Chapter 8.13 - Act 8: Lively 13 (2/2)
A highlight which I sang at least hundreds and thousands of times.
Added to that, I was not using teacher Ku Mingi’s vocalisation method which was still somewhat foreign but teacher Kwak Jungsoo’s vocalisation that I had been using throughout 20 years that felt all the more familiar.
The lyrics flowed past my tongue and the notes went up with ease. The vocalisation was solid and the breath left naturally.
“Che canto a te!”
[That I sing to you!]
My head felt blank.
In the midst of my mindless song, I could suddenly feel the smell of wood unique to practice rooms seeping inside my nose.
The snug yet frustrating smell of that room which perhaps took over at least half of my entire life – the memories of my songs at that place flashed past my head and repeatedly disappeared before popping back up.
“Solamente a te…”
[Only to you…]
I who first started practising after entering Future Arts High, I who had been happy about the return, the me who had been depressed and the me who was drunk in a sense of accomplishment…
The songs which were sung by my countless selfs resonated in my brain before soon mixing into one.
Teacher’s Kwak Jungsoo’s advice; teacher Ku Mingi’s teachings; singing in line with Chloe’s piano; morning duet with Han Dasom; the confrontation with Lee Suh-ah, Kim Wuju, Jun Shihyuk, and the songs I sung with Noh Jusup.
All of that became one and leaked through my lips as a song.
“Triste senz’amor…!”
[Sad without love…!]
Soon, it came to an end.
The flowing accompaniment of piano left behind echoes and dissipated, as the lumps of emotions in my throat steadily vanished.
There, I stood still slowly taking all that in with my body.
‘…’
From within that slow flow of time, a sudden enlightenment flashed and disappeared.
“Ah…”
This was how I had to sing.
*
Blankly sitting on the bench, I glanced up at the skies.
“Haa…”
I could see the clear June sky.
The warm breeze touched the sleeves of my shirt and rustled the leaves as the overwhelmingly bright sun rays shone down.
Sitting at the garden of Future Arts High, I was in a completely blank mood.
‘I don’t wanna do anything…’
Right now, I was sitting on a bench while saying that but I didn’t even wanna do that. After the prac test was over, it felt like all the energy had left my body.
I did pour in everything I could for that test.
Glancing at the distant travelling clouds, I thought back while slowly blinking my eyes.
Earlier today when I sang Chopin’s Tristesse, after finishing the song, I bid farewell with a somewhat drunk mood and struggled myself out of the venue. In fact, I didn’t even remember what I said to them. Did I say ‘thank you’? Or maybe ‘I’ll be taking my leave’ or ‘thanks in advance’?
I had no idea.
Perhaps I had been possessed by something.
It was the same with the song.
That feeling I had back then… how would I say it? A sense of unity? It felt like I poured out everything that had been bottled up inside me. I tried recreating that strange, indescribable overflow of emotions at a practice room straight after that.
But it didn’t work.
Maybe it was because I was energy-less but it just didn’t work.
“Ehew…”
After heaving out a sigh, I scratched my head before lowering my arm back down.
In any case, it was great that the test seemed to have been a success. All that was left was to wait for the results but as for the actual results…
I had no idea to be honest.
I think I did well but Kim Wuju would’ve done a great job as well. On top of that, since Lee Suh-ah didn’t tell me her songs to the bitter end, I couldn’t even imagine her results.
“…”
With a frown, I tried guessing the results but sat back up straight after eventually giving up on it. In any case, the results of the prac tests would probably be announced tomorrow morning.
I remember myself being startled because of that quick announcement of results. So until then, I just had to wait I guess…
Tapping on the chair, I was looking into the skies when Noh Jusup who was staring at the phone from the side suddenly raised his head up.
“I think they’re coming now.”
“Hn?”
Hearing that, I looked forward to find familiar silhouettes of girls in front. From the left, things that seemed to be Chloe, Han Dasom and Lee Suh-ah were seen quickly walking towards where we were.
When I raised my hand up high, Chloe ran up before anyone else.
“Hi! Were we late?”
“No, you’re right on time.”
“Huhuh.”
Next to Chloe in bright smiles, Han Dasom and Lee Suh-ah approached before greeting us. Unlike Han Dasom who was wearing a faint smile, Lee Suh-ah still had a hollow set of eyes.
The reason for today’s gathering of the Concerted Music members + alpha was simple – it was for a small party after the prac tests.
Today, after the prac tests, the teachers allowed us to leave freely and that was exactly the reason why we had gathered today.
But seeing Lee Suh-ah who still couldn’t bring herself out of the aftereffects of the prac test, I tapped her with a click of my tongue.
“What have you been doing to be like that? Did you fail your prac tests or something?”
With a depressed expression, she looked at me before turning her head over to the side.
“…Maybe.”
“?”
Huh?
Her reaction was abnormal because usually, she would’ve glared daggers and screamed. I was tilting my head when Noh Jusup brightly opened his mouth from the side.
“Oi! Let’s stop talking about the prac tests and let’s go play. We need to play until the results are announced!”
“…”
I felt a bit sorry for him after seeing him display such a bright expression.
It’s going to come out tomorrow morning though…
‘Right. Ignorance is bliss.’
With a nod, I followed the kids from behind and carried my feet. A faint breeze passed by the pathway filled with sunlight.
‘I wonder… what the results are going to be like.’