Chapter 5.7 - Softly 7 (2/2)

“Jo Yunjae… that will be interesting”

*

Vocalisation.

Until now, I had practised by recording and listening to the audio file. I would sing, record it and try another method to compare and see which one was better. Through these minute changes, I would find the best vocalisation method.

In thought, I touched my ears.

“Hmm…”

Ears.

As mentioned before, the voice heard by one’s own ears were different to the real voice and that was why I had practised like that. Besides, because of the fact that a completely different sound unlike before the time travel was coming out, my ears weren’t used to it.

So far, I had relied on the 20 years of experience to roughly analyse the sound being relayed through the bones but with this unfamiliar vocalisation, that was out of question.

“…”

The problem with this method however, was that it was way too slow.

It was a repetition of continuous singing, recording and listening, not to mention the details that would be lost during the recording process. While I was in such thought, Lee Suh-ah sitting next to me entered my vision, and seeing her glaring at the textbook, I opened my mouth.

“Oi Lee Suh-ah.”

“What.”

“Do you wanna practise with me today?”

With a flick, Lee Suh-ah raised her head with a strange expression.

Right, Lee Suh-ah.

The person with the greatest understanding of opera from my acquaintances. If it was her, she would be able to properly point out the problems within my vocalisation and could give feedback on which was better.

I was thinking of asking teacher Ku Mingi for it but he was too busy and I could only see him once a week, while Han Dasom would nod saying it was good whatever sound I made.

Chloe and Noh Jusup would tilt their heads in confusion as well.

‘And other than that… I really have no acquaintances apart from them.’

Clicking my tongue I stared at Lee Suh-ah and she returned an openly unpleasant expression.

“Me? With you? Why?”

…Was it something that called for this much of a reaction?

Feeling a little flared up, I replied.

“What’s so bad about me? Am I not a decent practice partner? Rather than doing alone, how good is it to listen to others and point out things? We can find out habits we weren’t aware of and stuff.”

“You’re right, that’s possible. Your singing is quite good after all.”

Then isn’t’ that fine? Seeing me blinking my eyes, Lee Suh-ah opened her mouth with a cold expression.

“But your personality is weird. Making weird jokes, and lying that you went to the army.”

“No that… I really did go though…”

“Whatever.”

When I saw her scoff, I felt indignant and full of frustration.

“No but in truth, the framed picture was quite funny wasn’t it? Back then you ran away to hide your laugh right?”

“Ha, nonsense. It was super boring okay?”

That’s how you want to play things huh? I’m sure it was definitely a high-class joke that was extremely funny.

Today, I’m not backing off until I regain my honour. Vowing as such with my eyes closed, I opened and met her eyes with a serious expression before opening my mouth.

“Do you know why you can’t hear a psychiatrist using the bathroom?”

Clenching her teeth, Lee Suh-ah growled.

“Don’t do it.”

“Because the ‘P’ is silent.”

“…”

Staring at her face that had suddenly crumpled, I added more attacks.

“How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?”

“I told you, don’t do it.”

“10 tickles.”

Seeing Lee Suh-ah’s eyebrows twitch after some thought, I made a victorious smile and followed through.

“How do lawyers say goodbye?”

“I don’t know. ‘Goodbye’? I’m going.”

To Lee Suh-ah that had shown her back to me after standing up, I said calmly.

“I’ll be suing ya!”

“…Ut.”

Uh? It seemed like her shoulders twitched there for a bit though?

“You laughed just then right?”

With a grin I approached her, to which Lee Suh-ah responded by running away. I quickly ran after her.

“You laughed, you laughed right? You like the cute style of puns huh? Okay.”

“No I don’t!”

Chasing after her persistently, I whispered one by one the lines in the most recent humour collection.

“When do you think a joke becomes a dad joke?”

“Ah! Jo Yunjae, annoying!”

“So are you going to practise or not?”

*

In the end, Lee Suh-ah that had been dragged to the practice room crossed her arms with a sulky expression.

“So why did you want to practise with me?”

“I changed the vocalisation method recently so please evaluate how it is.”

“You changed the vocalisation?”

Seeing her questioning gaze, I gave a nod. Well, that kind of reaction was natural as it wasn’t a common thing to change vocalisation. After making a blank expression, Lee Suh-ah heaved out a sigh.

“Then you should do that with Han Dasom.”

“I asked her while singing with her everyday but she only says it’s good.”

“What about Chloe?”

“I practise with her during the weekends but she says she doesn’t know either.”

After staring at me with slightly colder eyes, she shook her head.

“…Do it with Mirae. Mirae was also looking for someone to practise with her.”

Mirae? Song Mirae? Why Song Mirae all of a sudden?

Tilting my head, I scratched it once.

“I haven’t even talked to her properly though?”

“Then try.”

“That… I don’t really have a good relationship with her…”

Thinking of the mezzo-happening on the day of the interview, I opened my mouth awkwardly while Lee Suh-ah kept on staring at me. And after gazing at me with a strange expression, Lee Suh-ah soon carried her eyes over to the ceiling and contemplated deeply.

What is she thinking about?

As I was inspecting her blankly, Lee Suh-ah heaved a sigh before nodding her head.

“…Can’t be helped. Okay let’s do it. I was curious as well.”

“Curious? About what?”

Wearing a serious expression Lee Suh-ah looked up at me and replied.

“Where your real skills are at.”

“Un…?”

Seeing her flick her black hair sideways before sitting on the seat, I thought.

Real skills?

What real skills. I was always showing 200% of my skills…

Was she perhaps telling me to do better?