On a winter night when breaths appear as smoke, making it hard to distinguish between the two, Byungjun was on the swing in front of the annex of the Red Castle, talking on the phone with Lin in China. Normally humorous, Byungjun was uncharacteristically serious during the call.
"So, Director, you're saying you want to sign a contract with this Japanese woman, Shizuka Miyawaki?"
"Yes, sir. That's correct."
"I heard she's a pianist, not a singer. Are you still planning to proceed with the contract? Our company, Fantagio, has no experience in dealing with classical musicians."
"It seems she hasn't yet decided on her path. Whether it will be classical or new age is still uncertain, but she definitely has both star quality and musical talent."
"Star quality? Do you mean her appearance?"
"Yes, she's very pure and cute."
"What about her personality?"
"She's like a typical Japanese female college student. Shy and seems to try not to bother others. Well, I haven't spoken to her directly; this is just what Geon has told me. If you permit, we would like to meet her in person."
"What kind of benefits can we expect if we bring her on board?"
Byungjun took a deep drag of the cigarette he was holding between his fingers.
"None at present."
"What do you mean?"
"Now is the time Geon needs to be helped. But the music I've heard will eventually bloom and will be of help to Geon later."
"What kind of help do you think that will be?"
Byungjun glanced at the closed annex and said,
"Geon is a guitarist. And a vocalist as well. He doesn't have session members he can trust and rely on yet. He doesn't seem to be thinking about forming a band yet. If Geon aims to be a solo musician after graduation, Shizuka will be a reliable keyboard session member for him. And if he decides to form a band, she could be a trustworthy keyboard member as well."
"Hmm... I see. But why does it have to be Shizuka Miyawaki, who hasn't even graduated from school yet?"
"I am Geon's manager. I don't want Geon to work with just any band or session members. No matter how famous or talented the session members are, they are just session players. The public doesn't know about session members. Probably only those in the music industry or people with a high interest in music know about session players."
After flicking off the ash, Byungjun took a breath and continued,
"The keyboard is just the beginning. I plan to make all members who will join Geon stars. Not after the band gains popularity but they should already be stars. That way, when Geon forms his band, the members alone will become a topic of conversation, and that in itself will be marketing."
"I see."
"Wouldn't you give your permission, Director?"
Lin on the other end of the phone seemed to ponder for a while without a word. Byungjun, with a tense expression, lit a new cigarette and fidgeted nervously. After a long silence, Lin's words finally reached Byungjun's eager ears.
"Alright, go ahead with the contract."
Byungjun stood up abruptly with a look of joy.
"Th-thank you, Director!"
"But."
"Yes?"
"Consult with Mr. Geon. This seems like a matter that needs Mr. Geon's help."
"Understood, Director. But what kind of help should I ask for?"
"Given Mr. Geon's personality, mentioning that we're recruiting someone for his future benefit might cause him to recoil. You said Mr. Geon helped Ms. Shizuka when she was facing a wall, right? Focus on the keyword 'help' and ask him to assist Ms. Shizuka in standing up on her own."
Byungjun looked troubled and fell silent for a moment. After pacing back and forth in front of the swing with a cigarette in his mouth, he cautiously spoke up.
"Director Lin, I know this might sound presumptuous, but I hope you'll hear me out."
"Uh-huh? Go ahead."
Byungjun sighed, looking at the dark room of the annex where Geon was sleeping.
"Geon and I are not just manager and entertainer. We've been together for so long, he feels like a real younger brother to me."
"That's a good sign. You're doing well. But why do you bring this up?"
"I don't want to lie to Geon, Director."
Lin remained silent on the other end for a moment. Byungjun, with a tense expression, continued.
"I wish for Geon's success. You do too, Director. This matter is also part of laying the groundwork for Geon's future, to give him wings to soar higher. But, Director. You know how pure and kind-hearted Geon
is, don't you?"
"Continue."
"I wish there were no small lies, no concealments. Even if it's the slightest chance, I don't want Geon to feel betrayed or used later on, by me, by you, Director, or by Fantagio as a whole."
"If Geon finds out about our conversation, do you think he'll be disappointed?"
"Maybe not this particular matter. But these things accumulate. You know, lies beget bigger lies to cover them up. If these accumulate, we'll end up telling bigger lies to cover them."
"I see."
"You know, Director, I never speak informally to our artists. But with Geon, it's different. It's not because he's kind or easygoing. He really feels like a younger brother to me, and I want to take extra care of him."
"It may not be the most professional thing for a manager to say, but I understand where you're coming from."
"Ha, honestly, Director Lin, you feel the same way, don't you?"
"Well, that's true, but I am a director at Fantagio. My position is different from yours. However, I do think you're right."
"Thank you for understanding, Director."
"I'll leave this matter entirely in your hands, Manager Byungjun."
"Thank you, Director. But you'll help with Shizuka's marketing, right?"
"Of course."
"Ha, thank you. I'll talk to Geon tomorrow and meet with Shizuka."
"Alright, Manager. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Director. Have a good rest."
Byungjun was about to hang up, remembering Lin was his superior and waiting for Lin to hang up first, but the line remained open for a long time without the sound of disconnection. Pondering whether to hang up first, Byungjun finally heard Lin's voice after a long silence.
"Manager Byungjun?"
"Yes, Director. Is there something else you'd like to say?"
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Lin spoke in a slightly brighter tone.
"I'm really glad you're Geon's manager."
Byungjun's hand, which was bringing a cigarette to his mouth, stopped at Lin's words. Searching for the hidden meaning in Lin's words, a small smile appeared on Byungjun's face.
"I'm also glad that the final responsibility for Geon's matters lies with you, Director."
Though silence followed over the phone, Byungjun and Lin were smiling simultaneously in the United States and China. After a moment of silence listening to Lin's breathing, Byungjun chuckled and said,
"Have a good rest, Director."
"Yes, Manager. You too, get some good rest."
After hanging up, Byungjun took a drag from his cigarette and looked up at the sky. Smiling briefly, Byungjun opened the door to the annex and quietly entered Geon's room, which had already fallen asleep. His expression of warm-heartedness quickly turned into a frown.
"Hey!!! Are you sleeping with Kiska again?!"
Startled by Byungjun's shout, Kiska, who had secretly sneaked in and was sleeping on Geon's thigh, rubbed her eyes and woke up. Geon also jolted, turned his head to see Byungjun, then looked down at Kiska, chuckled, and lifted Kiska into his arms.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes and snuggling into Geon's blanket, Kiska closed her eyes, prompting Byungjun to shout again.
"Kiska! Why don't you come to me? I like you too!"
Turning to his side and embracing Kiska, Geon, with closed eyes, chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. Byungjun, watching the two quietly, sighed, placed his hands on his hips, but then chuckled at the sight of Kiska already sound asleep and Geon gently stroking her hair. As Byungjun was leaving the room, he whispered quietly,
"Kiska, if Kay does anything weird, scream. I'll come running right away."
Seeing Geon chuckle softly with his eyes closed, Byungjun looked down at him warmly, then quietly closed the door and went out to the living room.
**
The next day.
As Kiska, holding the nanny's hand, went to the main house to wash up, Byungjun, who was cooking kimchi stew, shouted to Geon in the shower.
"Geon! It's ready!"
Wiping his wet hair with a towel, Geon approached the dining table with the towel around his neck, his nose twitching.
"Wow! Kimchi stew?"
Byungjun, wearing kitchen gloves, carried the pot to the table and placed it on a trivet.
"Careful, it's hot. Your mother sent over some kimchi. I've been living on my own for 10 years, so I decided to show off a bit."
Geon hurriedly tasted the stew with a spoon and gave a thumbs up.
"Ka~! It's killer. You eat too, hyung."
"Sure, eat up. And listen while you're at it."
Byungjun explained the conversation he had with Lin yesterday. Geon, busy eating, paused to listen to Byungjun's words but soon focused back on his meal. Byungjun carefully explained, thinking Geon might be sensitive to certain points, but seeing Geon wolfing down the stew, he frowned.
"Hey, are you listening?"
Wiping the stew from his mouth,
Geon nodded.
"I'm listening."
Byungjun, holding his chopsticks, jabbed at Geon's hand as he went for another spoonful of stew.
"I'm being serious here, you little... listen properly."
Geon chuckled, avoiding the chopsticks and dipping his spoon back into the stew pot.
"It's okay. Do what you want, hyung."
Byungjun's eyebrows twitched as he stared intently at Geon, who, sucking on the spoon, smiled again.
"I trust you, hyung. Probably more than our own family."
Seeing Byungjun's eyes flicker, Geon put down his spoon and lightly tapped Byungjun's arm.
"You wouldn't want anything bad for me, right? You'll be good to Shizuka too, won't you?"
Unable to continue, Geon grinned, showing his teeth, then picked up his spoon again.
"I'll help wherever needed. It would be a waste for a musician like Shizuka to just disappear. And thank you for explaining everything. I trust you, hyung, and everything you do. So, let's eat breakfast; we have practice to go to today."
Watching Geon bury his face back in his bowl, Byungjun silently smirked.
"Thanks, kid."
Before the practice, Shizuka, who had met Byungjun in advance, couldn't concentrate during the entire practice time. But, as expected of her class, she fulfilled her role without hindering the practice of other members, even though she couldn't concentrate. Geon, who had been silently watching Shizuka, stopped the practice and said to Anna and Anthony.
"Shall we take a break? It seems about time for a smoke."
Anna, delighted, put down her bass guitar and grabbed her cigarettes, while Anthony, after glancing at Shizuka and Geon, followed Anna out of the practice room. As soon as the door closed, Shizuka hurriedly spoke to Geon.
"Kay! Fantagio came looking for me!"
Geon smiled, placing his guitar on the stand before sitting down on a stool, folding his arms.
"Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Shizuka, slightly flushed, said.
"You probably know, right? What should I do? Should I sign the contract? No, can I do well?"
Geon quietly smiled, looking at Shizuka as she rambled on with an excited expression. She was firing questions at him with anxious eyes.
"What kind of company is Fantagio? Since it's Kay's company, it must be a huge corporation, right? How about the people there? Maybe I'll be managed by that person named Son Lin? Is Director Lee Byungjun a good person?"
Geon, with his arms folded, leaned forward, tilting his head and laughed at Shizuka, who widened her eyes in response.
"Why won't you answer, Kay?"
Geon chuckled and raised his index finger.
"Your first question was whether you should sign the contract, right? But it seems like Shizuka is already worrying as if she has joined Fantagio. Haven't you already made up your mind?"
Shizuka, looking dumbfounded at Geon, then blushed and fiddled with her fingers. Seemingly embarrassed, she touched her cheeks, now flushed red, and shyly glanced at Geon, who was still smiling at her.
"To be honest, I was happy. It's not just any place, it's Fantagio. Kay's company... There's no country in the world that doesn't know about Fantagio."
Geon leaned back, resting against the backrest, quietly observing Shizuka, who continued speaking, unable to meet his gaze.
"The fact that I'm signing with Fantagio alone will be a huge topic. I'm well aware of that. But on the other hand, I lack confidence. Fantagio is Kay's company. I'm worried whether an ordinary person like me should join such a company. Wouldn't I just be a burden?"
Geon suddenly stood up and extended his right hand in front of Shizuka. Startled by the sudden gesture, Shizuka looked up at Geon, who smiled and asked.
"Did you bring the lyrics?"
Caught off guard, Shizuka paused before hastily taking out a folded paper from her bag.
"Ah, it's not finished yet, but I've organized everything that came to my mind."
Watching Geon unfold the paper with nervous eyes, Shizuka bit her thumbnail, scrutinizing his expression, then sighed in relief as Geon's face gradually brightened. After pondering over Shizuka's lyrics, he made a few corrections with a pen and handed it back to her.
"I didn't touch the overall lyrics. I just modified some words to fit the melody better, so check it out."
Geon softly said as Shizuka, holding the paper and reading intently, turned her eyes towards him, shielding them with the paper.
"I'll help you."
Just seeing Geon's warm smile made Shizuka feel at ease, and with a pounding heart, she asked.
"Can I do well?"
Geon stood up and caressed Haku, which was placed on the stand.
"You don't necessarily have to do well. Fantagio is a place that will help you do your music. Sign the contract. But the moment you sign the contract with Fantagio, forget about it. You just have to do your music. I'll help you with the music part."
Shizuka looked intently at Geon and then stood up, bowing politely.
"Please take care of me, senior."
Geon burst into laughter, waving his hands.
"Ha-ha! Senior, what are you talking about? Now, let's focus on practicing. Got it?"
"Yes!!"
A moment later, Anna burst into the practice room with an excited expression.
"Shizuka!! You're signing with Fantagio?"
Anthony, too, entered with a surprised look, alternating glances between Geon and Shizuka. As Shizuka looked slightly startled at Anna and Anthony, Anthony calmed down and then said.
"I met Kay's manager in
the smoking area. We were planning to formally sign later, but since we met, he said he would verbally agree for now. Shizuka's contract includes the song we're currently practicing as her debut song, and he asked if Anna and I, who also participated, would like to sign a short-term contract as session musicians."
Anna exclaimed with excitement in her eyes.
"Do you know how much the session fee is? Just recording one song without a tour, and it's a whopping thirty thousand dollars!! Just came to do homework and what a windfall this is! Thanks to Shizuka! Or is it thanks to Kay?"
Shizuka blinked in surprise, and Geon, placing his guitar on his lap, laughed.
"So, you decided to sign?"
Anna slapped Geon's shoulder and exclaimed.
"Of course! Thirty thousand dollars! It may be small change for Kay, but it's a huge amount for Anthony and me!"
Geon looked at Anthony with a slightly more serious expression. As an excited Anthony met Geon's gaze, after a moment of silence, Geon said.
"You know what that thirty thousand dollars means, right?"
Anthony, with a puzzled look, and Anna, stepping forward, asked.
"Meaning? Is there a specific meaning?"
Geon lifted the music score from the stand as he spoke.
"You two participated in this song. This means that the copyright of the song goes entirely to Shizuka. The two of you become session musicians who cannot demand the copyright after receiving the thirty thousand dollars. That's why I paid a high amount, different from a regular session."
Anthony briefly looked at the music sheet Geon had lifted before turning his gaze to Shizuka. Noticing the atmosphere, Shizuka showed a sorry face, but Anthony smirked after a moment of thought.
"It's Shizuka's song, after all, isn't it? We just added our parts to the basic structure. Thirty thousand dollars is more than enough compensation for that."
Anna also nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Exactly! Plus, if Shizuka becomes famous, I can boast about having been a session musician on her debut album. The reward is great compared to the work we've done. So don't look at us with those sorry eyes, Shizuka."
Seeing Shizuka still looking sorry, Geon smiled lightly and said.
"You have good friends, Shizuka. So, it looks like the problem has been solved, shall we practice?"
Shizuka had no worries about Anna and Anthony in her mind but seemed to think everything was smoothly resolved, as she changed her expression to a bright one and smiled at Anna and Anthony.
"Yes! Let's do that!"
"Great! It's practice time!"
"Now that it's come to this, I must give it my all! My music is going to be featured on Fantagio's album! I have to call my mom tonight and brag about it!! Hahaha!!"
The members, uplifted, intensified their practice. And then, the day of the studio class came. The band of four received a standing ovation from seven professors who were judges from Juilliard. Especially, the professor in charge of piano, who was Shizuka's advisor, was pleasantly surprised at Shizuka, who hadn't shone among the students, and laughed heartily. Although Geon sang the song, the fact that Shizuka wrote the lyrics and signed a formal contract with Fantagio made the professor chuckle and pat Shizuka's shoulder.
After the studio class ended, the team members went to celebrate at a dinner party. They rented the VIP room of the restaurant they first had a meal when they met.
"Cheers!!! We are the champions!"
"Haha! I knew it the moment Kay opened the door of the practice room and appeared!"
"Ah, I received an A+ for the first time since coming to Juilliard! Ho-ho"
"Great job everyone."
While the three were excitedly chatting, Geon, who was looking at them with a smile, suddenly turned his head towards the door and said with a slightly surprised look.
"Director Lin?"
Upon Geon's words, the eyes of the three also turned towards the door, and they widened. Lin entered the room, wearing a teal skirt, a white blouse, a black coat, and sunglasses, and after taking off her sunglasses, she said.
"It's been a long time, Kay."
"Did you come all the way to the US? Please, take a seat here."
Anthony awkwardly stood up to give Lin a seat, and after she expressed her gratitude with a slight nod, she sat next to Geon and looked around at the members. The members, who had been chatting excitedly just a moment ago, seemed to be holding their breath as if the sound of swallowing could be heard.
Lin then spoke.
"School lessons are over for today. Now, it's time to start working on the album and music video production."
Geon was not surprised as he had anticipated this, but Shizuka looked a bit startled.
"A music video? Do I have to appear in it myself?"
Lin nodded with a smile.
"If we are debuting a musician named Shizuka Miyawaki, you have to appear in the music video."
Shizuka looked dumbfounded, as if she hadn't thought of that, and after taking a sip of beer, Geon asked.
"Will Director Lin be editing this music video personally?"
Lin shook her head.
"I would have liked to, but this time, I want to save the effort of dealing with the director who has been calling Fantagio daily and making a fuss. I'll leave this job to the director who has been bothering us."
Geon looked puzzled and asked.
"A director who makes a fuss with daily calls?"
Lin sighed and looked back and forth between Geon and Shizuka before speaking.
"More precisely, he's been wanting to shoot Kay, but the plan is to feature both Shizuka and Kay in the music video. It's Shizuka's album, but since it's Kay who will be singing, the director who has been calling our company once a week for several years to make a fuss will be in charge."
Geon looked forward, lost in thought for a moment, then
widened his eyes and looked at Lin, who, realizing Geon had caught on, slightly nodded and then looked at Shizuka.
"The director wandering in a fairy tale. Tim Burton."
Anna and Anthony exclaimed in astonishment.
"Eh~~~ Really??"
Lin sighed, ignoring the two, and looked at Geon.
"Phew, he's so persistent... We decided it would be better to appease him with a music video, which takes only about a day to shoot, rather than a movie that takes months. Is that okay?"
Geon burst out laughing, then looked at Shizuka and turned to Lin.
"Shouldn't I be the one begging on my knees? He's not just any director, after all, haha. I'm looking forward to it. Let's do it."