Geon looked flustered as he dodged Byungjun's hand.
"Who's crying? I just washed my face."
Byungjun continued to reach out, trying to catch Geon's face as he dodged.
"Don't lie, when a man says he's not hurt, it means he is. Tell me, if you're hurt we need to go to the hospital, you foolish man. Even if the concert is just around the corner, you should rest if you're unwell. You can't just look at the short term, right?"
Geon, holding Kiska, kept dodging Byungjun's hand as he ran away.
"Ah, really! No, I'm really not hurt!"
"Really? Then why do you keep running away? Come here, will you?"
"Ah, don't touch me!"
As Geon jumped over the sofa while running, Kiska, who was in Geon's arms, chuckled amusedly. Byungjun, who had been chasing Geon, laughed and plopped down on the sofa after seeing Kiska's laughter. Geon, still wary, stood awkwardly and glared at him, ready to run away at any moment.
"Alright, I'll trust you, so stop it."
Geon grimaced, twitching his eyebrows.
"You said that last time and then you applied a cobra twist."
Byungjun picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it.
"I won't do it! Come here!"
Geon swatted away the cushion with his hand and glared at Byungjun.
"But why do you keep telling me to come? We can talk from here."
Byungjun pointed to the distance between him and Geon.
"Like this, you want to talk?"
Geon relaxed his posture and hesitantly moved closer to the sofa, sitting on the edge and placing Kiska between himself and Byungjun. Seeing Geon's posture, ready to flee at any moment, Byungjun chuckled.
"When are you going to start the arrangements? Don't push yourself too hard."
Feeling a bit relieved by the change of topic, Geon leaned back against the sofa backrest.
"I won't push it, but there's no time. We only have 12 days until the concert. It'll take two days just to travel and book hotels, so I need to finish practicing in about ten days."
"Montana's level, one day of practice should be enough, right?"
Geon pouted.
"The original recording of 'Fury' took four days of practice alone. It's the second version and an arrangement, but it will take three days to completely adapt. Of course, if it were Carlos alone, it would be done in half a day."
"Hmm, Kevin and the drummer... what's the drummer's name again?"
"Jose."
"Yeah, Jose. So, those two are the problem?"
"Not a problem, just that they need more time."
"What do you think of Kevin?"
"What about him?"
"His skills, his skills."
"Why would I introduce someone without skills to Montana? And even if I did, Carlos wouldn't use someone without skills just because of a personal connection."
"Hmm, true, Carlos is quite exacting musically. Normally he's like a kind-hearted grandfather, but his eyes change when it comes to music. There's a reason why he's a world-class musician."
"Right, you don't have to doubt Kevin's skills. Actually, his potential for improvement is even greater."
Byungjun wiggled his eyebrows.
"Oh? His potential is greater?"
"Yes, have you heard the term 'groovy'?"
"Um, like rhythmical?"
"Similar. Originally, 'groove' refers to the grooves on an LP that the needle hits to produce sound. So, it's the principle in audio where the cartridge of a turntable amplifies the sound as it passes over an LP."
Byungjun frowned.
"Damn, I thought it was just about keeping rhythm, but it's damn complicated."
Geon smiled and shook his head.
"It's about keeping rhythm. An LP has five types of grooves. The first, called the Lead-In, is where the cartridge enters at the start of the record."
Byungjun, unable to comprehend, teased Kiska by poking her lips with his finger, but Geon continued.
"The second is Modulated, where the actual recorded sound is played. The third is Lead-Over, marking the end of a track. The fourth is Lead-Out, marking the end of one side of an LP record. The last is called the Finishing groove, marking the end of the record."
Byungjun listened, poking Kiska's lips as Geon explained.
"For an LP to make sound, the five grooves must align well with the rhythm of the cartridge. That's why we say it's 'riding the groove' or 'being groovy.'"
Byungjun dug his ear, frowning
.
"Anyway, the conclusion is it's rhythmical, right? End of story! Enough with the explanations!"
"Ha ha, want more explanation?"
Byungjun covered his ears and collapsed on the sofa.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH~~~ I'm not listening, not listening!"
Geon climbed on top of Byungjun and yelled into his ear.
"The origin of the word 'groove' is!!"
"AAAAHHHH~~ AHAAAAAA~~ I can't hear anything~~"
Byungjun, digging his ears wildly and yelling, made Geon burst out laughing.
"Ha ha, now I have a new weapon too."
Seeing their foolish appearance, Kiska clutched her stomach laughing. Kiska's laughter caused Geon's eyes to flutter momentarily, but he quickly turned his head towards Byungjun. Byungjun, who had been covering his ears, got up and asked.
"What were we talking about that led to this? Ah, so Kevin has a groove?"
Geon held back tears and fixed his gaze on Byungjun.
"Yes, groove is inherently a difficult sense to develop later. Kevin excels in this area. If he develops even higher technique in the future, becoming the second Billy Sheehan wouldn't be a dream."
Byungjun stood up seriously.
"Billy Sheehan? Who's that?"
Geon sighed and pulled Byungjun's ear close to his mouth.
"Billy Sheehan. The living legend of rock bass history. He was the bassist for the legendary band Mr. Big, and now he's with The Winery Dogs. He's also been a session musician for Steve Vai, one of the most outstanding..."
"AAAAAAACK!!! This explanation freak has gone mad again! Get away!!!"
Byungjun pushed Geon's face away as Geon grabbed his ear again and shouted.
"Born in 1953!!! Older than my father but still active as a legendary bassist!!"
Byungjun, his ears hurting, yelled loudly.
"Hey you bastard! My eardrums are gonna burst!!!"
"EEEHEHEHE!! Will you try that move on me, or not?"
"I won't! I won't do it! Let go!"
"EEEHEHEHE, I don't want to."
As Byungjun flailed his arms and yelled, Kiska rolled around the sofa, laughing louder. Finally freeing himself from Geon's grip, Byungjun rubbed his red, swollen ears and frowned as he looked at the clock.
"Damn, it hurts more from the explanations than from pulling my ears. Let's sleep, I was discharged today so I need to sleep early. What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"About ten."
"Alright, are you going to put Kiska to sleep?"
"Yes, I should."
"Okay then, sleep well. I'm going to smoke a cigarette and then sleep."
"Alright, let's go, Kiska."
Kiska, sitting on the sofa with her arms out as if asking to be held, was picked up by Geon, who took her to the room and read her a fairy tale until she fell asleep. Geon stayed by Kiska's side for a very long time that night.
Late at night. Everyone was asleep when Kiska's eyes opened in bed. Glancing at the dark ceiling, blinking her eyes, perhaps because of an unsettling nervousness that had been bothering her, the girl quietly slid out of bed and tiptoed to Geon's room. Seeing the light from a lamp spilling through the slightly open door, Kiska, with a mischievous expression, tiptoed and peeked through the gap.
Seeing Geon sitting hunched over on the bed with his face buried in his knees, Kiska's playfulness lingered on her face. She swung the door wide open to surprise Geon, but paused when she heard sobbing. Seeing Geon's hunched back shaking, Kiska's eyes shook and her heart began to race. Unconsciously placing a hand over her left chest, Kiska swung the door wide open and Geon, startled, looked up.
"Ki, Kiska. You haven't slept?"
Kiska, with a worried expression, crawled onto the bed. Sitting on Geon's stomach, she stared into his face. Geon touched the girl's forehead, smiling.
"Shall we sleep together tonight?"
Without responding, the girl Geon held in his arms moved under the blankets. Geon, holding back his tears in silence, and Kiska, with her ear against his chest, struggled to fall asleep late into the night.
The next day.
Geon, who always left Kiska alone at home when going to the studio, asked the nanny to wash her from morning since he planned to spend the entire day at the studio with her. Excited by Geon's suggestion, Kiska brushed her teeth diligently and dressed in pretty clothes before following Geon to school. Geon
, who usually needed to concentrate alone in the recording booth during arrangement work, stayed by Kiska's side throughout the day. Even when Shizuka came with a packed lunch, Geon constantly sat next to her, putting side dishes into her mouth, which delighted Kiska.
Seeing the girl's happy laughter, Geon smiled painfully.
'Until the day we part, I'll do my best without regrets.'
Watching over Geon and Kiska, Shizuka gave an awkward smile and left, and Carlos and Kevin arrived at the studio. Not in the recording booth but in the office where the control box was located, Kevin saw Geon sitting next to Kiska, editing the music scores.
"Hey, Kay. We're here."
Geon looked up and stood up, greeting Carlos first.
"Carlos, you've come? Kevin too. There's nothing to do yet since the arrangements aren't finished. What brings you here so early?"
Kevin, always wary of Kiska's stern gaze, noticed her unusually good mood today; even when she looked him in the eyes, she just smiled brightly. Kevin, more intimidated by her smile than her glare, stepped back in alarm.
"Uh!? Uh, uh. Just, just curious how the work's going."
Carlos leaned over to look at the score Geon was working on and widened his eyes.
"What? You're also changing the lyrics?"
Geon Kim awkwardly smiled as he pulled the sheet music Carlos was looking at and placed it next to himself.
"It's still unfinished. I'll show you the lyrics later."
As Kevin moved closer to Geon's side, curious and trying to grab the sheet music, Geon quickly snatched it back and shook his head firmly.
"Not yet. It's not complete."
"Come on, just let me see it for a bit."
"No."
"Why!"
"Who wants to show something that's incomplete?"
"Ah! But it's our song, we deserve to see at least the interim results!"
"Fine, when it reaches that stage, I'll show you."
"Geez!"
Kevin gave up trying to snatch the sheet music from Geon's hands, and Carlos, who was watching them, put his hands in his coat pockets and said.
"So... there's nothing for us to do yet?"
"Yeah, there's nothing. I'll get things ready so we can practice tomorrow afternoon."
"Alright, I'll come back tomorrow then. Let's go, Kevin."
As Kevin stared intently at Carlos, he glanced at the hidden sheet music and said.
"Can't I just stay here?"
Carlos grabbed Kevin by the arm and lifted him up.
"No, dude. Don't hang around and get in the way, let's go."
"Argh, I'm dying of curiosity!"
"Forget it, go home and practice some more."
As Carlos dragged Kevin out, Geon met Kiska's eyes and smiled at her, and within a minute of their departure, he began to concentrate. Notes began to transfer from Geon's pen to the sheet music, each bordered with a color.
'Certainly mastered it. The way to paint notes with the colors of the mind.'
The sheet music Geon was drawing on had red notes with a green border. Having filled about a page, Geon lifted the sheet music to the light.
'Red representing anger and hate, green borders signifying the resolution of emotions. This is my second 'Fury' that enables a healthy expression of rage.'
As he put away the sheet music that was lit up, Kiska, smiling sweetly and resting her chin on her hands, appeared behind it. Geon's eyes momentarily saddened, but before Kiska could notice, he quickly regained his composure and stroked the girl's head, then looked at the wall clock.
"Hungry?"
As Kiska put her chin-resting hand down on the table and nodded with a big smile, Geon put the pen and sheet music on the table and put on his coat.
"Let's eat something. The school cafeteria is not bad, right?"
Hungry as she seemed, Kiska jumped off her chair and put on her pink coat that was left on the sofa. After some struggle getting her arms into the sleeves properly, Geon adjusted her coat properly and took her hand, heading to the cafeteria. Since it was a vacation period, there weren't many people, but there were still about a hundred students eating in the vast Juilliard cafeteria. As Geon and Kiska, holding hands, passed through, all the students' eyes were focused on them. Being relatively safe inside the school, Geon didn't pay much attention and bent down to Kiska's eye level to look up at the menu together.
"What do you want to eat? There are three options today. There's spaghetti, and cutlets, oh, and there's ramen too? Ah.. it's Japanese ramen, that's too bad. What do you want to eat, Kiska?"
Kiska raised her tiny hand and pointed to the spaghetti, and Geon stood up to order two of the same from the menu. True to a school cafeteria, the food was served quickly on a tray, and as Geon looked for a place to sit, he froze. The hundred or so students in the cafeteria were all silently staring at them. Geon awkwardly smiled and slightly lifted the tray, a gesture meant to indicate that they were just there to eat without causing a fuss, but a few clueless girls approached, trying to strike up a conversation. Seeing this, Geon quickly led Kiska to the most secluded spot in the cafeteria.
After setting the tray on the white table and seating Kiska, Geon turned to the approaching girls, his face curious. The girls, who were advancing with curiosity-filled eyes, instead stopped in their tracks as Geon looked towards them, startled. Geon stepped forward and said,
"Sorry, I just want to be with Kiska without being disturbed. If you want an autograph or a photo, I'd like to get it done quickly and have our meal."
The girls, who had approached hoping to chat or get something signed, seemed satisfied with Geon's offer and quickly took a few photos, thanked him, and left. Geon looked around the cafeteria, sending a glance that seemed to urge anyone else coming over to make it quick, then pulled out
a chair and sat down. Kiska, although hungry, waited until Geon sat down before she clasped the spoon and fork in her hands and playfully pounded the table with her fists, causing Geon to laugh.
He placed the cream spaghetti in front of Kiska and the tomato spaghetti in front of himself, then gently swept Kiska's bangs from her face and smiled.
"Let's eat."
Seemingly very hungry, Kiska buried her face in the bowl of spaghetti, sucking in the noodles with cream smeared around her mouth. Geon pulled a tissue from the table and wiped around her mouth.
"You were very hungry, weren't you? Eat a lot, Kiska."
Geon's expression changed momentarily as he wiped her mouth, watching her. When Kiska looked at the bowl, his eyes were sad, but when she looked at him, he smiled warmly.
The other students whispered among themselves,
"Kevin... doesn't it feel a bit off today?"
"Yeah, I've seen them often, and they're always holding hands and laughing. It's the same today, but... Kevin's expression seems off. He always looked like he absolutely adored the kid."
"Look, look there. His face turns almost like he's about to cry when he looks down."
"Are they practicing for an act or something?"
"What acting? They're musicians."
"Why not? Musicians do dramas and movies too.
"That's for those who aren't popular or are interested in that sort of thing. Kevin wouldn't do that. He doesn't need to."
"That makes sense."
"Now! Look now."
"Yeah, really. He only smiles when he's wiping the kid's mouth."
"Doesn't it look a bit sad? That expression. I don't know why, but it kinda hurts to look at."
"Really? You're a Kevin fan, and you sympathize with something you don't even understand? Cut it out, okay?"
"Jeez, I'm serious."
Disturbed by the approaching and whispering students, Kiska glanced at them then shifted her gaze back to Geon. Always smiling brightly, Geon was in her sight. Kiska, puzzled, watched the people until her gaze landed on Geon's untouched plate of spaghetti. He laughed and pushed the tomato spaghetti towards her.
"Want to try this too?"
With cream still on her face, Kiska opened her mouth wide as Geon twirled some tomato spaghetti onto a fork and placed it in her mouth.
"Tasty?"
Chewing and tasting the spaghetti, Kiska grinned, and Geon smiled back at her, resting his elbows on the table and watching her endlessly. It seemed a bit different today, but Kiska, enjoying all the attention being poured on her, laughed joyfully. The time spent with Kiska, though trivial, was precious to Geon, who continued to play with her and didn't return to Red Castle until late at night. As he handed Kiska over to the nanny waiting there, Geon watched the little girl's retreating back intently.
"The day you leave for England. The boss and the lady will leave as well."
Without looking at Miroslav, who had approached and spoken beside him, Geon kept his gaze fixed on Kiska's back until she was completely out of sight, then slightly bowed his head and sighed.
"Only a few days left."
Miroslav, watching the side of Geon's face, nodded slightly. Seeing the sadness in Geon's expression, a flicker of pity crossed Miroslav's face as he managed his expression and said,
"Let's go inside. It's cold."
"Yes."
Despite his reply, Geon continued to look up at the main house for a while before moving his steps and opening the door to the annex.
"You here?"
Wearing only underwear and lying on the couch, Byungjoon scratched his armpit as he raised a hand to Geon, who chuckled and said,
"I came with Kiska, put on some clothes."
"Oh, alright."
Byungjoon went into the room to get dressed. After putting on shorts and a T-shirt, Byungjoon came out to the living room where Geon, still in his coat, sat dazed on the piano chair.
"What's up?"
Byungjoon, looking strangely at Geon, suddenly changed his expression and shouted.
"You're not having a headache again, are you?"
Byungjoon thumped over and touched Geon's forehead.
"You don't have a fever. What's wrong? Tell me."
Looking up at Byungjoon touching his forehead, Geon's expression gradually contorted. Seeing this, Byungjoon widened his eyes and touched Geon's head again.
"Are you really sick? Do you want to go to the hospital now?"
As Geon's face twisted more, he suddenly burst into loud sobs.
"Waaaahhh!!"
"What, what!"
Sitting on the piano chair, Geon buried his face in Byungjoon's stomach and cried out loud, startling Byungjoon who tried to pull him away while shouting,
"What's wrong! Are you really sick? Ah, this won't do! Let's go to the hospital quickly!"
No matter how much Byungjoon tried to pull him away, Geon clung tightly to his stomach and didn't stop crying. Realizing that Geon wasn't crying out of pain but out of sorrow, Byungjoon stopped trying to detach him and quietly looked down at Geon's head. It was about ten minutes before Geon stopped crying. His shoulders still heaving slightly, but seeming a bit calmed, Byungjoon sat down next to him by the piano. After a moment of silence watching Geon's profile, Byungjoon asked,
"What's wrong, what happened?"
"Sniff, sniff."
"Tell me. There's nothing you can't tell me, right?"
Geon rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, tears streaming down like chicken droppings.
"Sniff, sniff."
Byungjoon patted Geon's back, trying to soothe him. As Geon's crying subsided, Byungjoon listened to his now calmer voice.
"Sob, Gregory and… sniff Kiska are leaving."
Byungjoon's eyes widened.
"What? Where to?"
"To Gregory's hometown…"
"How long?"
"Sniff, sniff."
As Geon didn't answer, Byungjoon grabbed his shoulder and looked him in the eye.
"How long? A month? Two months?"
Geon's face smeared with tears twisted again as he cried out again,
"They might not come back!"
Byungjoon, with a shocked expression, let go of Geon's shoulder.