"I'm really sorry!"
The moment I finished the sketch, the first thing I did was apologize.
My god, what was I thinking? I'd gotten so absorbed in the music that I caused this much trouble.
I glanced at my phone.
12:40.
And the important part—12:40 at night.
I'd shown up unannounced and played guitar for three straight hours at this hour.
"It's fine. It looked like you were hit with sudden inspiration. It happens," Seongmin said. "I understand."
I gave a bitter smile.
As expected, he really was a genius too.
"Inspiration," huh.
I'd composed countless songs in my life, but I'd only truly felt something I could call inspiration maybe twice. And even then, I never managed to finish those songs.
That was why I didn't believe in inspiration.
Instead, I wrote songs my own way. From start to finish, I created countless melodies, then stitched them together. If any part felt wrong, I cut it away.
That was my method.
I didn't know how to build a full melody from the start, or how to write a "central hook" first.
Even just now, during the last three hours, I'd made so many melodies that I had no idea how many would end up being thrown away.
"If you're that sorry," Seongmin said, "then let me listen to the song you made today later."
"Yes!"
I nodded immediately. That was exactly what I wanted.
"I'm really sorry—and thank you!"
After bowing to Seongmin again, I left Haul Studio.
Outside, it was completely dark. Cold, dry air filled my lungs as I took out my phone.
Missed calls from Mom—six. Messages—around ten.
Of course. She was probably worried sick because her son still hadn't come home after midnight.
I sent her a reply and sprinted home.
As I ran, I replayed the melodies in my head. I'd recorded a ton of them, but the core melody was already chosen. Now I just needed to connect the supporting melodies to it.
What about this? Or this?
If I built it this way, how would Suyeon interpret it?
While thinking about that, I realized—
…I was already home.
Naturally, Mom scolded me like crazy.
§ §
The way Yoon Hajun made music was less like composing and more like sculpting.
He created a massive block of melodies, then carved and carved until only the core remained.
Of course, that process took an enormous amount of time.
That was why, aside from teaching Suyeon, taking guitar lessons, and recording at the studio, Hajun poured every remaining hour into this song.
As a result, its shape finally began to emerge.
When Seongmin heard the outline, he let out a genuine sound of admiration.
"Amazing. To think this came out of that melody mass."
The first time he'd heard Hajun's work, he'd been horrified.
Seriously—could that even be called a song?
No. Calling it a song was generous. The most accurate description would've been a patchwork of mismatched melodies forced together.
He hadn't even known where to start giving feedback.
But as time passed, a structure appeared.
And today, it had finally become something that could barely be called an actual song.
"Is it okay?" Hajun asked.
"It still needs refinement, but I think it's already really good."
Seongmin wasn't just being polite. There were still rough parts, but it was already listenable. If Hajun kept carving it down, it would definitely become a great song.
"But… are you preparing this for the practical exam?"
"Oh—how did you know?"
"Back in my time, quite a few students prepared their major exam pieces before enrollment."
Right. Seongmin was also a Seolwon Arts graduate. Hajun had forgotten for a moment.
Seeing Hajun nod, Seongmin continued, "Did you decide on a title?"
"Roughly."
"Don't keep it rough. Titles are extremely important in the composition exam. Do you know how the exam works?"
"Don't you just perform during exam week?"
Seongmin nodded. "More or less. But it's not just performing. First, you choose a major instrument and perform one original song. If it's under two minutes, points are deducted. Then you submit a composition summary sheet."
"Summary sheet?"
"Yes. You write things like what emotion you composed with and why the highlight is structured the way it is. The title matters a lot there too. If it's sloppy, more points are deducted."
"Ah."
"And then you perform the chord sheet of your original song on piano. It's evaluated in three stages, and each stage has its own score. If you're weak in even one, you're in trouble."
…What?
It wasn't just a performance?
At Seongmin's explanation, Hajun's expression grew serious.
The vocal exam had been simple—sing in front of people and cameras, then show one special skill.
That was it.
So he'd assumed composition would be similar.
But it was completely different.
Especially the summary sheet. He'd never even imagined that part.
"Thank you."
If he hadn't known this, he would've been in serious trouble.
"Can you play piano?"
"I'm worse at it than I am at guitar."
"Hm."
Seongmin made a conflicted sound.
Hajun's guitar skills were average—by Seolwon Arts standards—and even that was thanks to Seongmin's lessons. Before that, he'd been below average.
So if his piano was even worse…
Getting a good result would be difficult.
"Want me to teach you piano too?"
"…It's shameless, but please, Sunbaenim."
"It's fine. Lessons with you are fun."
Seongmin smiled brightly at the word sunbaenim. The smile didn't suit his bushy beard at all.
What a strange guy.
"Oh, and you can write chord sheets, right?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Then let's increase lessons to twice a week until enrollment. Tuesday for guitar, Thursday for piano. How does that sound?"
"I'd be grateful."
"And after you enroll, we'll switch to weekends."
Hajun nodded, then spoke carefully after a moment.
"Um… Sunbaenim."
"Yes?"
"Would it be okay if I bring my sister to the weekend sessions?"
"Your sister?"
"Yeah."
Sister.
Right—his sister.
Come to think of it, Hajun had said before that the reason he wouldn't become a singer was because of her.
In Seongmin's eyes, Hajun's singing wasn't bad at all. By Seolwon standards, he was quite good. He could've had a solid future.
And yet, he'd given it up.
Because of his sister.
Seongmin felt a surge of curiosity.
"Of course."
§ §
As I worked on the song, the entrance ceremony drew closer.
But honestly, I wasn't worried. I'd already attended this school once—what was there to fear?
Mom and Suyeon, however, were a different story.
They fussed over me far more than I did.
"Are you really okay going alone? Should I come with you?"
"It's fine. You have work, and there's class right after the ceremony."
"Are you sure?"
"..."
I understood why Mom was worried.
But why was Suyeon acting like this?
If anyone saw us, they'd think she was the older sibling. She hadn't even graduated middle school yet.
"Stop worrying about me and focus on your studies."
"I get better grades than you," Suyeon muttered quietly.
I blinked.
Did she just say that?
Looks like she'd grown more comfortable with me after all the music lessons. She used to keep her distance.
Well… back then, I never paid much attention to her. I was always busy with training, academies, studying.
I barely talked to her.
And yet, she always took care of me.
A kind sister—and a lousy brother.
"Here."
Suyeon suddenly handed me something. A small, neatly wrapped box.
I opened it.
Inside was a wallet.
"It's your entrance gift. Use it well."
"…Thanks."
"And this is for Mom."
She handed Mom a much larger shopping bag. When Mom opened it, inside were expensive brand-name earphones.
"Congratulations on getting into high school, son."
Seriously.
My whole family… they're too kind.
Sniff.
For some reason, my nose started to run.
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