, fuck… I really like Woo Seonrim like crazy.

How can he be so perfectly my type? Why to this extent? Did God bestow upon me a strange sexual desire, and then feel a little guilty? Seeing as he sent an angel along to resolve it, God must feel guilt too, right? Right, after all the donations I poured in. Amen to that.

Just then, the prelude ended, and Woo Seonrim, without resting for even a moment, immediately moved on to the Gavotte³) from Partita No. 3.

Aah…

I lowered my head deeply.

It’s not that I like Woo Seonrim. I realized. This is love. I love Teacher Woo Seonrim. That bastard is crazy. The realest of the real. I kept my heated gaze fixed on Woo Seonrim, while inwardly confessing my love over and over. To Woo Seonrim, no, to be precise, toward Woo Seonrim’s music.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, I love you… If you quit the piano again, I’ll kill you…

Completely oblivious to what effect this earnest devotion would have on Woo Seonrim.

۶ৎ

Woo Seonrim played all the way to the Gigue⁴) of Partita No. 3 before finally taking his hands off the keyboard. In the meantime, my underwear had become damp and soaked with my precum.

Woo Seonrim, who had meticulously crafted every note down to the last one, only looked my way after the rhythmically pulsating air had quieted down. Our eyes met head-on.

Woo Seonrim, having just finished his performance, had a clearer impression than usual. Not the empty, inscrutable face that made it impossible to know what he was thinking.

Now, his expression was clearly readable. Elation. Excitement. A bit of joy. If he can make a face like that just from being immersed in his own music, why does he say he won’t stand on stage? Even a performance for just one audience member is this magnificent.

I swallowed dryly and tried to move my body, which had been stiff for a while, naturally. If I had my way, I would have given him a standing ovation, but due to the situation down below, I couldn’t. After clapping lightly a few times, I said to Woo Seonrim.

“That was really good.”

After hearing my brief review, Woo Seonrim seemed to come out of the afterglow of the performance and gradually returned to his original empty expression. A shame. That thought suddenly occurred to me.

“That’s a relief.”

“The song choice was unexpected. Do you like Bach?”

“Is there anything to like or dislike? It’s not like I’m an acquaintance of Bach.”

“No, I meant do you like Bach’s compositions. You have a habit of sometimes twisting the conversation path strangely, Mr. Seonrim.”

“Is that so.”

What do you mean, is that so. I came to my senses, annoyed by Woo Seonrim’s somewhat indifferent tone. The love that had been overflowing to the point of swelling my genitals just a minute ago when I was listening to Woo Seonrim’s performance, vanished in an instant. As did the feeling that I could do anything for Woo Seonrim.

Just look at him, sitting there blankly, just blinking his eyes. He doesn’t look like the same person as Teacher Woo Seonrim at all.

…But why is my dick still alive and kicking? I placed both hands on the blanket, pressing down on my groin, and said, feigning composure.

“The thing you said about never having learned piano professionally, that was a lie, wasn’t it?”

“…”

Woo Seonrim pressed his lips together firmly and stared at me. Look at him, clamming up and escaping into silence whenever he’s at a disadvantage. He seems dazed, but at times like this, he’s cunning and detestable to no end.